Free Texting!

I'm serious. It is free!
Even if you don't have a cell phone!
All you need is a google email account and a friend to text.  Google email is free too!
I often use this when I'm at home since I have a very limited (cheap) texting plan, and my kids don't have cell phones, but they have a few friends that do.
Read here to learn how.

Further tips:
If you have friends who are not in your email contacts list, you can still text them after enabling the Text Messaging (SMS) option (under Settings, Labs).
Above the chat list on the left side of gmail, there is a search box. Type in their phone number w/ area code, hit enter, and follow the prompts.
Later, you can just click their name in the list and hit enter to open a text box.

To switch to texting, click on "Send Text (SMS)"

To ensure you are texting and not chatting, their phone number should be visible at the top of the window where you are texting. ↓  If it isn't there, → you are chatting instead of texting, and they may not receive your message.  To switch from chat to texting, click on the down arrow beside More, and select Send Text (SMS).  →

In texting mode, the phone # is at the top.

←After switching to texting, you see that the phone number is at the top.  At the bottom there is a notice that your friend may be charged each time you send a text.  Check w/ your friend to make sure their incoming texts (from you) are free for them.  
The "SMS credit" is explained here.

For the cousins or friends that don't have texting, our kids all just message back and forth using Gmail's chat (both parties must have Gmail accounts).
Some features you will see, including voice/video chat or adding people to a current chat, are not available in texting.

sMiLeS,

Avoiding Temptation

Proverbs 4:13-15, KJV
13.  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14.  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Verse 14 says, "go not in the way of evil men."  Don't even be there!  There are many verses in proverbs that talk about the company you keep.  Proverbs 1:10-16
That last verse (in chapter 4 above) means to do a 180, and don't even walk by temptation!
Don't discuss it.  Don't consider it.  Don't click on it just to see what it is!  Don't give it a second thought, for the moment you do, you are treading dangerous ground.
Proverbs 7:8 talks about a young man who walks by "her" corner...  And sadly, verse 26 (of chapter 7) is true. =(
None of us are immune.

Proverbs 4:23-27, KJV
23.  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out if it are the issues of life.
24.  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25.  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26.  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27.  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Keep your heart! ♥

sMiLeS,