Aug. 15, 2009
COS & Learning Websites for our 2009-10 School Year

I love fun ways to help our kids (and myself!) learn.  Here is the plan I've come up with to use this year.  We are doing Classical Conversations again this year, and this will be my 3rd year tutoring.   Enjoy the links!

Our "Course of Study" for 2009-2010

Family:

Mar. 4, 2009
Our Favorite Books of the Quarter

We have been busy enjoying life the past few months, just soaking up family time and enjoying one another as we focus on schooling,life-and-character training, etc.  I also tutor for Classical Conversations, which along with homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, mothering, etc, limits my free time.   (Hence why not so much posting on the blog.  I may go back and back-date some entries from our Homeschool Tracker Journal and post some pictures.  Spring & summer lends us a little more free time, as Classical Conversations classes end in 5 weeks.)

This quarter, we are enjoying two wonderful books.  First, our family read-aloud is the classic "The Secret Garden."  Darling Daughter has the Focus on the Family Theater radio drama, and in the past we've borrowed the audiobook from the library.  This time around, I'm reading a chapter a day, either in the morning after devotions or at bedtime.  We are noticing the difference between the radio drama and the book and are learning about gardening.  DD has even confiscated a spot in the front yard for her own "secret" garden.  The book also reminds us of our dear friends who live in India and we know from them just how hot it can get in India, so we understand why Mary was sickly, sallow, and had languished from its heat.

Our historical living history is "Rifles for Waite."  We are learning about American History this year, and looking through the library audiobooks, I stumbled across this Newberry Medal winner.  We have loved it!  It contains what happened in the middle of the US during the Civil War and follows a young Kansan, Jefferson Davis Bussy, through his time with the Union Army.  You get to view the war from both sides, learn about life as a soldier, and grasp some of the history of the Cherokee Indian Nation.  We have 2 more CD's to go and can't wait to see how this ends.  What a rich, full book! 

(Update: March 5, 2009

Received an email about Homeschool in the Woods free sample of their Civil War package.  I will browse through it today to see if there is anything of interest for us.

Jan. 1, 2009
HELPFUL HOMESCHOOL LINKS: GEOGRAPHY

Owl and Mouse:   Free maps and map puzzles to learn United States and World geography with Maps that Teach. Free interactive maps and map puzzles to learn continents, countries, states, capitals, borders, physical features and cultural monuments. Maps are vital to our understanding geography and the world we live in.  Interactive and fun, Maps that Teach help students learn basic geography.  

Oct. 25, 2008
Little Man on the Race for President

Little Man has been extremely interested in this year's Presidential Race, in his own little five year old way.  He's caught glimpes of the canditates on TV when Daddy & I watch debates, news shows, etc.  He chatters on and on about the little bits he hears and sees.

His latest quips that have sent us putting our hands over our mouths trying to cover our giggles....

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"I would make a great president someday."  When asked why he said, "Because I'm talkative!"  (Yes, Little Man, very important as a president.)

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"Daddy, McCain doesn't look angry anymore.  He's smiling. (When he saw McCain on the news at a rally.)  He's not looking at Obama like this..." (and proceeded to make a hilarious "grumpy" face like the one McCain made at the final debate.)

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"When are they going to be done racing and who is going to win?  Who is the fastest?"  We think he is picturing the Presidential "Race" as a track and field event.

Aug. 21, 2008
S&T Fri -- Little Man's Birthday Extravaganza

Join the rest of us over at Mary aka CanadaGirl as we share our weekly Show&Tells.  

Our Little Man turned five last Friday, so we celebrated in our traditional family way -- A week-long BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!

As the birthday boy, he chose the breakfast and then played all day with his new workbench.  (When he sees you next time, he'll be ready to help you, Grandpa Mel & Grandpa Farmer!)

On Saturday, we went up to the city where we went to the park as a family...

After a stop at Barnes and Nobles to read some books and play with their Thomas the Train table, it was time to eat. 

"So, Little Man, where should we go to eat for your special birthday dinner?"

"Should we go to Saigon?  Or Manila?  Hanoi ?  Or Seoul?"

"No?   Hummm... well all those did seem terribly far away.  Oh, what did you say?  The white sign on the bottom tells us where you would like to go?   Well, sure!  Indochine it is!"

Our family's pick of "bday dinner" restaraunts (so far this year -- 3 out of 4 of us have chosen it, and the fourth person hasn't had his birthday yet) has been a delightful place called Indochine.  The owner is half Vietnamese and half French, and has created a place that pleases all of your senses.

The rickshaw, the beautiful lush vegetation and fish ponds, the artistry of the decor, even the little bathroom made us feel like we really had travel thousands of miles to Vietnam.

It was nice enough for us to eat in the garden in one of the little outdoor "houses."   Everything is good here and we ordered pad thai, mamsaman curry, and chicken with basil.  YUM!   We came hungry and enjoyed every bite!

As our tummies were getting contented and the leftover food was ready to be boxed up, the birthday boy was not shy about letting the waiter know, when asked, "Are you folks going to have any dessert?", that it was his birthday.  Our excellent server laughed and then graciously brought out Little Man's chocolate cake topped with five lit candles for him to make a wish with.

[And, his week is not quite over yet. After all, it's not every day/year you turn five. This Saturday, we are having a few families over to swim at our neighborhood pool and join us for lunch.  Little Man even planned the menu for his friends:  grilled hamburgers, baked beans, homemade strawberry lemonade, grapes, watermelon, and ice cream cake.]

Last Friday, while he was playing, I looked back through the pictures of him through the years and reminised...

Aug. 16, 2008
Week in Review -- August 10-16

This week was a full one, but the kind I like -- what a blessing it is to be healthy, have chores to do, and places to go -- it means you have a home to care for, food to prepare, and family and friends to share life with.

Sunday, we went mini-golfing after church.  Little Man requested this last Friday, so Daddy made a phone call and we were able to enjoy 18 holes in the town where we attend church.  (We live in a county that has more neighborhoods than actual towns.  Everything is spread out and driving to get to places is just the norm for us.) 

After sun-set, we focused on taking time to clean the house (I call it our "House Blessing").  The kids tended to their weekly chores, and I did the others.  We try to keep things up, so it's not so bad most of the time and takes us under an hour.  I'm going to try to do this every Sunday night so we can start our week off fresh and not have to do it during the school week (which eats into our school time).  Saturday is usually our true day of rest unless we have some major house chores to do; Sundays DH gets up before 6 am to help set up at church (we meet in a movie theater) and I help with the children's ministry, and then we get home around 1pm, have lunch and usually nap, read, play with the kids, etc.

Monday, we went to DD's riding lessons in the morning and afterwards went to the "hometown" library.  We have started volunteering there a couple days a month.  DD gets to learn the library system and we both get to give back to the community -- Little Man hangs out and looks at books and plays.  We came home where I did several loads of laundry and made a call to the children's pediatrician to set-up routine annual check-ups for them for later this month.  We had a delicious dinner of homemade rotisserie chicken & couscous for supper.

Tuesday, I cleaned the master bedroom and washed the bedding.  I also made it my "Bread Day" and baked 2 loaves of wheat, 4 of unbleached with wheat bran, and a batch of cinnamon rolls that I freeze for a quick grab-&-go breakfast for Sunday mornings.  There is nothing better than fresh bread!  Unless it's fresh bread with homemade chicken soup, which I made with the leftovers from the night before, as DH felt like he was coming down with a sore throat and wanted to nip it in the bud (the soup worked!).  Little Man was thumbing though an atlas and saw a page on Mexico.  He got the art supplies and made the Mexican flag, and from there was spurred on to ask many questions about that country -- I love his love of learning  (Maybe he was drawn to it, as we are learning Spanish this year?)

Wednesday, we left early to drive up to the city for a day of errands and meetings.  Our kittens had their appointments to be spayed/neutered at the Humane Society, so we dropped them off at 9am and were told to pick them up at 5pm.  We went to the city library and Little Man wanted books on Mexico, so we checked some out. 

We met the director of our Classical Conversations group and the other four tutors at Monkey Joes to have tutor meeting in order to go over the first 12 weeks of our co-op (we were to meet at a park but changed plans due to the rain).  We were able to get a party room and spent 3 hours discussing our year.  I'm so excited for our upcoming classes.  We've doubled our enrollment and are adding 2 more Foundations classes (last year we had 3).  Another tutor & I are returning (the 3rd is moving) and the 3 new ones are going to be fantastic.  I love every family in our group and can't wait to meet the new ones and the students I'll be tutoring.  I also need to say a big thank you to DD who watched her little brother with such care and unselfishness so I could focus on the meeting.  She is the best big sister! (And daughter!)

Afterwards we did a quick shopping trip to Old Navy were I had  a $5 credit and I ended up buying 2 pairs of children's flipflops with the credit.  Then to Sams for our grocery run and gas, and finally picking up the kittens (who did just fine) and headed home.

Thursday was a work day for me as I finalized all the helps for the Foundations weekly memory work, etc I had created over the summer for Classical Conversations (CC) and sent them to the other tutors.  I also finished my parent letter, and other odds and ends for the Pressentials class I'll also be teaching. Foundations will be Tuesday mornings starting after Labor Day and Pressentials will be in the afternoons (where I'm teaching Writing Trails in American History, Shurley English Level 3, and all 3 Cycles/years of CC's English Grammar weekly facts) .

The kids did school and drew more Mexican flags and I pulled out our Ancient History Pockets book for Little Man who wanted more information on Mexico.  So copies were made for him of the Ancient Aztecs material.  Since DD had already did the entire book two years ago, she was content to spend the afternoon reading.

I simmered pinto beans on the stove all day for beans & rice for supper, which we had along with a big spinach salad.  In the evening, since it was gloriously cool after several weeks of very hot weather, the kids and I slept in the playhouse (Daddy prefers his own bed).

Friday, we had french toast for Little Man's 5th bday and then he opened his birthday gifts from us.  He played with his new Home Depot play workbench and tools all day while listening to his new CD/radio.  He is truly one happy "Big 5 Year Old Boy."

I finally made much needed phone calls to friends to invite one family over for a swim next week, while the other friend told me about some co-op classes down here in our county that her group is going to do. (They sound wonderful, but we will need to see if we are able to do them since we are involved in our weekly Classical Conversations group, and two groups may just be too much for us.  They are doing a very wise thing though and planning for them to take place from 2:30 to 5:00pm, as they understand having a morning out of the house makes it hard to do your needed homeschool studies.)

  Hubby came home and took the kids to the neighborhood pool to swim so I could make homemade tortillas to go with the beans & rice.  We relaxed as a family in the evening and watched a little of the Olympics.  After putting the kids to bed, I had a cup of tea, read a little of the new Court Reporter magazine for HSLDA, and drifted off to sleep listening to the book of James from our audio bible CDs.

Today, Saturdy, we slept in until almost 8:00 am (a big deal at our house) and enjoyed blueberry pancakes.  We watched the video replay of Michael Phelps record-tying 7th gold medal swim.  Later this afternoon, we plan to drive up to the city to continue celebrating Little Man's birthday by going out to eat at one of our favorite restaraunts. (So far, 3 of us have had birthdays this year and we've all requested to go there -- wonder if Daddy will also pick it when it is his turn...)

Tomorrow, Sunday, we will go to church and then come home and get ready to go to our church's Baptism Celebration later that afternoon.  We always have it at a local Baptist camp that over looks the ocean -- truly a beautiful place.  I think I'll take Blueberry "Brownies" (a great story goes with their name) for the big potluck we'll be having. 

Aug. 16, 2008
We Found Our Fill, On Blueberry Hill.... (with recipes!)

Well, not a hill really.  Just a few acres that a wonderful family has owned along one of our local highways for several generations and has a U-pick blueberry farm on it.  Even though neighborhoods are popping up around it and a Dollar General has built a store next to it, they continue to bless the area with their wonderful blueberries. 

As the population grows and more people hear about it, due to demand (lots of people pick their fill quickly) they are only open a few Saturdays in the summer.  You just watch as you drive along the highway for their sign to change from "CLOSED" to "OPEN THIS SATURDAY 7-11."

I was thrilled to over-hear last year the conversation between someone I was behind in the "pay here" line and one of the family members who owns it.  The customer asked them when they were going to sell and reap the benefits of the "land boom."  "Never," was the family's reply.  (How I hope that determination lasts.) 

Every year, we pick bucketfuls of blueberries to enjoy throughout the rest of the year.  Last year, we picked 40-some pounds in one day (due to the late, hard frost of 2007, they were only open that one day last summer).  This summer, we picked 98 pounds during our two mornings of gathering.  One-third of our freezer is packed with blueberries for fruit smoothies, muffins, cobblers, etc., which will last us until next summer's picking.

Here are some of our family's favorite bluebery recipes which have gotten rave reviews from family and friends....

Aug. 15, 2008
"This is the Best Bread" -- "Just Like a Restaurant's!"

Those are the comments I got from Darling Daughter when she took a bite of the bread I had made from a new reciepe.  I had run out of whole wheat flour last week and needed to make some bread, so I grabbed the unbleached flour and doctored up a recipe I found.  It give you the lightness of white bread, but with the healthy-ness of unbleached flour and wheat bran.

1 ½ c. lukewarm water

4 c. unbleached flour

1 c. wheat bran (can also use oat bran)

2 t. salt

3 T. raw sugar

2 T. dry milk

2 T. olive oil

2 t. dry yeast

Mix all ingredients together in mixing bowl or bread maker and knead for recommeneded times.  Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.  Punch down and form into loaves (can also make dinner or cinnamon rolls).  Let rise.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.  COVER with foil and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until done.  (I've only made free-form loaves out of it so far -- if using bread pans, it may take longer.)

Aug. 8, 2008
S&T Fri -- First Week of School

We do school year-round, but took time off from heavy academics during the month of July.  We started back this week, and what a great week it was!  (Our curriculm outline is HERE.)

Every year, we give the kids a large gift bag with their school supplies, books, etc and we sit around and the excitement begins as they pull everything out one-by-one.  Afterwards, they decorated the outside covers of their school planners.

Little Man is wonderfully creative, like his sister, and came up to me on Monday and said, "Mommy, I want to make an American flag."  Before I could finish what I was currently doing to help him, he had gotten some paper towel, a kite stick, and the markers out and was busy doing it all on his own.  Our little guy is getting big and more independent!

We also did some really great nature study this week, so go on over to our "For the Beauty" blog to check it out.  (Was a "C" Week theme -- Crickets & Cicadas!)

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

Aug. 4, 2008
Personal Quiet Time Goal Outline for 2008-09 School Year -- Paul's Epistles

I began my journey today of working through the Paul's Epistles during my quiet times as we start our school year.   These letters, or epistles, were written for doctorine, reproof, instruction and correction, all areas I'm desiring to grow in.

I'm am reading them chronologically, in the order he wrote them (some scholars disagree on the exact dates), studying his inspired teachings as he traveled around building and exhorting the early Church.  I study from The Reformation Study Bible and www.bible.crosswalk.com, along with listening to the bible on CD as we drive around in the car, hang out around the house, and drift off to sleep at night. (Deut. 6)

Books Written by Paul

Missionary Journey #	Books	Description	Date
2	1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians	Written during 2nd missionary journey in Corinth. Called the "eschalogical epistle." "escha" = last     "logical" = study of Are about the study of "last things" -- the 2nd coming of Christ 1 Thes. is about the history of Paul's ministry among them; Instructions in Ethics, Eschatology, & Congregational Life 2 Thes. is about Paul's cause for boasting ; Instructions regarding the Day of the Lord, Prayer & Exhortation, and Labor	50-51 AD
The following 4 letters written during Paul's 3rd missionary journey are called the "Doctrinal Epistles"
3	Galatians	Discusses the problem in Galatia (Dif. gospel from false teachers; Defends Paul's Apostleship; Paul's Defense of the Gospel	54-55 AD
3	1 Corinthians	1 Cor was written in Ephesus.  Describes the divisions of the church (The Gospel & True Wisdom; Ministry & Apostleship); Responds to the Corinthians letter	55 AD
3	2 Corinthians	Written after Paul left Ephisus but before he arrived again in Corinth. Explains Paul's ministry; Shares about the Christians in Jerusalem; Defends against the false apostles	55-56 AD
3	Romans	Written in Corinth, before his visit to Jerusalem Themes are: The righteousness of God for Jew & Gentile Mankind's universal sinfulness God's righteousness for justification Grace reigns through God's righteousness God demonstrates His righteousness in Jews & Gentiles God's righteousness grasped & expressed in His people's lives Paul's plans & Concluding greetings	55-57 AD
The next 4 books were written during Paul's first imprisonment, which was a 2-year house arrest in Rome (Acts 28).  They are called the "Prison Epistles." The theme of these letters are "Christology" or the "study of Christ" because the doctorine of the person & work of Christ is prominent in them. I remember these books with the acronym that comes from a popular soft drink: "PEPC" (click to read a devotion I taught on Paul's prison epistles titled: "One Believer's Journey: Would We Sign Up for This Trip?"
	Philemon	Written to Philemon, a Christian brother & slaveholder, asking him to welcome Onesimus (Philemon's slave who had run away and met Paul in Rome, where Paul led him to Christ.) back not as a slave, but a Christian brother.	60 AD
	Ephesians	Ephesus contained the Temple of Diana, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Themes are... Our Position in Christ Our Walk in Christ: Toward Unity & Purity Our Stand Against the Spiritual Forces of Darkness	60-62 AD
	Philippians	Themes are... The Truth of the Gospel Truth Against Error	61-62 AD
	Colossians	Themes are... God's Son as Head over Creation & the Cosmic Powers, as well as Head over Re-creation & Reconciliation The Purpose of Paul's Ministry & and His Interest in the Colossians. The Sufficiency of Christ Life in Christ	61 AD
The final 3 books were written during Paul's release and 2nd imprisonment. Called the "Pastoral Epistles" or Ecclesiastical because of the emphesis on church adminstration.
4	1 Timothy	Written in Macedonia to Timothy Themes are... Dealing with False Teachers & the Law Paul's Testimony & Charge Instructions for the Life of the Church The Problem with False Doctorine Guidelines fr a Young Pastor	62-65AD
4	Titus	Written in Macedonia to Titus, a Gentile Christian. Paul wanted Titus to complete the organization of the churches, deal with false teachers, give instructions to the churches on proper conduct.  Themes are... Organizing the Churches in Crete Instructing Various Groups Instructing on Doing What is Good.	62-64AD
	2 Timothy	Written in Rome while awaiting death Themes are... Exhortations to Boldness & Faithfulness The Problem of False Teachers Paul's Final Instructions to Timothy	66 AD

Aug. 2, 2008
Padems Visit, Part 2

Here are some more pictures that I just received from a friend* from church of Sunday's events while the Padems were here visiting.  

• Yesupadem & Monika meet and greet people outside the cinema our church is renting on Sundays.  Yes, Virginia, we DO meet in a movie theater! 
• Pastor Troy & Yesupadem joking around.
• The prayer before the sermon.
• Yesupadem sharing his testimony and challenging us from God's Word.

*We have a wonderful servant at our church who takes pictures every week to capture the events of our church.  What a blessing she is, as it allows a chronicling of the history of our church, day by day, which all too soon turn into years.  As they use her pictures for slide shows, etc, I am always grateful that Ms. Bev is always there, quietly and consistently taking wonderful pictures.  She had snapped some the Sunday Yesupadem spoke, and graciously sent me some copies this week.

Aug. 1, 2008
Padems Visit-- One of Our Favorite Moments of the Summer

We are blessed to know a dear family who are ministers in India. Look HERE & HERE for past blog entries about our family's relationship with them.  We first met them 9 years ago at DH's uncle's home, when their daughter was 6 months, and I was almost due with our daughter.  (DD's cousins have each gone over to India for about 9 months between high school & college to serve with Yesupadem's ministry, Love-N-Care.)

They stayed with us the 17-21 of July and how we enjoyed them in our home!  It always blesses us in such an amazing way.   Since our daughters are the same age, they get along very well and did the girly things of dress-up, playing in the playhouse, being imaginative, etc.  The boys, while further apart in age (their son is 8 and ours is almost 5), they got along famously and played cricket with the daddies.  All the kids played very well together and put on a play for us the first evening they got in...

Yesupadem & Monika getting some much needed R&R while the kids perform their play.

Our days were spent swimming, going to the beach, and playing cricket (DH had bought cricket bats during his trip to India this past January, so we were glad to get some pointers and rule clarification).  DH was also able to have them with some electronic equipment, and worked with them on details for the website that he hopes to help them upgrade. (A new website has been on their prayer list for awhile.)   We filled them up with homemade meals and fresh bread -- something Monika said she truly missed as they don't have ovens in India.  (After her statement, I made sure to have bread on the table every evening.) 

Friday evening, we went to Celebrate Recovery, a ministry our church has, where both Yesupadem and Monika spoke.  (Monika telling about how they met and the ministry, and Yesupadem gave the message from John 9 on the blind man, that was full of challenge and truth.  (Yesupadem says he could right a book on that chapter and how I hope someday he will!).

1.  Christ always went to those who needed help, acceptance, & love

2.  The man didn't need any more condemnation in his life (v.2) -- it was the disciples who asked the question, "whose sin caused this man's blindness."  Are we in the church condemning others when we ourselves have a sin nature in us? 

3. Jesus replied to them that God allowed that man to be blind because God wanted to glorify his name.  He didn't rebuke the disciples, just spoke the truth to them.  We need to make sure people feel welcomed in our churches and that as the church, we never lose our salt & light.  One soul is more important than the whole world.

On the way to Friday's service.

On Sunday, Yesupadem spoke at our church and what a powerful message!  To hear it, click HERE.  (Sorry there is not a more direct link.  Click on the "podcast" icon and then on the July 20, 2008 message titled "Go."  You will see Yesupadem's name and a description of his sermon.)  I know we are all busy, but I hope when you have a minute, you will listen to it to be encouraged and challenged, and learn more about what Jesus can do and desires to do.

That evening, we had the church staff over, along with those who had gone on the mission's trip in January, to our neighborhood clubhouse to swim...

.. and to share a meal and enjoy some great fellowship with each other and the Padems before they had to leave the next day to continue their trip across North America.

Their son had never had apple pie, so we made sure to pick some up specail just for him -- he LOVED it! Little Man did to, and he loved Monika and Yesupadem.  He keeps telling us how he is going to go to India.  He has been praying for a helicopter (yellow, to be exact) for their ministry to use in medical missions since they mentioned it last year.  If you have read about our son, you'll know that he ADORES helicopters.  Perhaps someday he'll be flying one for Love n Care! 

The story of Yesupadem & Monika's marriage is quite interesting  -- and a testimony of how God can bring 2 people together.  Yesupadem's first wife (whom he had 2 children with who are now grown and are serving in the ministry) died of cancer and about a year or so after her death, he was being pressured to remarry.

He did not desire to so and prayed to the Lord a prayer he didn't think He could answer.  In his "Impossible Prayer," he told the Lord that if He had him to remarry, his wife must...

1. Have blond hair.

2. Have blue eyes.

3.  Be light-skinned (so far these do not describe any Indian, do they?)

4.  And come to him and ask (a cultural taboo, wherever you live!)

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean in Canada, there was a young woman named Monika who had read the story of Isaac and Rebekah, and who asked the Lord to arrange her marriage as He had done for that biblical couple.  She recalled the quote, "God gives His very best to those that leave the choice up to him."

While she waited on Him to arrange for a husband for her, she grew in the Lord and served Him through YWAM and other opportunities.  As she shared more about this during year's stay with us, it was amazing how He used it all to prepare her for India.  (We encouraged her to write it down and Yesupadem agreed!)  One thing the Lord did to prepare her was to have her be an assistant to a paraplegic who was going to Malaysia, which allowed her to experience the spiritual darkness of a nation.  She said the woman she was assisting was not a Christian, and she felt very alone in her faith, but that God strengthened it as she leaned on Him and she learned to have a strong faith in a place where there was none.  Eventually during her time there, she found a church that was like a shining oasis in the dark desert.

When she got back home, she was told about a pastor from India who was going to speak at a church.  She had always felt a call to missions, and as she listened to this missionary, she felt led to go.  She didn't have enough money or financial support to take such a trip, but he said that if anyone wanted to come help at the ministry, they only need the plane fare there.

A few months later, she was in India and joined the team of foreigners that had heard this man, Yesupadem, speak and had planned to serve the Lord short-term in India.  DH's cousin, the first from his family to go, was one of those people she met during her stay there.

As time passed during her trip in India, she felt burdened by the responsibilities Yesupadem had and began praying for him.  One evening, during a crusade in which he was speaking, Monika was praying for him while the team from the minstry attended it.  She heard the Lord say, "He is your husband.  You are to tell him."  Yes, she was shocked!  If you knew Monika, you would know that she is quiet, reserved, and not one to tell a man such a thing.  She prayed, asked if He was sure, and I'm sure struggled with many other questions one who is in that situation has. 

The next day, the car which they were riding in, along with some other people from the ministry, broke down.  While others went of to get the car fixed, Yesupadem and Monika were left to wait along the side of the road.  God told Monika, "Tell him" and she bravely obeyed.  Needless to say, Yesupadem was quite surprised, but then he thought back to his "Impossible Prayer."  In that prayer, God was leading him to the perfect woman to be his second wife, and He had prepared her to meet that role.

They were married about 18 months later and Monika has now been in India 11 1/2 years.  God has blessed Yesupadem with 2 more children, and Monika is the perfect helpmeet for him.  Another  amazing "thread" through all of this story is how God used a nation (Canada) to bring Yesupadem to a relationship with him, and to provide him with a second wife.

Before Yesupadem was born, his father (who was an untouchable, the caste named so as in that culture they believe that particular caste was so low that it came from under the foot of God) served as the village priest for the monkey god, who he had been named after.  (The priests usually come from the high caste, but would not come to an untouchable village, so his father was assigned to do those duties.)  He was married, had four children, was very poor and sometimes only had enough food for his family for 3-4 meals a week. 

One day, a Baptist missionary from Canada came to his village and being preaching.   Some people came out to listen, including Yesupadem's father, and one-by-one they all left but him.  He accepted Christ and as a result, became an outcaste among outcastes and was rejected by his village and family. 

When his fifth and last child was born, his father gave him the name "Yesupadem" which means "the foot of Jesus."  One day on the way to school at the age of 10, dying of starvation, Yesupadem collapsed on the road.  No one would help him, due to his untouchable status.  But a Canadian missionary riding in a jeep with his family stopped his vehicle, picked the young boy up and took him to the hospital.  The missionary paid for his almost 2 week stay, and without his "Good Samaritan" act, Yesupadem would have died.

Yesupadem did not share the faith of his father, due to the injustice he felt in the caste system. He continually felt rejected by society.   It was added to by the fact that he was known as a "Christian", due to his father's faith -- being a Christian in India limits you even more than being an untouchable.  He became a communist, as it promised to remedy many of the things wrong with his nation.  Many miserable and sinful years followed.  While disappointed, his father never stopped telling him, "Son, Jesus loves you.  He died for you."

One day, he was invited to a Christian meeting and as the preacher spoke, he saw a vision of Christ on the cross.  As he saw a close-up of Christ's hand with the nail and His blood dripping drop by drop, He heard Christ say, "All this I have done for you.  What will you do for me?"

Radically saved from that moment, vowing from the very last breath of his life that he tell his people that Jesus is God, he became like Paul the apostle and immediately began to preach. Those who knew him before were shocked.  Though threatened with death by his former friends in communism, he said that he would tell people about the salvation of Christ until his dying day.  Amazed by his courage and the truth of God, that day three of those friends accepted Christ. 

For more information on his ministry, visit http://www.love-n-careministries.org

Aug. 1, 2008
S&T Fri -- "Farm Families Have Always Gone Green"

Yesterday, I received the most delight surprise in the mail.  Two months ago, I was reading about 100 mile diets, gardening on city lots, etc.   As I pondered on all of those things, thoughts of my childhood came to my mind, and I jotted down a little something on my laptop.

My sweet MIL, who is editor of a local newspaper in her area (I'm so proud of her for fulfilling her dream!), is always interested in my musings that I share on this blog, along with any private ones I may have.  So off went the document to her via email, to give her a little smile.

Imagine my surprise when she replied to me that she loved it and wanted to know if I would consider submitting it for a Going Green section they were planning on for the end of July.  So I agreed, and didn't think about it much more, as I was busy being a wife & mom, was delighted to be working on another writing opportunity God had sent my way (writing a chapter for a Nature Study ebook TOS will be putting out soon), and preparing & attending Creation Camp.

Well, yesterday the newspaper arrived from her and within the section was my article!  Thank you my dear, sweet mother-in-love* for helping another person fulfill her dreams.

*What a privledge it is to have her for a mother-in-law, but she is far more than that.  She welcomed me from the very moment we met and has been one of the dearest people in my life.  Although a 17 hour drive separates our families, we chat via email or phone weekly, and she is always interested in our going-ons and encourages us.  We may be bound through the legal law, but there is a bind between us even stronger for the love and respect we have for one another.

FARM FAMILIES HAVE ALWAYS "GONE GREEN"

Have you heard about the 100-Mile Diet?  It is becoming a popular movement today in some circles, encouraging people to eat locally.  Much of our current food supply comes from 1500 miles away – that’s right 1500 miles! 

People are saying, “Enough of that!  Let’s get our food locally, fresh & organic, and in season!”  They are supporting their local farmers’ markets; buying from health food stores that carry local produce, meats, and dairy products; even replacing some of the sod in their yards for a small garden, all with goal to have the food on their plate come from less than 100 miles around.

Hum… seems like this farm kid’s parents were hip before they knew it – they just did the 100-mile diet out of necessity and by following how their parents grew up, and their parents before them.  Seems like this new “idea” is just a matter of getting back to the way things used to be.

My folks are 3^rd generation farmers; my older brother is currently the 4^th generation farmer for the land that has been in our family for about 90 years.  Growing up, my mom was “super-woman” of farm-wives, but then again so were most of the farm-wives around us.  Typical of most of the farmers around us, we had a large garden, chickens, beef cattle, etc. and what ended up on our dinner plates came from our own farms.

We have pictures of Mom pulling my older siblings in a wagon while she tended her geese. We slept on feather pillows, thanks to those geese and my mom’s pillow making abilities.  We sliced fresh sweet corn off the cob every summer to put into the freezer.  Strawberries would be sliced, sugared, and frozen for toppings for ice cream (the home-made kind, of course, made with milk from our dairy cattle and eggs from our chickens).  And I remember how sad Mom was when her huge strawberry patch had to go to make way for a much needed grain bin!

 Vegetables were enjoyed fresh out of the garden and the remainder canned.  We milked twice a day, brought the milk in, strained it, separated the milk from the cream, sold some to a few town people, and had the rest to drink and cook with.  Mom even made fresh butter from the cream.  

A whole cow that had spent its entire (short) life on our farm was usually wrapped in neat white paper in the huge chest freezer located in our cellar.  I remember many scary times of going down into the dim light of a single 60-watt light bulb, getting out steak, hamburger, etc. to bring up for Mom to cook for dinner.  There were many nights we kids, sick of beef, complained, “Oh, Mom!  Not T-bone steak AGAIN?!”

Every spring Mom ordered dozens of little fuzzy yellow balls of baby chickens, or peeps.  For those of you who don’t know chickens, in my mom’s, aunts’, and grandmothers’ minds, there were two kinds:  layers & fryers.  When grown, the layers lived a life of producing eggs on our farm and my mom made a small income off their eggs and the above mentioned milk from our cattle, while the fryers… well, became fried chicken.  I remember learning anatomy when we butchered those chickens every late summer – that might be why I had the stomach to be a nurse. 

I also became an expert at holding my breath for long periods of time when it was my turn to gather eggs from the chicken coop (due to all the good “natural fertilizer” in there).  My sister and I also had the joy of cleaning the eggs before putting them into the cartons – they aren’t always the nice clean white things you see in the store!

Farming is hard work, especially keeping up on daily chores.  We kids whined – a lot!  We always had chores to do.  We would complain that our other friends had nowhere near the number of chores or amount of hard work.  We did daily farm chores, helped with inside house work, did dished by hand every morning before school and every night after supper, walked beans, cut thistles out of pastures, were in 4-H, helped with seasonal work around the farm, etc. 

But, wow, what an amazing work ethic we each have now.  We shake our heads when we see people who don’t know how to work, or who fail to have any initiative.  I’m afraid it’s becoming an epidemic.

People are amazed when they see “little, petite me” lifting heavy things, doing hard work, etc.  We helped at a work day last spring at a friend’s house, as a group of us cleaned up his acreage.  When he commented that he has never seen another woman work as hard as me, I was a bit amazed.  In my family, you just worked HARD.  It was normal. 

When an elderly neighbor recently offered to help my husband and I move a mattress box spring into our house, my husband declined, thanking him but saying, “My wife is one strong lady.  We’ve got it.”  The neighbor turned to me, looking at me like, “How can your husband make you do this?”  I replied, in a joking way, “I grew up on a farm.  If you didn’t learn how to work, you got yelled at or made fun of.”  J   

Plus, it was the only way your family would make a living or have anything to eat…

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

Jul. 31, 2008
2008-2009 School Plans

We enjoy using Classical Conversations as our main curriculum; it is 24 weeks long and we meet for 12 weeks from Sept-Dec, and then another 12 weeks from Jan to April.  It looks like a lot, but it is very do-able, as you meet one day a week as a group to learn & review memory work and do science & art projects together.  Then during the rest of the week, we will review our facts in the car, at breakfast &/or lunchtime, etc.  We use the audio CD and Memory Resource Computer CD by CC to help with review also, and those are some of our favorite resources. 

We also do the children's reading assignments and our family read-alouds based on a few interesting facts/people that we are learning about that week.  We use our memory work for copywork, notebooking, timelines, etc. to learn more about certain things that interest us, etc.  Because both Darling Daughter and Little Man are covering the same things, it makes it very easy on me, and we learn so much together.  This is our 3rd year doing Classical Conversations (2nd with a group) and I'm always amazed at how much we learn and how wonderful the program is.  It allows us the structure we need to make sure we are staying on track and the flexibility we need to tailor it to our family.  To me, it is a perfect combination of the Classical and Charlotte Mason philosophies.

To supplement our history, we will be listening to Story of the World (Volumes 3 & 4) this year, along with Living Principles of America audio series and old-time radio shows. 

A friend introduced us to www.brainpop.com this spring, so we are going to use that website this year for many of the different events, places, facts, etc we will be learning about this year.

For the "origins" section of our CC program, we will be watching Creation Science Evangelism's 7-DVD Creation Seminar Series as a family and discussing them in the evenings and weekends, and will be reading "It Couldn't Just Happen" aloud.

Our Bible time will consist of memorizing John 1:1-7 in English & Latin and we will continue family devotions in the evening with the book, "How to Get Into the Bible" that we just started on this week.  After that is completed, we may do a hymn or Christmas study.  We will begin our school day with First Lessons in Gentleness & Truth for our devotions to open our school day, along with Catechism Q&A.

**Optional Memory Master track, where a student strives to m

Jul. 25, 2008
Creation Camp

The week of June 7-11, the kids and I attended a week-long Creation Camp at OneLife, a ministry our friends have.  It was a joy to spend all week with them, helping them with the camp.  We got to know them even more, which was such a blessing.  I worked at a camp in college and realized once again how much I love camp life.  The fellowship with the staff is so uplifting and seeing everyone pour into the kids encouraged all of us and gave us strength (His strength!) all week. 

Our friend, Brent, who ran the camp, did Nature Study and did a fabulous job.  He was able to find a King Snake prior to camp starting and gave it a home that week so the kids could see her up close and personal.  We were surprised to come into the barn one morning (where we had worship and nature study) to see 4 eggs in the corner of her terarium.  Later in the week, Brent let all the kids hold it (all who wanted to -- all the girls did, including our Darling Daughter who had no qualms about it).

King snakes are named so, as they eat other snakes, especially the poisonous kinds like cottonmouths, rattlers, etc -- they are immune to their venoms!  Some people think that the snake from Aaron's staff was a king snake, since it devoured the Eygtian magician's snakes in Pharoah's court. (Genesis 7:8-13)

Kids enjoyed worshipping and singing, and all become very close-knit during the 5-days.  Darling Daughter is the 2nd from the left and Little Man is belting it out 2nd from the right.

I had the priviledge of doing the Bible teaching.  During that time, we focused on the 6 days of creation, dinosaurs, and Noah's Ark.  Our family has learned a lot about those things over the last year, so it was great fun to pass on God's truth to the kids.  Answers in Genesis has wonderful studies that I used as visuals for the kids and we talked about each day in depth the first 2 days.  It was neat to see how the first 3 days God created the "spaces" (Heavens/Earth, Sky/Water, Land/Water into Seas), and Days 4-6 He filled them (Sun/Moon/Stars, Birds/Sea Creatures, Livestock/Creeping Things/Beasts of the Field/Man).

Darling Daughter sat next to me as I reviewed with the girls the days and the items we drew in each section.  We went over this for several days and every kid now has a solid understanding of what was made when, and how a little how evolution cannot be correct, as it has birds evolving after dinosaurs, etc.

On Wednesday, we read from Job 40-41 and discussed how although the word "dinosaur" is not in the bible (since it was invented until the 1800's, while the KJV was traslated in the 1600's), the words "dragon, behemoth, and leviathan" are.  We read each verse and the children drew pictures from what was described.  I also shared with them some facts from "The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible."  They were really surprised that dragons were indeed real, not a myth as they've been lead to believe, and that they were seen up to the 1500's.  The boys also thought it was very neat that the royal family in China had them to pull their chariots.

Thursday and Friday, we discussed Noah's ark.  We talked about what a cubit was and although some references say a cubit is 18.5", while the Babylonian cubit was 24".  Using the both cubits, we measured off in feet.  Seeing it on the land, it was amazing how large it was!  I shared with them some information from http://www.worldwideflood.com/.  I also showed them the hydroplate theory video; I also highly recommend the free download videos from www.dr.dino.com.  (Our family watched the series from netflex.)

 The last day, we went out on a raft trip on a tidal creek that is on the Camp's property.  We saw alligators, herons, ibises, barn swallows, red-tailed hawks, and more.  The kids helped the rowers by adding a "feet-powered motor."

 Our friends' daughter, who is about 9 months younger than Little Man, enjoyed having her friends spend the whole week at her house, as we slept in their spare bedroom.  The kids climbed their fabulous cherry tree in the front yard, challenged each other to races to the barn, snuck tomatoes to snack on from the garden, and just enjoyed being together.

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

Jul. 23, 2008
School Year Preparations

It's that time of year again at our house -- when Mama makes plans for our year as Daddy oversees the direction for the upcoming year.  I love his help -- he lets me know what is really important in his eyes, saving me much time and sanity. 

Last Wednesday, my dear friend took the kids for me so I could have a planning day in a quiet, quaint town near us.  I was thinking how rare it is that I ever have day to myself -- I love being a mommy, but how glad I am my friend offered to take the kids for me.

My morning did get away from me, but in a glorious way -- I had two "divine appointments."  The first was an unexpected phone call from our friend who did the Creation Camp -- the woman who had blessed the camp with the pontoon frame from the raft was leaving town and wanted to see pictures.  My camera was the main camera used at camp, so I met Brent at a coffee shop and downloaded the boat pictures onto a CD for him.

Next, I went to a park that looks out over the waterway, and read from 1 Timothy.  I felt God nudging me to talk to the person who I could hear on a bench behind me.  So I turned around and said, "Isn't it a beautiful day out?"  That started a chat, and he asked me what I was reading, which lead to a talk about churches, a relationship with the Lord, his past experiences in churches, and more.  Finally, as our conversation wound-down and we said our good-byes, I was able to give him an invite card to our church.

I went to lunch at a Thai resteraunt in town and then headed over to the library to do some planning.  I am tutoring again this year for Classical Conversations in their Foundations Program, so I planned my first 12 weeks of classes in the areas of history and science.  My friend said she wants to give me another planning day, which will help me with my other planning (our own homeschool, the rest of Foundations, and a Pressentials class I will be teaching at Classical Conversations).

I finished my day with a chocolate-peanut butter shake from a dairy bar in town and then met my friend at the chiropracter both of our families go to so we could get adjustments.  What a blessing my friend is, and our children had a great day together.  (Playing on their slip&slide, seeing their friends' great-grandmother, and exploring their backyard.)

Jun. 20, 2008
S&T Fri -- Darling Daughter's Riding Lessons

Our daughter has loved horses for years, and it isn't just a young girl's passing fancy.  She's read books on horses.  Watched moives about horses.  Asked for a unit study on horses.  Made her brother play horse games.  Dreamed of horses.   

She's wanted riding lessons, but we wanted to make sure she was old enough and that we could also find the right trainer for her.

So when she made "Memory Master" this spring with our Classical Conversations group, her father and I decided to reward her by fulfilling her dream.  We've found an wonderful woman near us who has the perfect riding program for our daughter.  She teaches all ages, uses the CHA program, and also runs a riding program for disabled children.  DD has to groom the horse, put on its tack, and study worksheets each week to take tests (written and physical) to pass up through the levels.  So far, she has loved it! 

The only thing she needs to work on making sure the horse knows that she as the rider is the boss.  DD is a soft-spoken, gentle soul and her riding instructor has to keep encouraging her to speak louder to the horse and be a little more firm.  This experience has been so very good for our little girl, in so many ways...

 Learning to groom.

Working on balance and other basics with fun and games.

 

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

Jun. 20, 2008
Home-Schoolers Threaten Our Cultural Comfort

Click here to read an article written by Sonny Scott where he offers a opinion of why the American public hates (or at least distrust) homeschoolers so much. He is like a psychologist explaining to a client that their problem isn't the other person (homeschoolers) -- it is themself (society).

He points out homeschoolers "savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion."

He says that homeschoolers "very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return."

While he generalizes about his opinions of the way homeschoolers dress ("clean but unfashionable clothes") it is an article worth reading and sharing.   Well said, Mr. Scott.  Well said.

Jun. 20, 2008
New Twist Chocolate Chip Cookies

My mom made these when we were little -- they were our favorite cookie bars!!!  If you would like it a little bit healthier (how I make it now) use the ingredients in parethesis.

New Twist Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 c. margarine (butter)

½ c. whte sugar (raw or fructose)

½ c. brown sugar (turbinado)

¼ tsp. baking soda

1 T. water

½ tsp. butter flavoring

¼ tsp. black walnut flavoring

2 egg yolks

2 c. flour (unbleached or whole wheat pastry)

1 c. chocolate chips

Cream margarine and sugars.  Combine soda and water and beat in.  Add flavorings and egg yolks and beat well.  Stir in the flour.  Pat this mixture into bottom of 9x13-inch pan that has been greased and floured.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and cover with the following topping:

Topping:

2 egg whites

1 c. brown sugar (turbinado)

Beat the whites until stiff, then gradually beat in the sugar.  Spread over chocolate chips.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until brown.

(If you don’t have the flavorings on hand, I recommend getting them.  The recipe will work okay without them, but it adds such a wonderful taste…)

Jun. 19, 2008
One Believer’s Journey: Would We Sign-Up For This Trip?

Although I no longer have time in this season of my life to do Sweet Monday, I am cleaning up my computer and found a devotional I wrote for a meeting in 2005.  What an amazing example Paul is. 

  One Believer’s Journey – Would We Sign-Up For This Trip?

*Shortly after you become a Christian, enemies conspire to kill you. (Acts 9:23-25)

*Escape by being lowered down a wall in a basket.

*Other believers don’t trust you. (Acts 9:26-30)

*Find only one person who will stand up for you – he becomes your best friend.

 *Again have enemies try to kill you. Escape again.

*Take your first missions trip.  You have to strike a man blind when he attempts to use his satanic powers to oppose you. (Acts 13)

*Get run out of town several times for bolding teaching truth of God.  (13 & 14)

*Get stoned within an inch of your life. (14:19-20)

*Lose your best friend over a disagreement. (15:36-41)

*Be stripped & beaten (16:22-26)

*Get thrown in jail and have your feet immobilized

*Get saved from jail by means of a violet earthquake

*Go to other towns and have to leave them due to strong, physically-dangerous opposition (Acts 17)

*Almost get arrested on charges on inciting a riot (Acts 19)

*Again have enemies plot to kill you.  Hike 20-miles over rough country to avoid them. (Acts 20)

*Have someone fall asleep on you while you’re preaching.  Worse, he falls out a window & dies.  Bring him back to life

*Over & over again, you have to leave many dear friends that you have made, knowing that you will never see many of them again.

 *Get arrested again. (Acts 21-28)

*Go through a long and tedious arraignment process with many different judges where you make your case and proclaim God’s truth and your testimony over and over again.

*Finally, you appeal to go to the highest court in the land

*In traveling to the place of your trial, you have to sail in a small 140-foot boat with 1 sail and roughly 250-270 other people; a portion of them hardened criminals. 

*Before long, hurricane-forced winds hit and set your ship off course and threaten to break up your ship.

*Suffer through this for 14 days with very little food and sleep.

*Your boat finally breaks apart, but by a miracle everyone survives.

*You land on island.  It’s cold and raining.  You try to help gather wood to build a fire and get bitten by a poisonous viper.

*After at least 3 months, you finally set sail again.

*When you finally get to your destination you get sentenced to “2-5 years.”

*Spend them under house arrest.

*Pass the time by writing 4-5 books. 

*Celebrate your release by going on another journey. 

*End up leaving your winter coat and journal & letter-writing paper in one town, possibly b/c you had to leave quickly b/c your life was in danger (2 Tim 4:13)

*End up getting arrested again, and this time, instead of house arrest, you stay in a cold prison cell on death row.  Write to a good friend asking him if he could please bring the coat and letter-writing materials you left behind.

*Eventually get beheaded.

So was Paul’s fate.  Think he still would have gone if he knew all of this lay ahead for him, or even have become a Christian?  Thank goodness God doesn’t show us our future!  We might not ever want to step into it!

Paul wrote 4-5 books during his first trip to prison, when he was under house arrest.  They are known as the “prison epistles,” or a good way to remember them is to think of the word “Pep-C” (like Pepsi):  Phillipians, Ephesians, Philemon, and Colossians (and some scholars think that he might have also written the book of Hebrews at this time)

Rejoice (8) and Joy (9) are found a total of 17 times in those 4 books.  After going thru all those trials, problems, and even being under heavy guard -- his attitude was one of joy! 

Php 2:17 But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you.

Can we have joy like that on our life’s journey, no matter what struggles & difficulties we may go through? 

After what Paul went through, what is our excuse? 

Is it really about WHAT we face when we are on life’s journey,  -- or HOW we face the things that happen to us in life?  

Php 3:1 Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good. 

Php 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! 

Col 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy

Know what your hope is in.  Life is hard.  But that doesn’t mean through it all, you can’t have joy.  Just know what your joy is in, like Paul did.  If you are a Christian, you have to remember that the Lord CAN give you joy.  Pray for it.  Then, with Jesus, you can face anything. 

Jun. 19, 2008
Gift Basket Ideas

Searching google, I found some free gift basket design ideas at Rock Hill Cottage, and thought some might enjoy it.  (Think Christmas in July -- start looking for baskets and supplies now on sale, at thrift stores, etc. so you will be ready for the holidays.)

Themes for Basket Design Ideas

from: http://www.rockhillcottage.com/page/page/537113.htm

• RELAX AND ENJOY--Great for bridal shower, new mom or anyone that just deserves a break! Include soothing aromatherapy bath products such as bath salts or teas, soaps or bubble bath. And some nice candles, lotions, relaxing tea blends and maybe a nice journal. A bath pillow, slippers or a nice terry bath towel might be some extra luxurious touches, too! Use some soft flowers for extra enhancements.

• NIGHT OF ROMANCE--Perfect for wedding, anniversary or Valentine's gifts! Include massage oils, chocolates, candle, wine glasses and sensuous bath salts. (Note: Don't forget that chocolate absorbs scents, so you might have to wrap chocolates in a separate little bag or put extra shrink wrap on them.)

• PASTA LOVERS--Very popular basket! Great for wedding, new home or just because! Include gourmet pasta, marinara sauce, breadsticks or garlic bread mix, dessert, pasta server and/or wooden spoon, and a candle. Try a small bunch of plastic or beaded grapes or some grape vines and leaves for additional enhancements!

• ANGELS AMONG US--Give this to someone who has been an angel! Include angel soaps, an angel/cherub figurine, journal, teas, lotions, angel sachets or angel pins. Try marketing these to local churches to send to church members as get well gifts.

• TIME FOR COMFORT--For the person going through a rough time, think soothing. How about a gourmet chicken noodle soup mix. journal, teas, cocoas, candles or a nice set of stationery. These make great get well gifts or thinking of you!

• BEYOND THE GARDEN GATE--Know someone with a green thumb! Use gardening tools, gloves, seed packets, row markers, plant food, gardeners hand cream, gardening theme sachets, picture frames or notepads. Wrap it all up in a beautiful flowerpot, watering can or wooden picket fence container! Try marketing these to local landscape designers as customer appreciation gifts. Or talk to local nurseries about designing some of these for their store.

• WELCOME HOME--Great for new homeowner! Realtors, banks & mortgage companies love these! Include an address book, post it notes, refrigerator magnets, welcome sign, note cards, personalized stationery (you can do these on your computer for your special customers), candles, picture frames, gourmet soups or cookie mixes, coffees and maybe some snacks for the kids! Let the banks or realtors include a pen or mug with their company logos.

• MARGARITAVILLE--Use colorful Southwestern style basket or container for this fun basket! Include margarita mix, decorative margarita salt, salsas, chips, dips, playing cards and margarita glasses. (Note: make sure your mixes don't contain any alcohol unless you have a liquor license or the customer furnished the mix to you!)

• COOKIE LOVERS DREAM--Try a nice cookie jar or cookie platter for this yummy basket! Include gourmet cookies and cookie mixes, cookie cutters, spatula, wooden spoon, coffees, cocoas, mini cookie recipe book and a sugar cookie scented candle!

• BACKYARD CHEF--Great man's gift, wedding or new homeowners! Include gourmet BBQ sauces, spices or marinades, BBQ baster, mini BBQ cookbook, chef quality spatula, mitts and a Chef's hat for that extra touch.

• CHAMOIS AND SHINE--Car lovers dream basket! Include special car cleaners & waxes, chamois, cloths, sponges, cleaning brushes, key chain and special auto scent products. Try putting all of this in a nice bucket or basket! Market these to car dealers as customer appreciation gifts.

• KITCHEN CUPBOARD--Perfect for weddings and new homeowners! Make these special baskets up in a variety of price ranges and sizes. Start with some of these ideas: wooden spoons, utensils, nice dish towels or linen roll covers, pot holders, cookbook, timer, trivet, spoon rest, recipe holder, candles with kitchen scents like Baked Apple Pie, teas, mugs, gourmet spices, sauces or mixes. Use other containers like bowls or a roasting pan! Another basket that realtors love!

• SUNDAE DELIGHT--Ice cream lovers will enjoy this basket! Put in an ice cream scoop, gourmet syrups, nuts and other toppings, sundae spoons, linen napkins, sundae/fountain glasses and maybe a little notepad with a picture of ice cream on them.

• TIME IN A BOTTLE--Create memories with a Time Capsule. Include an elegant writing pen, stationery, envelopes, acid free papers, journal, picture album and picture frames. Put these items in a nice hinged lid basket, metal box or beautiful hatbox. Create a *New Baby* Time capsule using these same products with baby themes. If you really want to get creative try making up some beautiful colored forms on your computer like a *Letter to the Future* that you could include in this. Design a form with lots of lines for writing and add a few sheets to the basket. Market these ideas to new moms and new brides. Talk to your local hospital about putting these in their gift shop.

• MEMORIES OF MY TRAVELS--Try promoting these to travel agencies. Include a travel journal, stationery, fine writing pen, travel candle, photo album and soothing linen sprays for the nights away from home.

• AFTERNOON TEA--Include a variety of special tea blends, tea cup and saucer, tea pot, cookies or other snacks, candles, honey, silver tea spoon or special gourmet tea spoons coated with flavoring, honey or sugar crystals.

• MOVIE NIGHT--In a large bowl for popcorn, place some microwave popcorn, variety of candy, a gift certificate for a movie rental, and a couple of cans or bottles of soda.  Submitted 4-11-2000 by Catalina Mejia

Jun. 11, 2008
Darling Daughter's Birthday Week Extravaganza

Darling Daughter turned 9 today and has enjoyed her special "Birthday Week Extravaganza" which started early on last Friday, when we had her birthday party for her friends.  It was a "Little Lady Luncheon Tea Party" and 6 of her friends were able to come. It was so delightful to see all the little girls excited and in their best dresses.  One mother told me her little daughter went back-and-forth all week on what to wear:  "It must look "(Darling Daughter's name)-ish." 

When they arrived, we gathered flowers and greenery from our yard to make nose-gays for each girl and then put them together in a vase for the centerpeice for the table.  They also received hankies Darling Daughter and I had embroidered for them and little paper dolls we had printed off from the internet. 

The table was set with a lace tablecloth, white napkins, and Darling Daughter's tea set .  The menu consisted of ...

• Strawberry Lemonade
• Gingerbread Scones
• Blueberry Banana Scones
• Keebler Butterfly & Ladybug Shaped Graham Crackers with Strawberry Cream Cheese
• Cheedar Cheese
• Honey Ham Tea Sandwiches on Raisin Bread
• Peanut Butter & Jelly on Wheat that had been cut with a flower-shaped cookie cutter

We explained to the girls some tea etiquette, and showed them how to rub a slice of lemon around their cups and dip it in pink sugar.  (That was a big hit!)  After a special prayer and blessing that I gave to honor the young ladies and especially my daughter, the girls enjoyed their tea while the moms sat around the coffee table to enjoy ours. 

When it came time to open gifts, we wanted to make it special for not only the receiver, but also the giver.  DD sat on a chair near the gift table and each girl took turns giving their gift to her and sat on a chair next to her to watch her open it.  I then took their pictures and will include them in our thank-you's.  It was a delightful time and the girls, most of whom had never been to our home, enjoyed playing in DD's room and outside in the playhouse.  All of the girls are wonderful young ladies and I am so grateful for the special friendships my daughter has with them.

Saturday, her special celebration continued with blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  In the afternoon, we shopped up at the city, rode on the double-decker merry-go-round at the mall, and then had supper out at the restaurant of her choice.  Afterwards, we enjoyed watching "Taming of the Shrew" at a city parks amphitheater for their Shakespeare on the Green that we attend every year.  We also hope to see their youth production of "A Comedy of Errors" later this month.  (Yes, I know -- kids who like Shakespeare.  Imagine that.  DD has liked it from the very first play she saw.  Last year for her birthday, we gave her the Lamb's "Tales of Shakespeare.")

Sunday and the past few days have been relaxing and enjoyable.  She and I stayed up last night to watch a movie together and we've had some good chats.  How I love this little daughter who is growing up so well.  With this birthday, being her ninth, we truly ARE half-way done raising her.

This morning, we started off the day with Daddy singing, in a fun rock-n-roll way, "They say its your birthday, nana nana nana na na, Happy birthday to ya!" to wake her up.  Then we had a specail birthday breakfast of Breakfast Birthday Cake.  After Daddy went to work, we received a phone call from our friend saying the kittens had finally arrived.

[SIDE NOTE:  The Saga of the Kittens.....  Our dear friend had arranged for us to have 2 kittens from one of her other friend's litter.  (Read HERE about that story and the special names Darling Daughter chose.) Unfortunately, she was unable to coordinate it with him for several days and when she did finally talk to him, he had bad news -- his kittens had been in the woods and he was afraid they were not healthy and didn't want to give us wild, potentially sick kittens.  She felt bad, and asked her husband to check at work to see if anyone else may have some.  She called this Monday to let us know the news, but to also let us know that one of her husband's co-workers had a litter of six or seven week old kittens that needed homes.  All is happy and joyous in our house again, and Darling Daughter has truly grown in patience and seeing that God works all things to work together for good for those who love him.]

So I told a very delighted daughter and an excited son the news and after our morning work, we went over to pick them up.  They are beautiful little things!  The all-gray female has been christened Charlotte and the orange male tabby has been named Mason.  They are rooming in our large master bathroom, and will get settled in there for a week or two before exploring the rest of the house.

Jun. 3, 2008
Potential for Pets and Fun Names

We have been considering a pet for the last few months.  It all began when someone through DH's work let him know of some free Springer Spaniel puppies.  We mulled it over, talked about it as a family, and finally decided, "Yes, let's get one."  We emailed the family, checked out books from the library, and the kids made plans and considered names.   Then DH had to break the news.....  the puppies had already been given away.  While our daughter was especially deeply disappointed, it was a growing time for her as she learned how to handle life's disappointments and look for the silver lining.

Last week, while at a friends, the children where enjoying their new black and white kitten.  Our friend mentioned that his siblings were still available -- for free.  (A decision hubby and I made long ago was that we were not going to pay for a pet -- it had to be "divinely supplied."

When we got home, it was all Darling Daughter could talk about.  At first her daddy was against it.  Like many men we know, he was biased against it -- "Cats are snobby and not as fun as a dog," he declared.  While he and DD went back and forth on their opinions of a cat versus a dog, I had to add some weight to our daughter's side.  "Cats bath & groom themselves, don't need to go on walks, don't tear up garden beds, don't stink like dogs can, and can be left for longer time periods alone then dogs can," I stated persuadingly.  "They are much more managable, in almost every way, which is a big plus for the one who will more than likely end up doing the lion's share of training and caring for the family pet."  (In between the lines:  The Mama of the house -- me!)

Amazingly, DH consented.  "You're right, you're right!  Only we should probably get two kittens, if they still have enough.  One for Darling Daughter and one for Little Man."  I was taken aback.  Never in a million years did I see that coming.

So a phone call was placed to our friend and she promised to check on the possibility of our family being the happy owners of kittens.  We took a trip to the library and checked out books on cat care.  We've perused our local Wal-Mart to price check needed items for our new arrivals -- we will purchase them later, as we are don't want to be stranded with them if we aren't able to get the kittens.

This afternoon during her brother's nap, DD got extra boxes out of the garage and informed me she is making a little house for her kitten to live in.  She asked me if I liked the name "Charlotte."  I did indeed and helped her with the proper spelling of it as she created a name plate for the kitten's little abode.

When Little Man woke up, she asked if he would like a little house for his cat, which he readily agreed to.  It has kept them busy for at least an hour now.  Little Man came up to me while I was reading on the couch.  "Do you like the name Mason?" 

I replied I thought it was a fine name for a little tom cat.  And when I asked who thought of it, he assured me that it was his idea, not his sister's.  (Who has a tendency to "suggest" things to him.) Off he went to inform his sister and they worked on Mason's abode.

I didn't think anything of it until I overheard them chattering, "Charlotte and Mason are going to love their houses.  What else should we add to them?" 

Mommy's brain whirled and clicked: Charlotte & Mason? ..... Charlotte Mason!  Too funny!  Just when you wonder if anything is getting in their cute little heads, they name their kittens after one of my favorite role models in education.

I don't know if the kittens will indeed be christened with the above names, or if they are still available (but how I hope they are for the children's sake), but it was such a delightful moment, this mama just had to share it.

Jun. 3, 2008
One or the Other -- Or Both?

HSLDA sent their weekly update today, and the first bit of news was letting homeschoolers know about a poll PARADE magazine was doing and an article from the magazine titled,"Intelligence Report" which discussed the recent court decision affecting homeschooling in California

One paragraph stated:

“If upheld, the California ruling will send shock waves nationwide,” says Richard Kahlenberg, the author of a number of books on education. He says the case “pits those who believe parental rights are paramount against those who place a premium on well-educated citizens.”

I don't believe, as Mr. Kahlenberg states, it has to be one side for parents' rights and another for well-educated citizens.  I'm sure many of my fellow homeschoolers will agree with me and Dr. Ray's research that in homeschooling, you have BOTH.

Read the comments at the end of PARADE's article for some very well written rebuttals.

Apr. 21, 2008
Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Did you all know about The Homeschool Buyer Co-op?  It is a free homeschooling organization for both new and veteran homeschoolers.  The Homeschool Buyers Co-op is the nation's largest purchasing cooperative for homeschooling families  The Co-op is able to combine the purchasing power of thousands of homeschooling families around the country to give homeschoolers the same purchasing discounts as school districts -- they can offer homeschool member discounts from 10% to 70% off publishers' retail prices!

Co-op membership is FREE (and confidential), and entitles homeschooling families to discounts from over a hundred educational suppliers.  They also sponsor "Group Buys" for curriculum packages that save homerschooling families lots of money. On the site you'll find lots of free information, such as databases of free curriculum, field trips, and educational contests and scholarships. You also earn 100 SmartPoints absolutely FREE just for joining the Co-op, and you can find out ways to earm more by going to their website.  (SmartPoints are a special form of Co-op currency that you can use to purchase many of the award-winning programs through Co-op exclusives).

Click on the icon for the HOMESCHOOL BUYERS CO-OP on my right side bar for more information

Mar. 13, 2008
50 States Study

I Am A New Creation has a fabulous idea that our family hopes to join in on.  She is spearheading a 50 Great States Study over on her blog. 

She'll be using Beverly Hernandez's Our 50 Great States Study.  She is also going to use "The Complete Book of Presidents & States" grades 4-6 from American Education Publishing.  We already have that ($6 at Sam's), as we are going to be focusing on US History & Geography in our Classical Conversations cycle next year (both our 8 yo DD & 4 yo DS know their states and capitals, thanks to Audio Memory).   She also has a file with recipes from each state and other things to share with those who want to participate.

Mar. 13, 2008
St. Patrick's Day Resources

Feb. 29, 2008
S&T Fri -- More Indian Treasures

DH brought home some lovely gifts from India last month for our family...

A sari for me and a suit for him (their suits are different.  Lighter fabric with a special top only.  He had both his suit and my sari specially tailored.  He went with our friends from the ministery and she and the children helped pick out my sari colors.  Below is an example of the amazing detail of the embordiery.)  We wore them the Sunday the team shared with the church about their trip.  I recieved many compliments; I said that I wonder if we will wear something like this in heaven -- it so beautiful, light, and elegant.

Darling Daughter loves her 2 outfits her daddy got for her.  She wore the princess dress for the India Missions Sunday, and the punjabi to our Classical Conversations co-op as part of her presentation one week. (A punjabi is a tunic with pants.)

Example of the amazing beadwork, etc.

Below is what DH calls his "man dress." He hasn't worn it, but thinks it will make a perfect wise man costume someday.

Another punjabi for me fas a gift rom the sweet wife of the man who runs the minstry.  We love this couple so much and are blessed to know them.  We are praying that they & their children will come to visit us this summer during their annual time in the States.

This is the neatest bowl.  It is a flat peice of wood cut in a spiraling star to creat the "bowl"...

A fruit bowl whose base is cut from one single piece of wood.  Through all the items DH brought back, I've come to appreciate the amazing craftmanship of those who made them.

DH brought back 3 spreads for "his girls."  Two are not shown; one is a beautiful tableclothe/spread for DD when she gets older and another is a summer spread for our bed.  The one below has its home over the back of our couch and I love it everytime I see it...

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

and...

...along with what this week's participants are sharing.

Feb. 28, 2008
A Top Favorite Christian Speaker

My DH and I have greatly enjoyed -- and been greatly challenged by -- the ministry of Voddie Baucham the last few weeks. We are soaking it up and are discussing what Dr. Baucham preaches, and applications within our lives and our families.  DH says he is the best speaker he's heard so far on the topic of family, marriage, faith, etc.  Here are some sites that we've found that have information about him, along with several of his talks.

• www.voddiebaucham.org
• http://www.gracefamilybaptist.net  (his church in Texas)
• http://psalm305.blogspot.com/2007/03/voddie-baucham-mp3-sermons.html (lots of hours of great teaching, speaking, etc.)
• http://www.familydrivenfaith.org
• His new book Family Driven Faith (on our "wish list")

Feb. 15, 2008
S&T Fri -- Darling Daughter's Tea Set

Favorite things of my eight year-old daughter...

...Her new tea set that we found yesterday at the thrift store*

...Lace gloves from Vision Forum that she purchased with her Liberty doll

...Mini garden tools from our dear friend who sees and encourages God's gifts in DD

...Birds and flowers -- she loves to be outside, gathering flowers and seeing God's creation

=====================================================================

Our sweet daughter adores all things "girly."  She is our creative, artistic dreamer.  Over the last few weeks, I really have been blessed with a prayer answered -- to have my daughter's heart.  It has been such a joy to see her grow and to know that we are walking together as a mother and daughter should.  We've (darling hubby & I) read about it and for the last eight years we've worked on developing that foundation of obedience, love, respect, honor, and closeness with her.  And over the last few weeks, we've really see the fruit of doing so. 

As a parent, I can only describe the process in our particular family's life as finding a manual on proper growing of a "tree" (or in this case, a godly child).  Then taking the steps to "plant" the seed.  Then to care and nurture it.  Then to see the tree start to bud, then open up and blossom.  We see now the fruit forming, and it is sweet and good.  God's word is faithful and I can only encourage all of you to take the time to really know your kids.  This is a journey and we are still near the beginning.  But it hits me deeply every once in a while, that we are almost half-way done raising our little girl, and we want to do all we can to obey the Lord in raising her.  He's been full of grace where we've failed and has encouraged us as we see the blessing of doing things according to His Word and wisdom.

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*Darling Daughter has taken the responsibility to be in charge of our afternoon tea times that we have a couple of times a week.  She has learned to put the water in the kettle and boil it.  She is very talented at gathering the tea items and making the table a delightful presentation.  She likes to do it "in secret" and then call me into our living room where she has it all laid out on our coffe table.

She has been using my mismatched tea cups.  One is from my grandmother and other is one I picked up.  She also is desiring a "Tea Party" themed birthday this summer.  All of this made my mothering wheels turn... "How my daughter would benefit from her own tea set," a thought that was planted by Rebekah Anast in an article in No Greater Joy.  

So whenever we are in a thrift store, my eyes are searching for a tea pot and/or a tea set.  Yesterday we were in town, so we stopped in to one of our favorite second-hand shops.  And there was a 32 (!!!) peice set, with 6 cups for only $8! .  I was amazed at the price and how pretty they were.  No tea pot was with it, but she is delighted with her set.  We will be taking 4 of the settings to a friend's today.  They just started homeschooling and we've been wanting to get together.  Since they have a young son who needs his nap, we are going over to their home and told them we'd bring the tea things.  And now darling daughter has the "perfect set" for this special day and many special days to come.

Please join the rest of the crowd for Show&Tell every Friday! Get all the information over at:

and...

...along with what this week's participants are sharing.