November 11, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday: I Got You Baby!
He leaves me wordless! So precious!
©AmandaDixon2009
Nov. 11, 2009 - Courtship in the 24/7 Era
My friend, Kim, has a saying on her Facebook, "A woman's heart should be so lost in God, that a man has to seek Him in order to find her." But this generation seems to be lost to Facebook and their cellphone making it way too easy not only to find her but everything about her too. The combination has made any rules of engagement (pun intended) obsolete.
David Brooks examines how cell phones have changed the dating game.
Once upon a time — in what we might think of as the “Happy Days” era — courtship was governed by a set of guardrails. Potential partners generally met within the context of larger social institutions: neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and families. There were certain accepted social scripts. The purpose of these scripts — dating, going steady, delaying sex — was to guide young people on the path from short-term desire to long-term commitment.As a parent, we've encouraged our young adults to establish appropriate guardrails which will help them navigate the temptations that are ever before their eyes. But it isn't easy for them or us. We understand the traps that lay before them that could derail their hopes and dreams, but frequently our young people only see another "friend" to add to their growing list.
Over the past few decades, these social scripts became obsolete. They didn’t fit the post-feminist era. So the search was on for more enlightened courtship rules. You would expect a dynamic society to come up with appropriate scripts. But technology has made this extremely difficult. Etiquette is all about obstacles and restraint. But technology, especially cellphone and texting technology, dissolves obstacles. Suitors now contact each other in an instantaneous, frictionless sphere separated from larger social institutions and commitments.
In the "Happy Day's era as Brooks identifies it, a young man thought longer before he reached for a phone and called a girl. More importantly, the ring of the phone and one-side of the conversation were heard throughout the household. Now, the instantaneous access to a new friend through cell phones makes it easy, very private, and speeds up the courtship process. Add in social networking sites like Facebook and young adults quickly learn what their new friend's favorite food, music, song, and a whole lot more before the first date. They become emotionally bonded and "in a relationship" before parents and others in their social sphere know they even exist.
Even parents like us, who have encouraged our children not to commit to a long-term relationship until they are ready for marriage are struggling how to navigate these waters. The only "script" seems to be written by the next generation as they go along, eliminating many safeguards that prevented heart break or at least softened the blow.
God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He created woman and said it was very good. We created technology that has become our constant companion and what is happening to our generation because of it isn't so good.
-Spunky
Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool
Nov. 10, 2009 - Reaching Homeschoolers
At a homeschool convention last year, another vendor and I struck up a conversation. He had a lot of energy but seemed a bit uptight; however, he readily admitted that he felt totally out of place because he didn't homeschool and this was definitely not his "typical convention." Not really interested in finding out what his "typical convention" was like, I smiled and assured him that we all knew he was out of place the minute he walked in the vendor hall, but we're a polite group and so we didn't point or stare as we talked about him to each other. He grinned and relaxed a bit.
"Obviously, you're a pretty direct person," He said. "So I was wondering, how does a guy who knows nothing about homeschooling sell his product to homeschoolers?"
Ignoring the fact that this out of place "greedy capitalist" was there just to make a profit, I chuckled and asked him, "Why do you think homeschoolers would even want to buy your product if you know absolutely nothing about us?"
He didn't seem to want to answer that, so I continued, "Get to know us a bit and you'll figure out it's not that hard to sell to us. We're pretty frugal but can be gullible in the right circumstance with a promising product, especially at a homeschool convention."
"Fair enough." He replied. "Then I'd like to show you my stuff and see what you think. But first there's one thing I've been wondering about homeschoolers for quite a while now."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Why do you homeschoolers have so many kids?"
"Umm, gee, maybe it's because we have more exciting things to do than watch Jay Leno after the kiddos go to bed?!?" (Okay, I didn't really say that but I did think it.)
Instead, I politely tried to explain that for some of us homeschooling isn't just an educational choice but a life decision based on a belief that children are as a blessing from God. He wasn't getting it and I was getting hungry so the conversation quickly died of natural causes.
If I ever run into him again, however, I'm sending him over to Ethan Demme (of Math-U-See fame) who gives a much more thoughtful and complete answer to the question, How do I reach the homeschool community? His post is directed at politicians but he starts from the same premise that you have to know something about us, past and present, in order to reach us.
As a homeschool grad and marketing guru, Demme provides an excellent round-up of information and resources to understand this growing but changing movement of homeschool radicals who actually believe they can teach their children at home and live to blog about it. Check it out and keep in handy if you ever run into my vendor friend at your state homeschool convention.
(Note to Demme: Please add a paragraph on fecundity and homeschoolers, thanks in advance.)
-Spunky
Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool
Nov. 9, 2009 -
Man, it is so good to be home.
October 22nd we left for Oregon at 5:30 AM I think it was. Over an hour after we were supposed to. :D All the girls and little kids were packed and loaded before the boys were even awake! Well, besides Joe, ;
&because he had to go to work at 4 AM. So, we can easily put the blame of being late on the boys. :-D We arrived in Oregon on October 22nd... late at night.. ate food that Grammoo cooked, and went to bed about 1 AM October 23rd.
October 23rd A few people went and picked up Grandpa's van and went and picked up the H's (Joe's fiance and her parents) and Joe at the airport. Then, they came back to Grammoo and Papa's house. We left for Canon Beach after that. We took the H's to their hotel, dropped off the food that Grammoo sent for them to eat, and cleaned up a syrup spill in the camper trailer. I don't think we did much else there in Canon Beach. We then drove to the R's (about an hour away). The R's are friends that Mom and Dad knew 20 years ago.. at Ecola Hall in Canon Beach. So, anyway, at the R's, they had another family over and we ate dinner and stayed up late. I think we went to bed about midnight.
October 24th we drove back to Canon Beach for the Ecola Hall Reunion. I believe it was that morning at the reunion, we played our music, and Dad spoke. I forgot what else we did that morning. At lunch time, while most all the rest Ecola Hall Reunion people went to take a tour of Ecola Hall, the R's, H's, and us went to the H's hotel room and ate hamburgers and hotdogs, walked on the beach, practiced our skits for the talent show, and talked alot. 
That evening, we went back to the church where we played our music earlier in the day and everybody reintroduced themselves and told what has happened in the past 20 years. After that was the talent show.. We did a few skits, and a few other people sang and did skits and such. That night we drove back to the R's, ate a little bit, and stayed up later than it already was.
October 25th we went to a morning service with the rest of the Reunion people.. which one of the alumni, who is a pastor, spoke. After that, we headed back to Portland to play at the Manor, which is a retirement home. I don't recall doing much after that.. went back to Grammoo and Papa's house and went to bed.
October 26th was our shower day.. LOL. I think about 6 people took showers that morning... That afternoon we headed to Salem, to Uncle David's house and had Taco's and Banana Splits and played bowling, golf, DDR, and boxing (which Katie H. beat everybody at the punching bags). Headed back to Grammoo and Papa's house late, slept there. This was also the day that a few of us started feeling sick.
October 27th was Mom and Dad's 25th anniversary. Grammoo, Uncle David and Aunt Fran planned a surprise party for them... had a nice mix of friends and family. We played our music at it, with Uncle David joining us with his bass. But, backing up to the morning, that was when most of us were feeling sick.. that and that night. So Mom got some medicine for us... Somehow we figured out we had the swine flu.
October 28th we woke up EXTREMELY early and drove to NCCS (North Clackamas Christian School) and played music there. After that we went and played at Gilman Park, another retirement home. After that we went back to Grammoo and Papa's house and vegged out. By then, we were running temperatures.. Eric's got up to 107º. A few others had 104;
&º.
October 29th we went to Grandma Kathy's house all day.
October 30th Joe and the H's were taken to the airport to fly back. We went to Deseret (a Mormon thrift store.. because the Mormons are the only sources we can find for modest clothing!) and shopped there for a while. After that we drove to Vancouver, Washington and Emily, Kate, Tess, and Abby got their ears pierced. Then we went to the Guitar Center and dropped off Dad, Ben, Em, and Eric, and Grandpa's van. The rest of us went back to Grammoo and Papa's house. Later, Uncle David also came to Grammoo's house.
October 31st we hung around Grammoo and Papa's house all day, packed so we could leave early the next morning.
November 1st we were homeward bound. Got home late. Crashed.
November 2nd Mom and Ben went shopping for hunting. We did some things to get ready for hunting.
November 3rd We headed up to the mountains to hunt about midday. Set up camp and hunted that evening.
November 4th Hunted. Joe got his deer. Joe also had to go back home to work.
November 5th Hunted. That evening Ben got 2 deer.
November 6th Hunted the morning. Went around the loop. Kate got a deer. Packed up and left for home. Joe left home to go work in a different city for a few days.
;
&
November 7th hung out around home. Ben, Eric, and Em went hunting on the G's land. Shot at a few, but didn't kill any.
November 8th Processed all 4 deer. Ate pizza for dinner. :-D
November 9th is today. We are all mostly over the pig flu. Dad might have got pnumonia. We are still coughing. A few of us have runny noses. Dad and Ben went back to work today. Joe is expected back today, I think. It is also exactly 1 month until my birthday! EEk! Time travels WAAAYYY tooooo fast. But, none the less, as much fun we had in Oregon and hunting, it still is sooo good to be home. ;
& As you may see, I changed my template. I never got around to fixing my other one.. I do wish HSB would get some new templates, though. :-)
Now, I won't blame you if you skip everything. I admit, it is pretty boring. Mom is gone to town right now, so I will post this as soon as she gets back. I don't know whether I'll add pictures or not. I might just be too lazy. :-)
Auf Wiedersehen until next time.
~Elizabeth~
~(~)~(~)~
November 8, 2009 - Happy Happy Joy Joy, Here's The Boy!
Samuel and Me
I'm In Love
Isn't he the CUTEST?!
©AmandaDixon2009
November 7, 2009 - Tickled Blue!
I am so excited and very proud to say I am now officially the oldest of 9 children! :) Samuel Ira was born today! We are 20 years and 12 days apart. He is just precious and sweet! A true gift from God! I'm tickled there is another newborn in the house! :D Altho... there are so many people to share him with. LOL! Trying to snatch him anytime I can! ;) Will get some more up about him and pictures soon! :D I am just soo happy he's here!
I am so blessed by God to have another sibling to love, to watch grow up and to TRY to be an example of how to live as our Messiah did!
Thank you God for the blessing of this precious babe! Such an awesome Shabbat this has been!
©AmandaDixon2009
Nov. 5, 2009 - Lyn's Baked Oatmeal
I got this recipe from my friend Lyn, but I put my own spin on it. We have it every Wed. for breakfast and often have the leftovers for a snack. We make it up the night before and store it in the fridge to make our morning as easy (and as TASTY) as can be!
Baked Oatmeal
3 C. Oatmeal
1 C. Sugar (we use less than 1 C... more like 3/4 C. of organic, unbleached sugar... I tried honey, but it didn't turn out as soft as we liked)
1 t. salt. (I use kosher sea salt)
2 t. baking powder (I use aluminum free from Costco)
6 scoops of organic whey protein powder (we use the kind sweetened with stevia and xylitol and either chocolate OR vanilla tastes great)
1 C. milk (actually we use 1 C. of kefir and sometimes add just a little more than a cup since the kefir can be quite thick. Rice milk also works well!)
2 eggs (organic, if possible)
1/2 C. oil (we use unsweetened organic applesauce instead)
I also sprinkle in a large amount (I never measure... maybe a scant 1/4 C.???) of organic cinnamon
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into greased 8x11 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm topped with applesauce, warm milk, raisins, craisins, nuts, whatever you like.
We have also made this with eggnog instead of milk and it was yummy!
Oh, once I made it with choc. protein powder and added a couple heaping TBS. of raw almond butter and it was nice like that too!
November 3, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday: Two Decades
Nov. 3, 2009 - Sweet Rice
Sorry I have not written in a long time. Well, here is another recipe.
Sweet Rice
2 cups white rice
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
3/4 c. sugar or cinnamon sugar
Prepare rice. When done, put in the milk and sugar and continue cooking for 15 min. Pour in bowl and serve with cinnamon sugar.
Well, I hope you enjoy this recipe, I do!
ChefL
Nov. 2, 2009 - Holiday Idea Book--No Charge
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