A Work of Heart
• Nov. 23, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving
Posted By KayinMaine
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank Thee for this place in which we dwell;
for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day;
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies, that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in this place.
... Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends,
soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavours.
If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come,
that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune,
and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving one to another.
- Robert Louis Stevenson |
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• Nov. 22, 2009 - Two days Post-op
After two days of recovery I've finally lost most of the anesthesia fog and I'm getting a little clearer.
My tummy looks like I'm pregnant with a painted on smiley face where my incisions are. I have four of them, with the lower one hurting the most. I spent part of today searching for sweat pants onine that will fit a 6'2" woman. I'm not sure when I'll be able to button jeans again.
For all of you brave women out there who have had C-sections I sympathize with you in a way I could never before. Boy, am I sore!!
Because everyone was so happy with my results I don't have a clear picture of exactly what was done on Friday but hope to talk to my Dr. tomorrow. I do know I have all my parts and pieces and that makes me smile.
God is so good to give us things we could never even imagine. Of course I'd figured out the three or four options I was going to be faced with and just like HIM he hands me one far better.
"I love you Jesus, just for being you."
Hope you had a good weekend.
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• Nov. 21, 2009 - *~*Digi Scrap Kits*~*
Posted By Mrs. Deborah
Hello Friends!!!
I have found a truly gifted site... full of beautiful graphics...
Trina has been beautifully blessed with such lovely creativity,
as have the other artists you will find when visiting Trina's website.
Please take a moment to view the 1000's of graphics in various categories
(below are just a few samples). Click on each image to visit that theme page.
She has created different themes to meet all the needs of each individuals taste :)
I can't help but to visit her site each day, as there's so much to see and be in awe over.
Please won't you stop in and say "Hi" while at the same time...
letting her know you appreciate her sharing her blessed gift with us all.
Have a beautifully blessed day everyone,
**Lots of Hugs**
Deborah
**Note** Digi Scrap Kits (Trina) has granted permission to use the images. Please do not use, copy, or distribute these images without permission from DSK. Thank you :)
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• Nov. 21, 2009 - Surgery
• Nov. 20, 2009 - Mandatory Family Craft Time
I'm usually excited about Thanksgiving each year. Family, friends, fun and fabulous food is something to look forward to. This year it's not the same. It may be because I haven't focused on the what to do's and what to makes. The only thing we've done around here is started Thanksgiving journals. Maybe over the weekend I'll get more excited about the whole thing. I could make some pumpkin bars and some eggnog bread.. that might help my mood.
I think we'll do a family craft together. We've done one when my eldest two where younger. Now that I have five children it will be more fun.
We'll make a Thanksgiving tree.
I'll cut out a tree base out of construction paper and then all my children, my hubbs and I can cut out a bunch of our traced hands in fall colors, and then glue them to the tree.
I think it'll look real neat this year with all the different sized hands.
What about you? Do you do any family crafts together?
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• Nov. 19, 2009 - The Meaning of The 12 Days of Christmas
Posted By Kerry
At Christmas time, people often sing the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but few know fo the rich Christmas symbols behind the words of the song. Everybody thinks that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" were the days preceding the Christmas festival. In reality, Epiphany is the time of the Christian celebration that starts December 25 and lasts until January 6, a duration of 12 days. This marks the Church's celebration of Jesus as the Light of the world and its remebrance of the pilgrimage of the three wise men.
Every day, from December 25 to January 6, was traditionally a part of the Yuletide celebration. Dedicated to mercy and compassion, each day was noted by selfless giving and tender charity. In many cultures, gift giving was not concentrated on a single day, but rather, as in the famous folk song, spread throughout the entire season.
From 1558 until 1829, the Church in England was not allowed to practice their faith openly. During that era "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written as a catechism that could be sung in public without the risk of persecution. The words to the song are, in essence, an allegory. The words have two levels of interpretation: the literal meaning and the figurative meaning known only to members of the Church.
Each element in the carol is a word for a religious reality. The "true love" represents God and "me" is the group called to receive these gifts as a Christian. On the first day, the partridge in a pear tree is symbolic of Jesus Christ coming to earth to save men.
See if you can discover the rest of the religious meaning as you read the words to the song:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
How did you do?
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Copyright Kerry Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don't make changes and include the bio below.
Kerry Beck gives free advent calendars with daily Christmas projects to prepare your family for Christmas. Your family will learn a lot about Epiphanythrough many of her projects. You can get her FREE Advent calendar countdown at http://www.ChristmasCelebrationIdeas.com.
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• Nov. 19, 2009 - Really! I'm back! For Sure!
I have had this blog since June of 2005, way back when homeschoolblogger was in beta. I was invited by two dear friends, ByHisGraceInColorado and HomegrownHearts and became hooked. For three years I blogged almost daily or at least three to four days a week. I had many readers and I met a lot of neat like-minded folks. This year was different. I didn't have the energy. I spent my days drained and even though I had creative learning ideas to share I would sit here and stare at my computer. The words just could not flow out the way they used to.
That is changed! I am back. I have my energy back and I feel great!
I haven't thought much about Thanksgiving this year. We will be going over to my grandmothers home. I'm supposed to make mashed potatoes and eggnog bread.
Kids learning: I started my two eldest on Time4Learning. I figure it will give them something different to do plus it will give me a bit more time to focus on my little ones. I have two more that are learning to read.
I'll let you know what my kids think of time4learning in a few weeks when they've been doing it for a while. The nice thing about it is there are no contracts and we can go month to month. |
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• Nov. 19, 2009 - I planned on a contest this week, really I did!
But life got in the way and I woke up this morning realizing my surgery is tomorrow morning.
I've had a lot of peace.
Until today.
But time with HIM this morning gave me back my peace and put my focus on HIM and not my circumstances.
Keeping my focus on HIM is harder today than it has been. My tummy is a little up and downsy!
Ok, now I'm making up words.
Pray for me.
Surgery is at 8am to remove left ovary. A biopsy will be done. If all is well I get a few stitches and come home to recover. If not, it's a more involved surgery and a two-three day hospital stay.
Pray for my family.
Pray for the kids.
Jesus reigns. |
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• Nov. 12, 2009 - Raising Sons, Part 3
| Letting Boys Be Boys
One aspect of raising boys that is lost in our culture today is the understanding that girls and boys really are different—very different. Forcing little boys to sit and be quiet and essentially act like little girls for hours each day, to “share their feelings” and be passively spoon-fed information, to sit in front of a video screen for extended periods all go against the natural tendencies of boyishness. Boys need to be active, they need to be moving, and they need to be tackling projects and overcoming obstacles. When they are not allowed to do these things, they become frustrated. In school each day in America, little boys are being told to stop being themselves. They are told that the desire to slay pretend dragons, wrestle with their buddies, or play cops and robbers is wrong. Many perfectly normal boys are given the ADHD label for simply displaying natural boyish behavior. Subsequently, the boyishness is often drugged out of them. It is a very sad fact that because of the contempt with which boys are viewed by our culture in general and the government education system in particular, many boys are growing up to be frustrated men who have no sense of identity. They don’t know what it means to be men. The number of boys growing up without a father in the home continues to rise, adding to the problem.
As a homeschooling mother of boys, I am so thankful that my sons can be spared the difficulties and dangers experienced by young boys in a traditional classroom setting. My sons (and other homeshooled boys) have the daily structure necessary for proper training, as well as the freedom to explore and conquer new territory each day. The have real, meaningful responsibilities that contribute to the running of the household and consequently they have a sense of significance and usefulness boys need to have. My sons have a daddy who is completely invested in their lives and who wants to give them the guidance and Godly instruction he didn’t have when he was young. I am thankful for the blessings and privileges my sons have and I am thankful for the Lord teaching and showing my husband and I so many truths from His Word that, as we implement them in our lives, will directly impact our sons, thereby influencing generations that come after them.
A boy is only a boy once. Let him slay the dragon (with a wooden sword) and save the princess (mommy or sister). He’s practicing to be a real man.
This post is the third in a series on raising sons.
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• Nov. 12, 2009 - We have a winner!
Kimalita won this week's contest.
Congratulations girl! Email me your address and I'll get it in the mail to you.
Next week's contest will be for the LAST Peppermint Oil I have from Beeyoutiful!
In our family this week.....
- *Our youngest son and one of his good friends went to see the Starwars concert this past weekend. It was an early Christmas present and they had a blast!!! My husband was under strict orders to TAKE PICTURES so here they are......
- *My sweet hubbie had a tooth pulled yesterday and if anyone has ever had that done.....'it ain't no fun'. He's staying home, resting and taking care of himself today.
- *My surgery to remove my left ovary is scheduled for next Friday. Please pray that the ovary is non cancerous
- *I've decided you can NEVER go cheap on toilet paper, paper towels or trash bags.
- *My kids all made A's on their Math tests. Yippee
That's all folks! |
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