Posted in Spiritual Musings
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Salaciously that spirit Joy took leave
No, no, nothing of it!
Dropping on my knees His light shone once more...till the worthless dreams and Joy walked back.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
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Posted in Family Scrapbook
 Isn't this pretty? My sweet husband got this for me recently. It's a small table waterfall. I love the way the pots are displayed. The only problem with this waterfall is that the buzzing of the battery is louder than the trickling of the water. Still, just watching the water flow makes me calm and happy.
I'm still looking around for the right materials for my indoor waterfall. If you have any good ideas, send them to me. :) |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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Water. I love its music. I guess that's why I love it when it rains. Softly, its gentle pattering soothes my frayed brain, and leaves me relaxed and calm. Loudly, its thundering sheets melt my worldly cares, and I imagine myself being cleansed spiritually too. For years, I've wanted an indoor waterfall so I can treat my ears and being to the sweet sounds of flowing water. Recently I noticed a perfect place for an indoor waterfall. It's next to the stairs and besides the hall tree. I've also identified a few more spots around the house for other indoor waterfalls. So a new summer project is borne! I'm going to build me an indoor waterfall. The exorbitant prices they charge for such waterfalls is one reason. But another reason is I think I have it in me to create one. My dear late dad used to plan and create beautiful water gardens for hotels, shopping complexes and elegant homes. During one season of his life, he also created beautiful miniature indoor waterfalls for a living. If my dear dad could do it, surely I can too. :) If only he could see me now, he would be chuckling, for I was never quite interested in what he was doing when I was growing up. Anyway, here are some websites I'm currently looking into in my search for the perfect indoor fountain. If you made one yourself, and have some tips, I would appreciate your advice! http://www.guide4home.com/out-ftn/make-indoor-water.htm http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/kobayashik/H2OFount.html http://www.fountainsnslate.com/ http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/tabletop-fountains/index.html http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/freeform-fountains/index.html |
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I found this page on the blighted ovum and thought some might find it enlightening. Between my two children, I had a miscarriage due to a blighted ovum. It still pains me thinking about it, but to realize that my baby was no less a baby because it was a "blighted ovum" has made things bearable. And to be able to enjoy my six year old son now is a joy beyond comparison. After that miscarriage at 42, I didn't think another baby was possible. But God was good, just as He always is. |
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My friend, Lynda Coates, was a home school pioneer. Together with her husband Lauren, she blazed a trail that many subsequently followed. Thanks to her and other pioneers, we presently can home school freely. Her signature books, Far Above Rubies (for girls) and Blessed is the Man (for boys) are high school curriculum guides that have "been around" for a while now, and are relied on by many as the backbone of their high school home school, or at least a resource guide. They are amazingly well-researched and thorough. Best of all, they are based on the Word of God. Today, Lynda is widowed. Her children are grown, but she continues to be a blessing to the home school community. I am honored to be part of her efforts to raise funds for this worthy cause by contributing to the slew of freebies she's giving away when you buy her classic curriculum. Check out her sales page here and find out more. http://www.lyndacoats.com/ Warning: the sale goes away after this Friday, May 15. |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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Recently, my daughter took the wrong kind of cookie. She dropped her guard for a few seconds and the allergens she consumed set off a series of emergencies. Dropping your guard. Dropping my guard. That is so easy to do. Like going down the morality slide, it all starts when we drop our guard. When we make little bad choices. When we let that little seemingly innocent temptation squat in a tiny corner of our heart. And we think nothing of it. Then we let another seemingly friendly foe find residence in another part of our heart. And we dismiss its presence. Soon, we have an entire population of “little” enemies of the soul, chipping away our resolve to walk in the light. And one day, we make a bad choice, topping all the little bad choices we had been making. And guess what? That sin of ______________(fill in the blanks) we thought we had conquered suddenly finds full expression. And nothing can stop the motion of consequences that follows. Not even true repentance. Think Adam and Eve. Think Jacob. Think David. This Sunday afternoon, I pray I will not let pride blind me to all the “little” bad choices I have carelessly made. I pray I have the resolve, and the courage, to kick out every enemy of my soul that I had given tacit permission to become a tenant in my heart...they do add up, exponentially. No, I don't want to even think about taking the first bite of the “cookie” just because I can rationalize away its possible harm it might do to me. Sometimes all you need is just one bite and that very bite can very well be the one that totally destroys your testimony and witness. My spirit is allergic to anything that displeases the Lord. Instead of occasionally “testing” those spiritual allergens or pretending they don't really affect me, I should just eliminate them. And I should remember that they are everywhere, and like food allergies, I can never be too careful... |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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So today is the start of the Holy Week... Can you imagine what it must have been like that Palm Sunday when Jesus rode on an untainted, never harnessed colt towards Jerusalem? That itself was in fulfillment of a 500 year old prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). As He rode majestically and yet humbly, the crowds gave Him a rousing cheer. They praised Him. They honored Him. The response of the Pharisees was nothing majestic. They were vexed. They told Him to rebuke His disciples. In today's parlance, they wanted Him to ask them to “shut up!” But what was the response of Jesus? We read in Luke 19:40: But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” So if the disciples should hold their peace, God would raise up even inanimate objects like the lifeless stones to declare His praise. Wow! Our God is sovereign. He rules over all. There is no creature or activity that is not under His government. He can do whatever He desires in every realm of creation. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, Psalm 135:6 Yes, our sovereign and omnipotent God can do whatever He desires, even with stones. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He was officially presented as the Son of God and the King of kings. We pay homage to earthly kings and rulers whose lives are frail and whose kingdoms are transient. Should our response to our King of kings be any less? How foolish the proud Pharisees were to want the disciples (and all the women and children) to “shut up!" They were totally devoid of any kind of spiritual understanding. Don't let anyone muzzle your praise today. Or any day. Keep it coming. Keep it flowing. Our King of kings deserves it. |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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I began the Lenten journey with determination and high hopes. I visualized myself pouring over the Word of God long before the sun had risen. I saw myself wearing a sublime smile as I touched all my household duties with joy, and greeted each burden with grace. After all, it's Lent, and I was focusing all my energy on working out spiritually. And with my whole armor consciously tacked on, surely I would be more “successful” than on “regular” days... (Deep down though I was wondering how I would be tested and was actually a bit apprehensive blogging about my intentions here.) So the kids fell ill. My daughter had the worst case of flu and the two weeks of getting her better and then trying to normalize our schedule didn't leave me looking or acting exactly angelic. You know, three things really get me all discombobulated: 1.when my children are unwell And because I didn't go for my normal physical workout as in my TKD sessions for two weeks, I felt miserable, and the effects of the above suddenly became a bit overwhelming. Then as I struggled to get back on track, I had my worse pollen allergy attack. That reduced me to a cotton ball. I wanted to claw out my eyes. My nose became a dripping faucet. One night, I tried the Neti Pot (I even watched the video to make sure I did it right). But that experience left me worst off than ever. Maybe I have some polyps in my nasal cavity or something because the homemade saline refused to succumb to gravity. That episode left my ears buzzing and my nose more choked up than ever. Undaunted, I did it on both nostrils and spent the night drowning in my nasal offerings. After a day's break, I bravely tested the Neti Pot's supposed magic again. Needless to say, I don't think I'm a good Neti Pot candidate. So till last night I couldn't sleep for the stuffed up nose, laryngitis, and uncontrollable coughing. (Thankfully my eyes are now behaving better.) Antihistamines of various ilk didn't help (my husband knew I was desperate when I resorted to those). And since I've lost my voice, I can only whisper... Yes, instead of focusing on the Lord, trusting in His timing and counting my blessings (there have been so many!) I've been having hopping from one miserable pity-party to another. BUT no, nothing is in vain. God is good and I'm thankful I can record one main lesson learned so far during this Lenten journey. God is not interested in my performance or productivity. Period. If I draw my comfort, peace and joy from my performance and how fruitful my day has been (and this includes the wonderful time I can spend quietly at His feet), then I'm being idolatrous. Anything that replaces the Lord as the source of joy is idolatrous. You see, I have been too hung up on what I can do for my family, my friends and even for God. Productivity in those areas always makes me happy and when my hands are tied, I invariably feel out of sorts. No, I should not draw my comfort, peace and joy from my performance in executing my duties or from my success in engaging in pleasurable activities. My comfort, peace and joy should come from what God has done for me in the finished work of Christ! When I'm honest with myself I wonder how God can actually love me! But He does. He drew me to Him so long ago and as I placed my faith in Jesus, He gave me new life. And today I need not replace my position in Him with what I think my position in life should be. God just loves me and I don't have to earn His approval. I don't have to perform. I don't have to be someone important. Even for Him. Nothing matters but that I'm letting Him conform me in the image of Christ. So the house is a mess. Homeschooling has seen better days. I could get fitter. Things could be more organized. I could bake my own bread again. And sprout again. And... But hey, there is no need to strive. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” My Beloved reminds me today. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” He assures me. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He reminds me. So yes, no strife. Just peace, comfort and joy in Him and in His finished work on the Cross. And as I conclude this Lenten reflection, I wish you peace, comfort and joy in Him. And in Him only.
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Posted in Spiritual Musings
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(As and when I have the time I'll record some of my reflections here under “Lenten Reflections”) Recently, after the Lent Activities ebook went out, I've been receiving letters from various home school moms who shared their hearts with me. The common theme has been how they have been in their own “wilderness” and how they desire to enter the “Promised Land” but sin, disobedience and fear have kept them walking in circles. I hear them. My heart beats with theirs. We are so quick to judge, and even condemn the ungrateful and disobedient Israelites for not trusting God enough. Didn't they cross the Red Sea? Didn't God reveal His guidance through the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire? Didn't God help them with their first battle with the Amalikites? Didn't God sustain them? They had refreshing water and God sent them manna (and quail when they wanted meat.) Didn't God speak to them directly from Mount Sinai and then through Moses? Didn't they witness for themselves the glory, the majesty, the awesomeness and the providence of God? So what was their problem? Why did they complain incessantly? Why did they hark back to the past (for goodness sake...they wanted to go back to Egypt ?!!!) Why did they build, of all things, a golden calf (and with Aaron's blessings too!) to worship? When they were so close to reaching their Promised Land, fear and distrust overshadowed their faith, and tragically they had to pay the price for it. They had to walk in circles for 40 years... Even my children shake their heads when we read this portion of the Bible together. Their minds can't fathom why the Israelites were so silly and foolish. Dense. Ridiculous. Retrospective wisdom is easy. For aren't we like the Israelites? I know I am. Sadly. I complain. I am a slave to some bad attitudes. I have my own dark idols. Some parts of my life are controlled by fear. Trust in the Lord? I don't always do that... This season of Lent I want to move closer to the heart of God. I want to complain less, cast down known idols, and cease being so silly, foolish, dense and ridiculous. But I can't will myself to be all that I want to be. Need to be. In my own flesh I'm nothing. My attitude towards sin cannot be self-centered. It has to be God-centered. It's not so much victory I desire but a desire to please and obey the Lord. Victory is a by-product of obedience. This focused journey has begun... As I concentrate on living an obedient life, the joy of victory over sin will come. Won't you join me in this journey? Let me know if you will and we can pray for each other. Be blessed. |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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I thank each one of you who wrote to me personally to thank me for the Lenten Tree Activities ebook. I'm just so thrilled and happy it has blessed you and that it will help prepare your children for Easter (Resurrection Sunday). After doing the more popular activities through the years, I wanted something more original and more focused on the Lord. Yet I didn't want something that was too demanding because Lent is a relatively long season and I could see myself burning out if we did something more elaborate. It appears that many of you are in the same boat so I'm delighted to share this little ebook. I want to share parts of two emails I received this morning. (I've asked the writers' permission to quote them, so don't worry, if you write to me and I want to quote you, I'll ask for your permission first. :) The first is from Laura from Texas. She shares her family traditions which I thought were just precious. My daughter immediately said she wanted to do the Mite Jar when I shared with her what Laura wrote. A couple of other traditions we do each year are the Crown of Thorn wreath out of salt dough (pulling out a thorn--toothpick--every time a family member does an act of kindness) We also do our Mite jar activity for donating money to our church at the end of Lent. It is a small jar that is filled with 40 strips of paper with essentially math activities for our home--i.e. for every light bulb in the house, put $.05 in the jar; for each person in the family with brown eyes, put $.10 in the jar, everyone else put in $.05; for every pillow in the home, put $.05 in the jar, etc. Our four kids (6-10 yrs old) LOVE doing all of these, and it additionally strengthens their math skills! Then on Easter, we make resurrection rolls. I love incorporating the Lenten season into our family life, our Domestic church. I love that you pointed out that this is not just a Catholic tradition. I believe all Christians can benefit greatly from reflecting throughout the whole season--not just Easter...and become richly blessed by doing so. The second email I'm sharing comes from Tanis M. She has a great story to share. My story about Lent besides going to a more liturgical type church (Anglican and United) as a child/ youth, is from my mom who was delivered from smoking when I was about twelve. She had given up smoking for Lent and then regretted it and had no qualms complaining about it to God. It was a mini temper tantrum actually. It was totally by God’s power and there is no real physical explanation for it except she was honest with God and He saw fit to show His Lordship in her life. The craving and desire were overcome. She never touched another cigarette from the next morning on....He will not share His glory with another. Our efforts are like filthy rags. She gave God permission to affect her habits and though there is no power in the holiday ritual itself, we still serve a God of miracles. I bless Him for giving me such a mom. We’ve had our struggles to understand one another, but I am so thankful for the faith we share.
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Posted in Spiritual Musings
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So tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday. My daughter just scooped up some ashes from the fireplace and we carefully poured it into a ceramic bowl. Tomorrow we will begin our Lenten adventure. Using that bowl of ashes I'll explain to them the significance of Ash Wednesday. Of Lent. It's just a personal observation. My beloved home church doesn't mark Palm Sunday or conduct a Good Friday service so we just go straight to Easter Sunday. We do have a sunrise service at a little outdoor chapel before the Easter service, and that's always so lovely. Still I miss the communal build-up and preparation of the heart before that most glorious of Sundays... So my family observe Lent in some fashion at home. We want our children to anticipate Easter, to be more conscious of the passion of Christ...and to create some memories along the way too. And personally Lent is a season of soul-searching for me. It's hard to be a reflective home school mom. Each day melts into another. A never-ending cycle. Checklists of tasks await me at the crack of dawn. No time. No time... Lent allows me to withdraw into my own forty days of wilderness. Lent forces me to focus more on my spiritual life, whatever form it takes.... So yes, Lent makes sense... I hope you will join in this journey with me... Repentance. Grace. How we need them. Lent is a good time to rediscover them. |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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For two years now I had wanted to write an Easter devotional for my children that traced the last week of Jesus' life on earth. I'm so thankful I was able to finally put all my thoughts on paper this year and it is now ready. Then I had also wanted to do something special with my children every day of Lent (which starts on February 25th, Wednesday). So I came up with the Lenten Tree Chart that lets the children mark off every day of Lent by coloring on a fruit of the Tree. To get the Holy Week Devotions for the Family and the FREE Lenten Tree Chart and other Lent Activities ideas, visit my website. Have a blessed Lent, my friends. |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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Not long after I posted the last blog hubby went to the porch and brought in a vase filled with a dozen beautiful red roses and two lilies. It was drizzling and well, getting roses on a drizzling evening was very special. That really warmed the cockles of my heart. I really didn't expect him to get me roses this year, and that he presented me the roses a few minutes after I had blogged about "The Dark Side of Roses" was even more unexpected. And funny. I guess DH is a die-hard romantic at heart. :) My plans for tomorrow include giving DH a homemade card, chocolates which we will share (yum, yum...methinks I'll get some from him too), and making heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. The kids will get something simple from us too. Just for the fun of it. DD has a violin recital at 3.00pm and after that we and another family will have having pizza to celebrate their performance. I guess that will be our Valentine's Day dinner too. My real dinner date with DH will be on Sunday evening when we celebrate my birthday. That I can't wait. :) VD is more a "Hallmark" thing and we don't really "observe" it. It seems so "manufactured" to totally devote a day for lovey dovey activities and sentiments. We've been commanded to love and serve one another and that's an everyday thing whether it is convenient or not. Love is a choice... But on that day we want to make sure that at least someone outside the family knows that we care, and that God loves him or her. This year we've chosen to spend some time with a shut-in widow who was recently hospitalized for a broken knee. She misses her adored husband of 33 years (he passed away 5 years ago and talks about him all the time). And she is childless. Somehow not allowing a day like that pass for her seems important. And if anything, the thought of us making her heart glad tomorrow by our presence and some homemade meals is making me more excited that any gift from anyone...it really is more blessed to give than to receive... However you celebrate or don't celebrate Valentine's Day, have a great day tomorrow. :) And if you want to give me flowers I'll accept them with gratitude. Flowers and chocolates make my heart sing, lol. :) |
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Two years ago, I wrote the following article in another blog. Since it's Valentine's Day tomorrow I thought I could reproduce it here.
The Dark Side of Roses When my husband sent me the first bouquet of roses, we were courting long distance (literally, for I was living in another continent). And oh, my heart burst with pure bliss when I saw the pink roses beautifully arranged in an elegant vase and sitting on the kitchen table. I'll never forget that day. I was weary from work and the sight of those flowers lifted my spirit. I tenderly held the roses against my face and inhaled deeply the rose perfume as I thought of my beloved husband-to-be. Many years later, I still get my bouquet of roses, especially on Valentine's Day. Being more frugal these days , I've suggested to my husband that he could wait a day and then get me birthday roses instead since my birthday falls on the day after Valentine's Day. Hmm....unless he reads this blog, he may forget again this year. He can save a bit by buying roses the day after Valentine's Day (and I can have an excuse to buy yet another book which I have no time to read...). But this blog is not about our domestic affairs. Really. It's about the dark side of roses. You see, the roses you want to sink your face into have a deadly side. They are pesticide-laden. The flower growers, mostly from Columbia and Ecuador, from where the U.S. imports 70% of its flowers, often endure horrendous working conditions. They also suffer serious pesticide-related health problems and the children of female workers suffer from prenatal pesticide exposures. It is with sadness that I learn that 35 out of 72 children in Ecuador, tested by the Harvard School of Public Health, had been exposed to organophosphate pesticides in the womb while their mothers worked for flower companies. The children showed higher blood pressure. They also suffered from poorer spatial ability than children without prenatal exposures. And the tragedy continues. Many of these children will continue to be exposed to these pesticides through contaminated food or home pesticide use. So what are flower-lovers to do? And especially on Valentine's Day? First, try to buy locally grown flowers before heading to the store. If local options are not available,, you might want to choose organically grown flowers from certified growers. The latter is probably beyond the reach of most of us. Finally, if store-bought flowers are what you will buy or get, just exercise precaution. Just don't let your children sniff them or kiss them. Avoid touching the blossoms and handle them as little as possible. And do wash your hands after arranging them in your vase. Remember that chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide most commonly used on flowers, are associated with long-term neurological damage, headaches, blurred vision and loss of consciousness. Just be aware that you may be inhaling more than a sweet perfume when you take time to smell the beautiful imported roses. I think I will ask my husband to plant me a rose garden when he asks me what I want for my birthday.
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Posted in Home Education
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Wow, I've not been blogging since before Christmas. Blame it on Facebook, I suppose. And my being computer-free between 8.00am and 4.00pm (on most weekdays, anyway). I am still wondering how I can streamline all the things I feel compelled to write about. Hmmm.... The weather has been so pretty the great outdoors has been our classroom the past week. And today my nature-lover daughter wandered further into the woods with her sketch-pad. When she finally came home she handed me a little poem she wrote. It has a long time since she penned anything poetic so I was happy to read her little piece. Sweet, I thought so here it is, for posterity, lol. Spring When you see the purple periwinkles When you watch lizards scamper When the warm breeze dances When crocuses and snowdrops
Copyright 2009 Michiko Gibson |
Posted in Home Education
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My sweet friend Sharon Crooks is having an amazing sale at CurrClick between December 22nd and December 23rd. Yes, it starts today! . It's called Extreme Curriculum Makeover! For each purchase or review, you can earn free curriculum. For more information, run over to her website to get more details. And guess what? ALL proceeds will go to three local families in need. So check out her website, purchase an item or two, get free curriculum (that probably costs more than what you have purchased) and help some families at the same time. Cool idea, Shari! |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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Are there people who continually treat you unkindly or who refuse to accept you and your family? Are there those who despise you because you are homeschooling? Is there someone who mocks at your physical appearance? Is there someone seems to enjoy making snide remarks about your loved ones? Was there someone in the past who really did you wrong? Have you been unfairly judged? Have you been deceived? Are you undergoing a situation that is causing you much pain and sorrow, and your friends seem nonchalant about it? Most, if not all of us have experienced life's crucible of unfairness. Some of us more than others. We live in a sinful and imperfect world after all. But even as we teach our children that they have choices, we have choices too. We can choose to forgive or we can allow the pain to fester into bitterness and resentment. And anger. God wants us to forgive those people who have hurt us. In fact, He demands it. For some, that choice seems nigh impossible. A beloved childhood friend is undergoing a horrible time now. She and her husband of more than two decades separated on New Year's day, and within a month, he found someone who was happy to “share his dreams” (a too familiar situation). He professed to be a Christian before they were married but time revealed his true heart. She asked me tearfully why she had to forgive him when all he had given her the past two decades was pain, and more pain. And she anticipated more suffering to come. Yes, why should she forgive him? For one thing God tells us to forgive our enemies. He tells us to forgive others even as He has forgiven us. And He has forgiven us of much. When we forgive others, we obey God. We all know the blessings that come with obedience too. For another thing, if we don't forgive, we're effectively harming ourselves. By harboring resentment and bitterness, we are poisoning our body! Bottling anger releases toxins into our system. There is an old saying that goes something like what you are eating is not nearly as important as what is eating you. Anger, bitterness and resentment are deadly. They eat up our health, our joy, our peace. They suppress our immune system. Yes, life is not always fair. But we need not let it overwhelm us. God is greater than all our pain, all our concerns. For does He not know when a sparrow fall? Does He not clothe the lilies? Does He not hear and answer prayers? Indeed. If you are clinging on to some grudge now, be it big or small, let go. Besides trying to eat well, and seeking to live in a purer environment, let's begin from the inside. Our heart. And we can start by forgiving those who have wronged us. I know this may not be comforting to my grieving friend who so wants to be vindicated...but judgment belongs to the Lord. I pray that she will let the Lord take care of her future, and just move on. Dwelling on all the evil her soon-to-be-ex-spouse has done will not help her one iota. And for those of us who may not really understand the pain our friends or relatives are going through, let's at least show more grace towards their struggles. By so doing, we may help them in their own journey of forgiveness.
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Posted in Home Education
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Wow, can you believe it? Tomorrow is the start of Advent! If you have missed this post, it's not too late to download the free Inductive Advent Study I'm hosting on my website. This is a great study to do with your children of different ages. If you are wondering how daddy can be involved, my friend Katherine Loop has written a sweet study and a craft that goes with it. You can find it here. We used that for our evening devotions last year and we plan to use it again this year. Her study begins on December 1st. Okay, better go. I'm in the middle of baking bread and making kimchi. Yeah, I love kimchi. :) |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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We spent a lovely day at my in-laws yesterday. It warmed my heart to see my husband and his five siblings there surrounding my in-laws with their presence and love. I guess I'm fortunate in that reunions of such nature are peaceful for us as there is an absence of any kind of tension or emotional baggage from the past. I'm thankful. Last night before bed I baked my turkey. It was a fresh and sturdy 16-pound free-range bird I purchased from my part-time farmer brother-in-law. I used my mother-in-law's method of slowly baking it at 250 degrees (F) in the oven for 7 hours. I stuffed it with fresh herbs from the garden (rosemary, thyme, sage) and 20 cloves of garlic and rubbed it with salt, pepper and coconut oil. After tenting it with foil, I slipped it into the oven for its gentle overnighter. But because I wanted more sleep, I timed it for 8 hours and set the temperature at 240 degrees (F). Well, the timer went off at 6.00 am and the meat thermometer read 180 degrees (F). Perfect. And the turkey was perfect. Totally moist and tender. This will be the method of choice for me from this time forth. I'm so happy I now have 5 bags of turkey meat and 5 quarts of turkey stock in the freezer. I guess I'll have to be creative in serving turkey dishes for the next several weeks. So Thanksgiving has passed but I hope we remain thankful for the rest of the year and in the coming new year. I bet you haven't heard of this lady who balded so badly she only had three strands of hair. Yet she was thankful. Day 1 She decided she would braid her hair... Day 2 One more strand dropped. She decided she would part her hair... Day 3 One more dropped. So she had only one strand left. She decided she would wear a ponytail... What a great attitude, huh? |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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Today we had company and once more I served something "apple". The first time this precious family visited I made sour cream apple squares. The second time I made apple bread pudding in a crock-pot and today we had apple bake which was so yummy and so easy to prepare. I can't find the magazine (think it was Club House or something) from where I got the recipe but since it's still fresh in my mind, I'll jot it down now. Yummy Apple Bake 8 golden delicious apples 1/3 brown sugar 1 TBLS cinnamon 2 cups flour (I used whole wheat) 1 cup sugar (I used 3/4 cup sucanat) 1 and 1/3 sticks butter (I didn't have enough butter so I used 1 stick butter and 1/3 cup coconut oil). Grease a 9 by 13 pan Lay the sliced apples slices (that have been tossed with the sugar and cinnamon) on the pan. Mix the flour, sugar and butter/coconut oil. Mine resembled bread crumbs. Transfer this mixture over the apple slices and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. Everyone had that and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and was it a hit. Okay, I need to mention Josh lost his first tooth last night. He was nonchalant about it. He told us he thought it was coming out and before I could say "Jack Robinson" pulled it right out. His sister took him to the sink to rinse his mouth and they presented me his not-much-bigger-than-a-rice-grain tooth while DH took pictures. I bawled a bit. My baby has lost his first tooth. At least it's not his front tooth. I don't think I can bear a "spacey" grin from him now. It'll make him look too grown-up. Ah, all of you with younger children just hug them all the more. They grow up too fast. A lost tooth today, graduation tomorrow... But no matter how old my children are, I'll continue baking them their favorite apple goodies...and each time I do I'll remember the fall of 2008 when Josh lost his first tooth. |
Posted in Home Education
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The weekend after Thanksgiving is the start of Advent. I'm delighted to partner with Eleanor Zweigle again this year in presenting her wonderful inductive Advent Study. This is the link. Be blessed. |
Posted in Homemaking
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Both times I was pregnant with my children I craved for chicken liver. Fried chicken liver that is. Today I mastered the art of making the best Southern fried chicken livers. I exhausted a quart of coconut oil doing it. It's so delicious my children are asking for more. And I believe a certain person has just announced that she's blessed with a little one. She knows she is free to beg for some livers whenever she is in the mood for it. :) Here's the recipe I used. Southern Fried Chicken Livers Directions Melt coconut oil in a heavy fry pan over medium heat. Combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Liberally season livers with this mixture. Dredge livers in flour and shake off excess. Place livers into the pan and fry until cooked through, turning once.... don't overcook them, or they'll turn out chewy and bitter. Drain livers with paper towels. ENJOY!!!! |
Posted in Home Education
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No almost-obligatory post-election discussion here...like my comment to someone, my main position is primarily a kneeling one... But now we know where all the pesky moths have been coming from. A few days ago our kitchen and various rooms in the house were suddenly infested with those little creatures. All my grains are either in the freezer or tightly secured in their bins so I was puzzled. And not a bit upset and alarmed. But most of all I was curious. Then Josh casually commented just now that his plastic not-tightly-shut rice bin (his indoor 'sand-box') sure looked like it had a lot of moths in there. I took a look at it and eureka! Somehow a moth had laid her beloved eggs in the plastic bin one day and we were now entertaining her lively off-springs. I just left the box with the lid opened in the porch. I will have to dump all that rice tomorrow. It's about time I replace it anyway. Tomorrow morning we're going to spend some time learning more about these pesky moths and their life cycle and how we can prevent another such episode. Another adventure in learning. :) Ah, isn't homeschooling great? |
Posted in Cultural Commentaries
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This is just hilarious...you got to watch it. DH and I had the greatest time laughing over it. Men's Brains and Women's Brains |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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Pascal, the great thinker and mathematician, had a simple yet profound prayer that I stick by my laptop. It encourages me when educating and discipling my children seem too high a calling for me; when gnawing self-doubts chip at my determination to persevere. It also reminds me to not get overly frustrated when another meal has to be prepared so soon after all the dishes are washed and put away. And the dryer beeps for the third time that day. The prayer goes: "Lord, help me do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as thought they were great, since I do them in Your name." Nothing is too big or too small when we do it for God's glory (Col. 3:23). When we do everything in His name and for His glory, there is no room for pride, no room for low self-esteem (which really is another facet of pride). Indeed, there is no need to dicotomize the tasks we need to engage in to raise healthy, balanced and godly children who daily also require washing and feeding in the physical sense. In things 'great' and 'little' we just supply the willingness and God will supply the power. |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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My baby (okay, he is five) has THREE loose teeth! Two bottom ones and one at the top. I don't think I can stand it...my babies are growing up too fast (yes, my constant refrain, but it's true!) . How I treasure each passing day staying home with them. I know not all mothers have the option of staying home or homeschooling their children even if they want to. My heart goes out to them. So yes, I'm very thankful. Like DD is weak from her bout of bronchitis and asthma (she is not out of the woods yet; please pray for her if you can remember) so school has been scaled back a lot the past couple of weeks. We are having fun though, watching our new Liberty's Kids DVDs (yeah, nearly 40 episodes, cool beans!) and reading up about the Revolutionary War (the library came to our aid as usual) although it's not part of her history this year (she did it last year when we did Mighty Works of God). Inspired, she is making a coloring book on the War for her brother. Then DD is also concurrently working on her ongoing WW2 Lapbook something else that is not in our Mystery of History curriculum. Home schooling is great! Each day I just ensure we do three things: Bible and Scripture Memory, Math and lots of reading. When we do these "core subjects', I feel we're pretty done with 'official school' and not stress over how much more we should or could have done. Usually we do much, much more than my "Core Three" though. If she was in public school I can only imagine how many school days she would have to miss each time her asthma acts up. With her at home, every day is an adventure in learning and loving for everyone. Developing a servant's heart is what we want in our children and ourselves and when you are home with the children, you either learn to serve one another or you learn to despise one another. We opt for the former. And oh, I'm now on Facebook. I had resisted it but had a few invitations and I know if I want to reconnect with several folks (especially my former students in Singapore- Auspicium Melioris Aevi!) I had to be part of it so I succumbed. Let me know if you are also there. :) Back to dinner preparation... |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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I admire much of John Piper's writings. This is one good article about voting. Let Christians Vote As Though They Were Not Voting. Reading this article really encouraged me tonight as it reminded me that we shouldn't live like current and uncertain future events are here to stay. And everything that bothers or thrills me now is really transient. What bothers me now will not bother me when this world passes. What thrills me now, even my own delight with the Lord's goodness, is just a foreshadow of the real joy to come. So yes, tonight my heart is a little heavy. My dearest little girl (okay, she is 10 so she is not really little but you understand...) continues to fight with her asthma as I write. It has been hard on all of us. It has given me little precious sleep. And sometimes the worry gnaws at me. I think my face is freshly lined and my hair a shade grayer. But this episode too will pass. And it is futile for me to worry about all the "tomorrows" and all the "ifs". I'll do my best to help her along this journey, and well, I certainly can trust the Lord's control in this matter. If I can trust Him for my salvation surely I can trust Him with my daughter's health. And yes, vote by all means. In fact vote if you are able to. But really, don't over react when all is said and done. There really isn't any need to. The Lord is in control. Nothing happens without His approval first, whether it's the election results or my daughter's asthma episode. In God We Trust. |
Posted in Spiritual Musings
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In between throwing four sets of stinky TKD uniforms into the wash and wondering how I could salvage the dessert in the oven for our Sunday after-church lunch guests tomorrow (I forgot the baking soda – something I never committed with this dessert before) and asking the Lord to once more forgive my sins (one of those downcast days when my past burdens needlessly weigh on me – and let me know if you NEVER EVER suddenly get struck by the gravity of your past though marvelously forgiven sins), I had an epiphany. And it came ringingly clear. I'm not just raising children. My goal is to see them become godly adults. My children (5 and 10) are not what I wish they were, now – perfectly obedient, loving, respectful, compassionate and diligent, and especially for my 10 year old – endued with a great attitude - but then neither is their currently contrite mother. But they do have a head start. Both their parents are Christians. Their parents want to walk in the light. They seek godly wisdom for their children's lives. My husband and I are certainly imperfect in our parenting skills, but “the Lord didn't make a mistake” (dh's favorite reminder to me) when He brought us together and gave us children with their unique propensities to raise. We just need a vision of them as godly adults, and then to press on. Daily we need to teach, exhort, encourage, praise, discipline and disciple them. The years will reveal what the days conceal. And if I live for each day, expecting wonderful outcomes and right responses much if not all the time, I'll be continually disappointed and discouraged. You know how some days can be very trying (I mean you have them, don't you?). So yes, press on we must, with the long-term view in sight. They are just children for this season. But we are raising them to be responsible, God-fearing, God-honoring adults. And the Lord is faithful to that end even as we are faithful in our parental responsibilites... Okay, now that I've recorded this insight (actually something I've already processed long ago but it really did come back afresh just now) I can go back to cleaning the kitchen and getting ready for tomorrow. Already the evening promises to be more relaxed. AS for the dessert, maybe I should just get a big tub of ice-cream. I know, I'll also make some eggless chocolate fudge to go along with it...that can be done tomorrow morning. Even as God is not finished with my wonderful offsprings, He is not through with me too. Praise God for His patience and His reminder to me to be patient with my children...and to enjoy this short but marvelous season... |
Posted in Family Scrapbook
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