Got this one from Jen...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  YES! lol  Usually bags for friends and wrapping for family.  Don't know why, it just ends up that way.  My FAVORITE wrap is brown paper tied w/twine or raffia w/some sort of CHRISTmas Stampin' Up stamps.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  We used to do the real ones, but I pick up quills ALL year, so we have used a fake one for years.  Last year, however, we got the most wonderful tree!!  It's very rustic - just the way I like it - it has just a touch of "snow" (so it doesn't look 'cheap') and pine cones and we put only vintage and rustic ornaments on it.  LOVE IT!  I hate to take it down!

3. When do you put up the tree? If not the day after Thanksgiving, then the weekend following.

5. Do you like eggnog?  No. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Hmmm...my Barbie Dream House.  I'm old enough that it was the second edition, still cardboard, but it was WAY cool!! 

7. Hardest person to buy for?  My mom.  She's very well off and has 2 of everything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  My dog, Maggie!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes; it's the one my family has had since I was about 3 years old and is starting to fall apart.  I'd like to get replacement Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and a few animals from the company that does the wooden angels for all occasions (shoot, can't think of the name).  While I'm at it ... I CAN'T STAND to see the wise men in a nativity scene!!  They didn't find Jesus until He was 2 years old, for Pete's sake...so put them waaaaay over on the other side of the house that they can make a journey of it! 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Both.  If I have your e-mail address, you'll probably get an e-mail; family and friends w/o e-mail get cards. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  OK...I'm serious here...no joke...My dear grandma was a very frugal gal, having lived through the Depression she was always thinking of USEFUL things to give.  The first CHRISTmas we were married she gave us a can of Crisco w/a bow on top!!  lol 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White CHRISTmas.

13. When do you start shopping? Usually in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes.  'Nuff said.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  My mom's stuffing!

16. Lights on the tree?  White.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander.  I have a really beautiful arrangement of 'I Wonder...' that I worked out on my hammered dulcimer.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?   We usually go to my mom's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?  Possibly...um...no.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  A rustic star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  We have our OWN family CHRISTmas on CHRISTmas Eve morning - when the girls were little we were always rushing all over the place and we weren't making OUR OWN memories and they couldn't enjoy their news clothes or toys.  So, when our oldest was about 5 we started our own tradition on the day before. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year.  The emphasis on Santa and stores putting up CHRISTmas - eh hem - I mean 'holiday' decorations BEFORE halloween!! 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  Rustic, vintage.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Didn't I answer that?  My mom's stuffing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  A digital camera.

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The holidays are near so I want to know...

1.
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
 Hot chocolate!

2.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
 Nope, never did the Santa-thing.  Jesus supplies the gifts – that’s what we’ve always told them.

3.
Colored lights on tree/house or white? 
 White

4.
Do you hang mistletoe? 
 yes

5.
When do you put your decorations up? 
  always right after Thanksgiving :) 

6.
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? 
My mom’s stuffing.               

 7.
Favorite holiday memory as a child: 
When I was about 11, I couldn’t sleep one Christmas Eve night and I had my radio on.  It was about 2a.m. and Nat King Cole’s “Chestnuts Roasting” came on while huge, fluffy snowflakes floated down outside my windows.  Ahhhh.

8.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 
 2^nd or 3^rd grade.
9.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? 
Yes.  So that OUR family can make our own Christmas memories, we open our own presents on Christmas Eve morning so that it’s not interrupted by having to leave to go to someone’s house.

10.
How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? 
  We got a new Christmas tree last year that is very real-looking w/just a little ‘snow’ and pinecones on it.  We put away many of our more trendy ornaments for the girls to have one of these days and now only use the more vintage and backwoods-looking ornaments.  It’s very rustic and I LOVE IT!!
11.
Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love snow...especially when I’m inside looking out!

12.
Can you ice skate? 
  That’s up for interpretation…I’ve roller skated all my life and only ice skated once.

13.
Do you remember your favorite gift? 

Christmas of 1998, Ty got me my hammered dulcimer!!

14.
What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? 
Remembering God's gift to us in His Son Jesus and having my family all together for Christmas. 

15.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
 Pumpkin pie and red velvet cake.

16.
What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
The big family meal – everyone together and happy.

17.
What tops your tree? 
 A rustic star

18.
Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Definitely giving 

19.
What is your favorite Christmas Song? 
  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander

20.
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? 
 Yum.

21.
What do you want for Christmas? 
A digital camera

22.
Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? 
 Ty’s work and – if can call it a party – our annual Christmas Eve service.

23.
Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? 

When I was little we dressed up for the meal.  Now we just wear ‘nice’ jeans and maybe a ‘dress’ blouse/shirt or sweater.

24. Do you own a Santa hat?
 nope – don’t do the Santa-thing here.

25.
Who do you normally spend Christmas with? 
Our family ~~ Christmas Eve day is for our own family; the weekend before Christmas day is w/Ty’s side of the family, Christmas Day is usually w/my side of the family.

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I really enjoy my Old Farmer's Almanac newsletter and I have learned so much from it.  Today's newsletter offered and link to "Gardening Jobs by the Month," which is of interest to me as a novice gardener.  So many of those of you that I've spoken to lately are considering either planting a kitchen garden next year or expanding the one you already keep, so I thought you might benfit from this information, too.  Here's the link:

http://www.almanac.com/garden/jobs/index.php

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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Here's something I found and thought it would be a great lesson for our children with Thanksgiving coming... {KW<><}...

In the White House, Abe Lincoln was pacing the floor of his office.  He felt more troubeld than he had ever felt before.  The fate of the Union was at stake.  He felt as if he were almost alone in his concern for the outcome.  Friends and aides appeared to be almost panic-stricken.  Abe felt that this was the most critical hour of the [Civil] war, perhaps the most critical hour in the entire history of the United States.

In desperation he left his office, went into this room and locked the door.  There he fell before a chair.  With his head in his hands, he wept and prayed.

Now, more than at any other time in his life he turned to God.  In deep anguish he told God that he had done all he could.  He pleaded for help.  There was nothing more that he could do.  He must leave the result of the battle in the hands of God.  He now knew that if his country was to be saved, it would be only because God willed it.

It was a heartbreaking hour of prayer.

When he unlocked the door and came out of his room he felt that a great burden had suddenly been rolled off his shoulders.  His intense anxiety and torturing concern had been relieved.  He felt a quiet and calm trustfullness...

On his desk was a copy of the Thanksgiving Proclamation.  He had proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of national Thanksgiving.  The nation had never before had such an annual Thanksgiving Day and he had decided that it was time the nation remembered in a special day what God had done.

Now he read slowly the proclamation:

We have been the recipients of the choistest bounties of heaven; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he read these words, for he believed in them deeply.  It was because of this belief that he ordered the Treasury Department to engrave the words, In God We Trust, on American coins.

As he was sitting at his desk, thinking about these things, an aide rushed in and excitedly exclaimed, "There's good news from the battle at Gettysburg, Sir..."

But in spite of this great victory, his days were filled, dealing with generals, listening to the problems of many citizens, and handling endless administrative details.  For help he turned to God through the Bible and in prayer.

Almost daily now, he felt the need to go to his room to pray.  More and more, he became conscious of the work of God in the affairs of men.

Writing to a friend, Byron Sutherland, one day, he said,

I believe we are all agents and instruments of Divine Providence.  I hold myself in my present position and with the authority invested in me, as an instrument of Providence.  I am conscious every moment that all I am and all that I have are subject to the control of a higher power, and that power can use me or not use me in any manner and at any time as in His wisdom might be pleasing to Him.

One day, Mr. Chittenden, the register of the Treasury, asked him if he believed that God actually directed national affairs.  With a deep feeling of emotion, he replied,

The the Almighty does make use of human agencies, and directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements of the Bible...I have many evidences of His direction, many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannont doubt that this power comes from above.

~~~Reprinted from Honest Abe by Harry J. Albus.

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For Today...

Outside my window...beautiful sunshine shining on a very thin layer of snow.  Sparkling like glitter on the roofs of the house and out-buildings.  It's been a few days since the morning has begun with sunshine.

I am thinking...how silly I was to have forgotten to do my Daybook yesterday!

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Today started out so gloomy and cold as the rain brought in such frigid temperatures.  But I needed to go out to my favorite Old Order German Baptist farm dairy this morning to get some more whole milk and brown eggs.  Even on gloomy days, that little trip brings a smile to me face.  It's a nice 15-20 minute drive and I had my sweet little dog, Maggie, w/me and I put my CD of the music from PBS's "Frontier House" in the player and we were off. 

There was some sort of 'big doin's' at the Old Order meeting house this morning b/c I passed no fewer than 11 horses and buggies on my errand.  That's always such a wonderful sight.

When I got home, I fixed dh's favorite Saturday morning breakfast, Amish French Toast (http://www.homesteadblogger.com/wannabeone/105269/) and don't you know that 2 (TWO!!) of the eggs I cracked open had double yokes!! 

Then, about an hour later, the weather got cold enough that our rain turned to giant, fluffy snowflakes for about 2-1/2 hours.  What a lovely sight on a dark, quiet (except for the Ohio State Buckeye football game! ) Saturday.

It's the little things in life that mean the most.  PTL.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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I am not a Catholic, but I support what this priest has said and done.  KW<><

SC priest: No communion for Obama supporters Nov 13 06:59 PM US/Eastern By MEG KINNARD Associated Press Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote. "Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein. "Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation." During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights. But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers—and voters—should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights. According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County—traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas—went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama. "It was not an attempt to make a partisan point," Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. "In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same." Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings. Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama's win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme. "Father Newman is off-base," said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. "He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. ... Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words." A man who has attended St. Mary's for 18 years said he welcomed Newman's message and anticipated it would inspire further discussion at the church. "I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate," said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. "You're talking about the murder of innocent beings."

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FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...Grey and cold.  It started out in the 20's but we are now in the 30's.  Indian Summer is over.

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As many of you know, I attend the Thomas Bilney Theological Seminary, where I just received my Assoiciate's Degree in Biblical Studies in September (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Buckeyeblog/589967/ the series I just posted - The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children - is actually my Associate's thesis!).  If you live in the Dayton, Ohio/Miami Valley area of Ohio, I urge you look into the up-coming classes.  The BEST PART is that since the Dean is my pastor (Rev. Joe Getts), I have arranged for Senior High level homeschoolers to be able to take these INTENSIVE courses, too!!   For the homeschool students, once a course is completed and graded they will receive a Seminarian Certificate WHICH WILL BE TRANFERRED INTO CREDITS ONCE THEY HAVE GRADUATED FROM THEIR HOMESCHOOL!!  Awesome!!  So you and your high schooler can take courses together!

These are INTENSIVE courses. What INTENSIVE means is that, depending on the class, you will basically get one quarter's-worth of infomation in anywhere from 1 to 3 days - depending upon the subject/class.  It's basically the same as what some of the college-at-home schools call "fast track."  I have listed up-coming classes in the past, but it's been a while since I've explained how this particular Seminary works, so I thought I would do it again...

There are 4 Degree Programs:  1) Seminarian Certificates, 2) Associate Degrees, 3) Baccaaureate Degrees (Bachelor), & 4) Master's Degrees.  There are 5 Degree Disciplines:  1) Biblical Studies (CSS), 2)Theological Studies (TDS), 3) Interdisciplinary Sudies (IDS), 4) Christian History (CHS) & 5) Pastoral Ministries (PMS).  The classes or numerous and can take a look at some of those on the website (www.thomasbilney.org).  All classes are available in person (for which you earn more credits), in book/CD form and SOME may be completed on-line.  Also, no matter which Discipline you choose, you may take ANY course in ANY Discipline!  

Now to the meat of this post...Here are some up-coming courses you may be interested in - I'll be there!  ... 

Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Philosophers and the Christian Faith (IDS108)

Professor Richard Barker

3 Credits

8:00a.m. @ New Hope Commuity Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $30.00)

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

Comparing Religions in Grief (IDS110)

Joe Getts

3 Credits

7:00p.m. @ New Hope Community Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $20.00)

CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES IN

Early Church History   

~Roman Civilization (CH112)

~Early Empire Religions (IDS110)

~Early Church History (CHS102)

~History of the New Testament (CHS106)

~Post Nicene Deveolpment (CHS114)

15 Credits toward your degree!!

Instructors:

Richard Barker

George C. Carpenter

Joe L. Getts

Michael P. Lorey

January 16 & 17, 2009

New Hope Community Church

1999 Belvo Rd.

Miamisburg, Ohio  45342

If you have any questions, just let me know.  OR go to the website and contact Rev. Joe Getts on the e-mail given.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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From The Old Farmer's Almanc...I thought this was interesting and something we can use for our homeschools...KW<><

Signs of Winter

Few things concern the gardener more than the first warning signs of winter. At The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we employ scientific disciplines to predict the weather but also believe in keeping a close eye on nature. The following are all considered traditional signs of a severe winter ahead: 

• Geese fly south at a high altitude.
• Oak trees bear many acorns.
• Chipmunks are abundant.
• Lakes and rivers freeze later than usual.
• Onions grow thicker skins than usual.
• Squirrels are gathering a large supply of nuts.
• Woodpeckers appear early.
• Lots of berries.
• Corn husks are thicker and stronger.

What’s in store for your winter? For our Web site visitors, we have provided two months of free weather forecasts.

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