Bowl of Oranges

Africa, Wilberforce and Francis Chan

I remember my grandma having a desire to go to Africa after she was widowed.  She didn't want to go long term, but she did want to go and spend time with a missionary who was a dear friend.  As she planned her trip to Africa I was in a bit of awe and some confusion.  She was a grandma and kinda old.  Or so I though then.  And Africa?   That was quite adventurous.  Especially for someone her age.

She planned, prepared and flew off to Africa.  Then she returned home full of stories.  I was still in awe.  And she no longer seemed so old.  She seemed full of vitality and like a pretty cool grandma.  She had raised 5 children, been a faithful wife, grieved the devastating loss of her beloved and then she took a trip to Africa! Unbeknownst to her she modeled for me, and the rest of our family, that life never stops being an adventure.  Life never stops giving you opportunities to love people and serve Jesus.  Even in her care center she was constantly looking for people who needed a friend.  She wasn't perfect.  But even in her imperfections, I find so much hope.  Imperfect, but faithful, people are just what God uses.

After reading this book on William Wilberforce, I was struck by how generously Wilberforce gave away his wealth to those in need.  By the end of his life, he was quite poor because he had given so much away in order to help others.  That spirit in Wilberforce impacted me.  He was a man who lived what he believed.  He literally "put his money where his mouth was."  Even after a life of public service that accomplished so much for so many, he continued to give.  He could have settled into a life of comfort and ease, but he didn't.  He gave and gave until he had given all he had to give.  He was a man who had an eternal perspective.  He was just the sort of person Francis Chan speaks of in this video clip.

That's Just Cheesy

M and I love a good cheese platter.  And this is a very good cheese platter.  wow.

Yum.

Ummmm, could I get a little whipped cream with my hot cocoa?

Gazing Out the Window

Recently my mom shared with me a story about her mom, my sweet grandma.  My mom remembers walking into the kitchen when she was a young girl.  Her mom was washing dishes, gazing out the window and tears rolled down her cheeks.  My mom asked what was wrong and grandma replied, "I just miss my brother."  Her little brother.  He had died, years before, at age 19, in World War II.  My grandma, who passed away this last Fall, missed her little brother her entire life.  There was always a tender place in her heart for her brother who died in service to our nation.  

Getting To Know Grandma Moses

 

A little peek into Art Studies at Greenleaf Academy.

Stop Whining and Eat Chocolate

Sometimes when my kids are particularly whiny and complainy, I give them each a pile of chocolate chips.  Every time they whine, 1 of their chips goes into my pile.  At the end of the designated time they get to eat whatever they have left in their pile.  This can lighten the mood and provide a motivator for reigning in the complaining.  Plus, it relieves me from reminders about their attitude.  All I have to say is "think about your chocolate and choose wisely."

Love a Cup a Tea

Lego For Girls

We recently received out Lego catalog in the mail.  Lego has a newer line of products designed just for girls.  

I guess I thought Lego had a product for girls.  

And, isn't it called "Lego?"

I rephrased the above sentiment from someone else because it fit the photos so well.  That said, L is thrilled with the new Lego line and has already filled us in on the sets she wants.  I have a feeling that we will be supplying her with some of those sets come her birthday and Christmas.  

Periodic Table Puzzle

This school year we have spent some time studying Chemistry.  I thought that a puzzle of the Periodic Table would be great, but it was tough to find the right thing.  I decided to make one, but finding wood blocks of the right size and at an affordable price was a challenge.

This last Fall the kids and I attended an event on conservation and a gentleman who worked for the forest service had a bunch of these little wooden blocks.  I gathered my courage and asked him where he found them.  He told me he had made them and asked why I was asking.  I explained what I wanted to make and he GAVE me enough small blocks to use to make a Periodic Table puzzle.  

Thanks to his willingness to share these wooden blocks, the puzzle turned out far better than I had imagined. Not only were the wooden blocks the PERFECT size to use with our place mat, but the variety in coloration of the different types of wood make the puzzle quite attractive.  

I don't often do projects these days.  My life is full of other activities.  It is a joy to tackle a project and have it turn out so well.  I have sure had my share of projects that have flopped.  Experiencing disappointments with projects makes the success of this project all the sweeter.  Oh and the kids actually enjoy putting the puzzle together!  That is nice too.

Joshua Chamberlain and the American Civil War

My kids, especially my boys, loved this book.  What a fantastic story of American hero, Joshua Chamberlain.  This book is a good one on several levels.  The artwork is appealing and goes well with the narrative.  The map at the beginning of the book shows an 1863 map of the battle at Gettysburg, complete with positions held by both Union and Confederate soldiers.  Inset into that map is a current map of the eastern coast of the United States.  The inset map shows the different locations that are mentioned in the story, from Brunswick, Maine to Petersburg, Virginia.  The book is divided into short chapters that are make the 38 page book very readable.  Lastly there are the photographs of Chamberlain that remind us that he was a real man.

I love books and stories about heroes.  I think we all need a steady diet of stories of heroism and valor.  We need regular reminders of the importance of bravery and strong character.  This book is a fantastic dose of that.  Such a good story.

Frog Dissection

These pictures are from a couple months ago.  Thanks to the help of a YouTube video, that guided us through the process, the frog dissection went quite well.  It was a bit gross, but it was a good learning experience for all of us.

Embeded Soldiers

Making soap with a toy embedded in it is so easy and fun.  These were made out of translucent glycerin soap base that can be melted in the microwave and poured into a mold.  After the soap has been melted a bit of essential oil can be added if desired.  We added a bit of peppermint essential oil.  Pour a thin layer of soap into a mold and let harden.  Place a toy on the thin layer of soap, then pour more soap on top of the toy.  The glycerin soap base may need to be remelted if it has started to set.  Cover the toy and let soap harden.  So easy.    

They really should not have bubbles on the soap.  A spritz of rubbing alcohol takes care of that, but for pity's sake, I figure simply having done this is good enough!  And not one of those boys at the party seemed concerned about the bubbles.  Score 1 for "good enough!"

A Peek Into Our History Lessons

Letter from Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, June 17, 1782:

Ardently as I long for the return of my dearest Friend, I cannot feel the least inclination to a peace but upon the most liberal foundation.  Patriotism in the female Sex is the most disinterested of all virtues.  Excluded from honours and from offices, we cannot attach ourselves to the State or Government from having held a place of Eminence. Even in the freeest countrys our property is subject to the controul and disposal of our partners, to whom the Laws have given soverign Authority.  Deprived of the voice in Legislation, obliged to submit to those Laws which are imposed upon us, is it not sufficient to make us indifferent to the publick Welfare? Yet all History and every age exhibit Instances of partiotick virtue in the female Sex; which considering our situation equals the most Heroick of yours.  "A late writer observes that as Citizens we are called upon to exhibit our fortitide, for when you offer your Blood to the State, it is ours.  In giving it our Sons and Husbands we give more than ourselves.  You can only die one the field of Battle,  but we have the misfortune to survive those whom we Love most."

I will take praise to myself.  I feel that it is my due, for having sacrificed so large a portion of my peace and happiness to promote the welfare of my country which I hope for many years to come will reap benefit, tho it is more than probable unmindfull of the hand that blessed them.*

In 1776 she writes to her husband, John, who is attending the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, asking that he and the other men--who were at work on the Declaration of Independence--"Remember the Ladies." 

This book is a story about a young girl in 1896 and the involvement of her family in women's suffrage.  She also used to go on extended hikes with her father and brothers.  That was so unusual for a girl that she often made it into the newspaper.  My kids really enjoyed this book and so did I.  

This book is an interesting and fun story about a woman bicycle racer.  The top book touches on women learning to ride bikes, while this book focuses on it.  It was interesting to learn that bicycle riding was once taboo for women.  

*From Our Country's Founders Edited by William J. Bennett

Music for Lent

These albums make up my soundtrack for Lent 2012. Oh, and this song too!

The Furball's Happy Place

After buying groceries, we stacked the dog and cat food on the dryer until they could be put away.  As I was putting the other groceries away, in the kitchen, I looked up and saw the cat contentedly perched there.  She happily stayed, sitting in that spot for a good long while.  Silly, kitty.  

My Go-To Birthday Theme

Soldier-themed birthday parties are a reoccurring theme at our house.  Maybe I am lazy and that is why I repeat this theme over and over, but it never fails to bring excitement to the boys.  Basically, it is easy to pull together and it works, so it is what I do.  These pictures are from the most recent party.  I did make soaps with embedded soldiers this time.  That was something new and fun.  I have a future post about how we did that.

Prayers During Lent

The Valley of Vision is a rich collection of Puritan prayers.  Wow, could they pour out their hearts in prayer to God!  I am struck over and over by the depth and beauty of these prayers.  Love them!  During Lent, this year, we are starting our day by reading/praying a prayer from The Valley of Vision before breakfast.  The rich words and filling content nourish our souls before we eat our food.  Here are some prayers from this book that I have shared in the past.  

Rewards and Hope

I have mixed feelings about rewarding my children for their work.  On the one hand, we all love rewards for a job well done.  On the other hand, as we mature, it seems like we should move to a place where we are more internally motivated.  That said, there is nothing like a green sparkly star drawn on my kids completed papers to make them light up with a big smile.  Seriously, that gel pen, is a motivator for them!  And it is so easy.  I have even mastered turning a check mark, to mark a wrong answer, into a star, for getting it right.  The kids LOVE that.  They love to see that check mark transform into a star.  And I love doing it.  Isn't it great to watch a mistake go from being pointed out because it is a mistake to being marked with a big star that shouts "correct answer!"  It is a tiny picture of grace.

Last year M bought the boys some Lego sets on a business trip.  We saved them as a reward to be given upon the completion of their math books.  They were a great reward!  We had them set up on a high shelf in the kitchen and when the boys were feeling unmotivated about completing math, they saw those Lego sets and found some more motivation to keep going.  And when the days came for them to each get their Lego set, it was a time for celebrating hard work and the rewards that accompany it.

This year I wondered if I should give rewards for completing books.  Then the kids started to ask about it.  Then I went through a big clean out of the house.  I discovered some brand new hidden picture books that had been given to us years ago.  They aren't Lego sets, but they are good rewards for the completion of Handwriting Without Tears and Explode the Code workbooks.  But, I also wanted something more, something beyond just a personal reward.

So, here is what we decided to use for rewards this year.  For every completed workbook, the kids get a small personal reward, such as a hidden picture book and they get $1 to put into a jar to help save money for the adoption expenses of some friends. Or we might use it to buy a gift for their child or family.  The jar is decorated with the picture of the little guy who is waiting to come home to his adoptive family.  $1 isn't much, but it is doable and more important than the amount, it provides the kids with an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves.  I wondered if the kids would be motivated by it, but so far, there has been excitement when workbooks are finished!  They are excited that they worked diligently and that their work helps to raise a little money.

My hope is that the jar serves as a reminder to them that education is a privilege and that there are kids in the world who don't get that privilege and/or who don't have families.  My hope is that they remember that while they sit in our little school room, in our home, there is an entire world out there.  A world that they can influence.  The hope is that, along with rewarding small steps along the way, they see the connection between their diligent studies and the needs in the world.  Completing math each day may not seem to matter much, but the character that is being forged through consistent diligence and the knowledge gained are crucial to a world full of needs.  It is our hope that they would begin to learn that their choices, day in and day out make a difference.  Those choices shape them into the people they will grow to be.  The hope is that short term rewards bring long term vision and perspective.  It is the merging of the short-term external rewards and the desire for long-term internal motivation.        

In Which I Recognize my Hoarding Tendency

Last night, as a Valentine's Day present, my husband upgraded my phone.  I went from having a smart phone to, now, having an even smarter phone.  Seriously, this phone is way smarter than I am.  After almost three years with my previous phone, and not using it to the fullest potential, at all, I wondered if I really needed a smarter phone.  Then over the last few months my phone started acting bogged down. It started to feel a bit clunky.  I was ready to upgrade.  And, this could be the best part for me, after the rebate and coupons we had, the phone came to $15.  How cool is that?  Such a bargain for all this technology!  Since M and I don't do much for Valentine's Day for each other, it was the perfect present.  A fantastic upgrade at such an unbelievable price.  I am still gushing and he is feeling awesome for presenting me with a gift that I truly love.

Now, I have and am using apps.  I guess I used them before, but I didn't have any cool ones.  Basically, I just used the Facebook app.  Now, I am so app happy!  Constellation app, "yes!"  Periodic table app, "I'll take it!"  How to tie a scarf app, "Alright!"  Khan Academy, "Love it!"  Merriam-Webster app, "Yup!" Bible app, "Of course!"  Crossword Solver, "Got it!"  The Federalist Papers app, "Oh yeah!"  Hold on!  The Federalist Papers?  The Crossword Solver?  I don't do crossword puzzles.  But, one time in the last 6 months one of my kids had a crossword puzzle in his schoolwork and there was a word that stumped us. I might need it.  And the Federalist Papers?  Really?  REALLY?  Do I need to tote that around?  Do I need that at my fingertips at all times?  Have I ever read it?

Suddenly I am downloading all these apps because they are free and I might, maybe, want them someday.  When it comes to my house, I like to clean out the clutter!  Seriously, cleaning out my house could well be said to be somewhat of a hobby of mine.  Hobby [hob-ee], noun, plural -bies, "an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation andnot as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving."   Yup, cleaning out could certainly fit the dictionary definition of a hobby.  It does bring me pleasure and relaxation and it is not my main occupation.

But, I think I could have an app problem because when I went to look up the definition of the word hobby, I noticed that that web site had an app and I felt really excited about that.  And I wanted to download it right away, even though I already have a dictionary app.  So, I looked up the word addict and found that in this case I might fit the 3rd definition of the word,to habituate or abandon (oneself) to something compulsively or obsessively: a writer addicted to the use of high-flownlanguage; children addicted to video games. "  But then again, that's not quite right, it's a little strong, so I looked up the definition of the word hoarder and yeah, I might be an app-hoarder.  It is defined as, "to gather or accumulate (a hoard)" and then there is this definition, "an accumulated store hidden away for future use".  So, yeah, that is what I am doing, but it is such a fine line!  I mean some of these apps really will be useful, but then again, others are just clutter.  Some just take up space and will never be used., but they don't take up REAL space and they could be very useful...and here I go making excuses, is that the sign of a problem?

New Seeds Album: Purity

Seeds Family Worship has a new album!  What could be better for Valentine's Day than a Seeds album full of songs that focus on purity?  Click here to buy and download the album!  It has just been released TODAY!

Seeds is also offering a Purity Pledge.  Here is what they say about that, "The pledge helps us all take a look at how purity in our children starts with purity throughout our homes. Every person who takes the pledge receives a free song from Purity and a free devotional download from the Passport2Purity curriculum by FamilyLife."

If you notice, the pledge is a Parent's Purity Pledge, not a kid's purity pledge.  It is for parent's to read and sign.  Click here to take a look at the pledge.   Whether you are into signing pledges such as this (okay, I'll be honest, I am not really into signing things like that) read over it.  It contains some things well worth considering and implementing into our lives.  If signing it could benefit you as a parent, sign it!  For myself, it gives some good food for thought and would be useful to refer to on occasion as a tool to help me evaluate purity in my life and parenting.  Signed or not signed, it is a great tool and a great reminder to examine our hearts and homes and to evaluate how high a priority we are placing on purity.  


The music that I have heard from this new album is fantastic!  Just as good as their previous music.  It might even be better?  We own and regularly play albums 1-6.  We love having scripture playing in our home.  It draws our hearts and minds back to what is true and good in the midst or our days.  I can't wait to download this new album!!!  Want to preview the music for yourself?  Click here.  

Lisa Who?

Does this or does it not look like it says, "Lisa"? But for some reason A does not like it when I call him that. Hey, I say if you're man enough to wear it, be man enough to be called it.

Can't Look Away

Another Christmas 2011 picture.  The cat was  mesmerized by the hex bugs.

Marionberry-Cranberry Pie

And the Christmas day dessert from 2011.  Yum.  I think we will make this marion berry-cranberry pie again!

Christmas Meal

Christmas 2011 meal.  We made a fiesta meal.  Several crock pots kept meat, beans and rice warm.  And, yes, that is a stack of dirty dishes surrounding that crock pot.  Opening presents was more of a priority :).  This was one of the most fun holiday meals.  Shortly before we ate we cooked up fresh tortillas (premade to make Christmas day less busy).  Delicious!

The day before we squeezed a bunch of fresh orange juice and garnished the glasses with pomegranate seeds.  Yum.

Here, Catch!

I like this picture of my dad. It makes me smile.

Recycled Valentines

My best ideas are often the ones I copy from others.  Here is another idea that I copied from someone else.  For Valentine's Day this year we will be giving heart shaped recycled crayons.  We took the old broken crayons from the crayon box and the kids had a great time picking color combinations to put into a metal heart shaped pan.  We then put the crayons into the oven at 250 degrees and let them melt.  After they had cooled, we popped them out and some of our results are pictured below.

Date Night In

Sometimes life gets full and date nights just don't happen. Or going out for a date simply does not sound very fun, should I admit that? Seriously, sometimes it is totally worth it to go out, but other times it feels like a hassle to get all the details arranged in order to go out. Get the kids taken care of, driving someplace, spending money on a meal...

Sometimes it is much more fun to hang out at home. My recent favorite date-night-in involved stopping by one of our favorite restaurants and picking up a dessert to go. We arrived home, had a delicious meal of grilled burgers with the kids, tucked them in, C settled in with a movie and M and I snuggled in with our dessert. Simple, but so nice.

Hands On Math

Here is a peek into some of the things we do for math.  Worksheets and games.  I love little hands at work.  So sweet.

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

A beautifully illustrated book of Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures.  We found this at the library and enjoyed it a great deal.

Birthday Gift Exchange

This year we had L's first friend birthday party. It was basically a play date with cupcake decorating and a gift exchange. So easy, and the girls seemed to have a great time. When C was younger I went all out on a couple of her birthday parties. It was tons of fun, but at this time in my life, the mellower the better. So L had a low key birthday party. It was simple to put together and still lots of fun. For the activity they were able to decorate their own cupcakes. They had a great time and it sure made it easy on me.

I copied another idea from an acquaintance and it turned out to be a winner. Everyone brought a small gift, we swapped them and each girl left with a gift. It ended up being a fun way to do gifts.  I may be doing this at future birthday parties.