Welcome! Here is a place for my mumblings and rumblings and hopefully *not* grumblings about homeschooling. I am just a beginner at this and am thrilled to be at a place in my life where I can establish this excellent form of education for my two beautiful boys, Jude and James. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 4 Jul 2006 16:22:00 -0500 Tue, 4 Jul 2006 16:22:00 -0500 Well, we are happily ensconced in Missouri. Although I am not homeschooling this summer/fall, I think I will use this blog for my Orthodox Christian ramblings...though I am not very deep, I do think about things a little and need a place to write them.   Anyway, hope you all are well. I will update a bit more when I am not so hot in my office! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/161653/ Tue, 4 Jul 2006 16:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/161653/ for a while i will be off line and i just wanted to say good bye and thanks to all who have popped in to say hello now and then. i wont have internet for a bit and wont be homeschooling this fall. have a great summer! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/124637/ Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/124637/    Christ is risen from the dead,Trampling down death by death,And upon those in the tombsBestowing life!   Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!     Pascha in the news: (thanks to Khaleas for putting this on The Ancient Way message board!) http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060423/46805821.htmlhttp://www.herald-review.com/article...ws/1014693.txthttp://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_3741486?source=rsshttp://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060422...r_060422213605 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/122780/ Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/122780/ “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.” - Luke 23:44-46     Just a quick egg tip for those of us who have not dyed them yet. (The greeks dye theirs on Red Thursday aparently!)   Use a white crayon to write on the eggs before dying--then rub the eggs with papaer towles after they are dyed and revel the pictures or messages you wrote on them!   Also, using brown eggs makes the red darker!   Ok, I will be off until Monday. Until then,   Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen!!!     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/121923/ Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/121923/ I found a wonder guide to makin Paska this morning at In House Magazine. It has amazing pictures and everything.   And here is something interesting to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRUMmTs0ZA&search=stupid%20in%20america   "20-20 investigation by John Stossel entitled "Stupid in America" highlighting some of the flaws with the education system in the United States. The story started out when identical tests were given to high school students in New Jersey and in Belgium. The Belgian kids cleaned the American kids' clocks. The Belgian kids called the American students "stupid", which gave the piece its name. Jay Greene, author of "Education Myths," points out that "If money were the solution, the problem would already be solved … We've doubled per pupil spending, adjusting for inflation, over the last 30 years, and yet schools aren't better."   And yes, I should be studying for my exam tonight...   Got my CPR card last night from the American Heart Association. I would recommend all parents out there to get this invaluable training. It takes about three hours and could save your spouse's life, your child's life, or the life of another person made in God's image! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/121205/ Thu, 20 Apr 2006 08:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/121205/ I thought this was a good online article discussing some of the differences between Western and Eastern Lent. It is in layman's terms which is nice. I like this quote:   "Natalie Ashanin, a 74-year-old St. George member and a lifelong Orthodox Christian, is the child of Russian immigrants. She likens the Orthodox Lent to an old Russian phrase -- bright sadness.   "It is a time of thinking about Christ's death," Ashanin said. 'Also, there is a joy in it in thinking that Easter is coming and the blessed Resurrection.'"   The idea of bright sadness isnt one I have heard before yet it is so appropriate. Right now I am "sad" that I have class so much this week which is cutting into Holy Week services. A more worldly sadness I suppose! Exams are also here...so lots to do. And the move next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Pascha Basket Stuff: I thought it was interesting to note that many baskets contain horseradish--here is why: "Horseradish: (Chrin - pronounced - khrin) Horseradish mixed with grated red beets. This bitter herb ultimately serves as a reminder of the first Passover (horseradish is eaten as a traditional part of the original Passover meal) and of the bitter sufferings which Christ endured for our sake. Sometimes the herb is colored red with beets, symbolizing the Blood of Christ. The bitter herb is also to bring to mind the Jews' forty years of wandering in the wilderness."   And here is a Jewish recipe for horseradish for good measure:   PASSOVER HORSERADISH 1 horseradish root - grated in food processor 5 beets 1 cup Passover apple cider vineger Salt Sugar Boil the beets until soft. Reserve the cooking liquid. After the beets have cooled, grind them in the food processor and add to the grated horseradish. Then add the vinegar and salt and sugar to taste. If the mixture is too strong or too dry, add the cooking liquid from the beets in small amounts until the desired consistency. Adjust seasonings. This is not the white pure stuff that kills your nose. This is a better home-made version of the red stuff you buy in the store. My mother made this every year along with Russel borsht replete with sour salt and black pepper. This recipe is the kinder, gentler version of chrein. If you like it very strong, you won't appreciate this recipe. For all others, it's delicious. From: (cneuman1@juno.com) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119910/ Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119910/ Holy Monday Evening Jesus and the Five Wise Virgins stand on the roof of the house that they have entered for the wedding party. These five women had extra oil to keep their lamps burning until the Bridegroom, Christ, arrived. The Five Foolish Virgins standing outside the house had no extra oil and their lamps went out just as the groom was arriving. The extra oil is actually the good things that we do and the valuable company that we keep; this is the oil that makes sure that our lamp, our faith, is always lit, as we wait for our Bridegroom. From : http://www.saintbarbara.org/faith/holyweek/holymondayeve.cfm   I like this picture of how to arrange a basket-I have found it at various sites around the web so I am thinking it must be passed around from parish to parish:     Here is the Paska recipe I am using this year: http://bread.allrecipes.com/AZ/PaskaBread.asp         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119561/ Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119561/ I am really struggling with anger right now. The hardest thing is being wronged by someone you love and you once believed loved you. In speaking with my priest, I was counseled to pray for "Mr. X" that he would be blessed by God, and that God would give him what he needs. This is really hard to do. I had to ask Father M. for the exact words to pray because my mouth would literally freeze when I would try to pray for this person. This really showed me just how angry I am and how far into sin that anger has led me. It has been driving a wedge between me and God and ruining my prayer life.   I have honestly wished ill for this person--that he would lose everything, that he would suffer as I have. So, now who is really wretched? Yeah, I am. The hardest part is being wounded over and over again. Confrontation doesnt do anything...only prayer heals and returns me to sanity. I am very weary of it all and will be so happy to be delivered from it. I am hoping that will happen when there are thousands of miles between me and Mr. X. I want my anger to be replaced by sorrow and my own repentance!   Some writings on anger that are helping me:   My children, desire to purify your hearts from envy and from anger with each other, lest death should overcome you, and you will be counted among the murderers. For whosoever hates his brother, kills a soul. -Abba Anthony the Great.   The first step toward freedom from anger is to keep the lips silent when the heart is stirred; the next, to keep thoughts silent when the soul is upset; the last, to be totally calm when unclean winds are blowing. St. John Climacus (The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Step 8)   Anger is by nature designed for waging war with the demons and for struggling with every kind of sinful pleasure. Therefore angels, arousing spiritual pleasure in us and giving us to taste its blessedness, incline us to direct our anger against the demons. But the demons, enticing us towards worldly lusts, make us use anger to fight with men, which is against nature, so that the mind, thus stupefied and darkened, should become a traitor to virtues. Abba Evagrius the Monk(Texts on Active Life no. 15) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119418/ Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119418/ As we begin Holy Week, I have been looking ahead and wondering about Pascha baskets. This is my first year to attempt such a thing, and I thought I would share a bit of what I have found. I'll add a few things each day as I go, then a few pictures of our Pascha and our Pascha basket!   First, here is the red egg dying method--one of the first things that go into the basket: INGREDIENTS Uncooked eggs Water 3/4 cup Vinegar Red food dye or coloring Vegetable oil A few cotton balls METHOD Carefully wash and dry each egg. Set a large pot of water to boil. Add a red dye or food coloring and 3/4 cup of vinegar to the water, and boil for a few minutes. Slowly lower the eggs into the pot, and when the water comes to a boil, lower the heat. Let eggs simmer for 15 min., then remove them carefully from the pot. If you plan to cook more eggs, add an additional 2 tbs. vinegar to the water. Wipe cooked eggs with an oil-soaked cotton ball, then wipe each egg with a clean dry cloth. Place on a platter. Serve cold.   Why red eggs? Here is a nice little explanation on the custom: "The symbolism of the red eggs goes all the way back to the time of Christ, as tradition tells us that St. Mary Magdalene, the Myrrhbearer and Equal to the Apostles, gave a red egg to Tiberius Caesar and said,"Christ is Risen." The eggshell is dead, likened to the tomb of Christ, but inside there is life. The red color represents the blood that Christ shed to redeem us." -From The Handmaiden   More tomorrow...   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119168/ Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/119168/ well, i am back after a hiatus! haha!   we have been so busy. we've had company a couple times, lots of moving stuff going on, and daddy is gone for 3 weeks.   we had a wonderful time swimming with friends at Daytona Beach:   so we think we have found a nice home to move into. it has 2500 sf and 4 br 3.5 ba! it also has a nice fenced in yard, deck, and a full basement with a two car garage! i hope we get it, please pray!    the boys are keeping up with their school work and i am still planning to keep them at it through the summer.   my SIL is pregnant with her fourth baby. she is having a bug scare again, so please pray for her.   great lent has been challenging. i feel like it has been far too easy to put my sprituality on the back burner when i am stressed out. then i wonder why i dont handle things very well.   i have a97 in microbiology right now! can you believe i got a 99 on my last exam? that is the best exam grade i have ever gotten in college, save my 100% i got on my drug calc test in nursing school fundamentals!      plan for the day: finish homeschool get house picked up pack up scrapbook stuff pack up kids books         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/115518/ Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/prisca/115518/