For the Sake of the Call

Faith Hope Love Family Card

2010-12-01T21:04:00.001-05:00

Faith Love Family Religious

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With Wings As Eagles: Scripture & a Snapshot

2010-10-11T11:59:00.002-04:00

I captured this bald eagle in flight during our rafting trip down The Snake River through the Grand Tetons in September. I couldn't resist sharing it with one of the best verses in the Bible. Who doesn't love this one? The entire chapter is so solidly encouraging! How could it not be considering verse one begins with, "'Comfort, O comfort My people,' says your God."?!? Isaiah spends the next 30 verses doing just that with challenging questions of,

"Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?"

Sometimes, when I'm consumed with myself and settling down for a pity party, those are the exact kind of questions I need to hear! But Isaiah doesn't just ask hard questions; he continues with the Truth of Who God is culminating with,

"The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired;

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary..."

(verses 28-29a).

And then, The Climax...the soaring on wings like eagles, the running without getting tired, the walking without fainting.

Some people think faith in God is a crutch. Crutches are cumbersome. Crutches are inadequate. If anything, faith is a wheelchair that completely carries us; better yet, it's the wind thermals upon which eagles soar. Eagles don't strain themselves while in flight. They soar, riding the waves for hours.

And it's majestic!

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Your God beckons you to wait on Him, to put your hope in Him. He alone can renew your strength and cause you to soar on the wings of eagles.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Visit Katie to link up with your own Scripture & a Snapshot!

Midway Geyser Basin: Scripture & a Snapshot

2010-09-28T15:47:00.002-04:00

The Bible and Photography...it doesn't get much better than that, so I'm excited about this brand new "Scripture & a Snapshot: giving glory to God through our photos" Challenge.

Being in Yellowstone, it was hard to deny the handicraft of God, so it was easy to pick a photo that gives glory to God and easy to pick a Scripture to go along with it! At times, it just seemed like God was totally showing off. Time and time again, He took my breath away with the majesty and diversity of all that He had created.

This photo was taken at the Midway Geyser Basin. It was a place unlike any I'd ever seen, and truly the photo doesn't do it justice. You really have to go there yourself.

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory."

Isaiah 6:3

The Ugly Side of Weight Loss

2010-09-25T09:45:00.001-04:00

When the doctors were initially trying to come up with a diagnosis, they would ask, "Have you lost any weight?" I always replied, "I couldn't be so lucky." Early on, I continued to joke about cancer as a weight loss program. It didn't take me long to realize how inappropriate that kind of joking is.

I have not lost any weight since I started treatment. In fact, yesterday, I weighed in at 171lbs, my heaviest yet (I'm sure that had nothing to do with the Peanut M&Ms that sustained me in Yellowstone). My heaviest ever is 180lbs when I was 9 months pregnant with my first child. I am bloated from constipation, and I feel fat. But my doctor doesn't want me to lose any weight right now, not even a single pound. Now is not the time to begin a weight-loss program. From what I've heard, in the early years of chemotherapy treatment, they found that they were losing more patients to improper nutrition (basically starvation due to lack of appetite and constant vomiting) than to the cancer itself. So, they've tried to combat that excessive weight loss in the hopes of keeping people alive while the treatment kills the cancer.

Before they give me my chemo meds, they administer nausea drugs and a steroid. For the first couple of days after chemo, I take nausea pills regularly. Also, the first 5 days after treatment, I take Prednisone. It's meant to battle the side-effects of fatigue and loss of appetite. It masks a lot of the aches and pains side effects and provides an artificial strength. Often, my body crashes the day after I stop taking it. While I'm on it, I find I have the munchies a lot. I was never a big snacker, so this is a huge change for me. The thing is that chemo affects your sense of taste. So, I get the munchies, go to eat something, and discover it tastes horrible. Many weight-loss programs tell you that if you're not enjoying what you're eating, stop eating...especially if it's something unhealthy. But right now, my job is to eat, no matter how bad the food tastes to me. One of my nurses tells me to think of African tribes who eat bugs, and force myself to eat. I have, and because I haven't had the energy to exercise, I've gained weight, and I think, "I couldn't be so lucky as to lose weight, even when I get cancer." And then I enter the treatment room.

While I sit in my recliner, where my body is pumped with toxins, I observe the other patients. Some of them are within normal weight ranges, but some are deathly thin. There are men whose legs are like stilts. Their faces are gaunt, their cheeks and eyes sunken. Their arms and wrists and fingers are so thin, that you wouldn't be surprised to hear that they'd been in a concentration camp. The cancer has wreaked havoc on their bodies. They struggle with nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Baseball caps hide their bald heads. It's obvious that they're dying. I don't even know them personally, but it breaks my heart to see them like this. These men were once hard-working, strong men; many of them were farmers. Now, they look like they could break if they carried anything heavy or engaged in manual labor.

At times like these, I'm thankful for the 40lbs of extra weight that I wish I could lose. Thankful that my body has responded better to the chemo. Thankful that I haven't had any vomiting and that my body has been able to absorb the nutrients from the food I have often forced myself to eat. Thankful that I'm not a sickly skeleton. I am ashamed of the thoughts I've had and the words I've spoken. I am appalled that I once thought that their was beauty in being an anorexic, stick-figure model. I have seen the ugly side of weight loss. While I still can not embrace the inner tube that hangs around what was once a trim waist, I am thankful that cancer and chemotherapy have not been the weight-loss program I once wished they could be.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Nowhere Hair

2010-09-24T12:00:00.009-04:00

Children look at me funny since I've lost my hair; even when I'm wearing a hat or a scarf. They're curious, intimidated, wary, frightened...They hesitate to come near me. They stare. At restaurants, in church...

Children have never been afraid of me before; in fact, many were quite captivated with me. But not now. My own children hated to see my bald head initially. "Put your hat back on, Mom," they insisted.

For all these reasons, I was delighted to happen across this new book yesterday. In yesterday's PR web release, one reviewer is quoted as saying,

“Nowhere Hair offers an age-appropriate and honest explanation to children while speaking to the adult in a way that is empowering. Women
who know they will lose their hair are reminded they are still beautiful and vibrant, even when bald."

I was able to talk to my own kids about losing my hair, try to prepare them for it beforehand, and help them deal with it afterward. Only one other child has asked me why every time she sees me now, I am wearing a scarf. She and her sister listened, asked questions, and then dared to look at my bald head. Her younger sister wasn't sure if she wanted to see it or not; but in the end, they both looked at it and accepted it. Although, they expressed that they prefer I keep my hat on. I can't have that conversation with every child that crosses my path. I wonder how many kids ask their parents, "Did you see that lady wearing the hat in the Yellowstone? Did you notice that she didn't have any hair when she took her hat off to take that picture? What happened to her hair?" This book might help with such discussions.

Please check it out and pass it along! Put in requests to your libraries so that they will order it and more families can utilize it. And read it to your kids; even if you don't have cancer yourself. For them...for me.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Visit my Caring Bridge page for my most recent treatment update.

Producing Responsibility Organically

2010-09-21T20:25:00.001-04:00

This summer our family has enjoyed weekly Farm Fresh Deliveries. Not having the energy or time to manage our own garden or get to the local farmer's markets, we have been blessed to have organic and local produce delivered to our door. Having it delivered to your door does not always take you off the hook as far as work goes though. The food still needs to be prepared and served before it spoils. In some instances, this has required me to search the Internet looking for kale recipes. Other times, I just have to remember to use the food we received; and this summer, that hasn't always happened. Far too often, more produce was delivered before the first batch had been eaten; ashamedly, there were too many fruits and veggies that were thrown away because they'd gone bad waiting to be used. Failure to menu plan coupled with a lack of energy at dinner time led to unfortunate and unacceptable waste.

My dear husband has done his best to try to limit this waste and has even enlisted the kids' help. Tonight, his training and encouragement bore fruit as we received our first delivery since our return from Yellowstone. The dog viciously announced the arrival of the delivery man, and I called to the kids to bring her in. Then, before I knew it, they'd emptied the bin, putting all the produce away in the fridge. I walked into the kitchen to find my nine year old daughter slicing the strawberries into a container.

There have been many times in the past several months that I've felt like an epic failure as a wife, mom, and housekeeper because of what I have been unable to do. But my inability has given others, including my kids, an opportunity to step up and help. My children have become more responsible these past seven months that I have been sick...because they had to. I needed them to help out more with chores, housework, and cooking, and they have! So rather than beat myself up for my irresponsibility in allowing organic produce to go to waste because I didn't do better at planning and executing, I am choosing to be grateful that my children are learning responsibility which is the best kind of produce I could desire. God's Word says that, "His strength is made manifest in my weakness." I would have to add that my kids' ability has been made manifest in my weakness as well.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Long Overdue Update

2010-09-21T17:03:00.001-04:00

It was rotten of me to begin a series on my journey with cancer and then not update my blog for almost three months. I sincerely apologize. I didn't mean to leave you hanging. I still intend to finish blogging about the journey, but until then allow me to "sum up."

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on May 12, 2010 and began twelve bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments on May 13th. I am currently 3/4 of the way through chemo; this Thursday will be my ninth treatment. I had a CT Scan about a month ago which revealed that the medio-stynum mass has shrunk to a very small mass which could likely be scar tissue. I will finish chemo on October 21st and then about 6 weeks later have a PetScan to determine if there is any cancerous activity. If there is, I will undergo radiation. The mass in my left breast which was originally thought to be cancerous and then determined to be "atypical cells" is also reduced in size. About 6 weeks after I finish chemo, I will have an MRI to determine the status of that mass and how to proceed.

In the meantime, I've had a busy summer trying to juggle parenting four kids and cancer and life. We are blessed to be able to continue homeschooling this fall. We just returned from the best. fieldtrip. ever. to Yellowstone and parts out west. It was an amazing experience despite having to deal with side effects from chemotherapy.

I started a Caring Bridge site to keep friends and family updated. I invite you to come visit. You can read the journal entries I've posted this summer to get caught up a little more. I do hope to begin blogging again. I need to finish my cancer journey story for my own sake, and it would be fun to blog about our Yellowstone trip (I tried to keep a real journal and that just didn't happen.). Though I've been mostly uninspired lately, there are still times when I'm struck with the urge to blog. I just struggle to do anything consistently anymore.

Thank you for your continued prayers. God has been so faithful throughout this journey. I am so thankful for the grace and compassion He has shown me in the midst of this trial.

Grace and Peace,
Angel
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelicagrunden

P.S. When I open my blog there is an annoying square with a message that the photo has been removed from Photobucket. It follows me as I scroll down the page. I have no idea why it's there or how to get rid of it. If you know what I can do, please advise. Otherwise, I'm sorry for the annoyance. Never mind, I figured it out. I guess I haven't been blogging so long that Blogger changed things...I need a blog overhaul, but that's just not on the priority list at the moment.

My Journey With Cancer: Part 4, The 2nd Biopsy

2010-06-26T15:00:00.002-04:00

Click here for Part 1.
Click here for Part 2.
Click here for Part 3.

The next day (Friday, May 7th), I got in trouble with my pulmonologist again. This time, I had taken my cell phone along to the park, but I didn't answer it, and I neglected to listen to the voice mail until we were leaving the park. There was another message from him telling me that the results from the needle biopsy were inconclusive, and they needed a larger sample. When I called him back, I got an earful about answering my phone and keeping it with me at all times. How did these doctors function before cell phones? Anyway, that night I went in to the hospital at 5pm for the biopsy. I hurried to work out childcare and be there in time only to have to wait two hours for my surgery.

My surgeon was great, another Christian man. I've never before had a doctor take my blood pressure, but since most of the staff had gone home for the night, he was the one who did the pre-op things and got me settled himself. He'd added me to his schedule as the last surgery of the day, and then had a very full day with complications that backed everything up. His wife called while he was operating on me, as he was supposed to be home already. I don't envy doctor's wives and families!!

I was awake during the procedure, and the only bad thing was when they used a tool to cauterize. The nurse said, "If it smells like a BBQ, you're the BBQ." Nice! It's a horrible smell. Despite the late hour, the pathologist was on hand to make sure the sample was adequate. He's a wonderful, compassionate man! He is so well respected, that the doctors and nurses are all in mourning over his upcoming retirement. They hate when he is out of the office and a substitute takes his place. Apparently, none of the other Pathologists will talk to patients about their initial findings or gut instincts as he had done with me the day before. I was so blessed by him. While the surgeon worked, he stood at the head of the bed and talked to me. Of course, his idea of small talk was telling me about the different types of cancers I might have and what they would be looking for. LOL These doctors have their own sense of reality! It was really like having a grandpa there with me, and I kept thanking him for staying late for me. He told me that long ago he had realized that he had to live with himself, and he couldn't sleep at night unless he knew that he had done everything he could for his patients. What an amazing example of service and sacrifice! I was truly blessed when I found out that he was leaving for a family trip to Puerto Rico as his father-in-law is in the final days of his own battle with cancer, and they wanted to enjoy this time as family before he passed. He stayed until he had a sample he was happy with, some time after 8pm, and then went home to prepare for his trip the next day. Then, while he was in Puerto Rico, he called back frequently over the course of the next 5 days to check in with the lab; he spurred the other Pathologists on until they reached a diagnosis.

The surgery was not as simple as the surgeon thought it would be. It ended up taking 1 1/2 hours, and they had to cut a major muscle to get an adequate sample. I left the hospital at 8:30pm, and by the time I neared my house, I was in excruciating pain. I got to CVS just before they closed to fill a prescription for pain meds, and by the time I arrived home at 9 pm, I was completely exhausted and in tears. I also hadn't had anything to eat or drink since breakfast! It had been a long week!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

My Journey With Cancer: Part 3, Meeting the Oncologist

2010-06-25T14:00:00.005-04:00

Click here for Part 1.
Click here for Part 2.

I'm horrible about keeping track of my cell phone and keeping it charged. I didn't have one for the longest time, and finally broke down and got one a year ago. People said that I would soon wonder how I'd lived without it, but that hasn't happened. I just don't like cell phones. Just as we were pulling out of the driveway to go to the hospital for biopsies, I realized I had forgotten it inside; but since we were running late, I decided to just leave without it.

After speaking with the radiologist and pathologist, we went to my mom's house to pick up the kids. We lingered there for a while, sharing the news we had received. By the time we finally got home, I had two messages on my home answering machine and one on my cell phone from the pulmonologist. Not wanting to waste any time, he wanted to get me in to see an oncologist immediately. His favorite oncologist would be in the office that afternoon, and had agreed to squeeze me in to the schedule. If I had to wait until the next day, I could see another oncologist which he said was okay, but he really wanted to get me in with the first oncologist. He had set up an appointment for 12:30pm, and he really needed me to call him! It was 12:10pm, and the hospital is 20-25 minutes away. After we picked up the kids, my mom had left her house for the afternoon to go to her old house in the city, 20 minutes the opposite direction, so I was going to have to find someone else to watch the 4 kids I'd just picked up from her house. If I'd had my cell phone on me, we wouldn't have had to drive home from her house (5 minutes from the hospital), and she could have just taken the kids with her to the old house. Sigh!

We managed to work everything out. The oncologist told us that we just needed to be there by 1pm. I felt horrible doing it at the last minute, but I called one of my best friends, whose house is on the way to the hospital and who had just had a baby a few weeks before. She agreed to watch my 4 kids (in addition to her 5). Don't you just love friends like that?!?

We got to the oncologist, and it turned out that we knew more than he did. He had seen the CT Scans, but he didn't even know about the biopsies. So we filled him in on everything that the radiologist and pathologist had said, and he told us some general things about Lymphoma and its treatment. The appointment was somewhat informative, but it was all very speculative. He was able to schedule a Bone Marrow Scan and Pet Scan, which were important, and it was good to get in to see him when we did so that we could get him as our doctor. He's a Christian and works part-time so that he can spend time with his kids. I've found out that quite a few people I know had him as their oncologist, or have family members who were treated by him. Everyone says he's excellent. And he is my pulmonologist and family doctor's favorite.

After the appointment, we went back to Rebekah's house to pick up the kids. Her mom was there. Apparently, she'd had some chest pain earlier in the day and had been to the doctor for tests. They wanted her to come back in 4 hours for more tests; so, she was hanging out at Rebekah's until then. As it turned out, she'd had a heart attack. While we were at the appointment, Rebekah had made us a lasagna dinner, in addition to having a houseful of 9 kids, including a newborn!! I was so blessed, and even more so when I found out a few weeks later, that it had been her birthday!! Some birthday, her best friend finds out she has cancer, and her mom has a heart attack ! But here she is, making me lasagna on her birthday! I didn't even know enough to say, "Happy Birthday!" let alone give her a card or a present. I still owe her a cake!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

My Journey With Cancer: Part 2, The Biopsies

2010-05-15T20:47:00.003-04:00

Click here for Part 1.

The first number on my clock was a six, but since it's thirteen minutes fast, I knew it was still five-something. Too early for me to be getting up, especially after the fitful night's sleep. We headed to the hospital for the tests. It was a very surreal experience. I was glad Chris was with me, but his presence illuminated the serious nature of what we were doing. Before we had retired the previous night, Chris had been playing a song on his guitar and singing. The lyrics of the song had run through my head all night long, and continued with me as I waited and throughout the CT scans.

"Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we turn to You

Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we long for You

'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day

In Your Pres- ence all our fears are washed away, washed away

CHORUS

Ho- san- na, ho- sanna

You are the God Who saves us, worthy of all our praises

Ho- san- na, ho- sanna

Come have Your way among us

We welcome You here, Lord Jesus

Hear the sound of hearts returning to You, we turn to You

In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new, You make us new

'Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day

In Your Pres- ence all our fears are washed away, washed away"

Paul Baloche-"Hosanna"

Send "Hosanna" Ringtone to your Cell

"He says it is breast cancer," the Radiologist stated matter of factly. I was still lying on the table, after the first biopsy, waiting for her to begin the neck biopsy, when she uttered these words. I was stunned. Despite regular breast self-checks, I had been unaware, until they informed me that the CT scan had revealed a mass in my left breast. After an ultrasound, they decided to biopsy it as well as the mediastynum mass that the CT neck scan had revealed. The Pathologist was on hand, examining the biopsies as the Radiologist took them. It was based on his analysis that she said these words; as she proceeded with the neck biopsy, my ears filled with tears as they rolled down my cheeks. "Are you okay?" she asked, "Of course you're not okay!" But I was determined to remain strong, and I needed to focus on lying still during the biopsy, so I forced myself to regain my composure. I wished the nurse would stop rubbing my elbow. She was too compassionate. She pitied me. Her touch said, "She's so young, she has 4 kids, she's too young to deal with cancer." It exacerbated my emotions and made it more difficult for me to remain calm. I determined at that moment that I didn't want anyone to pity me. I am too blessed to be pitied.

At the start of the first biopsy, a new song had replaced Hosanna. An old favorite which I hadn't heard in years, yet every word came immediately to mind.

God is in control.

We believe that His children will not be forsaken.

God is in control.

We will choose to remember and never be shaken.

He has never let you down,

Why start to worry now?

He is still the Lord of all we see,

And He is still the loving Father

Watching over you and me!

Twila Paris- "God is in Control" (excerpt)

The Radiologist and Pathologist both met with us after the biopsies were over. For some reason, the Radiologist reminded me of Hilary Clinton. In contrast, the Pathologist was more of a tender-hearted grandpa. They say he walks on water, and everyone speaks of his upcoming retirement with great remorse. Apparently, none of the other Pathologists talk to patients after the biopsies. They don't share their initial thoughts, and the patients leave to wait to hear from their doctor. As we waited to talk to them, I asked Chris if they had said anything to him, wondering if the ominous words had reached his ears. They hadn't. I deliberated about telling him what they had said to me, or waiting until they did. I couldn't keep it to myself, so I shared the news. He held my hand. He was still so calm.

The doctors shared what they had observed. The mediastynum mass was a fast growing, necrotic mass that started behind my sternum and went up to my neck. They said that was a positive thing because it would respond well to chemotherapy. It was judged to be the size of a red plum, and was most likely lymphoma. The mass in my left breast was about an inch big. They described the tests that they would do, and the chance that they might need a larger sample than the needle biopsy had produced. They told us that they would need to determine whether we were dealing with one cancer or two. There was little hope that the results would be benign. It was a matter of what kind of cancer they were dealing with, not whether I had cancer. I remained composed throughout this informative session, taking notes on a piece of yellow legal paper. I did not cry anymore. I needed to concentrate and understand the information they were providing. They answered all of our questions, and we returned to my mom's house to pick up the kids.

We would later discover that the mass in my left breast was formed of a-typical cells, but not thought to be cancerous. I can not critique the Radiologist for speaking so hastily; I'm just relieved that their initial prognosis was incorrect. It would be almost a week until we had a complete conclusive diagnosis. A week of waiting, praying, and trusting in my God.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

My Journey With Cancer: Part 1, From Pneumonia to Cancer

2010-05-14T20:50:00.006-04:00

Malignancy. He used the word cautiously, eyeing my two youngest daughters who were sitting in the room with me. After 2 1/2 months of struggling with fatigue and a cough, from which I would enjoy a brief respite only to return when I attempted normal activity again, a lump had formed in my neck a few days before. My family doctor was obviously concerned. He insisted upon a CT scan of my neck and chest, ordered more blood-work, and instructed me to keep the appointment with the Pulmonolgist to whom he had referred me a couple of weeks before. That was Monday, May 3rd.

Wednesday, I reported to the Pulmonologist. Wishing he was reviewing a CT scan instead, he analyzed my chest x-ray from two months previous. He asked probing questions, and as he thought aloud, he commented that it was curious that I'd responded to the antibiotics. "Or the steroids," I said, having been through two rounds of both. "Steroids!" the light bulb seemed to go off in his head, and suddenly the pieces of the puzzle started coming together. This fullness he saw at the top of the chest x-ray, viewed through the presence of the lump that had formed in my neck, led him to mention the possibility of lymphoma.

Lymphoma. Biopsy. Oncologist. The words that came out of his mouth caused tears to well in my eyes. I struggled to be brave and hold them back, but my lip quivered. He quickly dialed the number of the Radiologist, and handed me a box of tissues. Wanting to "expedite" things, he worked to finagle a biopsy after my scheduled CT scans, if necessary. Then, while I was in what he thought was a somewhat sane frame of mind, he went on to explain the sequence of events that would occur should the biopsy be positive. He also strongly urged me to bring my husband with me for the procedures, because I would probably need somebody to hold my hand.

My heart was heavy as I drove to my mom's house to pick up the kids. I stunned her with the recounting of my conversation with the pulmonologist. I paused first, and choked back a sob, each time I said the words biopsy and lymphoma. I took the kids home, rushed my daughter to dance class, and then went to my room to process things. As I sat in the dark, I cried. I was tired and overwhelmed. I prayed. I stayed in my room for about 45 minutes or so processing everything. I can't remember when I called my husband or told him. Maybe he called me on his way home from work. I remember that his response was very stoic and matter of fact. I had worked out with my mom that she would keep the kids overnight, so they were packing their things. We returned to have a quiet dinner with her. It was Cinco de Mayo, and she made spaghetti.

Sweet Shot: Orchid

2010-04-20T10:08:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I spent a lovely day with my mom and kids. We started the day bright and early at the Garfield Park Sunken Gardens. When the tulips are spent, they invite the community to pay $5 to come in and dig the tulips out and take the bulbs home so that they the annuals can be planted. There were a ton of people there with shovels and wheelbarrows, and within 45 minutes the entire garden was emptied of all but a few people searching the dirt for lost bulbs.

Afterward, we spent some time in their conservatory where I was contentedly shooting along until my camera battery died. (Note to self: charge your battery, especially when you only have one.) There were beautiful varieties of orchids and all kinds of exotic flowers that I'd never seen before. I am continually amazed by the detail, diversity, and creativity of God's handiwork. Even the leaves of the plants are intricately designed in so many unique shapes. How glorious must God be when He creates such beauty as this?

When I splurged on a DSLR camera, I chose to invest in a Macro lens rather than a zoom. For years, I'd spent hours in my yard with my old point and shoot trying to take the photos of flowers that I envisioned, only to be frustrated by the quality of the pictures and the inability to get the camera to focus on the close-up shots. I didn't want to have the same frustration with a several hundred dollar camera in my hand, so I bought the Canon 60 mm Macro. As I pour over macro photography books, I know I have a long way to go before mastery. Regardless, this is still a pretty sweet shot.

If you have a sweet shot to share this week, link up with Darcy.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Midwest Homeschool Convention Recap

2010-04-12T23:45:00.001-04:00

Since I returned home from the Midwest Homeschool Convention, I've been wondering where non-homeschooling parents go for instruction, encouragement, challenging, and resources on parenting and life with kids. Homeschool conventions are so much more than places to peruse and purchase curriculum. This weekend's convention in Cincinnati had nearly 300 sessions and workshops on everything from nationally known expert John Rosemond's "Parenting the Strong Willed Child" (or Teenager); to worldview seminars with speakers from Summit Ministries and veteran homeschoolers like David Quine; to marriage and family sessions. Courtship, dating, nutrition, finances (and teaching kids about finances), taking college entrance exams, and children with learning disabilities were popular topics in addition to the plethora of writing, math, science, and history workshops. Every homeschool convention that I have ever attended has been a tremendous source of inspiration and wisdom. This year was no different!

One thing that was different this year is that my husband and I allowed our 12 1/2 year old son to crash our traditional date/getaway weekend. Since Ethan is entering 8th grade next year, it is our desire that he begin to take ownership of his own education. As much as I, as a home-educating mom, can get discouraged, we saw that he, too, was getting discouraged. We hoped that the convention would be as therapeutic for him as it has been for us over the years. Needless to say, he had a great time and was challenged. Summit Ministries speaker John Stonestreet was one of his favorites, and Chris and I gleaned much from the couple of sessions we attended with Ethan. He also enjoyed learning to study like a genius and The Human Calculator. We had some great conversations with him, and he relished the respect and freedom we gave him. The highlight of the weekend for him, though, was Tim Hawkins' performance. I must admit that I laughed quite a bit myself!

Chris was most encouraged by Tim Cash. Chaplain for the Atlanta Braves, this guy leads a men's bible study which includes Chris Tomlin, Mac Powell, and Jeff Foxworthy. Can you imagine being in a Bible study with Jeff Foxworthy? or spending time in worship with Chris Tomlin & Mac Powell?? Very cool! I appreciated his wife Barb. How could I not when she incorporated readings of a couple of her blog posts into her talk?!? ;)

Chris and I both were extremely impressed with Dr. Jeff Myers of Summit Ministry and Passing the Baton. What a tremendous vision for his family he has, and what a fabulous ministry he has in encouraging people to develop a Christian worldview. And I'm not kidding when I say that he was funnier than Tim Hawkins. At one point, Chris had tears in his eyes he was laughing so hard. Let's just say we can relate to his description of his children's behavior during family worship. By the way, have you ever considered that Jesus' disciples were probably mostly teenagers? Imagine the conversation about the feeding of the 5000 with the disciples' voices changing and you'll never read the Gospels the same again. If you're confused, maybe you should go get one of his CDs and judge for yourself (we listened to "Rescuing Children from the Culture of Irresponsibility").

As for me, I need a bulleted list to limit my ramblings. So, since I've become so adept at communicating in Facebook status update format:

Angelica Dawn...

gained a fresh perspective on writing from Julie Bogart of Brave Writer, a professional writer and homeschool mom whose course The Writer's Jungle teaches kids how to write the way professionals learn, rather than the way educators teach. (She has a blog too!)

started crying at Julie's booth and was blessed by her wise counsel and compassion.

became less anxious about homeschooling through high school because of Lee Binz and Inge Cannon and began to think about transcripts, achievement tests, and applying to colleges.

was convinced by Lee Binz that by homeschooling with excellence, her kids can earn full scholarships to the colleges of their choice. I'll let you know in 5 years how that turns out, Lord willing.

was reminded that her goal in home-educating is not to produce geniuses, but to raise men and women who will stand up in Auschwitz and offer their lives that another might live. (Thanks to Dr. Jeff Myers.)

chatted with Spunky and was convicted of her out of whack priorities. My children and my husband need me more than my Facebook friends.

was grieved as John Stonestreet opened her eyes to the entertainment driven society of which she is a part.

laughed until she was gasping for air during Tim Hawkins' performance.

continued to reap the benefits of marriage to a godly and supportive husband.

appreciated anew the wonderful young man her son is becoming.

enjoyed the sweet fellowship of fellow home-educating families from around the country.

wished she had bumped into Julie and could have spent more time with JenIg.

purchased a fabulous worldview curriculum from David Quine, Starting Points.

found a Yellowstone Unit Study and a Geology textbook to use in preparation for our family vacation this September.

filled a suitcase with purchases from Miller Pads & Paper. Love them!!

bought a few autographed copies of some horse books for her daughters written by homeschool graduate Victoria Kasten.

purchased 10 CD sessions so that the learning and inspiration doesn't have to stop just because the weekend is over.

dined on Quaker Steak and Lube BBQ wings.

is ready to press on, make some changes, and pursue homeschooling with excellence.

Sigh...It was a wonderfully exhausting weekend!

If you're a homeschooler and you haven't attended a homeschool convention, you're totally missing out; you need to go! As weird as it may sounds, if you're not a homeschooler, I think you'd glean a lot from going yourself. And I don't say that to try to convert you, though you might begin to analyze and rethink your decision to put your kids in public or traditional school if you opened your heart to the message of many of the speakers. Truly, the experience is invaluable to all parents. There's nothing that the secular or public school world offers to equip and encourage parents that's anything close to what a homeschool convention offers. (Of course, that's the way I feel about what homeschooling offers to children as well.) I already have next year's convention on my calendar. Care to join me?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

A Plea for an Orphan Boy

2010-04-06T21:59:00.000-04:00

Many of you know that last summer we considered adopting a boy from Ukraine. While God did not lead us to do so, another couple in our church decided to adopt the boy that they had hosted. Joy and Mark McClain have raised three godly children, and have a beautifully testimony of the faithfulness of God in restoring their marriage and their lives. Joy has had a heart for adoption for years and went on many missions trips to orphanages but thought that God had closed the door to adoption for them. Then God worked to bring this Ukrainian boy into their lives, and to stir her husband's heart to adopt him. (You can watch a video about their journey to bring Artem home here.) It's been a total work of God, and in two weeks they are scheduled to go to Ukraine and finalize the adoption. Unfortunately, they do not yet have the funds to do so. A couple of options for a grant and loan they had applied for have fallen through and they are in a place of having to trust God completely to provide the remaining funds.

As we have considered adoption, so many of you have been so supportive and encouraging. Many have said that they would love to adopt if it weren't so expensive. Some do not consider that this is the right time or phase of life to consider adoption at all. God's Word makes it clear that we believers have a responsibility to care for the orphans. Whether you are called to adopt yourself, having been adopted by God, you have a responsibility to share His love with the orphans. James 1:27 states very clearly, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." The Greek word for visit in this verse means to look upon and care for.

There is a wonderful, godly couple who is ready and willing to live out this verse, but several thousand dollars stands in their way.

Will you stand in the gap for them?
Are you willing to be a part of what God is doing through them?
Will you look upon this orphan boy and give of your own finances so that he can be cared for?

I know that "in this economy" people are struggling financially. I know that things are tight. But God is faithful. I know that He is able to provide. Will you trust Him enough to permit Him to provide through you?

The Fatherless Foundation is a wonderful organization that provides financial assistance for adoptive families. Please pray and consider giving them a gift, ear-marking it for Joy & Mark McClain. (http://www.thefatherlessfoundation.org/GetInvolved.aspx) You'll be making an investment in the life of a child and storing up treasure in heaven.

Thank you for reading and considering this couple and their orphan boy, Artem. May God bless you abundantly!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Bedfast in Spring

2010-03-30T18:42:00.004-04:00

Spring is springing here in the Midwest, but I haven't been able to enjoy it much as I've been recuperating from pneumonia. I pulled myself out of bed this afternoon to taxi my kids to and from piano lessons. Since I was up, I decided to enjoy the sunshine and daffodils a bit before retreating once again to my chamber. As it's the only photo I've taken this week, I suppose it's also my best. ;) I'm sharing it for Darcie's new Sweet Shot Tuesdays in the hopes that it will garner many prayers and well wishes. I fear that my dear Facebook friends are growing weary of my lamentations. ;)

Happy spring!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

The Battle of My Life

2010-02-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

I gave up anger for Lent.

Lent is not a something that I have ever observed. It wasn't emphasized in the churches I attended, and it wasn't a tradition in our family. I know people who celebrate Lent and fast from something every year. This year as they started sharing what they were giving up for Lent, I thought about participating; but Ash Wednesday came and went, and I hadn't committed myself to fast from anything. So it seemed that I'd once again just ignore this 40 day period leading up to the celebration of Christ's resurrection. But God didn't let me off the hook so easily.

This past weekend, while in the throes of a nasty head cold, I had the awesome opportunity to chaperon at Dance Revolution, a Christian dance conference that my girls attended with their ministry dance team. From the very beginning of the conference, the Spirit of God was moving in a powerful way. Saturday evening, tears streamed down my face as I enjoyed the showcase of dances the participants performed. Some of them were so unbelievably God-honoring that I was completely blown away. It was a thrill to watch my girls' troupe passionately pour out their hearts in dance as they took a stand for Christ and challenged others to Stand Up.

Sunday morning began with a presentation of "The Tree." Once again, tears overflowed from my eyes. This time the tears were not of joy, awe, and adoration of the King; rather, they were tears of grief, conviction, and indignation towards my sin. As my sin was portrayed in front of me, my heart cried out, "No more!"

I have a sin problem.

From the time I was a toddler, I have dealt with anger regularly. I decided in high school that I would not get married or have children because of my temper. "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his path," and after years of wrestling with God and allowing Him to change my heart, I got married instead of going to law school. One month after we were married, I was pregnant, and gave birth to a son 10 months into our marriage.

For years, I was determined that I would not yell. Period. My strategy was that I would whisper every time I wanted to yell. My struggle with anger did not end. I still had moments of rage, but I did not allow myself to yell and scream at my kids. Not quite 5 years into our marriage, my husband accepted a position in another state and started working there. For eight months, he was gone all week and only home on the weekends while I was on my own (with a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a newborn) trying to sell our house. It was during this time that my resolve not to yell was overcome, and Pandora's Box was opened.

Even after our family was reunited, I did not cease yelling. I wanted to change; I tried to stop, I kept apologizing to my kids and to God, but I couldn't seem to control myself. I can remember vividly, being pregnant with my 4th child and screaming at the top of my lungs. I remember thinking of how I'd played classical music for my 1st child when he was in utero because I wanted to nurture him with beautiful and good things even before he was born; and now this 4th child was already experiencing my wrath and rage before her arrival into the world. I wish I could say that this had no effect on her, but regrettably, my youngest daughter learned from me and has followed in my sinful path since she was a toddler.

It has been 8 1/2 years since Pandora's Box was opened, and a lifetime since my struggle with anger began. I have walked with the Lord Jesus all the days of my life, but this sin continues to entangle me. I am reaping the consequences in my relationship with my kids, and I can see the negative ramifications of allowing myself to freely express my anger.

"A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man keeps himself under control."
Proverbs 29:11

God has been working on my heart for years over this matter and has especially been challenging me to put off my anger, wrath, and malice, in the past few months. This weekend, I finally bent the knee and cried out with all my heart, "I don't want to be angry anymore! Lord, I don't want to lose my temper ever again!!" He heard my cry and is leading me in victory.

Unfortunately, as I mentioned, I am not alone in this struggle. My seven year old daughter is so quick to become angry and explode. The anger in her heart is painfully evident on her face; it's frightening! I have tried to teach her to be slow to become angry, but not surprisingly, my hypocrisy wasn't very effective. "Do as I say, not as I do," accomplishes little. So, while I fight my own battle against anger, I am engaged in a battle for and with my daughter against hers. It has not been an easy couple of days as we declare war on our enemy, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is giving us the victory in Christ Jesus. Our hearts are so entwined together as we struggle to overcome our sin, but we know that, "the anger of man does not achieve the righteous life that God desires."

This is not a battle I am willing to lose!

So, this Lent, rather than giving up chocolate, or sugar, or Facebook, I am committed to giving up something far more poisonous and deadly...anger. If I could exercise the self-control to fast from Facebook, why not exercise that same control over getting angry? If I could deny my flesh by not allowing it to indulge in chocolate, is it not even better to crucify my flesh by forbidding it to be controlled by anger?? And if, through the power of the Holy Spirit I can fast from anger for 40 days, then why not for the rest of my life?!?!?! God has begun the surgery on my heart. He is so loving, compassionate, merciful, and patient. He and I are ripping out the seeds that have been planted and growing for these 33+ years, and I am praying that the Spirit would begin to produce His perfect fruit in me. I am willing, and He is able!

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions...and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:19-25

I covet your prayers for me as well as my Evangeline. Never before have I been so committed to anything! "Faithful is He who calls us, and He will bring it to pass."

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Excited About Giving

2010-02-03T12:42:00.001-05:00

It's tax return time. Everyone is hunting and gathering all of the necessary documents and spending tedious hours filing their returns. The drudgery of the exercise is alleviated by the excitement of "spending" the tax refund.

I've had a lot of fun spending the tax refund over the years. Two years ago, it paid for my fancy-pants DSLR camera. Last year, we paid off debt, and part of it went towards a new guitar for my husband. One year, it paid for a new wood floor in our family room. Non-essential purchases that are pipe-dreams at other times in the year suddenly become possibilities as we speculate on how big the return will be and how far it will go. This year, we hope to get back enough to cover the expenses at the Midwest Homeschool Convention (hotel, meals, and curriculum purchases) as well as our trip to Yellowstone in September. There are home improvement projects I'd love to tackle, and I'd really like a new camera lens too; but, I'm skeptical that the refund will be big enough to cover all those expenses.

As much as I get excited over "spending" the tax refund, I'm even more excited about the opportunity it provides to GIVE. It is our practice to tithe off of our tax refund just as we tithe off of my husband's regular income. It's not a legalistic thing that we do out of compulsion, but a joyous occasions to give back to God a part of what He has given to us. It's all His anyway; giving a tenth is truly the least we can do.

Our normal tithe throughout the year goes to our local church. The tithe off our income tax refund is an opportunity to support a charity, organization, or individual that we don't regularly support throughout the year. Over the years, we've had a lot of fun prayerfully deciding where our tithe should go, and we've had some awesome opportunities to use it to bless others. It's impossible not to be cheerful about giving from our abundance. It's really quite fun!

This year there are so many needs: Haiti; an upcoming church missions trip to build houses in Mazatlan, MX; friends who are raising money for adoption; families who are struggling from unemployment... The more we give, the more we are challenged to give more, and the less it makes sense to keep.

I don't know if other families tithe off of their income tax refunds, but I hope they do. The Bible says, "God loves a cheerful giver." If you can't give cheerfully, it's time to examine your heart to determine why that's the case. Everything we have comes from God, and we are to be good stewards of it all. We need to hold everything with an open hand and be generous. If we don't make a conscious decision beforehand to give, it's very easy to spend it all without a thought of others or of what God desires.

I challenge you to prayerfully consider how you can give. For many of us, the tax refund is a bonus, so you really don't have any excuse not to give. Don't rob yourself and others of the blessing that comes from giving cheerfully by clinging too tightly to the things of this world. Embrace the opportunity to make an eternal investment. You won't regret it!!

So, what are your tax refund wish-list items, and what charities or individuals has God placed on your heart to whom you can give? I'd love to hear!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Adoption, Kimmie, and Ethiopian Princesses

2010-02-01T15:43:00.004-05:00

Tuesday night, Chris and I will be attending an initial adoption informational seminar. We appreciate your prayers for us as we go, that we would be able to clearly discern God's leading as we prayerfully consider expanding our family through adoption.

One of the most beautiful and inspirational women who has encouraged me to pursue God's will through adoption is Kimmie of Over the Moon with Joy. If you don't know Kimmie, you're totally missing out. Kimmie is the mama of 7, one homemade and 6 adopted. Her youngest daughter, the Ethiopian Princess Mercy, is about the cutest thing that you've ever seen in your entire life!!

One would think that adopting 6 children would be quite enough, but when God fills your heart with love for another Ethiopian Princess, how can you say no? Kimmie's heart is aching for her Ethiopian daughter, Princess Sweetness, who has been in an orphanage for the past 5 years and longs to be united with her family in America. $15,000 stands between Princess Sweetness and her forever family. Would you please visit her blog and pray about how you can support this godly family as they desire to bring Princess Mercy home??

Thank you again for your prayers!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Crazy Love & Haitian Orphans

2010-01-20T17:51:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: As it turns out, there are no orphans en route to Indianapolis after all. Our application is on file IF and when they are, but for now, please continue to pray for all the orphans who are still in Haiti. This adoption thing sure is an emotional roller coaster!

I finished reading Crazy Love last night. It was such a simple book, but deeply profound and potentially life changing. You really need to read it...and apply it!!

The message of Francis Chan's book went hand in hand with some other books I read last year like Dangerous Surrender, and others. I continue to be challenged to live a life of absolute surrender to my Lord Jesus Christ. I am challenged to live simply so that others may simply live. And just when I begin to wonder what that looks like practically speaking, I received word that there are Haitian orphans en route to Indianapolis who need host families who are open to adoption.

So after praying with Chris last night, I submitted our application this morning indicating our desire to host and willingness to adopt 2 Haitian orphans between the ages of 4 and 10, preferring at least one boy. It appears that we're not the only couple in the Indianapolis metro area who is willing to follow Jesus in this matter as one of the agencies who is coordinating host families has been inundated with e-mails and phone calls. We may not end up being contacted at all. We are waiting and praying and covet your prayers as well. You can find more information and follow this situation at the Safe Families Haiti blog.

May God's perfect will be done in the lives of these orphans.
May they come to know Jesus through this tragedy.

May God give wisdom and discernment to the volunteers who are matching orphans with host familes.
May He strengthen them and guide them through the logistical issues.

May He give us courage to follow Him wherever He leads.

May His Spirit be at work in His people to draw them into lives of absolute surrender.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

P.S. This post sounds so calm, but in all honesty, I am struggling to focus on anything else at the moment. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but my heart is overflowing for these orphans. Please pray!

Must Read Post

2009-11-16T10:46:00.002-05:00

This is my dear friend. Please go read her post.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Going Public

2009-11-09T20:44:00.001-05:00

On August 10, 2009, I shared with you how my son Recommitted his life to Christ. Two months later, he came to us and told us he wanted to be baptized. After praying and talking to our pastor, he made a public profession of faith on October 11.

I enjoy the way our church does baptism. We meet at a fitness center which has a small pool. After the service, the congregation gathers together in this small room to watch the baptism.

While the pastor talks and prays with the person who will be baptized, our worship leader plays his guitar and leads the congregation in worship. There is a break in the singing, and our pastor will introduce the person pray aloud, and then pray with him again privately while the congregation sings another song or two. The baptism occurs in the midst of the singing, which is interrupted by a cheer when the believer is raised up out of the water, after which the singing continues.

Often, a child's father will join him in the water, and even conduct the baptism. It's such a worshipful environment! A couple of weeks earlier, two other of our youth were baptized. Tears rolled down my cheeks throughout the entire baptism, and the most precious moment of all was when the 10 year old girl who had just been baptized was standing on the side of the pool, wrapped in her towel, dripping wet, singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy," while another boy prepared to be baptized. Glorious!

Before Ethan's baptism, our wonderful friend Tom went over to talk to him. I so appreciate the godly men that our Heavenly Father has put in our lives who are willing to reach out to our son.

Ed led us in worshiping, singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord" while Pastor Toby and Ethan talked.

While Chris, Ethan, and Toby prayed, we sang "Here I Am to Worship."

Then, Ethan was baptized by his dad.

I wish this photo weren't blurry; it's priceless to me anyway! Maybe if the photographer weren't crying, she could have focused better. ;)

I wish we could have had our entire family present, but I am thankful that my dad, my mom, and my brother were able to join us for the baptism.

God is doing a mighty work in my son, and I rejoice to witness it! I'm overflowing with gratitude for this godly father standing at his side (and mine) as well!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Back on My Knees

2009-10-26T15:08:00.001-04:00

Does this kid remind you of anyone?

He's a Ukrainian orphan boy who is available for hosting for a few weeks after Christmas. The hope is that he'll be adopted after visiting the United States. He's from the same orphanage as the orphan boy we met last summer. That boy will be joining his adoptive family this November, Lord willing. And we just found out that a couple from our church is pursuing adopting another boy from this orphanage who they hosted this summer. Very exciting!

Now, we're waiting and praying about whether we should host this boy, who has such an uncanny resemblance to our own son (with the idea that we may adopt him). Just yesterday, as the couple at church shared of their decision, Joy shared of how they anguished before the Lord over this decision, and how they didn't want to do it out of guilt, or obligation, or if the Lord were not it in. Just like Moses, we too do not want to proceed unless the LORD is with us, leading and guiding every step of the way. And we trust that if He is leading, then He will provide all that is needed. So I'm once again I'm back on my knees, challenged that I too need to prioritize time for anguishing before the Lord. And as I do so, I am totally relating to the lyrics of Sara Groves' song Hello Lord, from her Conversations CD (which I happened to be listening to when we were anguishing this summer about whether to adopt V.).

Hello Lord, it's me your child
I have a few things on my mind
Right now I'm faced with big decisions
And I'm wondering if you have a minute, cuz

Right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up
I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I just can't hear you.

I don't doubt your sovereignty
I doubt my own ability to
Hear what you're saying
And to do the right thing
And I desperately want to do the right thing

But right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up
I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I just can't hear you.

And somewhere in the back of my mind
I think you are telling me to wait
And though patience has never been mine
Lord, I will wait to hear from you

Oh Lord, I'm waiting on you

Right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up
I know that you tore the veil
So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but
Right now, I think you're whispering

Once again, I covet your prayers; especially that if this is of the Lord, that God would make that clear to my husband. Thank you!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

The Story Behind the Pictures

2009-10-23T20:50:00.000-04:00

The sun has been hiding from us lately, and it's been a very dreary autumn. One of my favorite fall scenes is a vibrantly colored tree against the clear, perfectly blue sky. So when I caught a peek of the sun this afternoon, I grabbed my camera and ran outside to try to capture my yellow tulip poplar against the blue sky before all its leaves are on the ground.

Then, I got the brilliant idea that we should head over to the closest park where the trees are more colorful. Of course, that was easier thought than accomplished. The next half hour was reminiscent of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, except not nearly as sweet or endearing. Being the perfectionist that I am, everybody had to change into fallish colors and...

hunter green is great, but not with Boy Scout stuff written on the front, and

yes red, but no faded I Love You t-shirts, and

a short-sleeved plain red shirt is not acceptable either and

don't you have any blue jeans that fit you? and

Mom, all my tan pants are all dirty.

As if the clothes drama was not enough, we then began the hair drama. Because heaven forbid that anyone should have neatly brushed hair in the middle of the afternoon! The hair brushing led to lectures on the appropriate frequency of showers and even an impromptu hair cut for my son. Then there was much yelling and frustration over hair clips that are repeatedly borrowed and never returned. All the while, I'm hurrying and prodding everyone with much impatience as I don't want to miss this small window of time while the sun is shining.

We finally loaded into the van and headed to the park...

...where it was raining.

I wouldn't be deterred, so we began our photo shoot in the rain which bedraggled our hair. I don't know that bedraggled is a verb, but that's how our hair looked after standing in the sprinkling rain. Oh and windblown, because after all it is Indiana where it's windy in autumn. I knew that. So much for brushing!

I wish I could say that we had a fabulous time, and that my stepping backwards into a giant mud-puddle while trying to get just the right shot led to much mirth and merriment; but in all honesty, my son couldn't find his smile and fought tears of frustration while I told him to smile when he claimed he was already smiling. I could just see him cursing the day I ever got a fancy pants camera.

So over 350 pictures later, do you think I can be content with any of them. A few, I guess. Though, honestly, looking at the pictures is a little bittersweet after all the quarreling, drama, and whatnot. You should all be glad that I'm not your mom.

This was the best smile I could get from my son, and it came from telling him to think of Dallas Clark in the endzone. I asked him to keep the smile and lose the fists in the air, but then he lost the smile again.

There were some smiles and silliness from the younger two. It wasn't all bad. They're still young enough to forgive their mother's tirades and tantrums...for now.

By the way, this is my favorite sweater. I've had it for many years. It's pilling like crazy, and starting to shrink up, but I still love it.

In the end, I'm left contemplating it all; wishing I could chill out and not get so stressed over things like clothes, hair, barrettes, and photo shoots.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Back to Homeschool

2009-09-02T13:56:00.000-04:00

It's back to the books week around here. We kinda-sorta school year-round, but this summer looked more like un-schooling, so the adjustment to what has been roughly seven hours a day of textbooks and copywork and Pre-Algebra lessons and...has been a bit rough. The kids have had great attitudes overall, but I've been pretty wiped out. Especially since I haven't had the chunk of quiet time I need to put together lesson plans, so I've been doing that every night after the kids get to bed.

A few weeks ago people were posting pictures of their kids, but I wasn't organized enough to get into that "not back to school" thing. But, I did think to take pictures on our first day, and even enlisted my husband's help in a class picture, complete with the "teacher." Enjoy!

E- 12 years old, 7th grade

El- 10 years old, 5th grade

EM- 8 years old, 3rd grade

ED- 6 1/2 years old, 1st grade

First Day of School 2009-2010

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Orphan Update

2009-08-24T20:22:00.003-04:00

Do you remember our Eastern European orphan friend? Here's an exciting update. Please be praying that God would be working in the details as Jeff & Lydia pursue adopting him. They'd like to have him home by Christmas. I know it's the best Christmas present he could ever dream of receiving. God is faithful.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Show and Tell: Avoiding the Flash

2009-08-17T12:27:00.000-04:00

For one who doesn't post frequently, this is a seemingly random post, but I finally got caught up with Chickadee's blog and found that I've been missing out on her fabulous new series Using Your Camera Without Reading the Manual. Reading her tutorial about raising the ISO to avoid using a flash inspired me, so yesterday I poured over my much neglected uber-manual, Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital Photography, and ventured away from the automatic settings to the manual ones.

This is the first picture I took, using the automatic Portrait setting (the picture of a face on the dial). The flash popped up automatically when I took the picture.

On this one, I went to one of the Manual modes and set the ISO to 400.

These are both straight out of the camera. In the first one, the flash caused her skin to look more yellow, while the second picture produced more natural skin tones. (Ironically, the ISO speed on both pictures is 400, but the flash popped up automatically on the automatic setting and didn't on the manual...puzzling.)

The difficulty I had when switching to the manual settings was with FOCUS. I read in my manual, but still struggled to overcome the focus issues I was having (especially when my subject wasn't sitting perfectly still), so I'll have to keep playing, or perhaps my dear friend Chickadee can teach me about focus. ;)

And since I'm posting pictures, I must include one of the adorable fellow who insisted on moving while I was attempting to capture his picture. My sister got a Brittney Spaniel puppy for her birthday. Flash or no flash, he's the cutest thing!!!

Thanks, Chickadee for inspiring me to get out my manual and play. :) Anybody else who wants to join us can share your pictures at A Familiar Path.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Recommitted

2009-08-10T22:08:00.001-04:00

I've mentioned before that I've had some challenges with my son in the past several months. He's had issues with laziness and not following through. I struggle with those myself at 34, so I'm not surprised, but it has been frustrating. He and I have been butting heads quite a bit, and there has been a general lack of respect towards me, which has been difficult, especially since I'm the one at home with him all day. As a result, I've found myself searching my own heart, examining my role in these issues, and praying for reconciliation.

One of the most disconcerting things to me was his spiritual condition. E has always had an aptitude for spiritual things, earning himself the nickname Matthew Henry (a great theologian of yore who wrote excellent Bible commentaries). The trouble is that he always knew the right answers and could explain great theological precepts from a young age, but that knowledge wasn't translating into a changed life. It didn't seem to be impacting his heart and actions. These things were of grave concern, as we have no desire to raise a little pharisee. Again, this became a matter of prayer, and God has been faithful to answer my prayers.

Over the course of the past month, I have been noticing changes in my son. On his 12th birthday, when asked if he felt older, he said yes, though not physically, but in his mind. He said he knew things now that he hadn't know before. Enigmatic and interesting. For his 12th birthday, he received an air rifle, and he completed an on-line hunting safety course. He and his dad are planning a weekend camping trip to go squirrel hunting. We also gave him the books Sentinel: City of Destiny (a fabulous Christian allegory geared towards pre-teen boys) and Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. He read through the former in less than a day, calling it a really great book. He was less enthusiastic initially about the latter book, due in part to the title, but once he began reading, he dubbed it a really good book as well and has been sharing insights that he's been gleaning from reading it. Tonight, he even carried it along to his scout's meeting.

I've noticed an effort on his part to be more cooperative. He's also been more respectful, more kind, and even more affectionate. He even expressed appreciation for my help in cleaning his room a couple of weeks ago, as we worked along side each other (instead of fighting). I've been reading Age of Opportunity:A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, so I've been working on my attitude and actions as well.

This weekend was another turning point. While the girls hosted a slumber party, the boys spent the night elsewhere and went to the shooting range to practice for their hunting trip. I really think the added time with Dad, especially in a mature activity like shooting, has been so good for him.

In church on Sunday, one of the men announced the Jr. High kick-off cookout, shared how God had called him to lead the Jr. High ministry and the vision he had for it. I was impressed and encouraged. He then taught the Jr. High Sunday School class, and E was really enthusiastic about the lesson he taught on the four spokes of prayer, bible study, fellowship, and witnessing. Nothing revolutionary, but somehow it impacted him afresh. They'll be going through The Way of the Master as a group together. I'm very encouraged about the new leadership, and excited to see what God does in this group.

After last night's cookout, Chris and E were able to have a great discussion, which was initiated by E. He shared that he'd been thinking about his prayer to accept Christ in his top bunk when he was about four, and wondering whether that was real or not. Chris challenged him to pray about it, and ask God to reveal Himself to him.

This morning, while I was in bed reading, E came in with a huge smile on his face and tears rolling down his cheeks to tell me that he'd prayed to accept Christ, and recommitted his life to Him. When I asked him about it, he said that he had been reading his Bible and just wasn't sure that he'd been serious when he prayed at four years old, so he prayed and told God that he knew he'd been sinning, asked for His forgiveness, and recommitted his life to the Lord. There was such sincerity, joy, and enthusiasm, as he shared what he'd done with me that my heart was so full with joy to see it. Hallelujah!!

After talking with me, I encouraged him to write in his journal. When he was finished, he came back to me and asked what he could do to help me. So I suggested that he unload the dishwasher. A few minutes later, I heard that he had put in a worship CD, and he was singing at the top of his lungs, praising Jesus, while unloading the dishwasher. Oh how it blessed my heart!!

I'm so grateful to witness the work that God is doing in my son. I love him so much!! I look forward to seeing what God will continue to do in him and through him as he continues to submit to the Lordship of Christ and surrender to Him. I'm also so thankful to know that we'll be spending eternity together in heaven. God is faithful!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Life in Random Bullets

2009-07-27T16:18:00.001-04:00

No time for a real post means fun with bullets!

I prefer Meijer generic ice cream sandwiches to WalMart generic ice cream sandwiches, and yes there is a difference! So much of a difference, in fact, that I had to buy a box of Meijer brand for myself and gave the kids the Walmart brand.

After VBS today, my eldest daughter (10) said her favorite part was Story Time, followed closely by tye-dying. That totally warmed my heart since I was her Bible Story Teacher. You'd think she'd be tired of just me! It's also encouraging, because I'm working with the 4th & 5th graders for the first time. Usually, I teach the younger kids, or do music, so I was worried the older kids might get bored, and they didn't. To God be all the glory!!

I've only had to run the air conditioning for a couple of weeks this entire summer! It's been glorious!!

I finished reading Dangerous Surrender. Fabulous!

My clothes are fitting too tightly! I refuse to accept that it's the ice cream sandwiches, so my dryer must be shrinking my clothes...I ought to have someone come look at it.

I shouldn't have bought the bag of "fun-size" Twix and the other bag of "snack-size" Snickers!

I made a huge mess cleaning my schoolroom, got it picked up after 3 days, threw out a big bag of recycling, and the room doesn't look any cleaner than when I started! I wish an organized friend would come over and help me make sense of it!!

I finally got organized enough to join Paperback Swap. I got my first book in the mail today (a hardback copy of And the Shofar Blew). I even overcame my nemesis (the Post Office) and mailed two books!

I've taken so many pictures this summer of camping, boating, fishing, birthdays, etc. and haven't done a thing with them!

I haven't gotten as much academic work done this summer as I had hoped/planned.

My middle daughter (8) has read 136 books for the summer reading program so far; most of them are chapter books, some of them were quite long and challenging.

I am gleaning so much from reading Paul Tripp's Age of Opportunity! If you have teens, or will within the next few years, I highly recommend it!!

Yesterday, just as I was prepared to tell the kids at the door, selling cookie dough, that I wasn't interested, the boy said that their family was fund-raising to adopt an 8 year old girl from Ukraine, through the same program from which we met our orphan friend. How could I say no after that?!? It made me a little sad that we weren't adopting ourselves!

I'm woefully behind on blog reading. My blog reader is telling me that there are 27 unread posts at A Familiar Path, and that's one of the blogs I usually keep up with pretty regularly! Altogether, I have 678 unread posts.

It's sad to be so behind on blog-reading, because I have the best and most encouraging blog friends on the world wide web!!

Any bullets you'd care to share with me?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Answers and Reflections on Pursuing Adoption

2009-07-21T11:22:00.001-04:00

I'm waking up to yet another gorgeous day in what has become the most perfect summer (weather-wise) that I can ever remember. This weekend we went camping, and it was in the 70s. The next two weeks forecast highs of 81! It's July!!!

Today is my eldest daughter's 10th birthday. Double digits with the teen years looming in front of us as my son turned twelve last Friday. The pre-teen attitudes and adjustments have hit us full force, and there has even been talk of "girlfriends" with the very first mention of an actual girl. I don't know if I'm ready for all this or not, but I better get ready.

Speaking of getting ready, after much prayer and waiting on the Lord, the answer with regard to adopting is Wait! The experience with our orphan boy opened our eyes to the reality of orphans and the need for adoptive parents. It has given us a sense of urgency as well, but no sense that God is leading us to adopt immediately. There is much yet to do to be ready to pursue adoption seriously!

We came into this process with the thought that we might adopt someday. We had not done any research, talked seriously with other adoptive families, read any books, saved any money, had a home study done, etc. etc. While we trusted that God would equip us to do whatever He called us to do, whenever He called us to do it, and while we didn't want to miss the opportunity that God might be dropping in our lap this summer; we felt a bit overwhelmed and unprepared to embark on adopting a child immediately. After much prayer, we sense that He is calling us to wait on Him, so wait we will.

As we prayed, there were several issues that came to the surface that we have been challenged to deal with so that we can be ready if/when He calls. One of the biggest issues is my present relationship with our son. He and I have been butting heads lately, and there are times when the frustration is so great that it seems like the relationship is disintegrating before us. I have realized that I am unequipped and unprepared to be a mother to a teenager. The strategies that I've used all these years raising toddlers and younger children are not adequate when dealing with pre-teens and teenagers. Before I bring another son into the picture, I better make sure that my relationship with my current son is healthy! There was also an unsettling feeling about how close in age the two boys would have been, with our orphan friend being not even a year younger than our son. I think it would be better for our family (and our son) to consider a boy that is at least 2 years younger, if not 3, so that it would truly be a little brother, not a twin.

Beyond my relationship with my son, I have also been convicted that I have grown lax and lazy about discipline in general. I need to go back to the basics and become more consistent in biblical discipline. I need to practice greater self-control over myself and my own temper and frustrations! I recently re-read Ginger Plowman's Don't Make Me Count to Three, and am encouraged to get back on the right track! Though there is always room for improvement, and I can not expect to attain perfection in these areas, there is much that can be improved before we bring another child into our family. As we wait on the Lord, I want to be dilligent in using this time wisely and first doing what is best for the children He has already entrusted to me!

Another concern is that of simplifying our life. The adoption process would be a huge time investment, and it's hard to see where that "extra" time would come from. There must be things that we can do to make better use of our time and to simplify, while still doing what God has called us to do. This will be an ongoing process. To begin with, I need to establish a better routine and a system for chores/housework. For some crazy reason, my husband thinks the kids need to keep their rooms clean. Absurd, I know, but I must submit (which also means that I need to keep my own room clean as a good example). ;)

Some other to-do list items include talking with families who have gone through international adoption, especially those who have adopted children who were the same ages as their biological kids, and researching adoption. We are also continuing to work on Dave Ramsey's recommended Steps to Financial Peace. We are working on baby step #3 (3 to 6 months expenses in savings) knowing that our "emergency fund" may morph into an adoption savings fund.

As I write, it is with the idea that God will call us to adopt, but we have not yet received that call. Let me be clear that I do not want to get ahead of Him, but many of the things He has laid on our hearts are things that need to be addressed whether or not we end up adopting. The most important thing, for me, at this time, is to make wise use of my time and be preparing for the day when He may lead us to bring a child into our family. I appreciate your continued prayers for wisdom and discernment as we wait, pray, and prepare.

Continue praying, too, for our orphan friend. He returned to the orphanage without the promise of being adopted by a family here in Indiana. My heart aches for him as I consider what life is like now after knowing a family's love and experiencing the abundance of America. There is one who has a mother's heart for him who would appreciate your prayers as well! May God watch over him, bless him, and lead him to his forever family.

One final thought, I have been a bit distressed through this experience to receive opinions and advice from those who claim to be Christians, yet appear to have no understanding of what it means to walk by faith. God's Word does not call us to be irresponsible, but God does not guarantee that we will have all of the answers before we embark on our journey. The classic example of this is Abram. God said, go, and Abram went even though he didn't know where he was going. God calls us to walk by faith and not by sight, and Chris and I are willing to do that. We want to follow Him step by step. There are some who doubt our ability to do this thing, who don't think we should even be considering pursuing adoption at all, or at this phase of life, but if God leads us to do it, we must trust HIM to be faithful to equip us, to go before us, to sustain us, to strengthen us, and to accomplish HIS purpose in us and through us. Our faith is not in ourselves, but in our God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and has a perfect plan and purpose for our lives. More than anything, I want to be obedient to Him. I appreciate those of you who continually point me to Him and share godly wisdom from His Word. He alone is faithful, to God be all the glory!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Wait, Pray, and Fish

2009-07-07T02:17:00.004-04:00

Thank you, everyone, for your comments, prayers, and support!
The kids fly back to the orphanage Tuesday, and we have yet to decide what we're doing.

I'm headed to Illinois for a week with my dad and middle sister to visit my aunt, uncle, and grandma. Chris will be batching it, and is going to enjoy a brief, personal backpacking retreat this weekend to seek God's face and wait on the Lord. There are several things he'll be praying about with regard to family, work, and ministry, and now he's adding adoption to that list. So, if you think of it, be praying for him as he spends time one-on-one with the Lord.

I'll be off-line, surrounded by cornfields. I won't exactly be alone, but I'll be praying without ceasing like I usually do, and listening for that still small voice with a fishing pole in hand.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Reality Check

2009-07-03T23:51:00.001-04:00

The first day with our orphan friend went so well that it almost went too well. It was almost as if he were performing for us, or auditioning. He's smart; he might have considered it an interview. We're realists, and we are well aware that adopting an 11 year old boy from another country would not be without its challenges. We know that we are clueless about many of those challenges, but if we venture into adoption, we want to do it with eyes wide open, not rose colored glasses. Our second afternoon with our friend provided a few glimpses of what some of those challenges might be.

We decided to visit the Children's Museum. Everyone was a little tired from the beginning, and the museum was crowded. We weren't there long when the lack of parenting and training began to show itself in our orphan boy. He doesn't seem to understand taking turns or waiting. While other children were working on the computer touch screens, he would just walk up and start touching the screen himself, and he wasn't pleased when I would stop him. He bored easily, and got impatient when we didn't just move on immediately to a new exhibit. He wanted to spend a lot of time at the computers, and when I encouraged him to do something else, and finally told all the kids no computers (since they were beginning to fight over them), he got perturbed. All of these things were very understandable, and none of them were big issues, just little things throughout the day that created an awareness of the lack of discipline he's had in his life, and the initial challenges we would face in parenting.

The language barrier exacerbated these challenges. At one point, a mom was trying to take a picture and he was in the way, so I spoke and motioned with my hands for him to move away and come to me. He complied, but had quite an attitude about it. I tried to explain (through words and the use of my hands) why he had to move, but it didn't help his attitude. I can't expect him to understand, and I couldn't explain in words that would help him. That's a bit frustrating for me, but I can't imagine how much more frustrating it is for him.

All of these things were wearying. To be honest, I checked my phone at one point to see how much longer we had until I could take him back, only to discover that I still had a few hours left. I can remember that kind of feeling when I had toddlers and kept checking the clock, waiting for naptime and a brief respite! If we were to adopt him though, there would be no taking him back. We'd have to push through the weariness just as we did with babies in the middle of the night. It's different, but an adjustment just the same.

On a positive note, even though he wasn't always happy about obeying, he always obeyed, even while he said, "No!" There was defiance in his tone, but compliance with his actions; not ideal, but we can work with that. (Heck, I deal with that in my own kids regularly! None of us have arrived in the "obey right away with a good heart attitude" rule.)

Also, he's a very bright child! He has already picked up many American words, and seems to understand some things. He parrots everything back to you. While we were in the car, Ethan looked through an animal book with him, teaching him the English names for the animals. He was eager to learn and not easily frustrated. Those things are encouraging as I think about teaching him English and how to read and write. Phonics has not been my favorite subject as I've taught 4 kindergarteners, and I'm not that excited about teaching it to an 11 year old who only knows the Cyrillic alphabet. But it's encouraging to see that he's a quick learner, and also that I have a lot of helpers who will all be assisting in teaching him English!

Overall, it was a good reality check. Our home environment was much more comfortable to all of us, but we survived in a more stressful outside environment without any major issues. We were all worn out by the end of the afternoon (he kept dozing off in the car on the way home), but there were no deal breakers, or anything that led me to think that we shouldn't pursue adopting him. So we continue to wait and pray about whether we should.

On a practical note, for those of you who care about such things or like to pray specifically, there is a meeting on July 22nd for the families from the program (this was somewhat of an exchange program where adoptable kids stayed in host families' homes for a month before returning to their homeland. The goal of those who run the program is that adoptive families would be found for these children). who are pursuing adoption, so it would be good for us to have a decision before then. Also, we need $13,100 to begin the adoption process. Where God guides, God provides! Right?

This whole thing has been so spiritually and emotionally (and even physically) wrenching for me. Yesterday, there were moments I just wanted to pull the car over and weep, my heart was so full to overflowing, and then there were moments of sheer terror where I almost thought I'd have a panic attack and I just had to yield myself completely to my Lord and ask Him to remove the fear and replace it with His perfect peace. Today, I have just been feeling everything so deeply, not only with this orphan boy, but with other things too, like a friend who is in the midst of an immensely challenging trial. My spirit is so open to whatever the Lord brings that it's almost too much to bear, but it's not, not through Christ's strength, not in the power of the Holy Spirit. The temptation to run away from it all is there, but I don't want to stop feeling. Rather, I want to have Jesus' heart in every situation. In my flesh, I'm unable to adopt a child, or encourage a friend, but when I abide in Christ, and am filled with the Spirit, I can be a vessel for God's love, compassion, grace, encouragement,...to everyone I meet. That's what I want: to be absolutely surrendered to God Himself, so that He can use me in whatever way He wills. To Him be the glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

The Face of Adoption

2009-07-01T21:33:00.001-04:00

We had the pleasure of spending the day with a very silly orphan boy from Eastern Europe.

From the drive in the van where he looked through a Disney Ice Capades program and assigned my kids' names to each of the characters saying, "This is...Emilia!" in a thick Eastern-European accent while pointing at a picture of Donald Duck, to calling everyone chicken, or deliberately mixing up names...he had us all giggling and laughing throughout the afternoon.

What a delight!

You wouldn't know from looking at these beautiful eyes and this goofy grin, that this boy has been an orphan for almost three years. What did he endure before his single-mother's parental rights were terminated when he was 8 years old? His face and personality do not show his grief; one can only imagine what is hiding behind that smile.

Now 11 years old, he is only a little less than a year younger than our eldest, Ethan. The boys had a great time just being boys together. Having three sisters, Ethan always enjoys when boys come over. It was his idea initially to adopt twin boys so that we could even out our family. I know he'd really like a brother.

All of the kids liked him. It's amazing how open they all are to the idea of adoption. Of course, they're absolutely clueless about how it would forever change the dynamics of our family--all of us are really-- but I so admire their childlike faith. After we first met this boy, briefly last week, Evangeline (6 1/2) announced, "I think we should adopt him! I want a (insert country name) boy!" If only it were that simple...or is it? Evangeline followed him around like a puppy most of the afternoon, imitating his silly antics.

Fortunately, Chris was able to break away from work to come spend time with our new friend. This boy has never known a father. How much he would benefit from such a great dad as this!!

Are we his forever family? We continue to wait on the Lord and pray! Our eyes have certainly been opened even more to the great need that exists for Christian families to step up and care for the orphans of this world in very real and practical ways. We quite literally saw the face of adoption in our home this afternoon, and you are now seeing it on your computer screen. How will we respond?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

P.S. He loves chicken and gave my mashed potatoes a thumbs up. :)

Could It Be Us?

2009-07-01T11:38:00.000-04:00

My mind is racing, my heart is in my throat, and my hands are shaking a bit as I type. When I said in my last post that I didn't know what it looked like yet for us to show Christ's love to the least of these and "dangerously surrender" our lives to the cause of Christ, I was aware of the possibility that adoption could be a part of it.

In just a couple of hours, I will be picking up an Eastern-European, orphan boy who is in Indiana on a 30 day Visa that expires next week. We will be spending time with him this afternoon and possibly over the course of the next couple of days to "try on adoption" and to discern whether or not we should pursue adopting him. I am completely trusting God to lead us and guide us in His will for us, and to provide where He guides, but at this moment, I also feel completely terrified. Fear is not compatible with faith, so I'm praying that God's perfect love would cast out all fear and that I would be able to love with His love and be filled with His perfect peace as I continue to surrender myself and this possible adoption to Him...over and over and over.

To say that I covet your prayers would be an understatement!! I know of one (click here) who is already praying. Her heart has been filled with love for this particular boy, and she is fervently praying for a family to love him. Could it be us?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

A Young Quiltmaker's Dangerous Surrender

2009-06-24T22:44:00.001-04:00

This afternoon, I read Jeff Brumbeau's The Quiltmaker's Journey to my youngest daughter. This was my first time reading this prequel to The Quiltmaker's Gift, one of my favorite storybooks about an old quiltmaker who offers a unique challenge to a greedy king which eventually transforms him completely. The book we read today tells of how this old woman came to be a quiltmaker.

As a girl, she lived in a beautiful kingdom, surrounded by a wall, where everyone was rich. The people of the town were told of the evils outside of the wall, and were warned never to depart from its safety. But despite her abundant riches, the young girl was sad. Eventually she leaves the kingdom to pursue her purpose in life. Once she arrives outside the wall, she witnesses great poverty, but experiences great kindness and generosity. Her eyes were opened to the suffering of others while she lived in abundance inside her kingdom's walls, and she was compelled to make a difference.

It's interesting that I would happen to pull this book off of the library shelves to read to my daughter at this time. I am currently engaged in a women's bible study where we are working through Mark Batterson's study Chase the Lion. We are also reading Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren.

Chase the Lion is a unique study; not at all what I am accustomed to or prefer in a Bible study. More than studying biblical passages inductively, the author is challenging us to act on what the Bible says, what I already know really. Rather than store up more head knowledge, I am being challenged to:

defy odds
face fears
overcome adversity
embrace uncertainty
take risks
seize opportunities and
look foolish

Makes you want to run right out and buy the study, doesn't it? Hardly! These things have been uncomfortable and stretching, but God is challenging, blessing, and encouraging me as I press on. While I wrestle through the tough questions to which I don't even want to honestly write the answers in my workbook, I am being confronted with my own pride, insecurities, fear, and failures; all the while being encouraged that God is greater and through Him I can overcome all these things.

Dangerous Surrender has paralleled the study in many ways. Kay Warren's honesty and vulnerability in sharing her inspiring story of how she said yes to God and embraced the cause of HIV/AIDS patients in Africa has challenged me to look beyond the walls that protect my own affluence, and open my eyes to the plight of others. Just as the young quiltmaker could not see the suffering of those outside the kingdom walls and return to her riches, Kay challenges me to be "gloriously ruined," unable to live a life of abundance (running water, electricity, a pantry/fridge full of food, closets full of clothes, cell phone, cable tv, internet, computers...) while others live wounded by violence, in pain and suffering that my mind can not even comprehend, without the hope of the Gospel to sustain them.

Before I joined this study, God was already paving the way for these lessons as I had recently read another book which challenged me similarly. K.P. Yohannan's Revolution for World Missions began to open my eyes to the plight of the "two-thirds world." His challenge when he looked at the affluence of the American church was to recognize WHY God has blessed us so abundantly. The reason is so that we can bless others. His recommendation is to support native missionaries in Asia and around the world who are willingly living in poverty along with those to whom they are ministering. Kay's book takes it a step farther, to not only send others, supporting them financially, but to surrender your own life as well, just as the quiltmaker ended up doing.

Sadly, though the young quiltmaker wanted to make a difference, the elders of the kingdom chided her for it. They refused to participate in aiding the poor who surrounded their city. As it turns out, they had built the wall just so they wouldn't have to see them. I want to be like the girl, but I fear I am too often like the elders.

What walls have I built to protect my comfortable way of life?
What walls have I built to keep out the unsightly, distasteful images of those who have less than I?
How often have I turned a blind eye when others were in need?

Through K.P. Yohannon's book, Chase the Lion, Kay Warren's testimony, and now a beautifully illustrated storybook, God is challenging me to tear down those protective walls, open my eyes, and to surrender my life to the cause of Christ in serving and ministering to the least of these. I do not yet know what that looks like for me, but wherever He leads, I'm going!!!

Will you join me?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Catty Daughters

2009-06-19T23:52:00.000-04:00

Lest you think otherwise, I must state for the record that my life is not perfect. I'm certainly not perfect myself, and I don't have perfect children either.

My girls (ages almost 10, 8, and 6 1/2) have been picking at each other lately. Every day, all day long, for a string of days on end, they've aggravated, irritated, criticized, nit-picked, and picked on each other. It's been exaggerated this week because my son has been at scout camp. I never imagined that that little bit of testosterone had such a counter-active/balancing affect, but I'm beginning to think it does. Wednesday, my husband left for scout camp too, and my mother-in-law came in his stead. All this estrogen has made me weary, and I'm longing for the return of my husband and son tomorrow.

Not only has the continual picking and pestering worn me to an unraveling; it has also been embarrassing. I cringed as I listened to my mother-in-law trying to do a project with the girls, and finally asking them whether they always critized eachother. At one point today I found myself pleading my daughter's case to her grandmother, trying to convince her that she really is a delightful girl! Her actions and words the past couple of days haven't done much to support my case.

I'm not exactly sure what's going on, but I wish I could get to the root of the issue and deal with it. I know there are hormones involved, and find myself beginning to dread having three teenage daughters in the house at the same time, all day long, day-in, day-out.

It's not that the girls never get along, but lately the cattiness prevails more than the kindness and graciousness. It grieves my heart and grates on my last nerve. There is a reason I never joined a sorority.

I'm no stranger to life with sisters. I have three younger sisters myself. We didn't always get along, and we don't have the best relationships now. I'd hoped that homeschooling would cultivate a closeness in my daughters that I didn't have with my own sisters since I esteemed relationships with friends at school so much more than those with my sisters, but I'm beginning to see that all this "quantity time" that I rave about is backfiring. Boy, do I hate typing that. I resist giving anyone that is against or skeptical towards homeschooling any ammunition, and I'm tempted to qualify that statement by writing about how great of friends the girls really are and how well "socialized" they are etc. ad nauseum, but truly, they are almost bored with eachother or something.

Sigh, I don't know! And that's part of the problem. After almost 12 years of parenting, you'd think I'd have a clue, but really I don't. As I enter this next stage of parenting pre-teen/teenage kids, I realize I have no idea what I'm doing. It's not the same as parenting toddlers! I feel unprepared and a bit overwhelmed at the thought of it. I'm trying, really I am, to keep the lines of communication open, to be patient, to point them to the Lord, share appropriate Scripture, and emphasize our need for the Holy Spirit. I'm beginning to feel like a broken record. I'm tired of hearing the word, "Girls!" come out of my mouth. We've been working on, "Be kind to one another," since they were toddlers, and it just isn't sinking in.

It's hard too when my daughter clams up and doesn't talk to me. It's hard to see her withdraw into herself. To be honest, it hurts.

I really want to get this right. Not only do I want my daughters to be BFFs; someday I'd like to be BFFs with them as well. So how do I do that?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Be the Body

2009-06-12T11:54:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, when I went to pick up the girls at dance practice, I was reacquainted with a homeschooling mother with whom I'd had some previous interaction. As we caught up, we discussed curriculum, summer schedules, year round school...the typical homeschooling things. We parted ways as the kids finished their practice, but as we walked out to the car, I was compelled to speak to her again. In this second conversation, I learned that in the past several months, her husband had lost his job, and her brother had died. Wow!

Here I'd chit-chatted with this woman for about 15 minutes, and these deeper issues never surfaced, it appeared that her life was perfect. But in our second conversation, the floodgate was opened, and she was able to share how she was really doing. I was so thankful that God had led me to initiate that second conversation, which enabled me to pray over her, right there in the parking lot. That simple act of obedience on my part resulted in a lifted burden on hers. I was able to encourage her, and now I know to continue to pray for her and her family. I also know that she needs a friend.

As she thanked me for taking the time to talk with and pray for her, we started talking about what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. Far too often, I am afraid that we settle for that initial chit-chat, that surface level conversation, and never get to the deeper issues which are plaguing us. As a result, we are not able to encourage one another as we should, and we don't know how to pray as we ought. We are all broken and wounded, yet we hide our gaping wounds with niceties and pleasantries. We're too busy, or too afraid to really care.

We talk about the weather, while the body of Christ suffers.

It should not be this way!!!

The New Testament is full of instruction on how we as the body of Christ are to behave toward one another:

be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10)
give preference to one another (Rom. 12:10)
love one another (Rom 13:8)
pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Rom. 14:19)
accept one another (Rom. 15:7)
through love, serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2)
be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another (Eph. 4:32)
with humility of mind, regard one another as better than yourselves (Phil. 2:3)
bearing with one another (Col. 3:13)
with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (Col. 3:16)
comfort one another (I Thess. 4:18)
encourage one another and build up one another (I Thess. 5:11)
live in peace with one another (I Thess. 5:13)
always seek after what is good for one another (I Thess. 5:15)
encourage one another day after day (Hebrews 3:13)
stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)
confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
pray for one another (James 5:16)
fervently love one another from the heart (I Peter 1:22)
be hospitable to one another (I Peter 4:9)
clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (I Peter 5:5)
love one another (I John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11, 12; II John 1:5)

I could list many more verses, but it is of no use if we aren't willing to allow them to penetrate our hearts, and enable them to change us and compel us to actually obey them. Love, encourage, build up, pray, comfort, serve...all of these things are possible through the power of the Holy Spirit! And each one of us is capable of doing each one of these through the Spirit.

If you were to read each one of these in its context, you would not find caveats. They do not read, "if you are comfortable doing so, pray for one another." NO!! We are simply commanded to pray. I Peter 4:9 does not say, "If you have the gift of hospitality, and a beautiful house that could be featured in Better Homes & Gardens, then be hospitable." NO!!! We are all commanded to be hospitable without complaint.

It's time to stop making excuses. I couldn't have anyone over, my house is too small. I don't feel comfortable praying out loud; I'd be too embarrassed to ask if I could pray for them. I'm too busy!

It's time to stop expecting others to do what you've been instructed to do. She's so much better at that. He's the pastor, that's his job. They've been to bible college; they're much more qualified than I. I'm sure they have many friends who they can talk to and pray with.

These "one another" passages are not directed to specific, uniquely qualified, individuals, who've graduated from seminary or bible college, but to every member of the body of Christ. Every believer needs to be doing these things for the building up and edification of the body! Every. believer.

When every believer does his part, the church can accomplish the wonderful purpose God intends for it. When these "one another" instructions are neglected, the body suffers, its growth is stunted, and we miss out on the blessing God intended the body of Christ to be.

Are you longing for something more?
Do you want something deeper?
Are you dissatisfied with the current state of the body?

Begin to apply these one another passages through the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will slowly and surely begin to experience the blessed riches of life in the body of Christ. I guarantee it. There is no better feeling than to walk away and know that you did what God wanted you to do, to know that you blessed and encouraged another person. Obedience yields peace and joy. Start yourself, and do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time you will reap if you do not not grow weary. That's God's promise; you can cling to it!

I Peter 4:10 says, "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Are you being a good steward of the manifold grace of God?
Do you really want to stand before Him and say you weren't?

Surrender yourself to Christ, yield yourself to the power of the Holy Spirit, and begin to walk in Him. You'll be amazed at the amazing things HE can accomplish through you, if you are willing to allow Him to do them.

It's time to be the Body.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Personal Reading List 2009

2009-06-03T01:30:00.003-04:00

I'm belated in posting my Personal Reading List for 2009. In fact, I don't think I updated my 2008 reading list after February or so. I'm not sure how well I can remember what I read in 2008, as I struggled a bit to remember everything I've read thus far in 2009 (and probably forgot something). That's precisely why I try to record these things.

A Light in the Window by Jan Karon I'm a little behind the times in becoming acquainted with Father Tim having read the first book in the Mitford series in the summer of 2008. This is book 2 in the Mitford series; I didn't love it as much as I loved the first one. In fact, I thought it was (I know I'm inviting outrage)...boring. I finished reading it, and hoped that the other 5-6 I received for Christmas would be better.

These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon Book 3 in the Mitford series was much better, or maybe it was just my own mood when I read it. I fell in love again with the endearing characters.

The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley I think every. believer. should. read. this. book!! I began reading it in 2007 (my initial reflections are posted here), misplaced it for a while, and was tremendously nourished by finding and finishing it. Remarkably well-written, biblically sound, essentially foundational, immensely practical book on the Holy Spirit and living the wonderful spirit-filled life. Read it!

Holy Spirit Power by Charles Spurgeon Excellent, practical, solid treatise on the Holy Spirit by a classic theologian. I highly recommend it!

Living Water by Chuck Smith Written in Chuck Smith's (Calvary Chapel) lay-man style, fabulous, anecdotal, practical, and balanced view on the Holy Spirit. I gleaned so much from it! Are you beginning to see a pattern?

Secret Power by D.L.Moody This one was great too! It left me wanting to know more about D.L. Moody.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté Dark, gruesome, lacking any redeeming value, and containing one of the most twisted, vindictive, and vengeful literary characters ever. I only kept reading so that I could say that I had. NOT recommended no matter how "classic" it is!!

A Garden in Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson A cotton candy, modern, Christian romance set in Paris to compensate for all the deep, theological Holy Spirit books, and the horrible Wuthering Heights. It was okay. I kinda liked it. Generally well written and interesting, good character development, but it won't make my list of favorites by any means.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers Raw, graphic, gripping, compelling story based on the biblical book of Hosea. I found the ending to be lackluster, but overall, I thought it was a remarkable book, representative of so many many women! Worth reading!

Emerald Windows by Terri Blackstone Another fluffy, pop-Christian novel. My first Terri Blackstone read. Eh. I definitely prefer historical fiction to modern.

The White Gypsy by Annette Lyster A new release from Lamplighter books, originally written in...a long time ago. Admirable characters, redeeming story line, beautifully written!

Konshaubi by Georgi Vins A re-read of a book that profoundly influenced me in 1988. The story of Russian/Soviet pastors who were persecuted and imprisoned for preaching the gospel. I posted more about it here. Read in preparation to perform in "Stalinism" and "The Vins Scene" from the play No Place to Flea.

Jungle Pilot by Russell Hitt The life and story of Nate Saint. Inspiring, challenging, excellent companion to Elizabeth Elliot's Through Gates of Splendor. Both books should be on every Christian's "must read" list!

Redwall by Brian Jacques Preview before my son read it. Immensely enjoyable tale! I loved it! Highly recommended for all ages (reading level average 9-12 years).

Revolution in World Missions by K.P.Yohannon Extremely challenging, eye-opening book! The American church would do well to read it, and make radical life-style adjustments in response. Unfortunately, that includes me. Praying!

Out to Canaan by Jan Karon Book 4 of the Mitford Series, and I have now drunk enough koolaid to be head over heals with Mitford. I'm not sure, but this may have been my favorite yet. Not on the Mitford bandwagon? Start reading!

Saving Levi by Lisa Misraje Bentley What an amazing, faithful, sovereign God we serve! There's no way you can read this book and deny that God is, and that He is a rewarder to those who seek Him. His intimate dealings to save a horribly burned and then abandoned Chinese baby, and to unite individuals from all over the world to accomplish His purpose completely overwhelmed me!

For a busy, homeschooling mom of 4, I'm pleased with the number of books I've managed to read this year. And of course, I'm always open to suggestions for more! What books do you think I should add to my "must read" list?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

P.S. If you click on the book titles, you can visit the Amazon page for each of the books. And if you actually purchase something while you're there, you'll be funding my habit. ;) Thanks! :)

And Send It Soaring

2009-05-28T21:23:00.000-04:00

Today is a fantastic day to fly a kite!

Let's go!

Speed

Teamwork

Excitement

Leadership

Assistance

Beauty

Toothless grins

Learning to smile with a new spacer.

I miss her smile already!

A boy and his dog.

Spunk

Fun!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Redecorating my Youngest Daughters' Room

2009-05-27T12:43:00.008-04:00

For Christmas 2007, I gave my youngest daughters new quilts, a floor rug, and several wall-hangings, and promised to paint their room. In March of 2009, I finally bought the paint, took before photos, and cleared out their room to actually keep my word. Ahem. The same night, our basement flooded, and it was another month until I was able to get started. Oi veh!

Before:

It was a huge project which took most of a week, and numerous Facebook status updates, to accomplish. With the assistance of my four wonderful children, I primed and painted a bunkbed, 2 dressers, 1 bookshelf, and the room itself. There are unfortunately no pictures of the actual work, (I wasn't about to risk getting primer/paint on my camera!) but here are the after shots.

After:

Grace and Peace,
Angel

A Bouquet of Flowers For My Friends

2009-05-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

From my garden

And my neighbor's... ;)

Happy Mothers' Day, friends!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Facebook in the Schoolroom

2009-05-01T10:58:00.003-04:00

We just finished up a co-op with another family using Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th Day (on sale for 30% off at CBD) which I absolutely love love love, and I have never absolutely loved science ever in. my. entire. life. Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

Yesterday we finished with a lesson on Flying Reptiles. In the chapter, we learned about paleontologists, and Mrs. Fulbright recommended an activity using old photographs. We adapted this activity slightly for our co-op. Each family had pictures of their family members, which we swapped with the other. Based on the pictures alone, we guessed what kind of people they were, or who they were. Before I left our house, as I scrambled to find photos to bring, I lamented that I had so few snapshots thinking that they would be so much more useful than the professional photos I was quickly throwing in our bag.

After we arrived at co-op, the kids examined the pictures and tried to make educated guesses about the people in them, and then I had an idea. Having brought along a family portrait of my sister-in-law's family, I recalled that her husband had just uploaded some family photos into his Facebook account. So, we took the kids to the computer where I logged on to Facebook and we browsed through the album. We learned so much more about them as we saw a photo of my nephew in his Scouts uniform, a photo of my niece's soccer team, with dad as the coach, photos of their two puppies, photos camping and at Disney world, and a photo of my sister-in-law in a Penn State sweatshirt. The kids were able to make more educated guesses about these people now that they'd seen a collection of snapshots instead of just one formal portrait.

We talked to the kids about paleontologists, and how if they find just one bone, or a single isolated skeleton, they have a hard time knowing much about the animal, but if they find many fossils together, or a fossilized stomach or fossilized dung, that they can determine much more about the animal. The more information a scientist has, the more accurate his assumptions may be. The kids really seemed to get it, and they were so excited to be using Facebook at co-op! It was really such a simple thing, but I just had to share it! Now who was it that was just saying Facebook is useless?!? ;)

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

2009-04-22T22:58:00.000-04:00

I have a few hymnals. I'd love to have a collection of antique hymnals, but most of mine are more modern. One is so modern that the words have been changed to be more, how do you say it, politically correct? Surprisingly, I don't appreciate the changes. So much so that when I go to churches who use the new lyrics, I just sing the old lyrics loudly over the top of everyone else. Yes, I'm one of those. Very worshipful, don't you think?

Another thing I don't appreciate about my modern hymnals is that they only contain the chorus of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. That's all anyone seems to know and sing anymore. This happens to be one of my favorite hymns, and the first I learned to play on the piano. We used to sing all the verses growing up in church; but, for some reason I do not understand, they are no longer printed in hymnals. That of course sent me to Google, and now I'm sharing the entire text of this fabulous hymn with it's very relevant lyrics with you.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
- Refrain:
  Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
  Look full in His wonderful face,
  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

If you want to hear how the verses go, you can enjoy the violinist's playing of them on this Michael W. Smith video. Too bad Smitty didn't sing the verses himself (maybe he couldn't find the words in his hymnal either). Oh, wait. Smitty may not have known the words, but apparently Alan Jackson does. He must have his granddaddy's hymnal.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Instilling Work Ethic?

2009-04-20T13:56:00.002-04:00

I have no pictures, but I had a great time at the Midwest Homeschool Convention! It was so fun to meet Marsha, Jenig & Coie (pronounced Coeeee not coy), Amy S, and Darcy!

Even better than that was the time I spent with my wonderful Chris. Just pulling out of the driveway in his little commuter car sans enfants was enough to knock off all the weight that I've been carrying on my shoulders these past few weeks. I've been in one mighty funk, but no longer. Time with my beloved best friend, and the encouragement of thousands of homeschoolers in one place fixed me right up. I'd been allowing my circumstances to rule me and had gotten caught up in everything horizontal. My eyes have now been turned vertical once again, my strength is renewed, and I remember why I do what I do. Follow that up with an encouraging message from Philippians at church Sunday morning, and I'm loving life again!

Chris and I had a lot of great discussion during our brief getaway. One thing we discussed was work ethic and how to instil it in our children. All of our children deal with laziness! I have one daughter who balks at doing anything "hard." She's very bright, but if something takes any effort she doesn't want to do it. I asked her the other day why she didn't want to memorize a poem. She responded by saying that it was, "hard" and that it takes,

"minutes from my day."

Minutes, huh?!? Makes me think of that crazy mom and her roll-over minutes. Those precious minutes can't be wasted on memorizing! Really?

In the course of our conversation, Chris and I had to admit that we both struggle with work ethic too, so it's inevitable that we'll have kids who do. So help us out. How do you instil a strong work ethic in your kids? How do you encourage them to spend their minutes doing what is hard and with a good attitude? Thank you much!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Midwest Homeschool Convention and Ramblings

2009-04-15T10:34:00.003-04:00

Anyone going?

After our flooded basement (and the subsequent expenses) threatened to wash out (teehee) our plans to attend the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, my husband and I have figured out a way to go for at least part of the time. We'll be heading home early to enjoy the fun of 3 soccer games and Picture Day Saturday morning, so it won't be the leisurely weekend away that we'd anticipated, but I'll take it!

Anyway, I know there are a quite a few bloggers who are planning to attend, so if you're one of them, let me know.

In other news, there's not much other news. These past couple of weeks I've felt like we've just been barely treading water. I'm finally beginning to feel like I'm really recovering from a bout with the flu, and am slowly regaining my energy. I've had to cancel almost everything these past couple of weeks, and my inbox is overflowing with e-mails to which I need to respond. I get overwhelmed thinking about how to get caught up.

After two and a half weeks, the basement is finally drying from the final carpet-cleaning, and we will soon be able to start putting our house back together. Of course, we've decided to take advantage of the upheaval and only put back half of the things (mostly toys), leaving the other half in the garage for an eventual (I can't believe I'm contemplating this let alone typing it)...Garage Sale. But that will have to wait until the end of soccer season!

I'm really hoping that this brief time away at the convention with my husband will be the refreshment I need to get back on track. Would you believe that I didn't even take a single picture on Easter, because it just sounded like too much effort? Yeah, that's pretty pathetic.

Alright, I have an endless list of things to get done today!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

The Danger of Separation of Church and State

2009-04-05T17:38:00.003-04:00

I just finished re-reading Konshaubi: A True Story of Persecuted Christians in the Soviet Union by Georgi Vins (1988). It is the true story of the author's time in a Soviet labor camp where he was sentenced because of his Christian faith and work with the unregistered church in the Soviet Union. I first read this book 21 years ago; I was thirteen. The book had a profound impact on me at that time which lingers to this day.

Today, as I read it, certain items of concern stood out to me. I noticed the emphasis by the Soviets of the separation of church and state, and the insistence that children not be taught the gospel. The churches of that day were required to register and also abide by certain rules as set forth in the Legislation Regarding Religious Cults. Some of the rules had to do with children. They were not permitted to attend the churches or be baptized. Unfortunately, many churches compromised, registered, and lost their children. They did not pray in front of them or teach them God's Word.

Those who refused to register were persecuted. Their pastors were taken to labor camps, and sometimes even killed. One of the main charges that was brought against them was that they were, "teaching religion to children." They were charged with violation of Article 142 of the Criminal Law Code, "The breaking of the laws of separation of the church from the state and of the school from the church." The separation of church and state and school and church was cited as reason not to teach children religious faith in churches and homes!!

As I read, I thought of my own country, a country that was founded on religious freedom, and yet now is governed by this same doctrine of separation of church and state. This doctrine is not found in the Constitution. Rather, it was a line from one of Thomas Jefferson's letters, where he expressed his own opinion with which many founding fathers disagreed. This line was brought into American law by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Emerson v. Board of Education (1947) Now this line is used to deny religious freedom all over the country. It has eeked its way into our nation's consciousness with such pervasiveness that even private businessmen wonder whether it's legal to play Christian music in their place of business. Some Christian students erroneously think they can't pray or read their Bible at school, and some teachers wrongfully forbid them from doing so. In many public schools across our country, the Bible is not studied at all, even for historical significance and impact.

Just as the now defunct Soviet Union violated the religious rights and freedoms of its citizens through the "separation of church and state," we Americans are at risk of the same. Our freedoms are already being subtly denied even now, and even worse, the common thought of individuals is being conformed to align with this "separation of church and state mentality."
As case in point, I offer this anonymous comment that was posted on a recent post about homeschooling.

"Homeschooling for the purpose of purely a religious thing is wrong. I'm not against homeschooling, in any, way, shape or form; but not for religious purposes. Children should be exposed to the schools theories also. Imagine the shock they will get in life when they leave home and find out - they will feel lied too and may even feel that they can no longer trust their parents/religion. What they need is to be exposed to these things and in return - talk about them as a family and love them.

Homeschooling, however, should be considered when the school is not working for the betterment of your child - ex: temperment and learning style of your child doesn't match what the school expects, and the school is unwilling to change anything, or if your child needs individual attention that the school is unable to provide. Than, homeschooling is a viable option.

As much as you love your kids, you can't shield them from the world. Better that they learn the evils of the world NOW when you are able to talk with them and guide them than 20 years down the road when they feel they are "free" and no longer trust their parents who never told them about the world they live in."

This sentiment is not unusual. I have actually heard it from Christians and other individuals on numerous occassions. Many believe that it is acceptable to homeschool for academic reasons, or if your child has a learning disability, or if he is gifted. There are numerous acceptable reasons to homeschool, but in the minds of many, religion is not one. It is an oh so subtle indication of the fruit of the doctrine of separation of church and state. Though this commenter was well-intentioned, his comments are fraught with misconceptions and falacies which can be used against us despite their error. We must recognize the subtle danger of such thinking. We must learn from history. We must see the danger of the doctrine of separation of church and state. Let us not be naive and think that the fate of Konshaubi Dzhangetov and Georgi Vins could not some day be our own.

Choose you this day who you will serve...
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Love Notes in Bullet Form

2009-04-03T11:07:00.000-04:00

Third times a charm?

We're passing the flu around here, and it's my turn to get it. I'm feeling pretty blah! But how can I stay blah! after receiving this e-mail from my 9 1/2 year old daughter?

Dear Mommy,

Here are some reasons to have a mom like you:

* You share your peeps with me
* you tuck me in at night.
* you read me stories
* you love me
* you home school me
* you cook and bake with me
* you teach me
* you let me do sports
* you feed me
* you are wonderful
* you buy me things
* you give me chocolate
* you take me out to eat
* you are not OLD!!!!!!!!!!!
* you care for me
* you teach me about God and Jesus

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Elianna

And just when I was feeling like such a failure.
God knew.
I am so blessed!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Anyone notice a roaring lion roaming about? Do not fear!

2009-03-29T19:21:00.000-04:00

As you already know from my previous post, my calendar is full. I've learned, however, the need for a little margin for the unexpected things in life. Unexpected things like:

Waking up first thing Monday morning to my husband telling me that he had just discovered my cat dead on the side of the road on his way to work.
Receiving a formal letter from my dear sweet widow neighbor complaining about our dog escaping into her yard, and giving us until she returns from spring break to take care of it. Oh and sending a copy of the letter to the homeowners association too.
Discovering (just before we walked out the door to go to church where my husband is preaching) that our sump pump died and our finished basement is completely flooded with inches of standing water and sopping carpet. Wishing I hadn't procrastinated about cleaning up the utility room. Wishing the kids had cleaned the basement when I told them to the day before.
Getting a migraine and losing my vision at the same moment.

Jesus said,
"In this world you will have trouble,
but take heart! I have overcome the world."

It could be a lot worse. There were some highlights too.

An afternoon at the Children's Museum with some dear friends.
An overnight visit from one of my bestest friends in the world and her four children who I love like they were my own.
Chris Tomlin's Hello Love concert, followed by ice cream and coffee with my wonderful Chris.
Reconnecting with a long lost precious friend on Facebook!
A productive Saturday cleaning out the younger girls' bedroom; purging and prepping so that I can prime and paint the room and all the furniture. A big project that is long overdue (considering I promised to do it a year and a half ago). In retrospect, it would have been wiser to clean and purge in the basement, but why bother with what ifs.
Chocolate brownies with marshmallow cream and chocolate frosting.
A husband who packed up the kids and went to church to preach despite the mess, and then came home (with lunch) and got right to work. He's a good man.
A migraine which quickly dissipated into a dull ache, enabling me to work diligently cleaning the wet mess.
Receiving a phone call from my mom who'd seen my Twitter status about the migraine and flood, and came over with my daddy to help clean up the sopping mess. (Living close enough to home so that they can do that.)
Blueberry muffins with crumb topping.
A plumber friend who installed a new sump pump on a Sunday evening, so the basement doesn't flood again during tonight's expected storms.
Encouragement and prayers from friends via Facebook.

I know that all of the adversity was somehow tied to my husband's ministry this Sunday and last, filling in for a pastor-friend at a local church in town. We do have an adversary who roams about like a lion seeking whom he may devour. I guess we looked pretty tasty.

I don't know how Chris did with today's sermon, since I wasn't able to be there, but last week he did a fantastic job. He was a natural and no one would have known that it was his first time preaching! The Spirit was at work, and many were encouraged. The best news is that

one man gave his life to Christ.

That alone is worth all the nuisance and expense of a flooded basement!

With two dull headaches, we're weary this evening, but we're taking heart because greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. Our Jesus has overcome the world, and we trust in Him!

I wouldn't be surprised at all if you're facing adversity of your own. Your trials may be much much worse than the petty things we've dealt with this week. No matter what you're facing, take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. Trust in Him. Rest in His arms. Be anxious for nothing. Receive His peace that passes all understanding. He cares for you! We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!

So if you notice an enemy roaming like a lion, seeking whom he may devour, be strong and very courageous! Blessed be the name of the LORD!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

On My Calendar

2009-03-16T19:52:00.000-04:00

While some of my friends are posting about spring break vacations, we just came off of a weekend of Scouting for food and leading worship at church. I'm treading water wishing I could take a week off just to clean my house. KarenW seems to be just as busy and posted her calendar plans for the next month or so. I decided to copy.

In addition to the normal homeschooling and housework, the next two months include:

2 sets of out of town guests (this week & next)
3 girls in dance; recital in May with in-laws visiting
2 kids in piano
3 kids beginning soccer in April
1 son in Boy Scouts (which means a couple of weekend activities in addition to the weekly meetings)
1 husband who is Scout Patrol Committee Chair
4 kids' dentist appointments (I should probably schedule one for myself too)
1 daughter turning 8 on May 2, which necessitates the traditional 8 year old b-day slumber party
Cincinnati Homeschool Convention with my beloved. Wanna come? Rumor has it Marshy & JenIG will be there too. You're jealous now, aren't you?
Keeping a friend's 4 kids for a long-weekend
Begining a new history co-op with another family
Finishing up Zoology Co-op
Coordinate & facilitate Inspiration Night for Homeschool Group
Coordinate Easter/Spring Poetry Recital
Celebrate Passover with friends and my mom and dad
Easter (with my family)...we might be leading worship too, I'm not sure...

and....
now this is the big one in case you stopped reading long ago...
.....
are you paying attention?
....
....

My beloved is PREACHING the next two Sundays at a church here in town!

He's never done this before, so I'd appreciate your PRAYERS!

That's it for now, unless I forgot something, which is highly probably. I'm sure we'll figure out how to squeeze something else in, like a camping trip, a couple of field trips and playdates, or something.

What about you? What's on your calendar?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

From Comic Strip to Newspaper

2009-03-13T15:56:00.002-04:00

Have I told you lately how much I absolutely love love love homeschooling?

This morning, I gave 3dd7 an English assignment. She had to make a comic strip from a list of sentences describing the process in which a sunflower grows from seed to flower. There were eight sentences. She had to copy each sentence into a square, and illustrate it. I gave her the instructions for the assignment, but then we had to eat lunch and get ready to go to gym day, so she wasn't able to get started until we got home.

Immediately after we walked in the door from gym day, she pulled out the paper and drew her comic strip. Then, she pulled out another paper and started writing furiously, asking me how to spell words like daily, reporter, city county building, etc. She was so focused on writing that she didn't even take time to sit down. Perhaps your kids lean over a piano bench to do their schoolwork assignments too.

When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was making a newspaper. I looked over and saw that she'd folded the paper with the comic on it in half and had folded another paper on top of it which was the front page of her newspaper. Of course it makes perfect sense that the sunflower comic would be inside of a newspaper! I imagine the field trip we took to the Daily Reporter in January (the one we almost didn't go to because I forgot my directions, got lost, and almost turned around to go home because we were so late) inspired her, even though it's been two months.

The joy comes from seeing her take her initial assignment and run with it. I didn't have to coerce or cajole. I didn't have to remind her to do her lesson. I didn't even have to make any suggestions. She decided to expand her assignment into a larger project, and I doubt that she realizes that she's doing "schoolwork" as she creates her newspaper. She has been given the freedom to enjoy creating and learning, and she's making the most of it.

Homeschooling might not be the easiest thing, and we all have our challenging days when we wonder why we do what we do. Let us not grow weary in doing good for in due time we will reap if we do not lose heart.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Monday Morning Reveries

2009-03-09T11:17:00.006-04:00

Chickadee is celebrating her birthday with a week-long bash with presents every day. Chickadee and presents, who could resist? Not me! Especially when she posts those beautiful pictures of Baby Tess! Go check it out.

I pray your Monday is off to a marvelous start. Marvelous...are you marveling this morning?

I went to bed at 9:30pm last night and struggled with insomnia despite the fact that I'd avoided taking a nap after losing an hour the night before. So I finally turned the light back on and read until 2:30am. It'd been a while since I read a book from start to finish in one night like that. I feel great now, but I didn't get up until 10am. So much for the early start I was hoping for.

It's a gorgeous, though cool, day here today. I am ecstatic to see the return of green! I started clearing away the leaves that never got cleaned up in the fall and discovered all sorts of plants poking their heads up. It's so lovely being outside, working in the garden, the warm sun shining down while the brisk air chills my cheeks and hands. The sound of chirping birds fills the air, and we're having fun identifying them. Was that a hairy woodpecker or a downy woodpecker? I hope he comes back so we can get a closer look at the length of his beak. Chris was dismayed that I forgot to mention the goldfinches in my last post. How could I forget our delightful friends? They're his favorite. It's so fun to watch their golden color deepen throughout the spring and summer.

We're starting a new Bible study today on the names of God. I need to call the kids together and get busy with that and then move on to the rest of our subjects. I regret that we're getting such a late start today! It's one thing to work all afternoon when it's cold and dreary outside. It's an entirely different matter when the sun is shining!

Have a glorious day!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Since I Haven't Been Blogging

2009-03-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

After numerous issues with Internet Explorer, I recently made the change to Firefox. It seems to be working great (haven't taken the time to figure out all the fun ad-ons and such), but the problem I've had is that I used the IE feed-reader, so all my blog feeds are there, and I haven't taken the time to switch them over to Bloglines or Google or something else (anyone have any suggestions as to which is best?). Anyway, that being the simplest way to keep up with all y'all's blogs , I haven't been doing that at all lately. I apologize, and I have been missing you and wondering what y'all (my apologies, I've been with my Southern friend) have been up to.

In the meantime, I've been trying to make wise use of the time that I haven't been reading blogs (or updating this one much either). Instead, I have been

Tweeting...Twitter (see my side-bar) is fun and takes only a moment unless you have over a hundred friends and try to keep up with their tweets. It can also be configured to automatically update...
Facebook...Very fun to be reunited with long lost friends from grade school, high school, college, Maryland, and Virginia. There are a few blogging friends too, but most of them are on Twitter. Oh and don't let the Scrabble Beta sharks lure you in. There are a few like this one, this one, and especially this one. I'm just sayin', consider yourself warned.
Writing my anual family letter. Merry Christmas in...March? It has been written and printed and some of the envelopes have been stuffed. Here's hoping I won't still be working on them while enjoying Corned Beef and Cabbage and the Quiet Man. Ahem.
Making my bed. every. morning. for like a month now. Seriously. Sarah, I know you're proud. I think of you encouraging me, and it makes me smile. It makes my husband smile when I fold his p.j.s neatly and place them under the pillow. You should give it a try, unless you've been making your bed since you were a child, and then wel la de da!
Watching American Idol and The Biggest Loser. Okay so maybe that's not "wise use of time".
Completing our study of the American Revolution. FINALLY. We finished our time-line this week, and have a couple more things to finish up before we can assemble our lapbooks. I heart Homeschool in the Woods Time Travelers History by the way. Someday I'll review it...maybe.
Finished up our James Bible Study. Good stuff! Excellent, practical stuff, truly! I highly recommend it. You'll get as much out of it as your kids, maybe even more.
Diligently making steady academic progress with the kids despite being sick.
Studying birds for Zoology co-op. So happy to see and hear an increasing number of birds return to our yard (robins, black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos, woodpeckers, cardinals, Mourning doves,...). It's truly miraculous that I'm actually enjoying Science now!
Taxiing kids to gym day, homeschool gymnastics, piano lessons, dance classes & ministry dance team. And if that weren't enough, I've signed three kids up for soccer. Come April....well, just pray for me. Hep' her, Jesus!
Rejoicing as the first blades of spring flowers poke their heads through the warming earth, and I'm able to open up all the windows and air out the house. Serious spring cleaning bug is plaguing me, just wish I weren't such a perfectionist!
Praying and praying and praying without ceasing. There are so many things to be praying about, and people to be praying for!
Reading...four different books all about the Holy Spirit by Chuck Smith, D.L.Moody, Charles Spurgeon, and Charles Stanley. Striving to practically apply what I've learned.
Reading I Peter. Started chapter 1 today, good stuff. I encourage you to read it yourself.
And today, I've just been trying to catch up on laundry and clean the house which seems to have fallen apart around my ears. Unfortunately, I didn't get beyond the kitchen, but at least it's a start, right?

So that's wut's up wit me. Now I'm off to prep to teach Sunday school, and I JUST remembered that I'm supposed to make chili for a pitch-in after church, and I TOTALLY forgot, and I don't have any ground beef in the house. Argh!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Kids Say: About Me

2009-03-04T11:00:00.002-05:00

This meme has been floating around Facebook, and I decided to poll my kids for their answers. I've written their answers from youngest to oldest. (girl- 6, girl- 7 1/2, girl- 9 1/2, boy- 11 1/2). Let me know if you try this with your kids.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
when a friend comes over and when the moms are talking together, you tell me to go play, always? I don't know...you say hi in the morning when I wake up, go to bed; get your work done;

2. What makes mom happy?
me giggling, if I make something for her; when I clean my room when I'm asked; when I obey her;

3. What makes mom sad?
me disobeying you; disobeying; when I don't clean when I'm asked; when I disobey her;

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
by giggling; by tickling; by telling me something funny; when she does or says something funny;

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I don't know-because I'm your little angel; I don't know; she had red hair; I don't know;

6. How old is your mom?
34; 34; 32; 34

7. How tall is your mom?
I don't know-6ft5.; I don't know; 6ftsomething;5"8';

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
spend time with her family; I don't know-you like to spend time with your family; sleep; gardening;

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
be on the computer; goes on the computer; do Facebook & blog and be on the computer; blog;

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
for living long; being on the newspaper; for raising four kids without dieing; being the first person to eat 2 million chocolates;

11. What is your mom really good at?
spending time with Daddy; sleeping; staying in bed; eating chocolate;

12. What is your mom not very good at?
not spending time with your husband; marching; eating breakfast; crafts;

13. What does your mom do for her job?
clean the house and play games and be on the computer;homeschools us; teach us; homeschool me;

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
sour crap (sauerkraut); Chinese food; ice cream; her asparagus soup;

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
when she gives me something; for cooking all the meals; when she drops me off at ballet & gymnastics & places I need to be; that she's my mom;

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
the pretty girl on Scooby Doo; Superlady, Superhero lady; Tweety-bird;Mini Mouse;

17. What do you and your mom do together?
play games and read Bibles and ask questions; take bike rides; talk;
watch movies;

18. How are you and your mom the same?
we both have Dawn (as our middle name); we both have brown eyes; we both are girls; we both are bookworms;

19. How are you and your mom different?
you have glasses and I don't, and you have dark hair and I don't; well, mommy has dark hair and I have blond hair; she has brown hair, I have yellow; that's a tough one...I like running and she doesn't;

20. How do you know when your Mom is mad?
because she yells at me; when we don't obey her; when she yells at us; when she starts yelling;

21. How do you know your mom loves you?
because she tells me; because she takes care of me; when she gives me chocolate; when she spends time with me;

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
on a date; to restaurants; McCallister's Deli (I think); the Children's Museum;

A Quiet Repose

2009-02-24T16:53:00.003-05:00

We're in a busy phase of life. Although we've been much busier at other times, this current busyness threatens to undo me if I am not careful. Our schedule is such that it is necessary for us to leave the house, for one reason or another, every day; a huge challenge for this home-body. Not only is the leaving of the house an exertion itself, there is also a time pressure to complete things before we leave. This can be beneficial, of course, but it can also be stressful. It can easily lead to headaches and malaise.

In the midst of this, I am grateful for the quiet repose I enjoyed today while my older two children took piano lessons. Sometimes I try to run a quick errand during this time (which often adds to the stress because of the time restraint), but today we chose to stay and linger until the lessons were completed.

Entering the piano teacher's house is like stepping back in time. It reminds me of visiting my grandparent's house where things were mostly in order, but there was always a cluttered pile or two to make you feel comfortable. The decor is outdated, but warm. Knickknacks and delicate items abound; quite unlike my home where any such things end up broken. There is an abiding stillness that rests upon the house. Immediately upon entering, one feels the need to remember one's library manners. The second time we visited, we were scolded by the teacher for being a distraction during the lessons. We have not repeated that error again. Instead, we find something quiet to entertain ourselves.

Today, my youngest daughter attempted to copy sketches of birds after I read a picture book to her. My son read quietly while he waited for his lesson to begin, and my eldest daughter finished an English assignment and read her own book after her lesson. Meanwhile, my middle daughter enjoyed the selection of books from the retired teacher's days of instructing elementary school students. Everyone was exceptionally still.

While the children were independently occupied, I seized the chance to peruse a photography book that I had borrowed from the library, enjoying this rare, quiet opportunity! Periodically, my heart swelled as words of praise from the teacher in the next room made their way to my ears.

I breathed a silent prayer of thanks for this wonderful opportunity for my children to learn to play the piano.

I thanked my Lord for their diligence in practicing throughout the week, and their joy in learning to play.

I prayed blessings upon their godly teacher and her home.

I praised my Heavenly Father for His faithfulness in providing not only our needs, but our desires as well.

It was a splendid hour; a soothing escape from the busyness, a quiet repose. I just had to come home and share it with you! I pray that in the midst of your own busyness and stress, you are able to take advantage of the moments of quiet that present themselves to you. May you be mindful of God's presence with you, and His bountiful gifts. May you be refreshed as well.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Duh, Which Way Did He Go, George?

2009-02-19T17:45:00.001-05:00

I am disgusted by how scatterbrained I have become of late!
Where has my brain gone, and when do I get it back?!?!

Tuesday, I showed up at my kids' piano lessons a whole hour late, and I didn't even know it. Fortunately, their teacher had had a cancellation, and both of my kids were able to receive lessons. She was very gracious, and we had adjusted the time, once, a MONTH ago! I have no idea how I got so mixed up! And the fact that I was clueless about it....hello?!? The kicker? I'd just lectured my kids about how they needed to look at their calendar planners every. single. day. (Blush) My calendar, of course, had the correct time. I never used to need to look. Once I wrote it down, it was cemented in my brain, and I just remembered. Lesson in humility, anyone?

Then, today, I completely forgot about my youngest daughter's dance lesson. I totally and completely forgot. We arrived home later than anticipated from Zoology Co-op, and I was determined to sit down and do Bible study with the kids, since we hadn't done it in the morning. Just after we prayed, one of the kids asked about dance. I looked at the clock and realized my daughter's class should be starting at that exact moment. So, quick! get changed! jump in the car! and off we go. Fortunately, it's only 5 minutes from our house!

There are other things I'm struggling to remember. Most of them are new adjustments to our schedule since the first of the year, but that's been over a month now! I don't know how many times I have completely spaced that my husband has Tuesday Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, and that I need to make something Monday. This isn't rocket science. It's not even physics! Actually, I'm sure my husband would point out that it is physics, because physics is everywhere, but I can't in all honesty blame my inability to remember to bake muffins on my complete inability to understand physics; though it's worth a try. Perhaps if it were Calculus, I would remember. Hm.

All that to say, I'm tired of forgetting! It's embarrassing! I'd much rather be sensible and reliable than flighty and ditzy. My hair is not the right color for ditzy, and I'm not about to begin dying it just so I can get away with being flighty. No offense.

Now what was it I was supposed to be doing before I started blogging?

Oi vey!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Remembering a Snow Day

2009-02-16T16:07:00.003-05:00

As quickly as the 16+ inches of snow accumulated, it melted. We went from below zero temperatures, to the mid-thirties and snowing, to highs in the 60s within a matter of two weeks. The temps have averaged out again, but no trace of the beautiful, white snow remains. The kids are now enjoying the brisk weather and the warm sunshine while I take a break and remember the fun of our snow day just 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Squinting eyes from the reflection of the sun off the snow. Wooden sleds, purchased in Germany 30 years ago, continue to delight my family!

Making their way through the thick snow, up the man made hill built specifically for this purpose. It seems we weren't the only people with the idea to go sledding!

One sister watches, while another helps the third up the hill. It warms the photographer mommy's heart to see such unprompted care and thoughtfulness.

Big brother head first on the big sled. No fear!

Slightly more timid, but having fun nonetheless.

She's actually running up the hill, pulling her sled.
This girl's energy amazes and exhausts me!

Truth be told, they fight for turns with the inner tube.
Love the ball on top of the hat!

I want you to know that after taking these few shots, I packed the camera away safely in the van and climbed the hill myself to play with the kids in the snow. We all had a (mostly) wonderful time!

At the end of the day, my older daughter nursed an injured wrist while my youngest complained that the sun hurt her eyes, and my son squeezed in as many trips down the hill until I insisted we leave. Only the middle daughter was up for a photo-shoot.

It would have been even more fun if Daddy could have joined us, but a fun time was had by all nonetheless. And now spring can come.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

True Confessions on Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

I've been on and off the computer today; catching snippets of all the fun valentiney things that many fabulous moms are doing for their kids and families. It's with a bit of chagrin that I type this post.

I confess that I am not one of the fabulous moms who made a special breakfast of pink pancakes or heart shaped waffles; instead, my dear husband brought home donuts after going out for breakfast with a local pastor (while I slept in).
I confess that I did not purchase nor make valentines for my kids (and I hid the card I bought for my husband so well, that I have been unable to find it). My husband did purchase cards and stickers for all the kids and me, and all the kids made valentines for each other, their dad, and me.
I confess that I didn't make a fancy lunch; but we enjoyed using our Wendy's gift cards (a Christmas present from Great Grandma), and I sat at a table with just my son. I even shared my Dr. Pepper.
I confess that I didn't plan any fun Valentine's Day activities, but we all enjoyed a trip to the dollar movie theater to watch The Tale of Despereaux (very good!) which was a special treat!
I confess that I did not plan a red dinner; but my husband made tomato soup (RED) and grilled cheese sandwiches (while I "worked" on the computer & prepped tomorrow's Sunday School Lesson)!
I confess that there was no unit study on the origin of St. Valentine's Day, nor were there books from the library. We did enjoy the Valentine Party/Poetry Recital with our homeschool group on Wednesday though.
I confess that I did not even make the traditional heart-shaped, raspberry jelly filled, sugar cookies. Maybe my mom can do that with the kids when she comes over tomorrow?
I confess that I did not buy my beloved a gift, but I have made my bed for two weeks in a row, and kept my bathroom straightened! I was surprised by a dozen red roses yesterday...I usually only get roses after I have a baby; it's been a long time, and I don't expect to have any more babies, so it was quite nice to get roses again!
I confess that I did not arrange for a babysitter or plan a date, but my husband did, and we have reservations tomorrow night at a place that he claims will delight this carnivore.
I confess that I'm blogging instead of tucking the kids into bed, but I did let the girls take a bath in my jacuzzi tub instead of a shower, and I did play one song on Dance Praise with my son.
I confess that I did not get my "Christmas" letter finished/mailed by Valentine's Day like I jested that I would. I'm such a slacker! And no, I can't let it go, I have a box of photo cards sitting on my desk collecting dust. They will not wait until December.
I confess that I just haven't been in the Valentine's Day mood, and really didn't put any effort into making it special for my kids and husband. I'm glad that my husband did, and I'm grateful that my kids did. In the end we had a nice family day despite me, and my lack of creativity.

If you're one of those creative moms who planned ahead to lavish love on your family today, I tip my hat to you! If you're not; know that you're not the only one! Next year, I really do think I should at least make my own Valentines for the kids. I know they'd appreciate it. I felt badly when I saw the stacks of Valentines, and none from me. Maybe I can even plan a Valentine's Tea like my mom did for me one year. That was such a fun time! She was such a good mom! Until then, perhaps I can redeem myself on St. Patrick's Day; everyone loves Corned Beef and Cabbage, and green is my favorite color! ;)

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Chocolate Math

2009-02-12T16:32:00.003-05:00

Earlier today, my kids were discussing Math; specifically, what constitutes "doing Math." They listed living math activities like cooking, measuring, making crafts, and sorting. Then my brilliant seven and a half year old chimed in with,

"Math is eating chocolate all day long."

I just love the way her mind works! It's no wonder I've always been such a Math geek! ;)

So if your kids hate Math or are struggling with it, send them over to my house. We'll sit around all day dividing chocolate evenly. Imagine how the test scores will soar after that!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

February Poetry Recital

2009-02-10T22:03:00.003-05:00

It's time yet again for another poetry recital. This month's theme is Valentine or winter poems.
I'm a little discouraged because we planned the poetry recital in conjunction with our homeschool group's Valentine's Party in the hopes that more families would participate, but of the 45 children that are attending the party, only nine of them are reciting poems (4 of them my own). Perhaps when the other children see how much fun a poetry recital is, they'll want to participate next time. I just hope that people don't show up late and either straggle in through the recital or skip the recital altogether. Pray for my attitude, it obviously needs an adjustment!

Anyway...

1ds11 is reciting White Fields by James Stephens

I
In the winter time we go
Walking in the fields of snow;
Where there is no grass at all;
Where the top of every wall,
Every fence, and every tree,
Is as white as white can be.

II
Pointing out the way we came,
--Every one of them the same--
All across the fields there be
Prints in silver filigree;
And our mothers always know,
By the footprints in the snow,

Where it is the children go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2dd9 has chosen an excerpt from Winter's Blessings by William Allen Bixler. The full text can be read here.

Pretty little snowflakes
Falling to the ground;
Here is one, there is one,
Ev'rywhere they're found.

See them fall so gently
Through the frosty air;
Every little snowflake
Has its beauties rare.

Soon the ground is covered,
With the pretty snow;
Then we see the snowbirds
Flying to and fro.

Do you think the snowbirds
Like the wintry day?
Do you think they're happy
As they chirp and play?

Happy little creatures--
Do not reap or sow,
Yet the Master feeds them,
Even in the snow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3dd7 is presenting two poems. A Valentine by Eleanor Hammond is my personal favorite at this time of year.

Frost flowers on the window glass,
Hopping chickadees that pass,
Bare old elms that bend and sway,
Pussy-willows soft and gray.
Silver clouds across the sky,
Lacy snowflakes flitting by,
Icicles like fringe in line,
That is outdoors’ valentine.

The second poem is Jack Frost by Helen Bayley Davis.

Someone painted pictures on my
Windowpane last night --
Willow trees with trailing boughs
And flowers, frosty white,

And lovely crystal butterflies;
But when the morning sun
Touched them with its golden beams,
They vanished one by one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, 4dd6 picked out a simple fun poem: Chubby Little Snowman by Panonopus (as she pronounces anonymous).

A chubby little snowman,
Had a carrot nose,
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for his lunch,
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble nibble crunch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Snow Ice Cream

2009-02-04T01:56:00.000-05:00

WARNING: If you're one of those moms who doesn't let your kids eat cookie dough because of the risk of salmonella...you might want to stop reading.

FYI: If you're one of those ~~environmental wackos~~ people who are ~~obsessed~~ concerned about pollution and acid rain....you can take your anonymous comments somewhere else.

DISCLAIMER: For those of you who don't "get it" when I'm trying to be funny because I'm usually so serious on "the blog"; this post was written a bit tounge in cheek. If you don't appreciate my feeble attempts at humor, you are welcome to come back another day when I'm not posting at almost 2am.

Okay, now that that bit of business is taken care of....

We've had a lot of snow here in Indiana! Last week we got a little over a foot of heavy, beautiful snow. Last night, we got between 3 and 4 more inches. The result? A rare treat which I haven't enjoyed since I was a child: Snow Ice Cream.

First you need snow: fresh, clean snow. It's best to wait until a second snowfall, because then it's cleaner. You can even leave a bowl outside to catch the snow, or if you didn't think of that beforehand, just scrape the top layer of fluffy, clean snow off the ground. Really, it won't kill you; even if it's not totally clean. Remember, "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt!"

(Please note: Normally, gloves and a hat are required to be outside in such weather. Also, I gathered the majority of the snow myself to insure that it was really clean. This was an emergency snow run when we discovered that I hadn't gathered enough snow, and then turned into a photo op as well. I know you were wondering what kind of mother I was. First Acid Rain infested Salmonella poisoned Snow Ice Cream, then improper cold-weather apparel...now you know. Besides that, I was too lazy to put my boots on again.)

Second, you need a recipe: Snow Ice Cream I. (Please note the disclaimer at the top of the recipe, I really don't want to get sued over a random recipe on a random blog post!)

A few simple ingredients...

Yes, those are eggs. No, they will not be cooked before they are eaten. Yes, you do run the risk of salmonella poisoning. Consider yourself warned and eat at your own risk, but seriously people, in all the many times I had snow ice cream as a child, or for that matter homemade eggnog, or cookie dough, I never got salmonella. I'm just sayin'. (I do hope those words don't come back to bite me in the derriere!)

A few helpers...

The snow hat is a nice touch; don't you think?

Mix it together...

Pioneer Woman has nothing to fear...

Enjoy!

Don't they look so excited? I was the best mom in the world...for a milisecond.

A "funny" story: One year my mom was making snow ice cream, and decided to send a bowl of it across the street to the quite large homeschooling family who lived in one side of a duplex. She was trying to be nice; neighborly. The children returned with the untouched bowl of snow ice cream and a message from their mother that they could not eat such because of pollution and toxic rain. Seriously. Now if it were you...? Never mind. Once again, consumption of snow fallen in inner-city Indianapolis has not killed me. I think one small bowl will be okay. Really. But consider yourself warned. Eat at your own risk. I did. ;)

(Insert picture of the mom eating Snow Ice Cream...oh wait, there isn't one...oops!)

Oh, and one more thing...LOL! :)

Life is short, every now and then you have to throw caution to the wind, and live with reckless abandon. Um, yeah.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Bloggers Block

2009-01-28T10:34:00.003-05:00

It's aparently not the right time of year/phase of life for blogging. Not that I've given up completely, mind you. I just haven't taken the time to keep up lately (reading or writing). For one thing, I still haven't mailed out my Christmas cards, and so any time I think of blogging I make myself feel guilty thinking I should be writing my Christmas letter instead and end up doing neither. Random status updates on Facebook have been the most I've felt compelled to write lately, which of course means nothing to the many of you who don't do Facebook. Sorry!

In totally random news:
I awoke to 11 inches of snow this morning. We've had numerous dustings, but never enough to go sledding. I'm hoping to take the kids this afternoon. Mean homeschool mommy that I am, I'm still making the kids work on some academics before then. Not that my son is bitter about working on his Math assignment while his sisters play in the snow...heaven forbid!

And since I know you were wondering, I realized this morning why I don't appreciate my crock pot as a valuable asset. For one thing, I don't wake up early enough in the morning to get it going. For another, I don't cook well in the morning; I'm uncoordinated and scatterbrained. This explains why I don't bother with breakfast either.

Well, I'm off to play in the snow. I'd tantalize you with the promise of pictures, but I still haven't posted pictures from Christmas and my youngest's birthday that we celebrated this weekend; so who am I kidding? If I could only find the inspiration to finish that Christmas letter....

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Ambitious Much?

2009-01-19T12:20:00.008-05:00

I've always been a bit overly ambitious. Anyone who knows my career goal before God changed my heart and gave me a desire to be married instead would have to agree. I mean how many people truly aspire to be the First Female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Needless to say, I never made it. Go figure.

I don't know how early on my lofty aspirations became evident, but they've plagued me for a long time in many areas. When I was homeschooled for Jr. High, my mom (a gifted seamstress) decided to teach me to sew. It made sense to begin with a simple apron. Isn't that what most people first learn to sew? Too bad I'm not most people...I might have actually learned to sew. Me? I had to choose the most complicated apron pattern ever, ruffles, tucks, gathers,...add to that lace and ribbons and let's just say if you search long enough and deep enough, you'll find that unfinished apron (still with the pins in it) somewhere in my parents' house.

Then there was the cross-stitched blanket that I attempted to make for my now sister-in-law as a wedding present. I finally scrapped the blanket idea, went with a framed cross-stitch instead, and ended up completing it in time to give it to them on their 5th Christmas (almost 6 years after I began). At least I finished it. It scared me enough that I haven't attempted making one for my brother-in-law & his wife, or my sister & her husband though I have considered that I ought.

There have been other overly-ambitious ideas I've pursued beyond crafts, which have either never been seen through to fruition, or resulted in a string of late nights and all-nighters to actually pull them off. I've tried to learn, and resist this urge to attempt such in the future, but sometimes I just can't help it.

I've been wanting to learn to knit or crochet for a while. My mom and sister can do both, and they make beautiful afghans, scarves, and even sweaters. It seems like something I could do if I set my mind to it. With the hopes of my mom coming over Sunday (to help me get started), I stopped at Michael's Saturday night to purchase the necessary supplies. My sister advised me to start with one of the free scarf patterns on the yarn which would also tell me what size of needle and how many skeins of yarn I needed. That sounded easy enough, so I found the yarn I liked, picked the scarf I thought was prettiest, and purchased the correct size crochet hook, wondering what the 4 diagonal lines next to the 6mm meant. I was excited and confident. Now I would have something to keep my hands busy while watching American Idol and Biggest Loser and wouldn't feel like I was totally wasting time when I should be doing something else. That is what this is all about after all.

Alas, upon opening the label at home and reading the directions which make less sense to me than html code, I finally figured out that those 4 diagonal lines did mean something. This pattern isn't for crocheting at all; it's for knitting. In addition, it couldn't even be a simple knit scarf pattern. No, it requires the use of FOUR knitting needles. At. the. same. time. Sounds like a fabulous way to learn how to knit, doesn't it?

Oi vey! This is me, trying to choose something simple, and selecting an advanced pattern, because I liked the look of the complicated scarf better than the simpler scarfs. Because I'm Angel. I just have to laugh; some things never change.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

P.S. I'll be sure to post a picture of that scarf once it's completed. Ha!

Grounded?

2009-01-12T20:55:00.002-05:00

Apparently, I've been grounded from the internet by my flaky wireless router. It'll work one minute and then literally the next minute...NO internet connection, which also means no phone line since we use Vonage. So, I have no idea what any of you are up to. Big bummer! In the meantime, I'm trying to work dilligently around the house (not like anyone can tell) and with the kids. I'm determined to finish up the American Revolution this month!

Anywho. Just thought I'd pop in and let those of you who care know why I haven't been around. I better post this before my internet connection goes out again.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Elvis and the Next Generation

2009-01-08T14:45:00.003-05:00

What you'd hear if you were a fly on the wall in my house today,

4dd(almost 6): "Mommy, Elvis is a really good movie!"
Me: "Really?!?"
4dd: "Yes, and the judge is really nice. He's not mean at all. He's really really nice."

I'm sure you're wondering why my almost 6 year old daughter (ED) is watching an Elvis movie with a nice judge in it. Well...before Christmas someone in my family was talking about Elvis for some reason I don't remember and ED said, "Who's Elvis?" which appalled my family members and almost got me kicked out of the family. "How could she not know who Elvis is?" they demanded. "I guess he never hosted the Muppet Show." I replied. (Side note: We have all the Muppet Show DVDs, and my kids love to watch them. One day I overheard them talking about Danny Devito and asked them how they knew who he was, to which they replied, "The Muppet Show." Duh, mom!) Back to the Elvis story. Skip ahead a few days to Christmas and the girls unwrapped TWO Elvis movies. Joy! Apparently, my family thought my daughters needed to be cultured. Last night they began watching one before bed. They finished watching this morning. Hence the above conversation. Now you know. I can't wait to read the anonymous comments about how I'm corrupting my kids...

So what kind of random conversations are taking place in your house today?

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Before settling down for a long winter's nap

2008-12-25T00:36:00.002-05:00

It's after midnight on Christmas Eve, are you still awake?

The presents are wrapped and under the tree. The Christmas light wires which were chewed by the feral cat have been repaired and the tree is once again aglow in all its beauty. Chris and I have been scurrying around like elves preparing for the morning's festivities, and my eyes are begging me to allow them to rest. My husband has been repeatedly coaxing me to come to bed, but I just had to pop in real quick to wish you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

We have enjoyed such a delightful Advent, preparing for the celebration of our Savior's birth. It's a shame that there isn't more time to blog about life when you're busy living it. I long for a quiet moment (when I'm not about to fall over from exhaustion) to preserve my thoughts and memories through my keyboard; but alas, Christmas is tomorrow, then Christmas with my family the next day, we're then off to Pennsylvania the following. There is still much to be done before now and then, despite the diligent progress I have made on my list (while avoiding the temptation to procrastinate via blogging). I look forward to the time when I can waste away a morning catching up with all of my dear blogging buddies and peeking into your holiday celebrations, while also sharing some of the precious memories that I am pondering in my heart tonight. Someday my senility wrought brain will thank me...my husband is pssting...it's time for bed.

Love to you! I miss you much! You are such a priceless gift to me!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

This Week's List

2008-12-15T19:27:00.008-05:00

Just when I thought I was DONE with my Christmas shopping, I found out that one of the presents we ordered has already been given to the couple we purchased it for. This wouldn't have happened if he hadn't added the item to his Christmas list. Have I mentioned that I don't care for Christmas Lists? Sigh! Back to the drawing board...

Beyond that, I've been busy sorting through almost 10,000 digital photos that I took during 2008. I'm not exagerating.

Here's what the rest of my to-do list looks like:

~~ballet practices~~
~~sit down with Chris & do the December budget~~ (it's only the 15th...)
~~update ledger~~
~~ballet recital~~
~~Civic Theater field trip~~
~~b-day dinner~~
~~bake 4 double batches of pumpkin bread~~
~~wrap mini-loaves of pumpkin bread in foil, tie with ribbon,~~
distribute pumpkin bread to friends at church Sunday
distribute pumpkin bread to neighbors
bake and frost sugar cookies (Monday)
~~meal planning & grocery trip~~
choose songs for mp3 players (mostly done by Chris)
~~clean house top to bottom~~
~~prepare for my sister's arrival from S. Dakota Saturday~~
prepare to lead worship Sunday (not doing it b/c of sickness)
~~make a meal~~ for a couple who just had a baby & moved (all in the same week!)
wrap presents (Chris is ON IT!)
~~choose & order Christmas photo~~
write Christmas letter
address envelopes & mail Christmas letters (I'm aiming for sometime before Valentine's Day)
misc. crafting with the kids that I haven't done yet (started...)
~~visit with Melissa~~

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm sure your to-do list looks similar to mine. :)

I pray that your season has been blessed so far, and that you're enjoying sweet family time amidst the inevitable craziness. We are. Too bad I don't have more time to blog about it. ;)

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Freedom from Having to be Right

2008-12-11T23:24:00.001-05:00

I am a truth seeker. I'm one of those people who always wants to be right. It's important to me that I know the right answer and do the right thing. That can be noble. It can also be obnoxious. More often than not...it's impossible.

I remember vividly sitting in my professor's office in tears wrestling over infant baptism. I had been raised in Baptist churches (mostly). I was attending a Presbyterian college. The course was the Biblical book of Romans, and my head was in a tizzy. How could I reconcile what my Calvinist professor was teaching about infant baptism with what I'd always been taught about believer's baptism? I wanted to get it right. I wanted to know for sure. I was concerned about my unborn children and worried that I might not make the right decision. My angst drove me to his office and eventually to tears. While I cried, he comforted me with words I will never forget. "Angel," he said, "Entire denominations have formed over this one issue. Don't think that you're going to figure it out in a one-semester college class." Such relief and freedom I felt when he uttered those words. I didn't have to figure it all out. God's grace is sufficient. I could study, I could pray, I could seek wise counsel, but God's ways are beyond mine, and I might not always know the right answer.

We eventually had children, and we had to make a decision. Considering we were members of a Southern Baptist church at the time, it was not such a difficult one, though we did wrestle and pray over it. My children were all dedicated, just as I was, and we pray that one day they will each make the decision to be baptized as well. It's in the Lord's hands, and I trust Him. I have many friends who I love and respect who have chosen differently, and I'm okay with that. I can understand the reasons they made the decision that they did, and I respect them for it. There are compelling arguments on either side, and I really don't know who is right. I'm glad that I don't have to know.

Since that time, I have faced many other theological or moral challenges. I have wrestled over many issues and had to take a stand on one side or the other. It's impossible to walk the fence through life. True to my nature, I earnestly attempt to seek the truth and walk in it. I want to make the right choices. I want to be right. I've been humbled enough through the years to know that I don't always make the right choices. There have been times that I've argued until I was blue in the face, and later regretted the stance that I took. I've been wrong, and I will be wrong again. I don't claim to know all the answers.

Through it all, as I have matured in my faith, I have grown to understand two things: grace and freedom. First of all, we really can't fathom all that God's grace covers. His power is perfected in our weakness and His grace is truly sufficient for me. I couldn't get it right on my own; that's why He sent His Son. Even though I've been forgiven completely of all my sin, I still can't get it right from here on out. I need Jesus, and I need a continual supply of grace. When I inevitably get it wrong, His grace covers me. Not that I have license to sin, or not that I should be irresponsible. I still need to study His Word, I still need to pray, I still need to seek wise, godly counsel, I still need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. But God's ways are still higher than my own; His thoughts are above my thoughts, and I may very likely get it wrong sometimes. God's grace is sufficient.

Secondly, we were called to freedom in Christ. Christianity is not religion; rather, it is a relationship. There is much freedom in that relationship. While God's Word contains guidelines for how we are to live and walk in Christ, it is not a rulebook of dos and don'ts. All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. The more I grow in my understanding of freedom, the more I am filled with joy, and the more I recognize God's great love for me. He is not a stern Father looking down on me in judgment, condemning me when I fail; rather, He is a loving Father who gently corrects me and graciously instructs me in righteousness. He richly supplies me with all things to enjoy, and He delights in me. I am not under the Law, but under grace. I am not bound to the flesh, but have freedom in Christ Jesus. I also have freedom to trust God and put my trust in God completely. He is trustworthy, and I don't have to rely on myself. I have the freedom to not know all the answers, because I know the One who does. I have freedom from having to be right all the time! How precious is this freedom!

I still have much to learn about grace and freedom. I don't have it all together. I don't know everything. I still have a long way to go in this sanctification process. I will make many mistakes along the way, and I may make bad choices or even misinterpret Scripture. I will probably always struggle with that, as I do hate to be wrong, but I hope that I will continue to grow in humility and accept the freedom and grace that God offers me. I pray that I am also able to extend the same to others.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Christmas Poetry Recital

2008-12-09T22:29:00.001-05:00

I'm preparing the program for our Christmas Poetry Recital. Once again, Ambleside Online is the best source for traditional and classical Christmas poems. Christina G. Rosetti has also written numerous Advent and Christmas poems which can be found here.
There are so many fabulous poems that it was difficult to choose which ones the kids would memorize this year.

2dd9 is reciting The Friendly Beasts a 12th Century French carol.

Jesus, our brother, kind and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around Him stood;
Jesus, our brother, kind and good.

"I", said the donkey, shaggy and brown"
I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town;
I", said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"I", said the cow, all white and red,
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head;
I", said the cow, all white and red.

"I", said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn.
I", said the sheep with curly horn.

"I", said the dove from the rafters high,
"Cooed Him to sleep, that He should not cry,
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I.
I", said the dove from the rafters high.

And every beast by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3dd7 is reciting Long, Long, Ago:

Winds through the olive trees
Softly did blow,
'Round little Bethlehem
Long, long ago.

Sheep on the hillside lay
Whiter than snow.
Shepherds were watching them,
Long, long ago.

Then from the happy sky,
Angels bent low,
Singing their songs of joy,
Long, long ago.

For in a manger bed,
Cradled we know,
Christ came to Bethlehem,
Long, long ago.

Author Unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, 1ds11 is reciting the first four stanzas of Christina G. Rossetti's A Christmas Carol (In the Bleak Midwinter) and 4dd5 is reciting the last stanza (also known as My Gift).

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, –
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a beautiful rendition of the same.

I encourage you to enjoy and share the rich gift of poetry this Advent season. Perhaps you could add a couple of verses to a card or gift tag. Perhaps your children can memorize a poem to share at a holiday gathering! Not only is it enriching for your children to have such beauty stored in their hearts and minds, but grandparents and relatives love to hear such recitations! Or maybe you could visit a nursing home or home-bound person and read a couple of poems aloud. What a blessing that would be! I'd love to hear how you incorporate poetry into your celebrations this year!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Everyday Unwrapped

2008-12-08T10:51:00.001-05:00

A week ago I discovered a new imaginary friend and read a beautiful post about purposing to notice the joy in the everyday throughout what can be a very hectic and crazy season. I don't know about you, but I'm on board with that! I'd much rather purpose to do it now (and do it) at the beginning of the month, than regret that I hadn't the day after Christmas. So, today I'm going to share with you a few gifts I have already unwrapped this Christmas season.

The kids have been so excited about our nightly Advent devotions, and always want us to read just one more section of Jotham's Journey.

2dd9 wants to read aloud to all of us from One Wintry Night (every night for 11 nights). She doesn't want to do it in the daytime (which would be more convenient for ME since we're doing so much other reading at night) because then Daddy would miss out. It was so sweet to have her sit in the rocking chair and read to all of us! :) She's going to be a good mommy someday!

It's quiet as I type this which is rare, because the kids have filled the house with a steady stream of Christmas music from The Beach Boys and Brenda Lee to Third Day and Selah.

My compassionate kids were talking amongst themselves about how we should get a fake Christmas tree this year so that I would be able to help decorate it. (I'm very sensitive to real trees, but haven't broken down to purchase an artificial tree; so I just bear the headache for a few days, and Chris and the kids decorate the tree without me.) How kind of them to think of me...I never realized that it bothered them that I wasn't able to decorate the tree with them!

Yesterday at church the kids purchased presents for us and each other at the Christmas Store with Bible bucks they've earned in Sunday School. They keep chattering about them and are bursting with excitement! They can't wait to give them out!

My husband has so patiently worked through our budget with me, understanding my desire to purchase quality and thoughtful gifts, while challenging me to be frugal and make tough decisions at the same time so that we can stay on track with our financial goals.

My husband told me that he wanted to take me on a date to pick out a Christmas tree (he was hoping I would find an artificial tree that we could afford and I would approve). I'm so thankful that my husband still wants to take me on dates. :)
My husband took me on a date to pick out a tree, bought me coffee and chocolate, and helped me pick out a Christmas sweatshirt for my grandma and a birthday present for my mom. In the end he picked out the (real) tree by himself while I was in the Christian bookstore. (Am I the only one who sees the humor in that?)

My husband keeps telling me that he is thankful for me and how much he appreciates me, because he doesn't want me to forget.

I got to go to a bookstore and then out for coffee with a friend.

I enjoyed revisiting an old friend as I buried my nose in the pages of Grace Livingston Hill's The Substitute Guest, a charming Christmastime novel.

I had to take boxes off the grocery store shelves, but I finally found the Brach's Peppermint Nougat hiding amidst the Wintergreen. I also found Peppermint Ice Cream!

When Chris and I went to fill the shoes for St. Nicholas' Day, we found that the girls had also placed their doll shoes outside their doors. We also found a note outside 2dd9's door that said, "I AM WACHING YOU!" and isn't that the truth...

Click here to read how others are unwrapping the gift of everyday.
I would love to hear some of the things you've noticed that have warmed your heart and brought you joy! Please share!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

St. Nicholas' Day

2008-12-06T14:52:00.002-05:00

Celebrating St. Nicholas' Day is one of the most unique and fun things we do at Christmastime. From the time I was 2 years old to 5 years old, my family lived in Berlin, East Germany where my father was stationed in the army. The observance of St. Nicholas' Day is common in Europe and is one of the traditions that my family brought home to the United States. It remains one of my favorite days of the year and I have had such fun sharing it with others!

On December 5th, we all clean/polish our Sunday School shoes and place them outside our doors in the hallway. In the morning of December 6th, they are filled with a tangerine, a candy cane, chocolate coins, and maybe some other candy. Over the years, I have added other presents as well.

Our family does not celebrate Santa Claus. We refuse to attribute the divine qualities of El Roi (The God Who Sees)- "he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake", and omniscience ("he knows if you've been bad or good"), to name a couple to anyone other than God Himself. When we observe St. Nicholas Day, we are able to introduce our children to the historical truth behind the myth of Santa Claus. We read the delightful storybook Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend and talk about the pastor who loved God, was generous, kind, and compassionate, who died on December 6th and now lives in heaven with Jesus.

Putting the shoes out is like a game, and any presents that are given are ones that point to Christ and enhance our celebration of the Advent season. Some presents we've given (and they all know that we fill the shoes) are Christmas CDs, child nativity sets (Veggie Tales, Fisher-Price Little People) or Chrismas books. The rest of the month, it's all about Jesus. When the kids were younger and we would see someone dressed up as Santa Claus, if they questioned, I would remind them of what we learned about St. Nicholas and that this is just someone dressed up like him. We've already celebrated his "birthday" and now we're focused on the more important birthday that is coming up.

It is very important to us that we never lie to our children. Many children have been distraught to find out that Santa Claus was not real because they trusted their parents and believed what they taught them. If we lie to our kids for years about Santa Claus, even going so far as to sign his name on a present that we purchased, how can we expect them to believe us when we tell them about God. Maybe He's just pretend too. But what can we expect when in their most impressionable years, we go to great lengths to convince them of the reality of Santa Claus? Do we really believe that they won't be impacted when they discover the truth?

Because we did the "shoe thing," my family didn't do stockings on Christmas Eve (the origination is the same), but my husband's family did, and his sister even made stockings for each of us. So, in recent years, we've assigned to the kids the duty of filling each others' stockings. We take them shopping and they have a lot of fun buying presents for each other. It's a great way to encourage them to be "others focused" in a season that tends to be very "self-focused." They also get to play St. Nicholas themselves while they do it. We also look for other opportunities to follow St. Nicholas' example throughout the Advent season. Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas Child, Angel Tree, and other opportunities through our church have been some of the ways that we have done this.

For our family, Christmas is all about Jesus. Celebrating St. Nicholas' Day is just one more fun element to our greater purpose of worshiping the greatest Giver of all, God the Father who gave His only Son who gave His life, so that we could be saved. The chocolate is just bonus!

Happy St. Nicholas' Day!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Advent

2008-12-05T18:14:00.002-05:00

Advent is my favorite season of the year. It always has been. I have fond memories of lighting the Advent Wreath my family brought home from Germany and reading devotions every night. While I don't have my own authentic German Advent Wreath, this is a tradition that we have continued in our own home.

Advent literally means "the coming," and is a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christmas (literally, "Christ's birth"), as well as Jesus' Second Coming. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which was November 30, 2008, this year.

Many Christians observe the Advent season by lighting an Advent wreath which can be purchased or home-made. Traditionally, the Advent wreath contains 4 candles: 3 purple and 1 pink. Sometimes a 5th, white, candle is added in the middle (to be lit on Christmas morning). The purple candles symbolize hope, peace, and love and are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink candle symbolizes joy and is lit on the third Sunday. Our family usually uses three red and one white candles, because this is the way the Germans did it when my family began using the Advent wreath while living in Berlin.

Growing up, the oldest child (I) would light the first candle every night at dinner for the first week. The second child would light the first and second candle the next week and so on. It was always tricky to make sure that the first candle was not completely melted down by the end of the month. We continue this tradition with our own kids, although this year my second born husband thought we should switch things around and have our 2nd born daughter light the candles the first week. He sure knows how to stretch this first born.

We also have Advent devotionals together. We started with daily Scripture Readings (here is an example) and have added other resources over the years. In the past couple of years, we have incorporated a Jesse Tree into our Advent celebration. Jesse Tree is a through the Bible survey of the events that led up to Jesus' birth and the people in His line. I purchased The Glorious Coming E-book by Ann Voskamp and a small tree from Hobby Lobby. I printed out the included ornaments, mounted them on cardstock with the date on the back, covered them with clear Contact Paper, punched a hole, and attached a festive ribbon. I also printed out the devotions and store them with their coordinating ornament in a page protector sleeve in a binder. The kids take turns reading the daily Scripture passage which we then discuss together. We don't always read the devotional. Then the child hangs their ornament and the designated child lights their candle(s). Click here to download free ornaments and coordinating Advent reflections from a Catholic source.

After the lighting of the Advent candle, we read from Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide. This is the second time we have read this story together, and we enjoy it immensely. We have been captivated by the thrilling narrative and inspired by this beautiful story. Daily devotionals/Scripture readings are also included. These books went out of print 2 years ago and they are so good that people were paying large sums of money for them on e-bay. Fortunately, Jotham's Journey is back in print, and Bartholomew's Passage and Tabitha's Travels are promised to be released in 2009. I can't wait! I really can not speak highly enough of these books!

Another fabulous resource that we enjoy is Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth's Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart. I have used this as a morning devotional. This year, my personal devotionals have been enhanced by some exemplary advent devotionals written by a man from our church.

It would be wonderful if we enjoyed regular Family Worship every night throughout the year, but the truth is that it just doesn't happen consistently. Advent is the one season that we make a concerted effort to spend time in God's Word together. It is such a joy to do so, to see my husband lead, to hear the children's insights, to light the candles...these are the type of God honoring traditions that I want my children to remember and perhaps even pass on to their own children.

Every year, I pray that this Advent time would be the springboard into more consistent family devotions throughout the year, and some years it has led us to at least start out the year with them. But even in the years when that hasn't been the case, I cherish this month that we have to focus our attention on the heart of the Gospel:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

That's certainly worth celebrating!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

If It Weren't So True...

2008-12-03T12:07:00.003-05:00

...it would be so funny.

This is the man I wish was President-Elect.
I'm extremely disappointed that I didn't get a chance to vote for him!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

P.S. I am in no way advocating the smoking of cigars by posting this video!

To a Prodigal on Thanksgiving Day

2008-12-01T16:41:00.003-05:00

This man is a father.

His quiver is full; his house is full. He is surrounded, at a table laden with sumptuous food, by his wife, his son, two daughters, two sons-in-law, three grand-daughters, and a grandson. A dog hides contentedly underneath, hoping that a tender morsel will be dropped to him.

The time comes to offer the blessing and this father is hesitant. Perhaps one of the other men could pray instead, but no, "You are the head of the house," he is reminded. He bows his head and reticently begins his prayer with a husky voice,

"Thank you Lord for the family that is here around this table...

Thank you, Lord, for the family that is not here."

His heart is heavy, breaking. There is no joy. One daughter promises to be home for Christmas. Another daughter is silent. It has been more than two years since he has talked to her, seen her.

"Have you talked to her," he had asked earlier. He wants to know; he wants to hear that she is well, but soon after he asks, he gruffly cuts off the recounting of the last conversation with her. It hurts to hear. He has grown weary of talking. He longs only to hold her in his arms, to show her that he has forgiven her, to hold her daughter on his knee. He does not understand. His countenance is one of exasperation.

Why does she delay?

Why does she not come?

What is holding her back?

Does she not understand how much her father loves her, how desperately he misses her?

She must not.

She must not understand the tremendous grief that is resulting from her lingering.

She must not know the unconditional love and forgiveness that is hers for the asking if only she would return.

This man is a father, and he misses his youngest daughter.

There is another Father: watching, waiting. He needs not ask about her welfare. He knows all, sees all. He offers unconditional love and forgiveness as well. He's not waiting for her to be perfect, to get her act together and prove that she can do it herself. Rather, He demonstrated His own love toward her in that while she was yet a sinner, He sent His only begotten Son to die for her. If she would only accept that sacrifice as sufficient to cover and wash away all her sin. If only she would accept her heavenly Father's love, grace, and forgiveness, perhaps she could return to her earthly father and accept his as well. If only she would.

This has been my heart's cry for two long years. I had hoped that this year on Thanksgiving Day we could rejoice that she had returned. That we could celebrate together. I have prayed, I have fasted, I have cried, I have pleaded. I have spoken the Truth. Would that she would receive it.

This man is my father, and I miss his smile on Thanksgiving Day.

Dearest Prodigal,
My own heart is breaking and I want you home too! I love you. I want to be an aunt to your daughter. I want to support and encourage you as you raise her. I want to point you to the One who is able to sustain you through every trial. I want to shower you with the grace that He has given to me. I want to help you. I want to walk beside you and teach you how to live a life of godliness. I want to be your friend.

Won't you please come home?

Are you a prodigal yourself?
Have you left behind a family and attempted to move on with your life?
Are you unwilling to seek forgiveness?
Are you unable to accept it?

I wish I could convince you that you are loved.
I wish I could make you understand the grief that your family is suffering as a result of your absence.
I wish I could write eloquently enough so that you would know the reality of the forgiveness and grace that is offered to you.
I wish I could compel you to return.
I wish I could shake you and tell you to quit wasting time and do it already!

Your earthly father stands at the gate: watching, waiting.
Your heavenly Father stands at the gate: watching, waiting.

Come home.

Come Home.

Ye who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling, oh sinner, come home.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Many Thanks!

2008-11-26T13:00:00.003-05:00

How sweet of my wonderfulChris to surprise me by hijacking my blog! :) I very much appreciated all of your birthday greetings and phone calls. Thank you so much! You really are such fabulous friends! :)

Between my birthday and planning for Thanksgiving, as well as a fabulous but too short visit from Jill and then a great visit from Melissa, I've been busy the past few days and haven't been on the computer except to place my American Girl order before the free shipping expired yesterday.

Even now I should be at the grocery store searching for stuffing, cranberry/raspberry juice, and sparkling raspberry water (and not the sugar-free kind with the aspartame that gives me a migraine), or baking pies; not blogging. Really. So this brief post will have to suffice. Sorry.

I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you just as soon as I can justify lingering at the computer...

Grace and Peace,
Angel

Pssst...this blog has been temporarily hijacked!

2008-11-24T09:52:00.007-05:00

Hey everybody! This isn't EEEEMommy--it's her husband. I've cleverly hacked my way into her blog to bring you this news flash:

TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY!

(and green is her favorite color)

I would have posted the news on my own blog, but I fear that it wouldn't have received enough publicity (given that only 2 or 3 people have actually ever visited it). But this really isn't a shameless plug for my own, weak, scarcely updated web presence...

Please wish EEEEMommy a fabulous birthday today! She deserves it!

(especially since her dense husband once again failed to plan an exceptional birthday celebration for her--oi vey!)

Oh, and she *really* loves and appreciates every one of YOU!

It's a New Day!

2008-11-22T13:16:00.001-05:00

Praise God...His mercies are new every morning!

It sure was fun getting 60 friendly comments the other day. Even better than that is to get 9 encouraging comments from the best blogging buddies in the blogosphere! You ladies are fabulous! :)

My evening got worse

burning bacon
filling the house with smoke
setting off all the smoke alarms
forgetting to call my sister on her 30th b-day
spilling milk all over myself & my couch

Before it got better

getting the refrigerator cleaned out
discovering that it was really Vanilla Caramel and not Hazelnut that had spilled, which made me so happy because Hazelnut is my favorite, and I was afraid I would never enjoy it again since the smell made me so sick!
the girls finally finished cleaning their room!!!!
letting them stay up late to watch Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and Don't Forget the Lyrics
having them put away the folded laundry with NO COMPLAINING!!!!
hearing the girls say their bedtime prayers
getting a reminder phone call from my other sister to call my b-day sister (in South Dakota)
getting the girls out of bed and singing Happy Birthday on speaker phone
putting the girls back to bed with NO COMPLAINING
eating Oreos (only 3, not the whole bag!) while staying up past 1am watching a chick flick
staying up until 2am on the computer reading some posts (here & here) that I really needed to read
sleeping in until 11:30am this morning! :)

It's about to get even better, because Jill is on her way (with her 4 kids), and we get to have a big sleepover tonight! :)

I pray you all have a great weekend! Thanks again for your encouragement!

I love you much!

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Get Out Your Violins

2008-11-21T19:09:00.003-05:00

Angelica is beyond frustrated.

three daughters who keep picking at one another
whining and complaining (don't even!)
messy bedrooms (my own included)
kids that fool around when they should be cleaning
kids that don't/won't obey
stalling
Hazelnut Coffeemate spilled in the fridge creating a huge sticky mess and a permeating smell that has resulted in nausea, a headache, and irritated eyes
crying
bossing
tattling
nothing to eat for dinner
more whining and complaining
a huge laundry basket of socks to match
pulling of hair or some such other nastiness followed by crying followed by, "I'm sorry will you please forgive me," followed by, "I'm telling," followed by, "Don't tell, I said I was sorry! I said I was sorry! I SAID I WAS SORRY!" followed by "Mommy..."
and a whiny dog too

Surprisingly, the 11 loads of laundry don't bother her at all (except for the socks). Load #5 is in the washing machine, load #4 is drying, and loads 1-3 have already been folded (though not put away).

Too bad Chris & Ethan are out camping in below freezing temps at a Survivor Weekend! If they weren't Angelica would be tempted to let Chris handle everything and bury her nose in a good book. Sigh. I sure hope she survives.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

BATW: Welcome to Indiana

2008-11-19T22:40:00.002-05:00

I am honored to say, "Welcome, Blog Around the Worlders," to Indiana: the Crossroads of America, home of the World Champion Indianapolis Colts and the Indy 500! We have corn, oh and

we talk to complete strangers in grocery stores here.

Would that unnerve you? You must live on the East Coast.

I was born and raised in Indianapolis (with the exception of three years in W. Berlin, E. Germany). By the time I graduated from high school, I was ready to leave. the. state! Four years of college in Pennsylvania followed by 5 1/2 years in Southern Maryland and 4 years in Virginia changed my heart and brought me back home again to Indiana.

For the most part I loved the East Coast: culture, history, mountains (compared to Indiana, not the West Coast), water, ~~too much~~ lots of stuff to do. But do you know that they don't talk to you in the grocery stores out east? It's true. And if you try to talk to them, they look at you like you're crazy. If you have the audacity to ask them if they might know where the raisins are kept, they coldly point out that they do. not. work. there. (I'm not bitter.) People rarely even make eye contact in grocery stores, let alone smile. They're all in a hurry...all the time. It's very sad, and not at all like Indiana.

Why here you make friends for life in the grocery store. Seriously. I used to get so tired of my mom sharing her life story with total strangers in the check-out line and telling them about Jesus or giving cooking tips to the cashier as she purchased unusual produce. Life on the east coast changed that. Now I'm listening to people's life stories in the checkout line and looking for opportunities to share Jesus with them. Now I'm the one sharing with the check-out lady what to do with canned salmon and how you cook Butternut Squash. Now that I'm in Indiana that is.

You may think that I'm exagerating, but the difference was obvious immediately upon moving back home. My kids even noticed that every time we went to the grocery store, people were always talking to us and asking questions. My then 5 year old said after a shopping trip, "Mom, you're always making so many friends at the store, but you never find out what their names are."

Whether you're at the local smalltown market or a larger inner-city store, people in Indiana talk as if they've known you their entire life. Here in Indiana, you need only say aloud, "I wonder where they keep the raisins," and you get a response, whether it be the location or a lament about how the store managers are always rearranging things and no one can ever keep straight where anything is. People love to help you if you ask, and no one is afraid to ask you! Since coming home, I've been asked

my opinion on Vanilla Bark and whether it's the same as Almond Bark
to reach something on an upper shelf by the elderly or disabled (a frequent request)
which item I think a man's wife might prefer for the recipe she's making, which he has been sent to the store to retrieve
what to do with a pomegranate
the location of numerous different items (including raisins which store managers like to hide in obscure places)
about homeschooling
and of course what I think about the Colts!

I actually went into a bit of shock initially. I wasn't used to having strangers talk to me anymore. After numerous failed attempts at conversing with strangers in east coast grocery stores, I'd resigned myself to shopping in quiet isolation. It took me a while to re-adjust to grocery shopping Hoosier style, but 2 1/2 years later I'm right at home!

All that to say, "Welcome to Indiana," where Hoosier hospitality doesn't end in our homes; it begins at the grocery store. If you just need to pick up something "real quick" at the market, you might want to stop in another state.

Thanks for stopping by. You're welcome to look around and check the place out and come back again any time! We're also are home to the biggest and best Children's Museum ever (my sister works there)! Oh and feel free to share your life's story in the comments. We can pretend it's the check-out line! ;)

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Brown Skin Babies

2008-11-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

My youngest daughter (4dd5 1/2) loves "brown skin" babies. She always has. When she was a toddler, every time we picked her up from the church nursery, she was playing with the same brown skinned baby doll. Every week she would cry that she had to leave that baby behind! As a result, I purchased her a brown skin Cabbage Patch doll for her 2nd birthday. Some people thought I was a little strange, but she loved it. She still does.

This year for Christmas, I'm planning to buy her the Bitty Baby twins. As I was trying to figure out which pair to get her, she told me she wanted the brown skinned ones. We get the catalogs and the girls pour over them creating their wish lists and lamenting how expensive everything is. Apparently, she'd decided she liked the brown skin babies with the curly black hair best. In her words, "They're the cutest! I really really like them!" I was ready to order the brown haired, brown eyed twins, but now I'm second guessing myself. From experience, I know that the American Girl curls are not ideal for playing with their hair, but if those are the ones she really wants...

I can't help but ponder her continuing love of brown skin babies. For one thing, I'm pleased that she sees the beauty in God's creation. In Virginia and Maryland, we had "brown skinned" neighbors, and my kids adored them all! My parents are one of only a few white couples in their church. My kids call it the "brown" church and have always enjoyed going. (It's a hoot to see my dad singing in the choir too! LOL) Their perspective is definitely not color-blind, but I think it's better. The ability to see beauty in the diversity of God's creation is a wonderful thing. The world would be boring if all of the flowers were the same color. We would not desire to ignore their varied and magnificent colors and try to pretend they were all the same! Likewise, we are blessed to recognize the beauty in the "skin kaleidoscope" created by our different shades of melanin. (DCTalk Colored People).

The other thing that I ponder is whether God has given her this unique partiality towards brown skin baby dolls because there may be brown skin babies in her future. Perhaps a brown skin man will be her husband someday. Provided that he loves the Lord wholeheartedly and has a desire to follow, obey, and serve Him and love her as Christ loved the church, I have no problem with that. Or maybe there will be adopted babies with brown skin. The Lord only knows. I do have fun pondering though. For now I just have to decide which Bitty Baby Twin set to buy for Christmas. My favorite is the "medium" skin babies...;)

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Glorious: Connersvine & David Crowder Band

2008-11-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

You make everything glorious.

And I am Yours.

What does that make me?

When I was only a few months old, my parents took me to a Led Zeppelin concert. I'm a rocker at heart. It's in my blood...or maybe it was the breast milk.

I enjoy all kinds of performances: theater, musicals, the symphony. Attending a performance is one of my very favorite things to do. Even more so, I love concerts. Rockin' concerts where I can jump up and down, lift my hands, scream until I'm hoarse, and sing at the top of my voice...especially when I'm joining in worship of my King with hundreds of other believers.

I've been blessed to have been able to attend many concerts through the years. My family always enjoyed Carmen's free concerts (that's where I learned the "Holy Ghost hop." When I was 14, I won tickets to Amy Grant's Lead Me On concert from a local Christian music station and took my mom. I just heard that she's now on the 20th Anniversary Lead Me on Tour. I'm not old! I saw her in concert a couple of other times as well as Sandi Patti, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and countless others.

I don't get to go to concerts very often anymore because of the expense, so I was thrilled to receive an anniversary present from my sister & her husband of tickets to last night's Worship Indiana concert. The four of us went and had an absolute blast with Connersvine and David Crowder Band. I have not had so much fun in a very long time, and I desperately needed it!

Chris & I were introduced to David Crowder Band when we took our son to see Mercy Me & Michael W. Smith four years ago. DCB opened for them and they were awesome! They quickly became favorites, and my son has become a huge fan. My only disappointment in going to last night's concert was that he couldn't come along. All of the kids would have had a great time!

Connersvine (Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith and Chris Wilson) is another favorite. I was so excited about their album and bought three copies at Christmas (2 for family, 1 for me). Unfortunately, I gave away my copy as a birthday gift to someone who didn't even really appreciate it (I heard he lost it). I'm not bitter. But what I heard of it before my sister took hers home with her after Christmas was awesome. I've followed their blog over the past several months and have so much respect for them both! They are passionate for the Lord, and He has gifted them abundantly. It was so cool to finally see them perform.

I resonated so much with two songs in particular: Time to Die & Live For You

This is a time to die

This is a time to separate

This is a time to celebrate

Leaving this world behind...

~~~~~

I want to live for You

I want to die to me

I want to be emptied

I want to be freed

From all that holds me captive

All that brings me down

All that’s tried to lose me

Now that I’ve been found

I want to live for You

Powerful stuff!
Words fail me in expressing how meaningful it was for me to cry and sing these words with complete sincerity from my heart!

As an unexpected bonus, we got to hear "Hunter the Punter" preach too. He spoke on wisdom, and it was so solid. He talked about the lies that the church has bought into regarding status and competition. He had blogged about competition here, and I'd already been blessed by that post. Having been entrenched in the battle lately, I was so encouraged that we're not called to compete, we're called to battle. He's funny too! I laughed and laughed, and boy did I need to laugh!

As if that wasn't enough, then we got to rock it out with David Crowder Band. He made me laugh too! Who knew he was such a riot?!? He also ushered us into the presence of the Lord in powerful worship. It was excellent! We had awesome seats in the 4th row center! I could feel the reverberation of the drum against my chest and was totally enveloped by the music and the lyrics as I entered into passionate worship. It was totally awesome to be surrounded by college kids who were totally engaged in worship. There is hope. I was encouraged and renewed. And I refuse to feel old! Although I must say that my current hair style is not as conducive to head banging as my collegiate one (hmmm...), and I should have opted for the layered t-shirt look in lieu of the argyle sweater. One of the coolest parts was hearing so many young voices singing a couple of old hymns! Priceless! Heaven is going to be...I can only imagine.

One of the most moving parts of the concert was when they sang The Glory of it All.

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

I was so moved by this song that I actually got that ugly cry face. You know the one. Not just the tears rolling silently down my cheeks, but the on the verge of sobbing, ugly face crying from deep within. Or maybe that's just me.

It's killing me that I can't find my Illuminate CD as I'd love to blast it through the house, and I want to share some more of my favorite lyrics....and I may have to break my word of not buying any more CDs for Christmas since we don't have the latest Remedy.

Anyway, this post is already to long, and I'm supposed to be making soup and getting my house ready for lots of company tonight. If you don't already own them, you guys really need to get some of these CDs or songs. I'm compiling a list of my favorites. Try them; you'll like them. Well, if you're cool like me, and not too old you will anyway. ;)

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Thanksgiving Poetry Recital

2008-11-13T14:30:00.002-05:00

We're getting ready for this afternoon's Thanksgiving Poetry Recital. There are a number of wonderful poems that are appropriate for this time of year. The best on-line source I've found is at Ambleside On-line in their Holiday Thanksgiving Poetry section.

1ds11 is reciting The Pilgrim Fathers by Leonard Bacon. This month we're working on adding hand movement to his poetry recital. It's challenging to make it natural and not corny, but he's doing well.

The Pilgrim Fathers

O God, beneath Thy guiding
Our exiled fathers crossed the sea;
And when they trod the wintry strand,
With prayer and psalm they worshipped Thee.

Thou heard'st, well pleased, the song, the prayer:
Thy blessing came; and still its power
Shall onward through all ages bear
The memory of that holy hour.

Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God
Came with those exiles o'er the waves;
And where their pilgrim feet have trod,
The God they trusted guards their graves.

And here Thy name, O, God of love,
Their children's children shall adore,
Til these eternal hills remove,
And spring adorns the earth no more.

~~Leonard Bacon, 1802-1881
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2dd9 isn't thrilled about memorization, so she always chooses the shortest and simplest poem she can find (and her mother will allow). After she saw me working with her brother on hand movement, she invented her own to accompany her poem. I was surprised and impressed!

Prayer of Thanks
Author Unknown

Did I forget to thank Thee, Lord,
For things that may seem small:
A flower by the wayside path,
A wild bird’s lonely call,
All the daily happenings
That we call commonplace,
For sunrise and for sunset glow,
My neighbor’s smiling face?

Since life is made of little things,
Oh, let me not forget
To count my smallest blessings all
Before the sun is set.
I thank Thee, Lord, for every one
Who adds a note of cheer,
And for the blessings multiplied
To me from year to year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3dd7 is reciting my favorite Thanksgiving poem for children. Her older brother and sister memorized it when they were her age. EM enjoys memorizing poems and excels at it.

First Thanksgiving
Margaret Hillert

If I had been a Pilgrim child
Among the fields and forests wild
Where deer and turkey used to roam,
A cabin would have been my home
With fireplace and earthen floor
And bearskins hanging at the door.
I would have gathered berries bright
For candles fragrantly alight,
And dug for clams and picked the corn
And laid the table smooth and worn.
Or hunted nuts hard-shelled and good
And helped in any way I could,
With time to laugh and play and run
When Indian children came for fun.
And on the first Thanksgiving Day
I would have met with friends to pray
And thank the Lord for all his care
In keeping us together there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, 4dd5 is reciting the first two stanzas of Ralph Waldo Emerson's classic We Thank Thee. (We couldn't quite get the third stanza memorized in time.) This poem is rich in descriptive vocabulary: tender, pleasant, fragrant. I plan to have her make a little book with a page for each line. I'll have her copy the line and then illustrate it; this is the perfect poem for that kind of activity. I wish I'd thought of it sooner, as it probably would have helped her to memorize it better.

We Thank Thee

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky;
For pleasant shade of branches high;
For fragrant air and cooling breeze;
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For each new morning with its light
For rest and shelter of the night
For health and food for love and friends
For everything Thy goodness sends
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

~~Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whether you plan to have a formal Poetry Recital or not, be encouraged to incorporate poetry into your Thankgiving celebration. It was such a delight for my children to read their poems to their great-grandmother at the nursing home this weekend. Perhaps you could plan an informal recitation time at your Thanksgiving gatherings. Grandparents love to see their grandchildren perform! If not, poems are great for copywork and dictation. They'd be an enriching addition to any Thanksgiving unit study. Click here for some beautiful traditional poems.

Enjoy!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

A Lesson from the White House

2008-11-11T16:06:00.002-05:00

As I was reading the article Obama Chic: Kitchen Staff to Provide Favorite Foods for First Family (much more interesting than auto bailout plans), I was struck by this quote of former White House chef Walter Schieb,

"Our goal at the residence is to offer an isle of sanity in what is a crazy world for the First Family as they make the transition. We try to anticipate their needs rather than having the family articulate them."

What a beautiful mission!

I began to consider the "crazy world" that my own husband faces every day. I regret that our residence has not been an "isle of sanity" of late. If you could peek into the master bedroom & bathroom, you couldn't help but notice the lack of serenity and general cleanliness. So much for anticipating his needs.

With couples in crisis all around me, the White House's example is a timely kick in the pants.

Grace and Peace,
Angel

For the Sake of the Call

Faith Hope Love Family Card

With Wings As Eagles: Scripture & a Snapshot

Midway Geyser Basin: Scripture & a Snapshot

The Ugly Side of Weight Loss

Nowhere Hair

Children look at me funny since I've lost my hair; even when I'm wearing a hat or a scarf. They're curious, intimidated, wary, frightened...They hesitate to come near me. They stare. At restaurants, in church...

Children have never been afraid of me before; in fact, many were quite captivated with me. But not now. My own children hated to see my bald head initially. "Put your hat back on, Mom," they insisted.

For all these reasons, I was delighted to happen across this new book yesterday. In yesterday's PR web release, one reviewer is quoted as saying,

“Nowhere Hair offers an age-appropriate and honest explanation to children while speaking to the adult in a way that is empowering. Womenwho know they will lose their hair are reminded they are still beautiful and vibrant, even when bald."

Please check it out and pass it along! Put in requests to your libraries so that they will order it and more families can utilize it. And read it to your kids; even if you don't have cancer yourself. For them...for me.

Grace and Peace,

Angel

Visit my Caring Bridge page for my most recent treatment update.

Producing Responsibility Organically

Long Overdue Update

My Journey With Cancer: Part 4, The 2nd Biopsy

My Journey With Cancer: Part 3, Meeting the Oncologist

My Journey With Cancer: Part 2, The Biopsies

My Journey With Cancer: Part 1, From Pneumonia to Cancer

Sweet Shot: Orchid

Midwest Homeschool Convention Recap

A Plea for an Orphan Boy

Bedfast in Spring

The Battle of My Life

Excited About Giving

Adoption, Kimmie, and Ethiopian Princesses

Crazy Love & Haitian Orphans

Must Read Post

Going Public

Back on My Knees

The Story Behind the Pictures

Back to Homeschool

Orphan Update

Show and Tell: Avoiding the Flash

Recommitted

Life in Random Bullets

Answers and Reflections on Pursuing Adoption

Wait, Pray, and Fish

Reality Check

The Face of Adoption

Could It Be Us?

A Young Quiltmaker's Dangerous Surrender

Catty Daughters

Be the Body

Personal Reading List 2009

And Send It Soaring

Redecorating my Youngest Daughters' Room

A Bouquet of Flowers For My Friends

Facebook in the Schoolroom

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Instilling Work Ethic?

Midwest Homeschool Convention and Ramblings

The Danger of Separation of Church and State

Love Notes in Bullet Form

Anyone notice a roaring lion roaming about? Do not fear!

On My Calendar

From Comic Strip to Newspaper

Monday Morning Reveries

Since I Haven't Been Blogging

Kids Say: About Me

A Quiet Repose

Duh, Which Way Did He Go, George?

Remembering a Snow Day

True Confessions on Valentine's Day

Chocolate Math

February Poetry Recital

Snow Ice Cream

Bloggers Block

Ambitious Much?

Grounded?

Elvis and the Next Generation

Before settling down for a long winter's nap

This Week's List

Freedom from Having to be Right

Christmas Poetry Recital

Everyday Unwrapped

St. Nicholas' Day

Advent

If It Weren't So True...

“Nowhere Hair offers an age-appropriate and honest explanation to children while speaking to the adult in a way that is empowering. Women
who know they will lose their hair are reminded they are still beautiful and vibrant, even when bald."