Loving parents and a godly home are so important! I was blessed with both! And now my parents are celebrating their 49th anniversary today...so join me in wishing them a happy anniversary! Pop on over and read my mama's post!
Love is the chain whereby to bind a child to its parents. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
And love between parents is the best example for the children as well!
Happy Anniversary to the best mama and daddy in the whole world! I love you both! Thank you for all the sacrifices and hard work you put forth to give me a godly home, a picture perfect childhood, inspiration, encouragement, and unconditional love...not to mention a wonderful example of a happy marriage! You're the best!
Love,
Amy
Soon it will be July 4th, a time to celebrate the birthday of our country AND in my opinion, another day to remember those who have died to keep it FREE! A friend recently sent me an email containing some interesting facts about the guards who watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and I thought I'd share it. BTW, I've seen the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery a couple of times, and it is awe inspiring!
But first, here's a very good description of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from Wikipedia:
Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified. In modern times, nations have developed the practice of having a symbolic Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that represents the war grave of those unidentified soldiers. They usually contain the remains of a dead soldier who is unidentified (or "known but to God" as the stone is sometimes inscribed) and thought to be impossible ever to identify, so that he might serve as a symbol for all of the unknown dead wherever they fell. The anonymity of the entombed soldier is key to the symbolism of the monument: since his or her identity is unknown, it could theoretically be the tomb of anyone who fell in service of the nation in question, and therefore serves as a monument to all of their sacrifices. Much work goes into trying to find a certain soldier, and to verify that it is indeed one of the relevant nation's soldiers.
The Email:
ARLINGTON CEMETERY - Jeopardy Question
On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns ---- All three missed it -- This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance, Very fascinating.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why? 21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1
3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not? He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path,he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' an d 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery .. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.
I am absolutely shameless! I'm the mom who pirates photos and text from her daughter's blog to save time and effort on my own behalf. Yes...I am so guilty. But I did want to share about Erin and Elisabeth's beautiful graduation reception--so enjoy--courtesy of Erin. Of course, I did have to change a few words and pronouns since I'm not Erin and it needed to be in third person...or mama person! LOL
Chad and I also can't begin to express our gratitude towards my parents, Sis. Beth (see below), Sis. Kynnette, Sis. Lori, Jackie, and the Scott family and others for all you did to make this such a special day for the girls. Our hearts are full! We are also so grateful and humbled by everyone's kindness and generosity!
Erin and Elisabeth's Graduation Reception:
The Saturday that we had the reception was bright and sunny…a fact that we were grateful for since the reception was held outdoors in my parent's backyard/garden. They put so much hard work and time into their yards and also into the party…thank y’all!!
The tables and chairs awaiting guests. :)
The food table (um, without the food just yet) and the old fashioned popcorn popper!
A close-up of the napkins…
And finally…the cake!! Isn’t it beautiful? Sis. Beth’s sister, Rachel, made it and she and Bro. John and Sis. Wanda gave it to Elisabeth and Erin as a graduation present…I call that quite a delicious gift! :) Thank you!
Guests beginning to arrive. That's me in the royal blue shirt in the back standing beside Chad in the light blue shirt. We are the blessed parents of the special graduates!!!!
Wesley, you just look so right holding that pink napkin! LOL
Chad and our little niece, Cooper.
And here is the incredibly talented Sis. Beth…I can’t say enough of how much she did for this reception! Planning, organizing, traveling, cooking, and so much more!Thank you and Bro. Jabin so much!! *Hugs* (From Amy...words cannot begin to express my heart! You are the best!)
And on that note, thanks to EVERYONE who made this graduation reception so special…a list of all of you would be an entire blog post in itself! :) We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who care so much!
Thanks for coming! :D
We shall be going to the beach this weekend, so Elisabeth and Erin will get to spend their 18th B-day (yep, June 5th is almost here!) with lots of fun in the sun…ooh, 18, they just love saying it! LOL ;)
I've been AWOL for a while now, but it's been crazy busy around here, and I just haven't had the time to blog. I'm hoping that now that school is done, graduation is over, and most of Erin and Elisabeth's college paperwork has been completed and taken care of that I will be able to get back to regular posting. Of course, we have a hectic traveling schedule this summer, so we'll see...but I do plan to try anyway!
I thought I'd share some photos from what's been going on. My girls participated in the state homeschool graduation ceremony, and that was a really great experience for them.
Here they are at my sister's house, before we left to go the graduation on Saturday morning.
Here they are, getting ready. Alexander is 'helping' with the
green/white 4H ropes. After lining up with the other graduates, they marched
into the auditorium to 'Pomp and Circumstance'...what else?
Up on stage with Elisabeth. See the rose she's holding? That is
for the graduate to present to her mother....I got two!
That's Erin this time between Chad and me...and that's my
second rose.
A view from further out...see all the other homeschool graduates down
in front? After receiving each of their diplomas from their fathers and presenting their mothers with a rose for appreciation, all the graduates lined up down in front of the stage. After the ceremony, they were all presented as the graduating class of 2009 and they 'turned their tassels' before marching out of the auditorium to the song "To God Be the Glory." A very nice dessert reception followed. Keynote speaker for the occasion was Michael Smith, president of HSLDA.
Two happy graduates! Yay! You did it!
Our family.
Lots of our family and friends attended the graduation ceremony, and
we appreciated everyone coming. That was a long trip for most.
Our two graduates! I CANNOT believe that the last twelve
years went by so quickly!!!
Erin and Elisabeth were also honored at my parent's home with a lovely garden reception a week later. I will have to locate the photos for that and share, but words cannot describe how beautiful it was, the delightful weather, and the huge turn-out of family and friends for the occasion. We were all so humbled! I know there are those who couldn't attend who have been waiting on photos, so I'll get on it!
Thanks for sharing in this milestone with me. I've said it before and I'll say it again...mamas enjoy these days with your little folks. The time may SEEM to drag by while you handle diapers, dinner, washing clothes, wiping noses and bottoms, teaching them how to read and tie their shoes. But one day you'll wake up and they'll be graduating! Trust me on this!
Just thought some of you (if anyone is still reading) might like to know that you can grab the Sugar Pie Farmhouse button to put on your blog or website. Ruthann just added this in her last post which is a Q and A session with 'Aunt Ruthie'. The button looks like this:
Today my baby is three! What a blessing to have our sweet Alexander in our home. The Lord knew what He was doing when He chose to give us this brown-eyed, curly headed little boy...a big ray of sunshine in our lives. And as I've said before, we found out really quickly that Baby #6 is just as wonderful and precious as Babies #1,2,3,4, and 5!
Alexander is ALL boy and loves trucks, tractors, and playing outside. He has a great sense of humor and keeps us laughing. We are SOOOO blessed!
Did you know that how often a family eats dinner together is a powerful indicator of whether a teen is likely to perform better academically? In fact, a study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) also showed that regular family mealtimes might actually have an effect on whether or not a teen is likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs.
Of course, common sense tells us that just spending time together as a family provides more opportunities to communicate with each other and discuss problems, concerns, certain situations, and even share good news! But all that aside, there is just something special about family mealtimes that nourishes the body and feeds the soul. Bonds are strengthened and great memories are made around the table.
Children Crave Order
A set time for meals is a very good thing for everyone if at all possible. Children like to know what to expect, and they crave order and routine. Plus it sets the tone for the rest of the evening when the meal is eaten at a decent hour, the dishes are washed, and the kitchen is put in order in a timely fashion. Then the family can relax and enjoy doing fun and profitable activities together before the bedtime routine begins.
The Statistics and The Solution
But believe it or not, recent surveys have shown that less than half of the families in the United States actually sit down to a meal together on a regular basis. Seventy-three percent of American adults think eating meals together is important, yet on average only forty-three percent of Americans follow through. And sadly, many of these meals are eaten in front of the television, a practice that can lead to mindless overeating and obesity.
The solution?
Commitment! Just do it!
Families today have lots going on. Parents have work obligations. Many children are involved in extracurricular and after school activities. Life can be hectic. However, many families have found creative ways to incorporate regular family mealtimes. It can be done, because it’s too important not to find a workable solution. Plus, if families are too busy to have regular mealtimes together, at least most of the time, they may just be too busy! The ideal scenario? Two sit-down meals together every day. Reality? Shoot for one meal together—either breakfast or dinner.
Tips and Ideas
Here are a few fun and random ideas to make family mealtimes meaningful and memorable:
1. Consider using your best dishes sometimes—just because!
2. Turn off the television and turn on the answering machine.
3. Presentation of food is extremely important. Even a simple sandwich cut into triangles and arranged as a ‘butterfly’ with carrot antennae will bring a smile to a child’s face.
4. Have an international meal night once a month.
5. Have a backwards meal. Start with dessert, then the main course, and finish with a salad.
6. For that matter, have a backwards day. Have a typical main course meal in the morning and have breakfast for the nightly meal. This might be a ‘Saturday’ kind of thing to do.
7. Have a theme dinner and have family members come to the table dressed accordingly. For example, have a pioneer supper or some cowboy grub.
8. Light candles. Of course, the usual safety precautions apply.
9. Play soft, soothing music in the background. Consider
classical.
10. Encourage and teach good manners and basic table etiquette. When you are eating away from home or with friends, you’ll be glad you did!
The possibilities are endless, but no matter how you slice it, dice it, cook it or serve it up, the family mealtime should be a number one priority for the whole gang. It takes planning, effort and commitment to keep this special event on the ‘front burner’…but the results will definitely be ‘tasty’!
~Adapted from The Home Haven: Creating An Enriched Family Culture (Amy’s current work in progress).
Amy's Note: Obviously, since we homeschool, it's easier for us to adapt to making regular 'sit down' meals together a reality. Except for lunchtime, when Daddy is at work, we have the option of eating all of our meals together. And when we pray, we hold hands around the table. But I still think it's important for ALL families to make mealtimes a priority! When the children are grown and gone, the opportunity will be lost. Just make it happen! What are some of YOUR mealtime traditions?
It's been awhile since I've done a 'what we are doing' post, so here goes. Let's see. We're finishing up a busy week full of activities. We've had soccer, 4H poultry judging practice and competition, talent show/skit practice and lots of school. We have also been taking care of last minute details that involve Erin and Elisabeth's high school graduation. But in a little while, I'm going to pick up some strawberries to put in the freezer. My cousins have a strawberry farm, but this is the first time I've gotten any berries this year. Yum!
What else? Oh yes, our homeschool group is hosting another encore talent show on Saturday night to help raise money to replace the roof on our little community center. We have lots of fun and I can't believe the talent in our little group. Then again, when your 'little' group has over ninety kids dispersed among twenty-five families or so...it might not be so little! LOL
And OH YES! I received my prize package from my sweet friend, Ruthann, at Sugar Pie Farmhouse. I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL THE WONDERFUL GOODIES she packed in my box. And the 'cute as pie' packaging and sweet notes were gifts in themselves! I will have to get Erin to take pictures of all my prizes! Thanks again, Ruthann! It was like having Christmas all over again! BTW, if you haven't visited the 'new and improved' Sugar Pie Farmhouse (recently known as Warm Pie, Happy Home), you MUST pop over there and see all the delightful changes!
I also posted a new article entitled 'Family Mealtimes Are Important' at the National Writing For Children Center this week. I will probably just add that post here as well. Now more than ever, family mealtimes and being together to communicate and share with each other is SO vital! We MUST make time to invest in our children and families!
Well, I have lots more I could share, but I must close. I also have a 'What's In the Reading Stack' post to add...but I'll save that for later. After the strawberries are put away, the girls and I have lots and lots of graduation invitations to address and mail out! This 'growing up and graduating' stuff is wearing me out!!! LOL But I wouldn't miss this special time in my girls' lives for anything! We have been so blessed. But mamas, enjoy these days of little people, crumbs in the carpet, spilled milk, and tears over learning multiplication tables. The years pass quickly, and before you know it, you'll have young adults who will be stepping out into their futures! Hold 'em close!
Apr. 24, 2009
It works...it really, really does! Swagbucks!
Okay, so I was skeptical! I heard about it from trusted friends and blogging buddies. So I thought I'd try it out and see. What, you may ask, are you talking about? Well, it's Swagbucks.
Swagbucks is a search engine tool that allows you to 'win' swagbucks that can then be redeemed for prizes. I just cashed in 45 swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card. It's so easy...and there's no catch. It's just a search engine that pulls results from Google and Ask. But you randomly win those swagbucks AND prizes.
Check it out here. I think next time I'll go for the Starbucks gift card!
I'll admit it! I've always had trouble folding fitted sheets! There! My secret is out! It's a skill I just never have mastered. However, the folks at Living On A Dime (their books are great by the way), have created a video featuring Jill Cooper showing an EASY way to have neatly folded fitted sheets in the linen closet! Check this out.
They have other how-to videos as well...so check them out too! In fact, here's another video from Living On A Dime featuring Tawra Kellam (Jill's daughter) showing how to make homemade laundry detergent! Happy Homemaking!
If you were my friend on Facebook, you've probably noticed I'm no longer there! Last week, someone hacked into my account, got my password, and proceeded to post some pretty vile things and even 'chatted' with some of my friends using obs*ene and perv*rted language. And this is a mild description of what happened. I had five friends calling to alert me of what was happening within a ten minute span. And when they told me what "I" was asking and saying, I was sick on my stomach! Of course, they all figured out it wasn't me, but still.....
I realize that changing my password was the answer, and I did...before I deactivated my account. I'm not saying I won't go back...eventually...but I will say that this really shook me up. I felt as though my good name and reputation were attacked, and it really upset me! Has this ever happened to any of you??
I'll have another guest post up at Jewel of a Book today, but I thought you might enjoy the project too. I found this at Baking Bites, but it's how to slice a banana before it's peeled. I thought this was a pretty neat trick!
Here's how:
Happy April, everyone! First, I thought I'd share the new page on my Gooseberry Patch calendar. It's so pretty!
Now take special notice of the rain boots at the bottom of the picture!
I think that is QUITE appropriate...because here is what I see when I step out onto my front porch. And this has even receded a lot compared to what it has been. In fact, on Saturday, the whole yard and road were under water and it looked like a river flowing down towards our neighbor's house. And my cousin's field looked like a huge lake! But if the forecast is correct, we'll see even MORE of this!
We have had SOOO much rain over the last few days. I think we got 6-8 inches last weekend, and the weather forecasters say that with the new storm system that we have experiencing right now, we could get up to 10-13 inches! I think we need to grow some webbed feet or fins...or get a boat to get to the Tahoe in the driveway! And when Alexander, our 2yo saw the big pond puddle in our front yard, he wanted to get out his fishing pole! LOL
So what is the weather like in YOUR neck of the woods?
This is the guest post I will have up over at Jewel of a Book today, but it's so cute and easy to do, that I thought I'd add it here too! I did edit it just a bit since my post over there is geared more to kids, and most of you are moms! Enjoy!
Octopus for Lunch, Anyone?
How would you like to eat an octopus for lunch? No, not a real octopus! But you can make one from a hot dog for a special lunchtime treat! Here's how:
Use a knife to split a hot dog in half lengthwise, stopping about halfway up. Then split each of those halves into fourths (again lengthwise), being careful not to cut off any of the pieces. You should now have eight 'tentacles!' Now, simply put the hot dog into a saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook until done. Voile! Place your 'octopus' on a serving plate and enjoy! For more variety, you could use ketchup and mustard to create eyes and a smile. A fun twist on an old favorite!
I have been anxiously awaiting the unveiling of Ruthann's (Warm Pie, Happy Home) new website...and I'm excited to tell you that it's up and going. Actually, the site is still where Warm Pie, Happy Home was...but now it's called 'Sugar Pie Farmhouse' and it is just lovely!
She still has all her delightful archived posts, but you have got to check out all her new goodies. In addition to the new look and different sections, she also has a 'review' page where she does video reviews of all her favorite products. As I told her, she is just as 'cutie-patootie-pie' on video as she is in her photos!
She is also having a give-away, so head on over and check it out. One of the prizes is the book Farm Chicks in the Kitchen! I have this book, and I can tell you that it is a GREAT prize! She also has other neat prizes...so hurry on over there and see for yourself! You'll LOVE Sugar Pie Farmhouse!
~Note: Although in our home, we don't equate bunnies and eggs with the resurrection of Christ, I do enjoy decorating for spring! And in the springtime, I think of flowers, baby animals, gentle days, etc. So enjoy the following project:
Spring has sprung! And to celebrate the season, you can create a special ‘bunny banner’ that is easy and fun to make. The basic idea is just the same as folding and cutting out old-fashioned paper dolls, but this project uses a cute bunny design instead.
Here’s what you’ll need:
8.5 x 11 inch paper or cardstock
Pencil
Scissors
Cut out of bunny template (below)- Copy the design on card stock for ease and durability, and cut out to use as a tracing guide.
Crayons or makers
Tape
Directions:
Fold the paper or cardstock in half lengthwise and crease, then cut.
Fold one of the strips of paper into fourths, then fold like an accordion. Each section will measure 2.75 in. x 4.25 in.
Position the bunny template so that the nose and back of bunny touches each side of the paper. Trace around the template.
Cut around the traced design, being careful not to cut where the outline touches the sides.
Unfold the bunny chain...you should have four connected bunnies.
Give each bunny an eye and a pink nose.
You can tape more than one ‘litter’ of bunnies together to create a bunny garland. Hang from a mantel or spot of your choice to add a little seasonal interest and enjoy!
(Bunny Template) Copy on cardstock and cut out to use as a tracing guide.
If you want to know how to make yummy leprechaun hats from marshmallows and vanilla wafers, head on over to either The National Writing For Children Center here or to Jewel of A Book here to check out my guest posts. Easy and yummy!
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!
I also have a book review about the re-released edition of Little Toot over at the National Writing Center here. Little Toot, by Hardie Gramatky, is the very first picture books I can remember, and now my children are enjoying it too. I've had the privilege of corresponding via email with the author's daughter, Linda Gramatky Smith. She is a sweetheart, and I know she's excited and thrilled that her dad's art/work are still being enjoyed by generations of children today!
Putnam used Gramatky's original artwork and endpapers to do the new edition, and the colors just pop! A new edition of an old classic...a great combination! Be sure to check it out!
When I read Ruthann's latest post, my heart began beating a little faster. She announced that she will be unveiling her BRAND NEW WEBSITE soon! She will also be having a give-away, so spread the word!
I don't mind admitting that visiting Warm Pie, Happy Home is one of my sweetest pleasures and also one of my greatest sources for inspiration for striving to be a better wife, mother, and homemaker. She loves the Lord, her family, and her home...and it all shines through with every single sentence she writes. I can hardly wait until the new site is up and running! Yay! Now if there was only a Warm Pie, Happy Home book!!! Hint, hint, Ruthann!
If you're interested in 'green' cleaning, then you must check out this post over at Down To Earth (Rhonda) on how to make your own homemade cleaners. The post was from January of 2008, but I just discovered this wonderful blog a couple of days ago via another great blog called Homespun Living that I've been following for quite a while. I think I first found Deb's blog when I began knitting dishcloths.
And today, Deb (at Homespun Living) also has a neat recipe for Lime Body Scrub...I think I gotta try this one! Also, be sure and scroll down on her blog to find out how she and her husband made their own maple syrup. I loved how they made a little 'sugar shack' out of stacked logs!
I hope you all have a blessed day, and if I can, I want to participate in Kelli's Show and Tell later...I've missed that one for a long time!
BTW, I haven't been updating my walking progress, but after I recovered from the m/c...I got going again. I'll have to update. But y'all, it's been like SUMMERTIME in mid-March here...and that spell H-O-T!!! Yesterday, I had to walk early in the morning to avoid the heat of mid-afternoon.
I'm a very happily married pastor's wife, former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six wonderful blessings, and freelance writer--and we live in the great state of Georgia! I'm a southern girl through and through...but most importantly, I'm a child of the King! We have just finished up our twelfth year of homeschooling, and our two oldest have now graduated! This is my place to record thoughts about homemaking, Classical-Charlotte Mason based homeschooling, writing around the fringes of family life, and more...so welcome to my little corner of the world!
Here they are at my sister's house, before we left to go the graduation on Saturday morning.
Here they are, getting ready. Alexander is 'helping' with the
Up on stage with Elisabeth. See the rose she's holding? That is
That's Erin this time between Chad and me...and that's my
A view from further out...see all the other homeschool graduates down
Two happy graduates! Yay! You did it!
Our family.
Lots of our family and friends attended the graduation ceremony, and
Our two graduates! I CANNOT believe that the last twelve
(Bunny Template)
