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Friday, December 5, 2008



Check out tonight's sky after sunset; it may be like the one the wise men saw

By Nan Lundeen

If you haven't seen the southwestern sky just after sunset, and even if you have, feast your eyes tonight -- it may be the same spectacular show that drew the wise men to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king.
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From our vantage point on the planet, it's a glowing triangle of Venus, Jupiter and the waxing crescent moon.

"Tonight would be another good night to get out," said astronomer Doug Gegen of the Roper Mountain Science Center.

The weather forecast is mostly clear.

"The fun part of this is it's all a naked eye kind of thing so everybody can enjoy it," Gegen said.

If you have a really good pair of binoculars, steady yourself by leaning against a wall, and check out Jupiter (the planet on the right). You ought to be able to pick out Jupiter's moons, Gegen said.

From now on, the planets are going to start separating and "the moon is going to start hustling to the east from night to night," Gegen said.

Turns out it's an appropriate season for the show -- some folks believe it was a convergence of planets that got the wise men started on their way to Bethlehem, Gegen said even though Christ's birth may have occurred in springtime, and came to be celebrated in December. Over the centuries, a convergence would be seen during different seasons.

"Everything in the sky was referred to as a star," Gegen said. Nobody knew about planets then, he said.

Because the wise men were Zoroastrian priests, they paid close attention to the sky, he said. A convergence of planets with the star, Regulus in the heart of Leo, "would have pushed them over the edge -- time to go and see the newborn king," Gegen said.

On June 17, 2 B.C., Jupiter and Venus were closely aligned in Leo, according to theoretical astrophysicist, Grant Mathews of the University Notre Dame, as reported by msnbc.

"Nobody knows exactly what happened, but it certainly was an event in the heavens that propelled the wise men to Bethlehem," Gegen said.

Friday, November 21, 2008

In Memory


Danny Jo Elkins 1983-2008

Recently, my oldest son was in a tragic car accident. I am so thankful for God's grace and hand on my son Chris. A week ago the young man who was in the accident with Chris passed away. I didn't know Danny personally, I met him a few times and saw him before he passed away. He served in the Army in Iraq for 5 yrs and just recently got out and was working with my son at his job. Danny has a wife Jenn and 4 small children he left behind. He was a young man of 25 and was shot 2 times in Iraq and awarded 2 purple hearts, please continue to pray for his family!!!

Thanksgiving Prayer


Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.

--Mary Fairchild

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Pray for Obama




I wasn't really happy about the outcome of this years election, but I do feel as a nation we can pray and God can change things, God is still on the throne!!!



Nov 5, 2008

Charisma Magazine

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama

Whether you are happy about this week’s election results or not, all Christians must unite in prayer for our new president. Please don’t forsake this responsibility.
http://www.charismanow.com/assets/jleegrady_new.jpgIt’s over. We’ve reached the end of the longest, angriest and most nerve-wracking presidential campaign in American history. Finally the “I approved this message” ads have ceased. The endless robot phone calls have stopped ringing. The debates, and the annoying post-debate comments from “experts,” are history—until the next election cycle.



More than half the nation is celebrating today while others are mourning. We are a divided nation, split into unhappy fragments by abortion, gay marriage, global warming, a failed economy and an unpopular war. Those who voted for Barack Obama have claimed a historic victory; some on McCain’s side are already looking for scapegoats. Politics is politics.



But when I got up this morning, I turned all my attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is still on the throne. His government is what is most important. Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, the Bible says “the nations are like a drop from a bucket” to God (Is. 40:15, NASB). That includes the United States . We may boast about being “the greatest nation on earth,” but He who sits in heaven has a different perspective. Let’s take a big sigh of relief now and remember that God is sovereign.

"But when I got up this morning, I turned all my attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is still on the throne. His government is what is most important."

I’ll admit this election did not turn out as I had hoped. I supported McCain primarily because I am pro-life and I prefer his small-government mindset. But now that the election is over, I’m not going to harbor bitterness toward Obama supporters or go into attack mode. Obama has been elected president of this country, and that means I have a biblical responsibility to support him in prayer—even if I challenge his policies.



Whether you voted for Obama or not, you need to pray for him. Here are 10 ways I plan to intercede for him regularly:



1. Pray for Obama’s protection. We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. Let’s pray that racist hatred is not allowed to spread. Let’s cancel every assassin’s bullet in the name of Jesus. May civility triumph over bigotry.



2. Cover his wife and daughters in prayer. It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray for Obama’s wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also a husband and a father.



3. Pray that Obama will govern with God’s wisdom. God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life or vengeance on his enemies (see 1 Kings 3:11-12). Pray that Obama will order his priorities like that. Despite Solomon’s tragic character flaws, his legacy was wisdom. We can ask God to give our president the same grace.



4. Ask God to keep our president humble. Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington . The fatal attraction of fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride.



5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Godly leaders cannot do their job alone. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political cronyism but on godly character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into his inner circle.



6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue.



7. Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart.



8. Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States , and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to the God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must not come off the wall in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool. We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility toward Israel .



9. Pray that Obama’s door will remain open to the church. The loudest voices of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheists in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear.



10. Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessing during the Obama administration. The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all in authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:2, NASB). God’s will is for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. This must happen whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor and share Christ’s love at home and abroad.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Attention , Red Alert!!!!

Senator Obama Explains National Anthem Stance

Senator Obama Explains National Anthem Stance
Body: PRAYER IS NEEDED IN THESE LAST HOURS BEFORE THE POLLS OPEN. GOD IS THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE IF AMERICA IS TO SURVIVE.


PRAYER WARRIORS I ASK YOU TO JOIN MYSELF AND OTHERS FOR AN AWAKENING TO COME TO THOSE THAT WILL BE CASTING A VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4.




General Bill Ginn USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, 'Stand and Face It.
'

Senator Obama, live on Sunday, states, 'As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it. 'We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those
who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the flag for many personal reasons. Together, she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine'. 'Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America .
'

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it right. This could possibly be our next President. I, for one, am speechless.


Dale Lindsborg
Washington Post
--------------------

"Dear Mr Obama"




Freedom costs, I cannot believe the American's in this nation could even consider voting for Senator Obama- he is for everything that is against what Americans have worked so hard for...FREEDOM, FREEDOM---being FREE!!!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Not much time

I haven't had much time the past few weeks to update my blog. My oldest son was in the hospital for 2 weeks due to accident, and then my oldest daughter spent 5 days in the hospital so Ive had a busy few weeks here. we got started back on school today and the kids helped me make 2 crockpots of homemade chili for dinner. It's supposed to be in the low 40's tonight and everyone has been begging for chili.
It's 8 days until election day , Im going to be doing early voting this week, Dr Dobson has asked everyone pray and fast if you can for this election, we need to ask God for a righteous king, also for the right judges to be appointed in our judicial system it will affect our nation for the next 30-40 yrs. We have to think of our children and our grandchildren!!!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

My son's accident pic's





Here are some pic's of Christopher's accident September. 30, it's only by the grace and mercy of God Chris is alive, as you can see- they hit the fence then the culvert went airborne then the car rolled several times before catching on fire. He and Danny we're both thrown from the car. Chris has a fractured right face the bone holding in the eye was broken and his nose ( had surgery to repair this Tuesday), his sternum bone broken in 2 places , most of his ribs are fractured, his lung has contusions, his left femur bone was broken in 3 places ( had to have a 10 inch titanium pin put in the day after accident), his right foot is broken. He is now home, but Danny is still in ICU please continue praying for him and his family, his wife had surgery this past Thursday and she is very sick. Thank you for ALL your prayers!!!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

My son was in an accident

For the past week we have lived at the hospital. My oldest son Chris was in a tragic car accident last Tuesday morning. He had surgery to, repair a broken femur bone in his left leg, it was broken in 3 places. He also has a lott of fractured ribs, sternum, broken right foot, a contusion on his lung. Today he is going into surgery for fractures of the bones that hold his eye in place and also the right side of his face has multiple fractures and his nose is broken so they will be repairing these today. It is a miracle he is alive, its only by God's grace and mercy!!! I will post some photos this week of the accident.......

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Awesome Ad!!!

Friday, September 12, 2008

I'm voting for the "PIG"

As I was listening to Michalel Savage last night, boy a lott of things hit home. This past week has been one of political craziness. I can't believe the gall of Senator Obama to call on 30 people to go undercover to dig up dirt on Sarah Palin- can't people in this nation see through his pride and arrogance? Can't they see through his lies and deception? As MS said last night, 9 /11 was going to happen, now it's up to us to secure the borders, that's where the terrorists are coming through.
We need a leader who will protect us, thank God for President Bush because he has done an excellent job as a President, doesn't mean I agree 100% with everything he does but he is a good man.

I believe we need to sit back and see what is really going on. As I listened to some of the Hollywood Celebs yesterday bashing Palin- Why? Because they are amateurs, they are for immorality, sex, greed we can go on and on. That is why I don't support Hollywood!!! People are becoming so vicious, and why? Well the Bible says He will give them over to a reprobate mind! That is where we are spiritually in this nation, a reprobate mind....when I see Mega church pastors who are voting for Obama- I can't believe it!!!

So, we are to throw away babies through abortion, infantcide, what's next? Ohh, if my daughter's make a mistake- WAIT!!! Obama said if my daughter's make a mistake??? Are children a mistake? Hmmm, I didn't think God made mistakes!!! How about teaching K5ers- quoted by Obama, he plans to make sure they are taught sex ed in K5- I mean the works ( masturbation, same sex relationships, porn, I am saying in detail here and we are going to sit back and turn our head the other way? Yes, I am MAD, I am real MAD....I have a special needs child that is autistic- I would never have thought about aborting her or let alone letting her just lay there and die!!! Sentator Obama is for infantcide also.....okay, enough, Im voting for the "PIG" with lipstick!!!!!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Remember When........911

I seen this on Sean Hannity today, and Remember those that lost their lives on 9/11

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Been a busy week

I wish I could blog more, but I stay so busy. I am really aiming to start HSing next week. I still haven't been able to buy all my books due to some financial situations here. I put some curriculum up for sale on a few used boards but nothing as of yet. I know the Lord will provide, he always does!!!
My daughter is doing much better after her tonsillectomy, but she spent all night in the hospital last Wednesday. We've had such beautiful weather this week, Im hoping to go do something fun this weekend with kids. We are planning to go to Andersonville, GA in 2 weeks, my boys are "BIG" Civil War buffs!
Im planning to start a new blog, it will be a little of everything, especially the election. I have been so angry about the attacks on Govenor Palin I think we should pray for her and fer family and for Senator McCain.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Voicing my opinion!!!



This is my blog so I basically feel I have the right to say what I want. Recently I have seen a few posts on different HSing sites- That are totally bashing Sarah Palin!!! I am not here to bash Senator Obama, but I do feel that McCain and Palin are out for the best interest of this nation.
As I sat in the hospital last night and watched the Convention at 2 am, Gulliani gave a wonderful speech, and Sarah Palin is very qualified for the VP job I feel. Look at her credentials.
I can't believe though at the nasty remarks Homeschooling Mom's are making about Sarah Palin's daughter and how she can't be a VP . Well first of all we try to raise our children the best we can, when they get at certain age they make their own choices!!! Im not saying they are the best choices, neither do I agree to allow your children to have *safe sex*, but we have to let them live by the decisions they make.
As a Mom, I have 2 daughter's of my own who are single Mom's, but I wouldn't throw them away or my grandson's!!! But I don't approve of them having sex, but one thing I will say, thank God they chose to keep their babies and didn't abort them. Bristol Palin has chose to keep her baby, and not abort her baby. She is taking responsibility for her actions. Give her credit!!!
The liberals, are for abortion, infantcide , gay marriages, etc. If we want change, we will get it, as in the Bible they wanted a king- they got them and if they we're evil the people we're the same, if they we're good the people we're basically good. So we need to pray and seek God and ask him for the right president. We also need to pray for all those involved- Palin, McCain, Obama & Biden.


If my people who are called by my name, will humble yourselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14


Taking some time off

I miss posting on my blog, but I had to take some time off due to my oldest dd had her tonsils out last week, so we have had a lott to do around here and getting my homeschooling books together to start school.
We spent all night in the hospital with Ash my oldest dd, she was severely dehydrated and was having some breathing problems, so we got home around 7 am and boy am I tired. I did get to stay up and watch the Republican Convention- Yippee!!!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Lapbooking Lessons


We love to Lapbook and just wanted to share this site with those of you who would like to learn about Lapbooking:

The August Newsletter is up and ready for you to read, included is the following:

New LapPass Information
Featured Member of the Month
Homeschool Closet Giveaway
Mini Office Math, Language
Lapbooking for Older Children
Free Zebra Lapbook

You can access our August Newsletter here


http://lapbooklessons.ning.com/News

Homeschool Memoirs




I saw this on Jaque's site, Walking Therein and thought it would be nice to meet other Homeschooling Mom's.....

A little about me, my name is Robyn and Im an 40 something old Mom, with 7 children. We have 3 boys- Christopher 26, Zachary 12, Noah Seth 10 and 4 girls- Ashleigh 24, Brittany 20, Natasha 16, Michalea 11. We live in Georgia with all of our children and 2 grandsons, on 14 acres with 4 cats, 3 dogs and a partriage in a pear tree :0) I began homeschooling 21 yrs ago when I was pregnant with my 3rd child, my reason for homeschooling was because my oldest son was in public school and he spent 2 yrs in K5 due to he has a learning disabilty. He has ADD, CAPD ( central auditory processing disorder) and he had allergies so bad he spent a lott of time in the hospital. He was the closest thing to the boy in the bubble he had no immunities to fight infections.
I met a wonderful family who homeschooled, they invited me to their homeschool meeting at their home, before then I met with Stan and his wife Lily ( whom I am still good friends with) and they began telling me about HSing and I felt I could'nt do it....then I began praying about it...and day after day after picking up my son from school and he handed me his unhappy face sticker each day, I went to the teacher and I asked if he was misbehaving and she said no, he is like a space cadet and he isnt learning....Hmmmm, so I began to talk to hubby about it and we decided to homeschool our 2 oldest children. But it didn't go over too well with my MIL, she was totally against it. My parents we're okay with it.
Well I began using curriculum that was way overwhelming for my son, so I got hooked up with FDLRS in Florida ( Where I lived at the time) and the lady there let me check out everything I could on LD, manipulatives, videos, curriculum, and I lived at the library and studied all I could on learning diabilities. Thank God for Mrs> Pam at FDLRS, I did'nt have computer access at the time so I had to wing it.
I remember sitting on the floor crying because I wanted to help my son but just felt like a failure, so I cried out to the Lord and told him- " If you want me to do this , you have to help me!" and he did, Im not saying it was easy but he provided me the help I needed and helped me to understand about learning challenges. I give all the Glory to God! Now I am able to help those Mom's who have children with learning challenges to homeschool and to encourage them , YOU CAN DO IT!!!
My 11 yr old dd, has autism and my 10 yr old ds has dyslexia. I now just go to the Lord and get his guidance on what to do....Im not saying at all Im super HS MOM, Im not, but God's grace and mercy has helped me to help my children learn the way God wired them. He will not give you any more than you can handle. I am so thankful I obeyed the Lord to HS my children, I would'nt trade a minute to have all the riches in the world. My oldest daughter is now in nursing school and will gradute next year, my other dd is in college and my 16 yr old is going to be dual enrolling this year.
Im thankful for a husband who allowed me to homeschool, and to put their education first. I make up my own curriculum, I am a Charlotte Mason fanatic!!! Now we have 2 grandson's we are helping to raise and I plan to help them learn too, they are already learning from my children while I homeschool them. We are in a crucial time in our nation , so embrace your right to homeschool your children, I dont know what the future holds for us...Just trust in the Lord!!!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Time

It seems lately I just don't have time to write on my blog :0( I really need to keep up with it, but watching my 2 grandson's has been a full time job ( they are 17mos and and 7 mos) I feel after raising 7 kids of my own, I feel like I'm starting over again. Im debating when to start school, I have most of my books, I guess it's the fog in my brain from going through MENOPAUSE!!!
My oldest daughter 24 will be getting her tonsils out next Wednesday, so please say a prayer for her and ME!!! My son Zack will be getting tested for diabetes next Friday. Hubby started having problems with it when he was in his late 20's. It runs on both sides of the family. Lately, hubby has been going to the dr to get his under control. Diabetes can be very dangerous if not kept under control......

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Long time...........




It's been a long time since Ive blogged....so here we go. I took the older kids to see The Dark Knight. I was kind of leary about going to see it, but it turned out to be a really good movie. I have been really sick since my last post, strep throat and some other infections. I would covet your prayers.
Hubby went to the dr last week and they did a lott of blood tests and today they put him on insulin shots- so we are both on strict diets to lose weight. Trying to find a good exercise program that has low impact exerciseing for me... Not much more to talk about except we finally got a pool and the kids are having a blast!!!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Carschooling



I was reading about Carschooling this weekend and wanted to share some information and sites. On the go homeeschoolers can convert their cars or mini vans into a mobile classroom to make the most out of their homeschool mile. You can find teaching moments by just being aware of what is in your environment...while traveling in your car.
Carschooling goes way beyond the familiar car bingo when it comes to activities, like memorizing multiplication tables to exploring flattened fauna.....

Language Arts:
Here are a few ideas to improve reading, writing, spelling and grammar skills while traveling in the car....
Billboard ABCs- pick a letter of the alphabet and ask your young carschoolers to look for that letter or words that start with the letter on billboards. Or make the sound of a letter of the alphabet and ask them to find pictures of things with names that begin with that sound.
Drive-By Dictionary Defintions- search for new vocabualry words on billboards that carschoolers don't know. Say the word out loud and use it in a sentence or guess the meaning of the word.
Story telling- it develops listening skills.

Math:
Choose a catagory such as things that are yellow or round and see how many you can count out the window.

Look up latin names in the English-Latin dictionary and discover how to prounounce it correctly. By the way if you have a laptop with internet access you can find a online field guid at http://www.enature.com
History:
Your tax dollars supply exceptional roadside history textbooks called "History markers". Don't pass them by. Stop and read them and learn.
Road Trip Picture Time Line:
You will need a Polaroid camera; a notebook; glue or scotch tape and a pen. Tell your carschoolers that they are going to make a pictorial history line of your road trip. There is much , much more you can read about Carschooling at www.carschooling.com and they also have a lott of printables and information there.

Happy Birthdy to my little man...


Happy Birthday Smiley

Happy Birthday to my little man, Im sorry I couldn't get this on sooner but I have been sick with an upper respiratory infection since last Sunday. Noah turned 10 on Saturday, he is such a handsome guy- looks a lott like my Dad :0) !!! We love you!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Reptile Wrangler





Today the children and I went to the last Reading Program for the summer, we really had a good time. I met Ken and his son Zack, what a wonderful program they put on. He reminds me so much of Steve Irwin. My boy's we're so thrilled to see all the reptiles and learned so much today. Just wanted to share.......



Ken Panse, "Reptile Wrangler"

Ken Panse and his alligator associate smile for the camera. Panse takes his critters — which include show star Igzilla the iguana (far below) and some nonreptiles, such as the tarantula below — to schools and parties.

• What I do: Crikey! Georgia has its own crocodile hunter.

Ken Panse, who bills himself as the "Reptile Wrangler," visits schools, state parks and birthday parties with his menagerie of snakes, turtles, frogs, lizards, iguanas, tarantulas and even an alligator to educate and entertain children and their parents and teachers. He has written a book and is pitching a pilot for a television show.

Panse (pronounced "pans") even looks a bit like the late, celebrated crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.

Panse, 46, loads his critters — that's what he calls them — into cloth sacks and wicker baskets for the trips to the shows.

"There are elements of anticipation, as things rustle in the baskets," he said. "I start small and end up big" — sometimes with his 12-foot albino Burmese python.

Kids love to handle the critters that aren't dangerous, he said. And a favorite party photo is a line of children holding a big snake.

Panse has acquired his critters at animal shows and through wholesalers. He adopted some of them, but most of the time he has to say "no" to offers of unwanted creatures, he said.

Panse has been doing his shows — several of them a week — for about 12 years. He started showing just exotic animals, but, as Georgia's state parks started focusing on native animals, he's added indigenous species — such as timber rattlesnakes, snapping turtles and tree frogs — to his collection.

Panse said he's often asked which is his favorite. "They're all like children to me," he said. "I can't pick one over the other."

But the star of the show is Igzilla, a 12-year-old iguana with orange skin.

Monday, June 23, 2008

public school student get microchiped in RI

I read about this and wanted to post it here, another reason to homeschool.....

Public school students will be micro-chipped in R.I.!! Here is the link, check it out, it's just a short article.------------http://www.naturalnews.com/023445.html Who will be next?

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Im Glad this week is OVER!!!

I didn't get to post this week on my blog due to being so sick. I ended up going to my GYN Thursday. I have 3 infections and have to take a lott of medications to get this under control, but Praise God I do feel better. My daughter got up yesterday and now she has a UTI....hmmmm. She is taking antibiotics now too so Im going to try to rest for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Happy Father's Day




To the Love of my Life......"Happy Father's Day, Greg!!!" this is for you!!!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Thing's I wish I'd done differently

When I first began homeschooling I sure would've done things a lott differently now such as:


* You don't have to bring school home. When I started our "official" homeschooling, we had the desk, flag, blackboard, letter strips, etc. I quickly saw and felt how artificial that all was from what we had been doing naturally before "school" started at the age of 5! After that first few weeks, up until now, we continue to learn all over the house! My oldest is 16 and choose not to work at the table, my 12, 11 & 9 yr old like to sit at the table where they can draw and work on projects like notebooking, lapbooking and Story of the World activity papers and maps.

* I don't need to worry about what the kids in school are doing - the freedom to homeschool is the freedom to tailor each child's education, moving at THEIR own pace, NOT the school system's. I spent way too much time during those first few years worrying & comparing our school to the public school. We were fairly relaxed and I knew we were doing it the right way for us, but that didn't keep me from fretting!

* You will make mistakes when purchasing curriculum, and it's okay! With so many options available to us, it is important to prayerfully consider when buying curriculum.. However, there will be times when you purchase books or resources that either don't "fit" your family/child or simply don't get used due to any number of reasons. I've learned over the years to go easy on myself and I've seen how my mistakes have been able to bless others who are looking for that item I have just sitting on my shelf.

* Don't feel guilty when you spend hours reading aloud. I used to get mad at myself for allowing my boys to talk me into reading for hours, therefore not getting to all the "work" that needed to be done. Now, these are my most treasured memories, AND my older children still enjoy listening to me read aloud. Our favorite books these days are from the classics lists from Ambleside Online or Penny Gardner's website.

As I mentioned before, my list could go on and on. It's good to reflect on these things every now and then. I am so thankful to have the chance to be with my children through all the phases of their young lives. One thing is for sure - our homeschooling journey has not been boring. Each year brings new opportunities and challenges! I am so thankful we can learn together and grow together as a family!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

One of those days...



Yesterday I went to the garage and picked up our SUV and I almost got all the way home and I broke down right in the middle of the highway....thankfully my oldest dd was behind me or I would have had to walk home.
This is the 4th or 5th time we have had to have repairs done on our Suburban, I'm thinking maybe it's time to get rid of it and get a more dependable SUV!!!
It's so hot here, it was still 98 degrees at 8 pm tonight. Hubby is an ac technician and he has been really busy with all the hot weather. we bought the kids a slip n slide today until we can buy them a pool next month. None of our tax rebate chacks have come in yet?
I'm praying this is not a joke? Well I have to hit the sack, we have church tomorrow, we are visiting a new church about an hour away and praying it will be what we're looking for?

Friday, June 6, 2008

My 2 sweeties





This morning I got up and my 2 boy's Zack and Noah made me breakfast. They made me a big heart pancake and they fried bacon, set the table and it was so sweet!!! Thanks Zack & Noah I love you guy's!!!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Homeschooling labeled 'Anarchy' in CA

Im not surprised, read the recent article on Obama below...America WAKE UP!!!


Home schooling labeled 'anarchy'


The response of California's teachers' union to pro-family attempts to protect home schooling in that state has outraged one attorney who is working on the case.

Numerous organizations on both sides of the issue have filed friend-of-the-court briefs in the appeal of a California court's ruling that parents have no right to home school their children. But one reaction in particular caught the attention of pro-family attorney Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute.

"The California Teachers Association ... decided to file an amicus brief arguing before the court that parents should have no right over the education of their children, should not have a right to home school, and that these children should be literally forced to be put back into the public schools -- even though parents object," the attorney explains.

Dacus did a double-take when he read one specific charge made by the teachers' union. "In their brief, the teachers' union said that to allow parents to be able to home school without being credentialed teachers could result in 'educational anarchy,'" he shares.

That argument, he says, discounts reality. "This is ignoring the facts that home schooling is widespread in California," he exclaims. "Over 200,000 children are being home schooled right now in California -- and they score higher academically than not only public school children, but also children in traditional private schools. If there's anarchy, the anarchy is in public schools."

Both the state superintendent of public instruction and the California Department of Education have filed briefs supporting the legality of home schooling. A brief filed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown argues that home schooling is perfectly legal under California law and states that the practice "has a long and positive history in California and across the nation." The California Court of Appeal intends to hear oral arguments in the case sometime this month.

Does it shock me?

I go this in my email today, well Im not surprised!!! I am not prejudice but as a christian I cannot vote for someone whether their black or white when they are for abortion!!!


Mega Church pastor praises Obama nomination
Allie Martin - OneNewsNow - 6/5/2008

T.D. Jakes , Senator Barack Obama is receiving praise from a well-known mega church pastor. The pastor is praising Obama for clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.
In a commentary published on CNN.com, Pastor T.D. Jakes, of the Dallas mega church Potter's House, said he got goose bumps as he watched Senator Obama's (D-Illinois) victory speech Tuesday night with his son.

Jakes went on to congratulate Obama on what he calls an historic accomplishment and a victory for democracy. However, Pastor Jakes did not mention Obama's support for abortion, or his support for record-breaking tax hikes.

Instead, Jakes lauded Obama's victory as not only a victory for African Americans, but also a victory for democracy – one that proves the country provides possibilities for all people. Pastor Jakes also congratulated Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for "proving that femininity is not a liability."

Jakes said in his commentary that it was his hope and prayer that the country does not sink back into political pettiness as the presidential campaign continues.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Summer Reading


The kids and I went to the library last week and we signed up for their summer reading program . Most libraries have this over the summer, so I put down 15 books for Zack and Micki and 10 for Noah to read over the summer and they will get a prize.
I was so surprised that Noah has started to love books and he has read about 3 or 4 the past few days. He is dyslexic so that is a great start for him....Im very proud of them, they are kinda bored due to we don't have a pool yet. Last summer my daughter's dog chewed a hole in ours, it was the size of a small watermelon so I'm hoping we will get our rebate check soon and we can go get a pool and finish up our homeschool shopping.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mom's Prayer

I was reading this at Sprittibee's blog and wanted to post it here, ENJOY!!!


Oh, God, my Father in Heaven, please make me a better parent. Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to respond to their questions kindly. Help me to look not only to my interests, but also to theirs. Help me to see in them the gifts that you have placed, to nurture those gifts and add to them skills and experience. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them, and contradicting them. Let their words be precious to my ears. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Prevent me from uttering words that are careless and do not lift them up. Fill my mouth with sound instruction and encouragement.

May I grant them all of their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage and strength to always withhold a privilege or gift which I know will do them harm - no matter what anyone else thinks. Let me test all things against the laws of Your Word. Let me give light to your Word in every circumstance, talking about it all the day long so that their entire world-view is wrapped up in your promises and truth. Let me base my decisions in love and be consistent in my parenting according to your precepts. Let them see me give you first place in my life and let them see me faithfully devote myself to the study of your Word and prayer.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things they do. Give me a ready word for honest praise. Let me fall in love with them every day all over again. Help me appreciate the giggles and wiggles that you have placed in them instead of seeing them as an annoyance. Oh, that I could find joy in their laughter and not be so serious and distracted by the anxieties of life that I miss the short time I have to play with them and pick them up. Let me hold and kiss them each day.

Help me to treat my children as those of their own age. Let me not expect from them the restraint and judgment of an adult. Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think for themselves, to discover for themselves, and to make their own decisions whenever possible. Help me to foster an environment of learning and a full knowledge of your Word. Lead me on straight paths in choosing what I teach to my children and help me be a thorough educator, never forsaking the building of their relationship with you or the character you desire in them for academics only.

Forgive my children any sins they commit - bring them to the surface so they may be dealt with early on. Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction or out of anger. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask them for forgiveness when I know I have done wrong. May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal. Guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness. Let me be used by You to guide them into Your arms by my life.

Make me so fair and just, so considerate, companionable, and gentle - that they will have a genuine esteem for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children as a Proverbs 31 woman. Let your Son shine in my heart as a beacon for them. Bless them and the future mates they will marry, protect them from physical harm and the spiritual wickedness that seeks to devour them in this world. Keep their minds, souls, hearts and bodies pure before you. Give them a heart that seeks to obey and please You. Let them desire to know You. Let their earthly father and I be the example of love and loyalty that they need to feel secure and know what to seek out in a relationship when they are grown. Oh, Father, give me the calm, poise, grace, wisdom and self-control that I need to ensure that they see You in my life.

Help me to display order, good stewardship, responsibility and patience in such a way that it will become part of who they are as well. May I bless you in honor for your trust in me to raise them. Let them grow to be oaks of righteousness - plantings of the Lord for the display of your splendor. Let goodness and mercy follow them through their whole lives. May they be bound to You forever, Amen.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Summer Time Blues

Well not much has been going on here, I thought our rebate check was going to be mailed out the 9th of May, NOT!!!! Our check won't be here until the middle of July :0( so we are awaiting it patiently so we can buy a new pool for the kids. They are so bored right now with the slip n slide.....
We took baby Nickie to the hosptial Sunday night with his mouth covered in white and crying...he has the "THRUSH" and its so painful. We got some Nystatin for it and today it looks horrible....praying he will feel better soon!!!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman's Family




NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.

The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.

The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.

Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

The singer's Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site. "We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world."'

Chapman also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess."

Monday, May 19, 2008

Dr Jeckyl or Mr Hyde?

Okay, Im really fuming right now.....I am posting a website to read about this dr who is performing sex change operation's on children as young as 7 yrs old. It's already a shock about the recent ban lift on gay marriages but this is just horrible, Christian's in America "WAKE UP" out of your placebo and we have to pray and seek God like never before....


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356592,00.html

Holy, Holy, Holy



Just wanted to post this, I love this song by Paul Wilbur its so awesome!!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

I saw this and had to post it here, enjoy!!!

Why are you crying, Mom?

"Why are you crying?" he asked his Mom. "Because I'm a
woman" she told him. "I don't understand," he said. His
Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will"........

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother
seem to cry for no reason? "All women cry for no reason"
was all his dad could say........

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering
why women cry...

Finally he put in a call to GOD; when GOD got on the phone
the man said, "GOD, why do women cry so easily?"
and GOD said.......

When I made woman, she had to be special. I made her
shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the World;
yet, gentle enough to give comfort....

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the
rejection that many times comes from her children......

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when
everyone else gives up and take care of her family through
sickness and fatigue without complaining......

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her
very badly...

This same sensitivity helps her to make a child's boo-boo
feel better and shares in their teenagers anxieties and
fears.......

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults
and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.....

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts
his wife, but, sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.....

I gave her tears to shed. They are hers to use whenever she
needs them. They are her secret strength. They make her
more like ME.....

Author Unknown

Habit Cough?



Today we went to the allergy dr for a 2 month check up for ds-12 and a follow-up appt for ds-9, the dr is referring ds-9 to an ENT for x-rays and a check up to make sure that he doesn't have something else going on, then he will be sending him to a speech therapist for bio feedback......for a "HABIT COUGH", never heard of it but its some sort if tick , and it just gets worse. He has had this cough now for 3 weeks and it's continuous and driving us all crazy!!!
On the lighter note ds-12 is doing great and it rained today so hopefully it will wash some of the pollen away.....below is a description of a "Habit Cough"....


HABIT COUGH IN CHILDREN

A habit cough is a cough that occurs in the absence of any underlying disease. It is very common, affecting boys and girls equally. Habit cough most frequently affects school age children, usually those in later primary school or early high school.

Features
A habit cough is usually loud, harsh, honking or barking. It may follow a viral illness, but can go on for weeks, months or even, in extreme cases, years.

It can occur many times in a minute, and often becomes more severe when other people are around and if the cough is the subject of the conversation. Even though the habit cough can sound ferocious, the child is usually quite comfortable between coughing bouts. Classically, a habit cough only occurs when the child is awake. It does not occur during sleep.

Habit cough is not associated with shortness of breath or wheeze. If these symptoms develop, it is more likely the cough relates to an underlying disease.

Diagnosis
Your doctor can diagnose habit cough by confirming the presence of the above-mentioned features and excluding any underlying medical conditions that could be causing the problem. This will require a physical examination, and possibly also lung function tests, a blood test and a chest X-ray.

Treatment
Firstly, it is important to recognise that despite the disruptive nature of the cough, and its harsh sound, habit cough is not a dangerous condition, and your child in fact is healthy. Sometimes the simple reassurance that the cough is not serious and will go away helps resolve the symptoms.

The use of cough lollies or a sip of water can also help suppress the urge to cough. It is important to give positive reinforcement in the form of praise and positive comments when there is any evidence that the cough is diminishing.

Habit cough is generally a manifestation of a perceived stress or anxiety. Your child might be able to isolate this stress by identifying situations in which the cough gets worse. For example, bullying in the schoolyard and travelling to and from school is a common trigger of habit cough.

If your child is not improving, your doctor may suggest referral to a child psychologist or similar health professional.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Allergies




The past 2 weeks we have all had allergy attacks, I had to take ds-9 to the allergy dr Monday- which is about 100 miles from our home. He still has an sinus infection and inflamation from his asthma. We already did the steroid thing, now he/we are taking our Flonase, Flovent and asthma meds hoping he/we will be getting over this soon. Noah is still coughing , hopefully this will pass soon.
We live in the country on 14 acres so we have all the trees, pollen, and ragweed to deal with and lately it feels like March with the wind and now their planting and stirring all the sand up here, hoping it's done soon so we can spend the summer outdoors and in the pool.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Please pray for this Homeschooling family...

Photobucket

Please pray for this family, Josephine's husband was killed Sunday May 11th ( Mother's Day) she is a homeschool Mom who lives in North West Alabama with her family. Here is her website: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/dixiecajuns/530801/ Please stop by to leave her a comment or prayer or whatever the Lord puts on your heart.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Why God Made Mother's.........

These are answers from a 2nd grade class of school children......too cute!!!!

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.


How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.


What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.


Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.


What kind of little girl was your mother?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.


What did your mother need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?


Why did your mother marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.


Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because Dad’s such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.


What’s the difference between mothers and fathers?

1. Moms work at work and work at home. Dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.

4. Moms have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.


What does your mother do in her spare time?

1. Moms don’t do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.


What would it take to make your mother perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet - You know…her hair. Maybe blue.


If you could change one thing about your mother, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.

2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Hearing God 101

This is an article written by Barbara Shelton, you can go to her site and read the entire article.

I believe there are a few different methods ~ or tools ~ that God uses to
teach us how to hear His voice. Of course, there are two very foundational
elements to this, and they are both contained in this verse:
"If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart."
It starts with God calling. God is calling us. This is all through the word:
"Come let us reason together…
Come to Me all who labor and are heavy-laden… and learn from Me...
Come to Me with your ears wide open…"
And then the other element, of course, is us listening! If we hear Him calling
us ~ and, by the way, He always is ~ then we
need to choose to listen! Even if we don't think
we can hear Him very well. We start by
obeying!
Would you like some ideas and tips for
learning how to increase your ability to hear
God? ….. Here are ten things God has used in
my life to help or to teach me how to hear His
voice…
1) Read God's Word. Of course, you have
to READ it for this one to work. "Thy word
have I hid in my heart." Notice WHO is doing
the hiding. YOU. This one is up to YOU. God will give you the interest and
desire, if you lack either, and if you want ~ and ask ~ Him to give it to you,
and He will give you the self-discipline, if you lack ~ and ask Him ~ for that.
But YOU have to actually DO it.

2) Prayer. This is two-way conversing ~ where we TALK with God, and
practice LISTENING to Him. (And that "listening" part, of course, is what
we're working on honing here.) "Pour out your longings before Him, for He
can help." (Psalms 62:8) Just as with the conversations we have with
people, there are a few different angles to prayer. They are:
~ Giving Thanks - "I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart..."
Having a thankful heart actually opens up the way to getting into God's
presence. It makes sense... When I have gone to a lot of trouble to give
someone a gift (and I've done NOTHING compared to what GOD has done for
us!), and the recipient thanks me for it, my heart immediately opens up to
them! This pre-supposes that one's heart is already right with God. If it
isn't, then the next angle is necessary, and should be taken care of first...
"If today you
hear His
voice, harden
not your
heart."

~ Repentance - In the Lord's Prayer it says: "Forgive us our sins..." Be
specific as the Holy Spirit reminds you of what you need to ask forgiveness
for. Consider this verse: "Who shall stand in God's holy place? He who has
clean hands and a pure heart."
~ Petition - This is probably the most common form of prayer. Even non-
Christians do it! This is because our human nature is inclined to ~ and adept
at ~ ASKING for things! Here's how you can pray another portion of the
Lord's Prayer: "Give us [me] this day our [my] daily bread" ~ which is
whatever needs You, Lord, see that I have spiritually, emotionally, physically,
health-wise, time-wise, etc." We also pray for family, friends – saved and
unsaved – the Body of Christ, etc. as Jesus prayed in the garden: "Keep
them from the evil one... May God's joy be fulfilled in them... Keep them in
God's Name... Sanctify them in the Truth." Pray favorite Scripture verses
over them.
(These ideas are borrowed from my "Commune With Me" Guide." -
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/commune_with_me_guide.htm)

3) Worship. This could be considered another
aspect of "Prayer," but it's so important that it merits
its own separate listing. Worship involves focusing
on GOD, not on us. True worship involves both
SPIRIT and TRUTH. True worship is getting our eyes
OFF of ourselves and ONTO God. And there is
something transforming about this!
"But we know this, that when we He
appears, we will be like Him, for we will
see Him as He really is." (I John 3:2-3)
Notice it is the very looking at God that changes
us?!?!?!?!? The converse of this is that it's actually a
principle that holds true in a negative way. The more
we look at ~ and listen to ~ worldly music,
television, books, etc. the more we will become like
those. So even our seemingly "neutral" choices
greatly affect our ability to hear God!

4) Obedience. Think of your own children for a
moment… How likely is it that you will be inclined to
tell your child something else to do if they haven't followed through on the
last thing you asked them to do? John 4:34 reads:
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to
accomplish His work." (John 4:34)
Doing God's
will is not
only very
satisfying, it
is also FOOD
~ and is
nourishment
to our "spirit
man" ~
which
includes our
spiritual
eardrums!
6
Doing God's will is not only very satisfying, it is also FOOD ~ and is
nourishment to our "spirit man" ~ which includes our spiritual eardrums!

5) Mentoring/Discipling/Study/Reading. Reading books is actually
"mentoring" on a one-way basis. When you
read a book, you are actually studying under
the person who wrote it. Discipling is
mentoring on a two-way basis. Unfortunately,
though, we have a great need for mentors.
You can be in a church or support group
without one person who understands where
you're at with homeschooling or your walk
with God. This is not a pride thing; it is a pure
and simple matter of "like-mindedness." If you
do not have a person in your life with whom
you can mentor ~ and it can go both ways ~
then God will provide what you need in
another way. It may be that He doesn't even
want you to have contact with people. After
Paul was knocked off his horse with the
blinding light, it says that he "did not confer
with flesh and blood" for quite some time.

6) Die to Self. There is some "old" stuff in you ~ in your thinking, your
heart, your belief system, your attitudes ~ that God just plain wants to deal
a death blow to, but "old" seldom dies a quick, easy death! It takes time. You
may need to allow God to take you through a season of drawing close to Him
for the purpose of letting Him do the needed work (surgery) in your heart.
And THAT is the exact purpose behind my Season of Re-education and
Renewing of the Mind
(http://www.homeschooloasis.com/barb_sheltons_homeschool_course_intro.
htm)!

7) Rest in the Lord. This is a hard one for those who are the "take
charge" type, yet it's where the most power lies, and where the most work
will be done in us! A perfect example (and the very first one we have from a
human) is: How did Adam "hear God" on who he should marry? He went to
SLEEP! He didn't look at all! He just slept, and "while he was sleeping God
formed the woman... and brought her to him." This "resting" also involves
just "resting our case" before the Lord ~ so that He is free(er) to have His
way.

8) Delight yourself in the Lord. How does THIS one help hone your
ability to hear God?!?! It is where our HEART gets lined up with God's
HEART. And it is in this alignment that we are the most receptive to ~ and
able to hear ~God's voice. Our worldly desires not only distract us, they also
dull our ability to hear God, because they pull our attention and focus away
from Him.
There is some
"old" stuff in you
~ in your
thinking, your
heart, your belief
system, your
attitudes ~ that
God just plain
wants to deal a
death blow to…

(Are you beginning to see how much of "hearing God" has to do with
"clearing the path" ~ so that He has a place to access our hearts and lives?!?
Or we could use the analogy of "clearing the runway so He has a place to
land. )

9) Walk in and by the Spirit. This has to do with not only what we DO
and SAY, but how we RESPOND and THINK. It is our connectedness to the
Holy Spirit that affects that first response, not just repenting over and over
for the same thing. Yes, repenting is good, but walking in and by the Holy
Spirit changes us from the inside out. We need to grow up into the full
stature of the Lord, not just stay on milk all our lives. (See Marilyn
Howshall's article "Walking by the Spirit"
(http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_walking_by_spirit_mh.htm) for much
more in-depth study of this!)

10) Adverse Circumstances. I can pretty much guess that this is the
LEAST favorite means of learning to hear God, yet it is one of the most
effective! Of course, this isn't something we
DO, it's something we YIELD to, and walk with
God through. Because this one is SO important,
and yet probably the most misunderstood and
least talked about in Christianity today, I'm
going to camp here for a bit… How you see and
respond to this could actually be the very thing
that will bring a breakthrough in your ability to
hear God…
The idea of God allowing suffering or bringing
"negative judgment" upon our lives raises
questions that go far beyond the realm of
homeschooling. It is not a popular topic within
the church today, as suffering is often associated with God's judgment, and
we much prefer to live in "grace," me included! But we need to remember
this:
"Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his
son, the Lord your God disciplines you." (Deut.8:5)
There are times that an erring child will do as he/she wishes, and the parent
will allow him or her to suffer the natural consequences of their choice(s)…
But there are other times when this isn't appropriate, and specific action –
which I'm sure my child would interpret as "negative judgment" – is
necessary. It is actually grace that I do this because allowing the error to
continue uncorrected would result down the road in much more serious
consequences than merely my "negative judgment" now.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...




The past few weeks I have scanned over hundreds of books, for our new homeschooling year. And I have prayed and trusted the Lord to help me and what we have come up with this Fall is Language from Queens Homeschool and My Father's World US History . We're also staying with Math U See, my kids love it, and we're also ordering Diana Waring's - cd's " What in the Worlds Going On Here? and the lapbook cd's for Apologia's Exploring Botany, they have them at Rainbow Resource.

We're still working on dd-16 high school curriculum, when I get it done I will post it here.

Sweetly Broken

I was listening to this song, and wanted to post it here. Lately, all I want to do is listen to worship music... this song really touched me.




Jeremy Riddle - Sweetly Broken
From the album Sweetly Broken

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

Chorus:

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

(2x’s)
Chorus:

Monday, April 28, 2008

All For Love

This is my heart's cry- my prayer.....



All for love a Father gave
For only love could make a way
All for love the heavens cried
For love was crucified

Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
But still You forgive
If only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray
Draw near to me

Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is You

Let me sing all for love
I will join the angel song
Ever holy is the Lord
King of Glory
King of all

Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
But still You forgive
If only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray
Draw near to me

Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is You (x2)

All for a love a Saviour prayed
Abba Father have Your way
Though they know not what they do
Let the Cross draw man to You

Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is You (x2)

Monday, April 21, 2008

Poor Little Man.....


Poor Little Man, the past couple of weeks Isaac has been having severe allergic reactions to, WE DON'T KNOW? We took him to the allergy dr last week but nothing showed up so we go back in 5 weeks to have RAZ testing done. He looks so sad......

Thursday, April 17, 2008

What an awesome testimony.....

This video is so awesome, enjoy!!!

Nick's Testimoney

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

First Church of Oprah.......

Well, I'm not surprised at all.....the more I read the news the more Hollywood scares me. My friend sent me this video and as I was watching it this scripture verse came to me in ,


II Timothy 4: 3-5
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teacher's to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.




Also here is the website for Oprah's classes on the New Earth, these are new age teaching's and available to download for free...http://www.oprah.com/obc_classic/webcast/archive/anewearth_archive_main.jsp?promocode=HP12

We need to pray for Oprah and for the people who watch her that God will open their eyes to the truth, the truth of God's word.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Autism

My daughter is autistic, she is 11 years old and the joy of my life. I found this great site for kids and thought it was worth posting.....

autism

What Does Autism Mean?

Autism (say: aw-tih-zum) causes kids to experience the world differently from the way most other kids do. It's hard for kids with autism to talk with other people and express themselves using words. Kids who have autism usually keep to themselves and many can't communicate without special help.

They also may react to what's going on around them in unusual ways. Normal sounds may really bother someone with autism — so much so that the person covers his or her ears. Being touched, even in a gentle way, may feel uncomfortable.

Kids with autism often can't make connections that other kids make easily. For example, when someone smiles, you know the smiling person is happy or being friendly. But a kid with autism may have trouble connecting that smile with the person's happy feelings.

A kid who has autism also has trouble linking words to their meanings. Imagine trying to understand what your mom is saying if you didn't know what her words really mean. It is doubly frustrating then if a kid can't come up with the right words to express his or her own thoughts.

Autism causes kids to act in unusual ways. They might flap their hands, say certain words over and over, have temper tantrums, or play only with one particular toy. Most kids with autism don't like changes in routines. They like to stay on a schedule that is always the same. They also may insist that their toys or other objects be arranged a certain way and get upset if these items are moved or disturbed.

If someone has autism, his or her brain has trouble with an important job: making sense of the world. Every day, your brain interprets the sights, sounds, smells, and other sensations that you experience. If your brain couldn't help you understand these things, you would have trouble functioning, talking, going to school, and doing other everyday stuff. Kids can be mildly affected by autism, so that they only have a little trouble in life, or they can be very affected, so that they need a lot of help.
What Causes Autism?

Autism affects about 1 in every 150 kids, but no one knows what causes it. Some scientists think that some kids might be more likely to get autism because it or similar disorders run in their families. Knowing the exact cause of autism is hard because the human brain is very complicated.

The brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells called neurons (say: nur-ahns). Each neuron may have hundreds or thousands of connections that carry messages to other nerve cells in the brain and body. The connections and the chemical messengers they send (called neurotransmitters) let the neurons that help you see, feel, move, remember, and work together as they should.

For some reason, some of the cells and connections in the brain of a kid with autism — especially those that affect communication, emotions, and senses — don't develop properly or get damaged. Scientists are still trying to understand how and why this happens.
What Do Doctors Do?

Figuring out if a kid has autism can be difficult. A parent is usually the first to suspect that something is wrong. Maybe the kid is old enough to speak but doesn't, doesn't seem interested in people, or behaves in other unusual ways. But autism isn't the only problem that can cause these kinds of symptoms. For example, kids who have hearing problems might have trouble speaking, too.

Usually, the results of lab tests and other medical tests are normal in kids with autism, but doctors may do them to make sure the kid doesn't have other problems. These medical tests can include blood and urine tests, a hearing exam, an EEG (a test to measure brain waves), and an MRI (a picture that shows the structure of the brain). Intelligence (IQ) tests also might be done.

Often, specialists work together as a team to figure out what is wrong. The team might include a pediatrician, a pediatric neurologist, a pediatric developmentalist, a child psychiatrist, a child psychologist, speech and language therapists, and others. The team members study how the child plays, learns, communicates, and behaves. The team listens carefully to what parents have noticed, too. Using the information they've gathered, doctors can decide whether a child has autism or another problem.
How Is Autism Treated?

There is no cure for autism, but doctors, therapists, and special teachers can help kids with autism overcome or adjust to many difficulties. The earlier a kid starts treatment for autism, the better.

Different kids need different kinds of help, but learning how to communicate is always an important first step. Spoken language can be hard for kids with autism to learn. Most understand words better by seeing them, so therapists teach them how to communicate by pointing or using pictures or sign language. That makes learning other things easier, and eventually, many kids with autism learn to talk.

Therapists also help kids learn social skills, such as how to greet people, wait for a turn, and follow directions. Some kids need special help with living skills (like brushing teeth or making a bed). Others have trouble sitting still or controlling their tempers and need therapy to help them control their behavior. Some kids take medications to help their moods and behavior, but there's no medicine that will make a kid's autism go away.

Students with mild autism sometimes can go to regular school. But most kids with autism need calmer, more orderly surroundings. They also need teachers trained to understand the problems they have with communicating and learning. They may learn at home or in special classes at public or private schools.
Living With Autism

Some kids with mild autism will grow up and be able to live on their own. Those with more serious problems will always need some kind of help. But all kids with autism have brighter futures when they have the support and understanding of doctors, teachers, caregivers, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends.