Monday, November 9, 2009
Free Veteran's Day Resources (including a lapbook and clipart)
| This but one day we take from our busy lives to remember, pray, and think about those past and present who fight to keep us free. We should do this everyday. My Grandmother told me yesterday that she thinks the reason young people today do not have the respect for their country and those who sacrificed for it is because of us: the parents. We do not take the time or effort to show them all they have to be proud of, to be thankful that they live in this great country. Let’s not fail.
I have some wonderful FREE resources for you today. But first, I encourage you to attend the Veteran’s Day parade in your nearest city. I know it will be at 11 am. How to I know that? Out of tradition for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI was signed at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Military.com has a wealth of info form the history, to things you can do to links for Veterans. You can access that info by clicking here. You can go to this site and/orthis site to find out the history of Veteran's Day.
This next website has some great printables. They have a coloring page for the younger ones, vocabulary pages, wordsearch and a really cool quiz that even I had to think to complete. You can get that site by clicking here. Plus you can sign up for their weekly newsletter and get some great links each week to a variety of subjects. Another great site with a lot of great printables is here.
This is a 4th of July site but there are some great printable flags & pinwheels. You can click here for that.
Now here is the free lapbook from CurrClick. You do have to go through checkout but it does not require any kind of credit card info. This is an incredible that site that gives away a lot of free stuff (my favorite kind). You will be signed up for a newletter that lets you know about freebies. You can access that by clicking here. I have mine printed up and ready for the kids to do tomorrow. I also have pictures of some of the Veterans in our family printed up to put in it. (you can meet one of them, a true hero by reading last year's post, here)
Now some extra clipart for the above lapbook or any notebooking .
For the military branch seals, click here.
Now at this site (click here) scroll down on the page and you will see links to more military clipart than you knew existed. You will also find some really cool clipart here.
Well, this should get you started. I wanted to get this up early in the week so it would give you time to design and print up what you need. Again, please make plans to attend the parade.
If you are a Veteran, thank you. I may not know your face or name but you are in my prayers.
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Nov. 6, 2009
Grandpa and the Skunk
Posted By Sagerats
My grandpa, my Papafather's dad, was a country vet. He had a little office off the side of the house where he did small animal surgery, and exams. He made house calls all around the country, some trips taking him an hour or more to reach the animal in need of help, be it cow, horse, sheep, or pig. Very often he would have one of his children in tow. He had 10 of them so there was no shortage of helpers. It all sounds very James Harriot like, and in a way it was. James Harriot's stories are popular with that side of the family and each story reminds them of one like it that grandpa experienced.
Grandpa's office was, as I said, just off the house. Just off the kitchen to be exact. My grandma had a dutch door put in so that she could just open up the top half to talk to him and yet keep the little ones inside. Think about that. A vet's office, just off the kitchen. Do you recall how a vet's office smells? That smell still lingers in that office to this day and it's been over 10 years since my grandpa died.
Aside from the smell, I never gave grandpa's office much thought. We would traipse our way through it on the way to play outside, to gather in the clothes from off the line, to pick grapes, collect eggs, or to find grandpa. The office doubled as grandma's laundry room so I suppose that's why it didn't seem like a room that needed much attention. I never spent any time in it other than to get from point A to point B. Which is strange now that I think about it, all those fascinating instruments, chemicals, medicines, and the like just within reach. I never touched them or was ever tempted to do so.
One temptation I did give in to was a special barrel out back that held two skunks. Grandpa would warn us to leave those skunks alone. My numerous cousins and I would stand around the barrel peering in, and those skunks would peer back. The lot of us cousins would look for only a moment and then run away as fast as we could before we got sprayed. I didn't find out until I was much older that those skunks couldn't spray because my grandpa had "deskunked" them. I don't know if my cousins were aware of this at the time or not, they ran just as fast as I did. Grandpa's warning hadn't been for us, he had been worried that we would torment the skunks.
Skunks actually make a great pet and are positively darling, if you can legally keep them. My uncle kept one for awhile. She was just like a cat, had a litter box and everything. Her name was Rosie, and then some, but I won't repeat that part.
We have a family story, told every couple of years or so I guess, about grandpa and one particular skunk he was de-scenting. While in the process of removing the gland that contains the hideous skunk musk, it was ruptured. It squirted all of its contents right in my grandpa's face. He came into the kitchen to clean up and the only thing he said was, "It's such a beautiful color." Apparently skunk spray is an amber color, and my God fearing grandpa could still recognize the beauty of God's handiwork even in a skunk's musk.
Funny, while my aunts and uncles roar with laughter about this story every time they tell it, I don't remember anyone talking about the smell lingering in the kitchen or what on earth my grandma said or did. I'll have to ask them about that.
After the laughter dies down, someone will always mention how my grandpa was such a quiet, gentle, and patient man. Oh he had his moments when a cow would stomp him, but how many men do you know who would take it from a skunk and only comment on it's beauty?
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Nov. 6, 2009
Dulldroms, Already?
Your kids have had the flu for what seems like months now. Your routines lay shattered around you. Your heart is sinking with the mess all around you. Anyone relate? If you are not there, you will be at one point this winter. So what are we to do when those dulldroms come?
The greatest gift we posses as homeschoolers is our opportunity to change. We can change things up when school starts to get us down. Change the location where you do school. Change the books you are reading for awhile. Change your attitude!
Remember that quote from Charles Swindoll I posted the other day? Attitude is in our power to control. Are you going to see the negatives only? Or are you going to see what treasures you have laying all around you? It's up to us, Moms. We set the tone of our homes.
I delared this week to be "Serve Others Week" at our home. We made dinner for friends with a new baby. We babysat for friends. We visited our elderly grandparents in a nursing home. We wrote thank you notes to others who have been kind to us.
I tell you these things not to brag or make you feel bad about yourself. I tell them to you because I want you to be encouraged. The antedote to feeling blah is to serve others and to be thankful for all you have. It is really that simple. How that looks in your world will be different from how it looks in mine.
"You live more fully once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted."
~Ruth E. Renki
"Happiness is contagious. Be a carrier. "
~Robert Orben
"What the mind dwells on, expands."
~Norman Vincent Peale
I challenge you to find ways to shake things up next week in your studies if you are feeling blah, take a walk in the fall sunshine, rake leaves together, write letters to others, visit a shut-in, whatever that is for you, just do it!
~Jenn
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Nov. 5, 2009
Y.oung M.inds C.acophony A.lbum
Posted By Sagerats
When I was a young and silly girl I really wanted a certain record. Yup, I said record. They still existed even though cassette tapes were beginning to make their appearance. The problem was, I didn't own a tape player, I owned a record player.
I can't even remember now how this record made it to the top of my wish list. I'm guessing that what really happened was that I had seen it while digging through the records at the store and it called to my fickle heart. I trotted off to the nearest money source, which just happened to be my Aunt Sissie. I was spending a couple of weeks with her during the summer. Her children were all grown and possibly gone, that part of my memory is a little fuzzy. Anyway, I guess Aunt Sissie saw nothing wrong with indulging me and she bought it. Oh, I was a happy music lover! I listened to that album for years. Perhaps all of two-years.
I have no idea what my mother thought of this present. I don't recall her ever expressing it to me. I may have to ask her about that. I do remember that my aunt loved me and wanted to give me something simple, like a two week invasion of her home and privacy wasn't enough. She was just like that, quietly giving.
So what record sang to me and held my attention for so long? Irwin the Disco Duck In the Navy.
Groovy! Here are the popular titles on this record that I boogied to:
- In the Navy
- Macho Man
- Y.M.C.A.
- Music Box Dancer
- Last Dance
- Knock on Wood
- Le Freak
- Instant Replay
- I Love the Night Life
- Goodnight Tonight
What a horrendous track of songs! I think the only reason they threw in Music Box Dancer was to appease parents who thought the record might rot brains. I know it did mine, but at least I still love Music Box Dancer. Believe it or not this album was made by Peter Pan Records, a company that made records for children.
I'm sure it was that dashing figure of a duck in his sailor uniform that caught my eye in the first place. I wanted to join the Navy after all! As one of those grown cousins that no longer lived in the house was in the Navy, it was probably what tipped the scale in my aunt buying it for me. I wouldn't buy anything like this for my own children, let alone my nieces.
It is however a somewhat fond memory, mainly because of my Aunt Sissie. I can't ever hear Y.M.C.A. without thinking of this record, and I can't think of this record without remembering her.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Visit to the Local High School
Posted By diamondsintherough
Amy made my heart glad today with this remark, "Boy, I'm happy I don't have to go to school!" It's the kind of remark that encourages an insecure homeschooling mother to just keep plugging along.
The girls have been wanting to play tennis for some long while. Upon hearing of this the other night, a friend from church generously loaned us a couple of rackets and a can of balls. He said, "Just go to the fire station and ask the fire chief for the key to the tennis courts. I do it all the time." Just to be sure we weren't going to be chasing a wild goose, I called the fire station this morning. I had four girls all dressed for the courts and ready to go. "No... we haven't had the keys for the tennis courts for three years. You'll have to call the high school." Aha! Just as I suspected! A goose was loose.
After learning that I would have to bravely send my girls on to the high school campus, I gave them $5 for a key deposit plus a walkie-talkie. In fifteen minutes my radio bleeped. I could hear a bit of resentment in my daughter's voice. They needed to have an adult signature. Why don't adults trust kids?  I had to brush my teeth and make my hair look presentable, but my girls waited patiently. Borrowing my daughter's bike I pedaled three or four blocks to the high school.
No one accosted us when we entered the gate, but the girls had been questioned the first time they went in. "Do you have ID? What are you doing here?" As if they look dangerous. But I can understand the school having security. They might have weirdos off the street, four little Baptist girls in skirts, for example, come in shooting or something. Scary. Funny thing is, to me it looked a lot scarier on the inside that it does on the outside!
We made our way to the administrative office building and down the hall to the bookstore. We could feel eyes turning to stare from all directions. Frankly I was happy to be an unusual attraction -- a happy mother with orderly children, none of whom were dressed like street-walkers in training. I signed for the tennis court key.
As we exited the building we met the one teacher we know there, and we stopped to chat for a minute. He's a good man trying to make a difference in this place. Truly, it's a mission field. His family homeschools, too.
Going around the outside corner of the building I was thinking maybe we could get off the campus through a back gate and avoid walking all the way around. I noticed a security guard leaving the building right behind us, and observant woman that I am, I did not notice until I had asked him for directions, that he was actually a police officer, and in front of him was a male student in handcuffs! 
On our way to the rear gate, which we found locked, one of the younger girls excitedly pointed out the little playground equipment, and commented that she didn't know high schools had playgrounds. I explained that that was play stuff for the school's day care...
Finally making our way back to the front gate, Alison said, "I don't like the way these kids look at me. They probably think I don't know anything!" I told her they probably know a lot of things she doesn't know, and to be glad for that!
And after all that, the tennis courts were full. But it wasn't a wasted trip. We now have a key. We learned first hand that school is like prison. And I now have four kids who are glad to be homeschooling. 
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31,32
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Nov. 4, 2009
The Common Thread that Weaves My Memories
"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~Erma Bombeck
That common thread, I know what it is. It's love. Not necessarily for each other, but for the same group of people. For instance, my sister and I are very opposite from each other, but our love for our mother is the only thing that keeps us together. We also love the same aunts, and uncles, and cousins, but it's our mom that keeps us in communication.
I pray that I will always remember the fun my family has had. I don't ever want to forget the good times. I'm going to be writing some of them down, more for my benefit then yours, but I hope that I write them well enough that you can enjoy them too. I want to weave my memories together on "paper" before my mind unravels. I'm not expecting that to happen anytime soon, but I've already noticed that a few strands have been pulled and the edges are wearing.
My mom keeps a box full of all the comic strips that made her truly laugh. She wants to read them when she is old and feeling unhappy. I want the same thing of my memories. In case I can't remember, I can pull one out and hopefully it will help me to remember and I can be happy because my life has been so truly blessed. I may even pull them out before I'm very old, because so often lately I do forget just how blessed I am.
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Nov. 4, 2009
Being Content
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I have been thinking a lot about contentment lately. I have some friends who are going through some extremely hard times. They are people that I love and admire. And honestly, sometimes I thought they were “more blessed” than me. (Do you ever think that?)
On the outside, they seemed to “have it all”, great careers making good money, nice homes and cars, loving families, lots of friends, health, etc...
But now, they are going through some things that put all of that in perspective and made me realize I need to rethink some things.
I realize that many times I've looked at God blessing me by what He gives me. Now I know that often He is also blessing me with what He doesn't give me – the things He has protected me from.
Does that make any sense?
It's not that the money or success that they've experienced are solely to blame for what they're going through. That's actually far from it. But those good things are what I could see and admire. I didn't see all of the things that they were privately battling (or would someday be battling).
Shame on me for thinking that somehow God loved them more because He was blessing them with certain things. Sure we struggle, but my family is extremely blessed. We love each other like crazy, we've got a comfy home with plenty of land to enjoy, and we get to spend lots and lots of time together. I have GOT to quit taking that for granted.
All families have their struggles. Some will struggle with finances. Some struggle with family tensions. Some struggle with marital issues. Others struggle with health or loss. Those things just come from living in this sinful fallen world where accidents, confusion, selfishness, envy, and disease run rampant.
We can't control all of the things that come into our lives, but those things don't have to consume us. We must walk by faith and not by sight, all the while trusting in God and knowing that He has our best interests at heart. We have to quit looking at others and wondering why things seem so hard for us, but so easy for them. Our lives were not created for our comfort. God chooses whether we need the sweet or the bitter. We were created to glorify Him and He gets to decide how – whether it is through success or trials, health or illness, joy or sorrow. Sometimes being content means letting go of our plans and desires.
We need to quit keeping score. Being content is a choice. One day I met a woman who was going through a horrible time, the worst time of her life. Yet she really didn't have any sympathy for others. She was certain that everyone else had things so much better than she did. She didn't know that many of our friends were facing extremely trying times themselves. Because even as those women were struggling, they were trying to be content, to count their blessings, and to look at how they could bless others.
It doesn't take a perfect life to glorify God, He uses struggling imperfect people every day.
And even IN our struggles, God is there, which is truly the greatest blessing! Remember the story in Matthew 14: 22-33 about the disciples being out in the boat on stormy waters? Even when Peter began to sink because he was scared by the storm, Jesus reached out to grab him and saved them all. We have to remember that He will reach out and grab us when we are scared and sinking too.
That's where my hope is. That's what keeps me content.
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
Lamentations 3: 21-25
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Best Free Cat toys & update on new kitten
| If you read my previous post (click here) you know we have a new addition to the family. Yeah! If you know me, you know that “yeah” was sarcastic. Sigh. Well, some of you have asked for updates on the beast. She is doing well. When she came home a little over two weeks ago, she weighted just over a pound. The vet said she was terribly underweight. Well, she has fattened up! Not sure how much but boy has that rear spread out! Another great surprise was the tests revealed she has NO intestinal parasites. EEEWWW!
Anyway, I found a great free toy for her. Our church goes through a lot of soda. We do not buy carbonated sugar except on rare occasions. I generally get the bottles for free and use them for gardening purposes. I will do a post on that another time. Anyway, I was cleaning them when the cap fell to the floor. The kitten went nuts. She loves chasing the caps across the floor, pawing them and boy is it funny when she skids them under the stove and cant reach them. She sits there meowing as loud as possible until someone gets it or gives her another one. Imagine, my kids insisted on paying $4 for a stuffed mouse and $2 for a jingling ball and the cat loves the free stuff! Ok, maybe this kitten may work out well in the family after all. |
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Nov. 4, 2009
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
 Trevor and his new belt.
I have to tell the story behind this picture. It was taken on Trevor's birthday last week. At the time he had a fever and could not go to karate, which was promotion night, of all nights! His coach, knowing how hard Trevor had worked for this new belt, made the effort to get Trevor his belt anyway, stopping by our house to give it to him. His coach said that it was Trevor's birthday afterall. I was amazed. To me, it could have waited another week, you know, teaching patience. But, now I see another lesson was taught, even more powerful: compassion! |
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Nov. 3, 2009
Butch Bills and the Sundance Sagerats
Why on earth do I feel like a criminal on the run while keeping one step ahead of financial ruin? To date I've done nothing criminal, nor do I plan to, and yet I feel like I am dodging "the law" of creditors. Just so it's clear, we actually still have good credit, but only due to the grace and mercy of God.
Still, there are days when I think it would just be a whole lot easier if I turned myself in and went to debtors prison. Not that we have that anymore, but I am so weary of this flight into financial freedom. Flight might be a strong word for it--it's more like dragging a penguin on a leash.
On the whole I have no one to blame but myself, we gambled and we are losing, but there have been outside influences that have played their part. Just as a farmer must still depend on the weather in order to produce a good crop, while doing what he can to help it along. Frost, tornados, and hail can all destroy a crop, it shows no mercy to a dedicated farmer or a lazy one.
Remember how I said that our good credit is still only good because of the grace and mercy and God? It's true, but I have several friends who were finally captured by the credit Pinkertons--Bankruptcy and Foreclosure. In no way do I think that God's mercy and grace were pulled away from them, although I'm sure they may feel that way.
I just don't understand how I can feel like I've done something so morally wrong, as if I committed first-degree non-payment, and why I have to keep looking over my shoulder and dodging the long arm of the law, certain that I am about to be caught.
While I know that the enemy can beat me up, there must be a reason why I feel so guilty. I don't think it's all the bad guy in the black hat. No, we didn't spend our money on extravagances instead of paying our bills. I'm not saying that we have always spent our money wisely, but we've not been neglectful either. Yet, have I been a good steward? Sadly, no.
There is only One who can grant me immunity, riding the white horse, swooping down, scooping me up, and riding away into the sunset. Okay, I don't have to wait for the Rapture, He can still save me, but it painted a good picture for my theme, don't you think?
Christ is who I must run to, instead of dodging from payday bush to payday bush, and hiding out in dark caves of no cell-phone service so the creditors can't call. He won't tell me that I don't have to pay my bills and He won't actually pay them for me like He has my sins, but He can give me much needed rest and focus. He still answers prayer! If only I would take the time to actually look for Him instead of at how far away the next payday bush is.
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