Oct. 27, 2009 - Word Study: Thinking about starting something new on my blog

I was thinking of using this blog to start a new study for me and whoever wants to join in the conversation.

I'll do a Word Study.  I'm going to start with the word grace.
Over the next week, I'll look at the definition, Biblical usage, currant usage, connotations, etc.  I'll record my findings on here.

Let's see how it goes.

Oct. 23, 2008 - blog move

I would like to try blogspot to see what the functionality is on it.  I'll still be keeping this blog but not updating it very often.

If you want to see our family, go to lattegems  or http://lattegems.blogspot.com/.

Hopefully we can still keep with each other.
TR

Oct. 14, 2008 - GirlsNight

I have not been able to have recess for a few days.
The older two have been sick, and we've started late in the day and take it easy. 

Tonight I asked to go out with some girlfriends.  We ate a bite at dinner, then got in my jeep and drove the back road to this Corn Maze.  One of my friends met another of her friends there. So then the four of us by the full moon (and flashlights) we found our way through the maze.  It was cut in the shape of the Statue of Liberty.  We found our way to the top star and only got turned around in the crown.  I had never done anything like that before and it was quite fun.  There were a ton of bugs but it wasn't so bad if you didn't have a flashlight shining on your face.  There was a bridge that went up over the cornstalks and you could look out over the field and see a fog settling over the maze.  The moon was full and if we kept our map lined up with the moon we could figure out where we were.

After a day of hanging out with sick or screaming children, this was a nice reprieve. Even though they were not always sick or screaming today, it was nice to get away.

Oct. 6, 2008 - Monday recess

Kids are playing outside and I'm zappin' a cold cup of coffee.
Just beeped; let me go get it.

There's that's better.

Well, we have an event Friday.  It is a Mother/Daughter Tea Party.   I've got 2 games planned.  One game is "What is that Nursery Rhyme?" in which a line from a nursery rhyme is given and participants guess the title of the nursery rhyme.  Doesn't that just sound like fun?  The other one is "What can we bring to the tea party?"  The leader will name some things that can be brought (e.g. spoons, butter, cookies) and other participants come up with something that can be brought.  If they give a correct guess (cheese), the leader will say "yes, you can come to the tea party."  If they say a wrong item (fruit), "I'm sorry.  You cannot bring that."  Participation goes around the circle once, then the participants give another correct answer and then can guess as to the rule it follows (double letter).  Because there may be young ones there that will need help, older ones are welcome to give clues to help them out.

Also, I've asked a friend to come speak.  She is a wonderful woman who I knew in my high school years as a wife and homeschool mother that was in a way a mentor to me.  A lot of the mentoring that took place was by example.  I loved how her family was--how they related to each other.  It seemed like it was the way it was supposed to be.  Those were the years that started that desire to homeschool in me.  It was because of home, not because of intelligent children (even though hers are), and not because of bad schools (it wasn't all that bad where I was--at least some parts), nor because of support (I knew of no one else in our church that home schooled).  She went against the culture I'm sure.  This is about home/family--being there and helping each other and learning with each other--doing things together.  Certainly God has called me to do this, but how would I have had a picture of what it looked like if I had not ever seen her family, if she had not opened her home and her family to me.  I'm very thankful.

Oh and if anyone wants to come to my house--there are no guarantees what it will look like. 

Oct. 1, 2008 - Happy Rosh Hashanah

We had a fun day yesterday.
The kids and I invited our neighbors who also happen to homeschool to join us in celebrating this Jewish festival.  We celebrated the Jewish New Year by having apples and honey, sweet challah bread and listening to the Ram's horn blow.  The day was so beautiful yesterday too.
Since learning about Jewish holidays is quite new to me, I did not celebrate yesterday like you are supposed to, like you would a Sabbath.  I didn't think to not schedule school work yesterday, so we did some things.  I think if I had time to research and plan, I could do a little better in making the day special.
  Seems like I can always remember it's Halloween because the decorations are out at Wal-Mart.  I know that Thanksgiving is always a Thursday and I can plan dinner in that way (start thawing the Turkey on Monday, fix stuffing on Tuesday, etc.).  Christmas also means two more birthdays, so I have to double up on presents and parties (so it seems)--there is no getting out of Christmas joy--believe me.  I am just not used to thinking in terms of the cycle of special days on the Jewish calendar, even though I have been taught what they are and what they are for. 
Well, it's time for recess to be over.

Sep. 29, 2008 - a small soccer picture

My husband got a shot of me with the ball.  This is what we did Sunday afternoon.

Sep. 29, 2008 - Monday recess

kids are outside playing happily.  I hope

I am thinking about this weekend.  Friday night my husband and son went on a bike ride with some others with a group called "Ride Civil."  It is to show support of our town having folks learn how to deal with cyclists on the road and share the road.  I don't know if folks are getting it though.  There's a lot of hollarin' at the cyclists, gunning it, and not moving over.  It is somewhat fearful for me to think about b/c it's my 9 yr. son out there.  The net reaction to the fear is anger.  So I get so angry sometimes at folks who don't scoot over.
Well, that was Friday night.
Saturday morning, we had "soccerfest".  This was a fun day for the kids at the soccer field.  For my team of under 5s, we had 3 short games spread out over the morning.  I think it was a little much.  The first scheduled game, a teenager volunteered to ref the game (great!).  This was supposed to happen, but the big kids didn't have enough command to say to the coaches, "I got this--step aside."  I think I understood the meaning in this, but it caused a little confused for the kids to have another big kid on the field and the parents who might not have know we were to expect a teenager to step up and do this. Between games, jumping things and blow-up slide-y things were around to play.  We also played "Beat the Keeper."  There was also a dunking booth.  Well, on the second scheduled game, our opposing team didn't show and the earlier game was missing an opponent, so they were playing against themselves.  Then 5 collegiate players showed up on the field to say "we want to help."  So, as coach, I say "come on.  Let's all play."  That might have been too much.  We left after a hot dog lunch in the only shade we could find and went home.
  After a long nap, we went to our Torah Club.  My husband and I were in charge of leading the children in a study.  We got through the Scripture reading and then turned to put on the CD and realized we'd left it in our CD player at home so we could do nothing.  We tried the best we could do to retell the story that was used. Thankfully not all the children that are usually there were there.   After we were done, it was potluck time.  We shared a meal.  As we were leaving, we were invited to one of the other family's church.  So we decided  we do that.
  Sunday morning: my husband goes to a men's study that he hasn't been to before.  It was a Jewish Code of Ethics meeting.  I won't go into his thoughts about that.
  Then he gets back and we go to this other church.  Now at this other church, I have so many friends here.  A lot of friends used to go to the church I go to now.  I saw a lot of them.  These are very close friends, even now.  I miss them.  It makes me want to go to this church.  However, my husband doesn't feel led to change.
  So now my internal tormoil begins... I know I'll stay with him, but it's hard to be happy.  I'm having to pretend at church that I'm happy to be there, but I'm not.  I like the people that are there.  I haven't met a single person that goes there that I just don't like or don't want to talk to.  But there's something missing when I go.  My husband knows my feelings, but says that God is not leading him to move.  So I stay.  I try.  I hope that things will get better.  I do have hope that things will get better.  We have just recently been involved with yet another group, from our church, that lets the kids come and be there.  I have much hope that this will help with that empty feeling that I can't seem to explain.
So then, that brings me to Sunday night (my next post will be about Sunday afternoon).  We had the group from our church that I just mentioned meet at our house.  Two of the four regular couples couldn't be there, but another one came and I invited our new children's minister and his family to come and they came.
It was very good and encouraging, but still I have questions and reservations.  We'll see.

Sep. 26, 2008 - yesterday

There was no recess yesterday.  Children got out of hand, so big mean momma put a stop to all kinds of fun.
So then I didn't get a recess either.

I did manage to deal with the clothes.  A friend commented about it saying that if I put up all the summer clothes, we're sure to have a few more weeks of hot weather.  Isn't that the truth?  I've found that to be the case every single season.  Just when I put up the seasonal clothes, that's when I need them again. 
Well, here's what I decided to do.  We have one straight closet for the girls.  On one side I have 4T summer and size 5s for summer and fall.  When she goes through the 4T, we will pass them along.  The other side was more tricky.  I have all 6 and 6x hanging up.  She's one of those in between sizes.  She can wear 6 pants, 6x dresses and 7 shirts.  What I think I'll do is as she wears the summer size6, launder and then put them in the bucket for lit' sis next summer.  Once the 6s are gone through one more time, we'll take down the 7s and 8s and add them to her closet.  She'll still have the pants in her drawers (no pun intended-npi).  The worst thing about all this is that so much effort gets put into what to do with clothes and it might only last 3 months, then we have to start all over figuring  out what to do, who likes what, and where does it go.

Anyway, I'm sure this has got to be the most boring blog you've ever read.  Now you see why I haven't blog much over the summer.  I don't think about too many interesting things anymore.

Well, maybe I'll have more to think about after this weekend.  Soccerfest is going on tomorrow morning and I (Big Momma) get to play soccer on Sunday, hopefully  with other Big Mommas (and after the season is over, we can all be called Little Mommas :)

Sep. 24, 2008 - Wednesday recess

Kids are all outside for a recess.
I've been given a number of clothes for my girls.  Right now, I'm working on sorting and hanging up the ones we like.  It's a huge ordeal.  I don't have an easy system for it.  I put them in piles by size, then put up in the closet what they can wear now.  But it's about to be fall.  So do I put the size they are now in with the others or do I wait until it becomes cooler?  If I put away clothes that they can wear now but are definitely summer outfits, then we'll miss those last opportunities to wear some of our favorite outfits.  And we know Who only knows when the temps cool for the season.  It is no wonder that the closets are a mess.

well, I'd better bring them to finish what we can before AWANA tonight.

Sep. 23, 2008 - Tuesday recess

Let's see: today during recess the kids are outside in the backyard, my husband is working at Home (WAH), and I'm taking a moment to write a blog--something, anything.

My son is doing better going faster in math on the timed problems--I'm very happy about that.
My daughter is struggling to spell.  She reads very well, but the same word she just read, she couldn't write down correctly, so we had to go back over her work.  I've been very surprised at this.
My 2nd daughter is trying to think of things to do.  It has been hard to bounce from 4th grade math to 2nd grade reading to watching the preschoolers sort and make patterns.  I want her to learn as much as the other two did during the preschool year,  but it just isn't equal time.  I have the feeling that others get to this point with baby3, baby4, etc. and turn their plans into curricula that uses more grades at one time.  In any case, it is looking more and more like at some point we will turn to that.

In other news, financial worries has everyone on the freak-out point.  Hang on guys--this may not end well, but Jesus is still on the throne.  Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Sep. 22, 2008 - recess2

Well, the kids are outside for recess right now and I did have a few minutes to blog, except that I just got done typing up a huge blog and I pushed the wrong button and it was gone.
So now I'm all out of time and nothing to show for it.
Sorry.

Sep. 17, 2008 - Recess

  I think I'm going to start blogging during recess time.  I've been trying to find the time now that school has started, but it just keeps slipping away.  I just had a friend make a comment on a blog post I did a while ago and I realized I hadn't posted in a long time.
  Today during recess time the kids played outside.  A friend came and got Ame' and they went to the library for story time.  When she brought her home, the mom and I visited and watched the other children run around outside.  The one year old is walking better now and he just walks and falls around the yard.  He gets dirty and he eats the dirt and he might eat an acorn or a leaf or chew on a stick, but it's all organic and he'll probably survive.  Besides, an adult conversation in the middle of the day is like recess for me.
  Anyway, the kids need to be outside.  The weather couldn't be better.  It is so beautiful.  The only outside trouble has been the mosquitoes.  They've been awful.  I'm surprised not more folks have come down with West Nile--maybe a new dreaded disease is being developed.  We'll call it Wet Mississippi Virus.

Well, I've been distracted long enough.  I have to get back to the newsletter, which is not coming along very well.  I guess I'm not in the mood this week--who knows.

Aug. 11, 2008 - bikes

Aug. 11, 2008 - drive to see folks

We wanted to have our bikes with us when we went to Texarkana this weekend so we loaded up our van using our new hitch and bike rack.  We put 4 bikes on it and a bike trailer on top.  Isn't that crazy?
Now we can all ride bikes when we go places.  There are consequences to having a large family.

Jul. 14, 2008 - thoughts about Bible

  I had a few thoughts regarding reconciling how God deals with people in the Old Testament and in the New.  For some time, my husband's blog has been talking about covenants.  We've been a part of a group that is studying the 5 points of Calvinism.  We've also been joining a group that is studying the Old Testament, more specifically, the Torah.  All this time, both of us have been on the same page about what we believe is true.  Each of our studies have given us a deeper level of conversation with each other and they all seem to be circling around a central theme.
  Here is a couple of more things I could add to the table that lets me start putting some scattered pieces together.  As much as I am for sola scriptura I know that sometimes you meet people that can sure teach you some lessons.  We ran into this fellow that came across as boastful and arrogant.  He openly told us the difficulty he was presently in and laid much of the blame on those around him.  It reminded me of another person in my life that has gone through so much but seems so stubborn and life just doesn't go well for him.  Now I know that I am a sinner and perhaps I've done as much bad (maybe worse) as these two people I've just mentioned, but why do things go ok for me.  I've had bad things and disappointments come my way, but why does God take care of us?  And also other people I know that only have thankfulness in their hearts?  Have these people only done what is right?  Have they followed each of the laws correctly?  We always ask this question in our hearts because to ask it out loud might sound judgmental.  We want to know why some have blessings upon blessings and others only curse after curse.
  I want to propose a suggestion (now, not an across the board gospel fact always and neverending, but perhaps) of something God values.  I'm thinking about the whole concept of repentance.  What if all God wants from us is true repentance, whether we're elected or choose Christ as our Savior, whether we choose to follow the Jewish laws and regulations or we're free from the law and have no guilt in that.  What if this idea of repentance spans Old Testament and New Testament Covenants (nevermind that redundancy)?  What if this is the reason Jesus came and the reasons Jews sacrifice?  What if this is why some have blessings upon blessings?
  I was reading II Chronicles 6 this morning.  Solomon says a prayer about the Temple and then God fills it.  He approved.  He was here.  So many times in that prayer, Solomon asks God to hear the prayers of the people.  He asks God to forgive.  He says that "when they sin, and they most certainly will and when they ask for forgiveness, listen to them."  He pleads for God to listen to the people whether they were Jews or foreigners.  I find this very interesting, and I don't think that there is any other Scripture that down plays the need for repentance.  If you find something, I'd like to hear your defense.  I hope I'm not way off here--if I am, my sincere *apologies* :)

Jul. 7, 2008 - another year with CHEF

Well, I'm starting on my 3rd year as the homeschool group's newsletter editor.
It's all starting all over again--the deadlines, the frustrations, the pleas, and the rejections.
Why do I do this?  Maybe it is that my membership dues are waived, or perhaps it is that I get to stay connected with what is going on.  I don't know.
  I've asked for only a few things.  I've asked folks to send me articles that are written out in paragraph/complete sentence form.  I didn't even ask for a certain number of words--short would be fine, even very short.  I didn't ask for it to be perfect--I can correct spelling/grammar.  I asked for submissions by a certain deadline, but even that is a bit flexible.  I gave a rough idea of when I need articles and only a handful try to honor that, but it's ok and I can get around late submissions.  I didn't ask for ideas or announcements.  I didn't ask for items that you want to sell.
  Maybe it is because I don't ask for so much that I hardly get any.
What I'd like is a person who likes to write and would take ideas (theirs, mine, other members) and turn them into short writing assignments.
  This is the part that I don't feel I have the time for.  I'm already spending the time for this newsletter to do the layouts.  Are folks also expecting me to write all the articles?  That's what it feels like.  I will pray for such help.

Jul. 1, 2008 - American History Colonial

We worked on our American History some yesterday.  I put it on my lapbook page here with photos of how it is going.   I made a few comments about it.  I'm still trying to figure it all out. 

Jun. 26, 2008 - One of those kinds of emails

Had a friend send me one of those kinds of emails asking you about your favorite this, that, etc.  Since I haven't been posting much, I'll copy paste my answers to her email here.  It took some time for me to think about all my answers.  If you have a moment and want to leave a comment with what your answers might be, I would like that.
What is your favorite...
>(I hope I don't have to pick just one)
> 1. candy? MMs, Nutrageous
> 2. gum? none
> 3. dessert? banana splits or something with ice cream
> 4. cookie? Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip
> 5. pie? Key Lime, Pecan
> 6. cake? Spice
> 7. bread? Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
> 8. snack? ice cream sundaes
> 9. treat? frozen cherries
> 10. ice cream?  Cherry Cordial
> 11. beverage? cherry coke
> 12. tea? white tea or mint unsweet
> 13. coffee?  flavored black
> 14. color? green, purple
> 15. hobby? scrapbook, reading
> 16. kind of book you like to read? other than Scripture? Fantasy Fiction
> 17. kind of movie you like to watch? Comedy
> 18. kind of music/band you like to listen to? Stuff like Toby Mac
> 19. flower? Morning Glories
> 20. fragrance? Sunflower/True Love
> 21. thing to collect? teapots
> 22. dip? skinny
> 23. chip? on my shoulder

Jun. 19, 2008 - Poem worthy of an Emmy