I'm amazed by how quickly we forget important things. I do it all the time by nature.
When the attacks upon NYC occurred 9/11/01, my heart grieved for those families who couldn't find their loved ones. My heart grieved for the terrorists who had been blatantly deceived into believing they were doing good by flying those planes on that fateful day.
Have you forgotten?
Saying "thank you" is not enough to express our gratitude to the American soldiers who are fighting to protect us from any more vicious attacks here in the USA. Not only to protect us, but to liberate the people in Iraq who are living in bondage. For this, we thank you. I am thankful for the freedoms we have in the USA. May we never take these freedoms for granted.
Columnist, Charles E. Sowell recently made some very important observations about the presidential candidate's views on national security:
At this point in time Americans have a lot to be concerned with, but it should be apparent that the two most critical concerns facing this country are national security and the economy. Most recently, as a result of the current economic crisis, we have heard very little about national security, despite the fact that we are still engaged in a fierce war with the same group of extremists that attacked us more than 7 years ago. It is time for America to reawaken to the fact that if we do not have national security, we will not have an economy to worry about!
Mr Sowell is right on target. Those in this country who take our freedoms for granted may be in for a rude awakening as they support a candidate who could very well place our sovereignty at risk. Senator Obama is ready to sit down with the adversary and negotiate without preconditions.
Any good negotiator also knows that every negotiating session is always preceded by posturing, position measuring (preconditions), and having in mind specific objectives for outcome. Just “sitting down to talk” for the novice negotiator could be a recipe for disaster.
Mr Sowell noted that Senator Obama is an idealist but what we need is stong leadership. All of you parents out there (hopefully most of you), understand the importance of protecting your children and seeing to their welfare. I want no less leadership in the highest ranking office of our country.
It's not often, in fact, it's very rare to find a gem in Hollywood, but they do exist on occasion. We had a nice time with family Easter weekend. We actually colored some eggs and put up some decorations at Gramma's house. Among other sweet memories, one that means a lot to me was the time we spend with an old friend who portrayed a beloved leader of old by the name of Moses. The actor? None other than Charlton Heston. Yes, Easter eve we watched the Ten Commandments. Mr Heston gave us a beautiful glimpse into the accounts that we read of in God's Word about the deliverance of His people from bondage of Egypt.
Sometimes when we read the Word, it can be difficult to recreate in our minds what the life was like in various stages through time and the cultural differences. When I see movies like these, and actors who put their *whole heart* into the portrayal it really helps me to better understand what God was doing and how He prepared His people for deliverance. The purpose was twofold, they were prepared and we see the preparations for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Passover is a beautiful, beautiful picture of His sacrificial death to cover our sins.
Gramma was waiting patiently for ANOTHER Biblical blockbuster, Ben-Hur. It wasn't scheduled to air this year so I was planning to rent it. I browsed through our movie library at home and "low and behold" to my surprise we do own the movie!
If you have never taken the time to watch Ben-Hur, I can promise you, it will be well worth your time! Again, Charlton Heston did a phenomenal job and we learned many things as we watched, (very good movie for history buffs too!)
Maybe you don't care for MGM or the Hollywood twist on movies, but if for no other reason, watch the film as even an excuse to compare it to scripture. It will be a good, no, a GREAT springboard for you to get some study into your life!
I just had to share with you a very small portion of a movie/cartoon created by Disney when I was a child. Don't let the name fool you. This cartoon has a BIG heart message! It brings to mind so many things, but most of all, no matter how small or how insignificant we view ourselves or maybe even how others view us, the Lord has a very special place and job for even the smallest of small. Another are His precious creatures. The love that this little boy and the donkey share between one another is so Christ-like in nature and no matter how bleak things may look, remember, God ALWAYS has a plan always.
Thank you Tia from HSB and to all of you friends on my list and new friends who came to visit from the HSB Front Porch. I apologise as I could not post too much this week, we said our goodbyes for now to my FIL. For those of you who may be interested, I'm sharing a link to the collage that my daughters and I put together for the viewing and for my MIL. Thank you so much to those of you who lifted and continue to lift us in prayer. Our Lord has His arms around us and we are filled with the Peace that Passeth ALL Understanding.
In His Love, Cathy
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
The Injustices of Life
16 I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! 17 I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
18 I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. 19 For people and animals share the same fate—both breatheand both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! 20 Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. 21 For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one will bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.
It seems like only yesterday as I think back upon the season in my life (mid to late 20's) that the Lord was calling my family to homeschool. Dave (my hubby) and I had started to take quite an interest in how families and citizens with a desire for righteousness should become active in politics in some way, shape or form. After attending a prolife banquet, a very older and wise woman who was very involved in the pro family movement took me under her wing. She invited me to pro family meetings where I learned so much about issues facing our country and how my family could help make a difference. Dave and I ran for county commission seats since there had been no prior interest in our neighborhood. As the meetings continued I learned for the first time of a whole new way to educate our children, it was called HOMESCHOOLING! My wise mentor friend, (her name is Anne Z.) gave me the phone numbers of a few local homeschoolers.
I was ready for this homeschooling thing, all systems go UNTIL FEAR crept in. As more friends and family began to question our descision and raise doubts in our minds, my aforementioned confidence began to dwindle. I found what I believed to be the best "boxed" curriculum that I could find and we plugged away, but the fear remained. Now looking back I can see that I did not consult the Lord about this fear of mine. I assumed that since our curriculum was filled with Godly terms and references that SURELY the Lord would approve of it! But the Lord was very patient with me. In order to overcome my fear of ruining my children, the Lord laid these words heavy upon my heart; For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 I read this verse to my self quite often.
As time went on and as the fear began to subside the Lord then taught me that His way of education is very different from what I had known and been used to. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of yourmind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 He taught me that He held the key to all learning and would provide everything that we need as a family and that learning was not only something to accomplish from 9 to 5 but that we should adapt a lifestyle of learning and that He is to remain at the center or head of it all. We do have a schedule that we TRY to stick to because our Lord is a God of order and not chaos but we work around those necessary interuptions (heavy on the necessary here)! We love the path that the Lord has placed us upon and we recommend homeschooling to everyone that we can, escpecially the Body of Christ.
Well, in a nutshell, that sums up a small portion of our first steps to a lifetime of learning!
I just thought I'd post a greeting this morning. We are in Maryland staying at a resort "Liberty Resort", and there's highspeed internet access so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say hello! We've been asked to participate in a special service at an historical church in Emmitsburg (Elias Lutheran Church). I will post some pictures when we are back home but in the mean while, many blessings to all!
My daughters surprised me this Mothers Day! My eldest bought me a very pretty ring that says "MOM" with a heart in the middle and some roses in a vase and took us out for all you can eat at Pizza Hutt. My younger daughter painted this lovely picture of a pansy. We also visited both grandmothers. I will post a picture of my ring when I get the chance to take a picture of my hand!
There was no need for an alarm clock, anticipation and excitement always keeps me awake before a road trip. I quickly made my doggie a frozen boney (keeps her busy for a while when we travel), dropped off dd at Grandmas house and off we went! The scenery in my homestead of PA is beautiful but I had no time to pull out my camera, WE HAVE TO GET TO THE CHAP HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION! We arrived after walking almost 3 blocks to get to the front entrance, this is only from the parking lot and around the length of the building mind you! I pulled out my trusty itemized listthat I made out ahead of time because being in the presence of ALL of those homeschool materials causes my mind to go blank!
We barely scratched the surface as lunchtime rolled around. We caught part of a seminar for homeschoolers in home businesses. It was good and informative but dh thought he heard the speaker ending on a note that caused us to question the whole heart of her message! The statement was "If my hubby could get full time employment from a company he would get rid of his business in a heart beat." I assured Dave that he must have misunderstood. Being the inquisitive homeschooler that I am, I had to inquire of this speaker. Sure enough she DID say that, not that they were her sentiments but her husband's! In all love, she really must adjust her subject matter or pray about her closing statements!
Lunchtime arrived and we enjoyed a quaint little meal at Burger King 3 blocks away! (We walked again). More healthful exercise is the way I like to view it! It's 2:00pm, I have my list but still had not made a purchase! After lunch, Dave attended a much needed workshop for men by Todd Wilson of Family Man Ministriesand judging from the head count that I took and that fact that the area was FILLED with men, this is a much needed ministry edifying homeschool fathers! He reminded the dads that they provide the ever needed security that their children need and when dad is always caught up in his job or whatever else, the kids will suffer! Overall dh was blessed and we look forward to listening to this speaker again in the future.
I was busy trying to spend money and watch the clock to meet Dave when the workshop ended but I couldn't pull myself away from an art book and I MISSED HIM!Try to picture - 20 plus rows of vendors and each row contained a couple dozen - not to mention the workshop areas and extra shops along the side! Everyone looks alike in a humongous crowd of homeschoolers!Before starting to cry, I prayed the Lord would cross our paths (I was getting near panic mode mind you), I still had not purchased any of the items from my list, it was nearing 3:00pm and the last workshop would end at 5:00pm! Oh, thank you Lord! I saw him approaching (he probably had me in his sights all along, probably chuckling under his breath). I am SURE by then I needed a change of clothes from the sweat that was beginning to break out! No time to waste! I had to find Michele(Eyecorn) and fast! Her productstreasureboxpress.comSam's Science Adventures are so unique! Have you ever wanted to study a topic only to find that you need to gather materials but eventually lose interest because of time constraints! These kits provide an answer. You can use them all year long and everything you need will be at your fingertips for a fun, well rounded learning experience! They are packaged in the cutest treasure box for storage and can be used for historical studies, reading and more! (Back to our meeting...................) I thought the best way would be a surprise hello. Surly she won't recognise me from my avatar on this blog! She was doing pretty good business because every time I tried to approach her, someone stood in line to pay for their items! Dh later told me that Michele knew who I was right from the start judging from the smile he witnessed on her face, now why didn't he tell me that sooner!!!! Michele and her daughter greeted me with their very pretty smiles. Her little girl was so polite and made me feel very welcomed! (Homeschoolers are very well socialized, so I expected that!) Just think, this wasn't just another vendor, this is an online friend who has prayed for me and even knows some intimate details of my life! How cool is that! We hugged, I wanted to get a picture butI STILL HAD EMPTY ARMS! I DIDN'T SPEND ANY MONEY YET AND IT'S NEARING 3:30pm!!!!!I wanted to take a picture of the two of us but pulling out the camera would use up the precious moments that were ticking away!!!!!
I finally found the Lamplighter books that dd had on her list, picked up VideoText Algebra, Apologia Science, microscope slides a couple of historical videos (Dave wanted these) and browsed bargain books. Dave wanted to arrive home before 9:00pm. Could I close the place down? Would he change his mind? YES! He DID!! We were nearly the last to leave at 6:00pm!!!!! We stopped at Hardees for a huge sour dough melt, but guess what surprise awaited us at home?! Chicken Fettuccine that Nettie prepared at Grammys! Oh what a wonderful day!!! Why did it have to end so soon and with no pictures?! Oh well, this blog is a blessing in more ways than one! Thanks for the memories that I can re-read here on my blog athomeschoolblogger.comand also for friends that I have met (Michele) and those I've yet to, but Lord willing WILL meet someday!!!! In the meantime Spunky has a very good post about state homeschool conventions that I'm going to cuddle up and read with my {every now and then} coffee!
WhO SaiD LeaRniNg CaN't Be FuN??
Welcome to our homeschooling treasure trove of learning and ideas. This is our place to share some of the exciting things that we are doing and learning together in our family's homeschooling adventure. We are Christians, and our goal is to yield to our Heavenly Father's will. We hope to encourage others who may be considering homeschooling and help to dismiss some of the misconceptions they may have about living a life of learning!
was the time we spend with an old friend who portrayed a beloved leader of old by the name of Moses. The actor? None other than Charlton Heston. Yes, Easter eve we watched the Ten Commandments. Mr Heston gave us a beautiful glimpse into the accounts that we read of in God's Word about the deliverance of His people from bondage of Egypt. 
We've been asked to participate in a special service at an historical church in Emmitsburg (Elias Lutheran Church). I will post some pictures when we are back home but in the mean while, many blessings to all!
not that they were her sentiments but her husband's! In all love, she really must adjust her subject matter or pray about her closing statements!
I prayed the Lord would cross our paths (I was getting near panic mode mind you), I still had not purchased any of the items from my list, it was nearing 3:00pm and the last workshop would end at 5:00pm! 
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