May. 10, 2008 - Green Hour Challenge #8 - Up Close and Personal
These photographs were taken a while ago (before I got ill!), but I've only been able to blog about this activity today!!
We went outside onto the "Green" in the middle of our Close and took a magnifier with us - this was one of the times when Littlesmurf really was very quiet and took an intent interest in what he was looking at!
We started by looking closely at the stumps of trees that had to be cut down last year.
As you can see, he got an excellent view of the fungus growing on the top of the stump - he was fascinated! Using his "loupe" gave him a much better view of what the fungus actually looked like and also gave us a lot to talk about afterwards.
We also took the opportunity to observe any changes in the trees around us - first of all, Littlesmurf noticed that one tree had white blossom on it (we think this is actually a Spring Cherry Tree) and that another was starting to show some pink blossom buds.
Finally, what nature trip would be complete for a growing boy without finding a stick to wield?!! Littlesmurf's face just says it all!
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May. 6, 2008 - Quick update!! Don't worry!!
This is especially for all those who have sent messages, emails, etc., over the past month!
I was taken ill a few weeks ago - ended up in bed for a week, with vomitting and a very high temperature. The doctor said that it was a virus infection and that I should just let it take its course.
Hubby and Littlesmurf were great! Fetching and carrying, leaving me alone when I wanted peace and quiet, etc. I did venture out to meet up with friends at the local Christian Home Educators group (they had a resource day) - but it did take a lot out of me! I had to go straight to bed once I got home!
On the Treatment front - everything was "GO" on the day of the Resource Day, but I later had a phone call telling me that the trial was "OFF", as they'd already got enough patients from other countries on their list. This was so disappointing! However, I go to see my oncologist again on Friday (9th May), and will have to see if he's come up with anything else!
So, thanks for the messages, emails and especially the prayers - I am now feeling much better and hope to be blogging again more regularly from now on!
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Apr. 10, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
Whenever anyone thinks of the British, they tend to think of people who are forever talking about (and invariably complaining about) the weather!
We live in a temperate climate, so have to expect whatever type of weather God decides we need on a particular day. So this week, I am mostly thankful for these different types of weather.
On Sunday, we woke up to find snow on the ground. Throughout the rest of the week we have had rain showers, sleet, more snow and the most bitingly cold winds. Today, it finally seems as though Spring has sprung! I was truly thankful that we were able to get outside into the sunshine for a change - even if it was still rather cold!
So, thank you, Lord for giving us a beautiful country to live in and a variety of weathers to enjoy. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
This is what the LORD says to me:
"I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place,
like shimmering heat in the sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest." - Isaiah 18:4
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Apr. 9, 2008 - Blogger Friend School #22 - What's Cookin' or Not?!
Nancy's task for us this week is -
The United Kingdom is still in that "limbo" between Winter and Spring weatherwise. It is still cold, windy and damp outside, so we are still eating wholesome, "warm-me-up" types of food!
Tonight (Wednesday 9th April) we had one of my son's favourite meals. We ate a meatball and penne pasta bake in a tomato sauce with a covering of cheese. We also accompanied this with a side-serving of carrots, peas and green beans. We tend not to have a dessert with our evening meal unless it is a special occasion. Later on, DH and myself will have a cup of Redbush Tea and Littlesmurf will have a glass of organic fruit juice.
My verse for this assignment is -
"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." - 1 Timothy 6:8
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Apr. 8, 2008 - Interceding for our children
This week's prayer -
Thank You, Lord, that You care about the eternal future of Littlesmurf even more than I do and that it is secure in You. In Jesus' name I pray that he will not doubt or stray from the path You have for him all the days of his life.
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4
"This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11
My thoughts -
It is truly wonderful to know that God has mapped out the path of Littlesmurf's life from the moment he was born. I am in awe of this, and truly pray that Littlesmurf will not be led astray in what is planned for his future. There are so many evils in the world - all we can do as parents is to endeavour to give our children the tools with which to fight them (God's teachings) and know that our Lord has them at the top of his list as regards their futures.
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Apr. 3, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
This past Friday would have been my mother's 75th birthday (she went to Jesus in January), so we spent some time with my Dad, keeping him busy as well as visiting her grave.
Today, I am thankful that we were able to do this for him. I am also thankful that my parents brought me up to have a deep love for and faith in God. This is something that we are trying to mirror in the way we are bringing up our son, Littlesmurf.
I am also thankful for the fact that Littlesmurf was able to share the beautiful Welsh countryside around my hometown with his grandfather. He definitely appreciated the scenery as he is more used to townlife than countrylife!
Finally, I am very thankful that we were able to make the journey back to our own home safely and that we actually do have a place that we can call "HOME"!
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2
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Apr. 2, 2008 - Green Hour Challenge #7 - Your Own Field Guide
So, here we are still in Wales and still studying the trees found around Gwydyr Forest. On Sunday, we went along part of one of the Forest Trails (Lady Mary's Walk). Here is Littlesmurf on his way to the start of the trail -
He finally got to the start of the trail (notice how the sign is bilingual English/Welsh!).
So what did we see today? Well, the first tree we noticed was this one -
Apparently this is a Japanese Thuja - a strange tree to find growing in North Wales!
From here, we walked on to an old Chapel (called "Gwydyr Uchaf") and searched around for various other trees, cones for Littlesmurf's collection, etc. The most striking tree that Littlesmurf was interested in studying further was a very large yew tree. He was particularly interested in its bark - he gave it a good punch and found that it felt quite "springy" to touch. He also liked the colours in this photograph -
He was even more intrigued when we read about the yew tree when we got back to my Dad's house - apparently the leaves of the yew are poisonous! Yew trees used to be planted in old graveyards and it is thought that they acted as a deterrent to farmers grazing their animals there.
We also found some cones for Littlesmurf's collection - they came from a Japanese larch tree and reminded him of tiny rosebuds. The Japanese larch is planted in the forest because it grows more quickly than the native Larch.
Our final photograph was another of the Gwydyr Forest from the Chapel.
We are definitely going to come back for another visit when the weather is even better. Perhaps we'll have a picnic at one of the tables set up near the Chapel?
When we got back to our own home, we made some Field Guide cards for identifying trees - pictures of the whole tree, its foliage, flowers,seeds and bark; details of where it is found, what it is used for, etc. So far, we have made three cards - for the Ash, the Douglas-fir and the Yew.
I must apologise for the "fuzziness" of the smaller photos - my camera's battery is running low and I don't have the steadiest of hands when working close up!!
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Apr. 1, 2008 - Green Hour Challenge #6 - Starting a collection
These next two Green Hour Challenges are taking place in North Wales (my family home town) as we are staying with my father for a few days.
We decided to go to the local Forestry Commission plantation for our nature walk and Dad came along with us - he actually turned out to be invaluable as he has an excellent knowledge of trees and can identify them very easily (his father and brothers, as well as himself, spent many years living and working in these forests!). Littlesmurf thoroughly enjoyed the time with his "Taid" and spent a great deal of time talking with him about the trees and what the timber is used for.
At the start of our walk, Littlesmurf took some time to look at the stacks of cut timber remarking at how clear the rings were and how this made it very easy to work out the age of the trees.
A little further along the trail, we came across this wall - Littlesmurf was fascinated at the moss growing on it and how brightly it was coloured!
These are some views into the forest itself - lots of trees and very dark! Littlesmurf commented that he would not like to have to walk very far into the forest, especially at night!
We also saw a small stream of water coming down from the forest. Growing over the little pool was a hazel-nut tree. My Dad told Littlesmurf how he used to use thicker hazel twigs to make "Penny whistles" when he was a little boy. Littlesmurf was very disappointed that we couldn't find a twig thick enough to make one when we got home!
We finally came across a tree that Littlesmurf wanted to find out more about - The Douglas Fir tree.
The Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a tall, slender conical evergreen tree - it does not lose its leaves in winter. Young trees have a greyish-green smooth bark with resinous blisters (my Dad told us how, after he and his brothers had been planting young Douglas firs, their hands and arms used to be covered with a sticky sort of syrup which they had to scrape off with nailbrushes!). As the trees get older, their barks become more red-brown in colour - see the picture of Littlesmurf with the cut timber! The leaves are called needles - obvious really, as they are thin and pointy like sewing needles. Littlesmurf found out that when you rub the needles between your fingers, you get a very pungent and aromatic scent from them - lovely!
The Douglas Fir is not a native British tree; it actually comes from North America! However, it is grown here mostly in forestry plantations so that it can be cut down and used as timber.
The final part of our challenge was to start a collection of some sort. Littlesmurf decided a long time ago that he would like to collect cones when he visits forests. We didn't find any on today's walk, but here is a picture of some of the cones he has already collected along with a squirrel figure that he bought last year.
You can find out more about the forest we visited at Gwydyr Forest.
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Mar. 31, 2008 - Prayer Request - My Uncle John
Over this past weekend, we have been visiting my father in Wales. Whilst we were there, he took me to visit his eldest brother, my Uncle John (Jones), who is currently living in a "Care Home" for the elderly.
I would ask that you pray for my uncle as he is a very ill man. He has been having treatment for a skin cancer above one eye for several years, but it has now spread to the lower lid and to the eye itself. This is further complicated by the fact that the original tumour has become infected by MRSA.
Uncle John is also losing weight rapidly and the Matron of the home is very concerned by this, especially as all the usual reasons for weight loss have been ruled out by various tests. She, and his doctor, believe that there is another tumour somewhere which is causing this weight loss.
Another reason for prayer, is that Uncle John is not a believer. On his behalf, I pray that the Lord will release him from his pain and lead his doctors towards an answer. John, himself, has just about had enough - he is almost 90 years old and does not feel strong enough to cope with any further "prodding and poking" by doctors.
Please pray for John - I was so shocked to see how small he had become since I last saw him. To me, he was always "John Mawr" (Big John) a strapping man who led a healthy outdoor life - he is nothing like that now!
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Mar. 31, 2008 - Interceding for Our Children
This week's prayer -
Father, cultivate in Littlesmurf the ability to have true humility before You and to show true humility before all people.
"to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." Titus 3:2
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, 'for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:5
My thoughts -
Being humble takes a lot of doing, particularly when you are young. First of all, you have to understand what humility actually is!
1. A disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride; "not everyone regards humility as a virtue".
2. A humble feeling; "he was filled with humility at the sight of the Pope".
Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
From this, I would have to explain and demonstrate to Littlesmurf, that being humble means not boasting about how good you are at a particular task and, more particularly, showing respect to one's elders (all adults, not just his parents!).
So far, I think he is managing to be respectful to his elders. He always speaks politely and addresses the parents of his friends by their full name ("Mr./Mrs So-and-so") until told that he may use their Christian names. When faced with a figure of authority, e.g., a minister, police officer, etc., he calls them "Sir" or "Madam" as the case may be.
He does sometimes have lapses where he is sometimes boastful about his abilities in certain subjects - this, I think, comes from the type of society we live in. Nowadays, young people are not seen as being "Cool" if they allow others to take the glory. However, Littlesmurf, is beginning to see that there are certain advantages to being humble - by showing respect towards others, he also gains their respect for himself; by not constantly "showing off", he is seen as being more mature in his behaviour.
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Mar. 26, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment #20 - A Room with a View
In this week's assignment, Nancy asks us to think about the following - "There are lots of windows in our lives, i.e., window of our soul, closed windows and open windows that God has for our lives, there's what some people call their, "window of opportunity", and there's "eyes are the window to our soul". The assignment is to take a picture, if you're able, find a graphic if you can, and write about your favorite window in your home or the one you look out of when you have those 'daydreaming' moments."
My favourite window is the one in our lounge area. We live in what is called a "town house" which is built over 3 floors and our lounge is on the middle floor which gives us a very pleasing view over the "Green" and trees outside. The other special thing about this window is that it is 16 feet wide! So the view is truly panoramic!
Here is a photograph of our lounge window:
My verse for this assignment:
"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." - Deuteronomy 4:9
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Mar. 25, 2008 - Sketch Tuesday - Something Blue
Here are the results of our sketching time last week!
I sketched my favourite blue mug -
After some thought, Littlesmurf decided to do a drawing of what he called "The Big Blue Eye" (ever felt like you're being watched?).
You can see more sketches of "Something Blue" at The Heart of Harmony.
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Mar. 25, 2008 - Interceding for Our Children
This week's prayer -
I pray that You would enable Littlesmurf to live in ongoing forgiveness. I pray that he will forgive himself for times of failure, and may he never blame You, Lord, for things that happen on this earth and in his life. According to Your Word I pray that he will love his enemies, bless those who curse him, do good to those who use and persecute him, so that he may enjoy all Your blessings (Matthew 5:44-45). I pray that he will live in the fullness of Your forgiveness for him and walk in the freedom of forgiveness in his own heart.
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32
"Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11:25
My thoughts -
Thankfully, since we took Littlesmurf out of school and began homeschooling him, he has not had so many occasions where he has found it difficult to forgive. However, there are still instances where he demonstrates an unforgiving nature! He does not like to be corrected in his behaviour and so, his anger becomes directed either towards myself or his father. I pray that he will realise that we are correcting him only for his own good - that he will learn that we have only his best interests at heart. I also pray that those boys who bullied and taunted him at school have seen the error of their ways.
He can sometimes become frustrated at his own failures and will definitely blame himself for that failure - he needs to work on forgiving himself and not becoming lead towards retreating inside himself. I would prefer him to come to us with his problems first and then we can all take those problems to God for an answer.
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Mar. 23, 2008 - Happy Resurrection Day!
From my family to yours!
Every blessing on this Resurrection Sunday -
Easter Comments @ CommentsLive.com
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Mar. 22, 2008 - Green Hour Challenge #5 - Keeping a list
It seems that this week's challenge has taken over a week to complete!
Part 1 - Last Wednesday, we went with a group of homeschoolers from the locality to plant some soft fruit trees at one of the Mersey Valley sites. As our focus area is trees, we decided that this was just too great an opportunity to miss! Littlesmurf would be able to see very young trees and would also be able to learn how they should be planted. He thoroughly enjoyed himself - he and his Dad helped with digging a trench and with planting raspberry, gooseberry and other soft fruit trees. They then filled the holes back up and topped up with compost which would act as a mulch. A great way to burn off calories!
Digging the trench.
Littlesmurf clears rubbish from the area while Dad gets more instructions!
Anybody can join in, no matter what their size!
Almost everything is done - just the last bits of compost to spread and we can get home!
Part 2 - Studying the trees on the Green
We are still not very sure about what type of tree Tree 1 from last week's study is, but it is starting to develop small, dark pink blossoms from some of the buds. Another bud is starting to show leaves opening. I think that once these have opened a little more, we will be able to decide what type of tree we are actually studying!
Tree 2, we have decided, is an ash tree. We can tell this from the leaves which are compound leaves. There are about 4 to 9 leaflets to each leaf and their edges are toothed. Before the leaves started to open, what we thought were fruits grew more prominent. These turned out to be the ash blossom! The ash tree is strange because it can either have all male or all female flowers on one tree, or it can have a mixture of both. Littlesmurf thinks the blossoms might be male on this tree - they are all green and remind him of broccoli!
Another feature of the ash tree is its bark. It develops vertical fissures as it matures which are quite distinctive.
Ash timber is very strong and was often used in the past to make bows and arrows, as well as spear shafts. It is still used to make handles for pickaxes, shovels, spades, hammers and other tools. In England, it is used to make cricket stumps. It also makes very good fire-wood.
Part 3 - Making our List
We had a look through the Handbook of Nature Study and tried to make a list of trees that we might see over the next few weeks. This proved to be rather difficult as most of the trees listed are more likely to be found in America than in Britain. However, we adapted the task and made a list of possible trees using the index to our Field Guide of British Trees. We added the list to the back of Littlesmurf's Nature Journal for future reference.
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Mar. 20, 2008 - Thankful Thursday
This Holy Week, there is truly one thought on my mind - that our dear Lord and Saviour suffered and died for our sins, and that on the third day He rose again! For this, I am well and truly thankful!
I am just a tiny part of His almighty plan and yet He still died for my sinful self - a true hero in my eyes! His death took away my sins and made me anew. As I learnt as a child, "He died to save us all". The Resurrection brings hope to all - that one day, we will all rise again. This is something that has helped throughout my cancer treatment, whenever the future has seemed incredibly bleak, the Hope of Christ's Resurrection shines through! So, Lord Jesus, I thank you for all you did for us on the Cross and for providing us with hope for the future.
On a more mundane note, I am thankful that my son, Littlesmurf, had a great 13th birthday this week. I thank God for giving me the gift of a child and for enabling me to educate him in the ways of the Lord.
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”- 1 Peter 2:2-3
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Mar. 20, 2008 - This week's Birthday Celebration
First of all, I would like to thank those of your who visited my son's 13th Birthday "Virtual" Party page and left a comment - he will be sending you his own thanks soon, I promise.
As a family, we deicided to spend the day doing the things he likes the best. First of all, of course, there were the cards and presents to open! He had a good lot of cards from family and friends and presents from us and from his Grandfather (Taid). We gave him a mobile phone - he isn't often away from home alone, but we thought it would be one step along the way to independence for him. When he's at a friend's house, for instance, he can ring us up if he's going to be late home instead of having to ask to use their home phone. His Taid sent him money - he used some of it to buy yet another book - and is saving the rest to use when he sees something he really likes!
At lunch-time, he wanted to go to Pizza Hut for their special Buffet meal - we don't go there very often, so it was pronounced to be a very good idea! A great time was had by all - including our waiter who wanted to decorate Littlesmurf's seat with balloons! He was told very politely, "No way, Jose!!".
Here are some photographs that we took of the special occasion!
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Mar. 18, 2008 - Sketch Tuesday - Lots of Legs
Last week our assignment was to sketch "Something with Legs". This proved to be quite thought provoking - what on earth could we sketch?
Well, Littlesmurf decided that he would draw a picture of some sort of animal - eventually described as "A Mouse on Running Legs"!
I don't know about you, but I was quite impressed by his style of drawing!
I, on the other hand, decided to stay with the kind of sketching I am more used to and produced this piece entitled "Trouser Legs".
You can find out more about Sketch Tuesday at The Heart of Harmony - what is great about this is that 1. there is no age limit and 2. you don't have to sign up for anything (so you don't have to do every week's sketch!).
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Mar. 17, 2008 - Littlesmurf's 13th Birthday
It isn't his birthday yet - that big day happens tomorrow - 18th March 2008!
However, I have posted a special celebration page for him on his blog in readiness for the big day! If you would like to add a comment, the page in question can be found at - Happy 13th Birthday, Littlesmurf. Thanks for your help!
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Mar. 17, 2008 - Interceding for our Children
This week's prayer from Lifting Hands -
Thank You, Lord, for the precious gift of my child. Because Your Word says that every good gift comes from You, I know that You have given him to me to care for and raise. Help me to do that. Show me places where I continue to hang on to him and enable me to release him to Your protection, guidance, and counsel. Help me not to live in fear of possible dangers, but in the joy and peace of knowing that You are in control. I rely on You for everything, and this day I trust my child to You and release Littlesmurf into Your hands.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. Isaiah 65:23
My thoughts -
Littlesmurf is most definitely the greatest gift that God has given me - he is my only child and brings me so much joy and hope for the future. The fact that he is an only child does make it difficult for me to "let go" at times. However, this paryer could not have been shared at a better time! Tomorrow, Littlesmurf will be thirteen years old - a TEENAGER! He is, I know, already able to make decisions for himself guided by the Lord. I am now hoping that he will continue in this way and also not be afraid to approach us, his parents, if he needs further guidance.
I hope that, as Littlesmurf grows into a young man, I will be able to "let go" in more and more situations. I know that he is capable and able to look after himself in difficult circumstances, but he is not what I would call "street-wise". The other boys of his age who live near us are always outside, always messing around and, inevitably, always getting into trouble. I would hate for Littlesmurf to be lead the same way - but he does need to "harden up" a bit. Also, we are forever hearing stories in the media which are frightening to any parent - muggings, binge-drinking, teenage pregnancies, etc. I pray that we have taught Littlesmurf the difference between what is right and what is wrong well enough for him not to get into such situations.
So, yes, I will determine to "loosen the reins" from now on - but nothing will ever stop me worrying about what the future might hold for our dear son! Mother's prerogative, I suppose!
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