Jay Heale

From here:
http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/index.html

I just love this site, and refer to it extensively!

The Benefits of Preschool Songs and Nursery Rhymes

There are many benefits to learning nursery rhymes and preschool songs:

1. Nursery rhymes, poems and songs will provide your children with opportunities to develop an appreciation for rhyme and rhythm, as well as to develop their memory and auditory skills .

2. Research in the field of early childhood development and reading has shown that children who struggle to recognise words that rhyme, often have difficulty in learning to read. Hence the importance of familiarizing children with rhymes and preschool songs.

3. The rhythm of songs, poems and rhymes help children to remember the words and helps to develop auditory memory skills .

It has been said that the golden age for memory is between ages 6-9. At this age a child can memorize more quickly and remember for longer than at any other time in his life (Raymond Moore, Better Late Than Early, p197). I have also heard it said that children, who cannot yet read, remember better than their peers who can read, as the non-readers cannot refer back to the text for information but have to remember everything they have seen or heard.

4. Listening is an important skill to encourage – and it is an important step towards one day learning to read.

5. Poems and verses use words to paint word pictures and nursery rhymes help to activate that awareness.

6. While you read, sing, play and act out nursery rhymes together you are conveying to your children that sounds make words and that words are fun!

7. Nursery rhymes also help children to appreciate and develop an understanding of humour.

8. Since many nursery rhymes also include mathematical concepts, like counting, time, height, measurement, position, volume, weather, temperature etc… you should use them as opportunities to develop vocabulary around these concepts.

9. Fingerplay rhymes and clapping songs are a delightful way to help children develop motor skills and co-ordination .

10. The intriguing and fanciful stories, colourful characters and vivid language of nursery rhymes and preschool songs have fascinated children for centuries and helped expand their imaginations. People who live in shoes, dishes that run, eggs that sit on walls – what an enchanting introduction to the world of literature, storytelling, play-acting and make-believe.

11. Since there are always new children, there is never a need for new preschool songs and nursery rhymes. Children and their parents have kept them alive for centuries and maintained them as an integral part of our language and cultural heritage.

“Nursery rhymes live on as common to memory as the season, and as familiar to children even as the rain and spring flowers.” (John Clare, poet, 1825)

Preschool Songs and Nursery Rhymes Lists

Nine categories of preschool songs and rhymes and activities for you to integrate into your children's day.

Once your children know a few rhymes, you will find them repeating the verses spontaneously and all you will need to do is expand their repertoire.

In our home, we often begin the school day with a song from our Babies Bible Class CD or from our Sing the Word CD, which is part of the Sonlight curriculum we are currently using (2005-2006). Very often we sing while clearing up after breakfast- its fun!

Nursery rhymes that will emphasise the letter of the week are provided in the weekly lesson plans in ABC Fun & 1-2-3 . A rhyme per week is also integrated into the Sonlight K curriculum. Use these or any other rhymes or songs that you or your children choose to memorise for the week, or until they know them well.

Games with Rhyme

1. Ask your child to pick the odd non-rhyming word from a list of rhyming words that you say out loud. For example, cat, sat, mat, pot, rat, hat.

2. Play ‘I spy’ with rhyming words as clues. For example: “I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with mat.” The child must guess that you are looking at the hat.

3. Say a nursery rhyme that your child knows, but leave out the rhyming word and ask him to fill in the word you miss. For example: You say, “Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the …” The child must say “clock”.

4. Pick an object and see how many words you and your children can think of that rhyme with the name of the object. For example: Box – fox, locks, socks, rocks

For more nursery rhyme games, visit Little Kids Games Online - your guide to ideas for baby games, party games for young children and baby shower games, including reviews of quality online kids' games.

Rhythm Activities

Ask the children to tap the rhythm of a song, rhyme or poem. They can clap, tap with an object like a spoon, play on a drum, and shake a shaker (or a bottle filled with rice). Help them to identify the accented beats.

Preschool Fingerplays

Children love fingerplay verses and rhymes as they combine words with actions, expressed by using their fingers and hands. These also provide the opportunity to increase the manual dexterity and coordination of children whilst encouraging them to use their imaginations.

This Little Pig (use fingers or toes)

This little pig went to market.
This little pig stayed at home.
This little pig had roast beef.
This little pig had none
And this little pig cried “Wee, wee,”
All the way home.

Five Little Mice (use fingers or toes)

This little mousie peeped within
This little mousie walked right in!
This little mousie came to play,
This little mousie ran away!
This little mousie cried, “Dear me!”
Dinner is done and it’s time for tea!”

1-2-3-4-5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive

1-2-3-4-5 Once I caught a fish alive
6-7-8-9-10 Then I let him go again.
Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on my right.

Round and Round the Garden

Round and round the garden (circle your finger on the palm of child’s hand)
Goes the teddy bear
One step, two steps (walk your fingers up her arm)
Tickle him under there. (Tickle her armpit)

Here's the Church

Here's the church, and here's the steeple
Open the door and see all the people.
Here's the parson going upstairs,
And here he is saying his prayers.

Action Rhymes and Songs

I’m a little popcorn in a pot (huddle in a ball)
Heat me up and watch me pop (jump up)
When I am all white I am done
Popping corn is lots of fun (jump around)

Fishing for Jesus

Fishing for Jesus, (clasp hands together and do casting action from shoulder downwards)
Fishing for Jesus, (repeat above)
Fishing for Jesus everyday (repeat above)
With a Bible and a prayer (open hands, like a book and then close as in prayer)
Nothing can compare (with palms down swing hands across over each other x2)
Fishing for Jesus everyday (clasp hands together and do casting action again)

Incy,Wincy Spider

Incy, wincy spider climbed the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain.
Incy, wincy spider climbed up the spout again.

Clap Handies

Clap handies, clap handies for Daddy to come
Daddy’s got sweeties and Mommy’s got none.

Rock-A-Bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
Down will come baby, cradle and all.

(The Christian Mother Goose book has a much nicer version, but since it is copyrighted it cannot be published here.)

Ring-A-Ring-o’Rosies

Ring-a-ring-o’rosies
A pocket full of posies
A-tishoo, a-tishoo
We all fall down.

I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here’s my handle
Here’s my spout
When I see the teacups
Hear me shout:
“Pick me up and pour me out!”

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, teddy bear
Turn around
Teddy bear, teddy bear
Touch the ground

Teddy bear, teddy bear
Climb the stairs
Teddy bear, teddy bear
Say your prayers

Teddy bear, teddy bear
Turn out the light
Teddy bear, teddy bear
Say good night

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All over town.

The moms on the bus go natter, natter, natter …etc
The kids on the bus go wriggle, wriggle, wriggle …etc
The granny’s on the bus go knit, knit, knit …etc

Row, Row, Row your Boat

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream

Two children sit facing each other, with legs slightly bent in front of them and their feet touching each other. Hold each other’s hands and rock forwards and back in a rowing motion.

Soldier, Soldier, Won’t You Marry Me?

Soldier, soldier, won’t you marry me
With your musket, fife and drum?
Oh no sweet maid I cannot marry you
For I have no hat to put on.

So off she went to her grandfather’s chest
And she brought him a hat of the very, very best,
And she brought him a hat of the very, very best,
And the soldier put it on!

Soldier, soldier, won’t you marry me
With your musket, fife and drum?
Oh no sweet maid I cannot marry you
For I have no coat to put on.

So off she went to her grandfather’s chest
And she brought him a coat of the very, very best,
And she brought him a coat of the very, very best,
And the soldier put it on!

Repeat for Boots
Final verse:
Oh no, sweet maid, I cannot marry you,
For I have a wife of my own!

This is the Way the Ladies Ride

This is the way the ladies ride,
Nimble, nimble, nimble.
This is the way the gentlemen ride,
A gallop, a trot, a gallop a trot.
This is the way the farmers ride,
Joggety-jog, joggety-jog.
And when they come to a hedge – they jump over!
And when they come to a slippery space –
They scramble, scramble, scramble,
Tumble-down Dick!

Girls and Boys, Come Out to Play

Girls and boys come out to play
The moon is shining bright as day.
Leave your supper and leave your sleep,
And come with your playfellows in the street.
Come with a whoop and come with a call,
Come with a good will, or come not at all.
Come let us dance on the open green,
And she who holds longest shall be our queen.

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

Here we go round the mulberry bush
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we wash our clothes,
Wash our clothes, wash our clothes
This is the way we wash our clothes,
On a cold and frosty morning.

The Grand old Duke of York

The Grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
When they were up, they were up
And when they were down, they were down
And when they were only halfway up
They were neither up nor down.

Counting Rhymes

Five Little Speckled Frogs

Five little speckled frogs
Sat on speckled log
Catching the most delicious bugs – yum, yum
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were four green speckled frogs,
quark, quark

Four little speckled frogs ...Repeat until… there were no green speckled frogs.

1-2-3-4-5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive

1-2-3-4-5 Once I caught a fish alive
6-7-8-910 Then I let him go again.
Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bit?
This little finger on my right.

Ten Green Bottles

Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall
There’ll be nine green bottles hanging on the wall.

Nine green bottles hanging on the wall –
repeat until there are no green bottles hanging on the wall.

One Two Buckle my Shoe

One two buckle my shoe
Three, four, knock at the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty

Mary at the Kitchen Door

One, two, three, four
Mary at the kitchen door:
Five, six, seven, eight,
Eating cherries off a plate.

Four-Leaf Clover

One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth,
One for a faithful lover,
And one leaf to bring glorious health,
Are all in a four-leaf clover

One, He Loves (counting petals on a daisy)

One he loves, two, he loves:
Three, he loves, they say.
Four he loves with all his hear;
Five he casts away.
Six he loves, seven she loves;
Eight they both love.
Nine, he comes; ten he tarries;
Eleven, he courts, twelve, he marries.

Five Rosy Apples

Five rosy apples by the cottage door,
One tumbled off a twig and then there were four.

Four rosy apples by the cottage door,
The farmer’s wife took one and then there were three.

Three rosy apples by the cottage door,
I think I’ll have one and then there’ll be two.

Two rosy apples hanging in the sun,
You have the big one and that will leave one.

One rosy apple, soon it is gone.
The wind blew it off the branch and now there are none.

Tea-time Rhymes

In our home, we drink tea often throughout the day. I was amazed one day that when I asked my children to sing a song about tea, that each child thought of a different song and now it has become a tea-time ritual! My 3 year old sings ‘Tea for two’, my five year old sings ‘I’m a little tea-pot’ and my 7 year old chooses “Polly put the kettle on.”

Tea for Two

Tea for two and two for tea,
Me for you and you for me.

These are the incomplete lyrics of a song that I cannot remember! Please contact me if you know the full song!

I’m a Little Teapot – do the actions too

I’m a little teapot short and stout
Here’s my handle (place one hand on hip)
Here’s my spout (bend other arm at elbow and wrist to make a spout)
When I see the teacups
Here I shout:
“Pick me up and pour me out!” (bend over sideways towards the spout)

Polly Put the Kettle On

Polly put the kettle on
Polly put the kettle on
Polly put the kettle on
We’ll all have tea.

Sukie take it off again
Sukie take it off again
Sukie take it off again
We’re all gone away.

Wash the Dishes

Wash the dishes, wipe the dishes
Ring the bell for tea.
Three good wishes, three good kisses,
I will give to thee.

One, Two, Three

One, two, three
I love coffee,
And Billy loves tea.
How good you be,
One, two, three,
I love coffee,
And Billy loves tea.

Bedtime Rhymes and Songs

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town
Upstairs and downstairs in his night gown
Knocking at the windows
Crying at the lock.
“Are the children in their beds?
It’s past eight-o-clock.”

Hush, Little Baby

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word,
Papa’s going to buy you a mockingbird
If that mockingbird won’t sing
Papa’s going to buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring turns to brass
Papa’s going to buy you a looking glass.
If that looking glass gets broke,
Papa’s going to buy you a billy goat.
If that billy goat won’t pull
Papa’s going to buy you a cart and bull.
If that cart and bull turn over,
Papa’s going to buy you a dog called Rover.
If that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Papa’s going to buy you a horse and cart.
If that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

I See the Moon

I see the moon,
And the moon sees me.
God bless the moon,
And God bless me.

Go to Bed Late

Go to bed late,
Stay very small.
Go to bed early,
Grow very tall.

Diddle, Diddle Dumpling

Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his trousers on;
One shoe off, and one shoe on,
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.

Tongue Twisters and Fun with Words

Peter Piper

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers A peck of pickled peppers, Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Say these as fast as possible:

She sells sea shells on the seashore

Red lorry, yellow lorry

I scream

I scream, you scream,
We all scream for ice-cream!

More Nursery Rhymes A-Z

Baa, Baa Black Sheep Little Jack Horner

Baa, baa black sheep
Have you any wool
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
One for the master and one for the dame
And one for the little boy,
Who lives down the lane.

Little Bo-Peep

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.

Little Boy Blue

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn
The cow’s in the meadow, the sheep’s in the corn
Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under the haystack, fast asleep.

Pat-a-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Pat it and prick it and mark it with B
And put it in the oven for Baby and me.

Clap Handies

Clap handies, clap handies for Daddy to come
Daddy’s got sweeties and Mommy’s got none.

Cobbler, Cobbler

Cobbler cobbler, mend my shoe
Get it done by half past two
Do it neat and do it strong
And I will pay you when it’s done.

Doctor Foster Went to Gloucester

Doctor Foster went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle
Right up to his middle
And ne’er went there again.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Hey diddle, diddle
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Goosey Goosey Gander

Goosey, goosey gander
Where shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady’s chamber.

There I met a man,
Who wouldn’t say his prayers.
I took him by the left leg,
And through him down the stairs.

Horsey, Horsey

Horsey, horsey don't you stop
Just let your feet go clippetty clop
The tail goes swish and the wheels go round
Giddy up, we're homeward bound.

Ten Green Bottles

Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall
There’ll be nine green bottles hanging on the wall.

Nine green bottles hanging on the wall –
repeat until there are no green bottles hanging on the wall.

My Grandfather’s Clock

My grandfather’s clock
Was too large for the shelf
So it stood ninety years on the floor.
It was taller by half
Than the old man himself
Though it weighed not a penny weight more.

It was bought on the morn
Of the day that he was born
And was always his treasure and pride
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
Tick tock tick tock
Its life seconds numbering
Tick tock tick tock
It stopped short never to go again
When the old man died.

Little Hen (a term of endearment for a daughter)

I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,
She washed up the dishes and kept the house clean.
She went to the mill to fetch us some flour,
And always got home in less than an hour.
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire and told a fine tale!

Hickety Pickety

Hickety Pickety my black hen
She lays eggs for gentlemen
Sometimes nine and sometimes ten
Hickety Pickety my black hen

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock.

Top of Preschool Songs and Nursery Rhymes Lists.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

As I was Going to St. Ives

As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives
Each wife had seven sacks
Each sack had seven cats
Each cat had seven kits
Kits, cats, sacks and wives
How many were going to St. Ives?

(Answer: only one – I)

I Hear Thunder

I hear thunder, I hear thunder
Hark don’t you? Hark don’t you?
Pitter patter raindrops
Pitter patter raindrops
I’m wet though, I’m wet through!

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.

Little Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner sat in a corner
Eating his Christmas pie.
He stuck in his thumb
And pulled out a plum
And said: “What a good boy am I!”

Jack Sprat

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean,
And so between the two
They licked the platter clean.

Jack Be Nimble

Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump
Over the candlestick.

Old King Cole

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he.
He called for his pipe and his called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.

Leaves are Falling (to the tune of “I hear thunder”)

Leaves are falling
Leaves are falling
To the ground
To the ground
Look at all the colours
Look at all the colours
Red, yellow, brown
Red, yellow, brown

London Bridge

London bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
My fair lady
Build it up with sticks and stones
Stick and stones, sticks and stones
Build it up with sticks and stones
My fair lady.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rule.
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To get her poor dog a bone
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare
And so the poor dog had none.

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey,
There came a big spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Nellie the Elephant

Nellie the Elephant
Packed her trunk
And trundled out of the jungle.
Off she went with a trumpety trump
Trump, trump, trump!

I Had a Little Nut Tree

I had a little nut tree,
Nothing would it bear
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear.
The king of Spain’s daughter
Came to visit me
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so many children,
She didn’t know what to do
She gave them some broth without any bread
And spanked them all soundly and sent them to bed.

In The Christian Mother Goose this rhyme has been altered to say that the old woman did give the children some bread and said “Thank you Lord Jesus” before sending her children to bed.

Pease Porridge Hot

Pease porridge hot
Pease porridge cold
Pease porridge in the pot
Nine days old.

Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old.

I Love Little Pussy

I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm
And if I don’t hurt her, she’ll do me no harm.
So I’ll not pull her tail, nor drive her away,
But Pussy and I very gently will play.

The Queen of Hearts

The queen of hearts made some tarts
All on a summer’s day.
The knave of hearts stole the tarts
And took them clean away.

The king of hearts called for the tarts
And beat the knave full sore.
The knave of hearts brought back the tarts
And vowed he’s steal no more.

Pussy Cat

Pussy cat, ***** cat
Where have you been?
I have been to London
To visit the queen.
Pussy cat, ***** cat
What did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under the chair.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row, your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

Rain rain go away

Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!

Ring-A-Ring-o’Rosies

Ring-a-ring-o’rosies
A pocket full of posies
A-tishoo, a-tishoo
We all fall down.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.

See-saw Margery Daw

See-saw Margery Daw
Johnny shall have a new master.
He shall have a penny a day
Because he can’t work any faster.

Way Down South

Way down south, where bananas grow
A grasshopper stepped on an elephant’s toe
The elephant said, with tears in his eyes
“Pick on someone your own size.”

Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner
Eating a Christmas pie
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum
And said "Oh, what a good boy am I!"

Legend has it that Little Jack Horner was actually Thomas Horner, steward to the Abbot of Glastonbury during the reign of King Henry VIII. When it was heard that the king would soon be reaching for some Glastonbury holdings, the Abbot, hoping to appease him, sent the king a special gift: a pie containing twelve deeds to manor houses. On route to London, the not-so-loyal courier Horner stuck his thumb into the pie and removed the deed for Mells Manor, a “plum” piece of real estate, where his descendants live to this day.

Sometimes I wonder who sits around thinking these things up. 

1. If God is your co-pilot - swap seats.

2. "Pray" is a four-letter word you can say anywhere - except in public
schools.

3. Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope..

4. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

5. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

6. To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

7. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be
the period.

8. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

9. God grades on the cross, not the curve.

10. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift.

11. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.

12. God doesn't want shares of your life - He wants a controlling interest.

13. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

14. We don't change God's message - His message changes us.

15. The church is prayer-conditioned.

16. When God ordains, He sustains.

17. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

18. Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

19. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

20. Suffering with truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

21. Exercise daily - walk with the Lord.

22. Coincidences happen when God chooses to remain anonymous.

23. Wisdom has two parts - 1) having a lot to say 2) not saying it.

24. Never give the devil a ride - he will always want to drive.

25. A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.

26. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

27. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

28. He who angers you controls you.

29. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

30. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

31. Forbidden fruits create many jams.

32. Be ye fishers of men - you catch them & He'll clean them.

33. Deciding not to choose Jesus is still making a choice.

34. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

 Realistic Goals For 2007

 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 3:13-14

I want to live here:

Notes for today –

Ben Franklins Birthday –

The World of Benjamin Franklin - includes a short video

USHistory.org - this site has a lot to offer

The Franklin Institute - here's more information about his inventions

The History Channel - just put Ben Franklin in the search field, press enter and view the tons of results

Faith Pleases God

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. - Amp

It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists and that He cares enough to respond those who seek Him. - Message

You can never please God without faith, without depending on Him...and that He will reveal Himself to those who sincerely look for Him. - Tay

...for anyone who approaches God must believe... - Wms

------
Confession: My faith pleases God because I depend on Him. I believe that He exists; He cares about me. He loves me and answers my prayers.

Memorial of St. Anthony, abbot

St. Anthony, the father of monks, retired to the desert at about the age of eighteen in order to live in perfect solitude. He laid the foundations of community life, and gave to his disciples that profound broad and sane instruction, the mature result of solitude and prayer, which forms the surest basis of Christian asceticism.

St. Anthony
Anthony "the Great", the "Father of Monks", ranks with those saints whose life exercised a profound influence upon succeeding generations. He was born in Middle Egypt (about 250) of distinguished parents. After their untimely deaths, he dedicated himself wholly to acts of mortification.   

One day while in church he heard the words of the Gospel: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor" (Matt. 19:21). It seemed as if Christ had spoken to him personally, giving a command he must obey. Without delay he sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and went into the desert (about 270). When overcome by fatigue, his bed was the hard ground. He fasted rigorously, ate only bread and salt, and never drank anything except water. Nor would he take food before sundown; and at times he passed two days without any nourishment at all. Often, too, he spent whole nights in prayer.

The saint suffered repeatedly from diabolical attacks, but these merely made him more steadfast in virtue. He would encourage his disciples in their struggle with the devil with such words: "Believe me; the devil fears the vigils of pious souls, and their fastings, their voluntary poverty, their loving compassion, their humility, but most of all their ardent love of Christ our Lord. As soon as he sees the sign of the Cross, he flees in terror." He died in 356 on Mount Kolzin by the Red Sea, 105 years old. A year later his friend, the fearless bishop and confessor St. Athanasius, wrote his biography, which for centuries became the classic handbook of ascetics. As seen by St. Anthony, the purpose of asceticism is not to destroy the body but to bring it into subjection, re-establishing man's original harmonious integrity, his true God-given nature.

St. Anthony lived in solitude for about twenty years. "His was a perfectly purified soul. No pain could annoy him, no pleasure bind him. In him was neither laughter nor sadness. The sight of the crowd did not trouble him, and the warm greetings of so many men did not move him. In a word, he was thoroughly immune to the vanities of the world, like a man unswervingly governed by reason, established in inner peace and harmony."

Here are a few of his famous sayings to monks. "Let it be your supreme and common purpose not to grow weary in the work you have begun, and in time of trial and affliction not to lose courage and say: Oh, how long already have we been mortifying ourselves! Rather, we should daily begin anew and constantly increase our fervor. For man's whole life is short when measured against the time to come, so short, in fact, that it is as nothing in comparison with eternity. . . . Therefore, my children, let us persevere in our acts of asceticism. And that we may not become weary and disheartened, it is good to meditate on the words of the apostle: 'I die daily.' If we live with the picture of death always before our eyes, we will not sin. The apostle's words tell us that we should so awaken in the morning as though we would not live to evening, and so fall asleep as if there were to be no awakening. For our life is by nature uncertain and is daily meted out to us by Providence. If we are convinced of this and live each day as the apostle suggests, then we will not fall into sin; no desire will enslave us, no anger move us, no treasure bind us to earth; we will await death with unfettered hearts."

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Patron: Amputees; animals; basket makers; basket weavers; brushmakers; butchers; cemetery workers; domestic animals; eczema; epilepsy; epileptics; ergotism (Saint Anthony's fire); erysipelas; gravediggers; hermits; hogs; monks; pigs; relief from pestilence; skin diseases; skin rashes; swine; swineherds.

Symbols: Bell; pig; t-shaped staff; tau cross with a bell on the end; man with a pig at his side.

Things to Do:

• Read St. Athanasius' account of St. Anthony.
• Learn more about Western Monasticism.
• Pray for those in monastic life and pray for a resurgence of vocations to this life.
• Spend some time contemplating death, considering God's judgments and the thought of eternity.
• Say a prayer to St. Anthony for vigilance in the fight against temptations, prudence in avoiding dangerous occasions, courage under trial and humility in victory.

Saint Anthony of the Desert Soup

Saint Antony, called the Great, lived in Egypt between A.D. 251 and 356. At age 18, the gospel text "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all that you have and then follow me" so moved him that he left everything behind and retired to an inaccessible place in the wilderness where he dedicated his life to God in manual work and continual prayer. In his old age, he imparted wisdom to his disciples and encouraged them to lead a monastic life. Because he was the first Christian to retire to a monastic life, he is considered to be the first monk and also the father of all monks. His feast is celebrated on January 17. Try this simple, healthy recipe in honor of Saint Antony the hermit.

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oil in a soup pot and add the barley, stirring continuously for one minute. Immediately add the carrot, leeks, bay leaf, parsley, salt, and water.

2. Cook the soup over low to medium heat, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes, until the barley is tender. Add more water if needed. For extra taste, add the bouillon and the mushrooms during the last 20 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf. Serve hot.

Recipe Source: From a Monastery Kitchen: The Classic Natural Foods Cookbook by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette, Gramercy Books, 1997

This morning I have been mulling over how selfishness and how to conquer this fault.

Here are some of the verses I have come up with:

Romans 15:1-5

1 Now we that are stronger, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of you please his neighbour unto good, to edification. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me. 4 For what things soever were written, were written for our learning: that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ:

1 Cor 9:16-20

16 For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me, for a necessity lieth upon me: for woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me: 18 What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more. 20 And I became to the Jews, a Jew, that I might gain the Jews:

1 Cor 10:24

24 Let no man seek his own, but that which is another's

1 Cor 13

Charity is to be preferred before all gifts.

1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know I part; but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

2 Cor 3:5

5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.

2 Cor 5:15

15 And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.

     Homeschooling is such a hard job sometimes.  I seem to always be reaching, stretching and trying to improve myself and my ways.  I desperately want to be a good wife, and good mother and a good teacher to my children.  I struggle with wanting to know it all - always seeking the right: answer, system, chart, lesson, plan, schedule, and on and on.  I get caught up in planning and organizing and have a problem implementing - is this lazyness?  Or procrastination.  Prov19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

My soul is hungry, I seek God's guidance and mercy daily.  Begging  God to guide me and show me how to train my children.  I struggle between extremes - I'm too busy homeschooling to clean house, I'm too busy living life to homeschool, I pray for balance - and energy :0)

I read this great blog entry : http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PreschoolersandPeace/257413/What+Non-Homeschoolers+May+Not+Know.html  and LOVED it!  What homeschoolers may not know.

It is still quite cold out here in W.TX so we are trying to stay warm.  Here's a funny, it is quicker to walk to Tae Kwon Do than to thaw out my van!  Convincing my children of this was a challenge, but it wasn't like they had a choice :0) 

http://familyrenewalministries.com/are-you-queen.htmlBible

Anything Can Happen

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:22

And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes! -  Amp

Jesus said, If? There are no ifs among believers. Anything can happen. - Message

...If there is anything I can do! Everything is possible for one who has faith. - Gspd

...anything can be done for one - Mof

-------
Confession: I believe Jesus has the power to do all things, so all things are possible for me. I can do anything, all things, because I believe.
-------
 
Please visit our web-site at http://www.dailyfaithbuilders.com to either learn more about our purpose, the author, subscribe or unsubscribe to the eMail list, or if you would like to buy the book.

This is a wonderful email I get from:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VesselsOfHonor/

Holiness

Jesus was the Prince of Peace.  He sought peace with all men. But he never sought peace at the cost of obedience and submission to God.  The apostle Paul makes it clear that through the obedience of the Son of Almighty God we will be made righteous (holy).

"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)

"For Messiah also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust that HE might bring us to God."(1 Peter 3:18). 

These passages teach a two fold aspect of Jesus’ work on our behalf. 

* Jesus’ obedience to His Father was His sinless life here on earth, perfect obedience and absolute holiness. 

* His final act of obedience was demonstrated in His death on the cross through which He fully paid the penalty for sin and appeased or satisfied the wrath of God toward His Children.

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, He said, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared Me." Hebrews 10:7.

"Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O Lord." 10:9a.

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." 10:10

3. Our holiness before God depends entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ for us, according to God's Divine and Perfect Will.  "Make every effort...to be holy." And without this holiness, the writer says, no one will see God.

Scripture speaks of both a holiness, which we have in Christ Jesus before God and a holiness, which we are to seek after daily.  True salvation brings with it a desire to be made holy.These two aspects of holiness complement one another, for our salvation is a salvation to holiness:

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life, (1 Thes. 4:7). 

To the Corinthians Paul wrote: "To the church of God in Corinth, To those sanctified in Jesus Christ and called to be holy. (1 Cor 1:2). 

The word sanctified here means made holy. That is, we are through Messiah made holy in our standing before God and called to be holy in our daily lives. So the writer of Hebrews is telling us to take seriously the necessity of personal and practical holiness.  When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives at salvation, He comes to make us holy in practice. 

If there is not a yearning in our hearts to live a holy life pleasing to God, we need to seriously question our love and devotion to our heavenly Father. Those who love God with all their mind, heart, and soul desire to please Him. It is true that this desire for holiness may be only a spark in our beginning walk of faith, but that spark will grow as we learn more about Jesus and enter into a personal relationship with Him until it becomes a flame~ a desire to live a life wholly pleasing to God.  God delivers not only from the penalty of sin, but also from its dominion.

For the child of God to continue practicing a particular sin once it is revealed by the Holy Spirit (notice we said "practice"… all of us  sin and fall short) is to live contrary to the very purpose of  God's saving grace. Paul said, for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say NO to unholy and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled; upright lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). 

The same grace that brings salvation teaches us to renounce unholy living. We cannot receive half of God's grace.  If we have experienced grace at all, we will experience not only forgiveness of our sins but also freedom from sin's dominion. This is the point James is making in his hard-to-understand passage on faith and works. (James 2:14-26.)  He is teaching the Christian that a faith that does not result in works in a holy life, is not a living faith but a dead one. God who is Holy in nature demands holiness in the life of the Followers of Jesus Christ.

(Psalm 66:18).  To regard wickedness is to cherish some sin, to love it to the extent that I am not willing to part with it. I know it is there, yet I justify it in some way like the child who says, well, he hit me first. When we are holding on to some sin, we are not pursuing holiness and we cannot have fellowship with God.

God does not require a perfect, sinless life to have fellowship with Him, but He does require that we be serious about holiness, that we grieve over sin in our lives instead of justifying it, and that we earnestly pursue holiness as a way of life.

Scripture teaches that God disciplines those he loves and accepts as a son (no gender intended but applies to both the daughters and sons of Almighty God.  (Hebrews 12:6).  This statement presupposes our need of discipline, for God is not capricious in administering it.  As our Heavenly Father He disciplines us because we need discipline. To persist in disobedience is to increase our necessity for discipline. When God speaks to us about some sin, we need to heed and take action.  To fail to deal with that sin is to risk incurring His hand of discipline. 

Holiness is also necessary for effective service to God. 

Paul wrote to Timothy, If a man cleanses himself from (acts that are not noble and pure), he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work (2 Tim. 2:21). 

Holiness and service are linked together. 

We cannot bring our service to God in an unclean vessel. The One who makes our service effective and who empowers us for service is the Holy Spirit.  Note well that He is called the HOLY Spirit, or the Spirit of Holiness.  When we indulge our sinful nature, the Spirit of God is grieved (Eph.  4:30) And will not prosper us or our acts of service unto God.  We speak not of those times when we fall into temptation and immediately seek God's forgiveness and cleansing, but constantly living unholy.

True faith will always show itself by its fruits.

The only safe evidence that we are in Messiah is a holy life.  John said everyone who has within him the hope of eternal life purifies himself just as Messiah is pure (1 John 3:3).  If we know nothing of holiness, we may flatter ourselves that we are Followers of Messiah, but we do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Everyone, then, who professes to be a Follower of Messiah should ask himself, "Is there evidence of practical holiness in my life?" Do I desire and strive after holiness?  Do I grieve over my lack of it and earnestly seek the help of God to be holy?

It is not those who profess to know Messiah who will enter heaven, but those who obey God's Word in faith and holy living. Jesus said ~~~ not everyone who says to me, Master, Master, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Master, Master, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! (Matthew 7:21-23).

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."  2 Cor. 5:21

No better example of living holy unto God can be found than the perfect life Jesus lived. He is the Pattern  Son from which every son/daughter is being cut and formed. As we study more fully the implications of "Be holy because I am holy," we will see more of our own sinfulness.  We will see the wickedness and deceitfulness of our hearts, and how far we miss the mark of God's perfect holiness.  As this happens, the true Follower of Messiah will in his heart flee for refuge in Messiah.  It is important therefore that we understand the righteousness of Messiah, and the fact that His righteousness is credited to us.

Secondly, by making it plain to your children precisely what marriage is. It should not be regarded merely as a convenient arrangement which two persons can enter without preparation. Rather, it is a lifelong sacramental contract involving serious responsibilities and producing great rewards. Children should know that a husband and wife must be prepared to procreate and educate children to take an ultimate place in the Kingdom of God.

The parent who loves his children and takes pleasure in training them in right conduct gives the best possible testimonial to marriage. On the other hand, the parent who constantly complains about his physical, financial or emotional burdens breaks down his youngster's vision of marriage as a worthy state in life.

While marriage makes a glorious vocation in which the opportunity to serve God through parenthood is second only to that of the religious life, your child would not have a true choice if he were taught that it is the only course open for a person who remains in the world. Some mothers make this mistake in teaching daughters especially, and it is a mistake to which society contributes by giving an unpleasant connotation to the term "spinster." Numerous conditions are worse than living in a single state, as any person chained to an intolerable marriage might affirm.

There are many reasons why a person might remain unmarried. For instance, he might choose to care for dependent parents. His choice should be voluntary, however; parents should never encourage a child to refrain from marriage because of their selfish interests. A man or woman may be unable to find a suitable partner; by refusing to marry simply for the sake of marriage, he or she exercises admirable prudence. Or the man or woman might be unwilling to accept the responsibilities of marriage. One who, rightly or wrongly, feels inadequate to train children, for instance, makes a wiser choice in remaining unmarried than one who marries and then practices birth control.

Activity Source: Catholic Family Handbook, The by Rev. George A. Kelly, Random House, Inc., New York, 1959

Here at our house we all have our own ways of celebrating the Lord's day.  We go to Mass in the morning have donuts or breakfast after (prepared by Daddy) take naps (the 2 youngest) and play together. 

My girls have rosary lapbooks they take to Mass (Elizabeth is now telling me she doesn't need to, she can pay attention :0)    I must admit, she is doing very well these days.  She does pay attention to the entire Mass, and is asking when she will receive First Communion.   So, we will be checking into that soon.  We used the printable pictures from coloringsaints.com for our rosary lapbooks and they are great. 

I also print the girls off Mass sheets every week - I print the Gospel coloring page from www.catholicmom.com and this site http://darientel.net/~schoettl/openwed/  - I just love the Open Wednesday sites printable picture (that my oldest daughter still enjoys) and the ideas for projects for bringing the readings alive to our children. 

The Gospel reading today was the wedding in Caanan.  My children thought we should have wedding cake for dessert tonight.  I recommended something a bit more budget friendly.  We settled on a cake mix after chili for dinner.

 The big cold front hit Texas and we are having cold, cold weather, ice and a generally grey day.  I am really enjoying it.  I have on a flannel skirt, a flannel petticoat, an undershirt, turtleneck and a sweatwhirt.  It is wonderful!  We don't get a lot of cold weather here so I realy enjoy it when we do.  I cannot say I would ever want to live up north in it if I had a choice - but, it is a nice change for a bit every winter.  Especially after last week being outside in T-shirt comfortably.   It just doesn't seem right!

Tomorrow, I will be starting back on the wonderful Atkins diet. (Bluck) I quit smoking several months ago and gained 20 pounds.  I have been threatening to start back if this doesn't stop and reverse itself soon.  Fortunately, the medication I am taking to quit (Chantix) does exactly what it says so it isn't even an attractive possibility at this point.  But, I have to do something about the weight issue in a hurry, because it freaks me out so bad to be overweight again.  I am also going to try to increase my number of workouts per week from 3 to 6, but do not know if I can get it into my schedule.  When spring comes I want to start doing some real nature study nature walks with my younger children, that will be some more activity in my routine to help. 

January 14

“Modesty is what keeps you from being an occasion of sin to otherswhen you are young and fit, and from making a spectacle of yourselfwhen you're not."

The opening days of January may be cold and nature bleak, but the domestic church still glows warm with the peace and joy of Christmas. We dedicate the New Year to Mary on the January 1st Solemnity honoring her as Mother of God; and on January 8, the Solemnity of Epiphany, we rejoice with her, as her Son is adored by the three Wise Men.

Herald John, who ushered in the Advent season, is present once again to close Christmastide on the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (The First Luminous Mystery), and to open the Season of Ordinary Time. He points to Jesus, the Lamb of God who unites time and eternity in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and even January’s diminishing darkness seems to echo St. John’s prayer: “He must increase and I must decrease.”

In this liturgical season the Church eagerly follows Our Lord as he gathers his apostles and announces his mission. At Cana’s wedding feast (The Second Luminous Mystery) he performs his first public miracle at the request of his Mother, and his disciples saw his glory and believed in him.

We, his present-day disciples, pray for a like faith as we contemplate the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb and the unique role of the Blessed Mother in the plan of salvation. May we wholeheartedly obey her words of counsel: “Do whatever he tells you.”