Radical Parenting Website

Interesting concept… a parenting advice website written by teens

http://www.radicalparenting.com/

Who Are We?

You might be wondering why a 25 year-old and a bunch of teenagers care about parenting, as this blog is written by Vanessa Van Petten and 120 other teen writers.  You can read Vanessa’s Story, but all of us have decided to help other families because of the experiences we have had with our own.  Our mentors and teen writers have a passion for inspiring and enlightening other parents and kids.

We understand that sharing our story, insight and advice can help others to not suffer or make the same mistakes as we did.

Youthologist: Someone who studies, follows, and observes youth trends, activities and issues.

Vanessa calls herself a youthologist because she loves working with and helping youth.  Not only does she work with hundreds of youth everyday writing articles, discussing current issues for teens and tweens, but she also connects with parents to share insights into their kids.

I will have to make some time to check out this website later.

How do you connect to history?

Create your own biography timeline and map, add your ancestors and view them on a historical map. Interactive Maps, Timelines, Videos, Geocoded Photos, and Museum Artifacts await you on WorldHistory.com

http://www.worldhistory.com/

Was the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) the time Jesus was born?

This blog author explores this topic here (http://beit-simcha.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-cant-say-for-certain-that-i-know.html).

She writes:

I can't say for certain that I know exactly when Yeshua was born. But the evidence I have found is so compelling that I want to share it with you all. The journey I will take you on involves the scriptures and external historical and cultural elements.
Second clue:
The Birth of John the Immerser (the Baptist) is important because he is a forerunner who announces Messiah. Establishing when he was born will help us in our quest for when Yeshua was born.
In the interest of keeping this brief, I will just give references instead of the full text.
It is from First Chronicles 24 that we learn the Levitical priesthood was divided into 12 divisions of priests and was well established in the First Century. The ancient Jewish Historian Josephus (Antiquities 7) tells us that each division served for a period of one week. The first division began its period of service on the first day of the year — 1 Nisan (also called Aviv or Abib) — as YHVH had established the calendar in Exodus 12:2. Three weeks out of each year - during the weeks of Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles) - all 24,000 priests served together.
Zachariah is the father of John. Zachariah was in the priestly division of Aviyah (Luke 1:5), making his term of service beginning in early Spring on the first day of the eighth week (27th of Ayyar) and running for one week through the 4th of Sivan.
As the following week (5-11 Sivan) was Shavuot, (Feast of Pentecost), he would have stayed in the Temple and served that week also with all the priests. He drew the lot which gave him the privilege of burning incense before YHVH in the Holy Place. It was the honor of a lifetime. It was then that the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the Temple, announcing he was to have a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. (Luke 1:8-22). Luke 1:23-24 tells us that Zachariah finished his duties at the Temple, and that his wife, John's mother Elizabeth conceived shortly after his return home.
This sets the date for John's conception at around the third week of Sivan. So no one gets too confused with my Hebrew names for months, keep in mind that the month of Sivan is usually in the month of June. Adding nine months to that date puts the birth of John sometime near the first week of March, around Passover time.
When Gabriel visited the mother of Yeshua in Nazareth, she was told two things: You will give birth to Messiah and your relative Elizabeth is pregnant with a child. She left to visit Elizabeth and returned home three months later, after the birth of John.
Since Miriam (Mary) conceived when Elizabeth was six months pregnant, Yeshua was born six months after the birth of John. This timing is in the middle of the Hebrew month of Tishrei - the seventh month, the month we are now in; the time of Sukkot.
Tishrei 15 is the first day of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles). "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us."
I admit I am making a number of assumptions. I am assuming that Yeshua was carried to full term and I am assuming that all the Feasts foreshadow events in Messiah's life. But I believe it is reasonable to assume that His birth and circumcision happened on the first and the 8th day of Sukkot.
Here are some more clues that leads me to believe Yeshua was born during Sukkot:
1. Bethlehem was "booked solid." The census, which was going on at the time would have taken place over the period of one year so something in addition would have be the reason for 'no room in the inn'. Deuteronomy 16:16 tells us that all males were required to come to Jerusalem for Sukkot. Bethlehem is just five miles away and could easily have held the spill over flow of worshippers.
2. Yeshua was born in a 'stable'. The Hebrew word for "stable" is "sukkah" (as in Gen. 33:17) so it is likely that Yeshua was born in a Sukkah/booth - a temporary shelter.
3. If Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot then he would have been circumcised on the "eighth great day" a festival following Sukkot. I will write more about this day later as it is coming up this Sunday evening (according to the sighted moon calendar). This day was the original "Simchat Torah" (Rejoicing in the Torah), which is now held the following day in Rabbinic Judaism. Yeshua would have entered the covenant on the day of "rejoicing in the Torah."
4. Sukkot is symbolic of God dwelling in a "tabernacle" (body?) with us.

If any of you have also studied this our for yourselves and have more 'clues', I'd love to hear from you!

In the meantime.....happy birthday Yeshua!

So what have you done as a science experiment lately?

This looks pretty cool. 

http://vimeo.com/15091562

Video from a camera attached to a weather balloon that rose into the
upper stratosphere and recorded the blackness of space.

CONFLUENT AND RETICULATED PAPILLOMATOSIS OF GOUGEROT AND CARTEAUD

I took Deanna to see a doctor this morning.  She has a sore throat that I thought might be strep throat so I wanted to get on top of it.  I had also wanted to see a doctor about the skin condition she has had for a couple of years and needed a new treatment.  So we mentioned both things to the doctor today.  Most of the time was spent on her skin condition though.  He was quite concerned at how long she has had it and that we have never been to see a skin specialist for it.  We had been told previously that it was tinea versicolor but he wasn’t convinced that it was.  So he did some research while we were there and came up with this diagnosis – confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot and Carteud (isn’t that a mouthful!).  It is a very rare skin condition thus he needed to do more research on a treatment.  So we came home with a new treatment plan and prescriptions.  I hope it works for her.  You can read more about this condition here –( http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1106748-overview ).  (This website looks like it is easier to understand - http://dermnetnz.org/scaly/papillomatosis.html).   They are treating her with acne medications which his research says can help but no one knows why. 
And he figured that Deanna does not have strep but took a swab to test just for good measure. 

Expectations

Wow… I could have wrote this article!  It is weird to hear your own words and thoughts coming from someone else.  The article is called How Expectations Change Relationships and you can read it here – (http://simplemom.net/how-expectations-change-relationships/). 

One liners from the article:

-  expectations are really just planned disappointments.

-  Rather than spending a lot of time trying to change the wind in your life, adjust your sails.

-  “I can only control me.”

I have been a saying for a while that expectations are relationship killers.  I was finding this in my own life with the relationship with my brother.  I would get so frustrated with him when he would not choose things like I thought he should, like to plan a visit with my family while his daughter was down visiting or how he spends his holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving.  And one day I woke up and realized my expectations of him were killing our relationship.  So then I chose to let go of expectations and then when he did choose to spend time with me it was a gift and I was free to just enjoy the time and experience with him.  And I have been letting go in other relationships as well (mostly with relatives) and find I get less stressed and worked up about things now. 

 

From the comments section of the article:

-  in marriage counseling, i always remember what our pastor told us. to NOT have any expectations. you just work on how to bless your spouse/friend/co-worker/whoever. what can you do for them to show them love? in that way, whenever they do something for you it’s a blessing and not something that was owed you. not an easy mindset to keep, but a good place to start.

The goal to be a life long learner

I enjoy learning.  I love finding new tidbits of information and when at all possible sharing what I have learned (thus why I blog).  This article was a very good read tonight (I couldn’t sleep, so here I am surfing the net at 1:00am):  8 WAYS TO PURSUE A LIFETIME OF LEARNING - http://simplemom.net/8-ways-to-pursue-a-lifetime-of-learning-2
“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the books you read and the people you meet.” -Charles Jones
Below are some tidbits from the comment section of the above article.  I like the idea of having a lifelong learning list and the notebook the mom kept of all her son’s questions. 

-  I’ve put your site on my daily web reading. My self-imposed rule on reading is one non-fiction for every two fiction books read. I keep a list of books, movies, and websites to read/watch next. I also began what I was calling a bucket list, but think I will change it to my Lifelong Learning List. Keeping up on news/current events is a weak area for me. My daughter informed me the Today show is NOT news.

-  We started a notebook with my son when he was 3 to track all the questions he had — and the answers! Parents can do the same thing for ourselves — track our questions and then find the answers, whether it’s the last team that won the World Series (Yankees) or who founded Target (George Dayton). I also challenge myself to learn something new every day… it’s great dinner conversation to ask everyone what THEY learned that day. Great article!'
-  Lifelong learning is also linked to longevity. I agree that reading good quality literature is essential. The Great Books list is a great place to start. Learning to play an instrument is another one.
-  -  Resource = http://www.teach12.com/teach12.aspx?ai=16281  -- THE JOY OF LIFELONG LEARNING EVERYDAY --- The Teaching Company brings engaging professors into your home or car through courses on DVD, audio CD, and other formats. Since 1990, great teachers from the Ivy League, Stanford, Georgetown, and other leading colleges and universities have crafted over 250 courses for lifelong learners like you. It's the adventure of learning without the homework or exams.

Great scrapbooking idea!

This is such a neat idea.  How much fun would it be to recreate an old photo with friends and family?  :o)

http://www.zefrank.com/youngmenowme/blog/

So much fun! People re-enact photos from their childhood as their grown up selves! I think this would be a great project for scrapbooking!

This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!!

 

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Windows Live Writer

I just read about this program today called Windows Live Writer.  And it turns out it is already downloaded on my laptop, so I had to give it a try (the previous music post was done with it).  It worked great.  I am looking forward to using this program for my blogging.  You can read more about it here - blogging with windows live writer.

Music

http://motherhood.yourway.net/question-of-the-day-favorite-type-of-music/

Is music an important part of your day?

Not as much as it used to be.  I used to always have the radio going or some kind of music playing during the day.

Do you listen to music all day, or just during certain activities?

I love LOUD music with a good beat while I am cleaning the house.  It keeps me motivated and moving.  It is a good thing I do not have neighbors when I am cleaning house, I am sure they would complain about the noise.

What is your favorite type of music?

I like country music, contemporary, pop, soft rock, classical, etc.  I think the only genre I can't stand is rap music.

Do you find music distracting or soothing?

I usually find it soothing.  Just this past Sunday I spent the morning finding songs/videos on youtube that I needed to hear and posted many on my blog.  I find music speaks to me in such a different way than other forms (reading, conversations, etc).  It definitely soothes my soul.  :o)

Do your kids like music?

They love music.  Jordan is more about the lyrics of a song and if it has a good story or message.  Deanna is more about if it has a good beat, and can you dance to it.  They both have iPods and account with Itunes and it has been great to have these tools/resources for them to collect and listen to music.

Do you keep music playing while you sleep?

I used to.  It used to help me get to sleep and stay asleep.  When I was a teen I used to listen to the TOP 10 AT 10 to go to sleep, although it wasn't very often I was awake to hear what the #1 song was for the day.

too many open tabs again...

http://www.irlenuk.com/irlen-symptoms-overview.htm

http://www.alanknox.net/2010/09/phoebe-speaking-of-romans-16/

http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2010/06/moderate-clean-two-secrets-to-keeping.html

http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/

http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/2007/08/curriculum-vitae-explained.html

http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/2008/03/commonplace-book-or-half-sheet-binder.html

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_biblical_sats_of_learning.htm

http://www.fogmagazine.com/fibromyalgia-and-brain-fog/#more-387

http://womenandfibromyalgia.com/

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/09/a-peak-at-my-natural-food-pantry.html

http://www.northstaracademycanada.org/_docs/NSA_3_year_plan_08-11.pdf

http://homeschoolblogger.com/belindaletchford/783609/

http://comewearymoms.blogspot.com/2010/09/12-ps-of-stress-busting-for-moms.html


I need to restart my computer so this my list of things to come back to and read.

The Science of Cooking

http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/
The Science of Cooking 
Discover how a pinch of curiosity can improve your cooking! Explore recipes, activities, and Webcasts that will enhance your understanding of the science behind food and cooking.

Why is this so hard to do?

 Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

FLARES OF FIBRO

FLARES OF FIBRO from the "Faith, Family & Fibro Blog" - http://www.faithfamilyfibro.com/2010/03/flares-of-fibro.html

I am not dependable.

I can not plan anything.

I break dates.

I cancel appointments.

I forget to go somewhere.

I forget to do something.

I tell my kids I can't play.

I tell my husband I can't play.

I can't always go to the grocery store even if we need something.

I can't always do anything but wake up.

I hate asking for help but I need it.

I want to get everything done like a "normal" person.

I am not procrastinating.

I am not lazy.

I am not depressed.

I am not stupid.

I have fibro and I hate it and it has changed my life....

but I have to embrace it....

because of the blessings it has brought me.

Great Fibromyalgia Links

1.  A blog called "Faith, Family, & Fibromyalgia" - http://www.faithfamilyfibro.com/search/label/Fibromyalgia

2.  Fibromyalgia Aware Magazine - http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=resources_awareMagazine

3.  National Fibromyalgia Association - http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer

4.  Info on About.com - http://chronicfatigue.about.com/

5.  Support group on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59534338401&v=wall

What's Going On? A Simple Explanation of Fibromyalgia Making Sense of a Complex Disorder, For Those Who Don't Have It

Fibromyalgia is a real condition.  Just as real as high blood pressure, cancer, etc.  I hate it when I hear that someone thinks it is made up, or that someone is lazy, or they should just get over it and improve their life.  This article does a good job of explaining what fibromyalgia is.  I hope you take the time to read it.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/understandfibro.htm

 

Pam  

(this is how the above article ends and is the punch line for me... but please read the whole article)

Fibromyalgia In a Nutshell

A lot of illnesses involve one part of the body, or one system. Fibromyalgia, however, involves the entire body and throws all kinds of things out of whack. As bizarre and confusing as the varied symptoms may be, they're tied to very real physical causes.
Fibromyalgia can take someone who is educated, ambitious, hardworking and tireless, and rob them of their ability to work, clean house, exercise, think clearly and ever feel awake or healthy.

• It's NOT psychological "burn out" or depression.
• It's NOT laziness.
• It's NOT whining or malingering.
• It IS the result of widespread dysfunction in the body and the brain that's hard to understand, difficult to treat, and, so far, impossible to cure.

The hardest thing for patients, however, is having to live with it. Having the support and understanding of people in their lives can make it a lot easier.

Going Through The Motions

This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_rmCeAzqKc&feature=related ) is better than the one posted below.  Very touching.   Shows Matthew West's struggle.

This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough

Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time

I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind

Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

(from the song "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGHILmOHptY 

and this one made me cry this morning...

"Does Anybody Hear Her"

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

If judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

He is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

Praise You in this Storm

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

Listen to the Voice of the Truth

"Voice Of Truth"

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Prayer of Saint Francis

An alternate version is found in Chapter 11 (Page 99) of the "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions", a book published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;

to understand, than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Francis 

If we are the the Body, why aren't we doing/going?

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

(Anonymous) -a quote from A Hole in the Gospel, by Richard Stearn, President of World Vision.

_____________

Great read this morning - The Question I've Been Afraid to Ask - http://wearethatfamily.com/2010/03/question-ive-been-afraid-to-ask/

_____________

When I see suffering in the world, I no longer say, "Where is God?" I say, "WHERE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE?!"

_____________

 "God, why do you allow poverty?" "To allow my people to give of themselves"

_____________

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon:

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope

where there is darkness, light

where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

 _____________

 

Read Your Way Through Canadian History

Read Your Way Through Canadian History with Children's Literature

Chronological History Reading List

 

http://www.freewebs.com/canadianhomeschool/nicolas%20%20list%20draft%20sept%2023%202006.htm 

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.....

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."
  --  Mother Teresa


A good read - LOVING THOSE WHO DRIVE US CRAZY!
http://justbetweenus.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=74105    

Dealing with Difficult People - The transforming power of patience and kindness.

 

A day in the life of a farm family

Licorice the mighty mole hunter in her pink vest and t-shirt.

She found a fresh hill.

The equipment newly serviced and organized by Dad.

Deanna in the driver's seat.

Deanna and Licorice at work.

 Josh at the new silage pit.

Pushing silage and waving at the camera.

Spreading out the silage.

Jordan is driving the tractor on the left, John is driving the the one on the right.

Wes is driving the big truck keeping up with Jordan and the chopper while the silage blows into the box.

This picture shows you the process. 

More rows of hay to chop and in the background you can see the big hay stacks.

Battle of New Orlean's (portrayed with Lego)

This is too cute not to share.  My kids are gonna get a kick out of it.  :o)

Love put into action

I love what this group of home school families is doing - (http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/09/love-put-to-action/ ).   Love in action.  A mom has put together a group to do volunteer service in the community. 

A portion from the article:

Like I’ve said before, love is a verb – an action word. It is something we practice at home so that when we walk through our door we are ready to show love to others.  With all that in mind, when Beth, my VERY service-oriented friend, took on the position of organizing community/service projects for our local homeschool group, we knew we would attend any time we could.

Love

“Love begins at home, 
and it is not how much we do…
but how much love 
we put in that action” 
 –Mother Theresa

History via the movies

I was looking for a list of movies that we could use for history studies and I found this one - ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historical_drama_films  ).  Awesome!

Pencil Parable

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 5 IMPORTANT LESSONS JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX:

1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS,
WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF 
TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU. 


We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are, is what's inside of you.

sharing

If you knew what I know 
about the power of giving, 
you would not let a single meal pass
without sharing it in some way.
~Buddha~

“All that matters is that they follow the Lord, that they live only for the Lord.” ------ Follow. Live only for.

Ann Voskamp has done it again.  Her writing always tugs at my heart strings.  Today's entry, the tug was a little harder.  I encourage you to read the whole entry - ( http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/09/where-in-world-in-all-this-world-is-god.html ).  But this portion really spoke to me because I struggle to keep this lesson in mind in raising my kids.  But tonight, I am reminded once again...

"  We ask them about dreams, do they have dreams for their children?


What are your dreams for your children when you live in a dump? What are your prayers? What is your hope in all this decaying mess? What is His house number? Is the tomb really empty?


I can’t imagine this either, how he’s going to answer. He’s a father living on a garbage heap.


His black eyes circle all of ours.


“It doesn’t matter to us what our children grow up to become or do.” His voice is gentle, certain. I lean forward, praying he will still dream. Please, still pray. Even if…

And he does and the most important of all and I didn’t see it coming.


“All that matters is that they follow the Lord, that they live only for the Lord.”


Where did all this flooding light come from?


My chin wobbles hard and I let’s go. It doesn’t matter what garbage heap you live on, we all recycle only this, this the only dream prayer of all the filthy ragged ones on this circling globe.  


Follow. Live only for.   "

Men's and Women's Brains and the NOTHING Box

They decided to kill the youth group...

I read this blog entry and watched the video posted - http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/2010/09/little-church-and-big-church/

This is the basic premise of the video -

“What we’re doing in youth groups, by and large, is sending kids to a small church. We have the big church in the sanctuary where the adults are, and the kids come throughout their life, junior high, high school, to a little church….here’s where I see the biggest disconnect: kid gets back from college, or back to their hometown, and they were never a part of “the” church, never a part of the body, now that they don’t have a youth group anymore they don’t have an identity…we’re setting them up for failure.  We want the students in our church to be the church now.  There is no JV, there is no subset of Christianity called “youth”… you’re going to be the church…we don’t want to be a church with youth ministry any longer, we want to be a youth-led church.”

I was pretty excited to see that it has been recognized that we are letting our youth down.  I have felt this way for years.  We never do anything as the church to encourage the youth to own their own faith.  We have programs and go through the motions but yet there is something missing. 

I like to see that this church body wants to do something different, to encourage the youth to be part of the "big" church but when he said they were going to do a student group on Mondays, how will this be different than youth group?  I don't think we should segregate and divide up the church family by age or gender or life circumstance.  We are a family and we need to operate like a family.  All ages need to be together to learn from, be encouraged by, to share hardships and celebrate the good times.  I know this is a difficult task in our cultures mega-churches but maybe we aren't meant to be mega-churches.  Maybe we are just suppose to be communities coming together to be family to each other. 

I wonder what our Heavenly Father thinks of these mega-churches and how we operate as His children?  Do you think that this is what He pictured for His children?  How He wants His money spent, how He wants us to spend our time?  Will He look at us and say "well done, good and faithful servant"?  I am not so sure He will.

more to life?

‘There must be more to life

than having everything.’  

~Maurice Sendak

I interviewed the kids to help me prepare for the new school year

I interviewed both kids at the beginning of September to see what they wanted to do this school year.  The questions come from an online home school friend.  Here are their interviews:

What things interest you and what would you like to learn more about?   (the answer need not be the name of an academic subject.   I encourage them to talk about anything that interests them.   It might be chain mail,   it might be get a learner's license, it might be cooking, it might be make a quilt, it might be wanting a penpal.    They might say I want to learn about castles, or I want to make a display box for my butterflies.    My kids were seldom answer:  I would like to learn algebra!    )
Music
Horses
French
Electric guitar lessons

What areas do you think you are doing well in.    What areas of learning do you feel you know fairly well?        (to this they may answer I'm doing really well in reading, or I'm doing really well in my music lessons.)
Basic math
Algebra
Running
Reading
Work skills/work ethic

What areas do you think you need to work/study harder at.     (to this they may answer, I need to be a faster reader, I need to do something about my spelling.    I don't want to play violin any more but I want to play piano.    I don't think I am doing enough in science.)
Writing
Spelling
The science of sound (guitars -- acoustic vs electric)

What is your favorite "kitchen table" activity?    (background - we do our home school lesson book work at the kitchen table.   We do math, vocabulary, spelling workbook, creative writing.)    I ask them what their favorite thing to do - and then incorporate this in the new year or incorporate that method with a subject that is harder material.   For example,, one answer is that they like doing cross word puzzles and fill in the blanks that is used in teaching vocabulary.   so I take that into mind - and think maybe we could do cross word puzzles to study geography.       If they say they like an activity that uses scrapbooking techniques, then I incorporate scrapbooking techniques to teach other subject material.   
Jordan’s first answer for this was eating.  :o)
Internet research
Games

What would you like to see/places to visit this year?
He didn’t have an answer for this one.

What are some new things you would like to do or experience?
Lego teacher

Health?  Anything you would like to change or improve?
Strength training
Cardio training

Volunteer opportunity or job shadowing opportunity?
Will look for a need
Private lego class for Sam

_______________________________________


What things interest you and what would you like to learn more about?   (the answer need not be the name of an academic subject.   I encourage them to talk about anything that interests them.   It might be chain mail,   it might be get a learner's license, it might be cooking, it might be make a quilt, it might be wanting a penpal.    They might say I want to learn about castles, or I want to make a display box for my butterflies.    My kids were seldom answer:  I would like to learn algebra!    )
Animals
Babies
Agriculture
The Twilight unit study Lori told us about

What areas do you think you are doing well in?    What areas of learning do you feel you know fairly well?    (to this they may answer I'm doing really well in reading, or I'm doing really well in my music lessons.)
Math
Calving season work


What areas do you think you need to work/study harder at?     (to this they may answer, I need to be a faster reader, I need to do something about my spelling.    I don't want to play violin any more but I want to play piano.    I don't think I am doing enough in science.)
Spelling
Cooking
Home Maintenance
Money Management
Sewing (maybe?)

What is your favorite "kitchen table" activity?    (background - we do our home school lesson book work at the kitchen table.   We do math, vocabulary, spelling workbook, creative writing.)    I ask them what their favorite thing to do - and then incorporate this in the new year or incorporate that method with a subject that is harder material.   For example,, one answer is that they like doing cross word puzzles and fill in the blanks that is used in teaching vocabulary.   so I take that into mind - and think maybe we could do cross word puzzles to study geography.       If they say they like an activity that uses scrapbooking techniques, then I incorporate scrapbooking techniques to teach other subject material.   
Playing board games
Internet surfing and research

What would you like to see/places to visit this year?
The Guzoo
The Red Deer SPCA
Odd and Unusual Sale in Innisfail (October 2010)
(would like to research places in Alberta to visit)

What are some new things you would like to do or experience?
Volunteer at the Thrift Store
Babysit more

Health?  Anything you would like to change or improve?
No wheat eating plan
Probiotics
Protein supplement
Swimming (not lessons, just more opportunity to swim)
Walking more
Baseball and Badminton

Volunteer opportunity or job shadowing opportunity?
Thrift store (volunteer)
Groomers (job shadow)
Childcare (at a day home, job shadow