Pilgrims Welcomed Home

Yesterday's Classics - TOS Product Review

2011-05-04T14:19:00.004-04:00

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be—
I had a mother who read to me.
Strickland Gillilan

Reading to my children has been one of the greatest joys in my life. To watch their faces as they listen intently, to hear the words, "just one more chapter!", to sharing tears of happiness and even sometimes tears of sadness, to know life lessons have been learned and remembered, these are just some of the wonders of reading books together.

From Yesterday's Classics website:

Yesterday's Classics republishes classic books for children in high-quality paperback editions. These books, first published in the golden age of children's literature from 1880 and 1920 and long out of print, are reprinted in modern easy-to-read type for today's readers. The illustrations from the original volumes have been included except in those few cases where the quality of the original images was too low to make their reproduction feasible. Color illustrations in the original volumes are rendered in black and white in these editions.

Anyone who knows me knows I am a book fanatic. Walk in our front door and you will immediately see our huge library span the width of two rooms. There's just something about having a good book nearby. With the exception of curriculum for math and science, every book I have bought for our homeschool over the past ten years can be found in our library. Yes, yes, I know.

Our paper books are handled with great care. You don't write in them (I know, Andrew Pudewa is yelling, "Don't listen to her!"), you don't write on them, you don't crack the spine, and you never ever bend a page as a bookmark. Never. I have kept all of these beautiful books because I just don't know if they will still be available for my children should they decide to homeschool their children some day in the future. When it comes to classic literature, well, I'm hooked.

So imagine me having the opportunity to review 225 books in a Kindle format. Wow! is right! Honestly, I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading a book without holding it in my hands, without turning a paper page, or without being able to feel the weight of a massive classic. Well, I got over any hesitations on my part in about three seconds flat! We love reading books on our Kindles (yes, we have two now). Having 225 Yesterday's Classics titles available at our fingertips anytime...anywhere is amazing. I took every single book with me when we were traveling last month. And the weight of lugging all those books around? 10 ounces.

After receiving an e-mail with a link to the download, I was able to download a number of ZIP files in a matter of minutes. We have a very high-speed Internet connection and so I experienced no delays or difficulties in this process. If you have a slower speed service, you might want to get it started and then find something else to do for a little while. After the ZIP files were downloaded, I was able to unZIP each one in seconds and then moved them onto my Kindle. And just like that, I had 225 classic books available to browse and read through. While I didn't read all 225 books, it was easy for me to see how broad was the selection and how great it would be to incorporate many of them into our homeschool.

Here's a little peek at a few titles that really grabbed my attention:

American History Stories, Volumes I, II, III and IV by Mara L. Pratt

Alexander the Great by Jacob Abbott

The Early Church, from Ignatius to Augustine by George Hodges

English Literature for Boys and Girls by H. E. Marshall

Four Great Americans by James Baldwin

Grammar-Land by M. L. Nesbitt

The Growth of the British Empire by M. B. Synge

Hannibal by Jacob Abbott

...I could keep going, but you'd be better off looking through the list of titles along with a photo of the book cover, a detailed description of each book, and the recommended age of the reader. Please, take a few minutes and look at this incredible list.

Now it just so happens my students were writing a report on Charlemagne shortly after receiving all 225 Yesterday's Classics titles. Out of curiosity I opened up my Kindle and searched all of my books for the word "Charlemagne." Within a couple of seconds, I had a list of 27 books pop-up, sorted by the most hits to the least. The first book, The Story of Roland, contains the word Charlemagne 348 times. The second book, Stories of Roland Told to the Children, contains the word Charlemagne 124 times. I was able to point my students to these two classic works for additional information on their subject matter. Without an intimate knowledge of every book in my paper book library, this task could never be accomplished. On the other hand, I learned that Charlemagne appears twice in Moby Dick, but this was not the Charlemagne we were looking for! We performed this same exercise to find books about the Civil War.

Another great feature of having Kindle-based books from Yesterday's Classics is the ability to read multiple books at the same time and having bookmarks automatically created for you. Books can be sorted by title, author, and collections. It even keeps the most recently read book at the top.

Check this out...

Take advantage of this special offer being made by Yesterday's Classics to receive 225 classic titles in Kindle or EPub format for less than $100. That's about forty-four cents a book! If you were to buy each of these printed books individually, the cost would be almost $2500.

Yesterday's Classics book titles cover collections which include World History, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Middle Ages, American History, Early Civilizations, Nature, Fables, Fairy Tales, Biographies, Poetry and many others.

In case you missed it earlier, to see this vast collection of classic titles and detailed descriptions, click here. Please know that this special offer ends on May 31st. After this date, this collection will cost $149.95.

While Kindle has a separate format, the EPub format can be used on a Nook, a Kobo, a Sony Reader, an iPad, an iPhone, or any other type of smart phone. If you're not sure which one you might need, Yesterday's Classics has great customer support. I found the question I had was answered quickly and very much to my satisfaction. Should you decide to add a new format later (you have a Kindle, but end up purchasing an iPad), Yesterday's Classics will provide a link which allows a second format to be received free of charge. Honestly, how can you go wrong with that? Well, just to make sure, they offer a 100% Risk Free Guarantee. If you're not satisfied, they will refund the purchase price.

If that's not enough, without Digital Rights Management (DRM) and other restrictions, you can put these 225 titles on as many devices as you own. In addition, each of the 225 titles has the ability to be printed whenever you choose.

Yesterday's Classics titles include illustrations (in color where they were originally in color, and in black and white where they were originally in black and white), correct page formatting and a table of contents which is very much needed for easy navigation between chapters. While some of these titles can be found for free on-line, these important features are not usually included. I tried one of these non-formatted versions and, let's just say, it makes reading frustrating and much less enjoyable.

Yesterday's Classics titles have been adopted by top curriculum developers such as Ambleside Online, Heart of Dakota, Living Books Curriculum and Tapestry of Grace.

If you love to incorporate classic literature into your homeschool or just want to have quality reading materials for your family, I highly HIGHLY recommend Yesterday's Classics. It was my privilege to review this incredible product.

Thank you, Yesterday's Classics!

Here's some additional company information you might find helpful:

Recommended for ages 4 through 18 although these book titles are appropriate for anyone who loves to read.

Lisa M. Ripperton
Yesterday's Classics
PO Box 3418
Chapel Hill, NC 27515

919-357-8824
9 AM to 5 PM EST Monday through Friday

Lisa@MainLesson.com

Happy reading my friends!

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Epic Fail

2011-04-27T14:03:00.000-04:00

My life has been a little bit crazy of late. Did you happen to notice that? We have a little more than four weeks of school left and I'm all about finishing well. Trust me, it would be so easy to announce tomorrow morning, "We are done with school until September!" But that aint gonna happen. While we have had a great school year, I will be the first to confess that it has probably been the most difficult...for me. Not for my students, but for me. I have felt unsettled most of the time. There's always something else I need to do. That's why I haven't touched my blog (something I really truly enjoy doing) for almost a month. I just don't know how to do it all.

How do you like that math paper? Let me tell you that it always breaks my heart to see either of my children struggling, for whatever reason. I'm sure most mamas are that way. But when it comes to being the teacher who has to put a big fat F on a math paper, it's even more heart breaking. Actually, I'm the teacher who will do anything to avoid a sprawling D. My students will tell you that I'm the kind of teacher who writes a big D at the top of the paper and then follows it with "elightful!" I know it doesn't make them feel better, but it always helps me. And we all know how important that is, right?

On this particular day, my student, who usually does quite well in math, seemed to be having quite a struggle. Actually, as you can see from my little note on problem one (oh so close!) I started off feeling badly for a problem that was missed by the tiniest little mishap. But math is math and if it's wrong, it's wrong. So, imagine my itty bitty heart and how it felt as I continued on down the paper, marking one problem after another, after another. I was already trying to think of a way I could present this epic fail to my student who I was certain would be crying in two seconds flat. Every single problem was almost correct, but not, thereby making it completely wrong. That is until I got down to the very bottom of the paper. Suddenly I can see ink showing through from the next page.

Did you happen to notice the date on the math paper? Mmmm hmmm. Yep.

So, I flip the page and found this (less the grade and smiley faces, of course):

Why, that little stinker of a student actually skipped a page, did the math homework, and then went back and re-wrote the entire paper, carefully altering 11 of the problems, just to GET ME...again! You see, this same student had already played a terrible April Fool's joke on me earlier. I get up pretty early and enjoy a cup of coffee in a quiet house. Afterwards, I head upstairs, open the blinds and then make our bed. On this particular morning, I noticed Mr. Wonderful's pillow was tucked under the blanket so I figured I'd pull it out while I was on that side of the bed. Except it wasn't Mr. Wonderful's pillow...it was Rachel. Let me just tell you that I wasn't expecting anything to jump out from under the covers. Not only did I scream, I had goosebumps on top of goosebumps. She scared the living day lights out of me! Well, as you can imagine, she just laughed and laughed and laughed. I grabbed her and gave her the biggest hug ever, laughing right along with her. No one ever gets Mama!

So, did I even consider that she'd get me again a couple of hours later? Never. But boy, did she ever. What a fun day and what wonderful memories...memories I will always cherish in my heart. I often thank God that our home knows more laughter than tears. Rachel knows a pay back is headed her way sometime. She'll never know until it's too late.

Did I mention that it's Rachel's birthday tomorrow? My little baby girl is turning thirteen. Thirteen. I can't quite believe it myself. We will be celebrating with a couple of special events which will take place between tomorrow and before the end of summer. How's that for a party? I love making birthdays special. And if you know anything about our family, you know 13 is a very special number in the lives of my children.

We're all hanging in there. Spring has finally arrived. Instead of snow storm after snow storm, we have had constant rain. Actually, last week I heard that out of 22 days in April, 15 of them had rain. And it's still raining. Such is life on the Great North Coast.

The cherry trees are in bloom. All of my perennials are popping up everywhere. Oh, I love that! I'm certain the ferns in back have grown 3 inches since yesterday. What a miracle to see an empty patch of dirt suddenly fill with wonderful growing things of beauty. As I look out the window, the huge trillium patch in the woods is about to bloom. And I can't wait to see my peony garden in all its glory.

Happy April! Happy spring! Happy Wednesday! And happy belated Easter!

Monday's Maybe

2011-04-04T15:27:00.000-04:00

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12

Let your light shine today,

The Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

2011-04-01T11:10:00.001-04:00

Photo Credit or should I say, Discredit

How to Make a Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Please ignore the photo of this peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Apparently, whoever made it didn't know what they were doing.

What you will need:

Two slices of stale white bread
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon strawberry preserves
1 wooden toothpick

Place the two pieces of stale white bread on the counter making sure the top and bottom crusts of the bread are rotated so they do not match.

Without using any utensils, move the 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter from the measuring cup onto one slice of the stale white bread. Spread so the peanut butter is about 1 inch thick across the stale white piece of bread. If you chose to use your fingers to spread the peanut butter, it's OK to lick off whatever didn't stick to the bread.

Next, using a wooden toothpick, move the strawberry preserves from the teaspoon onto the other slice of stale white bread. Without puncturing the bread, carefully use the toothpick to spread the preserves, making sure to cover the bread all the way to the edges.

Lastly, without using your hands, place the two pieces of bread together, being sure the peanut butter side and the strawberry preserves side are placed on the outside of the sandwich. This is important.

Take two bites at a time, starting in the middle of the sandwich. If peanut butter gets on your nose, it's OK, no one will mind.

Be sure to have a glass filled with orange juice nearby. Should the peanut butter get stuck to the roof of your mouth, pour the orange juice on your hands.

That's it!

Enjoy!

P.S. Happy April Fool's Day!

P.S.S. Do not try this recipe at home.

Latin Alive! TOS Product Review

2011-03-30T04:15:00.010-04:00

Classical Academic Press
Latin Alive! Book 1

Written by Karen Moore and Gaylan Dubose

Karen Moore – Karen is the head of the Latin department at Grace Academy in Georgetown, TX. She began her Latin studies in seventh grade and went on to receive a B. A. in classics from the University of Texas. She is the author of the Libellus de Historia series, also published by Classical Academic Press.

Gaylan DuBose – Gaylan has been teaching Latin in the classroom for over forty years. He holds a Master’s degree in classics and was the Academic Contest Chair of the National Junior Classical League from 1996 to 2005. He is the author of Farrago Latina: A Teacher Resource Book, and co-author of the well regarded Excelability in Advanced Latin. He currently loves teaching Latin to fifth and sixth graders at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Austin, TX.

Latin Alive! 1 Bundle Cost: $139.95

Latin Alive! Book One ($24.95)
Latin Alive! Book One: Teacher’s Edition ($29.95)
Latin Alive! 1 DVD and CD Set ($114.95)

Latin study recommended for students in junior high or high school

As stated by Classical Academic Press… Latin is an elegant and ancient language that has been studied for many generations. It is also quite alive in our culture, and in the languages we speak today. Latin Alive! is a series of Latin texts for junior high or high school Latin study. Written by experienced and enthusiastic Latin teachers, Latin Alive! is an excellent introduction to the classical language. With an emphasis on grammar and solid understanding of the language, it goes on to frame the study of Latin in Roman culture and mythology, and also to remind us of the many ways Latin is present in our culture today.

Let me start this product review by telling a story.

Two years ago we began our first year of a classical Christian education curriculum that encompasses history, theology, and literature. I am not embarrassed to admit that some of the books we studied that first year were books I had never heard of, let alone read. I’m not embarrassed because, quite frankly, most I knew had never read them either. These were books of antiquity. But I quickly realized I had a little problem. I didn’t know how to pronounce the names. I figured I would solve my problem by contacting the publisher and asking for some help. I mean, couldn’t someone please tell me how to say Herodotus? Or how about Eusebius, or Aeschylus or Oresteia? What about Aeneid or Hammurabi? At the time, the answer I received satisfied me. “No one knows for sure. These are languages no one has ever heard spoken.” Oh. OK. And off I went saying Herodotus as Hair-ro-dote-us. I’ll spare you from the massacre that occurred with all the other names.

Then one day Latin Alive! arrived in our home. I’m sure the color ran out of my face when I realized the answer I was given, “No one knows for sure” was really to keep me from embarrassment or, perhaps from feeling, um, stupid. You see, had I known anything at all about Latin, I would have realized that, while these are languages no one has ever heard spoken, there is a way to know. So, the complete answer should have been, “Learn to speak Latin.”

Amazingly, the very first lesson in Latin Alive! revealed to us how to say each of these names. Were these names in the first lesson? No. But the introduction to the Latin alphabet, the pronunciation of each letter (c is always hard as in cat, never soft as in cent), the consonant blends (ch is pronounced individually like chorus, not like bachelor), and that Latin vowels are either long or short and have only two sounds helped us immensely. There are only six diphthongs in Latin. So, when we see the diphthong ae we know it sounds like the ai in aisle. We now know how to say Aeschylus.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to attempt to teach a Latin course here on my blog! But I thought it important to say that in one lesson in Latin Alive!, taken slowly over a few days, our eyes and hearts were opened to a whole new world.

So, why Latin? Read Karen Moore’s detailed answer here. Let me also quote Amy Barr, a homeschool mom with a M.A. in Latin, from a recent article that appeared in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

“Mastery of a Classical language promotes excellent English grammar, vocabulary, and analytical skills, Classics students tend to be self-directed learners who shine at anything requiring language, logic, or analysis. Advanced students go on to read texts foundational to Western religion, philosophy, and society becomes the next generation of well-rounded scholars in law, history, medicine, science, and literature.”

From the Classical Academic Press website…

Students will be delighted by what they learn in each new chapter of Latin Alive!, Book One, and they will learn to see that Latin is everywhere around them. As the first text in a three-year series, it is a rigorous and thorough introduction to this great language, and is designed to engage the upper school (middle and high school) student. Brimming with relevant facts and stories this text offers something for everyone.

• Thirty six weekly chapters including twenty nine new content chapters and seven review, “reading” chapters.

• Pronunciation Guides

• Weekly introduction of vocabulary

• Thorough grammar explanations including all five noun declensions and cases, all verb conjugations, irregular verbs, various pronouns, adjectives and adverbs

• United States state seals and their Latin mottos

• Extensive study of the Latin derivatives of English words

• Substantial Latin readings and translation exercises

• Lessons and stories of Roman culture, myths and history

• Exercises and questions to prepare students for the National Latin Exam and the Advanced Placement Exam

• Includes historical contributions from Christopher Schlect, historian and Academic Dean at New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, ID

• Teacher’s Materials including answer keys, teacher’s helps and additional activities available separately

As we watched Latin Alive! lessons on DVD each day, we found Karen Moore to be engaging and easy to listen to. We love her southern y’alls and her rolling r’s! Lessons are broken down into sections and exercises making it easy to stop and practice what you’ve learned. The student textbook is non-consumable (exercises are completed on separate sheets of paper). We enjoyed listening to the audio CD of the Unit Review Latin Readings provided to help students practice proper pronunciation and accent.

To see pages of the student textbook, click here. To see pages of the teacher’s edition, click here. To find out what Karen Moore is up to, check out her Latin Alive! blog here. Why there's even a Yahoo! Group for Latin Alive!

If there was one thing I could add to Latin Alive! it would be a speaking Latin dictionary at the website. This is a tool I would pay to use. For those Latin words we are struggling to memorize and that need more practice, it would be an invaluable tool.

Make no bones about it--learning Latin is rigorous and takes practice, practice, practice. Latin Alive! is designed to serve students new to Latin, while a the same time providing further insight and challenges for “veterans” of any grammar school series.

Let me just say, Ama-mus Latin!

If you use Latin Alive! Ama-bi-tis Latin too!

I highly recommend Latin Alive! and am so thankful to have had the opportunity to review and use this product.

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

A Wrinkle in Time

2011-03-29T16:56:00.007-04:00

The first time I noticed it was when I saw Caleb for the first time after we arrived at camp. He had been gone for fifteen days. If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you will remember when he went wilderness camping in the mountains last August. Maybe it was because I hadn't seen him for so long. After all, it was the longest we had ever been apart from one another.

As a mother, I was checking him out to make sure everything was OK. And then I saw it. I looked again and started searching my memory. Had I forgotten? No. I didn't remember seeing it there before. There it was plain as day. And I just couldn't take my eyes off it.

A wrinkle.

When my son smiled, there was a small wrinkle under the corner of his right eye. No, not crows feet. Not that kind of a wrinkle.

I didn't say anything to anyone. Actually, for quite a while I kept it to myself. I kept staring and wondered why Caleb hadn't noticed. I guess he didn't realize I was actually staring. Until that day when the tears came. My tears.

You see, as my son has turned into a man right before my eyes, this little wrinkle came with some of the changes he has gone through. That little wrinkle? Well, it belonged to my brother. My brother has been gone for six years now. Even still, I remember my brother's wrinkle as if he were sitting here in front of me. When he smiled, that little wrinkle would show itself.

Somehow through the amazing transfer of genes in our DNA, my son received that little smile wrinkle from my brother. It's his wrinkle in time.

And I'm happy it's there...so I can remember.

Spring Rains Water the Earth

2011-03-28T14:52:00.008-04:00

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3

In spite of the fact that I sometimes feel like I'm walking around in big circles, life manages to move at a steady pace and in a forward direction whether I am or not. I've often thought that if the world would just stop and let me jump off just a few minutes, I could get my act together and be ready to move forward too. But, it never seems to work out that way.

Just yesterday morning, I was up very early and snuggled on the sofa with my cup of coffee and Bible. As I was turning to the book of Romans, a little folded up piece of paper fell from the back pages of my Bible. There's a little pocket back there that holds a special stash of love letters from my Rachel. She often writes me a little note, you know, just because. I carefully unfolded this little letter to reveal a message she had written when she was only six years old.

On the outside is a little stick figure drawn in orange marker with a talking bubble that says, "a Kiss for Mama"

The inside reads, with carefully formed letters written in thick pencil:

God made me speshel so you and Daddy cood love and caer for me.
I love God is much as you do.
I love you.
Rachel

this is a Bible vers.
Sumit yourselfs then to God, resist the devel and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

As I sat there in the quiet of an early Sunday morning, tears chasing one another down my cheeks, I realized once again how fleeting is time. It waits for no one.

You know, I was certain I had lingered over what my children did and said and accomplished from the moment they were born. After all, I was with them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Did I miss something somehow? I found myself wanting to go back in time. To stay there. All wrapped up in that little hand written love letter, things seemed simpler. Life was innocent. Stick figures were works of art and words spelled phonetically were exciting milestones.

And so I find myself with another Monday nearly over. What do I do? I remind myself to acknowledge the LORD...press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Apologia--Who Is God? TOS Product Review

2011-03-15T15:06:00.007-04:00

"If Jesus Christ came to this planet as a model of how we ought to live, then our goal should be to act like Jesus. Sadly, few people consistently demonstrate the love, obedience and priorities of Jesus. The primary reason that people do not act like Jesus is because they do not think like Jesus. Behavior stems from what we think - our attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions. Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life. We're often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance."

George Barna describing the outcome of a national survey of 2033 adults that showed only 4% of adults have a biblical worldview as the basis of their decision-making.

The word Apologia appears eight times in the New Testament, in the context of people defending their faith or actions by reason and logic.

"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you..." 1 Peter 3:15

Apologia Press

Who Is GOD? And Can I really Know Him?

Biblical Worldview of God and Truth

Volume 1 in the What We Believe Series

Written by John Hay and David Webb

Cost: $39.00 (252 pages hardbound book)

Recommended for children ages 6 to 14

When Who Is GOD? arrived, I was immediately struck by the quality and beauty of the actual book. We have used textbooks published by Apologia for years and this book falls right in line with the high-quality products for which they are known.

Let me just start by saying that by God's grace we have been raising our children under the influence of a biblical worldview since they were old enough to understand language. We have always tried to filter what we read, what we see, what we hear, and what we do through God's Word, the Bible. I can remember when my children were very young (even as teenagers today) and asking difficult questions. I have great comfort in saying the words, "Well, God says..." or "Well, when God created..." The biblical lens through which we look at the world allows us to see with eyes focused on the Creator God. Otherwise, chaos oftentimes rules our lives.

And so Who is God and Can I Really Know Him?, introduces the concept of worldview while laying the foundational truths upon which the evangelical Christian worldview is built: God is truth and He reveals His truth to people; He is the one true and almighty God; He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; He created everything; we are God’s children and are made to love and to praise Him; God meets all our needs; sin keeps us from God; and Jesus is the only way to God.

View a sample lesson here. See the Table of Contents here.

We have been using this curriculum for the past six weeks and have found it to be very well presented, easy to read, and easy to use each day. Like every Apologia book we have read in the past, this text reads like a story, is engaging and thought provoking. With the purchase of the book, a link and password are provided to allow users extensive resources. These resources include optional teacher helps, student notebooking pages, and House of Truth inserts, along with links to on-line Bibles, Bible study tools, Christian Apologetics, Movie, TV and Video Game Reviews, and book reviews. Apologia thought of everything you might need or want to have access to while using this book!

The introduction includes a lesson plan, designed to be flexible and adaptable to each family's needs. While their schedule recommends one lesson every two weeks, three days per week, we adjusted our schedule slightly so we could use the curriculum five days a week. Each lesson is divided into a very specific and consistent structure:

The Big Idea: Main topic of the lesson and a brief overview of what has been learned up to this point.

What You Will Do: Lesson objectives.

Short Story: A story featuring characters with different worldviews. The characters work thorough their differences by seeking council through the bible and their parents.

Think About It: Thought-provoking questions to check for understanding and comprehension.

What You Need To Know: Important vocabulary words and definitions that students can write in their notebooks.

Hide It In Your Heart: Two specific Bible verses to be written in the student notebook for memorization. The first verse has to do with the main theme of the lesson while the second verse pertains to a character trait.

Integrated Learning: Articles related to the main text across the fields of art, math, science, history and more.

What Should I do?: Highlights a specific character trait that should be demonstrated bu the student in response to what he or she has just learned about God.

Prayer: Each lesson concludes with a prayer.

Worldview Study: Introduces the student to the concept of worldview.

House of Truth: Intended to be a hands-on memory aid, the House of Truth is a visual model constructed one step at a time. In this book, the student will complete the foundation and the first wall of the house. A new wall will be added in the second, third, and fourth volumes of the series.

Scripture is used and referenced throughout each lesson. If there is one thing I would change, it would be the use of different versions of the Bible. I wish scripture references were consistently NIV or ESV. Although I understand the desire to want to please its variety of readers, I found verses on the same page citing NIV and NLT a little bothersome. But you can't please everyone!

While the short stories helped develop the main theme of the lesson, we found them to be more in line for younger-aged students. My teenagers were a little, um, tortured by the simplicity of the stories. On the other hand, I can see how they would appeal to younger readers.

We enjoy the notebooking aspect of the curriculum since we use notebooking in other areas of our school day. Not only does notebooking reinforce each lesson, it provides a great vehicle for future portfolio reviews, if needed.

Overall, I think Who is GOD? is a great way to introduce a biblical worldview to parents and students desiring to know more about God and His truths and highly recommend Apologia's What We Believe series of books.

Additional products in this series What We Believe include Who Am I?, Who Is My Brother?, and What on Earth Can I Do?

Truth is eternal, knowledge is changeable. It is disastrous to confuse them.
Madeleine L'Engle

1918-2007

Monday's Maybe

2011-03-07T15:40:00.003-05:00

I'm on the run (what else is new, right?), but wanted to get something posted today. Here's a little photo of Mr. Wonderful's fleece blanket. He selected the fabric. We thought it was adorable. What's not to love about chubby-faced zoo animals smiling back at you?

It wasn't until everything was cut out and I was well on my way getting this blanket put together that Rachel discovered a tiny little typo. Do you see it?

I don't suppose the people in China (who manufactured the fabric) know how we spell the word funny. I mean, a "u" and an "n" look exactly alike depending upon which side of the fabric you're on, right?

We thought it was funny, er, funuy.

I hope this finds you smiling today!

Happy Monday to you,

A Little Girl, A Big Train, and Cookies

2011-03-02T09:39:00.005-05:00

Rachel, our resident engineer

It was her goal to use every single train track, every single train and car, and bridge and tree and building and stop sign and, well, you get the picture. I would have had to take a panoramic view photo to capture the entire layout. The track actually ran under the chair behind her and swirled around in front of the fire place before heading back into town!

I just love this girl! She's amazing. Last night she made homemade chocolate chip cookies (which, I might add, were sent to work with Daddy who notified us this morning that they are almost gone and were receiving rave reviews!). I happened to be walking by when she placed a cookie-filled baking sheet into the oven and then set two timers. The one on the stove was for 12 minutes (for how long the cookies needed to bake). The one on the microwave was for two minutes. Now the timer wasn't actually turned on, it was just set for two minutes and blinking, ready for someone to press the Start button. Needless to say, this threw me for a loop. "What's that for?" I inquired. "Oh, after I take the cookies out of the oven, I need to wait two minutes before moving them to the cooling racks. This is my timer for the two minutes." Really? Really!

She's a machine! Did you know that 1/8 cup is equal to two tablespoons? She had to cut this cookie recipe in half (it makes 80 cookies) and discovered several instances where the recipe called for 1/4 cup. Well, I don't think they make a 1/8 measuring cup, so she went on-line and found a conversion tool. She also discovered that one-half an egg is equal to 2 tablespoons as well. I probably would have just eye-balled the 1/8 cup, added a whole egg and hoped for the best. This usually doesn't work out too well in the world of baking.

But Rachel is all about the details. And that, my friends, is why her cookies were absolutely amazing. Honestly, they were the best chocolate chip cookies ever. Ever.

This little girl wants her own blog. I'm thinking she's ready! Details to follow soon.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy One Year Blogging Anniversary...to Me!

2011-03-01T18:34:00.003-05:00

It's easier to handle all this snow when there's blue skies and sunshine

There's so many things on my mind as I sit here to reflect on my one year blogging anniversary. You can read my original post here. After reading the original post again, I think I have stayed true to what I imagined about having a blog...at least for the most part.

I have noticed a pattern of late, however. My days seem to be so full that I just don't have the time I'd like to journal my thoughts. I'll be honest to say that it bugs me. There's not too many nights that I don't find myself getting into bed and thinking, "I didn't blog...again." By the time I finished today's To Do List, it was already past 6:30 this evening. And I get up at 6 a.m. most mornings. I'll attribute it to a very busy school year and a very busy home-life schedule. I guess I'll just have to roll with it for now and hope things will slow down a little in the very near future. I hope so anyway.

So, here are some rambling thoughts...

Nineteen days until spring. Yes, I am counting down the days. This has been one of the longest and coldest and snowiest and drabbest gray and white winters I can remember in a very long time. Mr. Wonderful would tell you that this has been the worst winter driving weather he can ever remember...ever. I believe last week ended with our fourth blizzard in eight days. A week ago tonight it took him over three hours to drive home. We were all a little distraught about this until we learned that most people were stuck on the highway from 8 to 10 hours due to several jack-knifed tractor trailers just a few miles from our home.

We have discovered a baby squirrel in our backyard that has a strange anomaly. He has no fur on his tail. It's just a little stick-like looking thing that points straight up. Let me just tell you that squirrels look funny with rat tails! I don't know how long he'll survive soaring on tree tops without his tail to guide him.

For the past few days I've noticed the lovely scent of a skunk whenever I walk outside our garage. Yesterday we discovered that a skunk has chosen to make his path across our backyard and through the side woods, following the deer trail. We watched him marking his territory as he waddled through the trees. Great. Just great.

Caleb attended his very first Celtic Ball a little over a week ago. We walked in with him hoping to see some of the ladies in their beautiful gowns, but didn't want to be lingering parents so we quickly headed out. As we were driving away Mr. Wonderful asked me if I was OK. Me? Yes! I am so excited for him! I look over to find my husband with tears rolling down his cheeks. He cannot believe I'm handling this so well! He said that when we walked in with him, he quickly realized that Caleb was in his element. He's a people-person. He's confident. He's never met a stranger. He was comfortable. He didn't need us. And so my husband (who didn't cry when we dumped Caleb off in the middle of a mountain) found this event to be his heart-wrenching moment. Caleb is growing-up. Yes, yes he is.

I trust this finds you all doing well and having enjoyed this first day of March. Thank you for checking in on me from time to time. I am still here.

Much love,

Koch Snowflake (Base-Motif Fractal)

2011-02-21T14:47:00.005-05:00

It warmed up late last week. It was wonderful! Virtually all of the old ugly snow melted over the weekend. It was great to look out the windows and see something other than white. The skies were blue, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing. It was great...while it lasted.

As I sit here this Monday afternoon in February, there is yet again another winter weather advisory. It looks like a blizzard, and from what I hear, the snow isn't supposed to let up until after midnight. Great.

Speaking of snow, here's a little diversion we took last week. Instead of getting out the Algebra books, we decided to try our hands at creating fractals. We each chose one and spent a couple of hours being creative. I have to say, it was a lot of fun!

This is a Koch Snowflake...

We neglected to take a photo of the first nine inch equilateral triangle, but I think it's easy to see it. During the first iteration, every side of the triangle has been substituted with a base-motif. The line you see running down the middle is where two pieces of construction paper have been joined. That line ended up helping keep everything plumb.

Because there's a lot of drawing and erasing required for this fractal, it's best to start out with light pencil lines. Light lines make erasing easy, but viewing photos more difficult. Sorry about that!

The first triangle is the first iteration. The photo below is the second iteration.

In the third iteration, each of the 12 line segments have been replaced with the base-motif again.

And again... (fourth iteration)

fourth iteration finalized...notice the inside corners?

and yet again... (fifth and final iteration)

Isn't that cool?! This is but a speck in the world of fractals! We could keep going except it's virtually impossible to erase any lines after this point. Be sure to look at this link to get a much better idea of base-motif fractals.

photo credit

Hey, have a happy fractals Monday!

P.S. I just noticed this is my 200th blog post. Wow Wee!

Homemade Deep Dish Pan Pizza

2011-02-18T15:57:00.004-05:00

Homemade Deep Dish Pan Pizza

When I think about some of the new things I've learned to do over the past year or so, I'm surprising even myself! Besides learning how to bake a pie, quilting and sewing, I tried my hand at homemade pizza dough back in November. It turned out pretty good the first time. I tweaked it a couple of times and ended-up with this recipe. It's really good, if I do say so myself!

Keep in mind that you can put any assortment of toppings on this pizza. I have found that no matter if it's plain cheese or loaded with lots of goodies, it always turns out fabulous. The crust is golden brown and crispy. Yum!

What you will need:

Medium-size stainless steel bowl coated with 2 tablespoons of olive oil;
plastic wrap

2 nine-inch cake pans
4 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients for dough:

3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of milk (or 7 oz.), heated in microwave for 30 seconds
2 teaspoons sugar
1 packet of instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/3 cups flour, divided into 1 1/3 cups and 1 cup
Extra flour for rolling out dough

Topping:

3.5 ounces pepperoni
1 1/3 cups tomato sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees.

Coat the bottom of each of the 9-inch cake pans with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

In a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together warmed 3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of milk, sugar, yeast; add 1 1/3 cups of flour and salt. Mix on low until dough comes together, scrape down sides if needed. Turn off mixer and let set for 10 minutes. Turn on mixer to low and slowly add remaining 1 cup of flour. I have found that this sometimes needs adjusting (adding a little more milk or having to add a little more flour, if necessary). Increase speed to medium-low and mix until dough is shiny and smooth, about 5 minutes. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough onto a lightly floured counter, gently shape into a ball, and place in greased bowl, turning dough to coat with olive oil; cover with plastic wrap. Turn off oven. Place bowl on the bottom rack of the turned off oven until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising in the oven, place the pepperoni in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate lined with 2 or 3 paper towels. Cover with an additional 2 paper towels and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and use your hands to press down on the paper towels (being careful as the pepperoni may be a little hot) to absorb the oil. Discard paper towels and set pepperoni aside.

Once the dough has risen, remove plastic wrap and transfer dough to a lightly floured counter, divide in half, and lightly roll each half into a ball. Working with one dough ball at a time, roll and shape dough into 9 1/2 to 10 inch round; gently place rolled dough into oiled cake pan. The dough will come up the side of the pan by a half an inch or so. Repeat process for other dough ball. Cover cake pans with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until slightly risen, about 20 minutes.

Note: When I start rolling out the dough, I again turn on the oven to 200 degrees. When I'm finished rolling out the dough, I turn off the oven, cover each cake pan with plastic wrap, and place pans with dough back in the warmed oven for about 20 minutes or so.

Remove plastic wrap from cake pans and ladle 2/3 cup of sauce on each round (if your dough is slightly up the sides of the pan, take the sauce to the edge. If the dough only covers the bottom of the pan, leave a 1/2 inch border around the edges). Sprinkle each with 1 1/2 cups of cheese and top with pepperoni. Bake on the bottom rack of a 400 degree oven until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven; let pizzas rest in pans for 1 minute. Using a spatula, transfer pizzas to cutting board and cut each into 8 wedges. Enjoy!

Another note: Use your favorite bottled or canned pizza sauce. I use Dei Fratelli Italian Sauce right out of the can. If you want to add sausage to the pizza, be sure to brown and cook thoroughly before placing on top of the pizza. I use Bob Evans Maple Sausage by pinching off small quarter-size pieces into a medium hot skillet. I don't turn the sausage until it's caramelized.

Enjoy!

P.S. Yes, this is what we're having for dinner tonight. After all, it's Friday! Did I mention that it hit a whopping 60 degrees today? And that the sun is shining? And that the skies are blue? And almost all of the dirty ugly snow is gone? Yes!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T15:37:00.004-05:00

This is one card Hallmark won't ever sell...

I'm one of those people who choke a little on spending $5 or $6 on a card that will eventually end up in the trash. And it usually doesn't matter if it's Valentine's Day or birthdays or special holidays. I'm a cheapskate. Over the years I've tried to be creative and will actually make something special. But sometimes it's easier to pick one off the shelf. That's what I did this year.

The card above is one I found from Mr. Wonderful a couple of years ago on Valentine's Day. It was right there for everyone to see. Right smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table! I left it there all day long until eventually I had to scoop it up and well, you know. There was a little love note left beside this card on the table, but the truth is, I've never forgotten this creative I Love You from my husband.

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love and many wonderful things that hold lasting memories. Long after the roses have faded and the chocolate box contains only crumpled papers, it's all the little things, all wrapped-up together, that make life special. Those things remain.

Hugs and kisses,

The Princess and the Pot

2011-02-10T08:14:00.005-05:00

Look who got caught with her hand in the flower pot!

This is my precious little niece, Allison. She's 13 months old. This was her second incident in less than twelve hours. The first incident found her standing in the toilet. Yep!

I don't know about you, but I just love her little velour princess outfit.

I remember finding my son, Caleb, a little older than Allison, swinging from the dining room chandelier. I remember finding him hanging from the outside of the upstairs banister. He was smiling. I had nightmares for weeks. I remember finding him drinking from a bottle of rubbing alcohol. I was standing right next to him. This was my first call to Poison Control. I remember him sucking on the nozzle of Round Up. Again, I was standing right next to him. This was my second call to Poison Control. This little boy could scale the kitchen cabinets in 2 seconds flat...and there were no handles. I have a photo of him standing upright on a 3 foot ball. Yes, standing on it. My son lived a constant adventure. As you can see, I lived to tell about it.

If you're thinking, "Well, hey! Don't you think you should have kept a closer eye on him?" If that crossed your mind then you have never had the privilege of being the mother of a child who only stops moving when they are asleep. Even then, their little feet are still moving as they dream about their next adventure.

I think my sister-in-love, who is the greatest mama in the world, is in for some wonderfully memorable adventures! I survived. And she will too.

Then God knew I needed a break and gave me sweet little Rachel. It was a good thing or else I might have ended up on a funny farm.

P.S. If you are still wondering about the rubbing alcohol incident, I had poured a little into the bottle cap to use on Rachel's newborn belly button (I guess you don't do that these days). Caleb reached up, grabbed the bottle, and started drinking it. Poison Control told me not to worry. If he became drowsy, he would sleep off his drunken stupor. Thankfully, it was a new bottle and I don't think he got much more than a sip. Ewww!

The Round Up story? Well, the big bottle of Round Up was sitting on a shelf about 5 feet off the ground. The long-hosed nozzle had fallen off the container and was hanging behind the shelf. Caleb found it there and just couldn't help himself. He started sucking on it. Did you know that Round Up is soap? Poison Control told me he'd be fine.

Standing In Line

2011-02-09T13:03:00.008-05:00

Photo Credit

This article grabbed my attention this morning. This positive article on homeschooling is interesting, but it was the comments that really got me going. Many of the comments are from homeschooling families. Some comments are not. Of course, it's the "some comments are not" that tend to make my blood boil just a little.

Honestly, the socialization claims in this day and age make me yawn. Move on, people! This just proves that anyone who still thinks like this hasn't spent much time, if any, with anyone who homeschools their children.

One of the comments made me think back to a situation that happened years ago when my children were still fairly young. I took them ice skating at an indoor ice skating rink. Once the kids are on the ice, parents who are not skating can wait in a heated, glassed-in room. Basically, you are sitting on the ice with the ability to see everything that's going on, except you get to stay warm!

Along with several other parents, I was sitting there minding my own business when a woman and her husband walked in. She sees another woman seated by herself, we'll just call her Sue, and says, "Hi Sue! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. How's homeschooling going?" Sue responds, "Well, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, I put little Susie back in school this year." The other woman starts blabbering about homeschooling and then gives this stunning reason as to why little Susie is better off in public school anyway...

She has to learn how to stand in line and you can't learn to do that at home.

I kid you not.

It was all I could do to sit there and keep my mouth shut. I'm certain there was smoke coming out of my ears!

Hello? Ever been to the grocery store? Ever been to a gas station? Ever been to a restaurant? Ever been, dear me, to the doctor's office? Well, at least you get to sit in a line and not stand in line, right?

This past weekend our family had the privilege of being involved in a regional speech and debate tournament. Families from several states gathered to watch almost 100 children each participate in five debate rounds (each round lasts an hour and 15 minutes) over two days with a final debate round for the top two teams. In addition, many more students participated in individual speech events which included prose, humorous interpretation, impromptu, impromptu apologetics, informative, rhetorical criticism, extemporaneous commentary, persuasive, and sweeps, which is an event where one student participates in three separate speech categories. The tournament lasts 12 hours the first day and 13 hours the second day. It is a whirlwind of organized chaos. Beautiful organized choas!

Shortly after we arrived on Friday morning, I said I had never seen so many young men dressed in suits all in one place. It was an amazing sight! The girls were all so nicely dressed, many in skirts and suit jackets. What an encouragement to see so many young people being equipped to effectively communicate to the world.

Each family is required to recruit guest judges to judge for debate rounds and/or speech events. Like all of the other families involved, we had several people help judge. One young lady we recruited just happens to be our niece. She's a high school science teacher at a local public school. We had a chance to talk during lunch and this is what I found out...

This was her first time at an event like this and her first time around a group of homeschool students. I was told there was no comparison to the students she deals with daily at her high school to the group of kids she was around for the weekend. She said every student was polite and respectful. She told me the one thing that made the biggest impact on her was judging her first debate round and seeing kids that don't even know one another hug and then stand in a circle to pray. She said it was amazing sight to see!

But our niece also made quite an impact. Here's what our club's debate coach had to say about her...

I just wanted to let you know she was so encouraging to the novice debaters. When I heard her praise for the kids, I was so blessed. I'd never before heard a judge so generous and enthusiastic.

As the Bible says, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11. We were blessed! Kids were blessed! She was blessed!

Caleb joined a homeschool debate club back in October. The meetings are weekly and usually last for three hours. In addition, he has spent at least two hours every school day (Monday through Friday and oftentimes on Saturday), working on his case as well as preparing for his individual speech event. My son has been transformed from sweating at the thought of standing-up to speak in front of people to absolutely loving the idea. He loves debate! At one point over the weekend, I remember saying to myself, "Is that my son?"

I have been around homeschooling families for 14 years. I will admit that even I was amazed at what I witnessed this past weekend. What an encouragement! What a blessing! And we get to do it all again in March, April, and May!

If you've never had the opportunity to see an event involving homeschooled kids, it might very well be worth standing in line.

Thanking God for the freedom to homeschool in America,

P.S. After I posted this I thought I needed to clarify something. As much as I do not like the public school system for a variety of reasons, I am not dissing public school kids nor their families. The article I referenced gave me reason to reflect and pause on our choice to homeschool and I am thankful. By God's amazing grace, we have experienced great success homeschooling our children. Homeschooling, however, is not for every family. I am thankful that when we seek guidance from our Heavenly Father, He gives wisdom and direction for what's best for our children.

How to Make a Fleece Blanket

2011-02-02T16:47:00.007-05:00

Today was a major snow day around here. Everything is closed. It was a perfect day to snuggle in and make Mr. Wonderful's blanket. I started it late this morning and finished it late afternoon. I think he'll be surprised to come home from work and find it waiting for him!

These pictures are of the blanket I made for Caleb around Christmastime. I took pictures so I wouldn't forget what I did, but thought it would make for a fun blog post too. Let me just say this. If I can make a fleece blanket, anyone can!

Here's what you'll need:

Two contrasting fabrics:

Two yards for the top (which is the print), and three yards for the bottom. Have it cut in two pieces, measuring one yard and two yards respectively. The fringe uses about a yard of fabric and I have found it easier to have the store cut the fabric for me.

Embroidery floss in a coordinating color and a large eyed needle

Sharp scissors

Rotary Cutter

Cutting mat

Crochet hook

Sewing machine

The first thing to do is lay the two yards of contrasting fabric on top of one another and trim off the manufacturer's edge. I use a rotary cutter and a cutting mat for this. These are a little pricey unless, of course, you cut out the 50% off coupon for any item at the local fabric store! Actually, I bought all of the fleece on sale when it was 50% off too.

After trimming and lining up all of the edges, pin both pieces together and then, using a zigzag stitch or a stitch that's stretchy (my machine's zigzag doesn't work so I found this other one that works great) and stitch both pieces of fabric together. I use the cut edge of the fabric as my guide for the foot of the sewing machine. It sews about a quarter of an inch from the cut edge of the fabric.

I usually look at the fabric to see if I need to make any adjustments. Caleb's pattern was pretty random and so I didn't need to do anything special to it. Mr. Wonderful's fabric, however, was a grid of squares, so I ended up cutting off about two inches on one side so the blanket looked symmetrical (otherwise I would have had half a square running down the right side of the blanket). His blanket actually matches on both sides and along the top and bottom. I know this isn't necessary, but I just thought it made it look nicer.

The next thing I did was use a strand of embroidery floss to create ties across the blanket. This probably isn't necessary either, however, if you take this added step, it helps keep both the top and bottom of the blanket together and virtually eliminates sagging. I look for a pattern in the fabric and create the ties every few inches or so. Mr. Wonderful's blanket was very easy since I just followed the squares and created a tie at every other one.

In Caleb's blanket, each guitar was tied.

Notice my stretchy stitch!

Creating the base for the fringe is a little tricky if you don't have sharp scissors. Practice first on a couple of pieces of discarded fabric (when you cut off the manufacturer's edge) to get the hang of it. Don't make the slits too big. If your scissors aren't sharp, well, get them sharpened. Otherwise, you will become very frustrated. I know from experience!

Basically, fold over the fabric so there's about a quarter of an inch from the stitch to the fold. Carefully snip through both the top and bottom fabrics at half inch intervals. When finished, you will end up with quarter inch slits along the entire length of the top and bottom of the blanket.

This is the base for the fringe and it runs along the top and bottom of the blanket.

Now, take that extra yard of fabric and cut off the manufacturer's edge. You will want to pull on the fabric in order to determine which way it stretches. Fold the fabric in half so the stretch runs from top to bottom on the cutting mat. Next, using a straight edge, cut the fabric in 8 inch lengths. Then, using a ruler, cut each of the 8 inch lengths into one inch strips.

Are you following me so far? I think it's easier to do than to try and write here!

This is to show you what happens when you stretch the fleece. The top piece is 8 inches in length and an inch wide. When pulled, it stretches to 10 inches. If you cut the fabric 8 inches in length and a half inch wide, you can see it stretches to almost 15 inches! I have done this for fun, but have never actually created fringe this way. More so because it would take so long to make (you'd have to cut slits every quarter inch instead of every half an inch).

Using a crochet hook (this is a plastic hook that came with a pot holder kit that belonged to one of the kids) with the bottom fabric facing up, pull a stretched strip through the hole.

Just like this...

Next, pull the two ends through the loop and pull tightly creating a knot.

They line up very nicely and create a solid fringe all along the top and bottom of the blanket.

And there you have it! A fleece blanket that's very heavy and very warm.

Guaranteed to become the favorite snuggle blanket, especially on cold winter nights while watching Pride and Prejudice. Of course, you can do what I've done and make everyone their very own blanket or just make one really, really big one!

Stay warm wherever you are...

Monday's Maybe

2011-01-31T18:32:00.004-05:00

Caweb and his bwankee

Back in December I decided to make myself a fleece blanket. Oh is it ever yummy! I had so much fun making it and it was such a hit around here that Caleb asked for one for Christmas. Rachel actually made her own blanket out of pink camo fleece. It's absolutely adorable!

So Mr. Wonderful wanted to know when I was going to make him his very own blanket. We actually went to the fabric store together where he picked out his own fleece! It's so cute (zoo critters) and brings a smile to my face everytime I see it.

But poor Mr. Wonderful is still waiting for his bwankee because I've been so occupied with everything else life has brought my way. Well, maybe I can work on it tomorrow while the big snow storm is hitting us. Maybe. Just maybe.

As a little FYI, did you know there's almost one yard of fleece just in the fringe? Yep. This is one very warm blanket. And the fringe...the fringe is very snuggly and cozy and soft. I think it's my favorite thing of all!

Here's to cozy bwankees...and cozy friends,

Girls Day Out...Michelle's Platter

2011-01-28T14:16:00.005-05:00

Here's part two of our Girls Day Out!

Roses that turned out to be more like lollipops!

Just when I thought I was about finished, I started going crazy with dots. Dots and dots and dots!

I had no idea how to finish the edges of the platter, but was pleasantly surprised to see how this little scroll work and dots helped to pull it all together.

Of course, the date stamp as our reminder of this wonderful day together. I just couldn't help myself and continued the dot dot dot thing!

Love the dots!

Rachel modeled the finished platter for me since it was Saturday morning and I decided my "yesterday's hair and make-up" wasn't picture worthy.

I had fun being creative with my little girl! I'd try something a little different with the roses next time. I think that special pencil we used to write on the back of the platters might be helpful for shading rose petals. We'll see. Maybe next time!

Smooches!

Girls Day Out...Rachel's Platter

2011-01-26T16:29:00.008-05:00

The boys were going to be gone the entire day. Hmmmm. What to do. A girl and her mama all alone in an empty house. We never get to be alone really. We wanted to do something special that would take us out of the house. We've been cooped up inside for so long! We thought being creative was just what we needed and so headed out to a great little "make your own pottery" place.

We thoroughly enjoyed lingering over our projects and spent three hours painting together. Three whole hours! We loved every single minute of our time together. It was simply wonderful!

After all that hard work, we went out for a late lunch and then headed home to watch a chick-flick, The Young Victoria. What a great movie! We sipped our hot cocoa and snuggled on the couch until the boys finally arrived back home later that evening.

Here's a look at Rachel's project, from beginning to end...

Starting with a blank "piece of paper" which will become a platter to be used for homemade cookies.

Rachel sponged on a baby pink background and then added big sponged dots which later become beautiful flowers.

The platter is really starting to take shape as the flowers bloom right before our eyes.

Three hours later, the finished platter is gorgeous even before being fired in the kiln.

Isn't it just stunning! I think we both squealed with delight when we arrived seven days later to pick-up the finished platters (I made one too). We both agreed this is something we want to do together again in the very near future.

This little note on the back of the platter will help us remember when we had our fun afternoon together!

A beautiful girl with her beautiful creation!

Tomorrow I hope to post photos of my platter...stay tuned for more creativity!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday's Maybe

2011-01-24T16:45:00.004-05:00

Do Not Disturb!

We have a herd of deer that come through every morning and every evening. Over the almost 14 years that we've lived here, I've never seen anything quite like what we've been witnessing over the past month.

There's a spot behind our house where the deer have decided to start sleeping. The first time this happened it was late at night and there was a full moon. The trees cast long dark shadows against the sparkling white snow. It was simply beautiful!

And there they were. A dozen deer. All nestled down in the snow sleeping. They seem to sleep alone or huddle with just one other deer friend. One might think they'd all snuggle in together to try and stay warm, but they don't. Probably for safety's sake. They start their beds by kicking away the snow down to the leaves. Then they kick the leaves around and slowly sink down, down, down. It is an amazingly peaceful sight!

So imagine our surprise to see six deer decide to take a morning nap in plain sight out our back window. I tried taking a picture, but the reflection kept bouncing back into the camera. The deer were alerted that something was going on. They must have seen the flash go off. So, I snuck around to a small side window and very slowly lifted the frame. I stuck my camera out and clicked. A tree was in my way! I clicked again. Blurry this time. So, I snapped a couple of more and was able to get this one. They knew something was going on! I messed-up their little nap (sorry about that!), but I did manage to get a little token for posterity's sake. Deer do sleep! It's an amazing thing to behold.

I hope your Monday is going well. It's snowing here. And it's still close to zero. But they say tomorrow it's going to be almost 30 degrees. Heat wave! Looks like it's time to pull out the bathing suits! Mmmm hmmm.

Stay warm where you are,

Caution: Vent Post

2011-01-20T16:29:00.007-05:00

Good morning, my sleepy heads!

I snuck in the room to take this picture a few mornings ago. At the very moment Caleb heard the little beep of the camera, he turned and I caught his sleepy eyes in this photo. Awww!

In case you are wondering what on earth my children are doing, this has become a regular first-thing in the morning scene at our home. The kids both grab the books they are reading (Rachel was nearing the end of The Hidden Hand and Caleb is finishing up The Lord of the Rings) and head to the heater vents located on the floor in front of the big window. They usually sit on the vents, but this particular morning they both huddled over them. This very well might have been the morning it was -7 degrees outside!

It's been way too cold here for way too long.

Usually there's a chair and a half positioned in the center of the big window. When the Christmas tree was up, the vent on the left was opened up (there's usually an end table there) and Rachel claimed it as her own. After the tree came down, she asked if we could leave the big chair and end table where they were so the vents would remain open. Why not! I told her when spring arrives (please hurry!) and the heater vents aren't needed so much, we'll move the chair back.

It's funny how these little things can catapult you back in time. When I was a young girl, I can remember getting up in the morning, wearing my long flannel nightgown, and finding my way to the heater vent located in the floor of our kitchen (which was right in front of the sliding glass doors). The warm air would fill my nightgown into a big soft puff and I would stay all warm and cozy. At least until the heater turned off.

As a side note, I'm sure everyone is familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Lord of the Rings. But did you know The Hidden Hand, written by E.D.E.N. Southworth, is considered by some to be one of the greatest pieces of literature written in the 19th century? It was penned in 1859. I think Rachel would not hesitate to tell you that it is one of her all-time favorite books...ever. She could hardly put it down! Having read the last pages, tears rimmed her eyes when she came to me with the book closed. Even though the title of the book never appears within the text itself, the story leads the reader to understand fully how God's hidden hand was upon the life of a young girl named Capitola.

It's snowing here...again. And another winter weather advisory has been issued.

Did I mention that spring arrives in eight weeks. Eight weeks. Please, please hurry! Until then, you might find us (at least the kids) on the vents!

A Tip for Tuesday

2011-01-18T16:27:00.004-05:00

If you happen to have a canine friend who suffers with paw problems (allergies which lead to chewing which can lead to infections) then please feel free to make use of this FREE tip.

Wash or soak your sweet doggie's paws in warm water with a tablespoon or two or Dreft laundry soap. Do not rinse after washing. Thoroughly dry the pads and between each toe with a clean towel. If you can wash your sweet doggie's feet each day, all the better.

The vet told me this was the cheapest way to handle this common problem.

Please keep in mind that a few minutes later I left the vet's office with $235 less in my checking account. Yes, that's right. I'd really hate to find out the expensive way to handle this problem, wouldn't you?

There's more to this story, but I'll spare myself the torture of reliving the details!

Monday's Maybe

2011-01-17T14:54:00.003-05:00

Peanut brittle...and more!

Let me start by saying I find myself in a bit of a dilemma on Mondays. I practically live in my car on Mondays. And so, not being home much, I have found it hard to post a blog on Monday, which then carries over to Tuesday, and sometimes, as you know, beyond that. I find that if I get behind on Monday, I'm behind the rest of the week. Trust me, it's not a good thing.

Hence my thoughts for future Monday posts which I have aptly entitled "Monday's Maybe." Why maybe? Because maybe on Monday I can squeeze in a quick picture and a short blog post. Brilliant, I know. If you see a Monday's Maybe somewhere else out there in the blog-o-sphere, just remember, it started here with Yours Truly!

So, that picture was taken on December 23rd. This was my very first try at making homemade peanut brittle. Our dear friends brought some with them one evening when we got together and, well, we all loved it. They were kind enough to share the recipe and so we just figured it would be a nice little treat over the Christmas holiday.

The recipe was easy enough. Actually, I followed it to a "T". At some point, however, I realized something wasn't quite right. As I stirred the very hot mixture (after it had cooked in the microwave for about 10 minutes), I started seeing little flecks of white. I dismissed it as part of the process (you know, the nuts mix in with the hot stuff and something changes temporarily). That is, until I pulled out the spatula and a portion of it was missing.

But never fear, I thought quickly, grabbed the camera, and made sure I could turn this disaster into a future blog post. Who knew?

I let the entire mess cool into a giant hard mass of rubber and brittle all mixed together. The spatula was stuck right smack dab in the middle! I couldn't help but wonder what poor sorter at the recycle facility would think as it passed him by on the conveyor belt. "Huh? What the heck was that?"

Lesson: Use a heat proof spatula when making homemade peanut brittle.

Here's the great part...our neighbor came over on the afternoon of Christmas Eve with a gift bag for our family. Imagine our surprise to find two boxes of world-famous peanut brittle! And, no, they had absolutely no idea of the disaster that had occurred in my kitchen less than 24 hours before.

Don't ya just love a story with a happy ending?

Here's to Mondays!

Positive Action for Christ TOS Product Review

2011-01-14T12:01:00.004-05:00

Online: www.positiveaction.org
Positive Action For Christ
P.O. Box 700
Whitakers, NC 27891
(800) 688-3008

Positive Action for Christ seeks to supply Bible study materials that teach the heart as well as the head. Because knowledge alone cannot change a child, we strive to equip teachers to magnify the majesty of God before their students.

Bible study curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade.
The Life of Christ
From the Gospel of John

Student Manual: $17.95
Teacher's Manual: $41.95
Teacher's Manual on DVD: $29.95

As stated by Positive Action for Christ...

To many people Christ is merely a historical fact, rather than a living, personal reality. We know that Christ lived, and we know much about what He did; however, even we as Christians seldom experience His presence as we should.

The purpose of The Life of Christ from the Gospel of John is to make Jesus Christ real to your students. Our hope as you journey through this material is that your students will not only know Jesus more, but also love Him more.

If one can judge a product by the way it's packaged, both the outside packaging and the inside packaging, then we knew we had something special the moment it arrived. Positive Action for Christ made an impact on me just by the way they represent themselves and the One to whom all of their materials are meant to glorify. Beautiful. God-Honoring. High-Quality. Professional.

I will start by saying that I have taught Sunday school for many, many years. I have taught my own children since they were very young, even as they memorized entire Psalms, Proverbs, and selections of scripture as gifts to their father for Christmas and Easter. I remember during our first several years of home-schooling, I used a character-building curriculum that based each character trait on a memorized Bible verse. I can remember looking at some of the passages I was to read to them and I would tell the Lord, "This is your Word. You said it and I believe it, but you are going to have to do the work to help my children understand." Some of it was heavy stuff! But you know, I always found God to be faithful.

This Bible study on The Life of Christ is not fluff. Actually, the Scope and Sequence is vast. But, once again, I am finding the Lord to be faithful as we sit together each morning and study The Life of Christ. Do we actually think for one moment that the Lord will not answer our prayers when we ask for our hearts and minds to better understand and live out His Word in our lives each day? Of course not!

Here's a little snapshot from the scope and sequence...

In Lesson 1 we are introduced to John. The aim of the lesson is to reveal the unique characteristics of the Gospel and to compare John with other Gospels. The Life Application is seeing Christ as more than a man and to learn how to see themes in Scripture.

In Lesson 14 (John 5:17-47) we prove Christ's deity. The aim of the lesson is to explain the witnesses to and proofs of Christ's deity and to show that faith saves, not knowledge. The Life Application is knowing the Christ of the Bible, not just the facts of the Bible and recognizing that our obedience (or lack of it) demonstrates who we are.

In Lesson 29 (John 14:1-31) we learn Christ's last words and promises. The aim of the lesson is to show what great things God can accomplish through us, to explain the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and to contrast the world's peace with that which Christ offers. The Life Application is living in confidence in light of the reality of Christ's promises, praying faithfully, and expecting to see God's power.

The student's manual includes:

•Content age-appropriate for middle school or high school
•Illustrations and notes from the teacher's lesson
•An introductory section with reading and homework to be completed in advance
•Additional student research for each lesson
•A Digging Deeper section with further ideas for expanding each lesson
•A recommended reading list
•Original artwork to introduce each lesson
•Full-color pages with charts, maps, and photos
•8 x 10 inch size
•277 pages

The teacher's manual includes:

•35 lessons (one lesson per week)
•Plans for 3, 4, or 5-day a week Bible classes
•Full copy of student's manual with answers
•Reproducible quizzes and unit tests that use a variety of testing techniques
•Overhead transparency masters
•342 pages

In Lesson 3 we learned about the geographical and political situation at the time of Christ's ministry. You have probably read these verses many times before:

John 4:54-5:1
This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews.

Well, when we studied the terrain and geography where Jesus walked from Judea to Galilee and then went up to Jerusalem, it made quite an impact to learn that Jesus walked about 90 miles over coastal plains and hills to get to his destinations. That's about how far we drive to church and back! The climate varies so much that when snow is falling in Jerusalem, only ten miles away tourists might be baking under the sun in 90-degree temperatures at the Dead Sea!

These are the kinds of things that help bring the Bible to life. Pictures have been painted in our mind's eye that will long stay with us.

In addition, each lesson has a corresponding quiz as well as unit tests. I wondered how well my students would remember everything they learned in such a short amount of time, including the Bible verses they memorized with each lesson. Teaching the Bible Descriptively, Dramatically, and Devotionally really helps God's truth become real. I have been amazed at what we have learned and remembered!

As you can tell, I'm pretty excited about Positive Action for Christ's bible study on The Life of Christ. We are learning so much and plan on continuing our lessons long after this review has been posted. Needless to say, I highly recommend this Bible study. If you find the cost of the Teacher's Manual a bit pricey ($41.95), the Teacher's Manual on DVD for $29.95 would work quite well and might even be easier to use than the 3-ring binder.

Positive Action for Christ exists to equip Bible teachers to magnify the majesty of God by publishing God-focused Bible curricula and resources that will dazzle the next generation with His glory and grace.

To learn more about Positive Action Bible Curriculum, click here and here.

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Virtual Nerd TOS Product Review

2011-01-12T05:00:00.003-05:00

vir·tu·al
Computer Science Created, simulated, or carried on by means of a computer or computer network

nerd
A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept

Well, let's just forget the "socially inept" part of this definition since it certainly doesn't apply in this case!

If you have a child that is struggling with algebra lessons, physics problems and other math and science subjects, Virtual Nerd provides hundreds of interactive, video-based tutorials that offer a friendly, interactive and accessible way for students to learn.

If you want to get a better understanding in a short minute, click here and then click on the "view our intro video." Sorry, I can't imbed the video here in this blog, but it's only two tiny clicks away and well worth your time if you really want to see what it's all about.

I have used YouTube a few times to try and find more detailed explanations for our homeschool math curriculum. I have found YouTube to be very helpful as long as the explanation was clear and precise. If it wasn't, well, I kept looking around until I found something I thought might be helpful. Often times, after viewing a minute or two of the video, I realized it wasn't what I was looking for after all.

So, let me make this clear...while Virtual Nerd uses video tutorials, it is nothing like watching a video on YouTube which merely allows you to pause the video, skip around and repeat segments. There is no way to immediately and directly drill down to a related video for more detail about a particular step. This is what really sets Virtual Nerd apart from the competition.

Virtual Nerd's individualized learning platform combines step-by-step video tutorials with supplemental explanatory text and graphics. The text and graphics are synchronized with the video, and they provide an additional level of detail around each step in the tutorial, which students can access anytime they want. Links in the form of frequently asked questions are also available for students to click on. Clicking these links calls up new tutorials which help with the specific part of the tutorial they are confused about. This is what allows different students to get different levels of help with different concepts and drill down for even more help in areas where they have a specific need.

Here is a screen shot (click on each photo to see the entire image) from "What is the distributive property?" so you can see what happens while watching an interactive video...

and another showing additional video tutorials available on the subject...

Here's an excerpt quoted in part from an interview in edtech digest of Joshua Salcman and Leo Shmuylovich, the creative geniuses behind Virtual Nerd...

A student can simply click for more detail during a step that confuses them, and the e-learning platform will pause the main tutorial and superimpose a more detailed and focused tutorial that fills in whatever conceptual gap the student may have.

This unique feature allows students to customize the level of depth and detail they see. Different students may start at the same point and each take a completely different path. One student may get everything she needs from a single 3- to 7-minute tutorial. Another student may drill down to review two or three tutorials covering supporting concepts. Students can branch out, drill down, dig deeper, and find their own way through the material in the order that makes sense to them.

Another thing that’s unique to Virtual Nerd is that their system makes possible a bi-directional connection between instruction and assessment. What this means is that, (1) while reviewing a tutorial, a student can request a practice problem to test their comprehension of the concepts covered in that tutorial; and (2) if a student gets a problem wrong while taking a practice quiz, they can click a link to review a tutorial that explains the process for solving that exact type of question.

Virtual Nerd is completely free for teachers. Unfortunately, this does not include homeschool teachers at this time.

Virtual Nerd offers the following options:

1 Day Plan: $5 one-time fee

1 Week Plan: $19 one-time fee

Monthly: $49 recurring

3 Months: $129 one-time fee

Basic Plan: The Basic Plan is free and provides access to a sampling of about 20 percent of the tutorials in Virtual Nerd's library, mostly focused on basic concepts.

Premium Plan: The Premium Plan has a monthly subscription rate of $49 per month. In many places, that is equivalent to a single hour (or less) working with a private tutor. All Premium subscribers have unlimited access to the entire library of tutorials in all the subjects offered, as well as practice problems and other new features as they are released.

Virtual Nerd accepts Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and PayPal, and their 3- 6- and 12-month packages provide substantial discounts of up to 32 percent.

For additional information and to find answers to commonly asked questions, click here.

I will end by saying that Virtual Nerd is way cool. Although the monthly premium membership is too pricey for our homeschool budget right now, I really like the fact that we have the option to pay for a day or a week of instruction should we find ourselves needing a tutor.

If you're stumped by concepts in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 1 and Physics, Virtual Nerd is just a click away!

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Happy New Year? Yep!

2011-01-11T16:04:00.004-05:00

The back of Rachel's handmade card to me on Christmas morning...

I suppose it's a little late to be saying "Happy New Year", but since it's still January, and it's officially 1/11/11, I guess it's OK.

Happy New Year!

I am trying so hard to get things back to normal since our Christmas break. Every time I turn around, there's something else that pops up and demands my attention. I guess this is just one of those times in my life when constant juggling no longer works well. I am finding I must set a few things down and walk away. Just walk away! Oh, is that ever hard to do!

I have hated not blogging, but I just haven't been able to fit it into my crazy schedule. I have given up on checking Facebook. I just don't have the time. And it all takes time, doesn't it? I think it's somehow meant to make life easier, but I have found that oftentimes it just complicates things for me.

I send my warmest greetings on this wintry snowy day. Thank you for stopping by. I've so missed my blogging friends!

S.W.A.K.

Parkside Church Christmas 2010

2010-12-22T15:43:00.004-05:00

Here is the video to the Christmas concert!

I must say, I've been to many Christmas concerts over the years. This one, by far, is absolutely breathtaking.

I hope you are able to take the time to listen and watch. If we are anything alike, my friends, you will find yourself singing along at times, getting goosebumps, tapping your foot, and having your eyes fill with tears of joy. While I love every single song, O Holy Night is my favorite. Well, then there's Jesus! What a Wonderful Child! Let me know which song is your favorite and why.

Be sure to listen to Alistair's gospel message around the 39 minute mark.

Parkside Church Christmas 2010 from Parkside Church on Vimeo.

Do you love OneVoice Gospel Choir from Cedarville College as much as we do? Amazing! You can see them enter around the 18 minute mark.

Merry Christmas!

May your heart be moved to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

P.S. See if you can find Caleb and Rachel. Here's a hint: Rachel is in the front row, the very right corner. Caleb is almost in the center of the center of the choir. Our dear friend, Alex, is standing on Caleb's left.

Stuck on Me

2010-12-21T14:26:00.004-05:00

Home at last...

Remember the post about our refrigerator dying the day after Thanksgiving? Well, a few days later, my brother-in-love, Gary, came over to help Mr. Wonderful move it out to the garage. It's proper burial will come at a later time.

Gary brought with him an appliance dolly which made moving the huge refrigerator a little easier. Because the refrigerator was so wide, it had to be taken out the front door (after removing the refrigerator handle and the hinge on the front door). But, I digress...

Imagine our surprise to find eight magnetic letters stuck to the underside of the refrigerator. There they were, plain as day: E, G, N, Q, T, W, X and Y. Thank goodness there was a vowel mixed in there!

I realize this is not world breaking news or anything important, but, I'm here to tell you, when I saw them, I realized they had been there for a very long time. Do you know how long it's been since my kids have played with magnetic alphabet letters on the refrigerator? Yes, a very long time!

No amount of sweeping or cleaning would have ever revealed their location. They were literally stuck on the bottom of the refrigerator. Apparently, they fell on the floor with the magnets facing up. When we removed them, they had quite a collection of dog hair and dust bunnies stuck to them. But they washed up quite nicely, don't ya think?

I couldn't help but think of Toy Story. Remember how Jessie was pushed under the bed and left there collecting dust? Well, I suppose, these poor Alpha-buddies probably wondered if anyone would ever come to their rescue.

Never fear!

It only took the death of the refrigerator to realize they were even missing in the first place!

And yes, I intend on keeping them. A wonderful little treasure to pull out someday so we can recall those early days when spelling names and leaving love notes were exciting moments for tiny little hands.

They'll always be stuck on me...

Christmas Concert Memories

2010-12-20T16:14:00.004-05:00

This is such a beautiful time of year, but it's also a busy time. The kids had the privilege of performing with the adult choir at church for the Christmas concerts. There were four concerts in all, spanning a three-day weekend. We have already had a couple of huge winter storms hit here on the Great North Coast, and the possibility of a third monster storm was to arrive on Sunday evening during the last performance.

We prayed. Everyone prayed. God was faithful and held back the big snow until after everyone was safely home late Sunday night. The performances were beautiful with Christ where He belongs...on the Throne!

And the storm? It hit in the early morning hours on Monday. We all woke-up to another blizzard!

Here are some pictures that capture a few wonderful memories of Christmas at Parkside!

Caleb in his very first tuxedo and Rachel wearing Mama's pearls. You probably can't tell, but Rachel is also wearing mascara. Just a little. The girl was born with brushes attached to her eyelids, I tell you! I've never seen anything like it. Now I know why there's such a thing as an eyelash curler. As you may have guessed, I have never ever had a need for one of those!

My "Spy Kids"

Caleb, posing after the very last performance. I think this has become one of my all-time favorite photos of him.

And here's Miss Rachel, looking all aglow before the first performance.

We were so thankful to have our neighbor, Stacey, along with her mother and grandmother, join us for the Saturday matinee performance. Stacey and her family moved in behind us when I was nine months pregnant with Rachel. She has been like a daughter to us and an older sister to Rachel since the day she was born. We were talking about how Stacey was 11 when we first met. Now, she's all graduated from college and just turned 23! My how time flies.

Caleb posing as a Steak 'n Shake waiter! The serious face was on purpose. Everyone was laughing while I was trying to get his picture since he looked exactly like the Steak 'n Shake ads!

One of the highlights for the kids was being able to go to Steak 'n Shake after Saturday night's performance. It wasn't because they got to go to Steak 'n Shake. No, it was because all of their friends and their families were going! The place was jam packed with people dressed in formal attire. You should have seen all the women in long black gowns! We could have had a flash mob right there in the restaurant. You remember what a flash mob is, don't you?

Hey, thanks for checking in on me! I feel like I've been so overwhelmed with so many things of late. I hate not having time to blog. But, we're all doing well. Mr. Wonderful has just started his third week at the new job. We are still so very thankful for this miracle!

I hope this Monday finds you preparing your heart for the week ahead as we try to slow down and think about the true meaning of Christmas. God's richest blessings to you!

Much love,

ALEKS TOS Product Review

2010-12-13T15:12:00.005-05:00

You know, I was thinking I could make this the shortest review ever by quoting my daughter, Rachel. The first time she used ALEKS, this is what she said...

"Awesome!"

The second time she used ALEKS, she said this...

"I love this!"

I could tell you what she said every single time she used ALEKS, but it would just be more of the same. She loves ALEKS!

Actually, after she had been using it for a few weeks, I asked her if there was something she didn't like about ALEKS. She said, "You know, I don't think there's a thing I don't like about it!"

And this comment comes from a girl that makes a To Do list each morning, checks off everything that she has completed and, like her mother, writes in those things she has completed that weren't even on the list, and then checks them off. I know. I know. Needless to say, she is a very detail-oriented young lady. If she had a problem with ALEKS, she would have found it and said so.

But alas, I can't just make this the shortest product review ever because it deserves much more attention than a few sound bites.

So, let me tell you about ALEKS (in their own words)...

What is ALEKS?

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system that uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS offers truly individualized instruction that meets the student at her learning level and instructs her on the exact topics that she is most ready to learn. As a result, no two students will experience the same learning path while working in ALEKS. Learn more by watching a quick 2-minute video.

ALEKS can provide you with the instruction and support that you need to homeschool your children in mathematics for grades 3-12. With a comprehensive course library ranging from elementary school math to complex subjects such as PreCalculus, ALEKS acts much like a human tutor to help take the stress off of homeschooling parents.

ALEKS offers highly-targeted, individualized instruction from virtually any computer with Internet access, making it a comprehensive and mobile education solution for your children. A subscription to ALEKS offers access to all courses and your child may take as many courses as needed during their subscription period.

ALEKS is a Research-Based Online Program:

• Complete Curriculum Solution for Math with Access to Full Course Library
• No Textbook Required
• Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
• Assessment and Individualized Learning for Grades 3-12
• Master Account Includes Quizzing and Automated Reports to Monitor Learning Progress
• Unlimited Online Access - PC and Mac Compatible
• QuickTables - Complimentary Math Fact Mastery Program for Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction

Learn More

ALEKS has been used successfully by homeschoolers, as well as by millions of students at schools and educational institutions throughout the world. Additionally, some ALEKS course products are American Council on Education (ACE) credit-recommended, meaning that your student may be eligible for college credit at participating colleges.

MyPie: The ALEKS Pie summarizes a student's current knowledge and offers topics that the student is ready to learn next. The darkened portion of each pie slice represents the topics that the student has mastered and the lighter portion represents what the student has yet to learn.

Explanations: When a student is working on a particular problem, she can access an explanation of that problem by clicking on the "Explain" button. The explanation typically provides a step-by-step solution, with commentary. In some cases, an alternative or more detailed explanation is also available.

Feedback: Students receive immediate feedback and, in some cases, suggestions for correcting mistakes.

Learning Mode: The Learning Mode provides students with practice problems, and offers explanations of topics and procedures as needed. Once a student has demonstrated mastery in the Learning Mode, the topic is added to the ALEKS Pie, and new material that the student is now ready to learn becomes available.

Input Tools: ALEKS provides a free response environment and sophisticated input tools that avoid multiple-choice and require students to demonstrate content mastery.

Master Account Homepage: Easily manage all student accounts, monitor student progress, view customized resources, and more.

Quiz Results: Quizzes are automatically graded and the results are available to both the parent and student immediately.

Student Progress Report: Track student progress made throughout the course. The blue bar represents the percent of course material that the student has mastered during an ALEKS assessment; the green bar represents the percent of new topics the student has mastered in Learning Mode since the last assessment; and the yellow bar represents the percent of topics the student has yet to learn in order to complete the course.

There are many other features including a Student Attendance Report which tracks student time spent in ALEKS per day, the topics attempted, and the topics mastered and added to the ALEKS Pie.

Here's a little side note, if you're interested...

Mr. Wonderful is a math major. He was very curious and wanted to spend some time on ALEKS just to see what all the hype was about. Let me just say that he got a little bit addicted to solving math problems while on ALEKS! He couldn't help himself. Like starting a puzzle, he just couldn't quit until he had completed his PIE! Even Mr. Wonderful thought ALEKS was a great teaching tool.

Here's the scoop on ALEKS:

A subscription to ALEKS is

$19.95 per student, per month, or

$99.95 every six months, or

$179.95 every twelve months.

You can also learn about their Family Discount Program.

PLEASE, BLOG READERS, DON'T MISS THIS!

I have been asked to pass along this message from ALEKS...

We invite to share the ALEKS free 1-month trial ($19.95 value) with your blog readers who are homeschoolers. We only offer a 48-hour trial directly from our website, so this is a special offer only for homeschoolers who are new users to ALEKS. Click on the blue box below in order to take advantage of this very special offer!

Let me end this product review by quoting Rachel one more time...

"I just love, love, love ALEKS!"

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Little Lambs Nativity

2010-12-08T10:20:00.008-05:00

While we have several Nativity scenes in our home during Christmas, this one is by far my favorite. Here's the story...

When Rachel turned two years old, she was placed in a very special Sunday school class. I remember hearing parents talking about how they had hoped their child would be chosen for this very special class. The class was known as the Little Lambs. The teachers of the Little Lambs were Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim. Now, I don't know if you know anything about teaching two-year olds, but let's just say it can be challenging. So imagine a room filled with two-year olds.

I was amazed week after week after week how this amazing couple taught Sunday school. They did not give these kids a toy box filled with toys to entertain them for an hour, they taught them a Sunday school lesson and had a host of activities from the moment they walked in until the moment we picked them up. Every single week. And they heard the Gospel message every single week.

You will notice below there are twelve wooden blocks. The first block was given to a child to complete during their first month in attendance. On each subsequent month, another block was given to the child until, at the end of the year, each child had a complete Nativity set. What you do not see here is the wooden apple basket the Nativity set came in nor the back of each block which contains a unique scripture verse.

Each wooden block has a hand drawn picture adhered to it which was then painted by the child (or had cotton balls glued to create a lamb, etc.). Yes, uniquely created by the hands of a two-year old child. Isn't it amazing?

Isn't the little bundle of straw adorable?

The Fruit of the Spirit as taught to a two-year old

And there's Rachel! She's represented on the "Salvation" block.

Look how sweetly baby Jesus is covered in cloth and there's Joseph with his curly black beard!

Even the donkey has a beautiful warm blanket.

I have taught Sunday school many years, but I have never seen anything quite like this class. Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim loved and prayed for these kids as if they were their very own. I remember when Rachel informed me that someday if she had a little girl she would name her Linda. Rachel received Christ when she was days away from turning three years old. How can a three-year old receive Christ? Ask Rachel. She vividly remembers this time in her life. Certainly God used the faithful witness of Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim to influence the life of our little girl.

Now I don't remember how this came to be, but I entered Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim into a national Sunday school teacher of the year award. I simply wrote a letter explaining why they were so special and the impact they were having on the youngest of children. I remember when I received the phone call from the organization telling me they had been chosen as one of the top ten Sunday school teachers in the country! The church surprised them with a special celebration and they were honored with a beautiful award, surrounded by a classroom filled with two-year olds. I am sure this celebration pales in comparison to the celebration that will take place in Heaven!

Did I mention that at Easter each child was sent home with a container which held a Monarch butterfly chrysalis? Mmmm hmmm. New Life explained to a two-year old in a way that would never be forgotten.

All these years later, we still correspond at Christmastime and Rachel always receives a birthday card from Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim. All of their children are now grown and married and they even have grandchildren of their own!

God bless Mrs. Linda and Mr. Jim. May their legacy live on in future generations!

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

Christmastime is Here Again

2010-12-06T14:22:00.004-05:00

We put up the Christmas tree over the weekend. I will admit that as I've gotten older, I don't really enjoy the putting up part as much as I do the ambiance it brings after all the decorating is completed. Oh, we always have our favorite Christmas music playing on the iPod. And we stop for a break of hot cocoa. This is probably one of Rachel's favorite things to do. She loves opening all of the ornament boxes and she loves placing the specialty ornaments in just the right spot. Mr. Wonderful thinks I would enjoy it much more if I would chill out and hang just a few things. Forget the tricky garland. Forget the gigantic bulbs that anchor the tree. Forget balancing the colors. Just stick a few things on the tree and be done with it. Well, that ain't gonna happen! Nope. Decorating for Christmas might be work, but it's wonderful when it's all said and done.

I started a tradition when the kids were babies. I purchased a Christmas ornament for each of them after Christmas was over. You know, when it's 80% off! The box is labeled with the year it was purchased. Each ornament has a story. I took a few pictures and thought it might be fun to share several with you.

These photos aren't in any particular order.

Last year we read a ton of classic books for our literature, history, and theology course. It required about two to two and a half hours of reading a day. It was big! We loved it and I commemorated the first year of this curriculum with reading ornaments. This is Rachel's. Caleb's Once Upon a Time is a little further down the photo list.

Another ornament belonging to Rachel. This was from the year we went to Disney World.

A handmade Nativity which happens to be one of my favorites. Caleb made this in Sunday school in 1999 when he was three and a half years old.

I made this little ornament when Caleb was 17 months old. There's a poem I wrote on the little piece of paper attached to the ribbon. This is what it says:

The Silly Reindeer

I know this reindeer looks silly and dumb
but if you look closely you'll see two thumbs.

Look now and do not linger
for right beside them are eight little fingers!

Look below and you'll see a face
with toes on top that are outta place.

On bottom is a nose to boot
that helps to hide Caleb's foot.

Merry Christmas 1997

The year Caleb fell in love with Curious George. I think we must have read every Curious George book ever written!

Caleb's ornament from last year, 2009. Behind it is Rachel's Precious Moments ornament from the year she was born.

A gift from my mother-in-love to Mr. Wonderful and me for our first Christmas together.

Rachel and Caleb ice skated weekly for seven years. This ornament belongs to Rachel.

Oh, the year we all fell in love with Lord of the Rings. One of Caleb's favorite characters, Gandalf.

My idea is to have a wonderful ornament collection to give to each child when they get married or move out on their own. I suppose I never considered how I might feel putting up the tree for the first time without their special ornaments. I've grown attached to them and all the memories they hold.

It has been snowing here like crazy. We're under a winter weather advisory until late tomorrow night. I'm so glad we're inside where it's warm and cozy.

Here's a little tune to get you in the mood if you're not already...

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...

Hello? Anyone? Hello?

2010-12-03T14:44:00.006-05:00

Do you remember the Screaming Woman?

I'm just throwing this in here because I'm a little frustrated at the moment. I will admit, however, that I'm not stressed out and screaming like I was this past July 21st.

Actually, we're all still floating around a little bit at the wonderful news we received on Tuesday night. We are so blessed and thankful.

Anyway, I took the time yesterday to completely overhaul my blog, you know, so it would be nice and pretty for Christmas and our wintry-snowy season. Did you get to see it? Anyone? I thought it was so lovely, all baby blue and sparkly.

I guess I went against my better judgment and chose a blogger background from You Know Who. It appears the entire site is down again.

Maybe by the time this posts, the pretty blue background will magically re-appear. But then again, maybe it won't. So, sometime between now and well, whenever I have a chance to pick a new background and take the time to re-design everything, you might find yet another new festive look. In the meantime, it will be that boring Minima background that looks minimal. Just use your imagination, right?!

I do hope to post what used to be part of my Friday blogging pattern...a favorite recipe! We're having homemade pan pizza tonight.

Until then smooches,

My Times are in Your Hands

2010-12-01T14:23:00.003-05:00

Looking out our back door last January

Today is December 1st. We woke-up to find a candy coating of snow on everything outside and, even now, it is snowing. It's pretty to watch snow as it slowly falls from the sky and changes the landscape. I knew it would arrive sometime...snow. I'll admit that I'm glad it has held off until now. With Christmas just around the corner, snow seems more appropriate some how. It didn't snow here in November. That's not normal for our neck of the woods. But then again, things haven't been normal around here for quite some time.

Mr. Wonderful has been without a paycheck for quite some time. He found himself receiving an unemployment check this past June for the very first time in his life. Like so many other small business owners, the family business that has employed most of his family and many others for the past twenty-five years has come to an end. It has been heartbreaking to watch the slow death of this once vibrant and growing company. I would liken it to the death of a close family member as you helplessly watch them suffer and slowly die. It's been horrible. And it's been extremely difficult knowing there's absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop it. So, a set of parents, their five sons and their families, along with almost a hundred other employees and their families have all had to say goodbye. Even as I write this, I still cannot believe it.

It has been so hard watching my husband spend 8 to 10 hours a day, just looking for work. In today's world, everything is done on-line. Resumes are submitted on-line. Extensive applications are entered on-line. Hour and a half long tests, countless times, are taken on-line. Interviews are given on-line. Psychological tests are given on-line. And my favorite, writing poetry in order to even enter into the on-line application process. I kid you not. Once when he tried to contact a company by phone, he was told that if they allowed applicants to call in to ask questions, they would have to hire two full-time people just to answer the phones. Brutal is an understatement. The reasons for what seemed like endless rejections were even harder to comprehend.

And so yesterday morning our family gathered around the kitchen table to pray. And once again, in thankfulness, we called upon the Lord to hear our prayers and answer them according to His will. He alone knows our future. Surely the Lord sees what we cannot. We have continually prayed we would "consider it all joy" and learn the many lessons He has for us. We prayed we would be found faithful and not falter through these difficult times. I am ashamed to admit that I have stumbled many times.

Yesterday we found ourselves, like so many others, receiving our last unemployment check. Twenty-six weeks goes by quickly when you're not working. It's not much, but it was enough for us to help keep our nose above water. When you read the statistics that most families are two paychecks away from homelessness, we recognized God's provisions for our family. While we have exhausted much of our resources over the past 18 months, we are thankful we had resources to draw from.

Have you ever heard that saying, God is NEVER late but seldom early? Last night Mr. Wonderful received an e-mail which contained the first of its kind. A job offer...a job offer that exceeded any expectations. And they wanted to know if he could start on Monday.

How do you respond to that? Is "thank you" really enough? We gathered again as a family and through many tears thanked God for His mercy. We prayed our memories would not be found on the short side, like the Israelites' when they left Egypt, but that we would remember this time, for all time.

I found myself early this morning pondering what had transpired over the past 24 hours. I want so much to remember that moment in time when we discovered God's hand in our lives. It felt like the last possible moment to us. I know it didn't seem that way to Him. He knows all things and sees all things. His timing is perfect.

From Babbie Mason's Trust His Heart...

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see his plan
When you can't trace his hand
Trust His Heart

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. ...I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:1-2, 14-15

With a thankful heart and overwhelming joy,

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

2010-11-29T17:53:00.005-05:00

This no longer looks as appetizing as it did a few days ago...

A plate filled with food on Thanksgiving Day

Starting at noon on the plate above:

Old World Stuffing (my very own creation which includes Tuscany bread, bacon, walnuts and apples)
A tiny dollop of cranberry sauce
Yes, that is the very famous Carrot Souffle
Awesome Broccoli Cheese Casserole with both Ritz Crackers and French Fried Onions on top
Sweet Potato Casserole with roasted pecans in butter and brown sugar
A slice of ham and turkey
Your basic frozen shoe peg corn microwaved before serving...
and in the middle, roasted garlic mashed potatoes with turkey gravy (the gravy was from a jar this year and, well, it worked for me since no one else here likes gravy).

Rachel made four fabulous pies: two pumpkin, one peanut butter, and one coconut cream. Dear goodness, this girl can cook!

And, no, we did not eat four whole pies! We took them to a get together with family later in the day. Thank you, very much!

I've hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our home for the past thirteen years. In all those years, I've never taken a photo of a plate filled with food. I suppose it was because there was between 20 and 25 hungry people milling about as I finished mashing the potatoes (always the last thing I do before dinner is served) and as my dear aunts helped make the gravy and slice the turkey or rib roast or ham. I was always too busy to take pictures and by the time things had settled down, I wanted to sit down with everyone else.

This year was different. It was just us. Four people. We decided to do things quite differently. Rachel set a formal table using our wedding China, silver, and crystal. We decided against the white linen table cloth although we splurged and used the white linen napkins. She insisted on lighting long white taper candles. And so we ate our Thanksgiving dinner with the lights off and the candles flickering. It was a lovely atmosphere and I am thankful for the memory. This was the first year I slept in. And this was the first year I took a nap in the afternoon. I must say, I liked it!

Now, rewind to four days before Thanksgiving.

We went to church and came home knowing we had a short break before we had to leave for Rachel's piano recital. The moment I walked in the door from church, I knew something was wrong. The house was cold. I peeked at the thermostat and sure enough it was cold as it read 65 degrees (we keep the house at 68 during the day). Mr. Wonderful went downstairs and discovered that, once again, the ignitor on the furnace had died. I think this is the third or fourth time this has happened in 15 years. He called the heating and cooling company (remember, it's Sunday) and within a few minutes received a call from the repairman telling him he would arrive at 1 o'clock...exactly the same time we need to be at Rachel's recital. He explained our predicament to the guy, but realized heat in the house was more important than a recital. And so it was decided that Mr. Wonderful would stay home while the kids and I headed for the recital. Within about three minutes, the phone rang again. It was the repairman. He had received a repair call just a few minutes before ours. He called them, told them our situation, and asked if they would switch appointments. Amazingly, they agreed to switch. Even more, he was pulling into our driveway as he spoke!

And so what did Yours Truly do? Why she stood in the kitchen and started sobbing. Because she was thankful? No. Because she was not thankful. She was having a big fat pity party for herself. She could not find a moment of thankfulness in that situation even though it appeared to be a small miracle...a repairman at your house within five minutes, a problem fixed in an hour, and everyone able to go to the recital without delay. No, I wasn't thankful. I was angry.

A dear friend reminded me later that day of the song that ends with these words:

"You give and take away,
You give and take away,
my heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be your name."

Well, it's been feeling like a lot of take away for quite some time now and on this particular Sunday, I am sorry to say that I didn't respond with, "Lord, blessed be your name."

Fast forward to the morning after Thanksgiving.

We had made it a very late night on Thanksgiving after visiting with family until midnight. We came home and decided to watch a movie together and so we didn't crawl into bed until after 2:30 a.m. I can't even remember the last time we stayed up that late, or that early, I should say. Anyway, I was the first one up. Jesse puppy was eagerly waiting for me since it was past her regular breakfast time. As I walked into the kitchen and around the island, I stepped into puddle of water. Is it water? Hmmm. Yep, it's water. Actually, it's a huge puddle of water right in front of the refrigerator. So, I open the refrigerator and quickly discover that it had died. And it had been dead for a while because everything in the refrigerator door and freezer door was warm. A few things in the front of the freezer were also thawed, but for the most part, everything was still frozen since the items were stacked closely together.

What a difference five days can make. And knowing dear friends are praying for you. Thank you, dear friends! Instead of standing there and sobbing into the big puddle of water on the floor as I held a bag of warm soggy strawberries, I thanked God the refrigerator didn't die on the morning of Thanksgiving. It could have, but it didn't. It died after Thanksgiving. And, thankfully, we have a smaller refrigerator in the basement where we carried the frozen food and the food that could be salvaged from the refrigerator. I am so thankful!

Oh, that God would find me faithful to be thankful no matter the circumstances. He gives and takes away. He gives and takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Practice, Persistence and Prayers

2010-11-23T20:15:00.004-05:00

Some beautiful music for your enjoyment...

Sonatina Op. 55, No. 3 (Kuhlau)

Rachel played this piece for her fall recital this past Sunday afternoon. During the two minutes she was at the keyboard, I will tell you that I could hardly breathe (like every other mother seated in the audience). I am thankful to say that my heart wasn't pounding out of my chest like it usually does!

Is it OK to say we are proud parents? I hope so. I will follow that by saying we recognize God has given Rachel a wonderful gift. We pray she will be able to use her gift to serve Him and bring glory and honor to His name.

In the end, recitals are a great opportunity to showcase, for just a few moments, the many hours of practice, persistence, and prayers.

A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers TOS Product Review

2010-11-22T19:06:00.004-05:00

About six weeks ago, we received in the mail A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers from Bright Ideas Press. This oversize 298-page book is beautifully presented, professionally published, and covers a full year's curriculum in 32 weekly lessons. The Introduction includes a letter to teachers as well as to students which I found to be very helpful and informative.

A number of years ago, we studied the history of classical music. We loved it back then, but I wasn't sure if it would be met with great enthusiasm again. I asked my daughter, Rachel, who is 12, to go through the book with me. It became clear very quickly that this was a curriculum to get excited about. After all, Rachel loves music and plays classical pieces on the piano daily!

Here's an excerpt from the Bright Ideas Press website which best describes this book:

A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

A User-Friendly, One-Year Curriculum for Grades 4-8

Christian, Creative, Chronological

Why take the time to “Crack the Code” of Classical Music?

• Music is from the Lord. He created it, and He created us with the ability to both make and appreciate music.
• Classical music is uniquely part of our Western civilization.
• Research suggests that both listening to and playing classical music aids brain development.
• Even rudimentary exposure increases one’s level of enjoyment and understanding.

This course provides a close-up look at famous composers, their music, and their times, with special attention to character traits and Christian testimony (or lack thereof). Even the musically challenged will enjoy this course! It’s perfect for grades 4-8 but is easily adaptable for younger and older students. Minimal teacher prep will return maximum enjoyment!

• 32 Weekly Lessons
• 26 Bios of Famous Composers
• 6 Eras of Music Explained
• Easy-to-Use Comparative Timeline
• Easy-to-Use Maps
• Composer Info-Cards & Game Directions
• Note-taking Pages
• Quizzes
• Answer Keys
• Listening Suggestions
• Intricate Coloring Pages
• Resource Books

Let me see if I can unpack some of these wonderful things just a little bit.

First of all, I quickly realized that having the paperback book presented a slight challenge. While I love having the physical book in my hand, I think I might have preferred the CD-ROM book instead. Of course, the CD-ROM book has its own set of challenges (i.e., you either have to read the lessons from a computer screen or you need to print everything out). Anyway, because a number of the pages need to be used by the student (note-taking pages, quizzes, coloring pages, time-lines and composer cards), there's just no way around it...you either need to photocopy pages out of the book or print pages from the CD-ROM.

If you'd like to see a few sample pages of this book, click here.

Here's my little suggestion to the publisher: Making PDF files of the consumable pages available at your website (either for a nominal fee or via a password which is given with the physical book), would be a huge help.

Anyway, I did the unthinkable in order to overcome my little consumable pages challenge. I used a ban saw to cut the binding off the book. Yes, it's absolutely true! Then we three-hole punched the entire book and placed it in a sturdy binder. All of the consumable pages are now loose and easy to photocopy. How's that for ingenuity?!

Rachel loves doing everything suggested in the curriculum... everything! Each lesson is laid out over a three-days a week schedule. We read the lesson aloud together (this takes us about 10 to 15 minutes) and then Rachel fills-in the note-taking pages (or the student review questions). We listen to the suggested music selections (links are provided in the book so a student can listen to the music via YouTube if needed). We happen to have a huge library of classical music on our iPod and so had most of the selections available without having to use the computer. Regardless, it's great listening to a piece of music after reading about its composer.

Composer cards are created (using an index card and a couple of the consumable pages I mentioned above) by coloring the composer's portrait, matching the composer with his country of birth (a little mapping exercise is always a great thing), and providing important information about the composer (when he lived, where he was born, 3 facts about him, two of his compositions, and whether or not there was evidence the composer was a Christian).

In addition, a detailed timeline is filled-in and colored as recommended by the curriculum. All of these items are then placed in a notebook for easy access and reference (there are instructions on how to create a notebook, but some pictures would be helpful). In addition, a great assortment of coloring pages are also available. These pages are fun to color while listening to the selected piece of music or while listening to the lesson while it's being read.

Another thing I really appreciated about this book is that the faith of each composer (if evidence supports it) is often included by using direct quotes. Introducing the composer's faith to the reader is not forced. Here's an example:

...when Handel was writing the "Hallelujah Chorus," his servant brought him food, as he usually did, and found Handel with tears in his eyes. Handel said, "I did think I did see all of heaven before me and the great God Himself!"

"...I should be sorry if I only entertained them; I wished to make them better."

What more can I say? Well, we love the idea of studying composers and found A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers a great way and a fun way to learn.

If your family hasn't yet studied the classics, I highly recommend this book!

Here's the scoop:

Recommended for grades 4-8
$29.95 CD-ROM book
$34.95 paperback book (298 pages)

Most products are intended and licensed for single-family use only. For co-op pricing, click here.

For more information, go to Bright Ideas Press.

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

KBTeachers TOS Product Review

2010-11-19T11:51:00.001-05:00

When we started homeschooling ten years ago, we began our journey by learning a letter and a number each week. I have fond memories of the kids creating Alligator Al, a green salt dough alligator that would represent the letter and phonetic sounds of Aa. Yes, Alligator Al is safely tucked away, along with all of his other letter of the week pals, in a storage container in our basement. I never had the heart to throw them away. Memories!

Oh, if I would have known about the wonderful resources at KBTeachers! As I browsed their many pages of fun printable worksheets, I kept envisioning how we could have incorporated some of them into our school week. Check out this link to the alphabet worksheet pages. And to think, with the help of KBTeachers, I could have easily incorporated sign language into each week's lesson. If you're just getting started as a homeschooler (or if you're in the middle of your homeschooling journey), this family friendly resource is a must.

A few years later, I have fond memories of unrolling butcher paper on our kitchen island and creating full body outlines for each of the kids which we hung on the walls of our school room. Each week we would learn about a new bone in the body and then later, important organs, their uses and where they were located within the human body. The kids loved creating their bodies one piece at a time. Again, how fun it would have been to add to our weekly studies, the great resources available at KBTeachers. I think they have thought of just about everything. Here's a link to their human anatomy section which not only has a number of worksheets and activities available, but includes direct links to recommended study websites. It's a great time saver having so many resources available in one place!

Fast forward to just a couple of years ago when we spent a year going through a very extensive study on world geography. I cannot even tell you how much time I spent searching for maps that would allow the kids to practice and study what they were learning. Again, KBTeachers has so much to offer. Check out their social studies worksheets and activities here.

There are so many benefits to becoming a Premium Member of KBTeachers. Here's what they have to say on their website...

For Parents, Teachers and Educators
* One click worksheet generators and alphabet factory
* Create an unlimited number of engaging printable activities - For all ages and grade levels
* No watermarks and unlimited access
* Exclusive graphics and clipart - Decorate your websites, Blogs, activity sheets etc...
* Diverse educational resources - From simple ABC worksheets, to 20 pages exams
* Intuitive activities online or off - At home, at school or in study hall
* Free 24/7 Support - If we don't have it, we'll create it - or help you find it
* Answer Keys - Proofed and checked quality materials you can trust
* Updated regularly - New features and member created content added every week
* Nothing to download, instant access - From any internet connection

Access content based on standards set by the following organizations
* NCTE National Council of Teachers of English
* NCSS National Council for the Social Studies
* NSTA National Science Teachers' Association
* NCTM National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
* ISTE International Society for Technology in Education

As a KBTeacher you will
* Join an online community that shares knowledge and makes learning fun
* Increase technology awareness
* Encourage collaboration
* Engage students in learning
* Diversify educational materials
* Structure activities online or off
* Combine traditional and progressive teaching techniques

You'll also find seasonal and holiday activities along with monthly webquests. Did you know that November 26th is Charles Schultz birthday? Meet him through the Schultz Museum and learn about his life and philosophy. How fun is that?

A premium membership at KBTeachers is only $29 for 12 months or $49 for two years. An extensive library of printable worksheets (without watermarks), activities, and valuable resources for you and your students (Kindergarten through 10th grade) are just a click away!

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Random Thoughts on Tuesday

2010-11-16T18:21:00.002-05:00

Here are some thoughts going through my head:

1. I had planned on making pork tenderloin, roasted sweet potatoes, and a Caesar salad for dinner. After putting the potatoes in the oven, I opened the 1 lb. package of pork tenderloin (which I had pulled from from freezer a couple of hours ago) to discover it didn't smell like something we would want to eat. After calling Mr. Wonderful into the kitchen, we both agreed something went terribly wrong somewhere. So, what's for dinner? No clue. Um, roasted sweet potatoes?

2. I wanted so much to work on a quilt that doesn't intimidate me that Rachel and I went shopping and bought cozy warm fleece fabric from Hobby Lobby over the weekend (on sale, I might add). I chose a wintry looking blue and gray print for the top with matching gray for the bottom. Rachel chose camo pink for the top and matching hot pink for the bottom. We started them this afternoon...she's at the kitchen table, I'm at the island in the kitchen. We have our basting finished. I am hoping to have a new snugly blanket for the family room by week's end.

3. Access to my computer has felt limited lately. I'm used to having my own computer much of the time. Caleb joined a fabulous speech and debate club a couple of months ago which requires quite a bit of research. He's using the school room computer which means Mr. Wonderful needs access to my computer. I am learning how to share...again.

4. Rachel is performing in a piano recital this coming Sunday afternoon. I have been listening to her practice her piece today (although she's been working on this for some time). She plays just beautifully and I am reminded of the incredible gift she has been given by her Lord.

5. We were spoiled with about ten days of perfect weather. Today, the reality of November on the great North Coast settled in. Gray skies. Cold winds. Pouring rain. At least it's not snowing...yet.

6. I need to give Jesse Puppy a bath. She's going through a major molt right now which will make bath time very messy. We cannot brush her enough. Dog hair rolls on the tile floors like tumble weeds. Sweeping the entire downstairs every morning has become the new routine. And the poor girl is suffering so. Her face has been messed up and bleeding since the end of July. I've done everything I know to do. Of course the vet told me he knew what he was doing. Yeah, right. Nothing has worked although I started her on yogurt and acidophilus capsules last week. It might take weeks before we see any improvement. I am so tired of cleaning up blood on the tile and having to wash her blankets every couple of days. I do love her so and know it's not her fault. She's been my loyal companion for over nine years.

7. I was thinking that when my children were babies I never felt like I had time to do anything. I am learning that I accomplished more when they were babies than I am able to now that they are independent and self-sufficient (for the most part). I don't know what it is. Am I just getting old? When I would nurse them in the middle of the night or go in and check on them, I would pray over them. I have come to realize recently that I don't pray for my children like I did when they were little and depended on me for so much. That makes no sense at all especially since they need my prayers more now than ever before. The world wants them in the worst way.

: Read
Befor The Throne Of God Above Lyrics
here.

8. Thanksgiving is next week. We have hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our home for the past 13 years. This included the very famous Thanksgiving Dessert Contest. Next week things will be dramatically different. I have very mixed emotions about this change. But I am so thankful for the wonderful memories we have shared together. I am entrusting this very special day to the Lord and hoping new traditions will bring much joy.

9. I have been wondering lately if my blog has, in a very strange way, become Satan's To Do List. Sometimes I feel like some of the very things I have written about have become a target for attack. I'm still working on this one. Quit blogging? I don't know. I sure hope not.

10. The kids are singing with the Christmas choir this year. This undertaking is no small task. Choir practice started back in September. They will be performing next to another 125+ voices along with a full orchestra. So, throughout the day, I hear singing. Beautiful singing. Amazing words that touch my heart. Sometimes two voices harmonizing together. And I smile to myself. Surely God has blessed me beyond measure.

Thanks for letting me ramble on...

Much love,

No Words Needed

2010-11-11T22:10:00.001-05:00

Random Act of Culture ... October 30, 2010 (Macy's in Philadelphia)

To see the original YouTube video (Blogger seems to cut off the screen), click here.

The Write Foundation TOS Product Review

2010-11-10T14:27:00.002-05:00

I received the following writing curriculum, for purposes of review, from The Write Foundation:

Level 2: Paragraph Writing / Suggested Ages: 12-15

- Lesson plans formatted in an easy-to-follow system

- Begins with steps to writing the basic paragraph
- Improves sentence structure with basic grammar and figures of speech
- Teaches different styles and techniques each week
- Teaches the organizational process of brainstorming, outlining, rough draft and editing
- Progresses to writing two-, three-, and four-paragraph paper
- Introduces the five-paragraph formal essay
- Creative poetry writing
- Guidelines, checklists and correct structure
- 15 lessons with lesson plans

As stated by the author, this level is designed for the student who can write a single paragraph, can follow directions and is beginning to work independently. It teaches how to move from simple paragraph composition to quality multiple paragraph writing. More structure and mechanical requirements are introduced and encouraged, to develop more complex paragraphs, using the writing process.

For ordering and pricing information, click here. Please understand that only one student may use the consumable worksheet pages. Pages cannot be copied even within the same family. Additional sets of worksheet pages may be purchased for an additional $25 plus tax and shipping.

When I received the Paragraph Writing Instructions and Paragraph Writing Worksheets (covering lessons 1 through 15), I sat down and spent quite a bit of time going over the Step by Step Lesson Plans. Since I didn't seem to be "getting it" I decided to walk away and try again a couple of days later. This time as I went through the information, I took notes. As I look back upon them even now, "1 1/2 hours per day" is double underlined. Another thing I took note of was a Reading List which explained that students need to read several books per semester from the book list. They must select a book they have not read on their own previously. The curriculum also suggests using Mind Benders which are to help develop the student's organizational processing.

Honestly, I'm not really sure I understand why a writing curriculum includes a reading list (or Mind Benders for that matter), but since my 12 year old daughter just finished reading Pride and Prejudice (a book she was reading just for pleasure), I guess it's worth 20 points toward a 48 point goal for the semester.

I spent hours going over the teaching materials which, for me, invalidates Lesson plans formatted in an easy-to-follow system. I didn't find anything easy about it. I was very confused and actually, it made me feel just a little bit crazy at times. The flow of the teaching materials did not go along with the order of the daily schedule and worksheets.

I read instructions on assembling an 8-tab notebook and buying an assortment of highlighters (which reminded me of an Inductive Bible Study). Between acronyms with which I am unfamiliar to the grammatical errors and typos, I kept running into difficulties. Right out of the gate, Lesson 1 says to highlight in the sample paragraph four supporting sentences with four different colors (next four sentences). There are six sentences. I don't know what we're supposed to do with the other two sentences. Do we delete them? Do we rewrite them? Do we need two more highlighters?

Honestly, I just don't have the time nor the patience to try and read in between the lines. It's supposed to be very straight forward and simple to understand. Actually, it's touted as a grab-it-and and go writing curriculum. It wasn't for me.

The curriculum appears to be written for a co-op setting although it is supposed to transition well for individual homeschoolers. As I read through many of the website testimonials, most, if not all of them, were from students who attended the author's (Rebecca Celsor) class. I don't recall reading one testimonial from an individual homeschooler who used the curriculum.

I have no doubt that a huge amount of time and effort was put into creating this writing curriculum. I am sure that if Rebecca is teaching the class, it is a fantastic curriculum that gives great results. However, from an end-user point of view, there are many things which need corrected and/or revised in order to make it user-friendly. I am sorry to say that I cannot recommend this curriculum in its current printed form.

Teddy in the Pickle Jar

2010-11-09T15:50:00.000-05:00

I'm hoping enough time has gone by that everyone has forgotten about my last childhood animal story. Probably not. But don't worry. This post should leave you with a smile.

Teddy was a dog my Grandma Meme found...or maybe he found her. I don't remember. I don't even know how old I was at the time, but I'm going to guess between 7 and 8. I just remember that Teddy was a ball of fur and was blind in one eye. As dogs go, we had him longer than most other dogs all of my growing-up years. Remember, we lived in the country and most of the animals that were a part of our family were there because someone else had discarded them.

I think Teddy knew he had been rescued and maybe for the first time was really shown love. My grandmother had a way with lovin' things. I don't know how Teddy ended up at our house (if it was after my grandmother got sick with cancer) or before, but in my mind's eye, he was always a part of our family. When my father would get mad at him for doing something he shouldn't, he would call him "Theodore" in a very stern voice. Teddy knew he was in trouble! I remember one time when my father was messin' with my mother in the backyard and Teddy thought something serious was going on. My father decided to see what would happen if he pretended to be hurting her. I remember thinking Teddy was going to take my father out! He didn't like it, fun or not, one little bit.

So early one morning my sister and I were heading out the door to go to school. We had to walk down our driveway (which was very long) to wait for the bus. As we got closer to the bottom of the driveway, we saw Teddy over in the far front yard. Something was quite wrong. Somehow poor Teddy had found an empty pickle jar (it was white plastic and I'm guessing held a couple of gallons). While trying to sniff whatever was left in the bottom of the pickle jar, Teddy got his head stuck.

Now at first glance it was a pretty funny sight...a dog walking around, head completely encased in a big white pickle jar, running in circles and falling over. Except upon closer examination, we quickly realized the plastic jar was being sucked in and out. Teddy was suffocating!

Well, lo and behold, the school bus pulled-up just in the nick of time. We screamed for the bus driver to please come and help us get the pickle jar off poor Teddy's head. I'm sure it was against all the school regulations so, as you might have guessed, the bus driver looked at us, mumbled something, closed the door, and drove away.

Panic set in. Poor Teddy was in big trouble and we couldn't budge the pickle jar. I think I stayed with Teddy while my sister ran back to the house to get my mother. I don't remember if she called my father at work for advice, but she came to Teddy with a huge serrated knife in her hand. The pickle jar was so tight around his neck that it was impossible to get the knife under the lip of the jar. So my mother punctured the end of the pickle jar with the knife. I just remember hearing this huge sucking sound as poor Teddy tried to gasp for air. My mother managed to cut the end off the pickle jar. And so, until my father got home later that night, Teddy walked around with a pickle jar on his head!

Who knows! Maybe this is how the modern-day "cone of shame" was developed.

I know! It was the bus driver...he probably holds the patent for the cone of shame! And all at poor Teddy's expense and utter humiliation!

See, that wasn't so bad now was it?

Hot Fudge Brownie Cake

2010-11-08T18:29:00.000-05:00

The weather has turned so quickly around here. We noticed late last week that the beautifully colored leaves are gone. Gone. I must admit that it's just a little depressing. There won't be much else to lift our spirits except an occasional blue sky here and there. Actually, I went back and looked at my first couple of blog posts (last March) and, well, we had almost two feet of snow on the ground. And here we are again. We had our first snowflakes on Friday.

But God is great and life is good! While time seems to be moving quickly, I am encouraged to know that a warm spell is coming in tomorrow and is suppose to last through the end of the week. Blue skies and sunshine--yes! I am so hoping to get a fire in...even if it's in the middle of the afternoon. There's just something yummy about sitting at a crackling fire wearing toasty slippers and holding a big mug of hot mulled cider. Mmmmm mmmm!

Since we're talking about warm and cozy things, I thought you might enjoy this recipe. I discovered it almost two years ago in my all-time favorite magazine, Southern Living. With the exception of a recipe for baked oatmeal (oh, was it ever disgusting), I don't think I've ever made a recipe that turned out badly. When you see what you do to make this cake, you'll think there must be some kind of mistake. But, no! I can assure you it is fabulous and looks exactly like the picture. Oooey, gooey, yummy, chocolaty and delicious. You get the idea!

Enjoy!

Marriage Matters

2010-11-05T15:03:00.000-04:00

Mr. Wonderful and I attended a Marriage Matters workshop at our church last Saturday. The workshop was based upon the book Lasting Love, How to Avoid Marital Failure by our pastor, Alistair Begg. I believe this book should be read by anyone thinking about marriage, is already married, or knows someone who is married!

Since these free resources have just been made available, here's the link to watch the videos or listen to the audio of the seminar we attended.

Classical Gas

2010-11-04T14:25:00.000-04:00

Music fills the rooms of our home most days... it's a wonderful thing!

Caleb knows he could play this song for me a hundred times in a row and I'd never tire of hearing it. I just love it! Well, truth be known, I love to hear him play anything on his guitar. It brings this mother's heart great joy.

This song was originally titled Classical Gasoline as written by Mason Williams in 1968. It was later shortened to Classical Gas and is considered one of the most loved and recognized songs in instrumental music. I will confess that while I recognized the song when I first heard it, I didn't know its name. Classical Gas is a funny name, don't ya think?

Caleb started playing guitar when he was 7 years old...half his life ago!

Happy Thursday!

Autumn Only Lasts So Long

2010-11-03T15:57:00.004-04:00

My Little Missy

Oh, today has been such a nice day. For a number of different reasons I suppose. I don't know. I woke-up extra early and decided to sneak downstairs and linger over a cup of coffee while reading from The Valley of Vision. Do you have this little book in your library? If not, you really should. This devotional contains prayers from the largely forgotten deposit of Puritan spiritual exercises, meditations and aspirations. The beauty of the language stirs my heart and helps me see through eyes which are not my own. I could never speak so eloquently, but my heart feels each word as if it originated there.

GOD ALL-SUFFICIENT

O Lord of Grace,

The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to thee for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the Beloved's arms I am firm
as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart
I shall shame thy Name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
I shall bring thee glory.
Be though my arm to support,
my strength to stand,
my light to see,
my feet to run,
my shield to protect,
my sword to repel,
my sun to warm.
To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;
All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,
I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me.
I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.
Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,
his sinlessness for my transgressions,
his purity for my uncleanness,
his sincerity for my guile,
his truth for my deceits,
his meekness for my pride,
his constancy for my backslidings,
his love for my enmity,
his fullness for my emptiness,
his faithfulness for my treachery,
his obedience for my lawlessness,
his glory for my shame,
his devotedness for my waywardness,
his holy life for my unchaste ways,
his righteousness for my dead works,
his death for my life.

Some of those lines--I just have to pause and really think about them. Amazing love! How can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me?

This afternoon I am home alone with my sweet little missy. It's unusual that we're home on a Wednesday afternoon. So, do you know what we did? We decided to get a little brave and pull out ... drum roll please ... our sewing projects! Rachel is finishing an embroidery project she started earlier this summer. And me, well, do you remember this post? How about this post? I must confess that since cutting out all the squares for my quilt back in July, everything has been tucked away. I guess with the weather changing, it seems like the perfect time to pull it all back out again.

But I'm scared!

Rachel and I took everything upstairs and used the bed to create a grid so that all the pieces were correctly placed (the finished quilt will be 6' x 5'). Then she carefully wrote labels for each square (column 1, row 1, etc.) and I pinned them in place. I don't know if that's what you're suppose to do, but I feel like I need to know exactly what is what and to know where what goes! Then we carefully stacked up each row and placed them into plastic bags in order to keep them from getting mixed-up.

Rachel asked, "So, are you going to sew now?"
"Uh, no. I'm too scared!"

So, we're headed in the right direction, but have much to consider. This is my first big quilt (big for me!) and I really want to do a good job.

I'll keep you posted!

By the way, I hope you like the new blog background and colors. I'll probably still make some little adjustments here and there. I must say it was quite fun choosing something new and my little missy was right there helping every step of the way. Since autumn only lasts so long, I'll be able to do it all again in another couple of months!

Happy Wednesday!

Walls of Wisdom

2010-11-02T16:50:00.012-04:00

This post is to respond to a recent request from a fellow blogging friend, Lady Rose, to see the quotes and Bible verses displayed in my guest powder room.

The space is rather large for a powder room, but when we built our home 14 years ago we decided to cut way back on a hallway closet and expand the bathroom floor space in order to accommodate my brother, Derek's, wheelchair. We were happy to have the opportunity to help him in this small way.

Long ago, I thought an angel motif might be nice for this little room. This print is actually fairly large (about 3' x 2.5') and the dried flower arrangement on top is over 20 years old. Rachel had fun taking a blow dryer to it a few months ago. The accumulation of dust and cob webs were just a little bit much. You know me...I hate dusting. Anyway, give me a break. Unless you looked-up in there, you really didn't notice!

Just in case you're curious about the walls, they were first painted with flat paint and then sponged with the same exact color of paint except in high gloss. It creates a beautiful pattern. This was the first room I painted shortly after we moved into our home. Caleb was about six months old at the time. I distinctly remember enjoying that little bit of creative time all to myself!

These frames contain various quotes and are directly across from the throne. Please keep in mind that I made all of these using a regular ink jet printer, scrapbooking adhesive, and inexpensive frames I purchased at Marshall's. The exceptions are the stone plaque and the little frame with the oval mat (this contains the Corrie Ten Boom quote). Starting at the lower left frame and moving up and over to the right, this is what they say:

Keep moving forward... Walt Disney

This certainly applies to Christian living, my friends.

~Unsaid~

If all that we say in a single day,
With never a word left out,
Were painted each night in clear black and white,
It would prove queer reading, no doubt.

And then just suppose 'ere our eyes would close,
We must read the whole record through,
Then wouldn't we sigh, and wouldn't we try,
A good deal less talking to do.

And I more than half think that many a kink
Would be smoother in life's tangled thread,
If half that we say in a single day
Were forever left unsaid.

Author Unknown

Our pastor, Alistair Begg, quoted this during a sermon. It had no title, however, I decided to give it one (i.e., Unsaid) because I thought it would look better in the frame.

Love of God

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure--
The saints' and angels' song.

Frederick M. Lehman, 1917

These words are part of a much loved hymn from days of old. It was the second frame I created and hung upon the wall. The first was the quote below by Corrie Ten Boom.

Every experience God gives us,
every person he puts in our lives,
is the perfect preparation for the future
that only He can see.

Corrie Ten Boom

The last frame contains the May 3 devotional (morning) from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. This devotional just happens to fall on my birthday and so the words have been a solemn reminder to me.

IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION.
JOHN 16:33

Are you asking why this should be, believer? Look upward to your heavenly Father, and behold Him pure and holy. Do you know that you are one day to be like Him? Will you easily be conformed to His image? Will you not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify you? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of your corruptions and make you perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect? Next, Christian, turn your eye downward. Do you know what foes you have beneath your feet? You were once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Do you think that Satan will leave you alone? No, he will always be at you, for he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”¹ Expect trouble, then, Christian, when you look beneath you. Then look around you. Where are you? You are in enemy country, a stranger and an alien. The world is not your friend. If it is, then you are not God’s friend, for whoever is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be certain that you will find enemies everywhere. When you sleep, remember that you are resting on the battlefield; when you travel, suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite strangers more than natives, so the trials of earth will be sharpest to you. Lastly, look within you, into your own heart, and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within. If you had no devil to tempt you, no enemies to fight you, and no world to ensnare you, you would still find in yourself enough evil to be a sore trial to you, for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick.”² Expect trouble then, but do not despair on account of it, for God is with you to help and to strengthen you. He has said, “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”³

¹1 Peter 5:8 ²Jeremiah 17:9 ³Psalm 50:15

The three frames below are on the wall next to the door, beside the pedestal sink. Starting at the top left and moving right and then down, here's what they say:

If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity. Daniel Webster 1852

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

And lastly, over the throne, a quote from Lord of the Rings:

I can't do this Sam.

I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo…the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding onto something.

What are we holding onto Sam?

That there's some good in this world,
Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

The Lord of the Rings
The Two Towers

And so, there you have it. Walls of wisdom in a little powder room. I sometimes forget about the walls being covered with so many words and would wonder why some guests hung out in there for so long. Then I would remember...they're reading the walls!

Friends are Everblooming Flowers

2010-11-01T15:30:00.003-04:00

Remember all the beautiful hydrangeas from earlier this summer?

I picked the best ones...

to give to my friends!

Hey, who's that handsome guy?

I left the hydrangeas alone until they dried naturally on the plant. They don't usually retain their original colors (blue and pink), but I happen to think the lime green and rose colors are just gorgeous.

Several friends asked for dried blooms earlier in the summer and so after cutting them, we decided to make some unexpected special deliveries as we were out and about one afternoon. It was fun to see surprised faces and to watch how they would choose which blooms would best fit their decor. I can see why a flower delivery person would enjoy their job...much joy follows!

One little side story to this story is that while driving down the road I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Just above my head, over the window, was a little spider. Hmmm. At the next red light I pulled out a tissue and quickly removed him from what was clearly my domain.

I have to pause here to say that I don't enjoy a dangling spider in front of my face nor on me while driving. It has happened once before and, let me just say, it wasn't pretty.

Apparently, a clutch of little spiders (I'll just call them that for imagery), must have had a home in the hydrangeas and the car was warm enough that they awoke from their slumber and started moving about. Within several minutes my tissue became the final resting place of about a dozen spiders. Oh, yes. I shiver even now at the thought!

I warned the new owners to be wary of critters whose homes might be within the beautiful blooms. "You might want to keep them outside for a while!" Unless, of course, they don't mind a little spider here and there.

I am reminded of a delicate water color painting I bought shortly after I moved into my first home a number of years ago. It's a beautiful posy of wild clover, roses, and baby's breath all tied together in a blue satin ribbon. Under the painting and on the matting are these words:

Friends are the everblooming flowers

in the garden of the heart

It made me think of you!

P.S. I still have some dried hydrangeas left. If you'd like some, just let me know.

The Majesty of God

2010-10-25T15:06:00.005-04:00

Psalm 8
Devine Majesty

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

My heart is here today,

Delicious Pumpkin Bread

2010-10-22T11:57:00.003-04:00

Pumpkin Bread as a mini-loaf

I wish I had made a note of the date the first time I made this recipe. I believe it was the first "bread" I ever attempted to make (although come to think of it, I probably made banana bread about the same time).

If memory serves me correctly, the original recipe was clipped out of an early Taste of Home magazine. I messed around with different toppings I thought might add to its deliciousness. You know, if you can add pizazz, why not.

Many years ago in the dead of winter, when the kids were still very little, I can remember standing in my kitchen and hearing a strange noise. I had no idea what it was. As I looked out our front window, I found a man, all bundled-up, using a snow blower to clear our driveway. I walked outside to find our new neighbor (they had only moved into their house a few months prior) hiding beneath the big hat and scarf. He said, "You know, I'm retired and I see your husband works long days and is a young father. I have lots of time on my hands. I remember what it was like having so many responsibilities. This gives me something to do and he won't have to worry about shoveling the driveway when he gets home."

Wow, is right.

Although he later protested, I couldn't let this opportunity go by without thanking him in a special way. I delivered warm pumpkin bread to him and his wife. I used my homemade cinnamon and sugar topping (which, when baked, creates a crunchy crust) and later found he absolutely loved it. And so every time Cliff would come and snow blow the driveway, I found my way to his house with warm pumpkin bread. He and his wife were two beautiful people and lovely neighbors.

I remember just a couple of summers later seeing Cliff and his wife at the post office. I said hello and commented to him about his new pick-up truck. He didn't seem himself, but I didn't make a big deal of it. I figured that maybe I had caught him at a bad time. A short while later I saw his wife out in the front yard working alongside her grandchildren. But I didn't see Cliff. Imagine my absolute shock to find out that Cliff had been diagnosed with lung cancer (he had never smoked a day in his life) and had died only a short time after I had seen him. I just couldn't believe it. It turns out, I had caught him at a bad time after all. I wonder if I had asked if everything was OK if he would have told me. I don't know. I just remember thinking we never knew to pray for our neighbors when they were in such need.

Cliff's wife, Pat, sold the big house quickly and we kept in touch at Christmastime for many years. I can't help but think of our loving and kind neighbor as I post this recipe. It was Cliff's favorite.

Delicious Pumpkin Bread
(Makes two full-size loaves)

Things you will need:

5 eggs
1-1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 packages (3 oz. each) cook and serve vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine remaining ingredients; gradually beat into pumpkin mixture. Pour batter into two greased 8” x 4” x 2” loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Do not over bake! Cool on wire racks.

Michelle's variations for toppings:

For Cinnamon Sugar, blend together 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon (you won't need all of this--use some for cinnamon toast). Generously sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on top of pumpkin bread batter before baking. For additional yumminess, add some chopped pecans.

For Crumb Topping, in a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon cold butter. With a fork or pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembled coarse cornmeal. Add chopped pecans if desired. Sprinkle over top of pumpkin bread batter before baking.

Additional notes from Michelle:

* A doubled recipe will fill 5 disposable loaf pans (8" x 3 7/8" x 215/32"); bake time is still the same. These mini-loaves make wonderful Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends. But please, give full-sized loaves to neighbors who snow blow your driveway.

* Adding chocolate chips to the pumpkin mixture is fabulous (thank you sister-in-love, Julie!)

Enjoy!

P.S. Friends, if you ever have any questions about any recipe I post here, please don't ever hesitate to ask. I would love to help in any way I can!

Perfect Preparation

2010-10-21T11:39:00.004-04:00

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)

I have a number of ornate frames in my guest powder room. Each frame contains words that have deep meaning to me. Some frames contain Bible verses, some contain lines from favorite books, some contain words of favorite hymns, and some contain words spoken by people from different times and walks of life.

These words are contained in the first frame I hung in my powder room.

"Every experience God gives us,

every person He puts in our lives,

is the perfect preparation for the future

that only He can see."

Corrie Ten Boom

I thank my God every time I remember you,

I've Been Tagged!

2010-10-20T12:17:00.003-04:00

My computer was hit with a Trojan virus on Monday (even with anti-virus software), so I'm feeling a little bit behind on my blog. I am learning how hard it is to function without a computer. Yikes.

While I had something in mind for today's blog, I have put those thoughts on hold for now. For imagine my surprise when I discovered this morning that I had been tagged by sweet Lady Rose at A Queen In Her Castle! Oh, how I love, love, love her blog. I've never been tagged before, so this was a fun, thought-provoking exercise. And some of you lovelies out there get to be tagged by Yours Truly. I hope you will participate, but please don't feel any pressure. Really. Besides, chances are, I don't know where you live anyway!

Here are the questions Lady Rose asked in her tag, along with my answers...

1. If you could live in any place, where would it be? Why would you live there?

I'm a country girl and have always lived in the same place, not too far from the great North Coast. If I could snap my fingers and have a home somewhere else in the world, based upon my very narrow experiences, I would love to live on a high place which overlooks the ocean, but where the seasons still change at their appointed time. Anyone who has ever been to or lived by the ocean has to love the smell of the salt water in the air, the steady sound of the pounding surf, and the ability to take endless walks along the shore, where each morning dawns upon a fresh canvas of undisturbed sand. At least that's how I've always dreamed it would be for me.

2. Make a list of the five favorite activities that you like to do (I know this isn't a question).

These are my favorite things, but not in any order:

1. I love to sit by a fire and watch flames lick over the wood, red embers glowing, almost sparkling, while listening to all the creatures sing their beautiful songs.

2. I love to entertain and gather family and friends around a table filled with lovingly prepared food. There's something wonderful about sharing a meal with those you love, where conversations can linger for hours, and where the burdens of life seem to disappear, even if for a little while.

3. If considered an activity, I love to hold Mr. Wonderful's hand. Mr. Wonderful? Oh, Mr. Wonderful? Did you hear that?

4. I love to use the God-given gifts I have to serve others. Whether it's preparing a meal for someone in need (or someone that just needs an extra-helping of love), sitting and listening to the heart of a homeless woman, teaching a Bible class filled with eager learners, or teaching my own children as we gather for school at the kitchen table every morning, I truly enjoy serving others.

5. I enjoy reading, listening to music, and my new-found late-in-life hobby, quilting (which even now is crying out for me!)

3. What is your most challenging household chore? Briefly explain why it is challenging for you.

Dusting. I used to enjoy dusting. Mr. Wonderful knows that I blame him for not enjoying it any longer. I suppose I never learned how to dust "properly". After we were married and he showed me how to dust the correct way (at least how he was taught by his mother), I never enjoyed dusting again. Unfortunately, our house is filled with heavy wood work from top to bottom. And no, I don't care too much if it's dusty. My eyes have grown accustomed to filtering it out. When I see that I can write my name in dust, I start thinking about when I'll need to dust and whether or not we have company coming over any time soon. Just keepin' it real.

4. What was the happiest day of your life (and you can't say the day you got married or engaged. Choose another day.)?

The day my son, Caleb, was born. I remember holding him and singing my special song to him just moments after he was born. His eyes looked straight at me and I knew at that moment he knew I was his mama. His hands looked so big and open. I whispered in his ear, "Your hands will change the lives of many people." Caleb wasn't suppose to live. Everyone knew that. He was the first baby to have ever survived such circumstances. Word spread quickly the day he was born. All the doctors and nurses came to see this little baby whose life had been held in the very hands of God.

5. What annoys or irritates you the most (besides getting "tagged")?

People who whine. Enough said.

6. Where do you like to "hide" when you're having a rough day?

If the weather cooperates, I take my iPod all ready to go with my favorite music, a good book, and hide on the patio, in my favorite chair. When the weather doesn't cooperate, I've always dreamed of getting in my car and driving south until I find sunshine. I've never gone through with it, but I've always wanted to. Maybe someday. If I could muster-up the courage.

7. Write a six line poem of rhyming couplets. Now tell us, was this a hard or an easy task for you and why (You know I write poetry, so you had to know this was coming )?

Autumn Leaves

Yours Truly

The leaves are falling, falling down,
softly twirling, upon the ground.

Once their lives were shimmery green,
held in place by sweet sunshine seen.

Here today, crisp crimson, golden
stems let loose from limbs of olden.

Falling, falling, falling down,
softly twirling, upon the ground.

Oh, I can only imagine the shaking of the heads, or perhaps the giggles. Well to enlighten you, I had to look-up the definition for a rhyming couplet just to make sure I knew what I was doing. That ought to tell you something! I decided to look out the window and write about the first thing my eyes beheld. I wish I had learned how to properly read and recite poetry. I admire those whose hands and minds are gifted with such beautiful words.

8. What is your all-time favorite movie?

I think it might be a tie between Pride and Prejudice and Lord of the Rings (extended edition). These are two movies I never, ever tire of watching.

---------- ~ ----------

Now it's your turn to be tagged. So, if you're up for some fun, here we go!

You've Been Tagged!

1. Dani at Invisible Realities (Dani's answers here)

2. Melanie at Complete In Thee (Melanie's answers here)

3. Beth at Musings and Meanderings of the North Country

4. Lorie at The Fruit of Her Hands

5. Denise at Got Chai?

6. Debbie at Along the Narrow Pathway

Oh, and Lady Rose, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

And here are my questions...

1. I have a painting in my home that immediately gets my heart to singing Sheep May Safely Graze. Is there a photo or a painting or even an object that makes you think of a song to sing? If not a song, is there a Bible verse that comes to mind?

2. If you could sit across a table with someone living today, who would it be and what one question would you ask them? Please, I beg you, no politicians.

3. We are studying the history of classical music at our home. If you could choose one piece of classical music, what selection would you choose, who is the composer, and why does this song have meaning to you?

4. What one thing in all of creation that you can see with your eyes, grips your heart and makes you stand in awe of His majesty? Why?

5. Is there any one thing you are fanatical about? How do you know (has somebody told you!)?

6. If you could choose a season, which one is your favorite and why? Describe what it looks like outside your window today.

7. What's your favorite "just got out of bed in the morning" drink and do you have a special place you go to enjoy it?

Happy Tagging!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

2010-10-18T19:46:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, Rachel made two pumpkin pies, from start to finish, all by herself!

Look at that crimping on the pie crust...wow!

Hot out of the oven...the aroma, heavenly!

First slice of this season's first pumpkin pie...oh, yum!

I will just say, for the record, that I moved the liquid pies from the counter to the oven as it can be very tricky. Everything else was done without any supervision. Why, I wasn't even in the room!

You might find it a little amusing that it's only been a year since we learned how to make a pie crust. And it's only been a year since Rachel actually submitted to a bite of pumpkin pie. Oh, how her world changed after that one little bite!

Needless to say, having slightly warmed pumpkin pie topped with cold whipped cream on a chilly Friday night in October was an incredible treat. And here, I always thought pumpkin pies were just for Thanksgiving.

Everything's a little nicer when there's pumpkin pie nearby...and a sweet little girl snuggled in next to you enjoying the work of her hands.

Soli Deo Gloria Resources TOS Product Review

2010-10-15T11:13:00.003-04:00

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

As stated right from their website, Soli Deo Gloria is Latin for "To God Alone the Glory." It is one of the benchmarks of the reformation and necessary for the reformation of our thoughts regarding the education of our children.

We have had the privilege of incorporating into our mornings before school begins, a pre-inductive study of the Psalms by Soli Deo Gloria Resources. Young Hearts Longing for God is a Bible study intended for children in grades 4 through 8, but can also be used by older students alone, or by younger students with the help of a parent.

If we step back for a moment, the fundamental principle of inductive Bible study is to study the text of Scripture. Young Hearts Longing for God is a pre-inductive study which slowly and gently leads children, or perhaps those unfamiliar with the Bible, to look deeper into the text of scripture.

Young Hearts Longing for God contains 30 Psalms to study. Each Psalm is intended to be studied for one week, allowing this study to be completed in one school year. Students read through the Psalm each day, five days in a row. In addition, questions and activities are completed through the week, ending with a written entry in a personal journal. To see a sample study lesson of Psalm 8, click here.

We incorporated this study into our regular morning's Bible reading and prayer time and found it to be a great addition to our time together. Completing the day's reading and question or activity only takes a few minutes. The time spent is time well spent. Fridays are the days we designated to complete the study and enter our personal thoughts into our private journals.

Even though the purpose of our receiving this study was to try it out and give our personal thoughts and review, we have unanimously decided to continue on for the remainder of our school year. We love it!

Kim Kargbo (you might want to read about Kim and her family here) believes that we, as parents, should be educating our children for God’s glory alone. This in turn helps to equip them to go out into the world and use their God-given gifts for the good of others.

As so beautifully written by Kim, "Our unit studies and other curriculum are designed to cause learners to be captivated by God's "bigger picture." All of life, including math, science, history and language arts, is part of God's HUGE redemptive plan. Seeing God's hand at work in all of life, and seeing each piece as part of a larger picture is one of the main goals of education. Glorifying Him through all that we do, all that we learn, and all that we are is ultimately what we are called to do as His children."

I would encourage my readers to stop by Soli Deo Gloria Resources' website and not only browse through the many unit studies offered, but also take a few minutes to check out a number of wonderful resources they provide for free.

Young Hearts Longing for God is available as a workbook for $16 and as an E-book for $14.50.

I highly recommend Soli Deo Gloria Resources. Both Kim and her husband, Tim, were raised on the Mission field in Africa. Kim's parents were Bible translators and performed literacy work. It seems only fitting that Kim would take many of the lessons she learned as a child growing-up in a small village in Africa, and create a company and products that convey those same truths.

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Still

2010-10-14T12:04:00.006-04:00

Safe ...

Still, My Soul Be Still (<---click here to listen to audio)

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend

Still my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow

God You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone

Still my soul be still
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold onto His ways
With shield of faith
Against temptations flaming arrows

Still my soul be still
Do not forsake
The Truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord
And hope will rise As stars appear when day is dimming

Still in Him today,

Prince, Dead and Resurrected

2010-10-13T10:33:00.004-04:00

Obviously this isn't Prince

I am going against my better judgment posting this story first, but since you asked for it (Bethany and Julie), here ya go! Teri, we'll get to Jones and the Radial Arm Saw soon.

Let me set the stage and always keep this in the back of your mind while reading this story. OK? OK.

1. This took place when I was a little girl, almost 40 years ago.

2. I grew-up in the country.

3. It was the dead of winter and there was lots of snow on the ground.

I had a horse named Midnight. You might remember me talking about my very first job delivering newspapers so I could buy the food necessary to have a horse of my own.

I don't really remember how this came about (you will hear this often in upcoming childhood animal stories), but someone my father knew had a horse and needed to find it a home. We were told the horse had some allergies, but if we did what was prescribed, all would be well. This was to be my sister's horse. His name was Prince.

Prince was princely. He looked to me like a horse you would see at the circus. You see, he had a very long mane and tail like the pictures above. Not quite that long, but his tail and mane almost touched the ground. To my sister and me, his long hair was an amazing thing. We loved brushing it and braiding it and playing with it, kinda like you would do with a doll.

From time to time Prince would get a little wheezy. We would do what we were suppose to do and he'd seem to be just fine. It was fun having two horses. Midnight and Prince became good buddies. Besides, whenever a friend would come over, we could go on a horse ride together.

One of my jobs each morning before school was to head out to the barn to feed and water the horses. They would hear me coming and whinny.

One bitter cold morning I headed down to the barn to feed and water the horses. I'm sure I heard the whinny. I walked in and there was Midnight waiting at the stall door. As I looked over, however, Prince was sleeping. Or so I thought. He wasn't laying down on his side, he had his legs under himself and his head was upright. I called his name, but he didn't move. As I looked closely I saw a frozen strand of snot. Sorry, but that's what it was. And it was literally frozen from his nose to his leg. Within a second, everything registered in my little girl brain. Prince wasn't asleep. He was dead.

I did what any other girl my age (or older) would do upon encountering this sight. I started screaming hysterically, crying uncontrollably, and running as fast as I could to the house.

I really don't remember what happened next. I suppose all of my siblings and my mother headed out to the barn to see it for themselves. It was confirmed. Prince was dead.

My father had a way of taking care of things. We weren't really told any of the details, we were just told, "Daddy will take care of it."

Well, a few days later, my sister and I walked out the front door, all dressed and ready for school. Books in hand. Ready for a new day. We look out. We look at each other. We look back out. Are we really seeing what we think we're seeing? I'm sure we must have looked at each other and then rubbed our eyes. Then the horror of what we were looking at hit us at exactly the same time. I can remember very vividly standing there, dropping my books, and jumping up and down screaming hysterically...again.

For there in front of us, ten feet off the front porch was our dog. And in his mouth was the hind leg of Prince. Yes, you read that right. Prince's leg was standing there. But he wasn't attached to it. It was just his leg. In the dog's mouth.

Remember when we were told, "Daddy will take care of it"? Well, he did. My father was a meat cutter. He handled dead animal carcasses every day of his life. What do you do with a dead horse in the middle of winter?

Listen, this was almost 40 years ago. Things weren't like how they are today. Back then they didn't have animal carcass removal companies. Even if there were, I'm sure our family could not afford their services.

And so my father did to Prince what he did with a side of beef. And then he disposed of it. Except the dog discovered it. And decided it was too good to pass up. And where's a better place to show-off your great find than right off the front porch? After all, wouldn't you want your family to see your prize? Yep. I'm sure the dog never gave it a thought that he was eating his friend. And in front of us, no less.

I don't really remember how the rest of the story goes. I probably passed out (just kiddin') or blanked it out of my memory. I never saw Prince again. Nor any of his other parts. My father made sure he was taken care of this time. For good.

I know. You thought Prince had thawed out and came back to life, didn't you? Oh, now that would be a story!

Did you gasp? Come on. And it's OK if you laughed. When the kids found out I was telling this story, they burst out laughing. Forty years later, it is funny. It is!

Childhood Animal Stories - Preview

2010-10-12T16:06:00.004-04:00

Hangin' at the beach

I have been thinking over the past few days about some ideas for future posts. I don't know what made me think of it, but I thought animal stories from my childhood might be fun. These won't be your ordinary animal stories. Nope. Most will be short and sweet. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you sigh. A couple will make you gasp in absolute disbelief! I can assure you this...they are all true stories.

Here's a few titles I thought of...

Teddy in the Pickle Jar
Jones and the Radial Arm Saw
Prince, Dead and Resurrected
Bad Blue! Bad Blue!
Chitty in Trouble
Nanook the 1st
Nanook the 2nd
Harold the Gerbil
Big Black Snake and the Little White Mice
Owls for Dinner
Pixy and Dixy, Forever Friends
Mice in the Lunch Box

So, which one should I write about tomorrow? You can help me decide if you'd like. Just leave a comment below.

Carved in Stone

2010-10-11T16:36:00.007-04:00

We went to Huntington Beach over the weekend just to try and enjoy one of the last days of warm weather. It was a beautiful afternoon to walk in the sand while listening to the waves come ashore.

It's a good thing I don't live near a beach. I'd never get anything done. Well, at least that's what I think at the moment. I suppose if I lived near the beach, I'd get used to knowing it was always there. I'd be one of those people you'd see walking along the water's edge every single day.

We happened upon some huge stones that were used to make a breaker wall. I couldn't believe how many people had taken a considerable amount of time making their mark. You can tell by the dates that some of these took years and years to complete. See if you can find your favorite.

I don't know about you, but I'd have to really, really, really love a radio station in order to spend the time and effort to carve its call letters into a stone. Yikes.

And then there's poor Jimmy. By the time he got done carving his girlfriend's name, she (or he) was long gone. Only the J was finished. I suppose some other future Jimmy and Carrie will find the rock, complete it, and stake their claim.

One last note from Yours Truly, Jack Roberts was one very diligent carver. He has two carvings! One of them is my favorite. Can you guess which one?

All these carvings in stone got me to thinking about something. I have this little quote hanging in our guest powder room:

If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity. Daniel Webster 1852

In time, winds and waves will erase the names and dates, even those deeply carved. Those names, however, that are written in the Lamb's book of life, will endure for all eternity.

Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? If you're unsure, you might find this helpful.

Fondue in a Pumpkin

2010-10-08T16:17:00.004-04:00

I grew-up in the country which allowed me to ride my horse up to Lisa's house. Of course, we rode bikes back and forth too, but I can still see in my mind's eye riding Midnight up through the woods, across a couple of big fields, and to her house. I have many fond memories of riding horses together. Our friend, Tracy, also had horses so we'd often all ride together. I have one memory of all of us riding together in a big open field, running our horses as fast as they would carry us, when all of a sudden Midnight got spooked and came to a screeching halt. I flew over his head and landed in the field. We all just laughed and laughed about it. Looking back, I could have gotten seriously hurt, but when you're a kid, you don't think about those things. You just dust off your bucket, get back on the horse, and get to the fun part again.

I'm trying to look back at those early days when Lisa and I first met. For some reason, I'm thinking it had something to do with a gerbil. She was going on vacation and I was going to keep the little rodent while she was away. Come to think of it, I believe she was watching the gerbil over summer vacation. It belonged to a teacher at our school. I can see the teacher's face, but I just don't recall her name. Oh to be young again and have a fresh mind with memories right where I need them!

Anyway, we became great friends and had so much fun together. I can't even begin to remember the number of times we gathered around their kitchen breakfast bar with other neighbor kids and played "spoons" while eating so many homemade French fries (that were cooked on the stove in a pot, horror of horrors) that we used a coffee mug just to hold all the ketchup we needed for dipping. Oh those were the days!

When our kids were little, we made a trip to the Windy City to visit Lisa and her family. While there, she shared this recipe which she had received from a neighbor. And I think I've made it every October since!

If you are entertaining friends or need to take something different to a gathering, this is the recipe to make. It's not only beautiful, it's very, very yummy. It's practically guaranteed to get lots of ooohs and ahhhs!

Fondue in a Pumpkin

What you will need:

1 pie pumpkin (4 lbs.) washed and dried
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
6 oz. baby Swiss cheese, shredded
4 slices of white bread toasted, crumbled
2 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 pint half and half
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Variety of bread sticks and crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a sharp knife, carefully cut a 2 inch slice off the top of the pumpkin and reserve. Remove seed and fibers. Blend oil and garlic and rub into interior of pumpkin; place pumpkin in shallow roasting pan. Alternate layers of toast crumbs and cheese inside pumpkin. Combine half and half, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and pour over layers. Replace pumpkin top and bake for 2 hours, gently stirring contents after 1 ½ hours.

Serve with bread sticks or an assortment of quality crackers.

Enjoy!

All Saints Day 2009

2010-10-07T13:43:00.004-04:00

Rachel singing I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, November 1, 2009

I received an incredibly wonderful gift today and just had to share it.

Thank you, Bruce! And Ruth (playing the piano), thank you for the amazing opportunity you presented to Rachel almost one year ago. I am still in awe when I think how every single detail was filtered through His hands of love.

A little background...

Rachel was asked to sing for All Saints Day last November 1st. We were unable to record it and really only had our memories of this very special day. That is, until today. As you can imagine, tears flowed upon seeing and hearing our little girl's voice sing this song once again.

Please know that Rachel had never sung in public before. Rachel was 11 at the time.

Every single obstacle that stood in her way, the Lord removed.

This is a God Story and one we will treasure in our hearts all the days of our lives.

Praying this brings joy into the hearts of many,

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-06T10:09:00.004-04:00

A great battle ensues. At least the Indians have the tanks on their side!

Happy Wednesday!

P.S. Just in case you wanted to know, my blue foot and me are no longer blue. All is well!

LanSchool TOS Product Review

2010-10-06T07:29:00.004-04:00

LanSchool Technologies has been an award winning provider of classroom management software since 1986. They have partnered with some of the most recognizable names in the computer technology industry in their quest to make easy to use reliable products available to teachers and students.

Mr. Wonderful downloaded LanSchool Home Version about a month ago. We didn't tell the kids what was going on. I figured it would be more fun that way!

LanSchool is a classroom management solution which allows teachers to monitor student activities within a classroom setting. LanSchool Home Version allows up to three computers to be networked at home.

Some of the features include:

•LanSchool is clean, simple and easy-to-use. Teachers love it.
•It is reliable and uses significantly less network bandwidth than other solutions.
•It is complete, no add-ons are required to block the Internet, Applications, Printing and USB drives.
•It keeps working even when students try to disrupt it.
•It costs less and is better supported than any other solution on the market.
•It supports PCs, Macs and Thin Clients such as NComputing, Terminal Services and Citrix.

New features in LanSchool v7.5 include:

•Mac Feature Parity with Windows
•Audio Chat, Listen and Broadcast
•Multicast Video Distribution and Playback
•Keystroke Alerting on Banned Words
•New Wireless Protocol
•Browser Independent Web Limiting and History
•Remote Login
•Clear Desktop Button
•Limit CD/DVD Drives
•Testing Enhancements
•Dual Monitor Support
•20 Additional Customer and UI enhancements

We have two computers at home that share a wireless network. While the kids can use both computers, they primarily use the computer set-up for them in the school room.

I completely understand why this would be such a valuable tool in a classroom setting. I can't imagine trying to monitor 30 students using computers.

LanSchool has a wonderful short video that provides a great guided-tour of their product. You can watch it here.

In our little homeschool setting, however, I found most of the features that are LanSchool's strengths weren't needed. While my kids use the computer for some school work, most of it is for local applications (i.e., math, foreign language, and some science). They know what is expected of them and, well, they do it. As we begin using the internet for research, we have established guidelines for their protection. Again, they follow our instructions. I do not need to monitor their keystrokes. I do not need to keep an eye on them at all times to see what they are doing on the computer. They know our guidelines are in place for their safety and protection. Regardless, the school room is very visible. We can see and hear what they are doing. If I did need to monitor their activities, LanSchool is a wonderful tool and I would use it for the many features it provides.

We ran into a little problem trying to install LanSchool, but found their support to be exceptional. The support person was very helpful and in a short amount of time was able to solve the mystery. We discovered our tiered naming conventions caused a little problem during the install.

Just last week we had a minor crisis on our hands and LanSchool came to the rescue. Rachel had been working on a lengthy lab report when the monitor she was using decided it was time to die. At first she thought it was a joke being played on her by her brother. LanSchool can blank out a student monitor! But not this time. The monitor was dead. May it rest in peace.

So we have a dead monitor and an open Word document that cannot be saved and closed because it cannot be seen. We went to the main computer and was able to "take over" the student computer. I was able to use my mouse and keyboard to not only view her document, but to save it, close the application, and safely shut down the computer. How cool is that?! Rachel was very thankful and LanSchool was the hero of the day!

If you have multiple computers in your home and desire to know what your students are doing, want to be able to share resources (like hard drives and printers), and want the ability to control those computers without ever leaving your seat, LanSchool is a great solution. You can review their technical advantages here and specifications here.

For more information, visit LanSchool's website or call toll-free 877-370-5546.

LanSchool is $99.00 for a home-use license. This includes three years of technical support and upgrades. For site-licenses in education, non-profit, and corporate settings, you can find pricing information here.

I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

My Blue Foot and Me

2010-10-05T15:10:00.004-04:00

One blue foot...one blue me

I did something really stupid yesterday. Really stupid. I forgot that I have several broken bones in my right foot. Now, I didn't really forget. I just didn't want to remember. They've been broken for a number of years now. I think eight or nine years to be exact. Kinda hard to believe it's been that long.

It's a rather long story though and I consider it one of the worst mistakes of my life. I thought I had done something to my foot since I couldn't walk on it. It was Thanksgiving weekend and I ended up in the ER. X-rays were taken and a doctor who apparently didn't know how to read an x-ray said, "Nope, there's nothing wrong with your foot" and sent me home. Me, thinking an x-ray and an ER doctor knows more about my foot than I do, decided to ignore the fact that my foot hurt. I could hardly walk on it. It took about six months, but eventually it felt better. Long story short. There were broken bones. And they healed that way. Broken.

I am the woman that used to love to go shoe shopping. I loved wearing beautiful shoes. Now, a trip to look for a pair of shoes always leaves me in tears. Honestly. In tears. It just seems an impossibility for me to find a pair of shoes that feel comfortable. A couple of years ago I walked into a specialty shoe store. An older woman who had been working with people with special feet needs (how's that sound?), said she knew she could help me. Imagine dozens of shoes later, me on the verge of tears, and poor Mr. Wonderful sitting there so patiently, trying to be an encouragement. "Maybe the next pair will work, Honey." The woman actually admitted she was stumped. I eventually walked out with a pair of shoes that practically burned a hole in Mr. Wonderful's wallet. Listen, my sweet husband would have gladly paid $1000 for a pair of shoes if they helped me feel better. Or at least be able to walk without pain. These at least seemed to help. A little.

So what did I do yesterday that was so stupid? I decided to walk on the treadmill. Now, that's not really a big deal ordinarily. But I decided to change things up a little and used a program on the treadmill that automatically changes the speed and the incline. Hey, it was great while I was doing my thing. But last night it all came crashing down. My right foot started aching. I figured it would feel better today. Uh, no. I would say my foot feels like it got run over by a small car!

Hey! What's the worst thing that can happen? I break those already broken bones and have to have them fixed. Finally. But I'm sure it's fine. It's felt this way before.

Now, I knew I couldn't use an incline. I don't know what I was thinking. No. I do know what I was thinking. I was thinking I could burn more calories if I could walk on an incline. And I'm sure I did. Probably 20 more.

And so there you have it. My blue foot and me!

P.S. It could be worse. I could find myself with no foot. Or a hairy foot. Or a smelly foot. Thank the good Lord it's only a broken foot!

Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

2010-10-04T13:52:00.003-04:00

Michelle's version of Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

No, it's not Friday. I had to decide whether to share the story about my very first apple pie or the story that happened to us on Saturday afternoon when a contractor for the gas company showed-up, turned off our gas, dug a hole, pulled a nozzle off the gas line, and left. And never came back. Did I mention I had a roast in the oven at the time? Or that our house and hot water are heated by gas? Yep. Oh, and that the gas company doesn't work on Saturday? Yep. It was quite lovely. Mr. Wonderful was tested a little beyond his limits that day. Poor guy. The kids and I took the roast and headed to my sister-in-love's house where we stayed until almost 10 o'clock that night. We all had a great time together. Unfortunately, Mr. Wonderful didn't.

I decided the apple pie was a better story.

It was almost a year ago I learned from my Auntie Lou how to make a pie crust. It changed my life! Well, you know what I mean. When I saw Johnagold apples on sale last Friday, I just grabbed some, headed home, and made my very first apple pie. I would never, ever, ever have considered this a year ago. Me? Pie crust? Sworn enemies. But no more.

I usually change something in most recipes I find. I like to make them my own and feel very comfortable publishing them here. This recipe, however, didn't need a thing changed, not that I was in any position to change anything. I've never made an apple pie before. So, instead of posting the recipe here (since it's copyrighted on Allrecipes), I am going to give you the link. It's called Apple Pie by Grandma Ople.

It's as simple as that. Really. The only thing I will do differently next time is to be sure the liquid is poured evenly over the entire lattice of the crust. It's so pretty. You can see where I missed some of the lattice. I'll do better next time. The pie was fabulous. Mr. Wonderful thought it was the best apple pie he'd ever had. The smell of apple pie baking in the oven was almost as good as the pie!

Here's a comment left by the granddaughter of Grandma Ople:

My words from 2008 still hold true today. My little grandmother (and I do mean little - not more than 4' 11") would wonder what all the fuss is about - this is her recipe. Thanks to all who have commented on this little guardian angel's recipe developed years ago in her kitchen as a treat for my dad who took care of her yard and garden after my grandfather died. I am still in awe of the number of you that have tried my Grandma Ople's recipe for apple pie and love it so much. Now that she has been gone almost 15 years there seems to be less and less of her to hold on to and to pass along to her great granchildren (and great-great grandchildren) who will never know her. Some might say that having originated a delicious apple pie recipe is not much of a legacy, but when I read the reviews and notes of those who have tried her recipe, and the settings and family gatherings at which they have shared her pie, I can truly say that God has worked through my Grandmother to help bring families joy and love. Thank you all for your comments about my Grandmother's favorite recipe. Rebecca Clyma Proud Grand-daughter of Grandma Ople.

Thank you Grandma Ople. Your pie has brought our family joy and love!

P.S. I know I shared the gas story too. At least a little bit of it. The shock and awe part!

Baked Potato Soup

2010-10-01T13:30:00.003-04:00

Things are starting to change around here...

There's a sadness that comes with saying goodbye to summer. I'm sure I don't need to give a long list of reasons. However, saying goodbye to summer allows us to welcome autumn and all the wonderful things it brings. We live in an area where you can literally smell fall in the air. I wonder if it's the breath of trees we smell while they're yawning, preparing for a long winter's nap. I don't know.

In our neck of the woods, everything is changing. And this time of year is truly one of my favorites. It's time to pull out the jeans and sweaters. It's a time when I can make myself a cup of coffee in the afternoon, just so I have something warm to hold and linger over. And it's time again for roasts and hearty soups.

I found this recipe five years ago. Yes, I've tweaked it to make it my own and it's one of our favorites. I'm sure it will be one of yours too.

Baked Potato Soup

What you will need:

1 lb. thick-sliced bacon
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
6 - 8 medium-size baked Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Pause here...

You can use baked potatoes or you can use baked potatoes. It's up to you. I prefer baked potatoes. Here's the difference. For convenience, most people "bake" potatoes in a microwave. It's simple and quick, but the taste is pretty, um, bland. However, if you can plan just a little bit ahead and bake potatoes in an oven, you will taste a huge difference. So, here's a recipe inside a recipe:

Baked Potatoes

What you will need:

Yukon Gold* potatoes, similar in size
Olive Oil
Sea Salt, medium to coarse ground

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Wash and dry the potatoes. Either place them in a big stainless steel bowl or an over-sized Ziploc bag; drizzle with olive oil. Generously salt the potatoes (the amount will change depending upon how many potatoes you are baking. I would use about 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt with 6 to 8 potatoes). If using a bowl, use one hand to toss potatoes, evenly coating them with oil and salt. If using a bag, seal the bag and toss potatoes so they are evenly coated with oil and salt.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or use foil). Place the potatoes on the baking sheet so they are spaced evenly apart. Bake for one hour or until a knife inserted through the middle of a potatoes slides in easily. The skins will darken and turn a little crispy.

*Yukon Gold is our favorite potato. The flavor is unbeatable and the creamy texture is fabulous. If you like Russets or red-skinned, use them instead. Obviously, the smaller the potato, the shorter the cooking time.

Back to our soup recipe...

1. Cut bacon into one inch pieces; place in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until brown and slightly crisp. Drain, crumble and set aside. It's OK if you want to nibble on some of the cooked bacon. Really, it's OK. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings.

2. In a skillet, over medium heat, saute onion in 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings until clear and just starting to caramelize. Set aside.

3. In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. I usually add 2 tablespoons of chicken base here, but you don't have to unless you have it on hand. It just helps enhance the overall flavor. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently.

4. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.

Serve with additional Cheddar cheese and chopped green onions, if desired.

Enjoy!

A God Day

2010-09-30T16:01:00.006-04:00

A gentle reminder that spring wasn't too long ago

UPDATE ON CARLEE

I woke up early this morning to find an e-mail from Carlee's mama. In a matter of seconds, I went from rubbing my eyes awake to instantly crying. And crying.

Here's part of what Carlee's mama said:

Dear friends,

Today I was reminded of a Bible verse I had been praying for Carlee last spring; it's from Dueteronomy 33:26-27:

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'

I again started praying that verse and asking God to destroy any cancer in Carlee and to be her refuge; to hold her up with His everlasting arms. Yesterday they repeated the CT scan, and this time were able to inject the high pressure dye. This afternoon she met with her oncologist, and I just received a call from her and she said her doctor can find NO SIGN OF CANCER IN HER BONES OR IN HER BRAIN!!! Thank you LORD!! We just cried and laughed together, praising our Creator for His mercy and love. And I thank Him for all of you who have been praying and encouraging us. She still has a lot of tests and appointments in the next couple of days, one being a liver MRI, trying to figure out why she's having these strange symptoms. But her doctor said he's not expecting to find anything on it, and as far as he's concerned, she's cancer free! What wonderful words to hear!!

Isn't that the most wonderful news? We are giving thanks and praising the Lord!

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Carlee's sister, Dani, has a beautiful blog we love reading. It's called The Invisible Realities and it's over there on the right margin too. She has a wonderful update on Carlee today as well. You can read her words here. If you are reading this after today, Dani's post is dated September 30th.

My dear Aunt Elle greeted me yesterday with a post which read, "A God morning to you too!" Later when she re-read it, she thought it was a mistake. I personally thought it was a wonderful greeting and it gave me something to ponder upon.

And this morning, well, it was a God morning too!

A God day to all of my friends,

The Beauty of Faded Roses

2010-09-29T11:47:00.004-04:00

Rachel took these gorgeous pictures a couple of weeks ago.

There is beauty at the end of things, I think.

A faded rose still has enough beauty to attract a sphinx moth.

The delicate petals of this faded rose are especially beautiful at the final moment of the day's last drop of sunshine.

And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day.
Genesis 1:5

Enjoy today...down to the very last drop of sunshine!

She's My Girl

2010-09-28T15:44:00.004-04:00

Jesse puppy doesn't feel too well, poor girl

Nine years ago this past September 1st, Mr. Wonderful and I had a moment where we both, at the same exact time, suffered from a brain cloud (not to be confused with cob webs in the head syndrome). We decided to surprise the kids (who were just 3 and 5 at the time) with a brand spanking new puppy. I found an ad in the paper. Well, you know how it goes.

We strapped the kids in the car and drove about an hour to the place where we would find chocolate and yellow lab puppies. We wanted a little girl puppy simply because we had way too many trees in our yard. How's that for a reason! If you need a minute to think about that, I understand. Anyway, wouldn't you know it, they only had one girl puppy left. I was so caught-up in the moment of watching the kids playing with all the puppies, it didn't occur to me to really study the puppy we were about to take home. She was the one that was tormenting all the other puppies! Mr. Wonderful likes to remind me of this from time to time.

We were completely unprepared to have a puppy. I mean, we had all the necessary things you need to take care of one, but we really didn't know exactly what we were getting into especially with two little kiddos at home. You know how puppies are. They are so soft and fuzzy and smell wonderful and sleep so sweetly. But Wham! The next thing you know, they're shedding and gangly and tearing up the landscaping and leaving burn marks on Mr. Wonderful's gorgeous green Better Homes and Gardens lawn. And no, that wasn't a problem this year, was it?

It took our wild puppy dog about 5 years before she really started chilling out. If she had been a human, I'm certain she would have been diagnosed with ADHD. I don't mean to make her sound bad, but she was hyper...all the time.

The first Christmas, while we were getting ready to put up the Christmas tree, we had moved the furniture around and kept her out of the family room for fear she'd get stepped on. If she put her foot on the carpet, we just shooed her back into the kitchen. Do you know, almost nine years later, she has never put her foot in that room again. Isn't that amazing? It has certainly helped with keeping dog hair off the furniture!

We have found her to be so incredibly smart and wonderful. She's 81 years old in dog years. She's mellowed out and is like an old soul. She goes wherever I go, but that's always been the case. I feed her. She knows who's boss!

The problem we've had with her since she was less than a year old is her severe allergies. Chronic ear infections, skin rashes, and food allergies. I have done everything imaginable for this poor dog. Listen, I've done everything! She's not allowed people food and absolutely no doggie treats. No raw hides. No bones. Can you even imagine? Her dog food is a specialty dog food that contains only four ingredients. You'd think that would make it cheap. Nope. And still, she suffers. Come July, the poor girl is miserable.

The vet keeps telling me she's allergic to something. It might be grass. Well, we've got a little problem then, don't we now?

I just talked to the vet...again. I spent a small fortune last year trying to keep her problems under control. Well, they came back with a vengeance again and I had her back to the vet in the beginning of August. One cortisone shot and two antibiotics later, she's still suffering. I'm going to try something else to see if I can get her problems under control. The vet is convinced that with the weather change, she'll be over all this soon. I don't think so. Last year, it took me until January.

I do love her so much. The kids adore her and she's a part of our family. Is she like our child? Nope. She is a dog. But she knows when my feet just touch the floor when I get up early in the morning and she waits, without exception, at the bottom of the stairs. When she wants some lovin' from me, she just sits and looks at me patiently. She's my girl.

Please Pray for Carlee

2010-09-27T18:56:00.004-04:00

Would you please pray for our dearly loved friend, Carlee, and her family? You can read her story here and most recent update, here. You will also see that I have Carlee's blog as one of my favorites (Hobbitsville Blog) over there in the right hand margin.

In the words of Elisabeth Elliot, "It is for this we have Jesus."

We love you, Carlee. And we're praying for you.

Cob Webs In My Head

2010-09-27T18:04:00.004-04:00

Autumn is in full swing...me, not so much!

Man! Man! I don't know what the deal is, but I just can't seem to get a grip...on anything! I mean, I have 24 hours in a day just like everyone else, right? I can't figure out where my days are going. Maybe I'm experiencing a space-time continuum problem. Yeah, sure. I just stuck that in there to make some one's head spin. I'm certain I'm not smart enough to have this particular problem. I only wish!

I mean, I get up about 5 every morning. I don't watch any TV except the occasional movie in the evening. I hardly ever talk on the phone. As you know, I haven't been blogging. I could go on and on with all the things I'm not doing. I don't know. I look around and feel like I could spend a bit of time this week just cleaning cob webs that manage to reveal themselves when the light hits them just right. Like the long one hanging right above my head at this very moment. Lovely. Apparently, I've got the wrong job. If I were a spider, at least I'd have something to show for my work.

I did manage to go to the eye doctor's today. I needed to get an updated prescription for contacts since I basically ran out last week! Blah. I'm legally blind, so this was one thing I couldn't put off another second. I went to a new doctor. I prayed before going. I don't know what it is about me and doctors. They love to pick on me for some reason. You know, the old if anything can go wrong, it'll go wrong with me thing? I have been terrified at the thought of having my eyes corrected through surgery (although my life would be so much easier without contacts). I would be the one patient in the history of the world where the laser hiccups at just the right moment and blows-up my eyeball! Yea, that would be me. I am happy to report that all went well with my eye exam and I'm trying out new contacts. New as in they were only put on the market a week ago. So far, so good! The doctor was so nice and friendly and helpful and, well, nice. I love it when that happens and thanked the Lord for it.

I don't know if you ever check out some of my favorite blogs. They're over there to the right. The Baker's Dozen is one of my favorites because Renee always brings a smile to my face. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. The woman, who I might add is in her early 30's, has fourteen, yes, fourteen, children. And her blog is always posted in the morning. I'm having a hard time getting mine posted at all, let alone in the morning! Maybe I need to have another dozen children. Um, well, that ain't gonna happen! Renee, you're my blogger hero.

Oh, we had to turn on the furnace this morning. That's a tell-tale sign that summer is officially over. Rachel, poor girl, came running downstairs to tell us she thought something in her room was burning. But all is well. It was just dust being burned off the heater elements. Or cob webs. Probably.

You know, come to think of it, I probably have cob webs in my head. That's it! I just need a good dusting. I wonder if one of those Swiffer duster things will work? I'll let you know.

P.S. Don't you think Cob Webs In My Head could be a hit song?

Pilgrims Welcomed Home

Yesterday's Classics - TOS Product Review

Epic Fail

Monday's Maybe

The Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Latin Alive! TOS Product Review

A Wrinkle in Time

Spring Rains Water the Earth

Apologia--Who Is God? TOS Product Review

Monday's Maybe

A Little Girl, A Big Train, and Cookies

Happy One Year Blogging Anniversary...to Me!

Koch Snowflake (Base-Motif Fractal)

Homemade Deep Dish Pan Pizza

Happy Valentine's Day

The Princess and the Pot

Standing In Line

How to Make a Fleece Blanket

Monday's Maybe

Girls Day Out...Michelle's Platter

Girls Day Out...Rachel's Platter

Monday's Maybe

Caution: Vent Post

A Tip for Tuesday

Monday's Maybe

Positive Action for Christ TOS Product Review

Virtual Nerd TOS Product Review

Happy New Year? Yep!

Parkside Church Christmas 2010

Stuck on Me

Christmas Concert Memories

ALEKS TOS Product Review

Little Lambs Nativity

Christmastime is Here Again

Hello? Anyone? Hello?

My Times are in Your Hands

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Practice, Persistence and Prayers

A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers TOS Product Review

KBTeachers TOS Product Review

Random Thoughts on Tuesday

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Hot Fudge Brownie Cake

Marriage Matters

Classical Gas

Autumn Only Lasts So Long

Walls of Wisdom

Friends are Everblooming Flowers

The Majesty of God

Delicious Pumpkin Bread

Perfect Preparation

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Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

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Still

Prince, Dead and Resurrected

Childhood Animal Stories - Preview

Carved in Stone

Fondue in a Pumpkin

All Saints Day 2009

Wordless Wednesday

LanSchool TOS Product Review

My Blue Foot and Me

Apple Pie by Grandma Ople

Baked Potato Soup

A God Day

The Beauty of Faded Roses

She's My Girl

Please Pray for Carlee

Cob Webs In My Head