You never know who's watching!

My daughter will be 10 next week, and she is as girly-girl as you can get.  She has always had a fun birthday shirt with sparkles, princesses, or other such girly things to announce her special day.  This year, she lamented that there were no shirts with birthday stuff on them for older girls who "still want to have fun on birthdays just like littler kids!" 

I talked to my super-talented friend about it, and she assured me that she could make a cute, girly birthday shirt in time for the big occasion.   After secret messages back and forth, my friend and I settled on the perfect design, and it came in the mail today.

At first, my daughter didn't know what to think that someone had made and sent her a present.  I was afraid that maybe she didn't like it or I had suggested the wrong design.  After she opened it, she asked to try it on.

She ran to her room to put it on before lunch, but didn't say much.   A few minutes later, it was her turn to pray before lunch, and she started.   She tends to be rather regimented/programmed in her prayers, as she is so afraid she might forget something.  Often we talk about how prayers need to come from the heart, but she struggles and often just mentions a "list."  Today, however, after only a few normal "routine" items, she shocked me!

"And dear God, thank you so much for people like my friend Denise, who use the blessings of talent that You have given them to bless other people and to make them feel special.  Thank you that she made ME feel special."

My heart stopped as I heard this genuine and unexpected appreciation come from her, and I, too, thanked God for such a friend!   So, next time you downplay your own talents or abilities to bless someone, remember that you never know who is watching and/or how it will impact others.  Even something as "simple" as making a t-shirt (which is NOT simple, but you get the point) can make a huge difference and allow someone to see God working.  

Halloween on our Eating Plan, Year 2

We have now been on our more natural "real food" eating plan for almost 2 years.  We are still reaping huge benefits from it, and I don't see us ever going back to the way we ate before.  As a matter of fact, we are gradually and constantly adjusting to make things even healthier for us. 

I am reposting information from last year about how we handle Halloween on this plan.  It worked GREAT last year, so we plan to repeat the process this year.   Hope it helps any of you struggling with what to do with all that candy!!

We are going to let the kids trick or treat as normal, getting candy and other goodies as they knock on neighbors' doors and hold out their  plastic pumpkins.  When we are finished for the evening, they can each pick one piece of candy of their choice.   ANYTHING, even if it's not on plan (provided, of course, that it looks safely wrapped!).  Then, my husband and I are going to "buy back" any non-plan candy from them.  Last year they got a lump sum for their candy of about $20.  Next, the kids can use that money to buy themselves one type of candy or treat that they CAN have.  Any remaining money will be used to purchase goods for our church pantry.   The kids were excited about shopping for the pantry, so they are completely on board with this idea. Some of the candy we "buy back" will be saved for our annual gingerbread houses in December.  We are hopeful that, in addition to making sure we stay on plan, it will help the kids learn to think of others and to learn to use their money in ways that is helpful to others as well.   This year we are currently studying budgeting and grocery shopping in ways that maximize what we get for our money, so we are planning to incorporate that into shopping for the pantry as well!

Job, Who Never Knew Why

A group of us at my local congregation are doing the Digging Deep in God's Word study by Cindy Colley, found here:  Persecution for Righteousness' Sake.     It was my month to "facilitate" our discussion, so I actually have typed notes for the list of questions asked in the book. :)   I am copying them below for anyone who might benefit.  For what it's worth, I strongly recommend using Cindy's studies as a way to stay accountable to studying God's word and as a way to grow in how we think about Scripture and about God's plan for man.  While I may see some things differently than she does from time to time, it is a wonderful guide for my study and helps to keep me focused when things get crazy. :)  You can jump into the study at any time, whether or not you have been participating previously.  She also has other years' studies on her site at thecolleyhouse.org, and each has a different focus.  If you have questions or would like to participate, please let me know! 

• 2:10 – Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?
• 3:11-12 – Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me?  Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
• 3:16 – Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?
• 3:20 – Why is light given to him who is in misery?
• 3:23 – Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?
• 6:5-6 – Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, or does the ox low over its fodder? Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
• 6:11-13 – What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me?
• 6:22-23- Did I ever say, “Bring something to me? Or, Offer a bribe for me from your wealth? Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?”
• 6:25 (b)- 26 – But what does your arguing prove? Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
• 6:30 – Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?
• 7:1 – Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
• 7:4 (b) When shall I arise, and the night be ended?
• 7:12 – Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, that You set a guard over me?
• 7:17-21 (a) – What is man, that You should exalt him, That you should set Your heart on him, That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment? How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva? Have I sinned?  What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity?
• 9:2 – But how can a man be righteous before God?
• 9:4 – Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
• 9:12 – If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are you doing?’
• 9:14 – How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him?
• 9:19-…who will appoint my day in court?
• 9:24- …if it is not He, who else could it be?
• 9:29 – If I am condemned, Why then do I labor in vain?
• 10:3 – 7 0 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, That You should despise the work of Your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked? Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees? Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a might man, That You should seek for my iniquity and search out my sin, Although You knowt hat I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?
• 10:9 …And will You turn me into dust again?
• 10:10-11 – Did you not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews?
• 10:18 – Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
• 10:20 – Are not my days few?
• 12:11 – Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
• 13:7 – 9 (to his “friends”) – Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?  Will you show partiality for Him?  Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
• 13: 11 – (to his “friends”) – Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?
• 13:14 – (to his “friends”) – Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?
• 13:19 – Who is he who will contend with me?
• 13:23-25- How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.  Why do you hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?
• 14:3-4 – And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
• 14:10 – But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last, and where is he?
• 14:14 – If a man dies, shall he live again?
• 17:2 - Are not mockers with me? And does not my eye dwell on their provocation? …Who is he who will shake hands with me?
• 17:15-16 – Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it? Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?
• 19:2 – How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
• 19:22 – Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
• 21:4 – As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?
• 21:7 – Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?
• 21:15  - Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
• 21:17 – How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in his anger?
• 21:21 – For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?
• 21:22 – Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
• 21:29 – Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?
• 21:34 – How then can you comfort me with your empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers?
• 23:6 – Would He contend with me in His great power?
• 23:13 – But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
• 24:1 – Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
• 24:25 – Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing?
• 26:2 (to friends) – How have you helped him who is without power?  How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
• 26:3 (to Bildad) – How have you counseled one who has no wisdom, and how have you declared sound advice to many?
• 26:14 ( to Bildad) - …the thunder of His power who can understand?
• 27:8 – For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, if God takes away his life?
• 27:9-10 – Will God hear his cry When trouble comes upon him?  Will he delight himself in the Almighty?  Will he always call on God?
• 27:12 – Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
• 28:12 – But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
• 28:20 – From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
• 30:2 – Indeed what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
• 30:25 – Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my sould grieved for the poor?
• 31:1 - 4 – Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?  Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?  Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?
• 31:14-15 – What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
• 31:31 – Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?
• 40:4 – Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You?

In the beginning, God... Our Visit to the Creation Museum

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth.  Gen 1:1

Psalm 89:11  The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours, the world in all its fullness, You have founded them.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.  Exodus 20:11



Last week, my family and I visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.  We have been studying apologetics and evidence for God and Creation in our homeschool, so it was the perfect fit!  We spent two half-days there, and for kids the age of mine, that was about perfect.   The museum wasn't QUITE what we expected (there was not much science involved), and there was some false doctrine in a few parts of it (like original sin), but other than that, it was a good experience!  It was fun to visualize parts of Creation and the early part of Genesis, and the kids enjoyed it and learned quite a bit.  Here is a glimpse of a few things we saw!

"Lucy"

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A dig site showing different starting points of belief for creationists and evolutionists.  

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Writers of the OT

Qe

Adam and Eve sacrificing after sinning in the garden

Camel rides!!

These are a super cheap souvenir!  

Model of the inside of the ark

How we Homeschool: It's Greek to Me!

We are wrapping up our study on Greece, and we've had lots of fun!   Tonight was our Greek meal, and it turned out yummier than we expected!   Homemade pitas for Greek chicken gyros, Roasted potatoes with homemade Greek seasoning, veggies with tzatsiki sauce, and "honey balls," (kind of like donut holes).  We are not fans of Feta cheese, so the kids decided that we would use "chedda" instead.   ;)

Greek-seasoned chicken

Greek-seasoned potatoes

Homemade pitas are soooooo easy.  Who knew?

Surprisingly tasty!

Our stuffed "gyro."

"Honey balls," kinda like doughnut holes

With every country, we start out by coloring the flag and learning some basic facts about the country.  The kids find the country on a map and write some demographic information like population, dominant religion, famous landmarks, etc.  I try to have a slightly different focus for each country.  For Greece it was Ancient Greece as well as the storytelling passed down via myths and fables.

We read several myths during our study, and the kids each had to make one up and make a "diorama" to go with it.  The stories were kind of a "flop," but they had fun making their scenery.  My daughter's (shown below) was an explanation of why we have waves in the sea.

In connection with the myths, we studied Paul's sermon in Athens, found in Acts 17.  We talked about how the people who believed Greek myths were very religious/superstitious about their gods, and they would go to great lengths to worship and to please their gods, but that they were missing the REAL God.

We also did a short unit on Aesop and his fables, since they originated in Greece as well.  We listened to this from the library and the kids laughed almost the whole time.  Their favorite was the "Boy Who Cried Wolf,"  It is hilarious and very well done.   Brings Aesop to life for sure!



We studied about the parts of a fable, and each of the kids had to write and illustrate their own fable.  They loved that and even took their fables to the library to show the childrens' librarian, who is a big part of the reason they like reading so much!  We also watched a few short videos on youtube that were illustrated fables.

For young readers, I would recommend the HEROES IN TRAINING book series.  My son loves them and waits anxiously for the next one to be released. They are well below his level, but he still finds them interesting, and because they have some unfamiliar terminology, they keep him focused.  They move quickly and have lots of adventure.   They have a lot of "facts" about Greek myths in them, but they are much more age-appropriate, as they are taking place when Zeus and his siblings are children. (I used the term "facts" loosely since myths were all made up and not real.  We used this study to also talk about how people who believed in myths were missing out on the true Creator, God!)   The same author writes a GODDESS GIRLS series, supposedly about when the goddesses are younger.  My daughter read a few but then moved back to her fairy tales and princesses, so I don't know as much about this series. :)

How We Homeschool: Grammar-Land

We stumbled across a free resource online, and my kids had a blast with it!  (I did order the 1.99 Kindle version just for ease of use, but you could easily just use the free one).  Granted, we are "word nerds," and we love picking things apart and analyzing them, but the story was cute, entertaining, and helpful!  It is from the 1800s, I think, so the language is more of an Old English style, but that only added to its charm for my kiddos.  It also FORCED them to pay close attention, or else they would not know what was going on in the story.  I love grammar and punctuation, yet I learned a few things as well during our journey.  

Basically, the various parts of speech are being taken to court with Judge Grammar, Sergeant Parsing, and Dr. Syntax.  Each must state his case before the judge, who will render a verdict at the end.  Each chapter has an exercise at the end for the readers to complete in order to cement their understanding.
There are various places online that have posted worksheets for the activities at the end of each chapter.  We used this one found at We Don't Need No Education.  we also referred to posts on Half a Hundred Acre Wood here. 

We approached this by covering a chapter or two a day, depending on our time frame and interest level, and MANY days my kids begged for "just one more chapter."   They couldn't wait to see what happened next and which parts of speech argued.  :)  It is an advanced read for a 2nd grader, but we read it aloud and had no trouble.  My 2nd grader reads at a much higher level (6th grade?), but I would suspect that a 3rd or 4th grader could do this with minimal assistance from parents.   The hardest part about it is the older English that is used.  Some of the vocabulary is just different from ours.  We are planning to revisit this yearly as a refresher course for the kiddos (and for mama!) until all concepts are well established.  It was a nice break from the regular grammar approach, and it allowed the kids to see "real life" purposes for grammar.  Hope you enjoy!

How we Homeschool: Human Body - God Made Me

We are continuing to try to look for evidence of God as creator, so we moved on to a study of the human body.  The kids were fascinated by how complicated our bodies are, and they were THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED when our dr friend let us look through her "ear thingy" (as the kids call it) to see each other's eardrums.   :)  We started with the brain, moved to bones and muscles, and then covered the major systems of the body.   Even I learned a lot! Here are some of our projects...


Brain Hats (printed off here)

Playdough Brain Neurons

Love the Skin You're In!

Skeleton

We made paper skeletons, labeled diagrams, and played "skeleton tag."  We put the names of the bones on blank printable address labels and then the kids tagged the appropriate bones with the stickers.   Later, when we did the muscles, we played "bones and muscles hokey pokey."  Instead of saying "you put your head in," they'd have to say, "You put your cranium in," etc.  :)  The 3 year old I babysit was allowed to use "normal" body parts!  Ha.

We made a moving hand!

The kids LOVED this song for learning the bones...  Name Those Bones    We even caught the 3 year old singing that "I got a CWanium, for my BWanium."  :)  The kids had to make their own songs up about muscles.  They both used Disney songs...one used "Part of Your World," and one used "You Can Fly!"  Even Mommy made one up to the Mickey Mouse Club march!

With the digestive system, we made these funny shirts.

We even "made poo" as mentioned in this post.  Thoroughly disgusting.

We tried to "beat the clock" by transferring as much water in a minute as our heart does blood, but we couldn't!

One of their highlights was making "blood" using water beads, ping pong balls, water, and "felt" platelets.   They would have played in the water beads all day...and more importantly, they could tell Daddy ALL ABOUT blood when he got home!  Also, when they learned that exercise can double your white blood cell count, they became very enthusiastic about tae kwon do and running!  :)

We printed and played a game about circulation, but it was very tedious, and they got bored before they got all the oxygen, carbon dioxide, food, and waste to the right places!   The pictures for this and the blood are somewhere on the computer waiting to be found. ;)

We ended up the body unit by talking about nutrition and what food does to our body.  After our mini-vacation for fall break, we are going to take a week or two to eat ONLY healthy foods and see how our bodies feel.   :)