Dec. 12, 2009
CA and school stuff
Ok, yesterday Mom and I went to the airport and dropped Dad, Julia and Grandma off because they are flying to CA. They will be there, and then Dad and Julia will fly back. (They will be back very soon though!) The reason why they are flying there is because my Grandma wants to spend Christmas with some family she hasn't seen in a LONNNG time.
Julia is going because she doesn't get to go on that many trips with JUST DAD! So, it's her turn now!
So far little Chloe is doing pretty good! She's growing, and Mom says that she is kicking a lot!
We were going to go to a party Saturday for our friend's graduation, but Paulie has WAY too much school so we aren't going to be able to make it. :(
We are going to a dance on New Year's Eve! It's going to be fun! Our whole church and more will be there!!
For Christmas we are going to have some fun! Not sure EXACTLY what we will do yet though. We are still planning it all out.
Beav
Julia is going because she doesn't get to go on that many trips with JUST DAD! So, it's her turn now!
So far little Chloe is doing pretty good! She's growing, and Mom says that she is kicking a lot!
We were going to go to a party Saturday for our friend's graduation, but Paulie has WAY too much school so we aren't going to be able to make it. :(
We are going to a dance on New Year's Eve! It's going to be fun! Our whole church and more will be there!!
For Christmas we are going to have some fun! Not sure EXACTLY what we will do yet though. We are still planning it all out.
Beav
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December 8, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: One Month Old
December 7, 2009
"A Date That Will Live In Infamy"
You all know what that date is: December 7th, 1941 when the naval base of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was surprisingly attacked by the Japanese navy. This attack brought the United States into World War II.
At 6:09 a.m. on December 7, six Japanese carriers launched the first wave of 183
planes that included: dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. The Japanese hit American ships and military installations at 7:55 a.m. That first wave attacked Ford Island. At 8:30 a.m. the second wave of 180 Japanese torpedo bombers, attacked the fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. The battleship Arizona was hit with an armor piercing bomb that penetrated the forward ammunition compartment. The bomb blew the ship apart and it sunk within seconds.
All together nine U.S. fleet ships were sunk (two of them were raised out of the ocean and returned to service later in the war) and twenty-one ships were severely damaged. Three of the twenty-one were irreparable. The Japanese sank and damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, one minelayer, and 188 aircraft. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, fuel and torpedo storage facilities, the submarine piers, and the headquarters building (home of the intelligence section) of Pearl Harbor were not hit.
The death toll of the attack reached 2,350, including 68 civilians, and 1,178 injured. The loss of military personnel at Pearl Harbor was1,177 and they were from the Arizona. The Japanese losses were minimal with 29 aircraft, 5 midget submarines and 65 servicemen killed or wounded.
This attack by the Japanese was intended to subdue the US Pacific Fleet and protect Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. Both the US and Japan had long standing plans for war in the Pacific that were always updated as strains between the two countries constantly increased during the 1930's.
The attack was an important encounter of World War II. Though the US has already been planning to deliver a formal declaration of war, this event brought it to pass sooner than the government had intended and pushed the US public assessment from isolationism of war to the acceptance of participating in it as being inescapable. The lack of warning led President Roosevelt to call December 7th "a date which will live in infamy."
December 7th has lived in infamy for 67 years. The living survivors, of whom the numbers are dwindling, remember that day with sadness because of the comrades they lost and the heavy blow it left them.
Remembering our veterans is a very important task that shows we appreciate their service to our country. So on "the date that will live in infamy" take a moment to remember the 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded at Pearl Harbor and if you know a veteran who was there, let them know that you appreciate their service!
©AmandaDixon2009
At 6:09 a.m. on December 7, six Japanese carriers launched the first wave of 183
planes that included: dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. The Japanese hit American ships and military installations at 7:55 a.m. That first wave attacked Ford Island. At 8:30 a.m. the second wave of 180 Japanese torpedo bombers, attacked the fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. The battleship Arizona was hit with an armor piercing bomb that penetrated the forward ammunition compartment. The bomb blew the ship apart and it sunk within seconds.All together nine U.S. fleet ships were sunk (two of them were raised out of the ocean and returned to service later in the war) and twenty-one ships were severely damaged. Three of the twenty-one were irreparable. The Japanese sank and damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, one minelayer, and 188 aircraft. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, fuel and torpedo storage facilities, the submarine piers, and the headquarters building (home of the intelligence section) of Pearl Harbor were not hit.
The death toll of the attack reached 2,350, including 68 civilians, and 1,178 injured. The loss of military personnel at Pearl Harbor was1,177 and they were from the Arizona. The Japanese losses were minimal with 29 aircraft, 5 midget submarines and 65 servicemen killed or wounded.
This attack by the Japanese was intended to subdue the US Pacific Fleet and protect Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. Both the US and Japan had long standing plans for war in the Pacific that were always updated as strains between the two countries constantly increased during the 1930's.
The attack was an important encounter of World War II. Though the US has already been planning to deliver a formal declaration of war, this event brought it to pass sooner than the government had intended and pushed the US public assessment from isolationism of war to the acceptance of participating in it as being inescapable. The lack of warning led President Roosevelt to call December 7th "a date which will live in infamy."
December 7th has lived in infamy for 67 years. The living survivors, of whom the numbers are dwindling, remember that day with sadness because of the comrades they lost and the heavy blow it left them.
Remembering our veterans is a very important task that shows we appreciate their service to our country. So on "the date that will live in infamy" take a moment to remember the 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded at Pearl Harbor and if you know a veteran who was there, let them know that you appreciate their service!
©AmandaDixon2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Maintaining excitement throughout THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
I've received a few great questions from some women over the past few days and wanted to share them with all of you participating in THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... SHMILY STYLE. I think that it will not only help you to know that you're not alone in some of your feelings and struggles, but to also be encouraged, so stop back over the next few days to see some of the questions women have been asking, as well as some ideas to help you get through THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
QUESTION: "Amy, how do you maintain excitement for 12 days of Christmas Shmily time? I tried it last year and frankly it was hard! Hubby was feeling special but honestly I just wanted to be left alone and sleep. Help me get mentally straightened out to try again!" - JessicaI have to be honest... I struggle EVERY year with this whole thing, to some extent. Now, don't get me wrong, it's so much better than it used to be BEFORE I started the "12 days of Christmas" with my hubby... but that doesn't mean it doesn't go off without some trials, and I honestly believe that the more women that I tell about the 12 days of Christmas in order to bless their marriages... well, do you think that satan is just gonna sit back and watch my marriage flourish? Absolutely not!
It's not always easy to "maintain excitement" for 12 consecutive days, and some years are certainly harder than others! As much as I'm trying to be positive about this year... I have to admit, I've been in a slump with our move to a place where know virtually no one to plant a church with my Beloved. We have had our ups and downs, and since we are VERY passionate people... our ups tend to be "sky high" while our downs are... well, they're down right ugly. Now, take all that, add in homeschooling, kids away from friends, financial stresses and... a baby due soon... well, that just sounds like the makings for a disaster doesn't it? tee hee...
I honestly hesitated this year when I realized when THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS was going to be and when the baby was due... I am literally due the day before I normally start this whole thing (which is my hubby's birthday) and so not only did I realize I was going to have the "normal" struggles of prior years... but having a baby at some point before the 12 days is up certainly means I'm gonna need to get a LITTLE... uh... creative... Not only will hormones be in full swing... but I will have a new little one "sucking the life out of me" (I nurse my babies) and that can be draining as well.
But the more I thought about "canceling" the whole thing... the more I knew I needed to do it... not just for my sweet Beloved... but because I needed to look forward to it as well. I needed to remind myself of all those reasons I fell in love with my husband... and the many more that I've fallen in love with since then.
I think we all know that by doing this... we certainly are blessing our husbands and our marriages... but I realized how I've really taken the whole thing for granted by thinking that I'm doing my husband some great big favor... when, in reality... I am equally blessed by these very special 12 days each year. By focusing on the good things about my husband, I "fall in love" all over again with the man I married... but there is still more...
I GET to serve my husband more intentionally then I normally do. Sure, I wash his clothes, make meals for him (although I don't know if he'd say that's a blessing or not considering the cook HE is), make sure his closet is full of clothing that fits and shoes to wear... but I can so easily fall into the routine of being his wife, that I forget the privilege of being so much more... a servant who acts out of love, expecting nothing in return... THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS makes me focus on my husband's wants, needs, and desires more than ever before and I find myself truly loving making him smile. It's no longer about what he's done for me... what I might get in return... or why he isn't do this or that... my focus is not on ME... and honestly women, that's right where God wants me as a wife all the time.
So, while I know 12 days IS hard to keep the excitement alive... I want to challenge you to really focus on your husband and not yourself... push yourself to go a little further when you feel like throwing in the towel... go the distance because in the end... it will not only be your husband that will be blessed... but you as well.
I honestly hesitated this year when I realized when THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS was going to be and when the baby was due... I am literally due the day before I normally start this whole thing (which is my hubby's birthday) and so not only did I realize I was going to have the "normal" struggles of prior years... but having a baby at some point before the 12 days is up certainly means I'm gonna need to get a LITTLE... uh... creative... Not only will hormones be in full swing... but I will have a new little one "sucking the life out of me" (I nurse my babies) and that can be draining as well.
But the more I thought about "canceling" the whole thing... the more I knew I needed to do it... not just for my sweet Beloved... but because I needed to look forward to it as well. I needed to remind myself of all those reasons I fell in love with my husband... and the many more that I've fallen in love with since then.
I think we all know that by doing this... we certainly are blessing our husbands and our marriages... but I realized how I've really taken the whole thing for granted by thinking that I'm doing my husband some great big favor... when, in reality... I am equally blessed by these very special 12 days each year. By focusing on the good things about my husband, I "fall in love" all over again with the man I married... but there is still more...
I GET to serve my husband more intentionally then I normally do. Sure, I wash his clothes, make meals for him (although I don't know if he'd say that's a blessing or not considering the cook HE is), make sure his closet is full of clothing that fits and shoes to wear... but I can so easily fall into the routine of being his wife, that I forget the privilege of being so much more... a servant who acts out of love, expecting nothing in return... THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS makes me focus on my husband's wants, needs, and desires more than ever before and I find myself truly loving making him smile. It's no longer about what he's done for me... what I might get in return... or why he isn't do this or that... my focus is not on ME... and honestly women, that's right where God wants me as a wife all the time.
So, while I know 12 days IS hard to keep the excitement alive... I want to challenge you to really focus on your husband and not yourself... push yourself to go a little further when you feel like throwing in the towel... go the distance because in the end... it will not only be your husband that will be blessed... but you as well.
FYI: I made a booklet to encourage your husband for 30 weeks... in it there are a few things that might help you to stay focused on your hubby as you prepare for the 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... and to help you stay that way throughout. You can find the booklet by clicking the following link: 30-week Husband Encouragement Challenge.
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December 5, 2009
I Am The Wretch
I was singing Amazing Grace to Samuel last night and he was just staring at me and actually smiled once. :) It got me to thinking... what a simple thing to we need to always remember: His Amazing Grace!
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Every time I sing this hymn, I get a new sense of awe and gratefulness for my Savior who continually gives me his amazing grace when I so don't deserve it.
©AmandaDixon2009
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Every time I sing this hymn, I get a new sense of awe and gratefulness for my Savior who continually gives me his amazing grace when I so don't deserve it.
Psalms 31:21I am the wretch the song refers to and I have and will continue to receive His amazing grace because He loves me. Wow!
"Blessed be ADONAI! For he has shown me his amazing grace when I was in a city under siege."
©AmandaDixon2009
Each Saturday join Jacque (Mama) @ Walking Therein, and many others who are taking their Saturdays and expressing their praise to the Lord. To participate, you can post a Psalm or a praise and tell what impact it has had on you. Make sure to link up your SP&P too! I hope to see you on there!
December 4, 2009
Got A New "Do"
Jocelyn's been asking me for a while if she could try a hairstyle on me and I made a deal with her that if I let her, she'd help me get some pics of a dressing I'm selling. :D haha.
So I let her do a Titanic Updo on me... what do y'all think?
I think it looks really awesome, if I say so myself. :) It wasn't too hard to do... only it took time to curl my hair since its straight, but other than that, not too long.
See the dress I'm wearing... I'm selling it, along with a bunch of other stuff. If you're interested... awesome. :)
So I let her do a Titanic Updo on me... what do y'all think?
I think it looks really awesome, if I say so myself. :) It wasn't too hard to do... only it took time to curl my hair since its straight, but other than that, not too long.
See the dress I'm wearing... I'm selling it, along with a bunch of other stuff. If you're interested... awesome. :)
December 3, 2009
Chilli Corn Salad
When we went on our HUGE 2008 Vacation, we got to stay with our good friend, Sprittibee and she made us a wonderful dinner that included an amazing Corn Salad. It has become a family favorite now... its almost addicting... :P
Ingredients
Mix corn, pepper, onion, cheese, and chili powder well. Add in Mayo, but only enough to lightly cover everything, not drown. Crunch up the Fritos, and add right before serving or to each individual servings since the chips will soften.
A simple tasty salad that will compliment any dinner... we had BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans with our corn salad last night. We had it with mexican when we went to Sprittibee's house. It's awesome with anything really! ;)
1 bag of frozen corn – thawedDirections
1/2 red chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 of a 1 lb. bag of sharp cheddar grated cheese
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
3 tbsp Mayo or Miracle Whip
1 bag of frito corn chips
salt to season
Mix corn, pepper, onion, cheese, and chili powder well. Add in Mayo, but only enough to lightly cover everything, not drown. Crunch up the Fritos, and add right before serving or to each individual servings since the chips will soften.
A simple tasty salad that will compliment any dinner... we had BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans with our corn salad last night. We had it with mexican when we went to Sprittibee's house. It's awesome with anything really! ;)
December 1, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: On 3...
Dec. 1, 2009
A, B, C, D, & F Too Hard for Parents?
Apparently the Spokane School system thinks letter grades are the cause of ongoing problems with communicating how a child is doing in their subjects. Numbers on the other hand make everything clear. Read the article to find out how.
I have nothing against numbers, and I have nothing in favor of letters--as grades, but the problem the Spokane schools are hoping to solve won't be cured because of their preference for numbers over letters. They could do the exact same report card using the letter system. Nor will telling parents how their children are doing after the term help. Parents need to know how their children are doing during the term. Unfortunately many teachers never communicate that at all and leave it to the report card to do their "dirty" work for them.
Just a few weeks ago I spoke with a mom whose son had been placed in a new school. She thought her son was doing well. She had signed up to be a substitute teacher's aide and one day she was called in to help in the remedial math class. She was shocked to find her son in it. At first she thought he'd lost his way or something, but he soon let her know that this was his math class. It was a rough day for her as she waited for the day to end to find out the answers as to why her son was in this special class and why hadn't she or her husband ever been told?
While the parent should always be the one to keep tabs on their children and not leave it up to the teachers to relay how a student is doing, parents have been conditioned to believe that they have put their children in safe hands and that until they are notified, by report card, everything is fine and dandy.
Communication among parents and teachers is bound to get worse, not better, no matter what grading system is used as long as parents continue to blindly follow the blind.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
I have nothing against numbers, and I have nothing in favor of letters--as grades, but the problem the Spokane schools are hoping to solve won't be cured because of their preference for numbers over letters. They could do the exact same report card using the letter system. Nor will telling parents how their children are doing after the term help. Parents need to know how their children are doing during the term. Unfortunately many teachers never communicate that at all and leave it to the report card to do their "dirty" work for them.
Just a few weeks ago I spoke with a mom whose son had been placed in a new school. She thought her son was doing well. She had signed up to be a substitute teacher's aide and one day she was called in to help in the remedial math class. She was shocked to find her son in it. At first she thought he'd lost his way or something, but he soon let her know that this was his math class. It was a rough day for her as she waited for the day to end to find out the answers as to why her son was in this special class and why hadn't she or her husband ever been told?
While the parent should always be the one to keep tabs on their children and not leave it up to the teachers to relay how a student is doing, parents have been conditioned to believe that they have put their children in safe hands and that until they are notified, by report card, everything is fine and dandy.
Communication among parents and teachers is bound to get worse, not better, no matter what grading system is used as long as parents continue to blindly follow the blind.
Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB
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Ingredients
November 30, 2009
Spinach Pasta Salad
We try to make our lunches quick and easy. I was looking through some old menus and found our Spinach Pasta Salad recipe! :D We used to make this quite a bit, but haven't had it for awhile, so I made it for lunch. It is so good!
Ingredients
16oz box of pasta (Rotini is the best)Directions
6 cups raw spinach
8oz. shredded cheese
Dressing:
6 tbsp Olive Oil
4 tbsp vinegar (we use apple cider)
3 cloves of crushed garlic
3/4cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
Cook noodles, strain and cool. tear up spinach a bit. Mix dressing and pour all over noodles and spinach. Add shredded cheese, mix and serve.
You can add more dressing as needed.
Simple and easy and doesn't take very long either. Perfect for a last minute filling side or light, yet filling lunch.
©AmandaDixon2009
You can add more dressing as needed.
Simple and easy and doesn't take very long either. Perfect for a last minute filling side or light, yet filling lunch.
©AmandaDixon2009