Looking back, may you be thankful;
Looking ahead, may you be hopeful;
Looking upward, may you find strength;
Looking inward, may you find peace.
(a little quote from a freezer cooking newsletter)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Turkey Time!
We haven't done a lot this week, but we read the historical Thanksgiving account:
From here:
It sparked some good conversation, and a look at the map to see how far the Pilgrims sailed and where we live in relation to where they landed.
From here:
It sparked some good conversation, and a look at the map to see how far the Pilgrims sailed and where we live in relation to where they landed.Here are some other Thanksgiving themed books we read:
And our Turkey T's! Made from a paper grocery sack, construction paper scraps, and tissue paper for the feathers.
We also have some turkey puppets from years past, to sing some songs with, like:
And our Turkey T's! Made from a paper grocery sack, construction paper scraps, and tissue paper for the feathers.
We also have some turkey puppets from years past, to sing some songs with, like:"There's a turkey on your nose, on your nose.
There's a turkey on your nose, on your nose.
Oh will that turkey stay, or will he wander away?
There's a turkey on your nose, on your nose."
(Substitute other body parts.)
We're also working on our annual thankful chain--strips of paper we use to write down things we're thankful for; then we'll make these strips into our countdown chain for Christmas!
I'd like to get to these cute bubble-wrap ears of corn from no time for flashcards; and these leaf turkeys from dltk.
We'll see. I also need to pack for heading north for some family celebrating with my side.
We'll see. I also need to pack for heading north for some family celebrating with my side.
Have a great Thanksgiving, giving thanks to God for all he has done for you!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
This Kid
Keeps me busy. His attitude and mood can switch at the drop of a hat, and switch back again before I can figure out what the problem is.
It's 37 degrees outside right now, and Speedy is wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I keep removing his shorts from his drawer so he won't wear them, and he keeps appearing in shorts. (I usually don't push the issue unless we're going outside, because it's SO nice for him to be dressing himself instead of throwing a fit about me helping him.) He 'fessed up this morning to be getting the shorts out of his closet where I have them stashed. One more thing to 'move higher' I guess.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Funny...
...how easy it is for Hubby to lay out a punishment like, NO TV TOMORROW! But I'm the one who suffers, too! (yes, I do rely on videos or pbs kids at certain times, especially dinner prep.)
Oh well, after a session of good blogging, I feel like I can face the rest of the day!
Oh well, after a session of good blogging, I feel like I can face the rest of the day!
Clarity
I think it's interesting how I can suddenly get clarity on a certain verse or topic when I'm reading the Bible or another book.
In Sunday School, we've had some intriguing discussions about how faith and works tie in; how we'll be judged (are Christians judged too?), rewards in heaven, and the idea of being 'given much so much is expected.' And I've been reading an Andrew Murray book called True Vine that deals with the vine & branches passage in John 15. Some things came together...
Last night while reading Knowing God by J.I.Packer, a few passages really stuck out to me:
Index of the Heart:
"...The relevance of our doings is not that they ever merit an award from the court (the chapter was on God, the Judge)--but that they provide an index of what is in the heart--what, in other words, is the real nature of each agent."..."Similarly, in the sheep-and-goats passage appeal is made to whether one had or had not relieved Christians' needs. What is the significance of that? It is not that one way of acting was meritorious while the other was not, but that from these actions it could be seen whether there was love to Christ, the love that springs from faith, in the heart. (Mt. 25:34-46)"
"How do free forgiveness and justification by faith square with judgment according to works?
The answer seems to be as follows. First, the gift of justification certainly shields believers from being condemned and banished from God's presence as sinners. This appears from the vision of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15, where alongside "the books" recording each person's works
"the book of life" is opened, and those whose names are written there are not "thrown into the lake of fire" as the rest are. But, second, the gift of justification does not at all shield believers from being assessed as Christians, and from forfeiting good which others will enjoy if it turns out
that as Christians they have been slack, mischievous and destructive. This appears from Paul's warning to the Corinthians to be careful what lifestyle they build on Christ, the one foundation. "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work shall be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Cor 3:12-15). Reward and loss signify an enriched or impoverished relationship with God, though in what ways it is beyond our present power to know. Final judgment will also be according to our knowledge. All people know something of God's will through general revelation, (I thought of Rom. 1:19-20, where creation has made God known to all people)
even if they have not been instructed in the law or the gospel, and all are guilty before God for falling short of the best they knew. But ill-desert is graded according to what that best was; see Rom 2:12 and Luke 12:47-48. The principle operating here is that "where a man has been given much, much will be expected of him" (v. 48 NEB). The justice of this is obvious. In every case
the Judge of all the earth will do right."
Pretty wordy, I know, but he says it much better than I could. It really made me think about if I am living to the best of what I know about God. When talking about our actions showing if we really loved God, I thought of John 14:15, 'If you love me, you will obey what I command.' Seems like a tall order. But in True Vine, the point is brought out that the power to bear fruit in our lives comes from God, if we only abide in him. I've been pondering what 'abiding in him' looks like. John 15:9 points the way: 'If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love.' Lots to think about and continue studying.
In Sunday School, we've had some intriguing discussions about how faith and works tie in; how we'll be judged (are Christians judged too?), rewards in heaven, and the idea of being 'given much so much is expected.' And I've been reading an Andrew Murray book called True Vine that deals with the vine & branches passage in John 15. Some things came together...
Last night while reading Knowing God by J.I.Packer, a few passages really stuck out to me:
Index of the Heart:
"...The relevance of our doings is not that they ever merit an award from the court (the chapter was on God, the Judge)--but that they provide an index of what is in the heart--what, in other words, is the real nature of each agent."..."Similarly, in the sheep-and-goats passage appeal is made to whether one had or had not relieved Christians' needs. What is the significance of that? It is not that one way of acting was meritorious while the other was not, but that from these actions it could be seen whether there was love to Christ, the love that springs from faith, in the heart. (Mt. 25:34-46)"
"How do free forgiveness and justification by faith square with judgment according to works?
The answer seems to be as follows. First, the gift of justification certainly shields believers from being condemned and banished from God's presence as sinners. This appears from the vision of judgment in Revelation 20:11-15, where alongside "the books" recording each person's works
"the book of life" is opened, and those whose names are written there are not "thrown into the lake of fire" as the rest are. But, second, the gift of justification does not at all shield believers from being assessed as Christians, and from forfeiting good which others will enjoy if it turns out
that as Christians they have been slack, mischievous and destructive. This appears from Paul's warning to the Corinthians to be careful what lifestyle they build on Christ, the one foundation. "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work shall be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Cor 3:12-15). Reward and loss signify an enriched or impoverished relationship with God, though in what ways it is beyond our present power to know. Final judgment will also be according to our knowledge. All people know something of God's will through general revelation, (I thought of Rom. 1:19-20, where creation has made God known to all people)
even if they have not been instructed in the law or the gospel, and all are guilty before God for falling short of the best they knew. But ill-desert is graded according to what that best was; see Rom 2:12 and Luke 12:47-48. The principle operating here is that "where a man has been given much, much will be expected of him" (v. 48 NEB). The justice of this is obvious. In every case
the Judge of all the earth will do right."
Pretty wordy, I know, but he says it much better than I could. It really made me think about if I am living to the best of what I know about God. When talking about our actions showing if we really loved God, I thought of John 14:15, 'If you love me, you will obey what I command.' Seems like a tall order. But in True Vine, the point is brought out that the power to bear fruit in our lives comes from God, if we only abide in him. I've been pondering what 'abiding in him' looks like. John 15:9 points the way: 'If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love.' Lots to think about and continue studying.
Stories from the past
Our kiddos have reached the age where they LOVE to hear stories that happened to Hubby and I in the past.
Some current favorites are pre-kid when we were riding bikes and had the dogs out in the country and they scared up a skunk under a creek bridge. It has been requested over and over, but they like the way daddy tells it better than me. (He adds cool details that I seem to have forgotten, like that Daisy tossed the skunk up into the air after she caught it.)
Another fave is from Hubby's childhood, maybe age 10 or 11, when he stayed on the line during his mom's conversation and burped into the phone. He ended up having to call the caller back and apologize, and the kids get such a KICK out of this story! I even saw them acting it out with each other one day while they were playing. Too funny!
Some current favorites are pre-kid when we were riding bikes and had the dogs out in the country and they scared up a skunk under a creek bridge. It has been requested over and over, but they like the way daddy tells it better than me. (He adds cool details that I seem to have forgotten, like that Daisy tossed the skunk up into the air after she caught it.)
Another fave is from Hubby's childhood, maybe age 10 or 11, when he stayed on the line during his mom's conversation and burped into the phone. He ended up having to call the caller back and apologize, and the kids get such a KICK out of this story! I even saw them acting it out with each other one day while they were playing. Too funny!
Neither here nor there...
...As I get older, (i.e. have been a parent longer), some things start to make more sense. For example, growing up, the kitchen cabinet above the microwave in our house held a hodge-podge of miscellaneous stuff. Medicine, bandaids, art supplies, parts of 4-H projects, jewelry. NOW I understand--as the kiddos get into more, you keep moving it higher and out of sight! That cabinet was one place we couldn't get to, I guess. In my own kitchen now, one of the upper cabinets is home to medicine, gum, scissors, permanent markers, scotch tape, fingernail clippers...I'm sure the list will continue to grow as the kids get into different things and make more messes, and Honey CONTINUES to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. One day this week, (and this is just what I remember) she stuck her hand in the meat sauce bowl and snitched; stuck her hand in the raw hamburger in the pan and snitched (I got her to spit that out--eww!); stuck her hand in the can of cream of mushroom and snitched (but didn't like the taste); was drinking fishpond water out of the rain gauge; and sucking on batteries. Seriously, I don't remember the other 2 kiddos being quite like this. Honey has also started mastering the art of cutting. Not that I want her to have scissors, but she's quick, strong, and loud when I try to wrestle them away. She was not deterred by pinching her finger a bit in the blades, either.
Another recent obsession is chapstick--she wants it constantly. She has a tube that is basically cleaned out that she leaves around so she can apply it as needed. Today I saw her putting chapstick on a Little People puppy. (yes, this is a cow, she was posing for me.)
Another recent obsession is chapstick--she wants it constantly. She has a tube that is basically cleaned out that she leaves around so she can apply it as needed. Today I saw her putting chapstick on a Little People puppy. (yes, this is a cow, she was posing for me.)
In other random news, Princess was well for a day and a half, then early this morning started getting sick again. That's NOT the way it's supposed to happen! We were looking forward to a birthday party and football game tonight. :( At least no one else seems to be sick...yet.
Mouse report: I don't know how, but seriously, I hear the mousetrap snap during the night. (or at least I think I do.) So in the morning, I have the kids check the trap, they get the flashlight, and yep, everytime I've heard the snap, there's been a mouse. Hubby has started tally marks on the trap, this will be #4, I believe. Plus the 2 on glue traps and one in the oven drawer. Have we found the whole family YET??
It seems like I have so many fun projects I'd like to work on, and I feel the itch to sew something--but it just doesn't happen. Life gets in the way, I suppose. It puts me in even more awe of the TONS of clothes my mom sewed for us growing up, not to mention the dolls, pound puppies, doll clothes etc. And hubby doesn't understand why I need to stay up so late! That's the only time to have a quiet thought or work on anything without help!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
**Updated! Dinosaur ROAR!
Our theme for the week is Dinosaurs. But, it's Wednesday and we haven't done anything yet. And Princess started throwing up last night. So this will probably be continued next week!
The Letter D (Instead of Dragon D's, we did Dinosaur D's.) The white things are the teeth that the kids each drew, cut out, and place themselves. :)
Dinosaur Eggs
**I don't know if we're going to get to this...our week has been disrupted again by more throwing up.**
Dino Activities
**Watercolor painting some printed dinos from Preschool Express; cut them out and glued pictures of houses, people, animals, vehicles, etc. to show how dinos are bigger than the other stuff. **
**There are some cute dino stories here.
**Some of the MANY dino books available from our library:
A good one we read today, but didn't get pictured is Daniel's Dinosaurs by Charles Helm. It's a true story of a boy and his friend in Canada who found some dinosaur tracks while they were rafting; and a bunch more tracks and skeletons were found in the area. Pretty intriguing!
The Letter D (Instead of Dragon D's, we did Dinosaur D's.) The white things are the teeth that the kids each drew, cut out, and place themselves. :)
Dinosaur Eggs**I don't know if we're going to get to this...our week has been disrupted again by more throwing up.**
Dino Activities
**Watercolor painting some printed dinos from Preschool Express; cut them out and glued pictures of houses, people, animals, vehicles, etc. to show how dinos are bigger than the other stuff. **
**There are some cute dino stories here.**Some of the MANY dino books available from our library:
A good one we read today, but didn't get pictured is Daniel's Dinosaurs by Charles Helm. It's a true story of a boy and his friend in Canada who found some dinosaur tracks while they were rafting; and a bunch more tracks and skeletons were found in the area. Pretty intriguing!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Random Bits
It's been REALLY windy here all week. Tuesday, I think, some plastic grocery bags blew in from their pile by the garage door. Lo and behold, there was something in one of them, and it was the missing toothbrush! I was starting to think I'd gone looney. :)
We caught two more mice this week. Ugh.
A funny from Speedy yesterday: "I don't WANT to share. I'm SELFISH!!!" (Background: we were finishing up our PAT home visit and someone asked for a snack. I said there were leftover pieces of their PB & Js from the day before in the fridge. That's what the fuss was about.)
A couple books I've read lately:
My Antonia (by Willa Cather) A classic that was being promoted in the area to get people reading. I wasn't that impressed, it being a classic and all. It did bring up some interesting points about immigrants to the US trying to make it in Nebraska in the 1700s; but didn't really have a plot (which it said in the introduction), and didn't really leave me feeling like I'd gleaned much from it.
Making Your Home a Haven (by Cindy Salzmann) This was a good, practical, biblical and concise lesson in homemaking. I wish I'd read it several years ago, and I think I'll put it on my list of good bridal shower gifts. :)
And lastly, lest from my queenly Halloween picture, you think I'm one of those people who doesn't show much when they are pregnant, here's a side-view Speedy took for me:
We caught two more mice this week. Ugh.
A funny from Speedy yesterday: "I don't WANT to share. I'm SELFISH!!!" (Background: we were finishing up our PAT home visit and someone asked for a snack. I said there were leftover pieces of their PB & Js from the day before in the fridge. That's what the fuss was about.)
A couple books I've read lately:
My Antonia (by Willa Cather) A classic that was being promoted in the area to get people reading. I wasn't that impressed, it being a classic and all. It did bring up some interesting points about immigrants to the US trying to make it in Nebraska in the 1700s; but didn't really have a plot (which it said in the introduction), and didn't really leave me feeling like I'd gleaned much from it.
Making Your Home a Haven (by Cindy Salzmann) This was a good, practical, biblical and concise lesson in homemaking. I wish I'd read it several years ago, and I think I'll put it on my list of good bridal shower gifts. :)
And lastly, lest from my queenly Halloween picture, you think I'm one of those people who doesn't show much when they are pregnant, here's a side-view Speedy took for me:
Halloween fun
I kind of forgot I hadn't posted any Halloween pictures on here yet! Here is the queen herself with a little ballerina:
Little Quack on a horse:
Speedy was very grumpy when we left the house and I was trying to get some pictures. There was some drama, I can't remember what it was about.
The ballerina and the fairy:
We went to our church's Candy with Character event, there were stations set up with bible characters telling their stories, hot chocolate (there were 2 burnt tongues afterward), and horse rides. Speedy the Duck was brave; Honey tried it, but got scared. Princess did not even attempt it, I'm surprised she got within 6 feet of the horse while she was waiting for the others!
Little Quack on a horse:
Speedy was very grumpy when we left the house and I was trying to get some pictures. There was some drama, I can't remember what it was about.
The ballerina and the fairy:
We went to our church's Candy with Character event, there were stations set up with bible characters telling their stories, hot chocolate (there were 2 burnt tongues afterward), and horse rides. Speedy the Duck was brave; Honey tried it, but got scared. Princess did not even attempt it, I'm surprised she got within 6 feet of the horse while she was waiting for the others!Monday, November 3, 2008
Owls
Check back for pictures and more details, but here's what we're up to this week! (And may I say, I enjoy looking at the pictures of owls a LOT more than the creepy pictures of bats!)
The letter O.
Owl Books:
OWL by Rebecca Stefoff
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson (the new friend is an OWL). I love this series of books, I think they are adorable. :) (Bear Wants More, Bear Snores On, Bear Stays Up, Bear is Sick)
Owl Puppet
HOOO-HOOO by Jane Kitson
Hooo...Hooo said the owl, in the middle of the night,
The moon is shining awfully bright,
I'll fly to the garden out behind the house,
To see if I find a little brown mouse!
Hoo..Hooo said the owl, in the middle of the night,
The moon is shining awfully bright,
I think I'll fly down to the lake,
To visit with the rattlesnake!
Hoo...Hooo said the owl, as the sun began to shine,
Morning is here, it is not night-time.
I'll fly to my nest in the old oak tree,
I'll close my eyes and go to sleep!
OWL IN THE TREE (from Preschool Express)
You can make a fun pop-up owl puppet to amaze your child.
First, you will need a clean toilet paper cardboard tube.
Next, cut a 1” hole about 2” up from the bottom of the tube.
Now, decorate the rest of the tube to resemble a tree, using a green marking pen to add leaves.
Finally, mark two big eyes on your index finger, and stick it into the tube so it can be seen from the hole. Your finger becomes the owl in his hole in a tree.
The letter O.
Owl Books:OWL by Rebecca Stefoff
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson (the new friend is an OWL). I love this series of books, I think they are adorable. :) (Bear Wants More, Bear Snores On, Bear Stays Up, Bear is Sick)Owl Puppet
HOOO-HOOO by Jane Kitson
Hooo...Hooo said the owl, in the middle of the night,
The moon is shining awfully bright,
I'll fly to the garden out behind the house,
To see if I find a little brown mouse!
Hoo..Hooo said the owl, in the middle of the night,
The moon is shining awfully bright,
I think I'll fly down to the lake,
To visit with the rattlesnake!
Hoo...Hooo said the owl, as the sun began to shine,
Morning is here, it is not night-time.
I'll fly to my nest in the old oak tree,
I'll close my eyes and go to sleep!
OWL IN THE TREE (from Preschool Express)
You can make a fun pop-up owl puppet to amaze your child.
First, you will need a clean toilet paper cardboard tube.
Next, cut a 1” hole about 2” up from the bottom of the tube.
Now, decorate the rest of the tube to resemble a tree, using a green marking pen to add leaves.
Finally, mark two big eyes on your index finger, and stick it into the tube so it can be seen from the hole. Your finger becomes the owl in his hole in a tree.
We made owl thumbprints on a branch; counting to 5. We drew in details.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)