Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Christmas Songs
I hope you enjoy the Christmas music. As you can tell when I was growing up we listened to an Elvis Christmas and A Bing Crosby Christmas a lot. So it is just not Christmas without these songs. I tried to explain to Jacob and Abby that mom would put on the Christmas records when we would decorate the tree (what are records?). A very fond memory growing up was the night we decorated the tree with the records playing and the clove and cinnamon simmering on the stove. It was always a special time for my mom, sister and me. I pray my children will treasure our traditions, too. I have tried to reproduce this tradition for them, minus the record player. Thank God for Christmas music on Dish Network.
We are almost ready!
We started getting ready for Christmas this weekend. The kids pretty much decorated the family tree the way they wanted to. They also got their own tree to go in their rooms! Great end of season deal at Hobby Lobby last year!!!! We spent most of the day by a fire watching Christmas movies! It was a great day, of course hot dogs and s'mores were involved. We had a great weekend listening to and dancing to old Christmas songs and of course movies like Annie, Charlie Brown, The Santa Clause 2, Home Alone 4, Elf and A Denice the Menace Christmas. There will definitely be more to come in the next 30 days!!!! Please do not forget The reason for the Season. Christmas is a celebration of our Saviors birth. If we all buy 2 fewer gift this year and even more in the coming years, maybe Christmas will be more about Jesus rather than shopping. We will be making a lot of our gifts this year and scaling down the gifts for the kids as well. Jacob told me this weekend that the reason Santa knows if you've been nice or naughty is because God told him and God gave Santa his magic. Isn't that the truth!! Praise God not Santa...St. Nicholas would be sad if he knew how the story has gotten so twisted and commercialized. Merry Christmas.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Merry Christmas
We have had a great Thanksgiving!
We are now officially ready to celebrate Christ's Birth!
Merry Christmas!!!
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I pray that everyone has a happy, healthy and safe day! We love you all!!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Happy 2nd Birthday Jackson
We had a great time! Harry Dawg was a big hit! It's hard to believe Jackson is 2. GoooooDawgs!!
To view entire album click HERE
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Can you believe this?
"Why Believe In A God?"
If it were not for Christ's Holy birth there would not be a Christmas. This country was founded on biblical principals. Since when did it become wrong or uncool to follow the Bible. Oh that's right, when it said "their" lifestyle was wrong. Put Christ back in Christmas or don't celebrate. Unfortunately, so many Americans are not Christians, if they didn't buy so many gifts there would no longer be a need for the "offensive" commercialization. After all it's not about the gifts anyway. It is about the birth of a Savior that died for our sins. He gave his life for you, what will you do for Jesus this holiday season?
If it were not for Christ's Holy birth there would not be a Christmas. This country was founded on biblical principals. Since when did it become wrong or uncool to follow the Bible. Oh that's right, when it said "their" lifestyle was wrong. Put Christ back in Christmas or don't celebrate. Unfortunately, so many Americans are not Christians, if they didn't buy so many gifts there would no longer be a need for the "offensive" commercialization. After all it's not about the gifts anyway. It is about the birth of a Savior that died for our sins. He gave his life for you, what will you do for Jesus this holiday season?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Field Trips!!!
On Monday we went to Jaemor Farms with our co-op and went apple pickin' it was beautiful up there with apple trees and mountains.
The kids had a blast! We all went on a hayride, watched a demonstration on how they wash and dry the apples, and had a picnic lunch on the farm with out friends!
This was taken in the apple cooler, boy was it cold!
Each person got to carefully pick 5 apples!
I have never seen so many apples on a tree!
Target practice! The kids through "bad" apples at a target! Jacob actually through an apple through the hole in the black target! What an arm!
Why must he make thoses faces?
Today we went to see "The Ant and the Elephant"
We all enjoyed the performance!
Now we must get ready for a boring day tomorrow!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Revival
Our pastor has been talking about a nation wide revival lately. He said it has been over 150 years since we have had one. No generation alive has experienced one. The longest time that had past between previous national revivals was only 50 years. I pray that this generation can experience a true revival.
Tonight we had a guest speaker, Pastor Vijah, I hope I spelled it correctly, from India. He has a Bible college in India and he trains people to pastor and plant churches in India. He has had 89 graduate and each one is expected to plant 5 churches. The churches do not meet in a building or in a tent but out in open. Most of the time when someone becomes a Christian they are forced out of their homes, families, villages, imprisoned, or beaten and killed. In India the people worship thousands of Gods and Goddesses and the government cannot fathom why people would sacrifice so much for Christ. His organization is often questioned about their money and why they "pay" people to worship Christ. Mr. Vijah explains that they do not pay them their congregation is poor the pastors are poor and they follow Christ because he is the only way to heaven. He asked us to continue praying for his ministry as everyday is a trial but people are willing to loose everything for the one true God.
We wonder why God has left America. What have we sacrificed for God today. Many Americans are not even willing to give up their time to attend a church service or are too prideful to share the gospel with one person. I am just a guilty as the next but it is time for a change. Jesus died on the cross for sins he did not commit. Sins that consume our lives daily. People all over the world are sacrificing their lives, homes, and freedoms for Jesus Christ. We as Americans take our right of religious freedom for granted. This country was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Our ancestors left their homes in order to travel to a new land so that they could worship Jesus freely. There is only one way to heaven. You cannot be good or rich enough to enter, only through the free gift given to us. Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and all you have to do is accept that gift.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Tonight we had a guest speaker, Pastor Vijah, I hope I spelled it correctly, from India. He has a Bible college in India and he trains people to pastor and plant churches in India. He has had 89 graduate and each one is expected to plant 5 churches. The churches do not meet in a building or in a tent but out in open. Most of the time when someone becomes a Christian they are forced out of their homes, families, villages, imprisoned, or beaten and killed. In India the people worship thousands of Gods and Goddesses and the government cannot fathom why people would sacrifice so much for Christ. His organization is often questioned about their money and why they "pay" people to worship Christ. Mr. Vijah explains that they do not pay them their congregation is poor the pastors are poor and they follow Christ because he is the only way to heaven. He asked us to continue praying for his ministry as everyday is a trial but people are willing to loose everything for the one true God.
We wonder why God has left America. What have we sacrificed for God today. Many Americans are not even willing to give up their time to attend a church service or are too prideful to share the gospel with one person. I am just a guilty as the next but it is time for a change. Jesus died on the cross for sins he did not commit. Sins that consume our lives daily. People all over the world are sacrificing their lives, homes, and freedoms for Jesus Christ. We as Americans take our right of religious freedom for granted. This country was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Our ancestors left their homes in order to travel to a new land so that they could worship Jesus freely. There is only one way to heaven. You cannot be good or rich enough to enter, only through the free gift given to us. Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and all you have to do is accept that gift.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
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Monday, September 15, 2008
Life truths
As I was reading my Sunday school lesson I stumbled across this passage and I had an aha moment.
"As parents, it is sometimes easy to fall into the trap of focusing only on our children's behavior. While behavior is important, we must also help our children learn to be right with God, not simply act in right ways. After all, we want them to grow to love and trust and obey God, not simply be an impostor who relies on his or her own good behavior, only to be expelled from His presence" (Life Truths Learner Guide, Fall 2008).
This pertains to Matthew 22:11-13.
On another note, I have been asked about our curriculum and home schooling a lot lately. I have been reading "The Three R's" by Ruth Beechick. It explains the Natural Method. Which simply means kids learn to write by writing and read by reading. Sonlight curriculum is based on these ideas. We read a lot of books. We are doing World history, science, math, language arts and reading. Currently we are reading, Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, Missionary Stories with The Millers, From Akebu to Zapotec (A book of Bibleless people), Charlotte's Web, poetry, I can read it books, The Bible, The Magic School Bus, and Starting Point Science. That is just the first month or two. In addition we practice hand writing, Singapore math, science experiments and spelling. The Natural Method believes that children grow up to be better readers when they are exposed to science from K to 3rd rather than focusing solely on reading. One school district did an experiment on this and discovered that by the 3rd grade the science children were far ahead of the reading children because their vocabularies and thinking skills were more advanced (pg. 6, The Three R's). We do have spelling words but our "test" include writing the words with sidewalk chalk or fingers in the sand, paint or grain not so much the memorization of words. It really worked, too. We won't hit "true" spelling until they have mastered reading and writing. Jacob has learned more this week than all of last year when I was drilling words and letter sounds down his throat! Abby is responding well too!
In a nut shell, I chose to home school, does that make other mom's bad for not or me weird for wanting to educate my children? No. I was born to teach and this is what God had in mind. I pray that I can always educate my children. Maybe this time I will retain everything and actually get it! As for the # 1 question, Socialization? I was socialized my whole life and where did it lead me? We leave our home and come into contact with many children and adults daily. Have you ever been around my kids? They will socialize you to death! They enjoy every minute of it!
If you have questions about home school just ask, I would rather be asked than labeled.
"As parents, it is sometimes easy to fall into the trap of focusing only on our children's behavior. While behavior is important, we must also help our children learn to be right with God, not simply act in right ways. After all, we want them to grow to love and trust and obey God, not simply be an impostor who relies on his or her own good behavior, only to be expelled from His presence" (Life Truths Learner Guide, Fall 2008).
This pertains to Matthew 22:11-13.
On another note, I have been asked about our curriculum and home schooling a lot lately. I have been reading "The Three R's" by Ruth Beechick. It explains the Natural Method. Which simply means kids learn to write by writing and read by reading. Sonlight curriculum is based on these ideas. We read a lot of books. We are doing World history, science, math, language arts and reading. Currently we are reading, Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, Missionary Stories with The Millers, From Akebu to Zapotec (A book of Bibleless people), Charlotte's Web, poetry, I can read it books, The Bible, The Magic School Bus, and Starting Point Science. That is just the first month or two. In addition we practice hand writing, Singapore math, science experiments and spelling. The Natural Method believes that children grow up to be better readers when they are exposed to science from K to 3rd rather than focusing solely on reading. One school district did an experiment on this and discovered that by the 3rd grade the science children were far ahead of the reading children because their vocabularies and thinking skills were more advanced (pg. 6, The Three R's). We do have spelling words but our "test" include writing the words with sidewalk chalk or fingers in the sand, paint or grain not so much the memorization of words. It really worked, too. We won't hit "true" spelling until they have mastered reading and writing. Jacob has learned more this week than all of last year when I was drilling words and letter sounds down his throat! Abby is responding well too!
In a nut shell, I chose to home school, does that make other mom's bad for not or me weird for wanting to educate my children? No. I was born to teach and this is what God had in mind. I pray that I can always educate my children. Maybe this time I will retain everything and actually get it! As for the # 1 question, Socialization? I was socialized my whole life and where did it lead me? We leave our home and come into contact with many children and adults daily. Have you ever been around my kids? They will socialize you to death! They enjoy every minute of it!
If you have questions about home school just ask, I would rather be asked than labeled.
Fiesta Friday
The kids had a great time at the Fiesta on Friday! They both enjoyed the food, especially the tres leches cake for dessert!!! Jacob and Abby both got to hit the pinata and the best part was getting to dive for the candy at the end. It was a great experience and we are so blessed to be apart of such a great co-op!Friday, September 5, 2008
First Day
Today was our first day back at our co-op. Abby was in the Kindergarten class and Jacob is in the 1st and 2nd grade class. It was fun getting back and seeing all of our friends. Next Friday we are having a Fiesta with authentic Mexican cuisine. We have many field trips planned and it is looking to be another great year.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
What a Year of Home School looks like
I started pre-planning. I am excited about our new curriculum. It will be a lot more structured and I need structure. I just have to decide how I am going to break my 36 weeks up. Should I do the 36 weeks with 1 week off at Thanksgiving, 3 weeks off at Christmas, 2 weeks off in the spring and 10 weeks off in the summer or go 4 weeks and then take a week off and start back up. The second option means we will have year round school and the first gives us summers off. I need to get my calender out an plan that too. We have our co-op on Fridays and I am teaching pre-school the first 12 weeks. I start off teaching about the Human Body. Jacob and Abby are learning Spanish and Music this semester. It should be a good year!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
In Memory
Today we remember JJ and Daddy Nath on their anniversary. It takes faith and endurance to be married nearly 60 years. They will always be my heroes. I am so blessed that they got to know 4 of their Great-grandchildren. They are thought of and missed daily.
"Grandchildren are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."
Proverbs 17:6
"These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe; so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you so that you may enjoy long life."
Deuteronomy 6:1-2
Take a look
I have finally finished with the painting and all that is left is putting on the varnish.
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