Family and Christian values, challenges of homeschooling, and fitness http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -0600 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -0600 I grew up in a little town called Petrolia in a little brown house on a hill. We had a creek running through our property, a pond to skate on, and our own toboggan hill.  My grandparents lived right next door and gave my father 2 acres out of their 100 to build his house on.The property was rolling and hilly.  They had horses, cats, goats, geese, bantam hens and sometimes would have other people's cattle staying in the pasture. My grandfather spent alot of time in the barn working with the horses and it had a nice familiar smell to it (other than just the manure!) It was a nice cheerful red and a light shone out like a beacon each night in the darkness. He spent alot of time on his riding lawnmower too as their front yard was BIG.  In the warmer weather my sister and I would have our window open and fall asleep to the sound of  crickets and frogs singing. It was a delight!  There is no better music to fall asleep to.... Fireflies could often be seen flitting about and the stars were pretty decent since we weren't right by a large city. There was a conservation area by our place that you could get to by cutting through my grandfather's fields. It had lovely trails and beautiful colours in the fall.   My sister and I would often go over to visit my grandparents, especially after school when we got off the bus. We would walk up their long lane and partake of whatever goodies Grandma had made. They were an integral part of our lives. Every Sunday we would go over for supper and my Grandma would make a tonne of food. Their house was older but surrounded by four large trees and out back there was a quaint white fence in front of  'square' of lilac bushes. These became one of my favourite flowers and I would pick plenty in May and give them to my mother and Grandmother. They had a flag pole in the front  with a proud Canadian flag fluttering often in the wind. Perhaps that is another reason why I enjoy the flag, not just for patriotism but that it also meant home. In their home my grandmother had a neat little staircase ascending to a quiet upper floor filled with old antiques and the signs of days gone by. My father's little bedroom, a crib, etc. It was a neat place to visit from time to time and also a tiny bit eerie! I never realized at that time how much I like old furniture and antiques. It's no wonder I felt right at home in my husband's homestead where it is much the same!  I was blessed beyond all measure with my little house and Grandparents close by. I moved away from home when I was 18 and not too long after my parents sold their home and moved to Sarnia. When I was 21 my Grandpa died and the farm was sold. My Grandmother took some of her lovely antiques and pictures from the farm and made a little 'home' with  whispers of the old one. Now I find that she is in her 90's and just had a stroke.  This makes me think of how much time has gone by and of how sad it is to be separated from all that used to be. But in my heart the blessings live on and I can momentarily hear the frogs singing, see my Grandpa riding his lawnmower, hear my Grandma teasing me and walk up their long lane towards their house to stay just for a wee bit before I have to go again......   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/748019/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/748019/ This is a true saying.  If you are in a slump of the 'same old same old' then it is a great idea to do something a bit different. If you are a walker or runner it is suggested that you vary your route so that you don't get tired of your program and quit. I'm sure for women it is also for safety so that we don't get stalked!  My eleven year old son has been running with me lately for part of the time that I am out. So that is something new .(I am reminded every time that one day he is going to be WAY ahead if he keeps it up). I wonder if variety is one of the reasons that God gave us different seasons? Can you imagine if it were always WINTER. I guess people who ski would favour that. It's nice to try a new food from time to time also, we had gyros recently and they are great. (not new though I admit). My husband and I are going away overnight soon for our  12 1/2 anniversary. It's a Dutch thing apparently and he is 1/2 Dutch.  We haven't been away for quite sometime due to babies etc.  I am really looking forward to going somewhere different and spending some 'couple' time together. It is easy in life to get in a routine and start taking things for granted.  So, if you need some spicing up in your life then go on a getaway, plan some exercise routines, try a new recipe or maybe read a new kind of book.  It will enhance your day, week, or year depending! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/744172/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/744172/ Now that Halloween is past I see all of the 'pumpkin shells' or poor deceased jack-o-lantern fella's all about.  Some don't even make it to the pumpkin gathering place a.k.a. the compost heap. Some just get thrown about by punk kids with nothing better to do. Then, after being thrown about they get mushed into the pavement by cars.  Our pumpkins were put out to the curb this morning.  The kids mentioned that it is a shame to have to get rid of them. I pointed out that they were stinky and mouldy inside anyways, so why keep them?  Originally they looked beautiful, round and orange. Then we sliced them all apart and pulled out all of their guts.  Isn't it interesting how wonderful clean pumpkins look on the outside?  I must say that pumpkins are one of my favourite things in all of God's creation. They are just so cheery and seem to represent my favourite season 'in a pumpkin shell' instead of 'in a nutshell :)'  Isn't that how we as people are on the outside? We do have our off days but in general we try to do ourselves up nice and hope that others will think we are pretty great.  But God saw into MY grimy, slimy heart and He had to cut deep and pull out all of the filth inside.  He has cut, poked, and prodded more since then. Instead of leaving me as an empty shell to rot once more He has nurtured and grown me to the place where I could be 'almost usuable!'  I am so thankful that instead of going in a 'heap of rubble' which is all I was fit for that God had mercy on me.  So now I don't have to just be a 'happy, cheerful looking pumpkin' but one that actually can be used for greater things before going on one day to 'the Great Pumpkin Patch' as Linus would say! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/742656/ Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/742656/ Everyone has a 'pile' in their house of something or other.  For example, paperwork and laundry.  If you don't have a pile in your house then I will be forced to put your name on an honourary list called the 'Get Real Club.'  Now, back to what I was saying.......... The place where everything seems to get shoved in our house is the bedroom. No, not the kids bedrooms but mine and my husband's. If there is a load of laundry that I wasn't able to get to, shove it in the room.  Seasonal kid clothes from the attic not quite sorted, shove it in the room.  Things that you can't quite say are dirty enough to waste precious water and soap on, drape it over something in the room.  You get the idea.   Finally, it becomes an insurmountable pile which blocks the end of the bed. This would be fine if you were an acrobat with a flying trapeze but I can tell you that my husband is NOT an acrobat and he sleeps on the far side of the bed. I will say that he rarely complains about the piles and is very sweet. He does however groan when trying to skirt around the pile and often resorts to crawling across the bed.  I  am pleased to say that I recently cleaned up this large pile!  I didn't  get to it right away but it is now   FAIT ACCOMPLI!   thank-you, thank-you, please hold your applause.  It is glorious having that dealt with. Does this mean I have no other piles in my home now?  Alas, no.  You have only to go down to our workroom (we have no garage) to see another huge pile of stuff.  This is a pile which might never be cured! It's kind of like arthritis. Once you get it you never know when it will flare up again, but it's always just lurking............ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/739712/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/739712/ Our ladie's group recently started a study on Esther. My historical knowledge of this book has been limited and I only knew the outer sketch of this story.  I DID remember the part where King Ahasuerus sent for Queen Vashti because he wanted to display her beauty. I think I tucked it in my memory along with a thought like "he had some nerve." I learned lots of interesting tidbits from the first video by Jill Rhodes and ' Women Alive.'  For instance......  Queen Vashti is historically known as not being a nice lady.  The king took a liking to his niece apparently and the queen wasn't happy about this.  She was responsible for the death of both the niece and the mother. Not a cheerful story.  In Esther Chapter One it is mentioned that the King was having his 'party' outside and the queen was having her party in the palace. Traditionally the men and women would be united together, not separate.  The palace was the seat of authority so the queen was basically taking authority over the king and she also was thumbing her nose at him.  He had his party for a very long time and had shown off all of his riches etc. but decided to save the best for last. Perhaps it seems chauvinistic that he told his wife to come in order to display herself.  It can be thought of differently though, he was saving the best for last. She was the richest treasure (or her beauty was, maybe not her personality).  This is an example of NOT submitting. She was a very influential figure in the kingdom and the women who were at the party and living in the kingdom would follow her lead. Is it any wonder she was banned from the king's presence? I usually think of submission as 'to willingly follow out of love.' This is what I learned from a word study on submission in bible college. It isn't always easy to submit though, is it? Submittting to parents,  submitting to authorities, submitting to husbands.  But there is One who submitted to the point of death. I somehow fail to recognize that. Not only did Jesus make the ultimate sacrifice he also submitted saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." (Luke 22:42) There is no greater example of submission in the entire history of mankind. If Jesus can submit........shouldn't the answer be obvious that we can too. All by his strength. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/737828/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/737828/ My husband had four days off for the holiday week-end. Hard life eh? His school likes to always add an extra day to each vacation (or an extra week for March!).  Who would argue. With four days it seemed about right..... time for family, errands, cooking, exercise. I think we fit in all of the elements except for maybe..... hmmm, cleaning? Oh well. I'll catch up this week. (maybe)  I am very thankful for a loving and little church,  a sweet husband,good female friends, four lovely children, the ability to run, good books, great food, fun and a loving God!  It was so nice to sit around and visit with family.  My son was asked what he is thankful for and he said 'God.' His extended family said "oh that's a Sunday School answer." Way to shoot a kid  down huh? What better answer is there? He provides all of our needs and gives us every breath for every second of everyday. Thanks be to Him!!!!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/735815/ Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/735815/ My husband recently celebrated his 34th birthday. Every year he asks me how old he will be and inevitably guesses about one year younger.  He is always encouraged when he thinks of me being almost three years older.  He likes to remind me that  I will be fourty first and has been known to say. " I can't believe that I have a wife who is "36" years old. Of course the number goes up one each year. I am quick to remind him that I might be older but I'm trim enough and not hard to look at (unless I have an angry face on maybe :)  This year I told him he was turning 35.  He paused slightly and was on to my game. I figure if you don't keep track of your own age then that leaves it as open season to be teased!  Another 'milestone' occurred at about the same time.  My three youngest were at a grandparents house so we allowed our eleven year old son to stay home for the first time by himself. My husband and I went out on a date.  I'm sure it was only yesterday that he was born fast and furious!  Ah me, but good times were had by all! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/731237/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/731237/      I don't think I ever wrote this blog about one of my favourite bible stories. It is found in 1 Kings and is written on my header.  Elijah goes running off to the desert in fear of Jezebel.  The Lord sustains him for fourty days and nights as he goes to Mount Horeb. When he is on the mountaintop  God reveals himself to Elijah.  The Lord says to Elijah "Go forth, and stand on the mountain before the Lord."  A wind, earthquake and fire are all manifested but it says that 'the Lord was not in them.'  Lastly the sound of a gentle blowing came and when Elijah heard it he wrapped his face and went out to entrance of the cave he was in.  The Lord asked him why he was there and finally tells Elijah to 'go return.'  I find this to be an amazing story.  Elijah is such a cool guy to start with and then you add in a mountaintop experience. Just imagine how wonderful and terrifying it would be to witness and experience all of this.   Elijah runs away to isolation and nature and while there he encounters the Lord of everything. He is asked 'why are you here?'  Indeed,  why am I half of the places that I go to?  In my thoughts, in my viewing, in my reading, in my speaking.  God is there.  If I just sit down for some reflection I can hear his gentle whisper and feel him prodding me, breaking me, shaping me.   I do live on the 'mountaintop' here in Hamilton  but I can tell you that alot of the time I am 'slugging it out' in the valley.  Sometimes I go there when I'm not supposed to and sometimes the Lord brings me there.  The times on the mountain are glorious and refreshing but I can't stay. I have to 'go return' just as God told Elijah to.  If I could only remember that He is always there waiting to be called upon.  He is ready to offer me strength, courage, and nourishment for everyday.  What a shepherd, what a friend, what a Saviour!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/727782/ Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:23:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/727782/ Well, how do you like my new look eh? (I added that  'eh' because of my Canadian roots, couldn't resist :) A lovely young lady stopped by my blog and noticed that it could use some originality. So she offered to make a lovely template for me and voila here it is! I am most pleased by all she chose. She asked me for some details about what I favour and came up with this.  She came through with all my requests. How's that for service?  If you would like to know more about this new friend then check out the credits on my blog! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/725290/ Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/725290/ I was sitting beside my five year old in church yesterday during the sermon. She was drawing various pictures and would display  them to me from time to time.  She showed me a picture of a little man with a cute outfit.  I must have been scrutinizing it with my eyes because she felt the need to inform me 'he has clothes on.'  I found her statement quite humourous since in previous times the people haven't had any on. I of course had to tell her on these other occasions that we 'don't draw people with their clothes off.'  She doesn't have a very realistic idea of what people look like 'au naturel' as we do our best here to show modesty. Amidst a busy household  though I'm sure it happens from time to time that they may not always knock at each other's doors.  I'm not in favour of nudist colonies and obviously can understand the greatly detrimental effects of pornography.  However, I thought isn't it refreshing the innocence of a child, they are 'naked and unashamed' until we as adults make them aware that nudity is wrong, that our bodies are private etc.  Wouldn't it be lovely if we could catch a glimpse of how it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall?  The idea of having nothing to hide and nothing to run from. Oh that we could find the innocence of a child again and remember that in God's eyes we aren't 'wearing clothes' but that he sees us through and through past our pretentions and barriers. He knew us before we were even conceived.  I hope and pray that as our children grow we can teach them to respect themselves and others. Not in a 'this is dirty and wrong' sense but rather in a 'this is God's design' and purpose that has been lost in a sinful world and if you trust and follow you will be blessed to be 'naked and unashamed.' http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/722624/ Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/halfpint/722624/