Sorry I haven’t been able to write for a while, but I’ve been so busy! School, Christmas, the Christmas play, my coronation, - Oh! Did I just say my coronation? Yes! I think I did! Yes, I am now a king, King of Pranks!! Let me tell you the story…

It all started with a simple, innocent sleepover invitation, just me and a girl named Kimmy. Now Kimmy (age 11) had a big brother, by the name of Rick, and Rick is about 8 weeks older then me. Sometimes we are friends, sometimes, mortal enemies!

Now of cause I excepted the invitation, I always love a good sleepover every now and then!! But I had a secret plan, no, plan is not the right word, I had a secret scheme. A scheme on Rick and another boy (Kimmy’s age) that was sleeping over as well, Ty. As soon as I could get Kimmy and the Hostess, by the name of AA, I unleashed my plan…

I had brought along all the necessities, Vaseline and a book, yes, just one book that would change Rick’s life forever!! The book was called ‘101 cool practical jokes’ by Glen Singleton. AA and kimmy swore to secrecy and decided to help me. We would play a few practical jokes on Rick and Ty.

10:10 PM, we went to bed.

The Time had come, Rick and Ty’s doom, their last hour.

First prank: I had bought along some Vaseline. This is why. Ty slept on his mattress, unaware of anything and Rick sat on his bed and read. Since there was no way Kimmy or I could put it on their bedroom doorknobs, AA opened the door with a big dollop on her finger tips. She faced Rick and with her hand behind her back, she spread it thoroughly all over the doorknob while asking Rick, “Do you want me to pray with you Rick?” in a loving, motherly, innocent tone.

Second prank: we put a whole lot of dish detergent in the toilet, so when they flushed…

Third prank: AA’s idea, and a good one too! She suggested that we put gladwrap over the toilet seat. We did that quietly while the boys still suspected nothing.

Fourth prank: I put some slippers on the slightly opened bathroom door so when they opened the door, the slippers would fall with a bang. But in the night, I was thinking of this and I decided to take them off because when the boys would go in there, they would get a fright and be more awake, thus they’d notice the gladwrap more likely. But AA did not know about the slippers, so when she creped into the bathroom in the night to get something, she was the one who got the fright!!!

Next morning: when we came out for brekkie, Rick and Ty explained the weird Doorknob experience, (I think their faces were a little bit red!)  A bit later  us girls sat at the table talking with AA. When pink-faced Ty came into the dining room and asked, “Who put gladwrap over the toilet seat?” oh! The expression on everyone’s faces!! Joy for my team and  red-faces for Rick’s team! Oh! The Dance of victory my team did! We asked Ty if the toilet flushed a mountain of bubbles. Slightly a deeper pink, Ty said no. We ran into the bathroom with Ty running after us saying: “No! No! Don’t go in there!” and there in the toilet, was indeed bubbles.

Fifth prank: you know how you can blow the yoke and the white out of an eggshell and have an empty shell? Well, we made two eggshells. And using a syringe, we’d put something else in there. I did Ricks, and Kimmy did Tys. I put milk in Ricks Egg. And closed up the holes with a hot glue gun. You could still see the glue though. (we didn’t have time to finish Ty’s sadly.) But at Brekkie, Rick was still hungry, (boys will be boys!) so AA asked if he wanted a boiled egg (secretly nodding at me) I went and got him a milk egg. He noticed the glue and with a puzzled expression tried pulling it off. (I’ll give you some credit for that Rick!!) I came up to him and said. “No-no-no Rick! Here, let me.” I took the egg and before he could say anything I quickly cracked it over his glass and told him he could have a nice drink of milk. The boy’s expressions were simply PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 (That's Rick with the Milk Egg and that's Ty in the background. Terrific photo!!)

Sixth prank: when Rick was Watching TV, with AA’s help I spread Maple Syrup all over Rick’s Crocs. (We couldn’t find Tys shoes, drats!! ) Ricks Dad was looking at  a small snake outside about  30 minutes later. Rick opend the door and slipped his foot into one croc. He stoped half way, puzzled. He looked up and saw Kimmy and me inside, doing our Victory Dance, cracking up at his expression. He gave an exasperated sigh and walked off… barefoot.

(That's me and the Syrup Shoes)

Seventh prank: We put a small bag of rice on top of the Boys bedroom door. Rick opened the door; we heard a splash of the rice and a yell from Rick….

(Kimmy and me, see the rice, see the look of victory on our faces, see the vacuum cleaner in the background!!)

It was a fun sleepover, probably the best I’ve had…but there’s more to come!

(I'll end this with an evil laugh)

Bamboogirl 

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This week at HSB's "Company Front Porch," we've been asked to focus on Christmas.  Last week, though, I began a 2-part post about studying the Bible as it relates to Homeschooling Through High School.  In continuing that topic today, I think the Lord will allow me to do both things!  Grab a cup of java or tea, and join me as we take a "mind's eye journey" back to Bethlehem.

But that's NOT where I wish to take us.  I want to go deeper than just that.  I want to go back into the Old Testament, and set the stage for that event which took place out in those fields.  To do this, I'd like to introduce to you a dear friend of mine, Cindy Zeigler, mother of 4 homeschool graduates (all of whom are now married and 3 of whom are missionaries), and author of several of the best Bible studies our family has ever gone through.  In "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," we read the following (note: Cindy uses the NASB translation in her materials, so that is what is quoted here): 

Shortly after the onset of Judah's captivity, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzer.  Then, after the Medes and Persians overtook Babylon, and after the 70 year period of Judah's captivity, Judah was allowed to go back to their land and rebuild Jerusalem, the wall, and the temple.  There were three post-exilic prophets -- Haggai, Zacharia, and Malachi -- each telling of the plans the Lord has yet for Israel.  After the Word of the Lord came to Malachi, the final prophet, there was a long period of silence from Heaven -- 400 years.

The prophecy of Amos came to bear on the Jews.  Amos, after being told by a priest to leave the Northern kingdom and go prophecy in the Southern kingdom (Amos 7:12), uttered these words:

Amos 8:11  "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD..."

So there was silence.

The voice of Heaven was not heard by the ears of earth.

...for 400 years.

...four hundred long years!

And...

A woman who was called barren,

bore a son, and they called him John.

Suddenly a bright light shown in the darkness...

...a star shining in the east.

A virgin had conceived and had borne a Son, and they called Him Immanuel, "God with us."

Then a voice was heard...

...a voice crying in the wilderness

...calling the people to

"Repent for the Kingdom of the Heavens was at hand."

Now, jumping ahead in the study, we come to the First Advent of Christ in fulfillment of so much prophecy...Cindy writes:

Not far from the city of Bethlehem was a place where shepherds were keeping watch over a flock of sheep.  After "Immanuel" was born, an angel appeared to these shepherds.

Luke 2

8     And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.  9  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  10  And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;  11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  12  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

13  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 

I can only imagine the explosion of praise that erupted from the heavenly host after 400 years of silence...after the end of the waiting in the heavens for this plan from the time of the creation to finally be put in motion...I can only imagine the sheer terror of those shepherds out in the quiet of that field!!!  The NASB translation quoted uses the phrase, "terribly frightened." The KJV says "sore afraid." The NIV offers "terrified."  I put myself out there on a quiet night in the fields with a bunch of sleepy sheep and try to imagine the event...I don't know if "terrified" is even descriptive enough! 

And that brings me back to "Part 2" of last week's post regarding Bible study in the homeschool high school, and the question we began with: "What is God's mind on education?"  Here are God's inspired words: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).  Encourage your high schoolers to dig into the Scriptures, and to dig deep.  Untold riches are often skimmed right over by all of us when we read what to us seems "familiar territory."  I love the way that Cindy and another of my favorite authors, Diana Waring, both keep coming back to the big picture of God's unchanging plan, of His-Story (Diana's word for history), of His promise and His glory.  May we all grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in these remarkable times!  

Lori

PS. Cindy's Bible studies are available free of charge at the link provided above and HERE.  Donations are accepted if you are able, but are not required.  This is a ministry of their church, and the call of God upon their hearts.  Studies are available digitally for download, or you may email and request a hard copy.  In either case, email and ask for a set of any DVD lectures that go with the studies.  The study I've quoted from in this week's post, "Understanding the Bible: A Biblical Survey," is recommended as a "prerequisite" and basis for all of the other studies offered.  For homeschoolers, it makes a wonderful one-semester high school study, providing a 1/2 credit (0.5 CU) in Bible.  It is 17 weeks long, with assignments 5 days a week, and a 45 minute video lecture to be viewed after completion of each week's study (we watched our DVD lectures on Saturdays, and looked very much forward to each one!).  Follow this with "Understanding Hebrews," a 16-week study, and your student will have a full year (1.0CU) of Bible for their transcript.  More important, however, will be their spiritual gain: the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy which is understanding.  Whatever Bible study you choose to share with your young adults, encourage them to drink deeply from the well of God's Word!