Wednesday, May 21, 2008

NOT Free Entertainment


It was ELECTRONIC FREE... but not FREE!
What a fun time the kiddos had watching the sidewalk and drive way get paved.
Mr. Waddle and his cohort came and poured cement for us. It was April, but it was COLD. My kids bundled up in winter coats and sat outside on the porch. Front row seats for this entertainment.


They needed to swap out some boots - these are a sign of a hard working man.
I'm so glad my kiddos to go to see that in action... hard work. These men used muscles - but they were having a good time while doing it. Never once did were they foul or course in front of the kiddos. What a blessing. I don't know if these men know Jesus or not, but they got to see an example of a people working hard and having a good time doing so.
I love it when field trips come right to my front door.
The kiddos love that they get to ride their scooters and roller blade on the new cement.



We were glad the cement truck driver decided against committing suicide at the last minute. OK -- not really -- he was checking the cement level. Mr. Wadle decided at the last minute to extend our drive way by a few feet, instead of dumping it somewhere. I thought surely there must be a better way to check the cement level... but apparnetly not. I'm sure glad this guy wasn't top heavy.

Alls well that ends well!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

More Electronic Enetrainment Free Month


I have a rubber band... now what can I do?

Let's see...

I'll stick it on my face.
Weee!!
My Mom is laughing... it must be fun...






OK -- maybe not.







How can I get this thing off?
Why is my mom still laughing?
When can we turn the TV back on?

Monday, May 19, 2008

Electronic Free Entertainment Month

Man Alive.

When you shut the TV off -- those creative juices start a flowing. We shut the TV off starting in March,after wrestling season was over, for the summer. We'll turn it on again, in September, just in time for college football. ;-)

They were even willing to stop and pose for me.
Wasn't that nice?





Little do they know... these are very useful blackmail photos... say... in 10 years.
:giggle:
Oh come one -- you were thinking it.


:sigh:
I love these boys.
(You knew that already... didn't ya?)

Sunday, May 18, 2008

No Greater Love

Oh... this looks like a good movie.

Jeff and Heather were the “Lucky ones.” Best friends from childhood, high school sweethearts, and married by twenty-two. They were inseparable soul mates. Over time, however, Jeff became a workaholic, and Heather felt the neglect. After the birth of their son, Ethan, and with Jeff never around, Heather fell into a deep depression. In a moment of despair, Heather made the life-altering decision to leave Jeff for the night…and never returned. After police searches, missing person’s reports, and endless efforts to find her…she was gone.

Ten years later…life has moved on for Jeff and Ethan. Jeff is on the verge of proposing to Katie, his girlfriend of eight months, and Ethan has grown into a well-adjusted eleven year old. While not forgotten, Heather is a vivid, but distant memory of the past for Jeff, and no memory at all for Ethan.

Jeff is befriended by Dave, a fellow regular at a local coffee house. After striking up a friendship, they learn that their sons are baseball little league teammates. With summer break approaching, Dave encourages Jeff to allow Ethan to come to “Kids Fest,” a fun, week-long kid’s summer event at Dave’s church. Ambivalent toward God and church, but feeling that Kids Fest would be - if nothing else - good babysitting for his son, Jeff accepts.

Ethan has a blast, and on the final day, Jeff and Katie are persuaded to attend a brief show, which the kids are performing. It is on this day that Jeff receives the monumental shock of his life. Heather is one of the Kids Fest helpers!

Three years prior to their Kids Fest encounter, Heather had been saved from her sin, and was now a committed Christian. With all her heart, she had diligently attempted to find the whereabouts of Jeff and Ethan, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Turning it over to God, she had fervently been praying to see them again, and by God’s grace, here they were!

Jeff is forced to wrestle with forgiveness, reconciliation, and the irresistible grace of God.




I found this news release about the movie.

‘Faith Based’ movie filmed at AV church

By Lavender Vroman
Showcase Assistant Editor - AV Press

A Lancaster-based production company is staying close to home for the filming of its first feature.

Coram Deo Studios shot scenes for the “faith based” romantic drama “No Greater Love” this week at Grace Chapel and several other Lancaster Locations, including restaurants Fresco II and Jimmy’s Eatery.

“Economically, it made sense,” producer Matt Green said of the decision to shoot the film in Lancaster. “Things are cheaper out here. We had a lot of local connections out here.”

A significant portion of “No Greater Love” takes place on a church campus, Green said. One of the sales representatives for Coram Deo’s parent company, Signature Fundraising, happened to be a member of Grace Chapel. He approached the church, which has been supportive of the project ever since. Grace Chapel pastor Chris Johnson even plays the role of a pastor in the film, Green said.

“No Greater Love” is written and directed by Brad Silverman. Signature Fundraising president Russ Rice is the executive producer. A crew of about 24 is working on the three-week shoot, filming with high-definition digital cameras. They’ve also filmed at locations in Canyon Country and Valencia.

Once the film is completed, Coram Deo plans to screen it at churches across the country, possibly as early as mid-summer, Green said. The studios ultimate goal is to secure a distribution deal for the movie.

Coram Deo Studios began as Signature Productions, which primarily made industrial videos for the fundraising company that relocated from Valencia to Lancaster in 2002.

After landing a cross-promotional deal with Warner Bros. and producing a pilot for an educational children’s television series, the company became a “full-fledge studio,” Green said.
So... what is an AV church? Audio-Visual?

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Three Things To Ponder

THREE THINGS TO PONDER

1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C O W S


Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow
epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost
three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of
Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are
unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country.
Maybe we should give each of them a cow.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just
give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked
for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T H E 1 0 C O M M A N D M E N T S

The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a
courthouse is this:

You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,'
and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and
politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.

*************the end*************
HA! Funny post my dear cousin Lavonne sent me. Well -- not funny ha ha... but funny in a sad sort of way. I guess if we didn't laugh... we'd probably be crying.
=/

Friday, May 16, 2008

World Mission Video



"Jeremy" is my BIL!! Can you see why my kids love him to visit?

AND -- I wonder where my cute niece inherited her hilarious facial expressions from.



Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Widows Might

A new movie is coming out -- ever hear of it? The Widows Might.

I have never heard of it -- or of the brother's who produced it.

Tell me about it --

The List




Synopsis:

Deception, greed and a deadly lust for power lie at the heart of a sinister organization in this intriguing thriller based on the novel by best-selling author Robert Whitlow. Starring Malcolm McDowell (TV’s War and Peace), Chuck Carrington (TV’s JAG), Hilarie Burton (TV’s One Tree Hill) and Will Patton (A Mighty Heart), The List is a heart-racing tale of suspense and betrayal, in a dark world of blood oaths that bind generations.

Returning home for his father’s funeral, Renny Jacobson (Carrington) discovers he’s the inheritor of his family’s chair in a secret society founded during the Civil War. But Renny suspects there’s more to the society’s activities than meets the eye, and when his inquiries into the group’s true nature are discovered by its corrupt leader (McDowell), Renny becomes the target of a dark and mysterious force with the power to destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.


Hey -- look it there... I think I just found a new PBS author to search for.


My family got me One Night With The King for mother's day. DH noticed it was a Fox Faith movie. I'm looking around that site today for more Netflix ideas. °Ãœ° I've got some queue going on there. So -- are you a netflixer? I've love to be your buddy... hear what you think about the movies you watched.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Home School Lounge


Come join me! If you are a home schooling MOM (sorry dads), come be my lounge sister.

°Ãœ°
I belong to a Iowa Home School Yahoo Group. Not a very active group -- but informative at times.

Anyway..

J-- a homeschooling mom had asked about area Orthodontist.

Does anyone have a recommendation for an area, child-
friendly, home school friendly, orthodontist? My son is ready for
braces and the orthodontist he's seen a couple of times isn't as warm
and friendly as I'd like. He knows we home school and he quizzes my
son on random facts, like he's going catch him not knowing the
answers. I suppose it's an attempt at humor or maybe his way of
trying to connect, but it drives me crazy. I just sense an
undercurrent of disapproval for homeschooling and a different
orthodontist would probably be a better fit. Thanks for any
recommendations.

J


Then R-- another Iowa homeschooling mom replied with this.


Hi,

I am late in responding to this as well, but the office referred to
above with Drs R and C also has a third orthodontist named
Dr. K. He is very pro homeschooling because he is my husband,
and thus, a homeschooling dad! I don't mean to be advertising for my
husband but just wanted to let you know about that. He has told me
that their office sees quite a few homeschooling families and he
thinks it's great.

R


Guess what? Dr. K is the Orthodontist that TORI saw last week. YEAH!! Isn't God good??

So I replied with this...

HEY!!!! We just went to see Dr. K LAST WEEK!! (Tuesday) I had my 5 kiddos in there with me. Dr. K was sooo funny. He lifted up this great big huge tooth brush (a decoration) and asked my son if he wanted his teeth brushed. My son wasn't even the patient... he was just sitting and waiting for his sister. So Dr. K went out of his way to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

Small World.

OHHH... just remembered this. This was our initial appointment and he offered to squeeze in my daughter for the 2nd visit THAT SAME DAY... really saving us a lot of money on gas, since we live over an hour away. My dh really appreciated that!! He will be so pleased to find out he is home school friendly.

He was very nice and answered all my questions with out a bit of irritation. He has great... bedside? Chair side manner!

Thank you for mentioned this R.

I love the internet. °Ãœ°

Monday, May 12, 2008

That's Not On the Test



::giggle:: Awww... to be homeschooled!!

Detergent

That is such a catchy title... some days I amaze myself.

Well -- my friend Bekah, over at The Beginning Farmer's Wife wrote a great post about clothing detergent -- and how much one uses.

She took photos -- so it really made an impact on this visual learner.

Check it out!

Tithe... or a Thank Offering

Do any of you think of your tithe as a Thank Offering?

I'm studying my Sunday School Lesson on Giving. The writer of the book mentioned that our tithe is a form of worship. He was using Psalm 96 as a guide to worship. Mr. H. Joseph Miller pointed out that there is singing, preaching, offering, prayer and service mentioned in this Psalm.

Psa 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 96:2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Psa 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Psa 96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Psa 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psa 96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Psa 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Psa 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

vs. 7 and 8 say GIVE unto the Lord. Worship by giving. That was new to me. I think of tithe as what I OWE God. He deserves at least a 10th doesn't He. But NO... look at that... I WORSHIP Him by giving. So I looked up tithe on my e-sword today and read what the commentators have to say about it.

Jamieson, Faucet and Brown says this about tithe in Leviticus 27.30...

The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute - it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to Him for the bounties of His providence. (See Pro_3:9; 1Co_9:11; Gal_6:6).


So of course... I looked up Gal 6.6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.


Thank you... Thank you God. And of course... a good way to say thank you is by WORSHIPING as you tithe.

This is a GREAT Sunday School class we are having. I really enjoy the discussion. The teacher keeps reminding us how he doesn't like to teach, but he seems to be doing fine. If a 1 period class turns into 2, because we are learning so much... isn't that a good class? I'd say so. Thanks for the challenge to keep on digging. I look forward to all I'm going to learn about giving this week.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

High Flyer


We had a field trip the other day.
We toured the local small town airport.
We got to participate in the EAA Young Eagles Program. They will come in and give a child from ages 8-17 a free flight. How exciting. I took all the kids, and we got to watch Mansel fly.




The pilot did GREAT with the kiddos. He let Mansel hop up into the plan and get a great photo op. "Look Ma, I'm flying!" Ü

Then they all climbed in and took a 20 minute flight... for free. Amazing. Mansel said he didn't realize it was so hilly where we lived. LOL




We stuck around while everyone was flying, because at the end we took a tour and got to see where they stored planes, and worked on planes and fueled them up. It was a neat field trip. We drive by the airport many times going to and from town. Sunday -- on the way home from church -- Danielle said, "Look... there is the airport."

Learn something new every day.

Thanks to my friend Tricia for organizing these field trips for our group. She really does a great job! She makes our homeschooling experience so much richer!

Posted by Picasa

Mom!

Happy Mother's Day °Ãœ°

I was thinking... I should find a poem or something for my mother...

We are memorizing Psalm 1, and that started running through my head. How fitting. I'll post that JUST FOR MY MOTHER!

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.


Her delight is in the Law of the Lord, and I'm so very thankful that when she is around me and the children, that is what comes out of her mouth. We are so very blessed by her. I wish we lived closer.

I love you Mother!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Red for Rachel



I've got a friend, Rachel, who just got a new camera. Her questions made me want to experiement with the settings on my camera again. This is the color selection setting. All things RED are in color, the rest is black and white. That rock has some red in it, I see. As well as the blooms on the tree. FUN setting.
Posted by Picasa

Turned Out Well



The tulips I planted around the pump, in the fall, are up -- and pretty.

Posted by Picasa

Pilgrims Progress

Another new movie. This one is a modern retelling of John Bunyon's story, Pilgrims Progress. From the poster -- it looks very modern. Yikes... I don't like scary movies... they seem much more scary then the books.

Anyway... About The Film
Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey to Heaven is a modern adaptation of John Bunyan’s beloved classic. It is the #1 Christian fantasy of all time! The novel has been heralded as a literary masterpiece around the world, as it has been published in over 100 languages and is the most read book other than the Bible.
Amazing visual effects, beautiful locations and a wonderful cast bring to life the story that has inspired each generation for hundreds of years. Follow Christian and his companions on a great Journey from the City of Destruction to the gates of Heaven as they face obstacles large and small, man-made and demon-spawned.
Beyond the gripping drama, Bunyan’s powerful allegory teaches us
all the hazards and hopes of the Christian life, and it features the
triumphant glory that awaits all who faithfully follow the King of kings!
This movie can be purchased as a DVD. I'm not sure when it will be released... but I found this most interesting.

At this time, over 6,000 people have seen the film in test screenings, with over 200 people surrendering their lives to Jesus.

I do believe this is a very powerful book to read... I'm hoping the movie will do it justice!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Here is an interesting article on Modesty, written by Dianna, a blogger who writes letters to other moms.
I'm striving to dress my girls modestly. Hard thing to do in todays market. So -- I may not hit all these goals that she mentions... but I'm trying. What I really would like you to do is look at my girls with fresh eyes, and if you see me not hitting the mark -- let me know friends. Because that's what friends are for... right? =)

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Prince Caspian

Hooray!!! Another Narnia movie. Prince Caspian will be out in theaters May 16th. Are you going?



It doesn't look like it's coming anywhere near me... I'll be Netflixing it. It's in my queue... now for the wait. So -- since I can't see it May 16th... can I live vicariously through you... tell me all about it. Ü

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Now...if we'd pay'em --



Paid... you can scream all you want.

Since they are volunteers -- shut yer trap.

LOL

This is a funny sign!! I saw it at the kiddos little league games last night.
Posted by Picasa

Awww...

Here comes Wayne -- fresh from his bedroom -- still has that morning sleepy look to his eyes.

He comes bringing his blanket... something all wrapped up in his blanket. Awww... he's so sweet...

He lays his blankie down and is going to show me his...

GUN!!

He wrapped up a toy pistol and brought it to show me.

He is ALL BOY!!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Bzz

Have I mentioned that I'm a BzzAgent? No? Well -- I am. °Ãœ° There... that's the rules -- I have to tell you that I'm an agent. It's not hard -- you could be an agent too... just sign up. Wow... yeah... I know... difficult. Anyhoo... Once you are an agent -- you can sign up to BZZ things. You don't even have to... just if you want to. Then when you are in a "campaign" they give you free things and you are supposed to talk about them. Then when you are done talking -- report your bzz... weird language, I think. But I get free things. :giggle: I'll talk the talk, just hand it over.

Well -- I've bzzed a few things. Never on my blog...I don't think... did I ever tell you about my cool toothbrush? no? Well -- I got it free... so I could bzz it. I'm still using it -- aren't you glad? Especially my IRL friends... they are probably really glad.

I get to bzz Aveno POSITIVELY AGELESS™ Lifting & Firming. Which leaves your skin looking healthy, firmer and younger-looking, so I'm told. I'll let you know when I know. I get a free sample. A regular size bottle sample, I think. It's supposed to work in 30 days. I should take a before and after photo, shouldn't I. That would be interesting.

Hey -- look it
here... there is a free sample, a small size, I bet. Cool. You tell ME if it works for you -- but I guess you would need 30 samples... wouldn't you.

Well -- my next thing to Bzz...
Ziploc Big Bags. I have no idea what I'm going to get with that. Do you guys/gals use these? I'd think they would be slippery and not stack well. But -- we'll see. I'll Bzz them later and let you know. Bzz... bzzz...

Saturday, May 3, 2008

MFW Music

I stumbled upon a site today that may help me with My Father's world Rome to Reformation year next year. We will be doing an Introduction to Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

That is who we will be concentrating on -- and look it here. There is SCADS of stuff free at the Classic Cat. Looks like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is very well represented.
Woo Hoo... what a find.


What do you use to study music?


Thursday, May 1, 2008

Premier Rubbermaid


This is not a paid advertisement... but I wish it were.

I shop at Costco. Have I ever told you that?
WELL... sometimes Costco has good deals. I think this box is one of them. 28 pieces of my most favorite stuff, for only $23 bucks. (Yeah... I know 14 of the pieces are lids... big deal) I bought some a while back and quickly refreshed my cupboards. Looks like I'm out of brown sugar.



HEY -- that leaves me not much for my drawer.

So last time we went, I got another box.

Filled my drawer.



After tossing a bunch of the old stuff, I think I had way more lids then bowls.
With the rubber maid jobbies... the lids click together. Isn't that handy? I love that the bowls are clear and I love that the lids are "rubbery". They fit nice and I can see what I have for left overs. See the black bowls in the back? I didn't toss those, because they cost me an arm and a leg. But I don't like them. I can't see what is in them. If they get shoved to the back of the fridge... they often turn into experiments. Science experiments. Gross!


Now -- my kiddos have 2 bags of "new" sandbox toys.
Every one is happy!
Posted by Picasa

Happy Birthday To ME!

This birthday stuff gets more and more fun the older the kiddos get.

Tori, the 12 year old, made me a present this year. I'm holding a make up box. It is a wooden box with a lid with HINGES on it even. She cut it out (with a little help from her dad), hammered it together, put a handle on it and painted it. It's it pretty? It's being used right now. Full of make up. Sitting on my bathroom counter.



Then her brother wanted in on the deal. He's the one holding the camera. Mansel -- he made me a bench. Hammered together some wood and painted it. It sort of falls over, so I have it leaning into the corner in my living room. He has set a precedence for himself... he once gave me some of his own money for my birthday... and I was pregnant. I was so touched by that giving of something that was his that was precious to him... that I cried... of course. I was pregnant. I would have cried over dog pooh, I imagine. Now he wants me to cry over EVERY present. And he can tell if I'm faking it.



Their daddy likes to make me cry too. I got chocolate from the rest of the crew. YUM.
These are gone... good thing we took a photograph. Evidence. Oh my... heavenly.



Oh -- and how well does he know me?

Let me count the layers.


Yeah.. um... 4. FOUR luscious layers of chocolate. Plus the layers of chocolate goo in between the cake layers... and the chocolate frosting on top and around all the layers. This man knows me WELL... let me tell ya.

It's gone too... but I shared it. Yes I did. It took us 3 whole days to eat this cake. I do believe that set some sort of a record. It just kept getting better and better. Gooey, moist, chocolate scrumptiousness. I have been walking/jogging with my friends some... and I now weigh the most I've ever weighed. Thing this CAKE has anything to do with it? :sigh: Oh never mind.

Thanks Costco... I mean Dan. °Ãœ°

It WAS a happy birthday. THANKS!

Posted by Picasa

The Caffeine Click Test

How much caffeine have you ingested today? Me? funny you should ask...

The Caffeine Click Test - How Caffeinated Are You?
Created by OnePlusYou

So -- how did you rate? Are you delusional, or just a little spastic? LOL