Seizing the Moments - Homeschool Blogger

Changes

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0600

I copied (with permission) this poem from a woman's blog years ago. I have somehow misplaced her name to go with it. If you know who wrote this poem, please email me so that I can give her the proper credit for it.

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Shadow Boy

Holey jeans, mud spattered hands,

Tuxedo shirt and bow tie,

Voice that is deepening,

Face needing a razor;

My little boy is becoming a shadow,

And a man's shadow is becoming what's real.

Still loving games, playing with dogs,

Still enjoying hugs from mom and dad,

Gaining independence,

Develpoing a man's dream;

My little boy is becoming a shadow

And a man's shadow is becoming what's real.

Sadness with joy,

Smiles through the tears,

Seeing life's changes,

Seeing what's coming near;

My little boy is becoming a shadow,

And a man's shadow is becoming what's real.

And so life continues,

The patterns repeat,

A mother sees again

What a mother saw before,

My little boy is becoming a shadow,

And a man's shadow is becoming what's real.

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Was going to post some pictures of *my* Shadow Boy, but I can't get into Photoshop right now. Maybe another time!

Until Next Time,

Lisa

Time to Leaf....

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:38:00 -0500

You know, God is so good. He can give you a little nugget then bring different perspectives out of that little nugget. Expounding on the earlier "Leave-ing" note that I shared with the folks on Facebook, God brought the life of the leaf to my mind.

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The leaf (leaves), like the Christian, starts out tender, green, and fresh. They hold on to the Creator and enjoy the newness of life. As they grow, they toughen up to the elements. On bright and sunny days, they can be seen and heard waving gaily on the gentle breezes. On dark, stormy days, they cling fiercely to the Creator, holding on for dear life...life itself. They weather the storms and the heat, the sun broiling down on them throughout the long, dry summers.

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Then, they near the end of their life. Having clung to their Saviour, their Creator, their sustainer, their Protector, they prepare to exit this Old World. The winds may pick up, but their songs can still be heard as they give up the Ghost. Brightly and gloriously they magnify and praise the Redeemer until the very end.

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Being a nurse, I've seen the Hand of Death come for collection. I've cried softly beside a sweet, elderly lady as the peace surrounded us when she slipped off of this earthly vine and went to be with the Eternal Vine (John 15:5-Jesus said I am the vine, ye are the branches). What grace and mercy, what glory to God when His saints leave this world, shining brightly for Him even until the end, just as those simple leaves do in the Autumn....

Wednesdays Words of Wisdom

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:01:00 -0500

Most people are willing to take the Sermon on the Mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes~

Quote to Ponder

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:03:00 -0500

The lyf so short,the craft so long to lerne.

~Chaucer~

Jesus Loves Me

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:51:00 -0500

It's wonderful when God sends you a little reminder of just how special you are to Him. After all, He creates us and He knows our individual peculiarities. I, personally, love candles, birds, and flowers. You know...girlie things. Well, the other weekend we were yard sale-ing and what do you suppose I found? Something just for me. Something that I know God put there just for me because I hardly ever go to a yard sale.

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A candle holder complete with real pressed flowers in the glass window panes in a bird cage design.

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Isn't that just awesome??? Only a Personal, Mighty, All-Knowing God could do that. And, did I mention that this was a church yard sale?????

A Wonderful Thing

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:19:00 -0500

A Wonderful Thing

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Being a mother is a wonderful thing,

My bedside alarm, it never need ring,

I'm awakened each day with bright cheerful faces,

And soon 'round the table they've all taken places.

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Our meal is seasoned with plenty of chatter,

The fruit and the muffins fly from the platter, (AMEN)

There are stories to share and a Bible verse too,

We reverently pray-it's not always a zoo!

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The day is so full of a number of things;

First chores, then schoolwork, then song practicings,

Cooking and cleaning and book-reading too,

A mom of wee children has plenty to do!

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I've heard busy times end as quick as they start,

So I'll treasure these days, store them up in my heart,

Small children grow up-the time goes so fast,

The business of mothering soon will be past.

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Be cheerful and thankful each day that you've got,

Greater joy anywhere, there surely is not!

As you work through your duties may God hear you sing,

'Cause being a mother is a wonderful thing!

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Lora Nolan

~Wasilla, Alaska~

New Look

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 12:19:00 -0500

O.K. I don't know about you guys, but my site takes forever to load on my computer so...I'm working with someone to try and get a new look going. One that, hopefully, will not take so long to load and will be "different". We'll see what she comes up with!

Enjoy the weekend!

Lisa

The Numbers Are In

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 17:14:00 -0500

Have you read HSLDA's good news? (Of course, we parents knew this already, right?)

Coverage for the Week

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:50:00 -0500

At revival this week, the preacher shared Isaiah 41:10. It has always been one of my favorite vereses, but he put a twist on it.

Sunday: Fear thou not

Monday: (for) I am with thee

Tuesday: be not dismayed

Wednesday: (for) I am thy God

Thursday: I will strengthen thee

Friday: I will help thee

Saturday: I will uphold thee (with the right hand of my righteousness)

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Isn't that wonderful, knowing that God has you covered every single day of the week, no matter what you're facing???

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:28:00 -0500

The Bible is your daily bread, not a snack break.

~Anonymous~

Practice, Practice, Practice

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:23:00 -0500

Nature Boy and I are close. Of course, living together and being together all the time, the entire family is close, but...Nature Boy is especially glad to talk with his mama, and to show me things that are important to him. You know, when a young person wants to share with you what they love and enjoy, it's all the more precious. Anyway, this morning we were talking about the guitar. Nature Boy has a tremendous talent for playing. He's easily another Les Paul in the making-a person whose talent, though not the lifestyle, he admires. Now, this is not my boasting because I had nothing to do with it. God gave him this gift and I know that God is wanting Nature Boy to use it for His glory. O.K., so, we were talking and he said, "I know what I want to play (a particularly hard piece). I can hear it in my head but I can't get my fingers to do what I want". My light went off.......

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Matthew 26:41 the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Our spiritual ears hear plainly what the Holy Spirit is telling us to do. Our flesh, on the other hand, doesn't want to listen. The more we stay in God's word, the closer we try to walk with God, just like diligently practicing that particularly difficult guitar piece, will strengthen our spirits and help us to overcome the flesh. We need to be diligent in strengthening the spirit rather than the flesh. Whichever one is exercised the most will win....

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Til Next Time!

Lisa

Preacher Tom

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:16:00 -0500

Thought I'd share a wonderful Preacher friend's site with you. This man studies the Word 8-10 hours a day, travels almost non-stop around the country as an evangelist, and preaches a tremendous sermon. If you stop by, I know you'll be blessed by Preacher Tom. His main page is here.

Many Blessings!

Looking For the Artificial or You're Not Going to Like This

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:41:00 -0500

We sat down to breakfast this morning to eggs, bacon, and pancakes. As I had had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, Grace had made “artificial pancakes” for them. We rewarmed them to go with the bacon and eggs today. As I used the fork to refill a child’s plate I thought about the natural sin nature of man.

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If the children had their druthers, they’d “druther” have these artificial pancakes rather than the real things. (I have a Nutrimill and make whole wheat pancakes, bread, etc.). Even though they are natural, without artificial flavorings or colorings, good-for-you pancakes, they prefer the Bisquick ones; made with bleached out flour (stripped of all of it’s goodness), pumped full of chemicals and sugar. Why is that? Because they taste better. Because for years that’s what I used to make. Because that’s what they’re used to. Why change? We’ve eaten like this for years and we’re o.k. .

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Can you, dear reader, see where I’m going with this? Sin looks good (Heb. 11:25) and we become calloused to it after a while. Man, naturally, is attracted to that which is sinful. Sinful things are usually prettier (again Hebrews 11:25 pleasures of sin for a season). It starts out with glitter and glam, luring man in. Many times it may be another woman, it may be p*rn*graghy, alcohol, drugs…whatever. No one takes that first hit with the intent of becoming an addict. Noooo. They’re out for the thrill of it. That buddy makes it look good. Being high sounds like so much fun. That’s only one example; there are many others. There’s also the subtleness of sin. Remember, Satan himself is known as the Angel of Light.

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I firmly believe, and do not send me flame mail for my convictions, that the church has fallen asleep to sin. Much of the time we can’t tell a brother or sister in Christ from the next heathen. Christ calls us to be a peculiar people. Exodus 19:5 clearly states: Now, therefore, IF you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure (isn’t that so special??) unto me above all people: There are those who will have something to say about that being an Old Testament verse. Well, try this one: Titus 2:14 (v. 13 ends with ‘and our Saviour Jesus Christ;’) v 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; (why?) that ye may show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (hallelujah) into his marvelous light. Satan has thrown the lights on the church and when the switch was turned back on, the light has shown a church that looks for all the world like the world. People walking around with blue hair (or whatever color it is for that particular day), their drawers hanging out their jeans (which are hanging down to their knees), metal protruding from various and sundry places, rock music blaring in the background. All for the sake of blending in so that they can win others to Christ. WHAT??? How much more blinded can one become?? You don’t do what everybody else does, nor look like everybody else does, nor go to the places everybody else does, nor sound like everybody else. How in the name of goodness can others be changed when the church is acting just like them? They look at these so called Christians and think, “Man, he’s just like me. He’s alright…I’m alright. What do I need to change anything for??”. What’s that old saying…If it looks like a duck…

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We are called to be salt. Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted: it is thenceforth good for nothing (God’s words, my emphasis), but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be trodden under foot. Salt stings. It burns. It purifies. If we as individual Christians, truly born again and sanctified (set apart) by God are not burning others with our saltiness, we need to check up somewhere…lest we be cast out and trodden under foot….

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Can you believe that I got all of that out of a pancake???? What nuggets we can catch if we're listening to that "still, small voice".....

Presenting....

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:44:00 -0500

The Rowan County Homeschooler's Association graduating Class of 2009.....

Kristen is far left with the gold cord for the National Honor Society. This was one of the largest graduation classes, with 11 seniors, 3 of which were honor students. They worked hard!

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This is her table. Each Senior made a table representing themselves through the years.

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Her table was FULL....

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Mixed emotions show.

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Partying at home before the ceremony.

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She graduated on a Saturday and then had her final concert as First Violinist in the Salisbury Youth Orchestra. Sadly, due to the decrease in government funding, we received a letter informing us that there will no longer be a SYO. She was so saddened by the news, as she had looked forward to more years as a violinist in the group. Here are bittersweet pictures from her final concert....

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Orchestra Conductor, Ryan Peller.

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Rosie, we are way proud of you-more than you'll ever know-and know that you will go far.....

Til Next Time,

Lisa

Mountain Weekend Photos

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:26:00 -0500

We slip off to the mountains occasionally. When we went last month, we found all sorts of nature critters to photogragh.

This is the view from our front porch. The "road" is the drive way *up*. If you look closely you'll see the pickle jar full of ring necked snakes that Nature Boy found. Don't worry...he left *most*of them before we left.

Wildlife spotted on the front porch.

Lolly and Davey looking out the kitchen window. I thought this was a cute shot...

That's all I have uploaded right now. We found all kinds of nature, though. Bird nests, cocoons, flowers, a hornet's nest, etc. All in all, a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

Til Next Time,

Lisa

Pictures!

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:52:00 -0500

Wanted to share some photos since I haven't done that lately.

This first photo is of Nature Boy and his prize find. 16 lizard eggs to go with the 5 snake eggs that his ring necked snake laid. *sigh*

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Having fun with Davey Do!

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First bucket of harvest...

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Helpers in the kitchen...

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Do you honestly think that they had any fun at all????

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I'll post pictures from the mountains later. It's time for church and I don't have the extra time to post them right at the moment. Enjoy your weekend!

Encouraging Words

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:51:00 -0500

Jeremiah 32:17 reads: Ah Lord GOD! (notice that exclamation mark) behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth...there is nothing too hard for thee:

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I don't know what you may be faced with today, but I do know that it isn't too hard for GOD to make a way through.

Psalm 107:29 reads: He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

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I cling to that verse because once a month, I have storms. Sometimes they take the form of grouchiness, other times, weepiness. Whatever form presents itself during *that* time, it is a *storm* in me. This verse helps me during those times of *storm* within myself because I can cling to the fact that He calms storms.

Whether the storm that you're facing is today, tomorrow, next week; whether they be storms *within* yourself, physical, financial, familial, work-related--please, take these two verses (and there are many, many more) with you and cling to them. Rest assured that:

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still and there's nothing too hard for Him.....

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:33:00 -0500

As Christians, we will have arrived when we have departed.

~Lisa Johnson~

Happy Birthday!

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:15:00 -0500

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Photo Friday

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:10:00 -0500

My friend, LINDA, shared with me how to size photos, saving me an enormous amount of picture posting time. So, while I have fun posting photos, ya'll will just have to endure.

This is, with really no need for introductions, Nature Boy...

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Nature Boy in training, reading....

No, the camera isn't that bad, my Photoshop editing is.

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This is what Laura Faith made with her cuisenaire rods. In case you can't tell, it's a church with "the glory of God coming out" (as quoted per Laura Faith). Out of the mouths of babes.

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Miss Innocence herself, working on a Moon lapbook. She really enjoyed that.

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Lolly and Hopers working with the Balance Bears.

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Loll's creativity in grouping the bears into families....

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Loll, Hopers, and Davey getting ready for tomorrow!

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By Jove, I think he's got it...

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And this is me, having lots of fun with the pressure washer. No, I wasn't trying to show you how dirty our sidewalks are, merely showing you how much fun you can have even while doing the most menial of tasks.

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And, I guess I'll give you a break for now. Again, many, many thanks to Linda for helping me with photo resizing. I appreciate it so much! Now, ya'll run on over to her place and let her know how much you ~~could strangle~~ love her for showing me the photo tips.

Happy Fourth!