Tony Funderburk

Think About Nothing

Posted on August 6, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Quick! Before anything else happens to distract you…think about nothing.

You can’t do it, can you? If you think you can, then you just thought about something…which proves you can’t think about nothing. Oh no, it feels like we’re going in circles.

If you think about it (ha ha), there’s really no such thing as nothing. So you couldn’t think about it even if you could think about it. Because if there really was nothing, then there wouldn’t be you, and you couldn’t be here to think about nothing.

Are you starting to get a headache from all this thinking? Well, that’s because you’re thinking about something. You’re thinking about what I’m talking about…which is whether or not you can actually think about nothing. And since we’ve already figured out you can’t think about nothing, let me give you nothing else to think about.

Think about nothing
As fast as you can.
Then try to make up
A fantastic plan
With all those thoughts
About nothing you thought.
Then, what will you do?
Well, nothing…that’s what.
‘Cause nothing is nothing
You can think about.
It doesn’t exist
So you can’t leave it out.
Oh, all of this thinking
Makes my head feel light.
So I’ll think about nothing…
Else tonight.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 7

Posted on August 5, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Hey there”Tony here with the Rhyme Time Podcast“Episode 7.

In this week’s episode I read poems about”

what’s in the middle of your heartbeat
the cuteness of puppies and kids
how sleep is good for the brain
feeling good and happy
a moon in my room
the August sky
dancin’ in the kitchen

If you didn’t get a chance to read the articles…or if you’d just like to tune in to the audio version of only the Rhyme Time parts, you’ve found the right place.

Tell everyone you know about this poem and storytelling podcast. It’s free, fun, and it only takes a little time out of your week. Kids love to have someone read to them, and this is a way to get me to do the reading for you. What a deal, huh?

Be sure to subscribe to my Rhyme Time Blog, too. You’ll get the latest news about my ebooks for kids, any new music for kids, and yep”every other thing I’m up to. Well”maybe not EVERY thing, but you’ll be one of the first to know when my next picture book is on Amazon or iBookstore or Nook or Sony or Kobo.

OK”gotta go and get some more things ready for next week’s episode. I’d love to hear from you if you have any suggestions, questions, or other feedback. You can leave me a comment at the bottom of this page, or send me an email on my contact page. You can help me work to keep getting better. And right below my name are other ways you can support your new favorite children’s writer.

Here’s the Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 7:

Thanks, and”

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Get this blog

Dance In The Kitchen

Posted on August 5, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Children's Writer, Tony Funderburk, says "Dance In Kitchen". You'll burn more calories.

Do you ever dance in the kitchen?

If not…why not? Who says the kitchen is just a place to prepare and cook food? After all…isn’t the kitchen the place where most everybody ends up when there’s a special occasion? Exactly. That’s where all the good smelling and tasting is. Right?

If you make mealtime more fun, you might be surprised at how many health benefits you’ll get from it. It’s true. Smiling, laughing, and even dancing burn more calories and lift your spirits. Here, at the FunderRanch, there’s a real goofy guy who turns on the big sound system and does some very goofy dances at dinnertime. He moves around making funny faces, and he even makes the dogs follow him around in circles. Everyone laughs and before you know it, dinner’s ready…and everybody’s hungry.

What do you do at dinnertime? Does the family gather around and tell stories of the day? Share some fun or funny things you and your family do when it’s time to start…

Cookin’ up black beans…
Biscuits and butter…
I’ll be the chopper…
You be the cutter.
We need a salsa…
Also a salad.
Put on some music…
Bach or a ballad.
Dance in the kitchen…
Turn up the laughter…
Times like this live
Here ever after.
Pepperjack cheese on a
Crisp tortilla…
A dash of salt and
Some mantequilla.
Dance in the kitchen
With a song and smile.
Times like this
Make life worthwhile.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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The August Sky

Posted on August 4, 2013 by TonyAugust 1, 2024

The August sky was hot and blue today here in Colorado.

Then, in the evening things cooled off with some rain and mountain breezes. Ahh…it’s so great to live in a place that can be in the 90’s during the day and cool off into the low 60’s at night. If you’re like me, you might enjoy the scent of rain sprinkling on the lawn and quenching the thirsty streets. Here at the FunderRanch we love to sleep with the windows open so the night breezes fill the room. It’s so much more refreshing than plain ol’ air conditioning.

I’ve noticed a lot of back-to-school commercials and advertising lately. It’s weird to think it’s already that time again. We’re almost three fourths of the way through with 2013. This time of year brings back memories like…

the last barefoot days of the season
a train trip from Kansas to Texas
getting new school clothes
looking forward to all my new school supplies
cooler weather

And here’s my favorite part about the August sky.

It marks the end of the hot weather. Sure, September can have some hot days, but then the cool, crisp days of Autumn sweep in and revive me.

That’s why I wrote…

The August sky is full of colors
And sometimes drops of rain.
It makes me think of bygone summers
And riding on a train.
The golden sun, like Kansas wheat,
Would bake the fields of corn,
And I bucked endless bales of hay
And all my jeans were torn.
I still remember pools of blue
And going to “the game”.
My bike was candy apple red
And “Flyer” was its name.
So many memories are there
Up in the August sky.
The colors still shine brightly
As I watch the years fly by. © 2013

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

Posted on August 3, 2013 by TonyAugust 3, 2022

A lot of stories and songs for kids talk about the moon. Here's some rhyme time about the moon in my room by children's writer, Tony Funderburk.

There’s a moon in my room. Hey, I’m not kidding. There is! And some stars too.

A few years ago we had a nephew living with us for a while. We gave him the bedroom at the end of the hall on the front side of the house. He discovered a potential business to get into where he’d paint stars and galaxies on ceilings with a special paint. It was special paint because you can’t see it in the daytime. But at night, when you turn out the lights…after they’ve been on for a bit…you can lie down in the bed and look up…and the ceiling looks like the night sky.

It’s very cool. We liked it so much that when we repainted that bedroom this year, we left the ceiling alone and bought wall paint that went well with it. So, even though it’s been a few years since the ceiling was magically painted, you can still see that…

There’s a moon in my room…

And the light is in my eyes.
It came in through the window
Just as soft as lullabies.
There’s a smile on its face
As it floats up on the wall.
I love the way it flitters
Without any sound at all.
And I’d love to fly up there,
With the moon, into the sky.
But the sandman just stopped in…
So, for now, I must say “bye”.

Stay tuned,

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Feel Good And Happy

Posted on August 2, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Do you feel good and happy today?

It’s mostly a choice you know. After all, if you’re eating junky stuff that makes you feel bad and unhappy, that’s a choice you make. You can decide to eat a brainy breakfast, a live-food lunch, a dynamic dinner, and stimulating snacks. Or you can decide to eat a sugary toaster pastry for breakfast, a fatty fast-food burger for lunch, a package of mystery meat and bleached macaroni for dinner, and some sugary candy bars for snacks. It’s all up to you.

You need to know this…if you decide you’d rather feel good and happy, other people around you won’t make it easy. Because they’ll still be eating that junky stuff that makes them want to lay down and sleep. But you’ll be eating food that takes you much further through your day. You’ll be alert and quick on your feet. You’ll be able to shoot more hoops, throw more footballs, kick more soccer balls, run faster, jump higher, and cheer more cheers.

See…it all goes together. If you eat well, you feel good. And when you feel good, it’s easier to be happy. And when you’re happy, it feels good. And you’ll enjoy how it feels so much, you’ll want to keep it going, so you’ll keep eating well. It all goes together perfectly.

So…what’s your choice today? Do you choose to feel good and happy? Or do you choose to sleep your life away in a bed of aches and pains? Write me and tell me your decision.

Feel good and happy today…
No matter what people say…
No matter what people do…
There’s good and happy for you.

Make it your mission right now.
You’ll fill your day up with Wow!
It’s all inside of your head…
Right when you get out of bed.

Go eat some veggies and fruits
And put on your hiking boots
And walk your worries away…
Feel good and happy today.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Sleep Is Good For The Brain

Posted on August 1, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

You may have heard that sleep is good for the brain. And you may already know that kids need plenty of sleep as they’re growing and maturing. But did you know they also need regular sleep times?

Yep, a study at University College in London backs up what Grandmother said all those years ago. Get those kids to bed at a decent and regular hour every night. This appears to help build smarter brains and healthier bodies.

When I was a pre-teen, we had a bedtime of 8 o’clock. Period. There were no if’s, and’s, or but’s. Even though we didn’t always like it, I have to say this much…I was almost never sleepy in school. My regular sleep time and regular 8 hours of sleep helped me have good grades throughout grade school, junior high, and high school. And in my 4 years of high school I only missed a total of 7 days. It would have only been 2 days, but I had a slight appendicitis problem in the 9th grade.

So…if you’re a parent, and you want smarter, healthier kids…or if you’re a kid, and you don’t wanna be a dufus…go to bed at about the same time every night. Try to get 8 hours of sleep. And don’t live on energy drinks and toaster pastries. Or you could end up like this kid…

Once there was this sleepy little kid
Who wouldn’t do what other kiddies did.
When he climbed up in bed,
He stood there on his head
Till dreamclouds came, and then he ran and hid.

He thought the clouds would rain his dreams away.
He didn’t know they’d help his dreams to stay.
All night he’d lie awake
And wouldn’t take a break,
And ended up so tired throughout the day.

Now, surely you can see what this would do.
Not sleeping makes you wimpy through and through.
To be fit, well, and bright
Get lots of sleep at night…
Or this poor, sleepy kid might just be you.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Listen To The Music In The Morning

Posted on July 31, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

May I make a recommendation? Listen to the music in the morning. It plays every single day without fail. And it doesn’t matter where you live…it’s there.

In the spring, summer, and autumn there’s a symphony outside your home. When you open your windows in the morning, you can hear it. It’s there in the winter, too, but the cold air might keep you from opening the windows to hear it.

Now, I’m not saying you can open your windows and hear Beethoven, Bach, or Bon Jovi. On the contrary, I’m talking about the beautiful music found in creation. The sounds of birds chirping and warbling, and the wind through the pines, and even the rhythm of passing cars and trucks. If your heart, ears, and mind are open to it, music can fill your spirit.

You can simply choose to ignore it and go about your day with the same ol’ dreary sense of duty. Or you can listen to the music in the morning and say, “They’re playing my song!”

Music in the Morning

Listen to the music in the morning.
Open up your windows, let it in.
No violins or brass…
Just flowers, trees, and grass
To greet you as enchanting notes begin.

Listen to the music in the morning
Carried on the wings of bustling birds.
Squirrels that scamper by
And airplanes in the sky
Add to this composition with no words.

Listen to the music in the morning.
Let not your hearts be troubled any way.
Just listen and applaud
The awesome love of God
In every morning and through every day.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Puppies And Kids

Posted on July 30, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

There’s a reason so many commercials, movies, TV shows, and billboards use pictures of puppies and kids. They’re pretty much irresistible.

Have you ever seen a picture of puppies and kids that didn’t make you say “aw…that’s cute”? Yeah, neither have I. After all, when you take a roly-poly little snub-nosed bundle of fur and put it with a flawless, fresh-faced little kid, it’s magical. Well, at least most of the time. But it’s always cute.

I can remember…way back when…as a curious little tot I ventured out into my great-grandparents old barn in Oklahoma. A dog had recently given birth to about 8 puppies, and of course I just had to go see them. So, I gently pulled open the creaking, wooden door. I could hear those little noises puppies make when they’re trying to huddle next to one another and their mom. Once my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting inside I saw them squirming around in a little pile of hay. I went over to them, sat down cross-legged, and began to gather them all together. They seemed to like it, and I know I did. Then I put some in my lap and the rest all around my legs. I guess they had already nursed on their mom because they all fell asleep on me. There’s nothing like the scent and warmth of puppies. Even after all these years I still remember the experience vividly.

An adult came looking for me…I don’t remember if it was mom or grandparents or who it was. But whichever person it was, they called for others to come see. Being a little kid I didn’t know what all the fuss was about, but you know how adults are. They see a kid all covered in puppies and they just have to get everyone involved. But I guess I have to agree…there’s nothing cuter than…

Puppies And Kids

Nothing goes together like puppies and kids…
Not bunnies and bears…not spiders and squids.
Not llamas and lizards…not werewolves and wizards.
Not flannel and foxes…not bison and boxes.
Not doughnuts and dragons…not weasels and wagons.
Not birdies and buckles…not chickens and chuckles.
You could take a vote, and I’ll say my bid’s
On the number one cute thing…puppies and kids.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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In The Middle Of A Heartbeat

Posted on July 29, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

When you listen to a recording of a heart, you hear a soft double thump. That’s because the heart pushes out blood and right away pulls other blood in. Put your ear up to someone’s chest and listen very closely. You’ll hear thump-thump…thump-thump…thump-thump. It’s easy to understand what happens as some blood goes out and some blood comes in. But what happens in the middle of a heartbeat?

My imagination ponders tiny things like that because I like to see what I can create with the ideas. That’s how I’ve come up with so many stories and songs for kids. I take an ordinary thing like a heartbeat…and look for a story. And when you look hard enough, you can almost always find one. Even if it’s just a short story, or a funny song, or a poem, it’s an adventure to find it and tell it.

That’s how I came up with today’s short Rhyme Time. I closed my eyes to picture a heart…gently beating through the day. Then I saw it get a bit larger as it got ready to push blood out one side. Then I could see the other side open and let more blood in. It was all in slow motion. And as I saw the two sides I realized…wow…here I am…

In the middle of a heartbeat
Something tiny stirs…
Like the sound that a kitten makes
When it purrs.
Your blood goes whooshing
From head to toe,
And you might just wonder
What makes it go.
There’s a code inside you,
And it’s yours alone…
A gift from a King
On a beautiful throne.
Hold your breath and be still…
Listen close, you’ll hear…
In the middle of a heartbeat…
A love so dear.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 6

Posted on July 29, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Children's writer - singer songwriter - illustrator, Tony Funderburk

Hey there…Tony here with the Rhyme Time Podcast…Episode 6.

In this week’s episode I read poems about…

a big hole in your head
different words for happy
how chocolate can be good for you
a giggle rocket
a sloppy pelican
a tiny house, and
laughter and love

Whew! That’s a lot of stuff in a little bitty podcast. Are you sharing these podcasts with kids or people you know with kids? Because kids love this kind of stuff.

I’d love you to tell everyone you know about this poem and storytelling podcast. It’s free, fun, and it only takes a little time out of your week. Kids love to have books read to them, and this is a way to get me to do the reading for you. What a deal, huh?

Be sure to subscribe to my Rhyme Time Blog, too. You’ll get the latest news about my ebooks for kids, any new music for kids, and yep…every other thing I’m up to. Well…maybe not EVERY thing, but you’ll be one of the first to know when my next picture book is on Amazon or iBookstore or Nook or Sony or Kobo.

OK…gotta go and get some more things ready for next week’s episode. I’d love to hear from you if you have any suggestions, questions, or other feedback. You can leave me a comment at the bottom of this page, or send me an email on my contact page. You can help me work to keep getting better. And right below my name are other ways you can support your new favorite children’s writer.

Here’s the Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 6:

Thanks, and…

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Get this blog

Laughter And Love

Posted on July 28, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Laughter and love stimulate hope.

Sometimes you just need a good laugh. And love can shine a spotlight in the darkness and find you a good reason to laugh. Personally, I find reasons to laugh and smile…they appear all around me, above me, and inside my silly brain.

For example…a few nights ago my two dogs were watching me make a snack of almond butter and honey. They love nut butters and they love our seven grain bread. So…I smeared a little almond butter on a half slice of bread, split it in two pieces, and gave them each a morsel. I nearly broke a rib laughing at how they tried to deal with the sticky almond butter in their mouths. One dog was chewing with his cheeks all scrunched up. And the other kept licking the roof of his mouth to try and get all the almond butter that seemed to be stuck there.

It was hilarious. And the second they finished their ordeal, they wanted more. That’s a dog for you.

The amount of laughter I got from that one moment was enough to last me for days. What about you? Has there been anything this week that made you laugh so hard your eyes watered? Let me know.

Laughter And Love

And so, for the moment…dream
Of the days to come
When you’ll learn to run in fields of green.
You’ll laugh when you’re feeling right.
When you’re feeling wrong,
You will cry for things you’ve not yet seen.
Oh, but your laughter means so much more, you see.

So, think of the life you’ll live,
Of the smiles you’ll give,
And remember love to all you know.
For years come and go so fast,
And the blades of grass
Will begin to lose their green and die.

Living a life that is empty of joy
Can be no more than living in pain,
But a life that is lived much in laughter and love
Can be relived again and again.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Just Imagine

Posted on July 27, 2013 by TonyApril 11, 2025

Just imagine a tiny house. Now, imagine it even smaller. And now, smaller…and smaller. Imagine a house so small it sits in the shade of ferns and flowers. Can you see it?

OK, good. Now, just imagine you’re sitting on the front porch of this tiny, tiny house. And you’re eating some fruit and taking in the cool, moist air of the garden. Use that wonderful, creative imagination of yours and you’ll see the pictures in your head. You can almost smell the flowers and ferns. You can almost feel how soft they are. And the colors make you feel safe and secure and happy.

Your brain is a wonderful, beautiful muscle. It’s specially designed so you don’t just think thoughts…you can also see them in your mind. That’s how you can experience the beauty of the world even if you’re inside a dreary room all day. So, the next time you want to go enjoy the great outdoors but can’t…

Just Imagine And You’re There

There’s a house in the ferns and the petals of the dahlias.
All you have to do is imagine and you’re there…
Breathing in the dew-fresh air.
Life is a breeze, mellow in the trees,
And Joy is there…you need only say please.
You can eat some watermelon
And drink dewdrop tea.
You can sleep until ten thirty…
Oh, it’s heavenly.
There’s a beach by a puddle
Where you’ll lie in the sun.
The fun will never end,
And the days will pass with care.
All you have to do is
Just imagine and you’re there.

Get my Tony’s Daily Devotional . Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

The Sloppy Pelican

Posted on July 26, 2013 by TonyJanuary 16, 2026

I remember my first ferry ride across Galveston Bay in Texas. Yes, it was a long time ago. My grandparents had come down from Oklahoma, and my dad was showing them the sights along the coast. He drove the car up on the ferry. And once it took off, we were all able to get out and walk around for the whole trip. I noticed lots of seagulls, jumping fish, and one particular sloppy pelican.

The pelican was just bobbing up and down in the gulf. And every once in a while it would plunge its head underwater and come back up with a mouth full of small fish. The milk chocolate colored gulf water would gush out the sides of its mouth, too.

It must have been a memory that I logged in my brain without thinking about it. Because I haven’t really given it much thought since. Until today. I happened to find a picture of a pelican as I was plotting out some of my writing. And it just so happened to have a sloppy mouthful of fish.

So, that’s how I came up with this Rhyme…

The Sloppy Pelican

There was a sloppy pelican who lived on a dock
That stood by the bay that lead to the deep, blue sea.
He would float in the water and eat lots of fish
But wouldn’t clean up no matter how others would plea.

And when a sloppy pelican who lives on a dock
Won’t leave it the way it was when he first got there,
Well, he shouldn’t be surprised if friends disappear…
‘Cause wouldn’t you, too, if you saw some junk everywhere?

So if a sloppy pelican was found on your block
In a house like yours, in fact in your very own room,
And you saw him in the mirror, and he looked like you…
Would you just take a nap…or go get a mop and broom?

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,

Giggle Rocket

Posted on July 25, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Have you ever started thinking of something funny and a giggle or a big belly laugh just burst right out of your mouth? It just happened so fast you couldn’t help yourself. And it felt so good that you hoped it would happen again right away. Know what I mean? Well, today I’m calling that a Giggle Rocket.

I won’t take up any more of your time describing the rocket. I just want to share a Rhyme Time with you about how to get onboard. See if you have what it takes…

The giggle rocket’s leaving in a minute, maybe two.
If you wanna catch a ride, here’s the thing you cannot do…
You’re not allowed to giggle and don’t even laugh or grin,
Or the rocket will blast off without you even getting in.

You might think it’s simple not to giggle, but it’s not.
A lot of kids have tried and wound up giggling quite a lot.
Some have held their breath and then a giggle made ’em pop.
Some have tried to run, but then a giggle made ’em stop.

But you don’t have to worry ’bout a giggle or a smile
‘Cause you can keep a straight face for a minute or a mile.
So you’ll be on the giggle rocket when it starts to fly.
Oh wait, I think I see a bug about to eat your eye.

No, I can see you’re much too smart. You didn’t fall for that.
I guess I’m just a stinky, low-down, dirty, rotten rat.
Well, just for saying that I’m gonna tickle all your toes
Until a bunch of giggles end up spewing from your nose.

And then the giggle rocket will fly off and leave you here
And you’ll just have to watch it zoom away and disappear.
No, I’m just kidding with you. I’ll make sure you get onboard.
Because you were a good sport, you deserve a good reward.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Chocolate For Health

Posted on July 24, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Things sure have changed since I was a kid…way back in the last century. I remember being told not to use my allowance to buy “junk”. And I knew what that meant…no candy bars, no pop, no sugary substances that were sure to fill me with disease and terror. Now…lots of “experts” say we can (and maybe even should) eat chocolate for health.

What?!

Where were these voices of truth when I was turning in pop bottles for money to buy stuff? What’s so different now that makes chocolate good for health? Have scientists figured out a way to refine it so it doesn’t rot your teeth? Did lawyers pass laws that made it illegal to make unhealthy chocolate? What did I miss? And excuse me while I go get a dark chocolate, almond, and sea salt bar.

Did you know that chocolate is high in antioxidants? And did you know that antioxidants help strengthen your body’s ability to fight infection and disease?

But let me be very clear. We’re not talking about chocolate donuts…or those candy bars from Pennsylvania. And we’re not talking about a cup of hot chocolate from a certain young maiden in Switzerland. And we’re not talking about those round, wavy cups with peanut butter in the middle. What we ARE talking about is rich, dark cacao full of flavanols. Those are the found in phytonutrient rich food like chocolate, and they help reduce inflammation, slow down free radicals, and protect the heart and blood vessels…and a lot more.

Wow…I bet my parents would’ve let me spend my allowance on this kind of chocolate.

I like chocolate a lot
And I have since I was little.
People love it or they hate it.
There is no one in the middle.
When there’s chocolate a lot,
You can make it into candy
Or a drink that’s cold and fizzy
Or a shake would be so dandy.
Get some chocolate a lot
For your brain and for your liver.
Get the best that you can find,
And then don’t eat just a sliver…
‘Cause with chocolate a lot
You might make an extra jump shot.
So, don’t stand there like a robot…
Eat some chocolate a lot.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Words For Happy

Posted on July 23, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Have you ever noticed when someone’s really happy…how often they use other words for happy instead of happy?

I realize the word, happy, is a bit old-fashioned. But I think it still works very well. And it’s being used by millions of people every day. Happy birthday to you…happy birthday to you. See what I mean?

Many people like to build up the happy emotion though. They want to put their own feel into it. Their own spin on it. Their own joie de vivre. That’s just a fancy French expression for happy. Some other words for happy…or expressions…you might hear are…

Jolly
Cheerful
Delighted
I’m so excited
I’m really stoked
Walking on air
On a high
On top of the world

I could go on, but maybe you know some I’ve never heard of. If so, please share ’em with me. I’ll be sure to pass them along. And it would make me so happy to hear from you. 🙂

What kind of words for happy do you know?
And when you’re happy, do you let it show?
No need for contemplating…
It’s so exhilarating…
And when you’re feeling happy, you might glow.

Now, glow is just another way to say…
You choose to smile and have a happy day.
So glow from deep within…
I’ll wait as you begin…
Your glow could delight others on your way.

Delighted people laugh and seem to beam
Like banana splits with cherries and whipped cream.
They can’t keep it inside…
It’s just too fun to hide…
It’s like a cheery, merry, happy dream.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
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Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 5

Posted on July 22, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Hey there…Tony here, and I’m coming to you with the Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 5. We’re going strong now. Thanks for the input you’ve been emailing me. It’s awesome to know you’re out there listening and sharing with others.

This week’s episode has poems that talk about a lily pad and some bullfrogs, kids and poems, berries, blooms, love, a clock, and a bunch more.

As always, I’d love you to tell everyone you know about this poem and storytelling podcast. It’s free, fun, and it only takes a little time out of your week. Kids love to have books read to them, and this is a way to get me to do the reading for you. What a deal, huh?

Be sure to subscribe to my Rhyme Time Blog, too. You’ll get the latest news about my ebooks for kids, any new music for kids, and yep…every other thing I’m up to. Well…maybe not EVERY thing, but you’ll be one of the first to know when my next picture book is on Amazon or iBookstore or Nook or Sony or Kobo.

OK…gotta go and get some more things ready for next week’s episode. I’d love to hear from you if you have any suggestions, questions, or other feedback. You can leave me a comment at the bottom of this page, or send me an email on my contact page. You can help me work to keep getting better. And right below my name are other ways you can support your new favorite children’s writer.

Here’s the Rhyme Time Podcast Episode 5:

Thanks, and…

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
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Open Your Head

Posted on July 22, 2013 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Open your head…I’d like to share a quick story about love and rhythm.

My lifelong love affair with words and music is no secret. I traveled America for quite a few years as a professional musician. Despite any hardships, pitfalls, and challenges…I loved the privilege of playing music for a living. And I love still writing and singing after all this time. It’s such an honor when someone tells me how much they enjoyed a song I wrote…or my ebooks for kids…or even this Rhyme Time blog.

There’s something very special between me and words. They form a rhythm in my head. I’ve always been a finger tapper. It has annoyed more than one person, but they just have no idea how much rhythm is pulsing through my thoughts at any given moment.

Words form their own rhythm. And I dig for ways to take that rhythm and make it rhyme. I try to get that feeling across to you with every poem I write…every song I compose…every story I tell. Sometimes I finish one of my writing projects, and I can’t wait for someone to read it…to see if they’ll get what I meant. Other times, I’m not quite so sure it was what I meant to say at all. Then there are times I write something, come back to it later, and think…”Why did I ever let that one out?” 🙂

I know I’ll never get tired of weaving words and music (and even my silly drawings) into little works of art. I’m confident that not all of them will be awesome. But I’m also confident this privilege from God always will be.

Open your head
Pour words right in.
Then shake your head
And let ’em spin.
They’ll bubble up
Like polka dots
Into some bright
And bouncing thoughts.
Just let them float,
And let them grow.
When they’re just right,
You’ll let them go
Live on a page
Where they’ll be read…
And poured into
Another head.

Stay tuned,

P.S. I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can show your support, keep my words and music flowing, and keep me off the streets.
Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com
Get my Podcast
Circle me on Google +
Like my fan page on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Watch my videos on YouTube
Get this blog

Peanut Butter And Honey

Posted on July 21, 2013 by TonyMarch 5, 2025

A children's writer makes the case for Peanut Butter Honey

Peanut butter and honey is better than peanut butter and jelly!

There. I said it…I meant it…and I know it’s true. Because I said so, that’s why. I’m just kidding…sort of. I happen to love honey on a sandwich instead of jelly. And here’s the thing…honey, when you get the kind that’s found close to where you live, is a natural antibiotic. That simply means, it helps you fight off germs inside your body.

How cool (and tasty) is that! The jellies you get in most stores won’t do that for you. So, you see…those little bees are watching out for you. They just think they’re gathering nectar for their hives. They don’t realize they were designed to help us humans have a better, longer life.

You’re probably saying “well, I’ll be hornswaggled, honey”. What? You’re not saying that? Well, maybe you’re saying, “Hey Tony. How do I know if the honey is from somewhere close to where I live?” That’s easy Captain Question. You just read the labels. Or get your mom or dad or someone who can read to read it for you. Here at the FunderRanch we get honey that’s either from locations on the front range or from the Western slope. Either way, it’s Colorado home grown and oh so delicious.

And we don’t actually do peanut butter and honey. We prefer almond butter and honey. Or cashew butter and honey. But it’s up to you. One more thing, though. If you choose peanut butter, be sure to look for organic without a bunch of sugar and other junk in it. Believe me…once you add the honey, you’ll never want sugar or jelly again.

Peanut Butter And Honey

Peanut butter and honey
Sittin’ on a slice of bread.
Peanut butter said “Honey…
You and me should wed.
We should be together
And nevermore be apart.
Honey, I really mean it,
And this comes from my heart.”
Honey said “Peanut butter,
We don’t need to get wed.
I’m just a natural sweetener.
You’re just a sandwich spread.
Let’s just stick together
Through every crunch and munch.
They’ll have us back on Tuesday.
The kids love us for lunch.

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,