A couple of weeks ago, I upgraded the version of Firefox that is on this computer. They did not tell me that I would lose Sage, the Firefox feed reader. I was so sad :-( I loved Sage. It was just there. I didn't have to go sign in to anything. Just open the browser, hit refresh and boom! I could instantly see when all the blogs I love had been updated. I furiously scrambled to see if there was some kind of fix. I did find a copy of a new, unofficial Sage++ feed reader. So far, so good. (yes, it's in Japanese, or is that Chinese? Sorry,. I just don't know...but I figured it out and you can too.)
Anyway...I have spent the last two weeks, having sudden memories of different blogs that I love. I go find them and add them to Sage++. Today I realized I was missing Principled Discovery. And she, as usual, had somethng to really chew on.
Play.
Now, I'm not gonna deceive you and tell you that my kids only play outside and are just wonderful. They play way too many computer games and sit in front of electronic boxes for far too long. So does their mother. But they do engage in some very imaginative play. And it ALWAYS makes me smile.
The latest thing is that they are building furniture for the tree house. One of their friend's mom told me that the friend, T, was pretty impressed by their carpentry skills. Did I ever tell you the story about the chainsaw? Or the one when Sam was sitting home for weeks and we hear the table saw starting up? Another time. I promise.
The purpose of the furniture is to have a command center. They already have huge holes across our little town (one at every friend's house, or rather in the uncleared lots near their friends houses) that serve as trenches and bunkers. My friend who-has-the-same-name-as my-mom-and-is-from-Pennsylvania-like-my-mom tells me that she loves to listen in when our boys come over to play. Seems our study of WWI has been the make-believe of choice for almost a year, now. I assure you there are no Germans in this Texas town. lol.
The thing that Dana pointed out was that play reflects culture. And that most modern play is passive. Scary thought, indeed. Passivity. And the more I chew on that thought. The scared-er I become. Passive learners, not really learning at all, regurgitating to pass tests. Passive players, not playing, just being little robots. Passive adults, doing what they're told. Here are my children, my guns and my rights. I trust you to take care of me. All of me. Cradle to grave.
OK, I have to go bag up a bunch of electronic things now.
Get outside and play - HARD! Defeat giants and dragons and foreign and domestic threats.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
What is Education?
Webster's 1828 Dictionary says,
The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that knowledge puffs up. Paul told the Colossians that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus. Noah Webster understood this when he wrote the first definition on this post.
Education should be a comprehensive system for training a whole person. If we only address academic pursuits, we end up with an arrogant, know-it-all. Addressing vocational matters exclusively, will produce an ignorant person who is unable to appreciate things outside the realm which he is trained for. And addressing only spiritual issues will cause self-righteousness and arrogance of spirit. The entire person, body, soul and spirit must be taught in a state of congruence.
EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.The latest version of Webster's says this,
1 a: the action or process of educating or of being educated ; also : a stage of such a process b: the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process education>2: the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schoolsNot the same umph, really. A person must go look up "educating" and "educated" and find out what those mean. It's an unrelenting circle, where you never really find out what being educated means.
The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that knowledge puffs up. Paul told the Colossians that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Jesus. Noah Webster understood this when he wrote the first definition on this post.
Education should be a comprehensive system for training a whole person. If we only address academic pursuits, we end up with an arrogant, know-it-all. Addressing vocational matters exclusively, will produce an ignorant person who is unable to appreciate things outside the realm which he is trained for. And addressing only spiritual issues will cause self-righteousness and arrogance of spirit. The entire person, body, soul and spirit must be taught in a state of congruence.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Blog Buttons?
So...maybe I am just out of it. Or maybe I'm still the non-conformist that I was 20 years ago. Do bloggers really put other people's blog buttons on their blogs? Like Flair? You could have a collection of blog buttons. And if anyone cares...I'm not liking the uniform look that everyone's blogs are taking on.
Viva la difference!
Saturday Stream
Ohmigosh! It's Saturday. I didn't realize it, until I was looking over a post I put up yesterday morning.
This week, I made two 360 mile round trip trips in the name of Youth Camp. Monday morning I left at 1:30 am, to have them there by 6. We were an hour early. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds. I went to bed at 6 the night before. I actually went to sleep (with a little help from Sominex.) I was privileged to drive my friend's 2009 Suburban. Heaven on 4 wheels, I tell you. I took her son, as well as his friend. I turned right around and drove home. The drive home was pleasant. I listened to several teaching CDs that my pastor gave me.
YESTERDAY I made the trip again. Same vehicle. I was ecstatic when she asked me if I'd make the trip again. Totally different trip, though. I left at 8 am. Along with every other suburbanite who works in Austin. Traffic was fairly heavy even through the rural areas I traveled through.
The bus with the kids was an hour late. People in the parking lot were starting to worry. They unloaded the trailer with baggage. Not one of the boys I was picking up had put their luggage in the trailer. "Where's your luggage?" "Uhhhh...I dunno. I think I put it in a U-Haul trailer." "No, we put it in a big bus." They didn't know. So we spent an hour trying to figure out where it was. Praying that it didn't go to Palestine. (Another 3 hours away.) Praise the Lord! It went with a church in the next town. But the bus driver wouldn't leave it at the church, so he took it home. His wife met me on the road that I would be taking on my return trip.
Traffic was just as heavy on the way back. And when we got to an hour from home, we hit one lane traffic. It seems that all of the surrounding Austin area has decided that it's time to repave the roads. and let's not do it at night when there's no traffic. Let's do it during rush hour traffic. Stop and go in one little town for 45 minutes. By the time I got home "heaven on wheels" had become my prison. a very expensive prison. (Cost me $65 to fill it up, even with $2.39 gas)
My charge to the boys when I left them was, "Come home changed." I haven't had an opportunity to talk to them, yet. Because I fell asleep as soon as I got home.
Today my friend and I are hosting a fair of local homeschool resources. I dreamed we were having it in a book store. It was crowded and I was claustrophobic. Probably residual effects from the drive yesterday. We have 19 vendors coming. I hope we get a good turn out of visitors.
Nest week we are going to have one week of summer fun and then we are starting school. Noah will be busting his behind to finish the pre-algebra book. Otherwise he'll be taking pre-algebra when classes start up at the end of August.
I need more sleep.
This week, I made two 360 mile round trip trips in the name of Youth Camp. Monday morning I left at 1:30 am, to have them there by 6. We were an hour early. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds. I went to bed at 6 the night before. I actually went to sleep (with a little help from Sominex.) I was privileged to drive my friend's 2009 Suburban. Heaven on 4 wheels, I tell you. I took her son, as well as his friend. I turned right around and drove home. The drive home was pleasant. I listened to several teaching CDs that my pastor gave me.
YESTERDAY I made the trip again. Same vehicle. I was ecstatic when she asked me if I'd make the trip again. Totally different trip, though. I left at 8 am. Along with every other suburbanite who works in Austin. Traffic was fairly heavy even through the rural areas I traveled through.
The bus with the kids was an hour late. People in the parking lot were starting to worry. They unloaded the trailer with baggage. Not one of the boys I was picking up had put their luggage in the trailer. "Where's your luggage?" "Uhhhh...I dunno. I think I put it in a U-Haul trailer." "No, we put it in a big bus." They didn't know. So we spent an hour trying to figure out where it was. Praying that it didn't go to Palestine. (Another 3 hours away.) Praise the Lord! It went with a church in the next town. But the bus driver wouldn't leave it at the church, so he took it home. His wife met me on the road that I would be taking on my return trip.
Traffic was just as heavy on the way back. And when we got to an hour from home, we hit one lane traffic. It seems that all of the surrounding Austin area has decided that it's time to repave the roads. and let's not do it at night when there's no traffic. Let's do it during rush hour traffic. Stop and go in one little town for 45 minutes. By the time I got home "heaven on wheels" had become my prison. a very expensive prison. (Cost me $65 to fill it up, even with $2.39 gas)
My charge to the boys when I left them was, "Come home changed." I haven't had an opportunity to talk to them, yet. Because I fell asleep as soon as I got home.
Today my friend and I are hosting a fair of local homeschool resources. I dreamed we were having it in a book store. It was crowded and I was claustrophobic. Probably residual effects from the drive yesterday. We have 19 vendors coming. I hope we get a good turn out of visitors.
Nest week we are going to have one week of summer fun and then we are starting school. Noah will be busting his behind to finish the pre-algebra book. Otherwise he'll be taking pre-algebra when classes start up at the end of August.
I need more sleep.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Saturday Stream
Sam has taken the car to have the windshield replaced.
Here's a (un)funny boy story for ya. The boys were throwing acorns at one another. A rock got in the mix somehow and broke the rear window. Months later another boy was crawling over the top of the car, like they do in the movies, and broke the windshield.
Anyway, that's why I have been driving the big, old, hot-no AC- truck all week. And I tell you, it is having trouble. The Jeep is still at our pastor's house, waiting for Sam to be able to replace the water pump.
He's a good pastor. He fixed our water heater when Sam was first diagnosed with the blood clot. And he has let us keep our Jeep at his house (Sam was there when it broke) for months now. I don't know many other pastors that would come fix your water heater for you.
We have had 100+ degree temperatures all month. It's miserable. And our poor weeds are all dead. Even the cactus I transplanted to the flower bed are looking bad.
I was planning on giving a news commentary today. But I see that Walter Cronkite has passed away. So in honor of him, I won't. Sam's family used to call his middle sister Walter Cronkite. She loved to report what he and his oldest sister were doing.
I have changed the template once again of both my blogs. I have been reading a lot about blogs and "branding" and monetizing and stuff. It's a little crazy. And I notice that blogs are all looking the same lately. In fact, a lot like the NY Times web page. I will probably change again this morning. Now, that I think of it, I don't want boring, newspaper look. I want ME. (whew! that's better!)
Summertime photos:
Here's a (un)funny boy story for ya. The boys were throwing acorns at one another. A rock got in the mix somehow and broke the rear window. Months later another boy was crawling over the top of the car, like they do in the movies, and broke the windshield.
Anyway, that's why I have been driving the big, old, hot-no AC- truck all week. And I tell you, it is having trouble. The Jeep is still at our pastor's house, waiting for Sam to be able to replace the water pump.
He's a good pastor. He fixed our water heater when Sam was first diagnosed with the blood clot. And he has let us keep our Jeep at his house (Sam was there when it broke) for months now. I don't know many other pastors that would come fix your water heater for you.
We have had 100+ degree temperatures all month. It's miserable. And our poor weeds are all dead. Even the cactus I transplanted to the flower bed are looking bad.
I was planning on giving a news commentary today. But I see that Walter Cronkite has passed away. So in honor of him, I won't. Sam's family used to call his middle sister Walter Cronkite. She loved to report what he and his oldest sister were doing.
I have changed the template once again of both my blogs. I have been reading a lot about blogs and "branding" and monetizing and stuff. It's a little crazy. And I notice that blogs are all looking the same lately. In fact, a lot like the NY Times web page. I will probably change again this morning. Now, that I think of it, I don't want boring, newspaper look. I want ME. (whew! that's better!)
Summertime photos:
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Worship This Week
I know you have been waiting to hear some more boy stories. We have actually been getting some schoolin' done around here. Moe and Quinton decided to build a table for the tree house. I'll try to remember to get a picture. I hardly set foot outside between 9 am and 9 pm though. It's hot! Like Africa hot!
Here's what we're doing for worship this week:
This week is all about the Lamb Who sits on the Throne. He alone is worthy.
On Christ the Solid Rock:
Nothing But the Blood:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Worthy Is the Lamb/Crown Him with Many Crowns:
How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art:
Here's what we're doing for worship this week:
This week is all about the Lamb Who sits on the Throne. He alone is worthy.
On Christ the Solid Rock:
Nothing But the Blood:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Worthy Is the Lamb/Crown Him with Many Crowns:
How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bibles, Bibles Everywhere
Here's a question, kinda related to my last post on the Word.
How many Bibles are in your home? How many translations? Do you use more than one translation regularly?
Without getting up and counting, we probably have more than 20 Bibles in our home. Make that more than 23, because I just bought three new (to us) Bibles. I bought 3 copies of the NASB for the boys to use when we do our TOG reading together.
I have been using the New American Standard translation for a couple of years, now. It's supposed to be a word for word translation and I like that. I regularly pull out my King James if I am doing word studies, because Strong's Concordance is keyed to the KJV. I also have begun pulling out the Amplified Bible when I am doing exegetical studies on a portion of Scripture.
When I was 13, my parents gave me a leather-bound New King James Bible. I used that until recently. It was a good friend when I was alone in England. Poor thing is falling apart. My mother's is held together with duct tape. I'm not ready to go there, yet.
When I was studying Judaism, I bought a Complete Jewish Bible, translated by David Stern. It's a very readable translation. He puts verses in paragraph form, so you can see where one idea ends and the next one begins. It is a translation based on ideas, though, and not word for word. In other words, David Stern's theology biases the translation. It's not bad, it's probably helpful for Jewish people who are trying to see how the New Testament relates to them. But I have seen, firsthand, how it can mess a person up theologically.
I have a Jewish Bible, which is just the Old Testament. I like the way it is laid out, it makes way more sense than the way you find the OT laid out in Gentile Bibles. The Torah, the 5 books of Moses are first. Then, the Nevi'im, the Prophets (major). Followed by the 12 minor prophets and finally the Kethuvim, or the writings, which include poetic works of Psalms and the Song of Songs.I would really like a strictly chronological Old Testament sometime, though. That would sure be a help when using the Bible as history.
I also have a Catholic Bible, for the Apocrypha. I do not think that the Apocrypha is Scripture. But for historical sake, I like to be informed. The story of the Maccabees and their defeat of the Greeks, which is the basis for Hanukkah, is found in the Apocrypha. I think it is a shame that modern Christianity has not found out the hidden story of the Maccabees. Noah has a reading in the Apocrypha for TOG this year.
Increasingly, especially when I am doing intense study, I use BibleGateway.com. There are so many online tools for Bible study. On the other computer I have downloaded eSword. It has several Hebrew and Greek lexicons to use, as well and other translations that I don't own in book form.
How blessed we are to be able to own so many copies of God's Word. May we never take It for granted. May we learn to hide It in our hearts, so that we will not sin.
How many Bibles are in your home? How many translations? Do you use more than one translation regularly?
Without getting up and counting, we probably have more than 20 Bibles in our home. Make that more than 23, because I just bought three new (to us) Bibles. I bought 3 copies of the NASB for the boys to use when we do our TOG reading together.
I have been using the New American Standard translation for a couple of years, now. It's supposed to be a word for word translation and I like that. I regularly pull out my King James if I am doing word studies, because Strong's Concordance is keyed to the KJV. I also have begun pulling out the Amplified Bible when I am doing exegetical studies on a portion of Scripture.
When I was 13, my parents gave me a leather-bound New King James Bible. I used that until recently. It was a good friend when I was alone in England. Poor thing is falling apart. My mother's is held together with duct tape. I'm not ready to go there, yet.
When I was studying Judaism, I bought a Complete Jewish Bible, translated by David Stern. It's a very readable translation. He puts verses in paragraph form, so you can see where one idea ends and the next one begins. It is a translation based on ideas, though, and not word for word. In other words, David Stern's theology biases the translation. It's not bad, it's probably helpful for Jewish people who are trying to see how the New Testament relates to them. But I have seen, firsthand, how it can mess a person up theologically.
I have a Jewish Bible, which is just the Old Testament. I like the way it is laid out, it makes way more sense than the way you find the OT laid out in Gentile Bibles. The Torah, the 5 books of Moses are first. Then, the Nevi'im, the Prophets (major). Followed by the 12 minor prophets and finally the Kethuvim, or the writings, which include poetic works of Psalms and the Song of Songs.I would really like a strictly chronological Old Testament sometime, though. That would sure be a help when using the Bible as history.
I also have a Catholic Bible, for the Apocrypha. I do not think that the Apocrypha is Scripture. But for historical sake, I like to be informed. The story of the Maccabees and their defeat of the Greeks, which is the basis for Hanukkah, is found in the Apocrypha. I think it is a shame that modern Christianity has not found out the hidden story of the Maccabees. Noah has a reading in the Apocrypha for TOG this year.
Increasingly, especially when I am doing intense study, I use BibleGateway.com. There are so many online tools for Bible study. On the other computer I have downloaded eSword. It has several Hebrew and Greek lexicons to use, as well and other translations that I don't own in book form.
How blessed we are to be able to own so many copies of God's Word. May we never take It for granted. May we learn to hide It in our hearts, so that we will not sin.
Coffee With God
You would not believe the internal wrestling I have done over how to include blogging about spiritual things. I have been having an amazing couple of weeks, with lots of illumination going on. I will sit down to share and think, "Well, this sounds stupid," then I erase the whole thing.
Here's something that I think will get me going.
A Holy Experience is one of my favorite blogs. Ann Voskamp's writing is so beautiful, what a wonderful gift.
The subject is "How do you eat the word?"
The addition of the 12x12 deck has been a huge boost to my devotional life. Please, let's not even go to the place where you tell me any "shoulds" I know them already and have been telling them to myself for years.
I have, what I call "Coffee with God." I go there with my Bible, pen, notebook and coffee. I sit and listen to the doves and I listen for His voice.
I have been reading one of Paul's letters a week. Same letter every day, for a week. Last week was Galatians, this week is Ephesians. Next week is Philippians, and so on.
Reading the Word regularly does something to my patience level. It settles and centers me. It fires my spirit to want to work with His Spirit. Throughout the day, I have something to hold on to. Something outside of my pitiful, selfish self.
And then, there are those wonderful illuminations! Those times when I am reading along and something, -a word, a phrase, a verse- just leaps out and the Holy Spirit shows me the application for a situation. Those illuminations are addictive.
His Word is light and life.
Here's something that I think will get me going.
A Holy Experience is one of my favorite blogs. Ann Voskamp's writing is so beautiful, what a wonderful gift.
The subject is "How do you eat the word?"
The addition of the 12x12 deck has been a huge boost to my devotional life. Please, let's not even go to the place where you tell me any "shoulds" I know them already and have been telling them to myself for years.
I have, what I call "Coffee with God." I go there with my Bible, pen, notebook and coffee. I sit and listen to the doves and I listen for His voice.
I have been reading one of Paul's letters a week. Same letter every day, for a week. Last week was Galatians, this week is Ephesians. Next week is Philippians, and so on.
Reading the Word regularly does something to my patience level. It settles and centers me. It fires my spirit to want to work with His Spirit. Throughout the day, I have something to hold on to. Something outside of my pitiful, selfish self.
And then, there are those wonderful illuminations! Those times when I am reading along and something, -a word, a phrase, a verse- just leaps out and the Holy Spirit shows me the application for a situation. Those illuminations are addictive.
His Word is light and life.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Men Are Home! :-)
Yes, I changed the background again. I don't know why. I'll probably go back to the funone, I like it, even if it did have skulls in the middle.
Sam and the boys returned home from camping in hell. Apparently it was 10 degrees hotter there and not ONE indoor (not even the chow hall) venue.
Quinton had a blast and it seems a LOAD of sugar and caffeine. I ended up sending him to bed at 8pm, because he could not control himself. He was the troop social butterfly, flitting from one boy to another. Good. I love it when they smash homeschool stereotypes. I have yet to actually talk to Noah. I sent him a message on FB and I picked his reply up this morning. I know...how sad and horrible. But the Scout Master tells me that Noah really came into his own as a leader last week.
Quinton brought home two cockroaches and two earwigs in his trunk. I literally tossed the trunk out the front door and proceeded to shake out every article left and throw them onto the porch. Then, when I was taking pillow cases off Sam's pillows, I found a little, tiny stick bug. Poor thing, I wonder how long it was there; yes, it was alive. I washed EVERYTHING they brought home. I'm sure only a fourth of it was actually dirty. Noah's jeans reeked like I don't know what! I had to hold my breath to pick them up off the floor. And I seriously tossed the socks that he came home in, in the trash.
They are home for a week, then off to youth camp and Moe will go to Webelos camp with Sam. I will be spending one whole morning (3 am to 11am) driving them to the church where they will leave for camp. One of the families at church (whose son is going) is going to let me drive their new suburban. :-) Oh to drive something that is not overheating or about to shatter its windshield all over me!
Last year, at summer camp, Sam took 600+ pictures. This year there are 49. He spent a lot of time just sitting in camp due to health reasons. Here are a few choice ones.
Sam and the boys returned home from camping in hell. Apparently it was 10 degrees hotter there and not ONE indoor (not even the chow hall) venue.
Quinton had a blast and it seems a LOAD of sugar and caffeine. I ended up sending him to bed at 8pm, because he could not control himself. He was the troop social butterfly, flitting from one boy to another. Good. I love it when they smash homeschool stereotypes. I have yet to actually talk to Noah. I sent him a message on FB and I picked his reply up this morning. I know...how sad and horrible. But the Scout Master tells me that Noah really came into his own as a leader last week.
Quinton brought home two cockroaches and two earwigs in his trunk. I literally tossed the trunk out the front door and proceeded to shake out every article left and throw them onto the porch. Then, when I was taking pillow cases off Sam's pillows, I found a little, tiny stick bug. Poor thing, I wonder how long it was there; yes, it was alive. I washed EVERYTHING they brought home. I'm sure only a fourth of it was actually dirty. Noah's jeans reeked like I don't know what! I had to hold my breath to pick them up off the floor. And I seriously tossed the socks that he came home in, in the trash.
They are home for a week, then off to youth camp and Moe will go to Webelos camp with Sam. I will be spending one whole morning (3 am to 11am) driving them to the church where they will leave for camp. One of the families at church (whose son is going) is going to let me drive their new suburban. :-) Oh to drive something that is not overheating or about to shatter its windshield all over me!
Last year, at summer camp, Sam took 600+ pictures. This year there are 49. He spent a lot of time just sitting in camp due to health reasons. Here are a few choice ones.
Sailing class is NOT boring
Found on one of the men's cots!
Basketry merit badge
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Slowest Week Ever
No, I have not fallen off the blogging wagon. There just hasn't been one thing to share.
Yes, there is the buzzing noise that I am convinced is inside the house. It happens regularly, but not for long enough for me to follow it and wsee where it is and what it is. It sounds like my phone when it's on vibrate, but my phone is right here. I thought you all should know that.
The car windshield is about to shatter, so I have had to drive the big, old truck this week. It don't like to drive it. The steering is loose, first gear is difficult and there is no AC; and we had 107 lovely degrees in our fair city yesterday. So if I want to go anywhere it has to be before dawn or after dark, not dusk, dark.
Sam, Noah and Quinton are at BSA camp this week. It's just me and Moe and every-other-day, his friend D. And on alternating days, just me, because Moe is at D's house. D's brother is also at BSA camp this week. Moe and D get along so well. They are both laid back and they just flow from one thing to the next. Where Quinton and D's brother are just alike, but in a bad way. They both want to run the show and it results in bickering.
The only thing that I've done all week happened yesterday. I went to the pool with D's mom, who-has-the-same-name-as-my-mom-and-is-from-Pennsylvania-like-my-mom. I love saying that. (OK that noise is going to make me insane!) And then, I went to church for family movie night. We watched Faith Like Potatoes, which is a true story, very inspiring.
So that's it. No funny boys stories. Tomorrow is payday and therefore bill and grocery day. I'm going to have to go early in the morning so that I'm not driving the big, old truck in the heat.
Yes, there is the buzzing noise that I am convinced is inside the house. It happens regularly, but not for long enough for me to follow it and wsee where it is and what it is. It sounds like my phone when it's on vibrate, but my phone is right here. I thought you all should know that.
The car windshield is about to shatter, so I have had to drive the big, old truck this week. It don't like to drive it. The steering is loose, first gear is difficult and there is no AC; and we had 107 lovely degrees in our fair city yesterday. So if I want to go anywhere it has to be before dawn or after dark, not dusk, dark.
Sam, Noah and Quinton are at BSA camp this week. It's just me and Moe and every-other-day, his friend D. And on alternating days, just me, because Moe is at D's house. D's brother is also at BSA camp this week. Moe and D get along so well. They are both laid back and they just flow from one thing to the next. Where Quinton and D's brother are just alike, but in a bad way. They both want to run the show and it results in bickering.
The only thing that I've done all week happened yesterday. I went to the pool with D's mom, who-has-the-same-name-as-my-mom-and-is-from-Pennsylvania-like-my-mom. I love saying that. (OK that noise is going to make me insane!) And then, I went to church for family movie night. We watched Faith Like Potatoes, which is a true story, very inspiring.
So that's it. No funny boys stories. Tomorrow is payday and therefore bill and grocery day. I'm going to have to go early in the morning so that I'm not driving the big, old truck in the heat.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday Morning Coming Down
I thought yesterday would never end. Fourth of July in our town goes like this, parade at 10 am, then lots of festivities at the park, then fireworks at 9:30. Probably a lot like your town.
At least one of the boys has been in the parade more years than not. Yesterday, Noah marched with BSA. The other two insisted on watching so they could get candy. I was pretty irritated by their greedy attitude. Supposedly the organizers restricted the amount of candy floats could have, but I couldn't tell. Rumor is that next year there won't be any candy at all. Good.
I was a little annoyed by the parade in general. All the businesses in town use it as free advertising. And two of the floats featured the Preamble to the Constitution. So what? I'll tell you so what. It's INDEPENDENCE Day. Why not feature the Declaration of Independence?? And then there was that world peace float. This is America's birthday, is it wrong to celebrate the birth of our country?
We don't go to the park during the daytime on the Fourth. It's too hot and things get a little crazy there. I did let Noah go down there with his friend for several hours. We live a mile up from the park and they walked (willingly) back and forth twice. Letting him go down there alone was a big step for all of us. He's getting big.
So we packed for camp and finished watching Hell's Kitchen. Oh and Moe and Quinton ate candy. And ate candy. And ate candy. I like to just get it out of the house asap, rather than store it for months and months. So I let them eat it until it's gone, or they throw up. Whichever comes first.
Sam hurt himself during the morning and didn't feel like watching fireworks. So I took Moe and Quinton by myself and they abandoned me and I watched all alone. You feel bad for me don't you? Noah went to his friends house to help him pack for camp and to watch fireworks from the pool. lucky.
I'm dropping Sam and Noah and Quinton off to go to camp this morning. For the first time in 3 years, Sam is not driving. I'm praying the men that are going will kinda look out for him and not let him do things to hurt himself. All the doctors that he's seeing said it was ok. He enjoys camp as much as the boys.
Moe and I will be partying all week at the city pool. Or cleaning. With one boy at home there probably won't be any silly boy stories. I am planning on watching the season before last of Hell's Kitchen and will be planning anniversary surprises.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
~C
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Liberty and Worship
I thought I might try to write something about LIBERTY since today is Independence Day and the new title of this blog is Liberty. But nothing has really formed. All week I have been reading Psalm 133 and Galatians. Kind of an odd combination. Galatians is Paul's letter to encourage the churches in Galatia not to give up the freedom they have in Christ for the bondage of religion. Sometimes I wonder if the modern church has done just that. Given up true freedom for religious trappings which have fragmented the Body of Christ. Psalm 133 is about corporate anointing. It says that when brothers (not just biological) dwell (literal meaning to sit down to judge) in unity (to be alike, not agree to disagree) then it is like the anoiniting oil that flowed down Aaron's (the first High Priest) beard and the edge of his robe. The modern American church is certainly not united and the anointing seems almost non-existent. I know that it irritates people when the wrongs of the church are pointed out. I have given up pointing out the wrongs of society, because they are only doing what is their nature. Our nature should be to become more and more like Christ and THEN true liberty will ring in America once again.
Here are the songs we are doing for worship this week in our congregation.
"I Will Exalt the One"
"Nothing But the Blood"
"Unto the Lamb"
"Revelation Song"
Here are the songs we are doing for worship this week in our congregation.
"I Will Exalt the One"
"Nothing But the Blood"
"Unto the Lamb"
"Revelation Song"
Friday, July 3, 2009
It's Back! Stream blogging
I think I'm all caught up on funny boy stories. So who knows where this is gonna go. I haven't done stream of consciousness blogging in a long time. Let's go there.
BSA camp is next week. Sam, Noah and Quinton are going. Moe and I will be home all week, probably swimming with his friend D and his mom who has the same name as my mom and is from Pennsylvania like my mom. I need to sew badges on shirts today. When Sam was in the Air Force, I worked in the alteration shop on base. Most of what you do is sew on badges. It was one of the worst jobs I have ever had. It killed my love of sewing. I liked washing dishes at the Officer's Cub better than that job. I hate having to drag out the sewing machine. It takes longer to set it up than to sew two little old badges on. Did you know there's not even a BSA sewing badge?? There should be.
I started making 20th anniversary plans yesterday. There is a Lady's Retreat the weekend before and church leader training the weekend after. Originally, we planned on going to the Caribbean or Panama. (I know PANAMA...how exotic! Trust me, it's the hottest new romantic destination.) We were going to use the in-law's time share week. That has just gotten to be quite the mess. So scratch that.
The next place my mind goes is to a B&B somewhere quiet. My ideal vacation, regardless of the reason, is somewhere quiet. Knowing that we would be at a certain location the Friday night that week, I decided on Fredricksburg. F-Burg (too long to type) has a real mix of B&B's. Some of very nice, romantic, plush. Some are super cheesy and look like sheds.
I spent hours looking at lists of B&B's in the Hill Country and ended up very confused; to the point that, one of my top three choices was one that we stayed in for our 10th anniversary. I know that it's nice, they have a huge-mungo jacuzzi tub in the room and a huge, yummy breakfast.
So, I'm telling Sam about them and wanting him to look at the websites with me. And he says, "Are you set on a B&B?" Which threw me. No, I guess not. Where else would we stay? I'm thinking luxury hotel. Quiet of course. He suggested a cabin at one of the state parks. At first, I was like..."Camping? What?" But I like to camp. And camping in a cabin would be luxurious compared to the way we usually camp...hiking with 30 pound packs. And it would be way quieter than San Antonio AND we could always drive into town for a nice anniversary dinner. There wouldn't be a huge jacuzzi tub, and October would be a bit cool for swimming. But I'm happy with the choice. Today I will be looking at state parks and maybe even go nuts and look at private camp grounds.
Before I go, I have to tell you that our family has officially entered the technology age. I called Noah on the phone (he was sitting on the deck) last night, from the dining room to see if he was going to come in to eat.
Have a blessed day :-)
BSA camp is next week. Sam, Noah and Quinton are going. Moe and I will be home all week, probably swimming with his friend D and his mom who has the same name as my mom and is from Pennsylvania like my mom. I need to sew badges on shirts today. When Sam was in the Air Force, I worked in the alteration shop on base. Most of what you do is sew on badges. It was one of the worst jobs I have ever had. It killed my love of sewing. I liked washing dishes at the Officer's Cub better than that job. I hate having to drag out the sewing machine. It takes longer to set it up than to sew two little old badges on. Did you know there's not even a BSA sewing badge?? There should be.
I started making 20th anniversary plans yesterday. There is a Lady's Retreat the weekend before and church leader training the weekend after. Originally, we planned on going to the Caribbean or Panama. (I know PANAMA...how exotic! Trust me, it's the hottest new romantic destination.) We were going to use the in-law's time share week. That has just gotten to be quite the mess. So scratch that.
The next place my mind goes is to a B&B somewhere quiet. My ideal vacation, regardless of the reason, is somewhere quiet. Knowing that we would be at a certain location the Friday night that week, I decided on Fredricksburg. F-Burg (too long to type) has a real mix of B&B's. Some of very nice, romantic, plush. Some are super cheesy and look like sheds.
(this is an actual b&b in F-burg)
I spent hours looking at lists of B&B's in the Hill Country and ended up very confused; to the point that, one of my top three choices was one that we stayed in for our 10th anniversary. I know that it's nice, they have a huge-mungo jacuzzi tub in the room and a huge, yummy breakfast.
So, I'm telling Sam about them and wanting him to look at the websites with me. And he says, "Are you set on a B&B?" Which threw me. No, I guess not. Where else would we stay? I'm thinking luxury hotel. Quiet of course. He suggested a cabin at one of the state parks. At first, I was like..."Camping? What?" But I like to camp. And camping in a cabin would be luxurious compared to the way we usually camp...hiking with 30 pound packs. And it would be way quieter than San Antonio AND we could always drive into town for a nice anniversary dinner. There wouldn't be a huge jacuzzi tub, and October would be a bit cool for swimming. But I'm happy with the choice. Today I will be looking at state parks and maybe even go nuts and look at private camp grounds.
Before I go, I have to tell you that our family has officially entered the technology age. I called Noah on the phone (he was sitting on the deck) last night, from the dining room to see if he was going to come in to eat.
Have a blessed day :-)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Sleep Well?
Moe and Quinton come up with some crazy creative ideas when they're forced of the computer or DVD player. Last year it was the chuck wagon. Recently, for reasons that I don't understand, they decided to construct a bed.
For a while, they were sharing Quinton's bedroom. I had to separate them because of bickering. Quinton is like me and needs his own space. Fine. God blessed us with a 4 bedroom home. So I moved Moe back into the school room. And I've been slowly moving school stuff out of there.
They still like to bunk together, though. It may have something to do with the fact that there is a TV in Moe's room. I'm not a supporter of TVs in children's rooms. It was there for school. And now I have nowhere else to keep it. I'd give it away, except that it has the only working VCR in the house. Apparently Quinton tired of sleeping on the floor.
One day during Sam's surgery recovery, we heard the buzz of the circular saw outside. A scary sound if being made by 9 and 11 year olds. Sam told them to use the hand saw. OK. The hand saw is rusty. I'm thinking that cutting your finger off with the circular saw would be better than with the rusty hand saw. Whatever.
After a few hours of hacking away at 2x4's, they came in with this:
Comfy, huh?
Quinton's new bed. For use in Moe's already overcrowded room.
Their newest thing to bicker over is where it should be stored.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Quiet Time, Quiet Place
Maybe you were unaware that God sent a hail storm just for me. I'm sure of it. A few months ago, there was a really wild hail storm. We had about 15 minutes of pounding, pelting marble-sized hail. When it was over, it looked like it had snowed an inch. The ground was solid white.
It totaled our roof and poked several holes in the vinyl siding. Our insurance agreed to replace both. Hallelujah! Sam decided to upgrade the roof to a 30 year roof and the siding to Hardie Plank. The upgrades came out of our pocket. In the process of removing the siding, we had to remove the rickety back porch. How sad. not.
Take a little rabbit trail with me. My sweet mother-in-love has a wonderful, peaceful garden. I love to go to her house and just sit outside all day. Even with the east Texas mosquitoes and humidity. God is there, just waiting. I have wanted a place like that. I tried to set up the former school room with a corner for myself. But as soon as I put on any music, or prayed out loud, one of the boys would poke his head in to see what I was doing. In fact, no matter where I go inside, one of the boys pokes his head in to see what I'm doing. I tried to set something up outside, but our yard was just not peaceful. No grass, just dirt. I couldn't focus on anything. I wanted to sit somewhere pleasant. Is that too much to ask?
The other upgrade that Sam wanted to do was a deck to replace the back porch.
A man named Angel (how appropriate) finished it Monday. And I have been going out there every morning, to have coffee with God, instead of my email and Facebook. I am happy and content.
Here are my views. And all around me is the sound of doves. Really. (And the sound of other roofs (why not rooves?) being replaced due to the hail.) My Abba loves me.
It totaled our roof and poked several holes in the vinyl siding. Our insurance agreed to replace both. Hallelujah! Sam decided to upgrade the roof to a 30 year roof and the siding to Hardie Plank. The upgrades came out of our pocket. In the process of removing the siding, we had to remove the rickety back porch. How sad. not.
Take a little rabbit trail with me. My sweet mother-in-love has a wonderful, peaceful garden. I love to go to her house and just sit outside all day. Even with the east Texas mosquitoes and humidity. God is there, just waiting. I have wanted a place like that. I tried to set up the former school room with a corner for myself. But as soon as I put on any music, or prayed out loud, one of the boys would poke his head in to see what I was doing. In fact, no matter where I go inside, one of the boys pokes his head in to see what I'm doing. I tried to set something up outside, but our yard was just not peaceful. No grass, just dirt. I couldn't focus on anything. I wanted to sit somewhere pleasant. Is that too much to ask?
The other upgrade that Sam wanted to do was a deck to replace the back porch.
A man named Angel (how appropriate) finished it Monday. And I have been going out there every morning, to have coffee with God, instead of my email and Facebook. I am happy and content.
Here are my views. And all around me is the sound of doves. Really. (And the sound of other roofs (why not rooves?) being replaced due to the hail.) My Abba loves me.
Oops!
The boys have no qualms about wearing hats that they find. I don't know why they don't care. It's not like I encourage them, or have ever even said, "Hey! look! a hat in the ditch. Why don't you go run and grab it and wear it until it falls apart!" In fact, I have said, "Put that hat down! Gross! Don't touch it!" They don't really listen to me in such matters. They do not consider me an expert on hats or found objects.
So Moe(9) acquired a flat hat from one of Noah's friends. It's not that I think Noah's friends have lice or are even dirty in general, but I was taught never to wear another person's hat. Maybe you are unaware of the flat hat. I'm sure I am not even going to do the flat hat justice, since I don't know anything about boys' hats. Here is what I have observed. The flat hat is a baseball cap which has a flat brim. FLAT, not curved in anyway. Many boys who wear the flat hat, wear it askew. Many flat hats have shiny screen printing. Boy bling? In my very humble, old momther opinion...they look stupid.
But Moe wanted to wear the flat hat. As I said, appearance is not a battle that I fight with the boys. Handwriting, nosepicking...these are the things that I fight. So I let him wear the flat hat, until Noah's friend asked for the hat back. Again, gross. Why would you want a hat that a sweaty 9 year old has been wearing from sun up to sun down?
Moe began to ask for his own flat hat. As in...please to buy him one. I kept denying the request. I do have to be married until death and my husband does choose to fight the appearance battle.
Part of Sam's crusade to make his boys look like clean-cut, all-American boys is to get their hair cut regularly. Now here is where you are going to see that I am indeed cheap. I hate to pay for haircuts. Hate.to. In our life before children, when Sam was in the AF. We bought some clippers in order to save money on the weekly haircuts he needed. I mutilated his hair. But we kept them, and now I just buzz his head once a month. Everyone is happy. I save $15 and Sam has short-short hair. I would buzz the boys' heads, but they won't let me. Something about being unfashionable.
Moe found an $8 flat hat at StuffMart. I told him that I would buy it if he would let me buzz his head. He agreed.
The day finally came when all the factors for the buzz lined up. He sat down and I proceeded to buzz, using the widest guard we have. He wiggled a lot. He never wiggles for the ladies in the StuffMart hair center. They don't buzz his head, either. To make this story a bit shorter, the guard fell off and I cut a huge rectangular hole in the back of his hair!
Now, he has to wear the flat hat in order to cover up the goof and to protect his mother's reputation.
Tomorrow, the story of Moe and Q's new bed.
So Moe(9) acquired a flat hat from one of Noah's friends. It's not that I think Noah's friends have lice or are even dirty in general, but I was taught never to wear another person's hat. Maybe you are unaware of the flat hat. I'm sure I am not even going to do the flat hat justice, since I don't know anything about boys' hats. Here is what I have observed. The flat hat is a baseball cap which has a flat brim. FLAT, not curved in anyway. Many boys who wear the flat hat, wear it askew. Many flat hats have shiny screen printing. Boy bling? In my very humble, old momther opinion...they look stupid.
But Moe wanted to wear the flat hat. As I said, appearance is not a battle that I fight with the boys. Handwriting, nosepicking...these are the things that I fight. So I let him wear the flat hat, until Noah's friend asked for the hat back. Again, gross. Why would you want a hat that a sweaty 9 year old has been wearing from sun up to sun down?
Moe began to ask for his own flat hat. As in...please to buy him one. I kept denying the request. I do have to be married until death and my husband does choose to fight the appearance battle.
Part of Sam's crusade to make his boys look like clean-cut, all-American boys is to get their hair cut regularly. Now here is where you are going to see that I am indeed cheap. I hate to pay for haircuts. Hate.to. In our life before children, when Sam was in the AF. We bought some clippers in order to save money on the weekly haircuts he needed. I mutilated his hair. But we kept them, and now I just buzz his head once a month. Everyone is happy. I save $15 and Sam has short-short hair. I would buzz the boys' heads, but they won't let me. Something about being unfashionable.
Moe found an $8 flat hat at StuffMart. I told him that I would buy it if he would let me buzz his head. He agreed.
The day finally came when all the factors for the buzz lined up. He sat down and I proceeded to buzz, using the widest guard we have. He wiggled a lot. He never wiggles for the ladies in the StuffMart hair center. They don't buzz his head, either. To make this story a bit shorter, the guard fell off and I cut a huge rectangular hole in the back of his hair!
Now, he has to wear the flat hat in order to cover up the goof and to protect his mother's reputation.
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