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!

~\0/~

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~

~\0/~

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 ?

thankful

I am thankful for the homeschool moms who taught me that homeschool doesn't have to look like public school.  And I'm just thankful for my homeschool friends who are there for me with encouragement, support, and friendship and love on my family as we all learn and grow together.

As we get closer to Thanksgiving Day, I am overwhelmed at the things God has done in my life.  My family is a treasure that I didn't realize for a long time.  I took them all for granted, just walloring in the fact that they were mine, and not taking the time to step back and SEE them.  This year I am thankful for each and every one of my family...the four of us, and all the extended ones, too.

 This year I am thankful that Jesus has opened my heart to the teenagers in my church, giving me the burden for their purity, and praying them into a closer walk with Him!

 This year I am thankful that I still have the freedom to worship and praise the God who gave me Jesus and His Spirit to indwell in me.

 This year I am thankful for Christian artists/bands that keep me singing and dancing ~well, I think it is dancing!~

 This year I am thankful that home education is the blessing and adventure we have chosen to continue.

 Next year will be different, and I will still be thankful for all of these things, and, Lord willing, MORE!!!!

 The reason I am writing is to say that everyday is different, and so should our lives be; speckled with surprises that God has for us as mature Christians.  The way that HE can change even the heart of a 15 yo Autistic child to want to listen to the words and find pearls of truth in HIS message to us is amazing to me. If I look from a different, Godly perspective, my life can be transformed as well, with only a little bit of the baby Christian fire that I muster up every now and again.  I think I'll do that, right now. Blessings to all and to all a good day! ~ \0/ ~

It's the pizza guy at the mall.  The greatest pizza guy we know. He has a brother, but we can tell them apart.  I told him I took his picture, because I didn't want him to think we were stalking him.  He probably has enough of that.  I wonder, is there a better pizza guy at another mall?  Highly unlikely.  ie:  I eat the #6 salad with two pepperoni breadsticks    {and only get one because Haley takes the other one piece by piece},    I never order a kids meal... but this time they have   SLINKYS   for the toy prize!!!!   I only had to ask, and the slinky was mine.   How cool is that?  Maybe someday, we can do something for 'our' pizza guy, something other than take pictures of him and talk about him on this blog.  Enough pizza talk, another week will go by before I can have another #6 with a diet coke.  Can I survive?  I think so. {we got the t-mobile guy a slinky too!}

Memaw

Memaw loves the color blue. Almost everything she has, has some blue in it. Sometimes, even she is blue. I don't really blame her. When I am 86 years old, I only pray that I can walk and get around like her. Yes, she can't hear. Yes, she broke her back a year ago, and she doesn't remember it. Yes, she had breast cancer and had a masectomy. But just look at her! She has beautiful hair, and a good taste in clothes. She cares about how she dresses, and if her lipstick is placed on her lips. I want to care about those things when I am that old. And if I have mustard on the shirt I am wearing, that's just being saved for later! Memaw. She's all ours. I bet you have one too. If you don;t, I'll share! Memaw, she's awesome!

I saw ELVIS!!!!!

I know, I know, you are all jealous... unless you saw him too! It was quite a night!

By the way...

Did you know that EMO is just that fuzzy, fun, red monster on SS without the 'L' 'L' for love. Deep.

Scavenger hunt

This is an unusual hunt. This is a hunt for, me. See if you can find the real me. I'm here. Sometimes I am just hard to find. Sometimes I have a difficult time finding myself in all the 'stuff' we call life. When it comes down to it, though, here I am. Little ol' fat and sassy me. Hi! It's me. Glad you found me. Will you be my friend? ~\0/~

Wainscott

...Crouched in the far end of the log, Bagley kept watch over the water. It wasn't as smooth as a few moments ago, for now was the time of day when insects flocked to the pond. Swallows were swooping at them from up above, while fish were trying to catch them from down below.. Everytime one of the feeding fish made a rip in the pond's silken fabric, Bagley felt a little rip inside his chest. The sun was setting across the water. The sky turned rosy, and so did the pond. When the very top of the sun was about to sink below the horizon, Bagley poked his head out from the end of the log. A few feet away, a striped fish was drifting by. 

  Wainscott Weasels is a classic in our family now.  Love is hard. 

"Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you. And the more you know another, the richer the colors of that relationship." Sarayu to Mackenzie the Shack

Folks...

My folks were in town for the weekend. And then a few. Mom and Dad finally were able to see their grandchildren participate in their own ministry. Corban and Haley dance on the church dance team. They both love it, and we enjoyed the awesome ministry that they do! We had a grand time looking at the changing leaves that God always blesses us with this time of year. We actually went on a field trip where all the fall festivities are 'happenin' now in our state, and WOW! the colors God puts together are so gorgeous! Then we went to the local Botanical gardens and walked around oooh~ing and ahh~ing over the pretty fall decorations. Cool. Does anyone know where I can find a white pumpkin... without painting it white.?! I like when my folks come into town. Sure, it may be stressful the day before,and sometimes we aren't used to how they communicate...or they aren't used to us... but over all, this time, I think I am going to go through withdrawal. Bummer. Thanks God, for my folks. I love God. ~ \0/ ~

Oh off to the Orchard

Adrian Orchards this time. Biggest and yummiest apples in Indy! Lots of bees, yes, but the apples are worth it. Look at these cute chairs and mums painted to match... so cute! My favorite is the color of all the pumpkins! So many colors and shapes. God is cool! Have a wonderful Day! ~\0/~

Raspberry Picking at the Orchard

A beautiful day for being outside. And Dan went with us! We almost didn't make it... I forgot how to get there. Thanks Jodi... such a good friend! And good at directions!

Hunting for raspberries...

I hear it is raspberry season... I think we will go to the park today and see if we can find any.  Angela, my dear friend from Genesis Bagels, made raspberry pancakes for breakfast Sunday.  She has three kids 5 and under...I pray that Jesus will give me the discipline every morning to get up and make my family a good breakfast before we begin our days with Him here on earth.  So far so good. I am on day 1.

~\0/~

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)  "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

...and I will give you rest...

in the middle of the evening

the burden rises

praying for an open doorway

the burden rises

searching the WORD

the burden still rises

getting on my knees

the burden is eased

in the middle of the night

the burden wakens

searching for some way

to reach them

rising out of slumber

the burden rises

getting on my knees

the burden is

again

eased

now, in the morning

the burden is here

it's not so deafening

screaming in my ear

the burden is still with me

 deep in my heart

Jesus will help me

searching in the WORD

getting on my knees

continuously

fervently

praying for the doorway

to reach the kids in need

so the burden will be eased

 I can rest

~ \0/ ~

Praise

the

LORD

God is Good ... all the time

Here's how quickly God can answer a few little questions, and make everything come into perspective. I left for church this evening right after I had posted the previous few simple questions... We are studying Revelation... verse by verse!!! God can use us, whether we are in His will or not,whether we will ever choose Him or not, whether we understand it or not; no matter how awful or terrible the 'thing' at the moment is... WHY?!?!?!?!??!?! For His purpose and his will WILL be done. Is that cool or WHAT!!!!!??? I'll tell ya people, for this little Christian girl in the middle of the USA: God is AWESOME!!!!!! ~ \0/ ~ praise the LORD amen so bo it praise the LORD

Running around the neighborhood

What makes the world look so good, when the possibility of Heaven has been here since... well, Creation? Why do we let the evil one who controls this world, control us? That is, whether we are in or out of the family of Christ. We do it, too. Yup. Yup. We let the world entice us with all of its pleasures. We let Satan know that he has won for the moment, when we listen to his lies. NO one loves me. No one cares if I am here. No one wants to help. Does anyone else just want to YELL!?!?!??!?!?! Jesus is the ONLY way to survive in this world. Jesus is the one who gives us the free will to choose. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to choose... just let Him hold me in the crook of His arm and rock me to sleep. Singing lullabys and loving me in the most perfect way He does. I feel His love. I try not to let the evil one here get to me. I really do YELL at Satan. Ask my kids. We shout "Jesus LOVES Me" and , boy, does that evil one RUN!!!!!! He really doesn't like to hear us. He doesn't come around here much anymore. But sometimes, he shows up somewhere else. Places where I can still be affected. People who don't know the TRUTH. Or, people who refuse to let Him in. To let Him take the burdens. To let Him have them, wholly, Holy. Can anybody give me a shout out? Bind the devil from your family. Run around the neighborhood binding him from their houses too. Who cares if they call you a Religious fanatic. It's actually kinda fun. Really. ask my kids.

F-Troop

F-Troop... what a cool way to be able to spend time with my friends and the kids with new ones, twice a month .!  I never would have scheduled, or been as organized as the F-Troop leaders if it was up to me.  Obviously, it took almost a whole summer just to have lunch with my dear friend, Jodi!  So, when we met at F-Troop yesterday afternoon... jubilation!  The kids were re-united, except for the littler ones... we'll have to do something about that... and they also realized that they are not the only teenagers that home school in this world, teenagers that can have a lot of FUN! {Cute teenagers, too, according to the girls... arranged marriages are not out of the question here!} 

  Maybe I should have been some kind of research person.  The only thing is, my mind gets so excited about everything I see, that it is so difficult to stay on task!  For example, I was catching up on my lesson plans, the first week of academia for us and already I am 'catching up, and I saw a study on silkworms for our information about the Chinese Dynasties. 

   Cool!

 So I get online and start looking for silkworm info... where oh where did my silkworm research go?  To the solar cookstove site! 

  WHAT??!!??

 NOW I am thinking, " I have got to get this info to my friends who go to Ecuador on Medical Missions. (I wanna go..... " I digress, again)  Then I download the plans for making one of these stoves, wondering somewhere in my brain, how in the world I went from silkworms to solar cookstoves?

   Oh YEAH!!!

 You have to boil the silkworm pupa to get all of the silk from the cocoon! To un-spin it and twist at least 5 together to get a good thread for weaving... then there's the loom... 

 Follow me? 

   Vague, I know, but now we are going to have a cook-out with a solar cookstove to celebrate my sister and brother-in-laws purchase of their first home... after we make the stove, that is.!

 Maybe I need to start sleeping in a little later to be able to stay awake for such times as this. 

Goodnight, sweet silkworms and solar cookstoves, silk-thread and boiled cocoons, goodnight!

~ \0/ ~

hooked on Blog!

Forget phonics! { Well, I've always said that... Scaredy Cat Reading is the way to go to learn how to read...}    I digress!

  I am officially hooked on this blogging thing! What better way to keep all of the things I wish I could tell my dear friends in the limelight!?! {THANKS Jodi!!! :O)   }

   Friends, family, others who might slip by, I will feel like you know me better every day!!  I want to know you, and be sure you know Christ better and better each day.  I pray that He would bless you through what I might say or post on my new loving addiction.   

{No sugar or chocolate required... maybe just a little java and sugar free creamer in the wee hours of the morning!}

  ~ \0/ ~YIPPEEEE!

'Officially' the First Day of Academia 2008

                                    Here it is! Labor Day, and our traditional FDoA!

  The Lord was so good to me last night; Dan was on shift at the firehouse, and as we were reading 'Hitty'  the Hauger book of the month, we heard loud explosions and fire engines... immediate prayer for the hedge of protection... and pick up the book again without hesitation.  Of course, after two more loud bangs, at the end of the chapter, Haley and I  ran to the back porch to see what we could see. Nothing. So we prayed again, and went to bed. 

 Sleeping, or so I thought, was going to be out of the question for me, since Dan was not to be home until 7am.  Thanks, God for the night of sleep!  ~ \0/ ~ And for the spirit of calm that You have always given me when my dear hubby is on shift for the 24 hours of his shift. I know that he is ultimately in Your hands, and the other guys he is with will do whatever they can to keep him safe, as he does them.

 As for academia this morning, we will start off with 'Picture This!' ,a Bible study where we will draw our own Bible in full by the end of the year!  COOL! {I think I purchased this product in 1996! Been WAITING for the kids to be ready!}  I just can't wait for the kids to share it with the families outside of our little four person circle!

  Blessings and prayers to our home school friends, few that they may be, strong and mighty for the LORD!

  

Here I am!!

Yeah! My first blogging adventure has begun.  Not sure how great a writer I am, but I might just write a book!  Come to think of it... these past ten years of home schooling should at least put me up to a 'Memoirs of Autism at Home" .