Scott's Blog

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The Story of Jimmy's Dad: A Drive Thru History

Jimmy's Dad

Jimmy's mother dies when he is four years old.

His father doesn't have a lot of money, but what he lacks in money he makes up for in contagious hopes, dreams, and plans and, in his job as a salesman, cares for Jimmy as a father should and they are constant companions.

From the time he is born Jimmy watches his father make sale attempt after sale attempt. His hopes, dreams, and plans, contagious to some, don't seem to affect everyone. Jimmy watches his father fail time and time again.

Twelve years of failure, in fact. And once, he sees his father's idea stolen and attempted in an act of treachery. The stolen plan fails, causing some to accept it as proof that the idea is impractical.

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The First 1000 Words of Spanish: First Thousand Words

There are many ways to get started learning a language.

One series of books that we find useful for getting started is the "First Thousand Words" series by Usborne (Portuguese is pictured above). That's because the pictures are pretty and the lists are thorough.

You could use these in a traditional way by using a piece of paper or a thumb to cover up the words and practice them that way, but we like flash cards.

And these books make the best flash cards.

Courageous Opens This Weekend: COURAGEOUS Movie Trailer

The film Courageous from the makers of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof opens this weekend at theaters across the country.

Gaby and I saw it pre-release and highly recommend it. See it opening weekend if you can.

The range of emotion we experienced was refreshing. It broke our hearts. It made us laugh. But more than anything it inspired us to a new level of commitment to each other and our children. It's the best film we've seen in a long, long time.

What does all this have to do with learning Spanish?

How to Jump Start Your Spanish: Joe's Italian Grill & Restaurant

On our last anniversary we were briefly in Livingston, Texas. It was late and we were looking for a place to have dessert.

Joe's Italian Grill and Restaurant on Church Street looked open. We stopped in and explained that we were looking for a place just for dessert.

Wow, are we glad we stopped.

How to Travel Light: Travel Skills: Packing Light

Our family recently made a trip across the country.

Some of the highlights?

Late one night at Natchez Trace State Park west of Nashville, Tennessee, it did not rain butterflies and flowers--it came down lions and wolves. I threw the tent poles on the windshield so we could move the car a short distance to a sheltered area, which would have been fine if I hadn't turned on the windshield wipers. Now, with broken wipers, we couldn't travel anywhere else if we wanted to. Eventually, the rain slowed, Gaby fixed the wipers, and I set up the tent.