tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32205029690496829912024-02-07T03:01:56.397-08:00Life Moore AbundantA bit of heart from the Moore family. We hope it shows quite a bit of the heart of Jesus, who gave his life that we might not perish.Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-17961095763328875232018-11-21T16:40:00.001-08:002018-11-21T16:55:07.118-08:00Thankful for VIPKid<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Five Reasons I'm Thankful to</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Teach for <a href="https://t.vipkid.com.cn/mkt/landing/personal?referralToken=19992af3708250c9ae4a5791bb473a47&refereeId=11705363" target="_blank">VIPKid</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMje6whIQCYHqerwQP0qdrCcKgs1u9Ky8FPg4ypAuMipRHJOBWGjsqAghFFYMjP0oqvRKXN-dJAECPPXBY3_oiVhw9yG8jL2MBuXrWp6iPB6p2Lzn08DMNjO8CXtCsZPSGFsK7GtAKD6Y/s1600/listening+with+panda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMje6whIQCYHqerwQP0qdrCcKgs1u9Ky8FPg4ypAuMipRHJOBWGjsqAghFFYMjP0oqvRKXN-dJAECPPXBY3_oiVhw9yG8jL2MBuXrWp6iPB6p2Lzn08DMNjO8CXtCsZPSGFsK7GtAKD6Y/s320/listening+with+panda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. My smile muscles are stronger! With limited language, my students depend on my body language, so I try to smile. . . A LOT. I don't think I was necessarily sad before, but I've noticed I feel happy most of the time. I think smiling is good for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. I love online teaching. It has so many benefits. For one, I get to spend my time TEACHING. My students can't sneeze on me, cough on me, kick me or bite me. In the rare case they misbehave, they have a parent nearby to take care of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. I miss teaching my little ones and this helps fill that empty spot. One of my children was diagnosed late with hearing loss. Teaching him to talk required many of the same skills as teaching English as a second langugage. It's neat for me to put that experience to good use. The curriculum is very good. Anyone with any type of teaching experience would catch on quickly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. It doesn't interfere with the rest of my life. I go to bed a little earlier, but that's about all. I don't usually have other activities that interfere with 5-7 a.m. ( or even 6-8 a.m. before the time change.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. They pay me. Yep. It's true. I shared my bank account info with a foreign entity and they faithfully pay me every month. (I didn't even have to send them $1,000 first.) Seriously, ya'll. This is legit. VIPKid was named the #1 Work from Home job by Forbes. I make about $20 an hour for teaching (give or take a little for bonuses and no shows.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Want to join the fun? We'd love to help you apply.* Start <a href="https://t.vipkid.com.cn/mkt/landing/personal?referralToken=19992af3708250c9ae4a5791bb473a47&refereeId=11705363" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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*You do need a bachelor's degree and some teaching experience. Teaching experience doesn't have to be in a classroom setting and the bachelor's degree doesn't have to be in education.<br />
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<br />Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-79479593415514260242018-05-28T23:22:00.000-07:002018-05-28T23:22:06.849-07:00HomeWorks Blog PostsIsn't it fun to do something you REALLY love doing? I really love to write. <br />
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Many years ago when the children were small, I wrote a couple articles that were published in a small homeschool magazine, <em>Encouraging Word</em>. <br />
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Some time ago, I spent a delightful evening with a new friend. She and her family have just purchased a large farmhouse, and the previous owners left her a large shelf of homeschool books. We were having fun going through the books when I spotted a couple of issues of the magazine. Imagine my delight. . .and swallowed pride. . .as I showed my friend my name on the articles.<br />
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I haven't written much in the past few years. With so many responsibilities, I feel guilty taking time to write purely for enjoyment. However, not long after that evening with my friend, I had the joy of receiving a check, albeit small, for writing! Now I can write and not feel guilty. And when a little check comes in the mail, I am reminded to write a little something else. đ<br />
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Here's a list of my writing on the HomeWorks Blog. My favorites are probably "Bubble with Joy" and "How to Build a Reluctant Reader"<br />
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/what-s-your-why" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Whatâs Your Why? </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...ing journey and provide you with help and encouragement along the way! Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> - HomeWorks by Precept Consultant www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span> ...</div>
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Friday, 27 April 2018</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/7-tips-for-newbie-homeschooling-parents" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">7 Tips for Newbie Homeschooling Parents </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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... . the list is endless! These opportunities make homeschooling special. Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Wednesday, 26 July 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/a-time-to-keep-and-a-time-to-cast-away" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">A Time to Keep and a Time to Cast Away </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...âll feel much more inspired to get started on a new school year. Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Thursday, 01 June 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/legal-requirements-and-how-to-homeschool-kentucky" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Legal Requirements and How to Homeschool â Kentucky </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...requirements. You can also check your state laws on the HSLDA website. Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Tuesday, 23 May 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/minimizing-grading-time-maximizing-teaching-time" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Minimizing Grading Time â Maximizing Teaching Time </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...hool time more efficiently. What are your time-saving grading tips? Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Thursday, 23 March 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">6. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/homeschool-hacks-for-time-management" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Homeschool Hacks for Time Management </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...you want to see them excel, do them in a way that benefits them the most. Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Tuesday, 14 March 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">7. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/minimizing-planning-time-maximizing-teaching-time" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Minimizing Planning Time â Maximizing Teaching Time </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...or minimizing time for planning so you can maximize time for teaching? Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Monday, 13 March 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">8. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/budgeting-funds-for-homeschool" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Budgeting Funds for Homeschool </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...tanding the pricing structure, to come up with a plan that is practical. Meet the Author <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks by Precept Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/cy...</div>
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Thursday, 09 March 2017</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">9. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/curriculum-and-cooking" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Curriculum and Cooking </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...art with your curriculum, but use it to cook up an education that is wonderful for your family. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>HomeWorks Consultant at: www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span> ...</div>
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Thursday, 17 November 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">10. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/ready-set-order" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Ready, Set, Order! </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...orget to do the SIMPLE things that keep everyone fed, clean, and happy. Ready, Set, Order! By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span> ...</div>
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Thursday, 18 August 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">11. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/bubble-with-joy" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Bubble With Joy </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...ope will reach first? The precious children beside you in your homeschooling journey. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant & Homeschool Mom www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span> ...</div>
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Thursday, 11 August 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">12. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/how-to-build-a-reluctant-reader" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">How to Build a Reluctant Reader </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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... a major change in habits, your child is likely to remain a reluctant reader for a long time. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>HomeWorks Consultant at: www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span>...</div>
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Tuesday, 28 June 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">13. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/sharon-fisher-blog/saving-student-work" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Saving Student Work </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/Sharon Fisher Blog)</span></div>
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...knowledge and wisdom you are imparting are stored safely in your studentsâ minds and hearts. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant and Homeschool Mom http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/c...</div>
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Thursday, 02 June 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">14. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/six-tips-for-developing-your-skills-as-a-homeschool-teacher" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Six Tips for Developing Your Skills as a Homeschool Teacher </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...rther in a subject that may have ignited a spark of passion. For those things, they need a teacher. <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks Consultant http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span> 270-378-525...</div>
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Wednesday, 10 February 2016</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">15. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/distance-learning-meets-our-familys-homeschool-needs" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Distance Learning Meets Our Family's Homeschool Needs </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...stance learning, I encourage you to contact your consultant today. I know youâll be glad you did. <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant & Distance Learning User 270-378-5251 http://www.homewor...</div>
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Thursday, 10 December 2015</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">16. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/what-about-electives" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">What About Electives? </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...iver Education What would your students love to study as an elective? Please leave a comment. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span>, HomeWorks Consultant www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>-<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">moore</span>...</div>
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Saturday, 05 September 2015</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">17. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/how-to-set-up-testing-for-your-homeschool-student" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">How to Set Up Testing for Your Homeschool Student </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...instance, but that information does not go to IOWA⢠with any link to your individual child. By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant and Homeschool Mom http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>...</div>
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Tuesday, 30 June 2015</div>
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<span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">18. </span><a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/homeworks-by-precept-blog/determining-the-need-for-year-end-assessments" style="color: #0a6d72; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Determining the Need for Year-End Assessments </a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="small" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(Blog/HomeWorks By Precept Blog)</span></div>
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...iscount on the fee for access to the materials. What about you? Can you add to this list? By <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cynda</span> <span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moore</span> HomeWorks Consultant and Homeschool Mom http://www.homeworksbyprecept.com/<span class="highlight" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cynda</span>...</div>
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Tuesday, 23 June 2015</div>
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Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-91594230428376972922018-05-28T23:03:00.000-07:002018-05-28T23:03:05.535-07:00Mamaâs Mission: Inspiring Your Child to Love Missions<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> When I was about seventeen years old, I was doing what many
seventeen-year-old Christians do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
pondering Godâs will for my life but not coming to any conclusions very
quickly. My mother, sharing her heart, said to me, âCynda, you could do
absolutely anything you want to in life. Youâre having so much trouble deciding
that Iâm starting to wonder if you are called to be a missionary. Just so you
know. . . I donât really want you to be a missionary.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think many
mothers, even devout Christian mothers, if they were honest as mine, would say
the same.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mission Inspiration #1 â Decide if God wants your children
involved in missionary work â that you are at least ok with that.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God never
called me to be a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far,
Iâve considered my lifeâs calling to be a wife and a mother and to homeschool
my children. Perhaps God will call one of my children to become missionaries. .
. (Reminding myself again of Mission Inspiration #1.) Because I am at least
kind of ok with my children becoming missionaries and totally ok with them
sending their support, missionary studies have always been part of our
homeschooling journey. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Mission Inspiration #2 â Make missionary studies part of your
homeschooling journey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Missionaries
have some great stories. My husband has read many missionary biographies to the
children. Weâve listened to stories about Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, and
Gladys Alward. Weâve read all about the history of Wycliffe Bible Translators
and Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Weâve read about Betty Greene, who
piloted the first missionary aviation flight. These were fun times as a family,
with the children usually begging for just one more chapter to hear the next
exciting part of these missionariesâ lives. This wasnât doing school, per se,
but to understand the stories the children learned a lot of geography and
history that stuck with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course,
they encountered these heroes of the faith in their regular school work, too.
Over time, I believe they have become just that to my children â heroes with
lots of adventures.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp7qbjq6Q1qgOZ3XJqhBbHP_NFcNvN5mr9Fv-Su9iYYJ3inJn2llXRGw-eXkKjo_WrhCaKF3W6WhcoZ_7ks8EaJVHOmpaoXWMcsdFYuhrmBVCzENCqOS8NTNWD3EDFXyrjivulgO8PdQ/h120/betty+greene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="Jl-O-x" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp7qbjq6Q1qgOZ3XJqhBbHP_NFcNvN5mr9Fv-Su9iYYJ3inJn2llXRGw-eXkKjo_WrhCaKF3W6WhcoZ_7ks8EaJVHOmpaoXWMcsdFYuhrmBVCzENCqOS8NTNWD3EDFXyrjivulgO8PdQ/h120/betty+greene.jpg" style="height: 120px; left: 0px; top: 0px; transform: rotate(0deg); width: 120px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Mission Inspiration #3 â Go camping and be adventurous.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The number
one reason our family has done lots of camping is because it makes vacation
possible for a family of seven living primarily on one income. We can buy a lot
of great school books for the same cost of getting TWO hotel rooms even for a
weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just sayinâ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The children
have learned that living conditions donât have to be perfect to have a good
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought of being a little hot,
or sleeping on the ground, or eating simply for a few days just really isnât a
big deal. And, itâs fun to see a new part of the world. Weâve hiked and camped
from Florida to California and many places in between. We have our own
adventure and misadventure stories to tell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mission Inspiration #4 â Do stuff. If you run out of stuff do
to do â find stuff to do for others.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We have
never considered ourselves unschoolers, but we do try to leave lots of time for
projects, interests, and helping others. For us, that has meant things like
building a small barn out of pallets, making a zip line to haul wood down from
the hills, building an outside wood-burner, helping neighbors with clean up and
construction projects, and wiring up a house with a grandparent who is also an
electrician. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Little by
little, the children are learning work ethics and valuable skills which could
be used on the mission field.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Mission Inspiration #5 â Enjoy the Joy</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Bible says, âI have no greater joy than to hear that my
children walk in truth.â <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My seventeen year old son just got back from a short-term
missionary trip to Haiti. It was his second trip. I have had a few people (that
donât know him very well) ask me if he wanted to go or if my husband and I had
âsentâ him. It was definitely that he wanted to go. In fact, he had been saving
money and praying for the opportunity to make another trip. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It got me to thinking about Isaacâs background and how it had
prepared him for the trip. When he heard that they were taking a Missionary
Aviation Flight across Haiti, his face lit up. It seems I only hear the word
âsurrealâ in sports movies, but it was definitely âsurrealâ to me that Isaac
was on a MAF flight after reading about it as a child. The team wired several
staff houses and the orphanage at the mission. Isaac had done the same kind of
âstuffâ with his Grandpa. They also camped during their stay and enjoyed the
beautiful Caribbean beach nearby.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now for the disclaimers: I donât have all the parenting
answers, and I realize things still hang in the balance as far as how the kids
turn out. I can only say that God does have wisdom and I am trying to learn
from Him. I left out the parts where my son forgot his sunglasses, left his
ipod on the beach where it was stolen, and worried his team members when he
wondered from the group at night. He is seventeen and not forty-seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, right now, I am hearing that my
children are walking in truth, and I can honestly say, I have no greater joy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cynda Moore is a wife, mother, homeschooler and a consultant
with Homeworks Marketing.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.homeworksbyprecept/cynda-moore"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">www.homeworksbyprecept/cynda-moore</span></span></a></div>
Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-22496055725752105362013-05-26T14:09:00.000-07:002013-05-26T14:09:07.818-07:00Hurry up and Wait!While it seems that all of my older children are growing up way too fast, this little one inside of me can't grow fast enough to suit me. I'm ready for November to be here. . .yesterday!<br />
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There are a few examples in the Bible when people were told to hurry. Lot was told to hurry and leave Sodom. Abigail hurried to make a meal for David and his men. The women at the tomb hurried to tell the disciples the news of Jesus. The disciples hurried to go to the tomb.<br />
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There is an appointed time for everything. (Ecc. 3:1) It seems, however that the Bible has much more to say about waiting.<br />
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Waiting is tough. Waiting for a child is one of the toughest waits. I remember one time describing to my children that patience is "waiting with a smile." I know it goes so much deeper -- that quiet reliance and sweet trust in our Lord. But sometimes. . .just the basics . . . is hard.<br />
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We are all waiting.<br />
We are awaiting the hope of heaven.<br />
Our grief over loved ones who walked with the Lord is not because of their heavenly home, but our wait to join them there and see them once again.<br />
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That doesn't mean we have to smile all the time. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick. (NIV)" We even know there is "a time to mourn" (Ecc 3:4)<br />
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But along with that, there is also a time for rejoicing! When we can. . .when there are happy times in our lives in the midst of our waiting . . . we may as well smile while we wait when we can.<br />
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Love is patient.<br />
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Love waits.<br />
Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-34131297595323447102012-11-17T17:01:00.001-08:002012-11-17T17:01:54.505-08:00Family Pictures done by Christah Cato<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0AZN2zZu3buGZOwg%26uid%3D003087776672%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1353200492000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0AZN2zZu3buGZOwg%26uid%3D003087776672%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1353200492000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZN2zZu3buGbsY&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Create a gorgeous, high quality <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books/wedding-photo-books">wedding photo album</a> at Shutterfly.com.</div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-64060213196066954872012-10-27T21:50:00.001-07:002012-10-27T21:54:22.454-07:00A Day in the Life of Our Homeschool<br />
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A few activities from ONE day of our homeschool :-)<o:p></o:p></div>
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#1) I see Samuel coming down with the microscope because
Mrs. Vick used a microscope in science class today. Hannah canât resist and she
joins him for a while looking at things under the microscope. Samuel asks me to
please let him know the next time I let bread mold so he can look at it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#2) Faith goes to violin lessons. A neighbor takes her for
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#3) I have a conference with Isaac. I assign specific due
dates for a response to literature, a memorization quiz for the preamble to the
constitution, a chemistry lab, and history project involving the names of local
areas. I had watched the lessons on the response to literature the evening
before, and was again reminded how much I love this curriculum with its
encouragement of a personal walk with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#4) Faith has a lesson on Beatrix Potter. Since Justin is
studying âauthorsâ and âillustratorsâ this week in K5 with an emphasis on
Beatrix Potter, I let him watch the lesson with her. Faith has a print out of
the characters that she cut out and attached brads and straws so they are movable. She plans to do a shadow play with them today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#5) Samuel insists that I go back and watch Lesson 46 in his
reading. So, I sit and watch it with him while eating my lunch. It is a
hilarious poem about a girl who talks to her plants. The teacher discusses
alliteration, assonance, and reading aloud with appropriate emphasis. She also
explains âoverstatementâ and Samuel prints off a cartoon page where he can
write his own overstatements. We giggle about those all day, and everyone he
shows it to comes up with their own ideas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The teacher also shows different kinds of plants and how to
put them together into a gift basket. She explains to the students that this
can be a type of ministry for them. (We did a similar thing for a grandma
recently and this is why Samuel wanted me to watch it.) I learned that I can
plant my daffodils behind my hastas and hide them after theyâre no longer
pretty. In the afternoon, Faith and Samuel dig up some tiny cedar trees that
were going to be trodden and replanted them for future gift basket use. <o:p></o:p></div>
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#6) Faith asks me to get her a notebook or folder to save
her special work in. Sheâs especially proud of her poem about Tow Trucks with
the picture she drew.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#7) I find Hannah on the porch with her portable DVD player
and her math book. Yes, itâs a beautiful day! Sheâs watching her math lesson
and enjoying the great outdoors at the same time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#8) Faith has made a game (looks like some sort of board
game) and is playing it with Justin. Iâm not quite sure what lesson that went
with, but I have time to bake a meal for a new mama.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#9) Justin asks me how to spell several words for a birthday
card for Faith. He also draws a really neat volcano just because he wants to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I love all this activity in my house. I wouldn't like <i>directing</i> all this activity at my house,
but I love smiling and encouraging their projects.<o:p></o:p></div>
Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-25431634700822003622012-09-18T20:30:00.001-07:002012-09-18T20:30:01.629-07:00Hannah, Samuel, Faith, and Justin's School Year Plans<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hannahâs School Plan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">BJU Press <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Math 7 â DVD Distance Learning with Mr. Harmon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life Science 7 â DVD Distance Learning with Mrs. Vick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing and Grammar / Explorations in Literature â DVD Distance Learning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spelling 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">History with the Youngers to cover a piece of American History I hadnât covered with her â with additional readers and memorization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Plus Extras. We're kind of still thinking on that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Samuelâs School Year Plan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading 5 â DVD Distance Learning with Mrs. Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Science 6 â Online with Mrs. Vick (before it ends in December)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">English â Online Mrs. Cox until it ends in December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Math â finishing up Book 4 with Mrs. Vick as quickly as possible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Handwriting, Spelling, History, Bible all with Mom â and all BJU Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I pick up teaching English in the spring, I plan to add some Charlotte Mason type activities: copywork, dictation, and memorization, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Faithâs School Year Plan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading 4 â as much as we can finish before December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">English 3 â until December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Math 4 â starting in December<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Handwriting, Spelling, History 4, Bible, and Math with Mom â and all BJU Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When her Online Reading expires in December, I may combine BJU Press with Rod and Staff for a semester. My older kids learned so much Bible with the BJU Press readers, and I donât want her to miss them. I will NOT be using R&S workbooks though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p>Violin Lessons and Gymnastics</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Justin's School Year Plan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">K5 Beginnings âcovers everything but math and Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bible â a few lessons from MFW K, Bible story books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Math 1 with Mrs. Lawson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lots of Read-Alouds â I pulled a whole shelf full of books, and I want to make sure to read to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Speech: s blends and final consonants<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Language: Using subject pronouns correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-27651739783616749672012-09-18T20:12:00.000-07:002012-09-18T20:12:01.464-07:00Free Educational Websites I Actually Use<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spelling â <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Spelling City<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.spellingcity.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.spellingcity.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Missed words from their writing and spelling journals into Spelling City. I put them straight into here and send them to work on those words when we have a small block of time to fill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Writing-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kidblog<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.kidblog.org/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.kidblog.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Set up a private classroom blog. Editing is allowed. We put in Grandma and Grandpa from out of town and they LOVE it. Itâs also great for keeping members of our family who sometimes âmissâ things âinâ on things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our children ever leave home (and Iâm in no hurry), I hope theyâll still post their stories for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Math-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Xtra Math<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.xtramath.org/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.xtramath.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is great for fact practice. They practice each day for a very short time. They log in by clicking their name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It tells them when theyâre done. I get an email report of progress once a week, and a notification email if they donât log in and do their practice. The student tries to get the facts in 3 seconds for a smiley face, but it gives him 10 seconds before giving the answer. Itâs just what Iâve always wanted and itâs free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading â<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Adventure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.bookadventure.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.bookadventure.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Five to Ten Question Quizzes on lots and lots of books. Brian found this for me when I asked for something similar to Accelerated Reader. We donât use it a lot, but it gives me an extra record of a few of the books theyâve read and reminds them to read carefully. I have started writing on my own books if there is a book adventure quiz to go along with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know there are LOTS of other really cool websites â but there is only so much I can use! LOL!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*I use BJU Press as my "core" for all these subjects. These are great little extras in less than 10 minutes and fit well with BJU Press. </span><br />
Spelling words from their own writing mistakes. I mostly use their journal entries from spelling, but if I've noticed another word from another subject I'll add it as well. <br />
Xtra Math instead of (or in addtion to depending on the child) fact practice printoffs from the Teacher CD<br />
Book Adventure - as a quick report of all that extra reading their reading teachers have encouraged<br />
KidBlog - to tell about their projects, to publish their writing, to tell how much they love school (yes - they've done this), but mostly to tell their stories. :-)Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-45718754740101025552012-08-16T10:24:00.002-07:002012-08-16T10:24:26.494-07:00Isaac's School Plan<div class="MsoNormal">
School Planning: High School<o:p></o:p></div>
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That would be Isaac. Heâs in 10<sup>th</sup> grade this
year. Several of his courses are technically Grade 11. That doesnât necessarily
mean heâs a year ahead. Heâs doing ALL his core courses with BJU Press Online
Distance Learning. Iâve come to the place where I technically <i>could</i> teach these subjects, but I have
difficulty doing them justice with the time in my day. I did feel a little bad
when I found an old note from Isaac that said, âIâm glad I have a mom who can
teach me algebra.â We got lost in Saxon
Algebra 2 and with its spiraling style I couldnât figure out where we got off
track. No biggie â heâs a 10<sup>th</sup> grader. If at first you donât
succeed, try, try again!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hereâs the short version:<o:p></o:p></div>
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American History<o:p></o:p></div>
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Algebra 2<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chemistry<o:p></o:p></div>
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Spanish 1<o:p></o:p></div>
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Writing and Grammar 10<o:p></o:p></div>
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Literature 10<o:p></o:p></div>
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For Bible, Iâm combining Isaac and Hannah and teaching the
Bible Truths C. (A BJU Press book â but not the one used for distance
learning.) Heâll continue working in Balancing the Sword and watch a lot of
online sermons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Other extras â a little bit of Rosetta Stone, a little bit
of music theory & piano & maybe guitar, continue photography, Haiti
trip, lead some P.E. days with the younger children, and spend some time at the
gym.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Iâd love to do Spanish 1 with him âjust for funâ â I can
probably do it through the first couple of weeks. LOL! Ja, Ja, Ja!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
I chose Online because of online grading. Iâll admit it. I
have a very difficult time keeping up with the grading of high school subjects.
Iâll still have âhomeworkâ grading to do and test essay questions and wrting
assignmentsâ but they tell me what things to spot check. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-86846937874438153662012-07-31T22:04:00.002-07:002012-07-31T22:04:48.362-07:00Getting Ready for School<br />
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This morning with an online Bible study group, a friend posted this status:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Matthew 12:34b "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." This is so neat. It's a really easy way for us to evaluate our own hearts and our kids' hearts. No wondering what is really in the heart. Do our words primarily build up? Complain? Argue? Thank? Express Joy? Love? Anger? Spite? Pride? Love? Judgment? etc. It's easy to look at other's words and know their heart, but sometimes it's easy to deceive ourselves. Maybe you/we could ask a close friend, child or husband what primarily comes out of your/my mouth? (If you truly want the truth). =)</i></div>
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I read it rather quickly, and decided I'd watch things I say today. (This is much easier than asking someone you love for the truth.)</div>
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A little later in the morning, I was making some last-minute phone calls to try to book fundraisers with the local schools. I have a dozen last-minute things <b>I</b> (notice the capital <b>I</b>) want to get done before our school year starts. Calling principals was top on my list. </div>
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I like to read the principal's message on the school's website before I call. It gives me a little reminder of what they are like. This morning I read this principal's message. Here's the last part:</div>
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<i>I can't wait to get started. When we get down to mere days before the start of school I get a huge surge of excitement. That is one of the many great parts of my job. It is just like being a kid again and getting excited for the first day of school. I will get to see all of my friends again. I usually buy new pens and notebooks, and even think about what I will wear for the "first day of school," just like I did when I was ten. I hope that all of our teachers, staff, students and families are just as excited and pumped for the new year. I know it will be a great one!!!</i></div>
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It really convicted me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sheâs excited about the upcoming school year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Really excited.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Have I been that excited about our school year?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Um. No.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I donât think Iâve been actually complaining out loud, but Iâm afraid to ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Either way, I also havenât been expressing abundant joy about the task.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thatâs because I forgot to be thankful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ladies, it is a tremendous blessing to be able to homeschool our own children. My mother worked as her children got older. My grandmother worked when her children got older. Weâre getting to spend some precious years WITH our children. MORE time than our grandparents had. We get to share both the gospel and the wonders of Godâs creation. We have no constraints. We have no testing. We have no meetings we have to attend. We have no standards to meet but Godâs and our own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We should smile â a lot. We should tell the children how thankful we are that we can home school them this year. We should let them know that we are so excited to see them in the morning and to spend the day with them. We should set a high standard in the Lord and cheer with great joy as we watch them reach it. Iâm getting pumped as I type!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hmmm. . . what to wear?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Conservative pajamas?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Homeschool-mom skirt/blouse and a matching pen behind my ear?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mad scientist outfit with a lab coat and crazy eye-brow glasses?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wildflowers and tie-dye?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids would think Iâm crazy, but theyâd probably smile. ;-)</div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-35374731645837742022012-02-29T17:08:00.001-08:002012-02-29T17:10:59.753-08:00Why 4 Year Olds Need to âDo Schoolâ<div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: large;"> For todayâs lesson, we counted 100 pennies in groups of 10 and traded them for a dollar bill.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: Justin, can you remember what metal is in pennies?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Justin: Copperheads.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: A copperhead is a snake. When we talk about a metal, we just say âcopper.â<br />
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<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps heâs heard that verse about the love of money being the root of all evil and associated it with snakes?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: Justin, do you remember whose picture is on the penny?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Justin: Abraham Lincoln<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: Very good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Justin: âFather Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham.â<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: Different Abraham. This one was a president. Ok, Justin all those pennies in your hand are really heavy and it would be hard to get them all in the store without dropping them so we can trade them for this one dollar bill that will buy the same thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Me: Now this one dollar bill also has a picture of a president on it. His name is George Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I lay the one dollar bill on the table perhaps with a bit of flair.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Justin: Slap George Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Too much Slap Jack perhaps?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So thereâs a reason to âdo schoolâ with your four year old. . . Itâs just too funny to skip.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and certain four year olds need refinement. </span><o:p></o:p></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-14305326094606921082012-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:002012-02-13T20:37:53.558-08:00He Still Sings Even When We Pluck Strings - by Isaac Moore<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">He Still Sings, Even When We Pluck Strings<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Isaac Moore<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Have you ever studied poetry? If so, how often are you hearing it? In our culture, you probably hear it every day at least once. You may possibly already know that music is another form of poetry, but have you ever searched it for meaning or encouragement? I know it is easy to ignore the words in a song when you listen to it while you work, but why not take some time to listen and judge our hearts. âAm I worshipping God with my life like heâs talking about?â God speaks to us often through brothers and sisters in âsongs, hymns, and spiritual songs.â<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Jesus said in Matthew 7:8, âEveryone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.â When we ask God for a word of encouragement or wisdom, He gives it to us. When we look for that word, we will find it, and if we want to know the meaning of the words, we should ask Him. Then He will tell us the mystery.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Okay, do you know of a lyricist who was a prophet? How about David? We know about him, but check this out.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:1</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:2</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:3</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:4</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:5</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:6</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 27.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">1Ch 25:7</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> This and other passages lead me to believe that many anointed songs are truly prophetic messages in disguise. Of course, like prophecy, we must still judge them by The Word no matter how true they sound.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> God says that His mercies are new every morning. I believe that His encouragement through brethren is also new. Musicians, when they want to encourage, will often use music to get the message across. Though they are always fresh, certain words of knowledge or encouragement may stick with us the rest of our lives.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> But we must remember this, <i>the most important use of music is to worship and glorify God, just as the most important use of everything else in our lives is to worship and glorify God.</i> The last six lines of a song I wrote, <i>The Psalmistsâ Cry, </i>is meant to sum up this subject. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>The psamistsâ cry goes out across the land,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>O and the psalmists cry goes out again.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>This, the psalmistsâ cry, will speak His words,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>Following His will, glorifying Him.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>Glorifying him, following His will,<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>Will speak His words, the psalmistsâ cry.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">*By the way, the Hebrew word for <i>prophesy </i>in this verse actually means prophecy. =)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Naba <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Naw-bawâ<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">A primitive root: to <i>prophesy</i>, that is, speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) â prophecy (-ing) make self a prophet<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">-from Strongâs Concordance of the Bible (KJV), phrases in parentheses mine<o:p></o:p></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-49407375476958419612011-12-03T12:27:00.000-08:002011-12-16T01:48:37.184-08:00Baby Reflections<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> On this day last year, we held a graveside service for our little Klarissa. I wanted to post this picture of her memorial stone.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn4KmjQ3y1vouv9qHd1hAQxuL2TrlRdLQHPO0Nzyg4kUdWje_kP6ZM2PjIuvsRJKoU6j1RM5AHN6MJthXDOGCX2XMk-eCW9wNKXcP4-A8tJh5_ICSvAoVC86pHqvNCPdWcOeQBH8ZVpo/s1600/stone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn4KmjQ3y1vouv9qHd1hAQxuL2TrlRdLQHPO0Nzyg4kUdWje_kP6ZM2PjIuvsRJKoU6j1RM5AHN6MJthXDOGCX2XMk-eCW9wNKXcP4-A8tJh5_ICSvAoVC86pHqvNCPdWcOeQBH8ZVpo/s320/stone.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> The lines coming down reminded me of light. Klarissa's name means clear light. The verse is about the Lord's understanding being infinite. (Mine isn't.) </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> I also wanted to share with you the last last page from our family scrapbook and something I was thinking about today. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9T_8olG04zXsuPTytF7UyzBHptj7AZDFDms5DkuJj7ntu7nYBi-qOeY6S11X7Ow9cFt3loFGjnx1GyWY_Y7SgNe0Ppl9_ZUZCV-aZokf8XGdLitNUNKcVhDtciOE3aFjTh_IB8HQqpk/s1600/Swimming+Page+-+Page+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9T_8olG04zXsuPTytF7UyzBHptj7AZDFDms5DkuJj7ntu7nYBi-qOeY6S11X7Ow9cFt3loFGjnx1GyWY_Y7SgNe0Ppl9_ZUZCV-aZokf8XGdLitNUNKcVhDtciOE3aFjTh_IB8HQqpk/s320/Swimming+Page+-+Page+063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I arranged the scrapbook with a page of what I wrote about Klarissa the night we came home from the hospital with the above page, and then two pages with the notes Brian used to speak at the graveside service. The next page says, âThe Snow Came . . .â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTmNjP4ATXcq8IOc0jV_T_DrZbi67C4wgLV7Wu4H_KFpXp7fyJud5JFJmoDfxkU1NDyeRMnN_f7yyTE8pYhgPoipG7ogDcM_AJzaiT8ZlYVhvAUqX9fYAQG929Vft2tg9q6xGCsXB4Zo/s1600/Swimming+Page+-+Page+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTmNjP4ATXcq8IOc0jV_T_DrZbi67C4wgLV7Wu4H_KFpXp7fyJud5JFJmoDfxkU1NDyeRMnN_f7yyTE8pYhgPoipG7ogDcM_AJzaiT8ZlYVhvAUqX9fYAQG929Vft2tg9q6xGCsXB4Zo/s320/Swimming+Page+-+Page+067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It describes an especially hard day for me. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had explained to Justin the whole pregnancy that Klarissa would be here âwhen the snow comes.â When the âsnow cameâ on Christmas Eve, I ached and cried so much knowing there would be no baby to hold. I knew Justin (age 3) would ask about Klarissa, too. By my calculations, the baby was due on Christmas Day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The next day I tried so hard to enjoy my family playing in the snow. But sure enough, Justin asked about Klarissa, and -- It was just a really tough day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do you see the picture of the empty manger? Thatâs actually a manger that we have for Hannahâs horse. Itâs a real manger the kids made â not just made up to be sweet for Christmas. During my pregnancy, Iâd wondered if the kids would get the idea weâd need a picture of our baby in the manger. I was thinking I probably wouldnât let them take my newborn out in the cold and put her in the horseâs homemade feeding trough. (Even if Mary did â and I bet she was even thankful for that manger!)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Seeing that empty manger made the day even harder for me. âChristmas is not about an empty manger!â I moaned. âEspecially not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this </i>Christmas. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This </i>Christmas was supposed to come with the gift of a Christmas baby all wrapped up for me. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be telling the kids today that a wrapped up doll will have to do for the manger scene while I adore my little baby.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By the end of the day, brothers and sisters in the Lord had picked me up and God gave me grace to walk away from the bitterness. By the end of the year (as in yesterday), God gave me some new things to think about. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Did you know the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manger </i>in French means âto eatâ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isnât it fitting that the Bread of Life would be placed in a manger? Did you know heâs the one who said we must âeat his fleshâ and many disciples left saying, âThis is a hard saying,â and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">others continued to follow him even though they didnât understand</b>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">To say, âIâm so glad that manger wasnât empty,â had become clichĂŠ to me. My thought was always, âBut Iâm so glad the tomb was!â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Jesus came, he didnât <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> die for us. He also <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lived</i> for us . . . beginning in a manger . . .where sheep eat.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when we sheep go to Him, he still feeds us. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when HE feeds us, we live on.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I no longer see an empty manger.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see a manger with a baby for us. God Himself is not barren. He has a SON. His name is Jesus, and He placed Him in a manger so that we might have nourishment and ultimately . . . life. He has given us a wonderful gift.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>âI have COME so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Snow Came . . . but so did Jesus . . . and we can always hold on to Him.</span></span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-77680189976513750372011-12-03T11:50:00.000-08:002011-12-03T11:50:46.721-08:00A Tribute to Little Klarissa<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had a stillborn baby in November of 2010. The following words are the best way I know how to describe how it has affected me over the past year. Many of you will be able to relate.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âWhat is REAL?â asked the Rabbit one day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âReal isnât how you are made,â said the Skin Horse. âIt is a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âDoes it hurt?â asked the Rabbit.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âSometimes,â said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. âWhen you are Real you donât mind being hurt.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âDoes it happen all at once, like being wound up,â he asked, âor bit by bit?â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">âIt doesnât happen all at once,â said the Skin Horse. âYou become. It takes a long time. Thatâs why it doesnât often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and shabby. But these things donât matter at all, because once you are Real you canât be ugly, except to people who donât understand.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>-From <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The VelveteenRabbit</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Young people often have the desire to âfind themselves.â Circumstances and trials havenât yet come their way, and they arenât sure yet what they will do and who they will be. Theyâre often frustrated because they donât feel ârealâ yet. They have lots of half-cooked ideas with no life experiences to go with them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I donât feel that way anymore. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Losing a child has really made me feel old, but not in a bad way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loving . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.and losing . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a child you donât even know. . .makes you more real.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having five children to love makes you more resilient, softens your edges, and keeps you messy. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It gives you gray hair, tearful eyes, and makes you loose all over.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It helps you see Truth as more about being real with people than being âright.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Becoming âRealâ hurts.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still mind being hurt. I must have some more âbecoming realâ to do. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">But itâs happening bit by bit.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for reading this. May your life be wrapped in Love.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beloved, Let us love one another. For Love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. But he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.</span></span></i></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-41557278004583637382011-11-29T21:16:00.000-08:002011-11-29T21:16:55.451-08:00A Warm November Day<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today is a dreary, cold, wet November day.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Less than a week ago the sun was shining and the weather was warm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You've heard the saying, "Make hay while the sun shines"?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, we should also make memories while the sun shines.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids had been using their spare time to build a dam. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo5Mw_vTtiOtExcc-GAbIPx4GT8H4-zu3etOU1W0WPtHJsTWoHMM1I4OxaUO2sOld0lw6hep-rKcJoUId3nxzgJA7FkSbdRrMB8TwDmuqCnc6qyBKDSwHDl7VsXtrNrFi_Xr8ywSBkzM/s1600/100_8118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo5Mw_vTtiOtExcc-GAbIPx4GT8H4-zu3etOU1W0WPtHJsTWoHMM1I4OxaUO2sOld0lw6hep-rKcJoUId3nxzgJA7FkSbdRrMB8TwDmuqCnc6qyBKDSwHDl7VsXtrNrFi_Xr8ywSBkzM/s320/100_8118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even my oldest really gets into this and it's fun to watch them work together.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM5Gm89KpkSX85HlxDQ-SbeWGrO1EE0sJIh1g90wk-6iyPBCId82c2w_NdPPxFX0kU6HFFDg6_g_xw3pbzkb8pHyyZU6_FVHsTOVcC359XenF3Ged9ZyXOuzkZURWdzbrpgax0KrdqBk/s1600/100_8371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLM5Gm89KpkSX85HlxDQ-SbeWGrO1EE0sJIh1g90wk-6iyPBCId82c2w_NdPPxFX0kU6HFFDg6_g_xw3pbzkb8pHyyZU6_FVHsTOVcC359XenF3Ged9ZyXOuzkZURWdzbrpgax0KrdqBk/s320/100_8371.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On this reasonably warm winter day, the kids grabbed their kayacks and had a great time.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXaggqS5QwyJ_DHeyk8Oix4CDsXE8zFGjA1tuxKK-k0Yte0Wbliz3-OpToCft-QcqpQd_-pUIZfukw2XnDd12t2xM_fx2K3lb-4vgY9QsmuUpLSWR-zwL2h5sLBe8ddyqhRH6y3EsWrM/s1600/100_8402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXaggqS5QwyJ_DHeyk8Oix4CDsXE8zFGjA1tuxKK-k0Yte0Wbliz3-OpToCft-QcqpQd_-pUIZfukw2XnDd12t2xM_fx2K3lb-4vgY9QsmuUpLSWR-zwL2h5sLBe8ddyqhRH6y3EsWrM/s320/100_8402.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I grabbed my camera.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYgSNpZRXilyLLTWBeStDQlQncndWCMv2cTvnuQ2U4aTcl5x1XJnFR24ei0BehavlrinhjpywcrzvOpE9KFlshYJzv_SAPa5g_3Zj1Y8jlJBstU1VQZ-ViEk5ceWVlNXhIOP_yCiXPjo/s1600/100_8383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYgSNpZRXilyLLTWBeStDQlQncndWCMv2cTvnuQ2U4aTcl5x1XJnFR24ei0BehavlrinhjpywcrzvOpE9KFlshYJzv_SAPa5g_3Zj1Y8jlJBstU1VQZ-ViEk5ceWVlNXhIOP_yCiXPjo/s320/100_8383.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As the day grew late, it begin to feel more like November.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR1tw3XzomNPVIAGBdzsCuu5JY2HC4-b6W-pgf3FcM_Eo5XHl5hC10AXN1QiEEA5g83J8VHo6-dhA1AKI9lB_372Z_CCVL9F4ifjPYcGo9MYf9JDCww_RwBhNCoHZKSq009FOzOeXKcg/s1600/100_8479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR1tw3XzomNPVIAGBdzsCuu5JY2HC4-b6W-pgf3FcM_Eo5XHl5hC10AXN1QiEEA5g83J8VHo6-dhA1AKI9lB_372Z_CCVL9F4ifjPYcGo9MYf9JDCww_RwBhNCoHZKSq009FOzOeXKcg/s320/100_8479.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We all came in and drank hot chocolate.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>The End<br />
<br />
Our lives so often have dreary parts (and we should especially remember to be thankful during those times), but there are also times just to bask in the sunshine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepBjRjCQnWFRWrH-n-xu9s-bzCkEqI7D4ozU7Xjp_HbzRRFMxxThi1qdncfpiVa4zik8jFVxZ3WMMdScABnB3nL5HxcPDNhP-Eujh7sQraSBndOpeoLQiNurW-X0V6qJ5O7WjB7m2IVY/s1600/100_7975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepBjRjCQnWFRWrH-n-xu9s-bzCkEqI7D4ozU7Xjp_HbzRRFMxxThi1qdncfpiVa4zik8jFVxZ3WMMdScABnB3nL5HxcPDNhP-Eujh7sQraSBndOpeoLQiNurW-X0V6qJ5O7WjB7m2IVY/s320/100_7975.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-59855333473977397862011-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:002011-10-28T20:35:49.527-07:00Sharpen Up or Flip Out<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">For the past few weeks, my husbandâs back has been disagreeable. He has been in much pain and walking causes him much more pain. Stairs are very painful so we put our extra bed downstairs for him.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anyway, last night I drove him up to the school to prepare for at least a couple more days of having a substitute. He is really concerned about those kids âgetting behind.â While we were there, Brian put us to work on pencils. He handed me a whole box of (mostly sharpened, in my humble opinion) pencils to be sharpened and laid in the box all facing the same way. I mean, what good teacher could let a first grader waste time on a substitute day sharpening a pencil? And they must all face the same way because . . . you donât want a first grader poked with a pencil first thing in the morning. According to Brian, it makes them cry and thatâs not how anyone wants to start his day. Samuel helped with this. New pencils first got pre-sharpened in the old pencil sharpener before being re-sharpened in the new pencil sharpener. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then, we added erasers to the eraser bin by taking a utility knife and cutting them into thirds. (Donât worry parent. If you think buying 80 pencils for the school year was a little much, he makes up for it in erasers. And besides, we usually still buy your kids a few pencils. It might be obsessive sharpening â I donât know.) Finally, we added notebook paper (3 packs of it) to his paper bin. No notebooks â the little papers left over when you rip it out really annoy him. Did I mention heâs the most laid back guy I know?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anyway, we get home and I get a little angry with my kids teacher. I mean, this teacherâs major accomplishment of the day was to get a memory foam layer added to her husbandâs bed. She wasnât even sure where all her studentsâ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">books </i>were (let alone pencils) since several had left the classroom yesterday with her children when she âtook the day offâ to take her husband to the doctor.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After I get over it and cry on my husbandâs shoulder, I take a little time to relocate all the studentsâ books (except for one) and all teacherâs editions (the things a mother has to do). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am going up to bed, Brian asks, âDo you have your pencils sharpened for tomorrow?â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>âI would have,â I said, âbut I couldnât find them.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>âThereâs a bunch of them over their on the table by the pencil sharpener.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He would know â Mr. Iâve Been Lying in Bed for Over Three Weeks.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning I was so excited to get up, I did a front flip first thing. Iâm athletic like that you know. I was voted âMost Likely to Succeedâ but I should have been voted âMost Athletic.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So the alarm sounds this morning, and when I reached to turn it off â I missed. I landed mostly on the back of my head with my body above me caught by the wall. I let out a little scream and hoped Brian would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> race up the stairs concerned about me. I tried to figure out how to get myself out of this awkward position without screaming for help. I remind myself that Iâll be 36 next week, not 63. As Iâm getting up, Iâm thinking, âThe kids must have moved that nightstand,â but once Iâm all the way up I have to admit that everything was in the right place except for me. . .(well, and the pencils and about a thousand other things).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, my prayer to you today is that you make Brianâs back better really quick, âI really need him to man the alarm clock.â**</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">* I wrote this the first week of September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian is doing much better. Praise God! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">**We took a walk together tonight and heâs been manning the alarm clock for several weeks. I have no excuse for why my pencil cup is again. . .EMPTY. But alas, I have the weekend to gather and sharpen pencils. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-21132533615537044132011-10-09T20:46:00.000-07:002011-10-09T20:48:21.216-07:00A Day to Remember<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">We are officially on fall break! Hallelujah!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">In December of last year, a brother in the LORD asked me what my plans were for 2011. I sweetly-as-I-could <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>said âno big plans so far.â In my head I was thinking, âAll I have planned so far is stupid doctorâs appointments.â (I can usually have more sophisticated thoughts but that wasnât long after we lost Klarissa and I just didnât feel like it.) He went on to talk about how his goal was to bless his kids during the year â he used the words âto make their ceiling his floor.â Maybe that phrasing is common in some circles but it was new to me.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">I am so tired of doctorâs appointments. Iâll be escorting two to the doctor this week. Maybe it will be. . .fun?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">So anyway, Saturday, I decided to make it a bless-the-kids day. Dad was away and I didnât want to do anything spectacular, so we spent most of the day hanging out at the house and having some much needed downtime. It was so fun. When they came to tell me their stories, I sat and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> listened</i>. (As a homeschooling mom, I canât <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> do that. As much as they love school, theyâd rather tell a story than do math any day or hour! LOL!)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">Isaac got some time with the camera and the piano. He also found the soldering iron and finished his speaker project in the shop. He took another beautiful flower picture and I sat and marveled at the variety of his interests and wondered what plans God has for him.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">I couldnât think of any projects at home Hannah wanted to do, so we went to a yard sale with my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i> motive as blessing Hannah. She scored with a $1 sweater she liked that fit over her cast! I found a wall hanging, two cheap benches for my porch and a jacket for Isaac. It ended up blessing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> greatly.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">We then stopped and bought a mum. I got the color the girls wanted. I resisted the urge to tell them it was the color of throw-up. LOL! (I really need to work on the language in my head!) We also got some super-cheap-but-soon-to-be-frozen flowers that we planted. Now that the mums and flowers are planted, I know we got the perfect colors.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">Samuel spent some time with Spinach and Zucchini, his two slithery snake friends. (Lettuce got away in the shop.) I called him to get the grasshopper that came in with my watering can, and he said, âHi there, Mr. Grasshopper, youâre about to food for my snake.â He also hung several pictures for me, one for himself, sanded a bed for me, and sanded down a very nice walking stick. That boy is a go-getter.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faith got to finish her apple project for school. It was originally supposed to be a wreath decorated with dehydrated apples, but she had hinted that it would be neat to make it into an edible necklace. She divided them into three necklaces so she could share </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSW5oGii4m-sasMBI4m1Oj_g49umsT7w46jinssPp30bGauGXQ7d4Ufumu8j7Ox0KL4H0bphwXLZZLlcHJjC630vwnQLai5pf3hZjRQQU7Bt3LVSb_UK-1KPXg59Ej2UT_5X_G70lQrk/s1600/Justin+duck+call.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSW5oGii4m-sasMBI4m1Oj_g49umsT7w46jinssPp30bGauGXQ7d4Ufumu8j7Ox0KL4H0bphwXLZZLlcHJjC630vwnQLai5pf3hZjRQQU7Bt3LVSb_UK-1KPXg59Ej2UT_5X_G70lQrk/s320/Justin+duck+call.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">I played a little baseball with Justin and read him a few books. At this age, I start to marvel at how much theyâve learned in just a few short years. Last weekâs speech evaluation showed 53 speech errors and a very low percentile ranking. Iâve already done this long road once, and itâs a little daunting to be doing it all over again. It was nice to pause and reflect and see how far weâve come.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">Samuel made a treasure hunt and gave Justin his duck call. Justinâs been quacking with it for a few days, but now itâs officially his. He had lots of fun hiding and waiting for me to ask, âWhereâs that duck? I think I hear a duck!â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">And of course, there was a lot of talking and playing and laundry in between. Everyone had a good day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">When Daddy got home, we had to convince him we missed him.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">Now, how to make those two doctor appointments this week feel like a blessing. . . .hmmm . . . .</span></span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-70911768626775042362011-09-30T16:08:00.000-07:002011-09-30T16:08:30.959-07:00How to Be An Awesome Granny<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><em><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok â So Iâve been intending post this since JULY â which was Hannahâs birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below is a letter my mom sent me. Hannah had left notes (unbeknownst to me) all over my grandmaâs kitchen while we visited. My grandmother enjoyed it so much, that my mom decided to use the same idea for a birthday surprise for Hannah. Iâm so glad she did. I was very sick on Hannahâs birthday this year, but we had these hidden the night before. This isnât the original letter. The original letter has Grannyâs signature and a funny smiley face by each slip. </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*Cynda, please hide these notes around the house on Hannahâs birthday. Grandma Lola enjoyed them so much that I thought Hannah might, also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, you have grown to be a beautiful young lady both inside and outside!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are you doing? Write me sometime and tell me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, we are planning to come to Kentucky either in August or September. Help us think of something fun we can do together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, one of my favorite verses is, âBe still and know that I am God,â but I donât know where it is found in the Bible. Do you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I like your cooking. I would really enjoy some sugar cookies right now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I really like the way you do things for other people. You left Grandma Lola nice notes. You wrote Andrea a letter. -Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I really like the color of your hair. Maybe you think it is just brown but it has some natural blonde highlights that just shine in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God gave you a great mind, Hannah. I pray that you will use it and be all God wants you to be. -Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I like the way you help your parents. You are especially good at helping your mother inside the house. I know that the way you listen to her teachings, you, too, will be an excellent mother and wife.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therefore, you will be happy. Thatâs what I want for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, tell your siblings that I love them and miss them too. I even miss your mom and dad! I feel the need to come to Kentucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I have been making bread and butter pickles, and I am tired of smelling them. What is your favorite kind of pickles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-Granny</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah, I like the clothes you wear. You always look nice.</span></span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-39072251955495216242011-07-09T12:44:00.000-07:002011-07-09T13:01:08.160-07:00Baptism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp9RpcUdyuoKGchktEgj4jC5C7FMXVFn6_JTPyvuzn4XLnxNnk3Wh71UgEs8CGj1ExIXDNBkX59DIVfWCd4-Vp69vO_OQnc-bHyP_zybtR_mIcOZbJJy7s0-BKlFJ6MYzcdb4npPr25A/s1600/100_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp9RpcUdyuoKGchktEgj4jC5C7FMXVFn6_JTPyvuzn4XLnxNnk3Wh71UgEs8CGj1ExIXDNBkX59DIVfWCd4-Vp69vO_OQnc-bHyP_zybtR_mIcOZbJJy7s0-BKlFJ6MYzcdb4npPr25A/s320/100_3226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, Brian had the absolute BLESSING of baptizing THREE of our children. We did it in Arkansas at my in-laws beautiful pond. We really missed our Kentucky brothers and sisters in the Lord. BUT, I know Iâd love to have the pleasure of seeing my great-grandchildren baptized. They had three great-grandmas, two grandmas, two grandpas, and a bunch of aunts and uncles and cousins attending.</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT4y5Qeq3HaM2Eyh_ohXMVqi250obZf9HvIoKHgWUxe9UvtWHtUDZsIafs822fchrkVHd8dzu7gAovBh75gYtZ7hqZyWMCqNblCNOcXTemnIw99VL3raKo7pxuQ23NfeExb6RD2UTFQ4/s1600/100_3221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQT4y5Qeq3HaM2Eyh_ohXMVqi250obZf9HvIoKHgWUxe9UvtWHtUDZsIafs822fchrkVHd8dzu7gAovBh75gYtZ7hqZyWMCqNblCNOcXTemnIw99VL3raKo7pxuQ23NfeExb6RD2UTFQ4/s320/100_3221.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Grandma tries to stay out of the sun. I guess to keep that youthful look. <br />
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<em><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><strong>2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.</strong></span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Hannah</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsKM9ky92W6SlJJl13GJp6LvpCQ3_m-RrPmmHHOKkU2-VlPSIb4lo2SAvgPHRljvezBSk5SFVww9djwahUc3LZFguJc5I2WVBVDVYoVekkmDkT_kDG2S0p06AsKNZRvFhzCtQJbVh4g8/s1600/100_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsKM9ky92W6SlJJl13GJp6LvpCQ3_m-RrPmmHHOKkU2-VlPSIb4lo2SAvgPHRljvezBSk5SFVww9djwahUc3LZFguJc5I2WVBVDVYoVekkmDkT_kDG2S0p06AsKNZRvFhzCtQJbVh4g8/s320/100_3240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Faith</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVddebT49Sp56jGQQFqA-CXnUPydOm19DNlpwC9FqOBOyxkbm1DrDGdfZRoAiCxchTe41TFK5Ogi5lKVnf7zVezZvemAuB2Gt1YoNW91HLVvN6G38ijBkEoUKtBVp7fMs3iHGc52qoFc/s1600/100_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVddebT49Sp56jGQQFqA-CXnUPydOm19DNlpwC9FqOBOyxkbm1DrDGdfZRoAiCxchTe41TFK5Ogi5lKVnf7zVezZvemAuB2Gt1YoNW91HLVvN6G38ijBkEoUKtBVp7fMs3iHGc52qoFc/s320/100_3243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Grandma Diane</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEkNRWt6lzDF-TyFsZjOgMF39ShKuPGaZCntlX4MyMOG5NBo7giA8hxtoZSrVipJNSD4X8w_B4LRF5ruGjG3LvpRLwKLdaA7bBIG3W0tHelx2S98zaZ-Ym3wmcBnB-e78msbiRwlyVJc/s1600/100_3228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEkNRWt6lzDF-TyFsZjOgMF39ShKuPGaZCntlX4MyMOG5NBo7giA8hxtoZSrVipJNSD4X8w_B4LRF5ruGjG3LvpRLwKLdaA7bBIG3W0tHelx2S98zaZ-Ym3wmcBnB-e78msbiRwlyVJc/s320/100_3228.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>O Happy Day (Grandma Elkins)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSRKTmCigGyN6Jv7Uj3zneAb0YxOe1KZPtGJ46Nv-UUVEATEZaJscwzX0So7ABSUeyz8veyBlSLt8l_eTS2xFRmz4Sv0nxpNCptuBimpuqnICA6z8jkDSm8A_iTAMFTLr5GBupQlIPRk/s1600/100_3257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSRKTmCigGyN6Jv7Uj3zneAb0YxOe1KZPtGJ46Nv-UUVEATEZaJscwzX0So7ABSUeyz8veyBlSLt8l_eTS2xFRmz4Sv0nxpNCptuBimpuqnICA6z8jkDSm8A_iTAMFTLr5GBupQlIPRk/s320/100_3257.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">ďťż</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Gal 3:26-27 <br />
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.<br />
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.<br />
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.<br />
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hallelujah!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-61879184301743419872011-07-09T10:30:00.000-07:002011-07-09T10:30:35.474-07:00Hannah Is All Set Up for the School Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">WARNING BEFORE YOU READ: I may sound like a sales lady ;-)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hannah Is All Set Up for the School Year!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hereâs what weâve got â </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading â My original BJU love! I love that Reading also includes subjects like Vocabulary, Dictionary Skills, Library Skills, & Map Reading. Reading selections meet my conservative standards and still qualify as good literature (Twain, Dickens, Browning, etc). Questions are asked on four different levels â critical thinking included. Only TWO Required Books to keep up with! The workbook tells plainly at the bottom of the page the lesson page and the corresponding reading text. Though it isnât written to be used this way, I will teach the skill station days and a few of my favorite stories and let her work through the rest independently. Sheâs been asking for this Reading program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading is one of her favorite things to do, so sheâll be raiding the library as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">English â My 2<sup>nd</sup> BJU Love. This will be Hannahâs 3<sup>rd</sup> year to do BJU English. Each chapter is also organized around a theme â sort of like a mini unit study. Thatâs Hannahâs favorite part about it. She says she learns so much more than just English. I love the writing. Two weeks of grammar and two weeks of writing </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. That means I donât keep skipping the writing until the end of the year. Sheâll be doing a personal narrative, a newspaper editorial, instructions a research report, historical fiction, a compare-contrast essay, a poem, and a cover letter. It sounds worse than it is. It is broken down into bite-size chunks, and Mrs. Overly will be explaining it all to her. Iâm hoping we can make at least some of these assignments fit a scrapbook I want to make about all of her grandmothers. Iâll also be checking her work and answering her questions since Mrs. Overly doesnât do that very well ;-). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spelling â This will be Hannahâs 2<sup>nd</sup> year to do BJU Spelling. Mrs. Liston will be teaching her. She has a passport ready to stamp as she learns to spell over 100 countries<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>along with many more words. Sheâll be learning tidbits about the countries as she goes along. Sheâll have a journal entry every week written for me to read, and Iâll write her back each week. Since she loves letter writing, I think this will be a nice personal touch to our school week. Also included is sentence dictation (an important listening and writing skill) and Kingâs English which describes not only the etymology but often a Biblical principal as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heritage Studies â Weâll be studying the 20<sup>th</sup> century. I read long ago that this is often the most neglected yet, most pertinent part of history. Weâll be making a century book. Each page will have the year printed and weâll cut/paste/print some pictures to go with it. Samuel and Faith will be joining Hannah for this study. Some Grandma interviews will fit in here nicely too since most of them lived quite a few years in this century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs. Walker will be helping me with teaching this course. Weâve had Mrs. Walker before, and we absolutely love her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Science â Mrs. Vick will be helping us with Science. Hooray for Mrs. Vick. I think this will be Hannahâs most challenging course. It includes all branches of science. It includes a lot of activities and observations, but it is so very organized that I donât think it will be overwhelming. I really wanted to combine siblings in this, but itâs just too challenging for that. Iâll be teaching Science 4 to the youngers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Math â Ok. Yes, we love teaching textbooks. Hannah made it through almost two levels last year, BUT our test scores came and found us lacking even though we supplemented it. This year- weâre using BJU and considering Teaching Textbooks the supplement. May the Lord reward her extra effort </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Handwriting â Sweet, Sweet Mrs. Cox. Hannah really wanted to have at least one course with her. This course doesnât run all year, so sheâll also have time for typing. In addition to cursive, Hannah will learn Calligraphy through this course. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course them is careers, so sheâll be exposed to a few more things than whatâs available in rural Kentucky. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bible â Mrs. Cox teaches Bible too. Hannah will be memorizing several passages of scripture and creating a timeline. A KJV Bible is her textbook. (That should make her smarter ;-).)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Else â music and art are largely included â but Iâll schedule a little music theory. Art will be a little digital scrapbooking and the calligraphy. Digital Scrapbooking will be a book of our Grandmaâs which fits nicely with the last century which weâre studying for history. Iâll probably dig out Drawing Textbook and assign a few of those lessons. She has some online Horse lessons twice a week as well. For homemaking, sheâs the main breakfast cook and sheâll also be making the list for breakfast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love the beginning of the year with all the freshness and expectation </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-42487849312646848842011-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:002011-04-19T21:19:57.114-07:00Imagine a FlowerPictures & Lyrics by Isaac<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTBXhAPEaVLtghU-7wQUNmd8zbMTxKcT0VpTgCOsAmnr2oPTJHCmpuFmU50qzSxwx7V5BFcJqzOSp6JK0m5ypH8tL0kHCjHF0meIPPFb6eE4R1bJsDnv0ay_4DqYV6pkkawwrQ5-9160/s1600/101_9453dig+ehnh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTBXhAPEaVLtghU-7wQUNmd8zbMTxKcT0VpTgCOsAmnr2oPTJHCmpuFmU50qzSxwx7V5BFcJqzOSp6JK0m5ypH8tL0kHCjHF0meIPPFb6eE4R1bJsDnv0ay_4DqYV6pkkawwrQ5-9160/s320/101_9453dig+ehnh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine a flower. It knows itâs time to bloom, but it says</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"I wanna wait until - Iâm a little bigger - a little stronger</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I donât think Iâm ready - surely there will be another freeze soon."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sounds sensible- until you realize this- it blooms right before winter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, isnât this what weâre doing, waiting on the rain of blessing when </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Itâs supposed to go the other way</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, why do to we love luke-warmness- heâs about to spit us out</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So go act-the rainâs ready to fall</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQu_uGGj4Jf-gshnjM2kkSoSIZwViFWDpAnavNIAVAOM_7DUIFzbu4JkDMj444mkzi8o2-qs9kh90X7hwzkVSQO7-1zO1Skkk0fIATwZi4ruRmyKAVxdWBVsNMRajB-cxsZET2Ir-PU/s1600/101_9619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQu_uGGj4Jf-gshnjM2kkSoSIZwViFWDpAnavNIAVAOM_7DUIFzbu4JkDMj444mkzi8o2-qs9kh90X7hwzkVSQO7-1zO1Skkk0fIATwZi4ruRmyKAVxdWBVsNMRajB-cxsZET2Ir-PU/s320/101_9619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This really ministered to a Mama's heart today. Be blessed and enjoy spring. Let's serve God with everything we've got in our youth. None of us are getting any younger. -Cynda</em></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-33354598723770628372011-04-12T17:10:00.001-07:002011-04-12T17:10:45.364-07:00Our experience with BJUPâs Online Distance Learning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Planning the next school year is always one of my most fun challenges. To extend the fun, I research everything as long as possible and stay up late at night reading other peopleâs reviews. Iâve even been known to look up reviews on curriculum products I own and have used. I can be pretty pathetic. So to say that I bought a BJUP Online Reading kit last year âon a whimâ would be far, far from the truth. (It does have a price tag, you know, and the kid does have a library card and a Bible.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But on the pro side, there was this. I had a child lagging behind in reading, and he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> needed to cover a year and a half worth of reading in one year. He needed good solid reading instruction every day. He needed to learn lots of new vocabulary to improve his reading comprehension, and he needed to continue to LOVE reading. My husband, being an outstanding reading teacher, knew we could do this. I knew technically, we could, but we happened to have a lot else going on. Particularly, we were growing a little one. That typically means I fall asleep for nine months, and my husband sleeps hardly at all. So, I splurged. (I also got the online kit which lasts 18 months and the next kid down could use it tooâthat made me feel better.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samuel absolutely loved his reading class. I donât think we have ever done anything so exciting as this textbook course with a screen teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to a very good (and interesting) review of phonics, we got activities. Lots of curriculums have activities. Thatâs important because it helps kids think of school as fun and helps them remember stuff better. I see lots of activities in the manuals, but most of the time the kids donât know theyâre there. Samuel has made a bird feeder, a stringed guitar, several recipes (loved that polar bear ice cream), a dog puppet, a picture frame, a balloon rocket, a beaded bracelet among numerous other things. Many times he could do these activities on his own. We did most of the recipes together, and we really enjoyed it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I really wanted this child to strengthen his reading skills, I continued to work on a word list. When Iâd be surprised he knew a word, he say, âMom â thatâs one of my practice words,â meaning heâd learned it from the BJUP course.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must share a testimony about the beaded bracelet Samuel made. You know â one with the five different-colored beads that can be used to explain the plan of salvation. When Dad got home and Samuel showed him his bracelet, Dad asked him, âSo where are you in that bracelet?â Samuel hung his head down and said, âSomewhere between the black and the red.â It led to a good discussion. What was neat about Samuel was that he really counted the cost. He knew that following Christ could lead to persecution and trials, and he really asked himself and articulated his concern about it. He decided he would follow Christ and trust him to help him endure persecution and trials he might face as a result. That night a younger sister who had listened to the whole conversation decided she wanted to be in the white part of that bracelet too </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not very many days later, we held what was left of a beautiful baby girl. We found she shook our world even if she never took a breath in it, but God was faithful in working all together for good. We marveled that Faith and Samuel now had covenant relationship with Jesus. We took comfort in knowing they could take the hurt of losing a little sister to Him, even if they couldnât bring it to us.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took some time off as homeschool mom to just be a child of God. I let him kiss my owies and I clung to His every word. And, school continued. By now, Samuel and Faith were working through the reading class. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I re-entered my own little âwork-worldâ of being a homeschool mom, it was SOOOO nice that we werenât behind with school. I didnât have to panic. I could still have a little retreat when I needed reassurance that everything was indeed ok, and I didnât have to stress about school to take that little retreat. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Precious was the day, when Samuel came and told me all about the story called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When Singing Came Again</i>. (This is similar to the Charlotte Mason method of narration, by the way, but I didnât have to ask him to do it. He also didnât look at me like I was crazy for asking him to retell a story I had just heard. LOL)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, the story was about a family who, like us, had lost a baby. The little girlâs mother used to sing all the time, but after she lost the baby, she quit singing. What the girl missed the most was her motherâs singing. The mother sent the girl to the market, and the little girl heard a little boy singing a beautiful song. The little boy had a little sister he was taking care of because his mother was too sick. With no father, the family was very poor as well. The little girl came and told her mother of the baby, and the song, and the sick mother, and the poverty. The family helped this poor family, and of course, âsinging came again.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Literature is a powerful thing. I have known that it can be powerful for both good and evil, and have closely guarded my children from much literature that event hints at the side of evil. I sometimes forget that literature also has enormous power for good. Let me rephrase that. God has great power for good and often chooses to use literature to accomplish it. He has given us a whole Bible of stories. Jesus often used parables for teaching. I am so thankful that my child had exposure to literature this year that God used for not only for His good â but Samuelâs and mine.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh yeah, and we got our year and a half gain in reading skills in about 10 months! Praise God!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I am now a consultant promoting BJUPâs material, I think I need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little * that says, âResults not typical.â Honestly, this is my first year using BJUP distance learning, so I donât know what âtypicalâ generally looks like. This yearâs reading class with Samuel, though, has been like a dream come true for a homeschool mom. Itâs God though, who leads us to the right decisions when we pray and trust Him, and no particular curriculum or method deserves the glory. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. enjoy the challenge of choosing curriculum this year. Trust God to lead you in just the right path in training up your children in the way they should go. Not the cheapest, or the fastest, or the prettiest, or the easiest, or the hardest, or the most popular â but the one thatâs just right for your family to prepare godly offspring to serve Him. (Even if itâs just by telling Mom about his reading lesson.)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-76391157296708063312011-03-07T19:43:00.000-08:002011-03-07T19:43:55.012-08:00Hooked on Digital ScrapbookingWhile recovering from surgery - all this sit down time was justified I promise - I tried digital scrapbooking. I put together a family album, and for a beginner, I'm pretty pleased with it. I thought you all might like to see a couple of pages - but it's REALLY hard to choose a couple of pages. I'd like to choose a couple to hang in the house - decisions, decisions.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWGpQXE1t7wjlzSad4aWdzLmrBDNoQYM0mQuC8KyGySuI6PI4ZNGpZVkIaHaobYit7wd_4BB9ogJzvZsVxFpXIaNaMBueRJnAKC6Y4Djz7y7iGT4kCtS03wJuppO9vuQd5MG47HWEzAc/s1600/Vacation+2009+-+Page+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWGpQXE1t7wjlzSad4aWdzLmrBDNoQYM0mQuC8KyGySuI6PI4ZNGpZVkIaHaobYit7wd_4BB9ogJzvZsVxFpXIaNaMBueRJnAKC6Y4Djz7y7iGT4kCtS03wJuppO9vuQd5MG47HWEzAc/s320/Vacation+2009+-+Page+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Look at that smile on Brian's face! I just love it! These pictures are from the Summer of 2009. Justin has grown so much. I'm ready for hiking weather and wildflowers and more green and less brown. I love the seasons though - pretty creative of God to always be giving us something to look forward to.Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-57877850703495665212011-02-06T20:08:00.000-08:002011-02-06T20:08:38.101-08:00How to Be a Great-Grandma<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Last weekend, our family went to out-of-state to celebrate my Grandmotherâs 90<sup>th</sup> birthday. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WZqJXCBqeAzWxUlvl3WR-yq_9JvGvuWRLEp8MWMF9okbnuzyao2cstS2TfRuQhTKmrGbL6vj4e0WsguXC3f684tow6Uk0XLjVY3NlqNVZQ63YFuIfW_E_j2ZjgpC7SyqFVwbR9W2yYo/s1600/January+2011+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WZqJXCBqeAzWxUlvl3WR-yq_9JvGvuWRLEp8MWMF9okbnuzyao2cstS2TfRuQhTKmrGbL6vj4e0WsguXC3f684tow6Uk0XLjVY3NlqNVZQ63YFuIfW_E_j2ZjgpC7SyqFVwbR9W2yYo/s320/January+2011+184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grandma Lola is sure special to me. She has always been just what I thought a grandma should be like. When I was growing up, she made all my Sunday dresses exactly like I wanted them and had my favorite cookies ready for me every Sunday afternoon. (I donât think Iâm the only one that loves her cookies â but Iâm the baby of the family so I assumed they were for me.) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_XWsGrso-fuGmCK1K0buF8baRg2eUZL-cV4uPobb3sJ8jnDD_87N5yIMi9W_BqDGyqd9IufoI3emgiVwgJHvBSr0SlmVTwBp5_iSumW2leZ8rv22iwEmbOz9zaMrFpoEU48bIsbay1U/s1600/January+2011+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_XWsGrso-fuGmCK1K0buF8baRg2eUZL-cV4uPobb3sJ8jnDD_87N5yIMi9W_BqDGyqd9IufoI3emgiVwgJHvBSr0SlmVTwBp5_iSumW2leZ8rv22iwEmbOz9zaMrFpoEU48bIsbay1U/s320/January+2011+211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">One week during the summer, I would stay with Grandma Lola. Every night I would climb into bed with her and listen to her pray. In her prayers, she would name every one of her children and grandchildren by name â every night â every year I stayed with her. I loved to listen to her pray. I loved how it just felt like Jesus was right there in the room with us when she prayed, because she always talked to him like he was right there.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">While she was visiting last spring, I came downstairs early in the morning and accidentally heard her praying. I didnât stay long enough to hear her words, but I certainly was filled with the same feeling I had as a little girl. I love the way my Grandma prays. I want more of that â I want that close and sweet relationship with the Lord. I want my kids to know â to really know â that I am praying for them and that He hears my prayers.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX5tbdhYRDuFJloh0OkJHSF7S9SyMyNUDnE1CJBwJ2ZPQxHcdsMNawB7VyiKDGU-M4jKg1mjvBCIN2-oZttyAcC8Gv0uq2Sr-pKDiAyOHCqdpjRoa-JM0NnxrwkWA1HmQ1tPdpyb5C58/s1600/Edited+Grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX5tbdhYRDuFJloh0OkJHSF7S9SyMyNUDnE1CJBwJ2ZPQxHcdsMNawB7VyiKDGU-M4jKg1mjvBCIN2-oZttyAcC8Gv0uq2Sr-pKDiAyOHCqdpjRoa-JM0NnxrwkWA1HmQ1tPdpyb5C58/s200/Edited+Grandma.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me with Grandma </div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3220502969049682991.post-47927087409549062922011-01-26T21:43:00.000-08:002011-03-07T19:47:42.213-08:00Why I Love My Car<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love it because it was made the same year my father died and served my mother faithfully despite her âabuseâ ;-)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love it because it was given by my mother when I needed it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">It spoke of my motherâs love for me and delivered me safely to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Little Rock</place></city> with my son who needed to go.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love it because we never owed a penny on it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">Some people say theyâll drive something ââtil the wheels fall off. . .â Weâve had two wheels fall off. We just put them back on and kept her rolling.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-c5VGAix8Km-yg4fUQUgI1FwFfnXeknIvL6xg0Shyphenhyphenqp-xgZBBZi4JS_iHBsIKaqC-XaSO7wBLwrKmP9ufbvjCHSgdFORCGMihTv43AG6bZPJ5lWLTMkYFx7mfG4FPS5eZmg5wgVtl38/s1600/I+Love+My+Car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-c5VGAix8Km-yg4fUQUgI1FwFfnXeknIvL6xg0Shyphenhyphenqp-xgZBBZi4JS_iHBsIKaqC-XaSO7wBLwrKmP9ufbvjCHSgdFORCGMihTv43AG6bZPJ5lWLTMkYFx7mfG4FPS5eZmg5wgVtl38/s320/I+Love+My+Car.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love her because she took our family of six all the way to <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Oklahoma</place></state> and then to the East coast â with camping gear. What a challenge it gave my husband and oldest son to load herâespecially with my extra boxes of books! Her mid-sized-size kept our trip cozy and we got to tell our middle child all the stuff he didnât hear when he was little. We filled her with sand and <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Sandy</place></city>, the crabâand she didnât mind at all.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love her because she speaks volume of my husbandâs love for me as he faithfully takes her for a drive every morning and afternoon. She isnât a greedy eater, although she looks rather humble in the lot with his co-workers cars.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I love her because she doesnât demand a lot of cosmetic attention. When she was hit by an intoxicated uninsured driver, she kept my husband safe and didnât demand the injured lady to have her fixed. She could have, Iâm sure. It makes me feel sheâs earned her Jesus bumper sticker, even if some feel His name should only be on more prosperous-looking modes of transportation.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">Iâve learned to love popping the door open, and squeezing through the small area free of dented metal to arrive at my next destination. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">I can feel the eyes â usually somewhat younger eyes than my own â start to feel sorry for me. I meet their eyes as if to say, âI love this car! It is love from my mama and the man who helped her, hope for my son, and faithfulness from my husband. It is forgiveness from Jesus and my declaration of freedom from the materialist society in which I live. . . .Iâm not sure you get it.â</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">But alas, I hear she hasnât much longer to live. Her family physician now only approves operations necessary to her survivalâand those only if the costs are minimal. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">Last time a car died, I felt it not proper to ask the Great Mountain Mover for a little mountain climber âcause I had a little stack of greenbacks.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">This time â He can send us one if He likesâand may I have that with air conditioning and cruise control please?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: large;">As much as I love âherââshe is <stockticker w:st="on">JUST</stockticker> A <stockticker w:st="on">CAR</stockticker>âand I still refuse to be sucked into a materialist society that defines itself by what they drive.</span></span></div>Cyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099135410366186837noreply@blogger.com0