Red

Red has always been my favorite color.

Growing up, everything in my closet was

one shade of red or another.  It was quite

a chore choosing what to wear to school

on any given day.  I'm glad we have 

chosen to home school our children...I would 

feel awfully sad if the kids didn't wear red to

school!

 Speaking of red, I just found out that Red 

Skelton is from Indiana. We used to love to 

listen to Red Skelton, living in Pittsburgh we

didn't have much to laugh about...except 

maybe the lopsided birds. Daddy thought 

Mr.Skelton was quite funny!

  YouTube shows some silly out~takes!

Here for your viewing pleasure.  

Does anyone still wish for laughter in the New Year?

Happy!

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Reflection on Friends

When twilight drops her curtain down;

  and pins it with a star;

Remember that you have a friend;

  'though she may wander far.

So many distractions in our lives.  Some fun, others just bothersome.  While I try to say "No" to stuff that is meaningless, visiting the elderly in our church is the best thing  I have said "YES!" to this week.  In particular, Grandma and Grandpa Pastor!  My favorite people! They moved here last Spring when Grandma got sick and they needed to be taken care of by one of their children.  Well, Albuquerque was out, because Grandma 'hates that mesa filled place.'  Grandpa is at home 'wherever he hangs his hat' , but Indiana is their new home.  First Winter blues and getting used to the climate has been difficult.  BUT, I was privileged to be invited to spend a day with them due to a day that their son would be out all day.  Vacation for me! 

Grandpa is a master clock workman, and he is working on my Grandmothers Cuckoo Clock that just wouldn't stop going.  With out the energiser bunny!   What a remarkable thing the talent and gifts God gives us.  What a blessing it was to spend the better part of the day with my favorite adopted Grandparents!!! 

  

 

Kitchen hair!!!

WOW! Look at those curls!  Look at how th elight reflects into the                                          We call it kitchen hair in the industry.

  Beach hair, if you are getting ready to plan a trip to the beach, which we are.  Only the female of this family wish to get ready for the beach with beach hair. And really, only the youngest female in this house.  the older one just want to live vicariously through her daughters hair!  People pay BIG BUCKS to get beautiful, strawberry blonde/platinum highlighted beach hair!!!!  Haley, she just has to ask and do her little ant dance.!

Winter

We've had our first 'winter storm' Whoopee!!!  Ice everywhere! 

The bare trees look so beautiful with all the ice on their branches.  

The streets do too, except when sliding instead of stopping...

I love this time of year. We play games and have challenges on the Wii.

Drink hot chocolate with {sugar free} candy canes to stir it with. 

Don't forget the mini-marshmallows!

Even though the rest of the week is going to be raining and warmer,

today is good, and just knowing that there is a possibility of more, 

that is what makes this time of year my favorite.

And the planning of the February Florida vacation!

"Life is ten percent what happens to you

 and ninety percent how you respond to it."

Forgive, and Celebrate HIM this CHRISTmas

Remembering a past hurt, I prayed about how to forgive. Obviously I sometimes don't listen well. But, here's what I found out; God was up to something when He tickled my Spirit inside, and being the mature and godly woman that I was, I was furious! "That woman does not deserve forgiveness, Lord" I ranted.  My Father whispered, "Neither do you, child."  I was still angry.  "Lord, she is the one that hurt me," I cried.  "Just as you have hurt me," He responded. I wasn't through. "I think it is only fair for me to wait for her to make the first move.  And then she needs to come crawling on her hands and knees, begging for my forgiveness!"  In the silence, I heard the words of the Great Physician, a voice I have come to love so much, "Aren't you glad I didn't wait for you to come to me?" 

I suddenly realized I had a choice to make.  I could choose to hang on to my anger and bitterness, making her my jailer, or I could choose to forgive her and set myself free!  But I just couldn't forgive her on my own, so I did what David did.  I cried out to God.

Psalm 40:1-3a (NIV) "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit; out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

As I wrestled with the choice to forgive, I learned several life-changing truths: 

• If we make the choice to forgive, God will supply the forgiveness.   
• There should be no limit to our forgiveness because there is no limit to His.   
• Forgiveness is not a feeling or an emotion.  Forgiveness is a deliberate choice.  
• Forgiveness is our greatest need and God's greatest gift.  

While we cannot change the past, we can change our response to the past and dictate the power it has over us.  If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist, but because our greatest need was and is forgiveness, God sent a Savior, Jesus Christ, who is calling us all to a higher place, a place of forgiveness.  The choice is ours to make.  Today, we can choose freedom by choosing to forgive. 

Let's Pray  Father, it is not within my power to forgive, but it is within my power to choose forgiveness.  Right now, I surrender my pain and hurt to You.  I choose to forgive as You have forgiven me. 

In Jesus' name, I pray  Amen

Now It's Your Turn  For some reason, the holidays seem to intensify old wounds and resurrect old hurts. Examine your heart for wounds that have not healed.  Decide today to deal with the pain of the past.  Choose to give the gift of forgiveness and receive God's healing and restoration in return. 

Emmanuel

  For the last few years, many conservative Christians have been concerned with the secularization of Christmas.  They've spent a lot of energy protecting their right to say "Merry Christmas" and perform other public acts of sectarian merry-making. 

   There is much to lament in this particular front of the culture war, especially since the brouhaha distracts us from combating the real threat to Christmas. But for now, I just want to point out the irony of Christian attempts at protecting our right to make merry. 

  In keeping with Christian tradition, we should be reflecting on our longing and need for the Messiah, not defending our right to a public Nativity scene.  December should be marked by humility, not cultural defensiveness. Let's not reflect on the need of others to acknowledge our privileged status in this pluralist democracy; rather, let's reflect on our own need for hope, for a visible inbreaking of God, for salvation. 

 I value the wisdom of the gorgeous Advent hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," which sums up what should be our true holiday spirit in the days before the 12 Days of Christmas:

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory over the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Gingerbread

YUM!

For a couple of years we went to my friends home and made Gingerbread houses...with graham crackers for ease.  Gingerbread men were made from scratch to decorate, and oooohhhhh, they were yummy. Just the smell is good for me.  This year, my dilemma is this; Corban is Autistic and on a special diet. {Wheat free, gluten free and casein free diet. That removes all breads, pastas and goodies that also include milk and the by~products.  He is the healthiest one of the family.  I am going to switch after the first of the year.  } I digress...

  With this specialized diet, Corban can't eat cookies, let alone gingerbread men, or houses!, and I feel that I need to be a little more sensitive to his cause... none of us are going to eat or make Gingerbread anythings this year...well, I do have a sewing project...  and there's the Muppets Gingerbread Song from the very first Muppets season that we found at the library.  You can watch it over there------>

Soon it should snow, then we can take our winter wonderland picture, before we go to Sanibel in February!  2nd Honeymoon...with dependants this time!  Mucky Duck....here we come!!!

Digressing again, I found a recipe for wfgfcf gingerbread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                {AWESOME BOOK!!!!!    'The Gluten~Free Kitchen' by Roben Ryberg}

...here goes:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup light corn syrup

2/3 cup boiling water

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons potato starch

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1     teaspoon cinnamon

1     teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup sugar {I'll use Splenda}

1     egg

Directions  {or destructions depending on the chef!  ;D}

Preheat oven to 325deg.  In a small bowl, combine molasses, light corn syrup, and boiling water.  Set aside to cool.

In large bowl, combine cornstarch, ginger, salt and xanthan gum.  To flour mixture, add oil, sugar, egg and cooled molasses mixture.  Mix well to remove lumps.

Pour batter into greased 8x8 or 9x9 pan.  Bake 40 minutes, until toothpick inserted in middle of cake tests done.

Makes 9 large servings.

oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh! Here are some gingersnaps!

This is what we'll use for gingerbread men this year! Yippee!

Ingredients

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar  {Splenda again}

1/3 cup molasses

 2    egg yolks

1 1/4 cups cornstarch

3/4 cup potato starch

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup oil

1     teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

For Topping

1 Tablespoon sugar (real this time)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350deg.  In large bowl, cream together shortening, sugar, and molasses.  Add remaining ingredients, mixing well to remove all lumps.

Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto greased baking sheet.  Sprinkle well with sugar.  Bake 8-9 minutes.  Dough will be just set, with no wet spot in the middle.

  Over baking will make the cookie too hard...so use them for a 

GINGERBREAD HOUSE!!!!!  

Yeeeeeeeeaaaaah!

Off to make some...Merry Christmas Season.

May He be with you for eternity!

You only have to ask 'him in and trust that He will guide you through!

Jesus is truly the answer~

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Inspiration from HSLDA

This article was inspiring and exciting for me to read!  We are not alone! We will show You strong in our lives, LORD!

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect [at peace with or loyal] toward him….

—II Chronicles 16:9 KJV

I find this verse one of the most personally inspiring verses in the entire Bible. Let me share how it became such a powerful life verse for me in the hope that it will bless you as well.

I have been speaking about homeschooling teens for over 20 years. I have a list entitled “Ten Reasons to Homeschool Teens” that has been shared at conferences and in magazines across the country. Several years ago I was preparing my notes for a talk when I felt the Lord was getting my attention and sending a very clear thought to my mind, “There’s another reason to homeschool your teens. I want to show Myself strong on your behalf.” II Chronicles 16:9 immediately became the 11th reason on my list of reasons to homeschool teens.

Over the years I have come to realize that the Lord wants his Word to be very personal to us. He wants it to be a “living Word” in our lives. Each day in my quiet time I open the scriptures expecting to hear from Him, and I try to take it as personally as I can.

In that vein, let’s take a closer look at this verse and see how each one of us can be encouraged in our commitment to homeschool to know that we are not alone in the task.

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the concept that He is going back and forth over the whole world, continually scanning the earth, seeking us out and searching for those of us who are completely loyal to him. To me it means God is pursuing us with a desire to walk with us everyday. He says He does this because he wants to “show” His strength in the things we face day in and day out. He knows our frailties and the limitations of our human condition. And because He is a loving God, it gives Him pleasure to meet our needs in this way.

Of all the compelling reasons to continue to homeschool our teens, none compares to these few powerful words that tell us that the Lord wants to meet us where we are with His help and strength.

 Paul knew how to tap into God’s strength for his life. In II Corinthians 12:10 he says, “Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities… for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.” KJV

The necessary ingredient we need for God to release His strength in our lives is humility. All we need to do is acknowledge our own need or weakness. Our willingness to humble ourselves and admit that we can’t do it without Him is all He asks.

Wouldn’t it be a little insulting to the Lord for Him to make us this offer and for us to disregard it? Hasn’t He proved Himself by sending His own Son to earth to give His life to satisfy God’s requirement that our sins be covered by Jesus’ blood sacrifice? What more could God do to prove His love for us? It is through God’s sheer power, or strength, that He raised His Son from the dead and won the final victory over sin and death. It is this very strength that is made available to us when He offers “to show Himself strong” on our behalf.

So, when we begin to doubt our ability to homeschool through high school, when we feel we can’t teach challenging courses, or our children are pressuring us to go to “normal” school, or we worry that they won’t get into the college of their choice, perhaps it is time to remember the Lord’s offer to provide us with the strength we need.

I want to leave with you a prayer to pray when doubt sets in:

Dear loving Heavenly Father,

I face so many unknowns as I consider the decision to homeschool through high school. You know my fears and concerns. I confess that in my own strength I can't do it, but with your help I know I can. Right now I ask you for your strength to continue to teach through the teen years. Please grant me the grace to do what you have called me to do. Thank you for answering my prayer.

In Jesus name, Amen

The question that plagues modern homeschoolers, in the same way that men and women in the middle ages wondered if the world was flat, is:  "Are we making any progress and are my kids really learning anything?" I say 'modern homeschoolers' because I don't think the pioneer homeschoolers asked that question.   For them, it wasn't about whether their children knew enough, but about 'what' they knew. They used God's standard in the Bible as their standard. In the last couple of decades, we've changed that standard.   Now the standard used is the level of academics a boy or girl should be at by age 8, 12, or 17. We look towards the "experts" who say a child should be reading chapter books by age seven, doing algebra by 9th grade, and taking Chemistry in 11th grade.   "Says who?"   It certainly isn't God. The truth is that some children don't read until they're ten, struggle to learn algebra, or never make it to Chemistry. And that's OK!   Our children are learning! They will be well prepared for whatever it is God created them. That  gives us grace to enjoy our children at whatever level they are.     "Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein   I couldn't have said it better...

Father God, I really need Your help to know what to do today when homeschooling my children. Show me what lessons to focus on and what lessons to leave for another day. Guide me with Your Word and bring those circumstances into our lives that reveal Your divine hand of guidance. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Starting over...

I guess it is time to start over...sad to see it all go off the screen, but computers really aren't as efficient as they should be. I'd rather just journal in a real book. But, how would you keep up with me? Do you really want to know all that is in my mind? hmmmm. Do I ?