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May 27,
2004 I read with great interest articles pertaining to
homeschooling---specifically, lately, articles featuring homes-chool
graduates. Since we have another home-school graduate
(this week!!), it's particularly good to read
a positive article and to see others who're doing well in
the business of training up children in the Way they should go.
Here's a great rebuttal(!) to the imprudent Quinn
Cotton article on the horrors of home-school(ers). This,
by a PhD, no less, is a very interesting look at some angles of
homeschooling that rarely surface. Home-schoolers are
quite delightful---and I could write volumes on the reasons we
do home-school and don't send our children out to the government
schools. This is the real world---I mean, you can just
*tell* it is from the pics below!
Such a
blessing to follow
Roger
Bennett's progress in treatment/transplant process.
You know... one thing about life, every twist and every turn
reveals another marvelous angle of the LORD. His ways are
past finding out---they are higher than our ways, He doesn't
think as a man thinks.
Deuteronomy 31.8: "And the LORD, he it is that doth go
before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
May
26---extra. Now... I couldn't resist putting up a few more
pics.. another slice of a day in the "life" of our family.
Stephen's
Lincoln Log/book
tower! Built this morning,
it's still standing! He had a little help from Naomi
and cheering from Andrew & Ami |
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Having
given up on the dryer repair,
Timothy went on to some other useful work...
gathering up all the "give-away's" for Dad.
But before Wes loaded up the give-away
clothes, everyone had to try something on.
These are
the clothes we decided *not*
to keep from the collection of
pass-around's we have received lately.
"Large families" seem to never ever
run out of clothes and... fun!
←
Timothy
has outdone himself, here. |
May 26,
2004 Ever green and ever wet... Another rainy day in
Washington! Just in time for Memorial Day
weekend---overcast and rain. Now, one thing rain does is
keep us cozy! AND makes me thankful to have a dryer. Now,
if our dryer was working, that would be great. So, Wes is
on the phone... who has great dyers on sale ---today--- ?
Now, this wouldn't matter all that much if we weren't planning
on going to a conference this weekend and didn't want to bring
clean clothes to wear. But... this makes me smile...
what a gold mine of goodies: socks, clips, combs and toys we
found under and behind the washer/dryer and amazing stuff *in*
the "lint trap" housing---drill bits, screws, barrettes, nails,
sand, chains, bolts. Thrilling. We figure we do 5
loads a day and so we're now behind just a tad. A new
machine sounds great... but in the background I'm hearing the
price... great---woooo, very great. So, maybe they'll find
parts and rebuild the motor...
Today was
the last piano lesson for the year---the lesson book is now
filled with summer goals for pieces to learn by September.
We had our
neighbors in for dinner last night. What a blessing it was
to be able to spend time with them, to learn more about them and
to hear about their work. Another sweet blessing was to
learn that she minored in communicative disorders/ASL in
college. She commented that I sign to Naomi and then said
she'd love to "practice" again and will work with us to
understand the "deaf culture." She shared many
things with us that we've already made use of this morning.
You know, it's marvelous to me how the LORD works, how He
orchestrates our days and constructs the elements of our lives.
Friend,
Barbara, sent me an interesting article this morning---it's
sort along the lines of the wild
anti-homeschooler/conservative (whatever that means) families
article I linked a couple of weeks ago. Well, this one is
particularly interesting to me and the logic is just a
ridiculous.
Why Large Families Don't Deserve Tax Breaks. It seems
to me, these two individuals have quite an axe to grind.
Large families, as portrayed in this article, are not worthy of
tax breaks because the have stupid children? I wish this
person knew the LORD---perhaps then he'd see that tax credits or
incentives have absolutely nothing to do with parents who decide
to allow the LORD to give them the number of children*He*
desires them to have---by birth, adoption or any other
means---how narrow also is his research. What a limited
view this person has... sad, too, because he would have had a
wonderful time at the table last night---eating the best meal
(made for the most part, by our third-born! and cleaned up, for
the most part by our fourth and sixth born) and enjoying the
best conversations, humorous stories of the fifth and
eighth-born, hearing the goals & dreams of the fourth-born, all
around the table there were fun conversations; O, the sweetness
of the ninth-born and then the endearing giggles and ways of the
tenth and eleventh-born children. At many points our
neighbors were just in stitches over the children and as they
related many stories of their own, we enjoyed them so
much---both very competent and both from families of four
children, by the way. O, it's sad how much that author is
missing.
It doesn't
matter how many tax breaks we might get... we still buy lots of
milk, lots of groceries, lots of books, lots of music lessons,
machines and materials, spend lots of money for goods and
services from doctors and INSURANCE companies (!), in addition
to tires and dry-cleaners, repaimen, WASHER/DRYER
retailers---all this buying and paying keeps the economy
buzzing---and, boy, is it buzzing around here today! A lot
of families pay for and don't receive tax credits or exemptions
for home-education books, materials and conferences and yet,
still pay (a BUNCH!) for government $chools.
May 24,
2004 If ever I feel discouraged, all I need to do is
to look around at the smiling faces of all our children, or to
look out at the beauty of God's creation or to recount or
rehearse any of the ten thousand blessings the LORD's bestowed
on us or think of where I'd be today if I didn't know Jesus as
my personal Saviour and Lord... and then... if I need think
further, then I begin to think of where I'm not! I'm not
in ill health, I'm not alone, I'm not afraid of the future, I'm
not where I was... Then, need I look further, I think on Roger
Bennett's life, his journey through Leukemia and I marvel at the
grace of God. Take time to read through his "midnight
meditations" and you'll have a glimpse of our wonderfully
gracious God and LORD.
Just as we don't seem to understand the nature of
the enemy in Iraq, so also, we seem (as a nation) out of touch
with the terrorism that's going on all over the world. We
just received a note that New Tribes is offering a CD of the
Burnham Story. The Burnham's, New Tribes missionaries
to the Philippines, nearly three years ago were held hostage by
Abu Sayyaf terrorists for 375 days. At the end of their
captivity two years ago, Martin was killed in a battle between
Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf terrorists and then
Gracia, though wounded in the crossfire, returned home to the
United States where she was reunited with her children and her
family. About a year ago, she completed her work on the book
detailing her story, Martin's bravery and determination and
God's protection and provision:
In the Presence of My Enemies.
In the presence of my enemies is how I feel at the gas cha-ching,
cha-ching station, now---OR---when I go to buy milk!!
Wow!! Our 15-passenger van now sounds like a cash
register... just turning the key: cha-ching, cha-ching.
Put it in Reverse: cha-ching, cha-ching! Put it in
Drive: cha-ching, cha-ching! Go to the library for the
fifth time in a week: cha-ching, cha-ching! So... now that
it takes cha-ching, cha-ching $75.00 to fill the van... every
trip's a cha-ching, cha-ching precious time of cha-ching, cha-ching,
traveling together---and every trip is worth it, by the way!
What do you think: Will the
rise in production = savings at the pump?
Speaking of
travel... it was such a blessing to us to be able to go to
the Gaither Homecoming Concert in Tacoma on Saturday night!
Thank you, Mom. What a thrill it is to see and hear
believers filling that dome with praise! To see the
thousands of little twinkling lights all over the dome (tiny
flashlights in the hands of those in attendance). We love to
hear the songs of the faith, to laugh and to praise the LORD for
His goodness. It was also very moving to sing
I'm Proud to be an American... to see the lights and to
thank the LORD for His provision and for all who are daily
fighting and laying down their lives for our freedom---for our
freedom to gather, freedom to sing, freedom to worship God.
Let freedom ring---for it was for Freedom that Jesus died,
paying the price for sin that separates man from God... that He
rose again, that He lives today and that His gift of salvation
is free to all who would believe. Acts 16.31
I think my
favourite was
Lynda Randle who sang a couple of songs, one of which was a
tribute to Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972)---and if you've never
heard her ring out Amazing Grace, or Sweet Little Jesus Boy...
well... you've just gotta hear her! We didn't buy it, but
Lynda's got a new CD Tribute... it looks great!
We did buy
Anthony Berger's piano CD---what a gift he has! I like
his music style, but for certain to me, no one anywhere plays
like Legacy
5's
Roger
Bennett! We also talked to an area promoter who has
blessed our family by asking the children to usher at concerts
and who extended an invitation to do so again at the
Legacy 5
concert in November ---but it's in Portland! We told him
we'd be there if at all possible---what blessing it would be to
be able to go! Like this man said, what you see is what
you get---and that's not always true of people in the limelight.
It's sort of like show-biz is a poison to people---all of us
would succumb to it, I suppose. The feeding of the pride
of life or whatever. It sure doesn't seem that way with
them, though.
As is
always the case, when we attend a function like the Gaither's,
where there are many believers gathered, we see people we
haven't seen in years, or run into old friends and try to have a
quick conversation---always amazing them with how the children
have grown and that, yes, there is another one or three! I
love to bring the children to see "old-timers" and to give them
a glimpse of what's gone on before them. So many young
people today think that everything's about *them* and I hope to
impart to the children that life's not all about them---they are
*part* of the big picture, but they aren't *the* big picture.
If you've got a webpage, *and* are infanticipating or expecting a baby, then you can post a daily
updated
custom graphic by Lilypie that will allow your viewers to
follow the days remaining in your pregnancy.
If you
had a baby due on December 31, 2004, the graphic would look like
this today:
*No,
Mama, and No, Mom, I am not pregnant---remember, I am in my
mid-wife crisis.
No new babies... but another great-grandbaby *is* due in early
November!
May 23,
2004
This
is the day which the LORD hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms118.24
Update:
Corrections to May 22 links.
May 22,
2004 A powerful, powerful article by William (Book of
Virtues) J. Bennett:
Remembering Why We Fight,
is such an important commentary on
our time. However,
you're not likely to see this in any mainstream paper. Bennett:
"This was not a matter of poor military training any more
than it was a matter of poor military judgment. This was a
matter of poor human training and poor human judgment. We don't
need to read the Geneva Conventions or the Code of Military
Justice to know this." Later in the article which was
adapted from a speech he'd made, he went on to say, "Our enemy
is horrid, wicked, inhuman. Those are the adjectives for 9/11,
and for 5/11. Not "inhumane," as some of our soldiers acted at
Abu Ghraib. Inhuman. The moral equivalence, and the
adjectival equivalence, needs to end now." A very concise,
very accurate assessment of recent events.
Post the
Ten Commandments: lose your job.
Wear a "Ten Commandments" lapel pin: lose your job. In
America, no less. I'm sitting here thinking... could
Christopher Word (yes, that's his last name) have been also
fired had he worn a name badge with his last name on it?
In the article, we read he referred to himself as "an average
Joe." Well, he's an average Joe with, by the way, a cool last name:
Word. But he was wearing a pin---motivated by faith;
obviously wearing a Ten Commandments-pin in Alabama is a
political statement---and for that, he was fired.
I was reading in Genesis 18 & 19; grieved by the story of Lot,
of Sodom and the reality that there were not ten faithful there,
that the LORD rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and
fire from heaven. More social engineering in the media: a
new show will premier [in this country---it's already a BBC
show]:
Wife Swap or The Swap. A sickening-sad week of
degradation of marriage and God's design in the redefining of
"marriage" in our country. Now, further plummeting into
the abyss, this 'reality
TV' show. You can make calls, you can sign a petition to
make your "voice" heard, you can throw out your TV set, I guess. The more
things are seen, the more they become "normal" and what is
normal becomes alright and what is alright becomes: right.
But it's not right, it's adultery, it's immoral, it's: sin.
This doesn't just "miss the mark," it attempts to wipe it out.
Another assault on God's design---another attempt to defile His
creation. Here's what's sick: ABC said, "Never before has
a reality series taken such an honest inside look at the
American family." An honest look. I grieve for the
end of those who mock God. Even so, Come, LORD Jesus.
(At the AFA site you can sign a
petition voicing your opinions.)
May 21,
2004 I cannot believe my eyes when I read of each
days' account of what's going on in the "War on Terror" or in
Iraq. Now, this:
US frees hundreds in Iraq. Who has the tiger by the
tail? Can the reports of Iraqi prisoners be believed?
I wonder what would have been the outcome of Vietnam or WWII or
any other war, for that matter, had they been this propagandized
or media influenced wars.
A couple of
months ago I shared of a Snohomish man's journey from the
penitentiary to the
garden that grief built. Now, after all these years,
Ralph Lowery, in addition to "giving back" to the community, has
been reunited "with
a warden who changed his life nearly 40 years ago. Ah,
the turns of life.
Wow!
Mariners won? Wow.
No child left behind [no matter what?!]:
to what
lengths will "teachers" go to ensure this?
Last
night, our friend was sharing an amazing story about a father
and daughter who were "found" living in the
hillside of Portland's Forest Park. Surprisingly,
they'd lived there undetected for four years! What I find
the most interesting is that they, the proverbial "they" are not
disrupting this family or aren't determining to split them up
because of their living conditions---which, were, by
description, "unacceptable," according to police Sgt. Michael
Barkley. Interestingly, he sought what was best for
the family and didn't succumb to the knee-jerk reaction of
calling in child protective services to "handle" this situation.
Instead, a very workable solution was sought and found!
It's become somewhat of a
community effort (of funding) now to see that this
family has what it needs.
We hear very little in America about the
persecuted Church. Mainstream media either ignores or
disregards the persecution of Christians around the world.
We receive a publication from
Voice of
the Martyrs which has shed light on areas around the world
where Christians are suffering in defense of faith in Jesus
Christ. At the site you can discover ways to support VOM,
receive their newsletter, purchase books and videos and/or see
ways in which you might offer help with support efforts to those
in bonds. Another site,
Worthy News will help you see a bit more of reality of
persecution against the church in the US.
May 20,
2004 Okay---so
systematic buzz phrases
are popping up all over! Maybe some
could be utilized in our homes. For example,
Synchronized Organizational Flexibility (SOF) is what I'm
looking for in our home, working together---with this many
people in our family, we very much need flexibility, order and
action: at the same time! with every member doing exactly what
they're supposed to be doing.
Kelli told me of a site for Herbs at great prices:
Trilight
Herbs. There's a huge selection---thus I need my
herbalist to discern which I need. I was sharing with her
some of the "things" I'm dealing with in the mid-wife-crisis
phase of life. BTW---this phase is the phase of not having
babies any more and looking at all the *young!* women with *no*
gray hair, having babies, pushing swings at the park, their
young smiles, beautiful dark hair, and unetched faces filled
with hopes and dreams of many tomorrows. I've had no
midwife visit for nearly three years, hence: the mid-wife crisis
(and the subsequent denial of a "mid-life" crisis).
So,
Kathryn's making Oatmeal-Raisin cookies today. I've just
started back on the NO
BSF foods
so I'll need to forgo the delightful experience of having a
cookie or ten with a cup of coffee (or three) with whipped cream
and honey. So, I'm boosting my spirits with a cup of
coffee and cream.
It's
incredible *to me* the seeming contradictions in sports---that
because steroids and other blood-boosting
drugs were taken by Kelli White, she'll be suspended for two
years (and Olympic competition), yet this summer will be the
first
Olympic Games in which transgender individuals will be
eligible to compete--provided they've met the "criteria" set by
the IOC. Ridiculous, given the fact that Kelli White will
be "used" to uncover abuses by athletes and now, this! If
a male (to "female") body isn't performance enhanced, I don't
know what is! Considering our amoral and/or immoral
society, to what lengths would athletes or countries go to
"bring home the gold" anyway?! What a sick quagmire, this.
As if he
doesn't, or they don't, have enough trouble, this headline won't
win friends: "Kerry
and McCain Shield Communist Vietnam's Slaughter of Christians"
Just
as the "war on terror" is a war against an enemy we
(seemingly) don't know or understand, here is another case of
not understanding what's really going on---who the actual enemy
is!
May 19,
2004 So, I was reading an email and couldn't for the
life of me figure out what in the world was being conveyed: YMMV
Your-Mileage-May-Vary?!?! Whaa...? Okay... so YMMV
applies to many things, I guess. I was being too literal.
So I found the site that is loaded with acronym's, hence the
name:
Acronym Finder [duh!] .com! You can also find
IM and email
lingo [warning! there are some
acronyms you will NOT want to use,
nor will some of them be in*your* daily vocabulary. This
is just a FYI warning!] They
have a quote:
"A
comprehensive A-Z of every kind of Internet gibberish you are
ever likely to encounter." -Reader's Digest.
I
also discovered something that helped me understand the source
of acronyms used in business. My son continually tells me
of the projects he's on (using acronyms and buzz phrases, of
course) and so now I see where these originate! They utilize the
Systematic Buzz Phrase projector---and voila! they have a
new buzz word for their project! Try it! This, then,
actually explains to me all the oxymoron's popping up all over,
eg.: artificial intelligence and others.
It seems everyone is losing sanity in regard to
the war on terror[ists], what-did-they-know and
when-did-they-know-it 9/11 attacks, whose responsible for what
and when... yada yada yada. The blame-game of politics.
So now...
Giuliani says he wasn't warned about the attack (Newsmax)
but then, here's this: "If that information had been given to
us, or more warnings had been given in the summer of 2001, I
can't honestly tell you we'd do anything differently," Giuliani
testified. Ah politics. Is a
bio-chemical strike next?
More
trouble in
Massachusetts. Now... which licenses will they
recognize? If the marriages are already unrecognized or
illegal in other states, and out of stater's are not recognized
there? Isn't it time for the Federal Marriage amendment?
Write your Reps and Senators today.
24 years ago, yesterday, Mount St. Helen's erupted, sending
lava and destruction for miles. Obviously, we didn't have
internet in those day or the caliber of the instant media
reporting that's available today, so, news didn't travel as
quickly. We had one child at the time and attempted to
watch any news of the even on a little 12" Black and White TV
set. I think linking hands holding hangers and tin-foil
enabled a fuzzy picture on the screen. It was clearly one
of the most spectacular things we've ever seen. Even
today, the resulting damage, the resulting landscape with
destruction and regeneration being seen at once is really
spectacular! It's
really incredible to see the consequences of that eruption
over time!
Yesterday's
local election had one measure on the ballot:
a school levy. My small vote... didn't hold much sway
as the levy appears to have passed and now, for 20 years, the
additional tax will be added to an already high property tax.
We're doing all we can in our home to eliminate over-crowding in
the schools.
May 18,
2004 Here we go... it's going to be a tough road for
senators and reps to bring the Federal Marriage Amendment to a
vote---and harder to pass it---especially as Election Day draws
near. Here's how the
House
is lining up, and
the Senate, on the matter of the Federal Marriage Amendment.
It's hard to believe that the world in which we live has come to
so hate the Creator and His creation---but we know that the
enemy is a defeated foe, no matter how things look today, God is
the LORD.
O, that there would be more friendships like
these! Friends who've helped one another for years with
whatever's been needed at their homes, have built strong
community in friendship together.
It doesn't have a name, but it has a purpose: helping one
another.
Maybe Bush
will be vindicated now that
WMD's have been found in Iraq. This will mean even
tougher conditions for our soldiers---the enemy's proven to be
meaner, and perhaps more elusive, now. But with this
vindication... what happens?
Enough rope to hang himself!
May 17,
2004 I'm home, and ever grateful to my family for the
opportunities they allow me, the love and support they give me
and always the very warm "welcome home" I receive after being
away. What a blessing to have the opportunity to go to
retreats, to share with women and to hear their stories. I
did present the Married For Keeps ~ Someday an Heirloom Marriage
workshops. How I wish I could have had more time to more
fully develop & present the material and supporting
Scriptures---and, O, how I would like to have had more time to
share with the women. I always appreciate the way this
particular retreat is handled---plenty of time for reflection,
good spacing for workshops and teaching sessions---but like any
retreat or gathering of women: never enough time for those
inevitable questions to be answered. Women everywhere are
carrying so much, are seeking the LORD, His will and His way for
them---and as always, women everywhere are carrying aches and
past hurts that are disabling them in ways they don't understand
and yet seek freedom from the bonds that cause the repeated
cycles of what they think are failures, that prevent them from
soaring the heights as they know they ought and more: that they
know they long to soar! So... back home again, my sweet
family reminds me of what's more important in life, what's best
and good and ultimately, how much God has blessed and provided.
We have a
little later start to the day. But Monday's are like this.
We start the day later, and because Wes has Men's Bible study on
Monday evenings, we, here at home, end the day a bit later as
schoolwork and other activities spill over into the evening.
This is fine---because it works! That's the wonderful
benefit of flexibility---doing what works best *when* it works
best and having patience to work through things till the balance
is found!
So glad to
have been away from the news for a few days---though that
statement is an indictment against me. The soldiers do not
take a break and get away for refreshment from fighting for my
freedom---my freedom to be a keeper at home, to love my husband
and my children, to read my Bible, drink my coffee, smelling the
aroma of a beautiful peach candle, some of our children playing
on the porch, some of the children schooling at home, learning
Truth and being able to pray and study the Word in safety.
At the same time, the soldiers are preserving this freedom I
hold dear, I know they're fighting for the rights of those who
would disagree with them, those who hate the things I hold dear,
those who are swayed by the propaganda machine of liberal
media---those who distort the truth of history---current and
past. They fight for the right to assemble, to protest, to
argue and to agree. They fight because they are loyal and
they're faithful to uphold the
The U.S. Military Code
of Conduct.
Our friend, Sean, gave a very encouraging word in Bible study
sharing the obvious parallels to this Military CoC and the
calling of a believer. One of the Scriptural support
passages Sean cited is:
[Philippians 3.8-11].
It's an interesting study and makes for profound understanding
of the 'battle' faced by believers, the enemy, loyalty to God
and to other believers who are fighting the same battle---but
Christ is our head and ultimately, the battle belongs to the
LORD. We are to resist the devil---we don't do battle with
him---Christ has that victory; ours is to be strong in the
faith, to yield to Christ and resist the devil. [James 4.7]
There is much more that could be posted for you---but then
you'll have missed his commentary and the subsequent
conversations. What a blessing it is follow Christ.
Watch the downfall of
America. The implosion... it's not from without that
this country, this once "great nation" will fall. It will
be from within. The Word says: Blessed is the nation whose
God is the LORD.
Today history will show is
another day in what will be the destruction of this nation.
We watch... God who cannot lie, will not be mocked.
Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. I believe
we've seen nothing yet compared to the unfathomable destruction
that will come upon this land and we have surely seen
sickeningly, shockingly, astonishingly ugly evil and vile
things---but what's ahead will not compare.
This, from Newsmax:
"CAMBRIDGE,
Mass. – Two by two they emerged from City Hall, the nation's
first gay couples set to legally marry Monday, breaking a
barrier many never believed would fall and putting the United
States among four countries where gays can marry."
Psalms
33.10-22:
The LORD bringeth
the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of
the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD
standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the
people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The
LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts
alike; he considereth all their works. There is no king
saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered
by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety:
neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the
eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope
in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them
alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help
and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him,
because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy
mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Interesting article "Gimme
that Showtime Religion" by John MacArthur. We're sure
at a crossroads regarding what's being taught, what's expected
from "churches" today and what the Word really says (and that'll
clearly depend on what paraphrase, rephrase, misphrase,
translation, or version is used). It's a bit tense
for the
conservatives in the New Hampshire
Episcopal Church.
May
14-15 Going to a retreat at
Camp Gilead
where I have the privilege of presenting a couple of workshops
using some material I've gathered and call: *Someday an Heirloom
Marriage!* So... too bizzy for blogging --- praying
readers are having sweet fellowship with the LORD... covered
under the shelter of His wings!
May 12,
2004
A
Tribute to the Soldiers
It seems that finally some balance is coming to the
Iraqi prison scandal.
Sen.
James Inhofe served up a dose of reality with his comments
regarding the outrage over the treatment of those prisoners.
Rightly pointing out that those prisoners were not taken in
on traffic violations, Inhofe exclaimed outrage over the
outrage!
In these days of judicial tyranny and misconduct, it's
interesting to read about a judge whose sentences or
resourcefulness just might be worth emulation. So it is
with Rockdale County Chief Superior Court
Judge, Sidney Nation, and some unusually creative ways he's
sought to administer justice (or at least hope for it!) and to
change lives.
Poor little
dolly took a spill from the swing and skinned
her forehead, nose and mouth... still smiling.
Her teddybear and a nutritious bowl of
fruit-loops was also a real help in eliminating
the tears.
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I just got
the Mother's Day pics downloaded... and once again, there
weren't very many taken that day. Maybe you're like this,
too: you mean to take great pics of the family when everyone's
together at the same time and then in the busyness of the day,
the moments that were great photo ops were being enjoyed too
much to stop and shoot!
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Kathryn's Trifle |
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Very early and
still in pajamas, everyone gathered around! |
Early in
the morning each Mother's Day, for years, I have given letters
or cards and gifts to our children. It's been a joy to me
each year to look for special "Mother's" gifts to give them.
The "mother's" gifts are those things that "mother" thinks each
one needs---for example, this year, all the little boys and one
big boy received matching polo shirts and khaki shorts (Samuel
enjoyed the gift and the little ones felt special, too; Samuel
realized that this was his last year in that department at Wal*Mart---next
year it'll be small men's). Timothy received some needed
items for an upcoming mission's trip to Mexico; Naomi, shoes and
sandals, and our little dolly received a new pink dress.
Kathryn & Hannah received things for sunny days. And...
Daddy received many needed items---the toffee peanuts were
probably the favourite! I received beautiful roses and
some kitchen things, and other gifts from the children. It
really was a wonderful day---it's been such a wonderful life.
I marvel at the merciful kindness of the LORD.
Kathryn made a delicious lunch for my special day! Above,
is a pic of the dessert she prepared! In addition to
marinated steaks, she made beautiful potato rolls, and spinach
salad and raspberry & lemonade with sliced lemons
and other fruit in the big decanter. Tara brought fruit
salad for us, too. It really was a very precious day to
me. Our son Michael came home, too! I gave Him a CD
of some music he so loved when he lived at home---but in those
days I could not see any value in the music and wouldn't allow
it. I cried the other day as I heard the song I'd heard
many years before on the radio and realized that my boy's heart
was touched by that music and I (because of strong aversion to
"worldly music" or what I thought was such) missed an
opportunity to hear what he thought and rejected that music.
He got right up and hugged me, he was so amazed and so
appreciative that I had found and bought that CD for him all
these years later. The CD (Third Day) contains the song
called "Love Song." I still don't really go for the
music---but I sure go for that boy, so I pray the LORD will use
the words in
this song to touch his heart and minister to His grace him.
For many years he's played the guitar and so loved that and many
other songs. I pray it's used to God's glory.
May 11,
2004 What a day in the news! As always,
circumstances or events come about to make a previous atrocity
not look quite so bad! Is al-Qaida attempting revenge for the
"abuse" of Iraqi prisoners in the beheading of an American
contract worker? (AP
story) It's amazing to me that shaming is the worst
offense and another apparent beheading is acceptable retaliation
. Are the liberals outraged at this one? Is there a
reaction in Washington? Do those who oppose the effort
seem to get it? It sure doesn't seem so, so far!
Is it time to stop apologizing? This *is* war, after
all!
One of my
greatest disagreements to the "Passion" movie was what I *knew*
would come from it... the post release peddling of the trinkets
and trash "Jesus" wear, books about the movie---(no, not the
Bible)---the passion, clothing and other "stuff" related to
whatever was in that film. So now, it's fashionable to
wear "Jesus stuff" and I find it so grievous---so cheap; cheap
grace. The greatest Gift the world has ever been given,
the greatest story ever told, the most significant and
important event in all of history, the Person on which every
other event past, present and future, hinges: the birth, life,
crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension of the LORD Jesus
Christ, the penalty paid once for all. To trivialize it or
to attempt to capture it on film is grievous---and then to sport
the "Jesus
stuff" is distressing. I find this pretty ironic,
however, because in the courts there are battles over the
constitutionality of the displaying of religious (read:
Christian) symbols and the lack of understanding the Foundation
of this country. So, all the stuff... the hype is
there, the Name is there, but It's sad and paradoxical that
Truth is not seen in any of this... it's just a fad---just cool
"Jesus stuff." Ahhh... only in America.
I received a letter from the owner of the site:
seriousmoms.com,
she was interested in linking to articles we have here and, as
always, I give general permission to owners of sites who hold to
the same basic biblical standards we hold. It's a blessing
to share because in sharing, we reach more families with the
truth of the gospel and with encouragement they need daily in
their homes and lives.
I'm made
clam chowder for dinner tonight, and of one thing I am quite
certain: I would *never* prepare this again (in this way)
unless a change of heart washes over me! Having only used
*canned* clams and *canned clam juice in the past, I had no idea
what they *actually* look like, or, worse, what it feels like to
chop them up! So... a tasty soup has been prepared---but
those clams are sure gross! My son and daughter-in-law
went 'clamming' this past weekend and steamed the clams
when they returned home. My first clue should've been that
Tara couldn't stand to be in the same room as the steamed clams!
This---from one who's an excellent cook, by the way! So...
clams, I hope this is a one meal pot of soup.
May 10,
2004 Next time you see a taxicab driving down the
highway, maybe you'll wonder the length of time the passengers
will have been in that cab before reaching their destination! A local
driver will likely never forget the
cross country trip to deliver his passengers to Milwaukee...
not Milwaukee, Oregon (which was his first stop!) but to
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to drive a couple of men to their waiting
friends and family! Cha-ching, cha-ching!
In a week,
voters here will vote on a
proposal to build another high school to accommodate the
volume and needs of students/schools resulting from staggering growth
in
this area. I've always thought this to be a conundrum that
could totally be avoided as
we've homeschooled for so many years and as we've seen the
"answer" to crowding schools is: avoid them---stay home!
But then, inevitably, there will be a negative reaction to
this. Many will react because of a preconceived bias
against anything outside "norms," or against homeschooling in
general, or some might have views like the woman who wrote a
particularly stinging article condemning homeschoolers/homeschooling.
My friend Julie, who's graduating with a Master's in education,
plans to teach in a public school next fall, and her response to
this article was: ahfahgeddaboudit! So, as I
mull over what the author was saying and what she thinks of
homeschoolers and their families, I wonder how many others are
misinformed or have a false impression about "us" all. I
know this: the HS'er's I know are so worth knowing and are so
enjoyable to be around! Conversely, in reality, I wouldn't
much enjoy being around those who espouse opinions represented
in that article.
Happy Mother's Day
I love you Mama,
I love you Mom!
May 8,
2004 I'm missing my mom today... thinking I won't be
seeing her tomorrow... She's away on a long driving
vacation to some wonderful spots around the country!
So... Happy Mother's Day... Mama! Happy Mother's Day, Mom,
in Indiana!
I received
a very nice letter from Crystal at
Covenant Wedding Source.
It's really inspiring to see the ambition of young couples!
For parents who are "new" to the whole idea of "courtship" or
covenant relationships for their children, this site features
their "courtship story" and it's really dear. I'm
particularly glad she features
Rebekah's Hope Chest Legacy book on the Covenant Wedding's
Hope Chest page.
The
more time goes on, the more I'm convinced that this country is
run, in part, by people who pretend to be other people: actors
and democrats. I was just glancing over this article
about a planned movie and its financier. Guess Mel
Gibson thought it best to avoid the hassles, and others thought
better of it because of the political ramifications. Well
it's all politics, really---most things are.
In
the news... This mess with the
Dems and Rumsfeld has gone beyond ridiculous! No, no,
wait: *this* H Res 629 is beyond ridiculous: impeachment for
high crimes and misdemeanors? Now, this has gotten
silly---juvenile, really. Now I *know* they do not understand
the enemy. Now I know they've long since lost touch with
reality! "...Articles
of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of
the United States of America in the name of itself and all
the people of the United States of America, against Donald
Rumsfeld..." [emphasis mine!] You know who's next, don't
you? Will this maniacal behaviour drive them to charging
the Commander in Chief? Well, it won't be surprising---an
exhibition of foolishness and a further flaunting of ignorance,
but really, not surprising. Keep your eye on this
one... it's bound to heat up!
May 7, 2004
What a blessing it is to spend time with a person who's walked
with the LORD a long time and has a lifetime of wisdom. So
it was with Dick
York, last evening. Knowing him has really been a
tremendous blessing to our family. We had the privilege of
gathering with friends for dinner and fellowship around the
Word. This way of walking with the LORD is really what
we've for so long desired!
I've been mulling over the training and engraining of form in
and of institutionalized "religion." This may seem a
radical statement unless one really seeks to understand what we
do when we "go" to "church" and why we think that "going to
church" is the *right* thing to do. I received a letter
from
an
organization giving a book recommendation and requesting a site
link and so I took a look at the site (which I thoroughly
enjoyed) and just read a great article---it’s really incredible
how the LORD is confirming His way for us --- but to also be
providing cautions as well. I clicked the “Answers for Your
Fellowship” on the left-side bar and then clicked the article:
Home Churching or HIM Churching? On the
http://www.ntmu.net/ site. It's good food for
thought. More on this 'engraining' and form another time.
Well,
this morning's perusal of the paper was much nicer than most any
other day, for on the front page of the Local section, there was
a picture of a (local boy) soldier: "hey, we *know* him!"
we all exclaimed. We've known him and his family for many
years. Well, what also caught my attention was Ryan's
beverage preference: Dr. Pepper! The occasion for the
article and news photo? O... he just won $25,000 in
the Dr. Pepper sweepstakes. He's really a remarkable
person, very level headed and knows where he's
going---literally! If you must drink: drink Dr.
Pepper!
Well... whaddya think of all the news regarding the 'abuse' of
the prisoners in Iraq? O---this whole thing make my head
swim! I continually want to shout: do you understand the
enemy? Do you understand what they're doing? They
can murder, they can destroy, they can kill, they can seemingly
handle all that---but the greatest offence is shame, their pride
was crushed in that effort by the soldiers. There is no
condoning what they did---but what if... what if that was a
strategy to hit them where the most damage would be done---what
if that humiliation was exactly the intent and what if the
soldiers were actually acting on orders? From who? I
don't know. I know this thought's a "way out there" idea.
The immense damage to pride---then the bizarre response of
Americans! Aiya! This is war---war is ugly---war has no
pleasantries and no easy roads. I think we've so failed to
understand the enemy---their whole lives are dedicated to
annihilating infidels. Their religion demands of them this
loyalty. Until we understand this, and then understand the
ways of God (Our Creator, God of the Universe, the God of the
Bible) we will never prevail. This war's about so much
more than our government/military *seems* to understand.
Again... sapping our strength, sapping our defenses, winning
allegiance to them, sapping our resources, swaying opinions,
eroding loyalties, driving up costs of goods... all these things
are the ongoing aims of our enemy: our total destruction and
their control. The fact is that no matter how many people
are sympathetic to their cause, we are still infidels to them.
Infidels are to be destroyed---and they intend to destroy, it's
sure. All the sympathy they (Iraqi's) are garnering just
furthers their cause and their victory---being played right into
their hand.
Is God still on the Throne? Is He still in control?
Does He have a plan? A very good plan? Yes, yes, yes,
yes---He *is* Sovereign. Praise His Name! Pray.
Pray we, as a nation, turns to God.
I
just did a search---attempting to find a concise article to
bolster this thought or at least validate my thinking---and came
across not one, but many such thoughts... so, if you've got all
day, here you go: Daniel Pipes and lots of thots:
Biography of Daniel Pipes and more.
Yikes! A does John Kerry seem to have a handle on any of
this? Maybe he did before he didn't. I really just
shake my head on this one... there're something like 180 days
till Election Day (yes, one of my son's has a birthday on that
day and is counting the days!). Around the world in 180
days---I'm thinking John Kerry is going to be 180°
off where he is today and where he wasn't yesterday.
Unbelievable.
May 6, 2004
No time for
blogging... too much time spent emailing and faxing back and
forth for our website stuff. It's all fine, but very time
consuming and there are many other wonderful responsibilities to
attend to at the same time.
If you've sent email, I
might not have received it as I am at that 'in-between' stage
with my host & server, et al and so mail is being
redirected---but much is falling through the cracks. It'll
all be squared away quickly, I'm assured!
I guess, as you can see for now, all the domains (achristianhome.org
& .com and thewelcomehome.com, org & net) end up at the same
site: this one! ---this was to avoid confusion in the transfer.
We'll soon have some fun new features along with page updates!
First the technical stuff, then gardening, homeschooling, and
Kathryn's graduation, ministry... and other dailies (not
necessarily in that order!). O, it's the dailies
that mustn't be neglected---otherwise, an avalanche of chaos
will cover us. We are praying for God's direction and
provision as we seek to serve Him in ministry to others.
We desire to be wise and careful in the choices and paths before
us, and we pray for all who might be helped in these endeavors.
Thank you for your encouragement as we, together, follow Christ.
Sola
Scriptura ~ Soli Deo Gloria ~ Solo Christo! ~ Sola Gratia ~ Sola
Fide
May 5, 2004
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
We have a new Name! As you can see! Yes, this was
abrupt---well, or so it seems! I've known that my
expiration was coming---and I knew I needed to begin changing
the files over to the .org from the .com site. I have a
new host *and* a new name! We still hold
AChristianHome.com but the .org seems to fit what we have here
better than the ".com" does. We also have different plans
for this site and our other site: TheWelcomeHome.com, too.
It has always been an interest to seek useful
things/books/materials/etc. for families in the Christian home,
but I've never wanted to *sell* things on the "AChristianHome"
site as that's not its purpose. We would, in the
future, like to make available things for the home, but
that will be on TheWelcomeHome.com site. It'll be better
to keep the two separate.
There will invariably be
broken links on our site until I get all the "kinks" worked out!
Plus, lots of inconveniences to others who link to our
site---and for this I am sorry. I will attempt to contact
the ones I'm sure of. I'll just trust, as I always
have, that the LORD will direct to this site anyone He desires
to and that He'll prompt others to share with others about our
site. I won't fret over it as He is LORD of my life and
over all that I do---thus, in all, I seek to honour Him and give
Him glory!
One more link regarding
the SBC (of which we are *not* members, btw) and Homeschooling:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38322
May 4, 2004
I sent out a Welcome Home letter yesterday with encouragement to
mothers for Mother's Day, which is coming up this Sunday.
I pray now that it'll be a real blessing to all mama's.
Mother's Day is sort of a weird day---I've always thought it was
a weird day. Sort of like birthday's when one becomes a
mommy. Birthdays become these strange days where things
are supposed to be done, but mommy is usually the one who does
things in the home and so then the family tries to find ways to
surprise mommy and yet they need her help to find supplies to
make the surprise---it always seems to be very peculiar when the
children are young. When they're older, it's a whole
different story---they become very clever! Until then, the
day's sort of odd. Well, that's how Mother's Day seems,
sometimes, too. A day set aside for Mother---but mother
must needs be in the preparations in some way. So...
that's why I've sort of changed the order of the day in our home
and I so look forward to finding ways to bless my family---it's
all because of them that I can & do celebrate!
Let Freedom Ring!
the 53rd annual
National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 6th. You
can read
this year's proclamation. It's a privilege we have to
pray---O, how I pray that God will be gracious to us as a
nation, that He will draw men to Himself and that this tidal
wave of perversion will be stemmed and that we would, indeed, be
a nation whose God is the LORD.
The
Parents' Empowerment Act "allows parents or legal guardians
of a minor to sue, in a district court, any person who knowingly
sells or distributes a product that contains material that is
harmful to minors." [congressman Duncan Hunter] Now, do
you s'pose that parents will begin suing some government schools
for the harmful materials they're presenting to students?
I figured I didn't much like Seattle's news lately, so I
thought: how 'bout South Dakota. I'm not from there, none of my
family's from there---but, there is a guy who writes a pretty
interesting political blog there. Jason Van Beek's a
pretty funny guy in his writing of the
southdakotapolitics No, it's not a slow news day... it's
just that the news is so disgusting that I really don't even
want to write about it. O, boy, it's sure going to be a
long haul till election day... with all the propaganda: the
diversion from what's really gone on or is really happening
today.
But, here's another great
tribute, a very powerful message:
We must never forget. we mustn't forget 2.5 years ago,
we mustn't forget 35 years ago and so on. The price that's
paid by those who've fought and died for our freedom is being
cheapened by those who're so ignorant of the truth---have they
forgotten? Perhaps they never even knew. All the
hype, misinformation and sensationalizing in recent days---war
is ugly, it's not like the movies, nobody there gets to just get
up and go home at the end of the day. It'll just get
uglier---there is no such thing as peace between us. O,
God, save our nation; the most virulent enemy is within, not
from without. Our country is imploding and it's not wars
and rioting, it's not bombs or planes into buildings that're
destroying our country, the enemy is within. The Word
tells us what the enemy looks like... but the simple pass on...
May 3, 2004
A second reading or proofing of what I'd written below showed me
the need for grace---My thoughts were/are stirred over the event
in Seattle this past Saturday and I desire to convey not so much
the emotion as the message of what transpired. It's needful to
comment that my emotion is not one of anger but of grief over
the condition and the trend of our society---it is grievous to
me that our nation has turned its back on God and my grief is
for my children and their children who will undoubtedly suffer
great persecution for the faith.
Free speech? Not for Christians! Another media
twist and smear job, Saturday's May Day for Marriage rally in
Seattle was slammed and maligned and obviously misreported.
Did I think it wouldn't be? No. No, I didn't think
there would be fair and accurate reporting but, truthfully, I am
surprised at the lengths they and the protesters have gone to be
nasty. They didn't listen, they didn't get it, they won't
listen, they won't get it---at least not until they have a
change of heart. The eyes of their understanding are
darkened and they cannot see---will not see: the truth.
The rally was *for* marriage and was hosted as an encouragement
to those who stand for marriage and family but those who are
demanding other 'relationships' be equal to or treated as
"marriages" surely were determined to crush the speaker's
messages and drown out the singing.
As the family goes, so
goes the nation. It's hard to believe the reporting, the
misinformation and their ignorance of the Scriptures---but that's
not new. The
local paper was not as caustic as the
Seattle PI was in the reporting of Saturday's event.
The attendance numbers were as inconsistent in the two papers as
the reported stories were to the actual event. But---this
is just the beginning. The abortion "battle" will seem
light compared to what's going to heat up here in the battle for
marriage & family---and that will likely pale in comparison to
the persecution of the church and Christianity. I believe
the future persecution of Christians will be unlike any
discrimination this country's ever known---and I am taking past
race relations into account. The
Seattle Times had a piece that demonstrates the disparity of
interpretation of Scriptures or manipulation of Scripture to say
whatever one wants it to say---but it stands, nonetheless, the
Word of God stands. God will not be mocked.
We watched a very good
video last night---brought such depth of meaning and
significance to the LORD's supper and to the rich meaning of the
Passover. It's
"Christ in the Passover" from Jews for Jesus. The zeal
of the man who shared each element of the Seder and the
symbolism was so inspiring and encouraging. O, what has
been carried through the ages, the traditions and Old Testament
types of Christ---it's so incredible what God has done for us:
what He's done for us in Christ.
Have you taken the test
on our first page? I have taken a few of them---o, my, I
have forgotten many facts! I like to keep these things
sharp! They're great conversation starters with the
children. When you review your answers, there are lists of
other tests you can take. It's a neat way to brush up on
details in the Bible.
May 1, 2004
Happy May Day to you! We're seeming to be just clipping
through this year! So many wonderful things coming up...
and May is such a lovely month! It was a wonderful
surprise to have a letter from our daughter-in-law this morning
(written at 3am) that her friend had had her baby at 1:23a.
O, my, Tara went to help her in labour two days ago! I
guess it's hard work to hit 123 May Day! :-) Another
friend has a birthday on this day---very sweet. So... Tara
must be home getting some much needed sleep ~ she's deserving!
She's 3 months along with this baby, so very tired, I'm sure.
Sweet dear.
But with all the beauty
of Spring, one of the things that Spring brings is: skin.
Lots of skin. [I'm adding a disclaimer to this
previously written message: this is directed to the
fashion in general---not a specific person or persons.]
Now, I've had an article for sometime called:
The Dangers of Dating and it's not so much the 'dating' that
caught my attention this time as the comments about modesty.
The author makes an interesting point: "We should avoid anything
doubtful." I grieve for immodestly dressed sisters
who continue to walk unaware of the snare they lay for all who
view them. This
specific issue is gaining some notoriety---and from an
unlikely source with a surprising solution! Now, with the
low pants, It's not only the skin that's showing, or the peeking
tease of the top that just touches the top edge of the pants or
skirt---there's
also the undergarments that are purposely allowed to peek over
the top of low pants or an undergarment style that's
highlighted by low and/or snug pants. These
undergarments provide much for the imagination and nothing else.
It seems the trend is present everywhere we go. It's
expected in the world but should surely be absent in the church.
It's grievous to me that this should even be an issue---I wonder
if I'm more sensitive because my husband's been gracious enough
to share the ways men think. I wonder, too, if having a
number of teen sons makes me very very aware of the plight of
men and their predicaments with determining to be and remain
pure in the face of, or when confronted with immodestly dressed
women. O, that dad's and mother's would help daughters avoid the
trap they're in and the trap they lay for others. There's much more that could be or ought to
be said.
Modesty is a responsibility---and surely, the world's not
going to take it.
Personal Freedom
Outreach is a great resource exposing the heretical
teachings of religious cults and warnings regarding false or
unbiblical teachings in the church. There are hundreds of
articles, resources, etc. for your study for understanding.
You might be looking for good articles on issues or "news" from a "Christian perspective"
and you'll find that there really are many great sources; a few of my favourites are
World
Magazine,
Judicial Forum,
Credenda
Agenda and
Chalcedon.
The crisis of education in government schools is causing no
small stir in many groups, most notably,
the SBC. This summer the Southern Baptist Convention
will propose that Christian parents remove their children from
public or government schools and provide home-based instruction
or private Christian School for them. Citing the primary
educators of children are their parents, the resolution must
first need to pass out of committee before the vote by the
Convention.
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