Tuesday, July 15, 2008
JesseRow a.k.a. Rowan Jesse
My baby turned 7 today!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday to Rowan Jesse! Fun Facts About Rowan: birth order- #4
Name meaning: Rowan is a kind of tree in the rose family that has a mysterious past linked to the ancient Celts. Jesse is a Hebrew name meaning "God sees"
Who named him- Me. This is how we decided who gets to name which child- I got the first girl and the second boy, Raymond got the first boy and second girl- if there are any more the other kids will get to name him or her.
Why- Actually, his name was almost Hunter.... but it was hard to find a middle name I liked, and , of course, my family is really good at making up silly nicknames that are similar to the real one... one day while I was discussing what to put with Hunter, I got fed up and just announced I was naming him Rowan. I like the actor Rowan Atkinson, and I just think Rowan is a nice, unusual name for a boy. I wanted to use Jesse as a first name, but my husband didn't like it. We gave all our kids weird first names and trendy/normal middle names, so I continued in that tradition. Rowan came right after we lost our daughter, Petra Elexis, and I thought that God must have seen how sad we were and sent Rowan to give us reason to go on.
Favorite color: orange, and now also blue.
Favorite food: Mac n Cheese, Spam
Favorite drink- any kind of pop
Favorite book: Bunnicula
Favorite game: Wiiplay
What he likes to do- Play with my spaghetti ball, my metal slinky....go to the park.
Favorite song: Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce
Pet: Esther the corn snake
Links to some of Rowan's favorite websites: PBS Kids Rowan is......stubborn, spunky, and exudes a contagious joy about ordinary things ( much like his father). He looks like his Daddy, but with blond hair. He is a great singer, tough and also loves to read. He is one of those strange kids who read the dictionary and think it's FUN. He likes to paint, draw and invent things.
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
going Tech
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Why are we wasting food?
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     Wasting food- you've heard the words " Waste not, want not." Here is a site that may help with that: go take a peek for some tips  I know someone who works at Wal-mart in the produce section. The store orders too much of certain kinds of food, and almost all of it gets thrown out. Sometimes the problem is with the people who place the produce- for instance I know that there are several crates of watermelon sitting outside of the store in the sun and some of them are bursting and rotting.  Take a look at this Power Point about Hunger from the state of MI There have been days when 40 pounds or more of just one single food item gets trashed. That's just in produce- and it is only one item- many others are thrown out every day. They will not donate these to the needy- they say because of lawsuits. But- I know that food pantries can make you sign waivers of liability in the case of bad food,( I've signed some myself when I went to one) so why can't a big company like Wal-mart do that? And it isn't just Wal-Mart, lots of other places do it daily too. It just isn't right when there are food riots on the other side of the world and we throw about 1/10- 1/3 of all our food away! The food prices and gas prices have even caused my family to have to go without things at times- and perfectly good food goes into the trash....... not that we can send it to them, but we could take care of our own , thereby saving the government money and enabling them to help fight hunger worldwide.  The Pope spoke on hunger recently The Today show interveiwed Jonathan Bloom this morning who has a whole website about this issue ( the clip is available at this blog) Restaurant Spy had this to say  Some communities DO donate their leftovers- I know from living in a homeless shelter- we got bread from Panera and Jewel regularly, Dominick's donated produce that otherwise would have been thrown out. whom we know personally that eat from DUMPSTERS (In Chicago) and donate their own stipend for food to the hungry. As far as I know, none of them have ended up sick from bad food. But many places even lock up their dumpsters.............. There are also salvage grocery stores- look at my clips in the box to the right and you will find an article about them. We go to one in WI, and get good food- often organic, health food fare. It's all shelf stable, sometimes past the sell-by date, but it is worth the trip. The Amish people who run the store are making money from it.  Writing this, I just realized that being ticked off about this is in answer to prayer- Our message this past weekend at Crossroads involved prayer for God to give us a cause to fight for- worded as " What can't You stand?" It's a great one, I suggest you go to the site ( listed in my right side links) and check it out! A rather amusing article from the UK- the Rubbish Diet All that aside,
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Gift of Humor
Do you think God has a sense of humor? Can you picture Jesus cracking jokes? Like it or not, I'm sure He not only laughed and cracked jokes but also passed gas, tripped over his own feet, his voice cracked as a teen,and all the kids laughed at him and what- not- --just as we do, for he was tempted in EVERY way-- should we think that he was not tempted to cover up his awkwardness , or that he was never awkward at all? To do so would be to deny his humanity. He stood in our shoes, deliberately putting off the miraculous things He could do and only did those that fulfilled the prophecies and honored the Father. It isn't denying his Deity to say that he only used His heavenly power when it was warranted for the sake of the kingdom. Are we afraid to laugh and have fun as Christians? Sometimes I think so.... Granted, the only time I can find God laughing in scripture is when he is thinking about slaying the wicked.... An attitude that many of us would think unChristian. He also said that laughter is good medicine. Still, Jesus said some things that might have been funny, had we actually been there to witness them in person. He had to have laughed- he loved children and they loved Him- what kid likes someone who has no sense of humor? This site gives some interesting insight into humor as proof of God's wisdom. A woman's thoughts.......from She Loves God Is Humor something uniquely human? I don't know..... Otters and penguins play and seem to have a lot of fun. There is humor in that! National Geographic Kids has "7 Cool Stories About Animals That Seem to Like a Good Joke" another article about Jesus and humor Here are a few funny bits, if you are inclined to enjoy that type of thing and are not easily offended. If you know me, you know that I LOVE and HONOR the Lord, and I refuse to print anything that is distasteful. If you don't know me and you feel you may be offended.....I'm sorry... please use your back button. Why didn't Jesus replace the stone from the tomb when he rose from the dead? Well, he was born in a barn. 
How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb? One, since his/her hands are in the air anyway. How many Calvinists does it take to change a lightbulb? None. God has predestined when the lights will be on. How many Brethren does it take to change a light bulb? CHANGE?!!! How many Pentecostals does it take to change a light bulb? 10, one to change it and 9 others to pray against the spirit of darkness. How many tv evangelists does it take to change a lightbulb? One. But for the message of hope to continue to go forth, send in your donation today. How many Roman Catholics does it take to change a lightbulb? None: Candles only. How many Amish does it take to change a lightbulb? What's a light bulb? How many Polygamous Mormons does it take to change a lightbulb? Five. One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it. How many Jehovah's Witnesses does it take to change a light bulb? Three. One to screw in the bulb, and two to knock on your door and ask you if you've seen the light! How many Unitarians does it take to change a lightbulb? We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.  From a 3-year-old:  /> The Reverend Billy Graham tells of a time early in his ministry when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. When the boy had told him, Dr. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the Church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to Heaven."  A child came home from Sunday School and told his mother that he had learned a new song about a cross-eyed bear named Gladly. It took his mother a while before she realized that the hymn was really "Gladly The Cross I'd Bear."
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Through the desert
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Please go over to my other blog- The Beauty of the Lord And read about walking through the deserts in life.   I bled into the tissue so my whole leg is a bruise and it hurts quite badly even a week later..... We have begun our unit on Greece... but I am late starting school today, so I will have to fill you all in later!
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Stick Figure Psalm 139
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I had the kids illustrate Psalm 139, fast, with stick figures, and they were cute. I put the best parts on here for you to see:) the words are written above the pics  /> Psalm 139For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.( I guess Trin thought it said FOR David-instead of FROM David.. cute.) />1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. ( also by Trinity- searching on the computer...)  />2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. (Rowan Jesse said " This is Jesus when He rised.")  />3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ( RJ again:)  />4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. ( Harley's is on the right- he has the Word on his tongue. You don't want to know the word that was on Trinity's! I made her erase it, but it isn't like the one she replaced it with was much better)  />5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. ( Harley with God's hand on him)  />6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. ( By Rowan)  7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ( Trinity's and Harley's)  8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there. ( Love Harley's wings!)  />9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, (Trinity- Dawn DISH SOAP?)  10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Now Harley's wings are on a hand>..)  /> 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," ( Trinity's on the left, Harley on the right)  />12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Rowan's night vision- notice the green moon?)  13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (these cracked me up!- Trinity on the left, Harley on the right) />  />14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Sorry it's blurry, but LOOK how happy Trinity's praise is!)  />15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, ( So of course, Rowan made a frame!)  16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. ( Trinity's unformed body looks so sad...) />  17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ( Harley's interpretation) />  18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. ( Trinity attempting the impossible task of counting all the grains of sand) />  19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! ( WHY did all of them draw VAMPIRES???) />  20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. ( Trinity's) />  21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; ( and now the vampires have turned to vampire BATS...Harley) />  23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ( not sure what Rowan was getting at here, but it's a nice picture:) />  24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ( Trinity found something offensive in her, Harley showed many paths but only one right one, and Rowan showed God leading him and his brother and sister! SO Cool! /> 
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Thursday, May 22, 2008
I guess you just never really know!
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008
What's going on around here?
 Raccoon update:
 We are taking a break from schooling, but tomorrow will continue with our study of ancient Egypt in AWOA. I have decided that the first 7 days of every month will be our school break, since I tend to do a lot of running around on those days anyway because that is when we get paychecks. On our day 19 of Ancient Egypt, the kids completed their relief sculptures. They turned out very well. I wish I had pictures, but the batteries were recharging and then I forgot  . Harley's broke, Trinity's is her name in hieroglyphics and Rowan's is a blue pyramid. It was great fun making them. more dessert info lots of desert links coolplanet on deserts elementary theme pages: desert camels and creation Kangaroo rats Sanoran desert kids page desert gigglepots Sahara Desert desert animal webquest desert USA Saguaro National Park desert flowers not just for lizards another desert webquest ecoquest: desert living desert thinkquest desert virtual desert trip Australian desert Joseph to Jericho Egyptian Chronology gaurdians Egypt Egypt odyssey Bible History Jewish history kids UK Egypt site On the 26th of this month we will be going on to Ancient Greece and studying the human body.  The Flea War:  This is our first year in 4H. Rowan is a Cloverbud, taking gardening and Harley is taking bike adventures II. We have not gotten our project manuals yet, but we are in the midst of switching clubs because the atmosphere of one was uncomfortable for Trinity who, I hope will be more willing to join this club. She also has a friend from her small group in it. I think Trinity would enjoy it, especially since she is thinking about pursuing an animal related career. Anyone else out there ever do 4H:? I really don't know much about it.  I found it frustrating to try and customize my blog at myhomeschoolplace, although it was a great community, and I will miss my friends there. I moved to my new location on blogspot. Go on over there to check out my post on resting.  I am in the process of setting up my audition for vocals on the worship team. In the meantime, I am learning a lot about vocal techniques at this free site: Vocalist.org I am also still learning how to read music with my kids. I am planning to join the Leap of Faith choir for the summer concert season. Mark Schultz will be performing at one of our Praise in the Park dates. I wonder if we will get to sing WITH him?
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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Our Creator is really A GENIUS! Just LOOK at what He made in the deepest oceans- and he put it there just for us to discover! I love how He let us use the minds He gave us to explore our world!
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Sunday, April 20, 2008
all kinds of good stuff
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I found some really cool home remedies that work on FindArticles - 50 home remedies that work: these safe, fast, and effective fixes will relieve what ails you - Cover Story Natural Health, August, 2003, by Maria Noel Mandile I have gotten over the initial sickness, but now I fear that I will develop bronchitis if I do not get this gunk out of my lungs! It's annoying. Pray for me if you will, since I am joining the worship team at church. We had a great worship service this weekend....... You can watch past messages at Crossroads Community Church Last night''s was about What You Can't See..... the unseen forces in the world- demons, etc. There was a fantastic skit put on by our drama team..... The cats have flea Allergies, and they are miserable, so I am once again declaring war on the fleas.... But of course, we have to get the raccoons to move out first..... We bombed for fleas, and the raccoons are STILL here.... I have called a wildlife rehab place, and we will see what happens. The city guy came out and trapped an adult... and I hope it was not Mom... There are babies now... and they are walking around. Hopefully Mom will move them soon. We are taking a break from school right now, to try and get rid of the fleas- lots and lots of vacuuming....daily.... which I will begin in the next few days. Tonight and tomorrow, however, I will be resting and drinking a LOT of water:) I am feeling overwhelmed- but I know where this is from.... Our Enemy....and he can go right back where he came from! Oh- i got to see EMMA today, for her baby dedication. She's a cutie. It was good to see my family after being out here nearly all winter... As I type this, I hear a baby raccoon screaming.... please pray about that too- I don't want him to be lost and abandoned.
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