Wednesday's Walk: Fatherhood and Faith

Pictured above my husband Timothy and our first son in 2001.I was looking at old photos and could not help but reflect on this one. This picture has always been my favorite. When I look at it, I see a young father enjoying life with his beloved son.I can't help but fall in love again with this man who has walked with me on this journey as parents of a special needs child. With the odds against

Plans for the week

This week we will have begin our Nature study into learning about clouds. I have high hopes that the boys will enjoy our reading list this week of books to help them know more about the seasons, I hope to begin by mid week our introduction to learning about maps and mapping. My hubby bought us a globe at Target for $15 and I am happy we now have one to use with our Geography studies.

I have been

A Homeschool Woman’s Daybook – August 30

I used to participate in a Simple Woman’s daybook a long time ago and thought I start again. It is a wonderful way to look at the week. I am going to try and set aside some time in the afternoon for this each week
Outside my window, I can see the neighbors walking their dogs this evening. I look forward to when the boys are older so we can get a puppy as a pet.

I am thinking of when we can start

Menu Plan – August 30 – Sept. 5

This is our second week of Homeschool so I am including our lunch menu for Monday through Friday only. Breakfasts this week consist of banana bread muffins and fresh fruit, banana or blueberry pancakes (freeze ahead), cereal or oatmeal. The weather has cooled a bit so we plan for eating some of our lunches on the patio. I am trying for some variety for dinner this week with some family favorites

Things You Don't Know About Cholesterol !!!

You hear all the bad about cholesterol now I would like to inform you what you probably don't know!!!

I believe that education enlightens and leads to insight, taking away fear and replacing it with knowledge....

So please read this and learn to fear no more.


Cholesterol is a vital component of every cell membrane in your body.
There can be no life without cholesterol.

This soft, waxy substance is found in every cell of your body and helps to produce cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D and bile acids that help you to digest fat.

To start with, the UVB rays in sunlight interact with the cholesterol on your skin and convert it to vitamin D. If your cholesterol levels are too low you won’t be able to use the sun to generate sufficient levels of vitamin D... and by now we all know that vitamin D plays a pivotal role in almost all aspects of our health... it’s been credited with helping to boost immunity, ward off cancer and much more...

You cannot make oestrogen, testosterone, cortisone, and a host of other vital hormones without cholesterol.

It’s also found in your brain where it helps with the formation of memories and is vital for neurology

Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75 per cent of blood cholesterol. The other 25 per cent comes from the foods you eat.

A healthy liver keeps cholesterol within a healthy range.
So how can you accomplish this?
WATER WATER and  WATER...But, don't drown yourself in it.
Try to drink at least six glass fulls per day, preferably a glass before each meal and one again after. It flushes the liver. Eat a good supply of fruit and vegetable's.
These cleanse the liver of toxins.
Eat less meat, dairy and takeaway fatty foods.
Try to eat OATMEAL a few mornings per week.
And you are on the way, to a healthier happier you.

  
 "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2)

You'd Have "Stolen" Too !

In 2008, one of the first acts the newly-elected Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, did was stand before Parliament and make speech that said "SORRY" to the Stolen Generation. He and his leftist Labor government bought into the fabrication of Aboriginal history and the work of the missionaries by white. bleeding-heart, anti-establishment historians like Anna Haebich and Christine Choo. The missionaries were viewed as having worked in tandem with the government authorities to grab half-caste girls from their parents to be "whited-out" and Christianized. To this end they were demonized and reportedly encouraged families and pressured them to send these children to their care. The real truth of their benevolent mission was maliciously twisted to become our generation's guilt-trip.

Here's a few examples of what actually worried the missionaries and made them take action:

• A local telegraph operator had reported that "a 5 year-old half-caste girl was out with an old woman when a bush black took her away for two nights during which time the black woman said he made use of her. A very common practice I hear."
• In 1900, a postmaster reported how girls under 10 years had been cohabiting with Asiatics for many months. He said, "Half-caste girls commanded the best prices and enabled the mother and so-called father to live without any exertion whatsoever on the proceeds of tucker they received fortnightly where 20-40 boats come in for water."
• In 1929 in W.A., Pallotine monks were appalled by families prostituting their daughters.They commented that "one couple had been trafficking with their young daughter in a big way, she had to go wherever her father told her. If only we had Nuns here, she and the other girls could be saved from this life of perdition!"
• In 1904, one graphic account from a postmaster reported that he saw more 50 young females mating with Asian crews at Cowen Creek mooring grounds. He complained that was just one of many such mooring grounds and that VD was rampant.
• Also boys of 10-12 were being lured or forced onto Malay pearling boats for sexual use.

The missionaries, far from being obsessed with "stealing" children, were in fact obsessed for decades with the health crisis and amoral behavior of the Aboriginals (nothing seems to have changed). The mission stations rather than the state governments took the lead in rescuing young girls from sexual squalor and early death. These reprehensible historians sneered at the missionaries for trying to enforce their ideas of gentility onto the children, including modesty, cleanliness and self esteem as the sign of cultural genocide. Keith Windschuttle in his book, "The Fabrication of Aboriginal History" comments that in reality the "missionaries had no power whatsoever to force Aborigines to come to their missions and stay there. It is very difficult to reconcile this reality with the purported objective of eliminating the Aboriginal race." Windshuttle concludes that the missions also did a far better job than the state officials did.

The Way I See It....the missions and the hard working missionaries educated children to a good primary standard and rescued many females from horrific sexual fates. They lifted health standards and saved many Aborigines from dysentery, venereal disease and other health related diseases. The notion that to accomplish these ends they contributed to the Stolen Generations is manifestly untrue and the historians who make such a claim should be repudiated and not be believed.

Roasted Corn

My husband and I have always looked forward to eating roasted corn on the cob at the carnival but it can get expensive buying roasted corn for a family of four.I found a wonderful and simple way of getting that delicious corn taste right from my oven using frozen corn on the cob, believe or not. It tastes great with BBQ, chicken or alone with a dash of seasoned salt to taste, Now we can have our

Unclear About Nuclear ?

Should Australia "go" nuclear? It's a question that has split environmentalists and our pragmatic scientists for too long. It is an important question and needs to be answered NOW! The Greens have demonized nuclear power in favour of alternative electrical energy sources that won't be viable and sustainable for 40 years. All their talk of reducing carbon pollution has blinkered them to the most obvious continuous source of clean energy; it's got to be nuclear! Australia is being left behind in the world-wide rush to go nuclear.

France has 58 nuclear power plants dotted across its country-side producing 75% of its needs. Japan has 54 and Russia has 32 and building 11 more. China has 12 and building 23 more! And who's supplying them with the Uranium to fire up these plants, our vast deposits are. We are selling overseas when we could be using it for ourselves. It's ridiculous that our politicians don't have the vision and the guts to say to these Watermelons in our midst, "bugger off" we need these facilities. Actually the country could use 6 to start with. Picture this: Six plants built in a 10 kilometre circle in the centre of Australia with power lines going each to Darwin, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Wouldn't that be a sight?

Look people, if little Belgium with 7 plants, Spain with 8, Sweden with 10 and 17 across the German country-side (see photo) can see no threat to themselves why can't we? What you need are the facts so we can realistically make the right decision to curb pollution, use less fossil fuels and not sacrifice jobs or our lifestyle. Here's some "eye-openers" for you.

Safety first: For one thing a reactor is not a bomb, they can't blow up. Nuclear reactors are over-designed to provide fool-proof control while withstanding earthquakes, airplane crashes and missile strikes among other disasters. France has a state-of-the-art reactor for sale, the Areva's EPR, however our country's requirements could easily be met with the less expensive South Korean Kepco's model APR1400.

Practicality: To generate the same amount of energy (with unreliable wind) as an average-sized nuclear plant, you would need 435 square kilometres filled with wind turbines. By contrast, a nuclear facility fits on less than 1.5 kilometer space. A half-kilo of plutonium can produce as much energy as the Melbourne Cricket Ground full of coal. And for a given amount of energy produced, coal waste has more radioactive matter than nuclear waste.

Waste Safety: Even these facts fail to capture the major environmental advantages of nuclear power over coal-fired power. Why? Because the solid and gaseous emissions from coal burning are generated in such a hugh quantity that they are are hard to contain. They can only be spewed in the atmosphere and dumped into shallow landfills. Nuclear waste on the other hand is so minuscule in comparison that it can be completely isolated from the environment at a very modest cost, even though it has been greatly inflated by the hysteria from the anti-nuclear nut-cases. These commies-in-greens-clothing have hoodwinked the public into believing that waste disposal is an "unsolved" problem. Technology exists to convert the small amount of nuclear waste that can't be re-burned in the reactor into a solid, water-proof glass form, it is then encased in stain-steel-lined concrete containers and put thousands of feet underground. Remember, coal waste contains more overall radioactivity and is not contained at all in our landfills.

The Way I See It....without economical electric power, we will rapidly degenerate into a third-world nation and lifespans will drop considerably. Even now our energy bills are higher, even before an Emissions Trading "farce" gets started. The point is not that coal-fired power is bad, but rather that nuclear power is thousands of times cleaner and safer. And the fact that so many so-called "environmentalists" vociferously oppose nuclear power---even while they agitate for draconian measures to "stop global warming"--should tell you something about them: they are either ignorant or they have ulterior ideological motives or both. It's time to stand up and demand cleaner, cheaper and safer energy from our politicians!

Amazing Happiness

I am so happy......
Arising prematurely in the morning to be, walking beside the glistening sea.
Greeting the dawns colour spectrum display, reminiscing with the sunset at the end of the day.

I am so happy....
Watching  as folks merrily make their way, to a cruise ship anchored out in the bay.
Watching the pelicans floating with the tide, eager eyes seeking fish that frustratingly hide.

I am so happy......
With Gods Creation, ...the simplicity of life,  the loving companionship of husband and wife.
Families picnicking as laughing children play ball.
Palm trees gently swaying, yet still standing tall.

I am so happy....
For all that I have,...the good and the bad, as the comparison makes me appreciative and glad.
So put on a happy hat of POSITIVE THINKING...
Subsequently all will be brighter, and God will be winking....C.M.L

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

For years, I have used a white flour recipe for making dough for pizza and calzones. Three years ago, I started using whole wheat flour for my baking breads and wanted to add it to my pizzas,Concerned over the texture of a chewy pizza that my sensory sensitive son would not like, I opted for a mixture of both white and wheat flour and the result is marvelous. The kids love this crust and we add

Healthy Wheat Banana Bread - Muffins

We started using whole wheat flour in my baking about three years ago. At first I was hesitant about using whole wheat since the consistency is more dense but it taste great and you feel much fuller eating less. I use whole wheat flour when making pancakes, breads, muffins and even pizza!This is a very good recipe for banana bread. My tip would be that you make this recipe as muffins since I have

Our first week

When we first started homeschooling it was in the late afternoon and evenings. My husband was working late night and it worked for us. This year, we made a big change to benefit the boys more. We officially began our first day on Monday August 23rd. It was a light week from Monday to Thursday and we look forward to next week when we will begin with some of our electives.

One major change for

8 interesting things about me (you may not know)

Many of my readers know quite of about our homeschooling adventures with my sons so I thought it would be interesting if you knew some things about me. Here are eight interesting things about me: 1. I have had some interesting jobs in my lifetime, from being a gardener, mural artist, daycare teacher, and on air Radio personality (I have been told I sound like Radio Delilah) but the one that was

GOD Breathed Evidence - The Dead Sea Scrolls

Many people ask the question!
Can you prove the Bible is true?
How do you know it is?
Show me the evidence!

Well my question to them is.......
How can you prove the Bible is not true??
It seems many have tried to disprove it, and many have failed.

I have recently listened to a professor speak on the magnificent find of the Dead Sea Scrolls,

What an amazing discovery of Bible truths.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of about 900 documents, including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in the West Bank.



In 1947 a young Bedouin boy decided to climb the face of some very high cliff's near the Dead Sea, to bring back his stray goats. 
His name was Juma and little did he realize his discovery of two small openings to one of the thousands of caves within the cliff, would hold a secret hidden for thousands of years. 
He threw a rock into one of the openings. Hearing an unexpected cracking sound, he suspecting treasure hidden within and called to his two cousins, Khalil and Muhammed. They climbed up to listen to his exciting tale.
The younger of the three boys investigated further a few days later and was saddened to find  nothing but broken old clay pots and pieces of old parchment.
Collectively found in total were 15,000 fragments from some 574 manuscripts...
All carefully written, recorded and safely stored for future discovery.

The scrolls those Bedouin boys removed would  later come to be recognized as the greatest manuscript treasure ever found.
The Dead Sea Scrolls--------
Proof of the Bible's existence and the truth of God's Word!!
 
 
 

Pakistan Flooding

     In a recent press release, the Pakistani president stated that the extensive flood damage will take at least three years for the country to recover from. Constant monsoons over the last few weeks have crippled the country's transit and economy. The floods have claimed approximately 1,500 lives and drastically affected 17 million people. The UN is working quickly to provide financial assistance for Pakistan and has reportedly received 70% of the $460 million they requested for the efforts. The Pakistani government intends to give what equates to about $230 USD to all of the suffering families, but it will obviously take a great deal more for the country to get back on track. Government officials also fear a rise in Taliban and Al Qaeda activity as a result of the chaos from the flooding.


     I feel very strongly about natural disasters such as what is going on in Pakistan and what happened in Haiti. I think it is a devastating blow to third-world countries that can’t sustain normal life, much less a horrific natural disaster. I think that we all need to be more diligent about unifying as a global community to help and mobilize relief efforts and teams. Perhaps if we allotted tax money to sustain a constant relief fund for circumstances like this, it wouldn’t be so hard for the global community to scramble for funds when the unthinkable does happen. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and upon completion of my degree I hope to work for the Red Cross or FEMA as an international emergency relief coordinator. I want to be active in the global community organizing and orchestrating the teams and supplies that go in after a natural disaster or other tragedies. Hopefully taking meteorology this semester will give me a better understanding of the impact and causes of weather disasters that I can use in my future endeavors.




Link to article:
Pakistan Flood Damage

Davey Crockett

Davy Crockett was born on August 17th 1786 in Greenville, Tennessee.
I was fortunate to visit the area of his birth and see the replica of the cabin he was born in.

Built in the 1950's it was modeled after a late 18th century log cabin from that area.
With just one room and a ladder leading to the loft the family lived in tight proximity.

The front and back doors faced each other with a wide gap all around the perimeter for the freezing air to penetrate. The two windows were wooden shutters also with gaps and I cannot image how cold it was even with the open wood fire.
My husband took me on a freezing day in 2006.
It was a good day to go as it helped me understand the hardship of these poor pioneer families. Every day was a struggle finding food and keeping wood cut and supplied for warmth.

 Looking closely at the structure I couldn't find a single nail.
I found this truly amazing!! as well as the fixation of the timber on the wall corners, all without nails.
Heavy hardened mud filled the gaps between the logs keeping  much of the wind and cold at bay.
Set near the banks of a fast flowing Nolichucky river.
I imagined Davey struggling to maneuvering his wooden barge on the swift wild current.
There is nothing quite like standing in a place where you know others have stood before you.
Then allowing your mind to drift... taking you back through time to that bygone era. Closing your eyes you can see the figures in heavy clothing and skins for warmth. Smell the fresh pine scented air, and feel the peoples expectancy for survival.

I was a little girl when the Fess Parker movie of Davey's life became popular.
I learnt to sing the song,"Born on a mountain top in Tennessee."
My sister brought my little brother a coon skin hat with tail.
I jealously looked longingly at that hat wishing I was a boy to wear one also.
I brought one each for all of my grandchildren in Australia, even the girls.

I learned he was so much more than a frontiersman.

He was also a politician and a soldier.

Because of men and women like him, we live in our wonderful world of today.

  

Last days of summer...

Summer is winding down and for the last month I've been going through my favorite brights like crazy! With the last couple weeks I'm going to try and finish all my summery untrieds before moving on to Fall, and Fall-inspired hauls. Yesterday I knocked 2 colors off my list with a fugly-yet-cute gradient mani. I used ALU's gradient method with Butter LONDON Chuffed layered on top of OPI Who the Shrek Are You? then topped the whole thing off with 2 coats of a sparsely dense flakie from Urban Outfitters. I got sick of it by mid-afternoon but it was fun for a little while!

Menu Plan ~ August 23 - 29

This week we are omitting fresh eggs from our menu due to the recent recall, just to be safe. We start our first week of Homeschool so I am including our lunch menu for Monday through Friday only. Here's the menu for this week:MondayLunch - Soup and sandwiches, lemonadeDinner - Baked Ham, potatoes, yams, pasta steamed corn on cob.TuesdayLunch - Baked Potato with toppings of diced ham and chives,

Creamy Chicken Lasagna

I used to make a traditional lasagna with beef but that changed when I found a new way of making it that was delicious and added savings too.We enjoy having this meal on Sundays. It a family favorite at the dinner table in our family. After first making this lasagna over two years ago, no one in my family has asked for Beef Lasagna again! My sister tried this recipe too and her family loves it!

Worry or Trust

Who sits at the wheel of a racing car?

I would say a professional driver!!!

Yet even some-one as experienced as that, can still crash!

How would you go sitting beside an expert?

Could you sit securely...fully trusting in their skill?

Or...when the ride became rocky,

when a smash looked eminent,

would you reach across and try to take the wheel?

If you did, do you think you might save the day?

Or, would you simply add to the confusion and make the situation worse???

Making you think?

When we try to grab the wheel of life and do it on our own,

can we be the cause of a disaster?

The results may be something you might always regret. 

This doesn't mean,...do nothing.

It means, stop worrying!!

Pray about it earnestly, THINK before acting,

 and let God do the directing. 

Looking at the word WORRY:

In the Old English the word is wyrgan

and in Old High German it is wurgen,

Both of these words mean, " to Strangle, to Choke"

The out-come of worry is anxiety and depression so in the end,
it may kill you.
The complete opposite is to read, trust and rely on what God's Word instructs..

Do Not Worry
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
                (Matthew 6:25-27) God knows best! 
 
 
 

When a fisherman castes out his net,

He MUST let go..

Otherwise, he won't receive!

It is the same for us!!!

 
 
Cast your cares on the LORD

and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
(Psalm 55:22)

My children’s favorite books

This week’s question at the Homeschool Village is “what is your child's favorite book and why would they recommend it to a friend.” It is no surprise we are a family of avid readers. We read and reviewed 99 books this 2009-2010 homeschool year and plan to make it 100 this coming school year! When I asked my sons’ what there favorite books was and why they would recommend it, here’s what they

INNER TURMOIL

Only a parent can imagine the inner turmoil and anguish experience when their child suffers hurt, setbacks, grief, illness or any kind of life's dispair.

At that time you would gladly trade places with them just to see them happy once more.

Where do you go at times like this, who do you ask for help, what do you do??

Sometimes it seems there is nowhere to turn. you are encased in a fragement of time, where even breathing becomes a chore.  

A war rages within, a searing pain as though your very heart is torn apart trampled on and thrown away..

No-one cares, everyone has their own situations.

People are never totally infalable. No matter how willing they are to assist, you are sure nothing will or can change the circumstances.....

The storm brews until you feel it will explode, surely you cannot take anymore...

Oh Lord, Help Me.....You cry out!
Will He Hear??? Is he listening.

This is His promise to us,

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

"Because he loves me," says the LORD,
"I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation." (Psalms 91)

Be still my heart and know, that God is always here.
He loves me and leaves me with this promise...

"I will NEVER leave thee nor FORSAKE thee.!!"
Hebrews 13:5
Praise His Holy Name.

Listen to the Kookaburra laugh, to brighten your day.  

99 Books!

This past homeschool year was a fun year and one that we read many books. I was looking over our past book reviews and counted them and I was surprised that we reviewed 99 books during our 2009-2010 Homeschool year. The boys want to make it to 100 this year and I think we can!Our first day of homeschool is August 23rd and we look forward to reading books for fun and pleasure and for learning too

Menu Plan for August 16 - 22

I am a little late posting this but better late than never. We used to plan our menu day by day but that changed a year ago when we started planning a weekly menu. I have the remainder of this month planned. Here's dinner menu for this week:MondayRoasted chicken, baked potato, brown rice, steamed corn on cob.Tuesdayfettuccine parmesan pasta salad with steamed vegetables.WednesdayPark day so it’s

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

I admit it. Most of time I made mashed potatoes from Instant Flakes. The only time I ever made homemade mashed potatoes was for Thanksgiving and special occasions, but not anymore!Now after finding this recipe, I can make homemade mashed potatoes more often because they taste even better the next day! The boys loved them and I can even use fat free cream cheese seperately and stay within my

Marvelous Meatloaf

First let me tell you why I call this recipe Marvelous. I call It that for two reasons. One, it tastes great and secondly it's the only Meatloaf recipe my hubby and kids love.I have tried countless recipes. I even cooked meatloaf in a bag and no avail did my husband or kids like my meatloaf until now!With this recipe there is no more need to crumble bread crumbs because you are using a pre-made

Meal Planning and a BIG THANK YOU!

I enjoy reading my favorite blogs early mornings because I find ideas that I can implement in my family and today was no exception. I read about Confessions of a Homeschooler's idea for her September Monthly meal plan. She offers a download of it for her readers and also supplies some recipes for some of the meals listed.I downloaded her meal plan and made some changes to make ours. I am going to

More On that Ground Zero Mosque

If freedom of religion means anything in the United States, it means that Muslims have a right to congregate and worship wherever they please. But that doesn't mean the people behind this mosque, in the shadow of the former Twin Towers are acting like good neighbors or even good citizens. However, one wonders that with just over 100 mosques in the New York City area, why did the city council allow it here? Did they entertain the thought and just imagine the city fathers of, say, RIYADH so graciously clearing the way for construction of a 13-story cathedral or synagogue in the Saudi capital? I think not.

I did some investigating and found out who'll be actually funding this project. Granted, the groups leading the mosque-building effort seem just fine, but scratch a bit deeper and the instigator is revealed. The Cordoba Initiative, led by Kuwaiti-born cleric Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf, (photo) says it is devoted to "interfaith tolerance," while another sister organization, the American Society for Muslim Advancement, seeks to "foster an American Muslim identity." Unfortunately, many people with no sense of history will believe this bullshit and not realize it really will be celebrated as a Muslim monument erected on the site of a great Muslim "military victory."

And this ignorance also resides in the country's top naive, socialist, apologist; the one and only President Obama! Last Friday, this Islamic ass-kisser decided to impose his opinion on New York's dilemma and delivered a strong defense of erecting this 9/11 Mosque, much to the shock and consternation of his fellow Democrats. One said, "It's probably the dumbest thing he's said to date and we would've preferred the President be a little more a politician and a little less of a leftest college professor." Another chimed in saying the President was still "not listening to New Yorkers and on the whole, with a recent poll reporting 68% of people oppose the mosque's location, it tells you that he has a very disdainful view of the American people." I, myself, would call that an arrogant view as he pathetically tries to curry favor with the Islamists.

I have found that the question of who will pay to build the $100 million project was evaded. At first, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf insisted the funds will be raised entirely from the Muslim-American community. But then he told an Arabic-language newspaper in Britain that funding would also come from Arab countries. And that's a RED FLAG! I feel this dead-shit is the front man for Saudi Arabian funding designed to spread the most vile and radical Wahhabist strain of Islam. Already radical, Saudi-backed children's books and other materials have been found in mosques in more than dozen US cities.

Obama should've and would've have been informed by the CIA, FBI and Homeland Security that Rauf maintains disturbing ties with some pretty bad characters. One is a fellow board member of Rauf's, Hossein Mahallati, Iran's former UN ambassador and unabashed supporter of Hamas. He was charged by the Feds for acting as a frontman for Iran's nuclear proliferation initiative. Adding to the suspicion are Rauf's own statements--including a pointed refusal last month to label Hamas as a terrorist organization and advocating the supremacy of Sharia Law. Obama should have had plenty of reason to stand up for the New Yorkers or at least kept his mouth shut on this volatile local issue.

The Way I See It....it is quite possible that the Ground Zero mosque project is entirely peaceful and well-meaning, despite some obvious suspicious associations. But given the full range of circumstances and knowing the Koren's hateful message, it is not presumptively so. If its backers truly seek to really promote "understanding", they could start by making their finances fully transparent or fair-minded New Yorkers will be entitled to assume they have something to hide and condemn this project as a purely political insult. Mayor Bloomberg should realize that the Koran is the MEIN KAMPF of Islam and explains what's in store for his kind. If Islam was a political party it would be banned outright as being a Neo-Nazi movement and relegated to the dust heap of History. Sadly it is still with us.

ROGERSVILLE, TENNESSEE

There is no place like home and although I only lived and worked in Rogersville for three years, a piece of me remains there.
It is an historical town with quaint antique shops in the old section.
Established in the 1770's, it is one of the oldest towns in Tennessee.
I thought I was in Heaven when I first arrived because everyone was so sweet and kind. Driving on the opposite side of the road  was a little confusing at first, yet no-one lost their patience. They sat and waited, then with a friendly wave, saw me on my way....
It certainly was a learning process.  

This was our home in the woods.

Amid the woodpeckers and squirrels.

It was enchanting to an Ozzie.

At the first sign of snow I ran around with the camera trying to capture all the white magic..

Living in the tropics of Queensland we don't see this in winter.

My church family.

It took a while to find somewhere I felt at home.

But I discovered CROSSROADS was the place to be.

( When you come to that place in your life, and you don't know which way to go. Take the road to the CHRIST )  

Here I soon discovered, acceptance love and friendship with excellent teaching and wonderful singing and music.

About a year after I left, the precious church family came together for this photo. 

They all got together to wave me hello....but a few are missing.

Prima and Zena, where are you??

 

On Roan Mountain.

It's not that far away and my hubby took me there to see it in the snow..

One word...BEAUTIFUL.!!

The staff of Amedisys Home Health.

A lovely group of girls and a pleasure to work with.

Lori our boss is seated on the bottom right with me standing on (R)behind her. 

The best part of this work was everyone belonged to the Lord. 

Much care and love is given out to the Patients. 

 

Crystal and Nancy.

Everyone needs a good friend and mine was and still is, Nancy.

Both registered nurses we attended the same church, shared with each other and prayed together.

Nancy and her hubby John are special folk.

They give out of themselves and nothing is ever too much trouble. 

True Believers.

It Is Written:

And he (JESUS) is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:18-20)

Praise His Holy Name.  Amen.

Nature Study: Perseids Meteor Shower

NATURE STUDY: Perseids Meteor ShowerWe do not start our official first day of Homeschool until August 23 but we could not miss this for Nature study!One of the best and most reliable of summer meteor showers, the Perseids (sounds like pur-see-ids), hit its peak Thursday night on August 12th. We had almost forgot until a close friend called to remind me.During the days before our outing to see

On a Lighter Note.....

They date back to at least ancient Roman times, but Friday-the-13th superstitions won't be getting much of a workout this year. It's lucky for those triskaidekaphobia sufferers, because last Friday was 2010's only Friday-the-13th.

This must come as a relief, after 2009's nine (9) Friday-the-13ths--the maximum possible in a year. At least as long as we continue to mark time with the Gregorian calendar, which Pope Gregory XIII ordered the Catholic church to adopt in 1582. The calendar works just as its predecessor, the Julian calendar did, with a leap year every four years. But the Gregorian one skips leap year on century years except those divisible by 400. I'm glad someone is looking after this!

"You can't have any years with none and you can't have any with four, because of our funny calendar," says Dudley Underwood, professor of mathematics at DePauw University in Indiana (USA) and author of Numerology: Or What Pythagorus Wrought. He also adds, "When the 400 year order is laid out, another revelation occurs: The 13th falls on a Friday more often than any other day of the week. It's just a funny coincidence." The Friday-the-13th superstitions are rooted in ancient bad-luck associations with the number 13 and the day Friday.

There's the obvious biblical reference to the unlucky number 13. Judas, the apostle said to have betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to the last Supper. As for Friday, it's well known that Jesus was crucified and died on that day. One wonders if it also was the 13th of that month. Some biblical scholars believe that Abel was slain by his brother Cain on Friday the 13th. Norse mythology also refers to a 13th god, Loki, coming uninvited to a dinner party in Valhalla and killing one of them. Witches in Rome gathered only in groups of 12. Any extra guest was believed to be the devil in disguise.

Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 Labors of Hercules, 12 Tribes of Israel and those 12 Apostles. "In exceeding 12 by 1," says Thomas Fernsler, a mathematical scientist, "13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness. The number becomes restless or squirmy; not unlike some of those poor folks with triskaidelaphobia today. We all know what happened to Apollo 13. That scared a lot of people!"

The fear of 13 pervades many societies in our modern times. More than 80% of high-rise buildings lack a 13th floor. Many airports skip the 13th gate. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room Number 13. Some people can be so affected that their symptoms can range from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks. The latter may cause many to reshuffle schedules or miss an entire days work.

The Way I See It....societies, past and present, seem to need something that is unlucky and somehow over the years, mythology, religion and numerologists have come to the conclusion that number 13 is "it". Hope I haven't stirred up any restlessness or squirming for your next encounter with Friday-the-13th.

Meet My Monkeys (my boys)

We are participating in a "Not Back to School Blog Hop" sponsored by Heart of the Matter. This week is student photo week! The boys earlier this Spring, when their hair was shorter.I am the proud mom to two very active boys. They keep me on my toes often and it shows sometimes in our blog. My sons are five years and 11 months apart. I would love them to be closer in age but even though there is

BIBLE NUMEROLOGY

Lady Slipper

Number's mean a lot to me because, they mean much to God.
I live at No 18, 1+8= 9......
Nine stands for Judgement and the many gifts of the SPIRIT....
So for me this is very special.

1 THE NUMBER OF UNITY. Father. Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Ephesians 4:5 "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."


2 THE NUMBER OF DIVISION. The Son who has two natures: human and divine. There are 2 Testaments: the Old and New. Man is Male and Female. Rom. 9 speaks of two vessels: one for honorable use and the other for dishonorable use. Two types of people: Sheep and Goats. There are two ages, this age and the age to come: Matt. 12:32; 13:39,40,49; Mark 10:30.

3 THE NUMBER OF DIVINE PERFECTION. The Trinity consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are three qualities of the universe: Time, Space, and Matter. To exist (except for God), all three are required. Each quality consists of three elements. Therefore, we live in a trinity of trinities.

 The three qualities of universe are each three:

Time is one yet three Space is one yet three Matter is one yet three

Past

Present

Future Height

Width

Depth Solid

Liquid

Gas

We live in a Trinity of Trinities: Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..."

If you are a trichotomist then man is made of three parts:

Body Soul Spirit

Human abilities are three

Thought Word Deed

The divine attributes are three fold:

God is:

Omniscient

Omnipresent

Omnipotent Love

Light

Spirit Holy

Righteous

Just

Three bear witness (1 John 5:8):

Spirit Water Blood

Christ is Three Shepherds

The Good Shepherd (John 10:14-15) - speaking of His death

The Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) - speaking of His resurrection

The Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) - speaking of His glory

The Three appearances of Christ:

Past:

Present:

Future:

Has appeared (Heb. 9:26) to put away sin

Is appearing (Heb. 9:24) in the presence of God

Will appear (Heb. 9:28) to those who await Him

The Father spoke from Heaven three times:

- Matt. 3:17, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

- Matt. 17:5, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him."

- John 12:28, "I have both glorified it [the Father's name], and will glorify it again."

Both the Tabernacle and the Temple consisted of three parts:

The Court The Holy place The Sanctuary

Regarding the Tabernacle:

The Holy of Holies was a cube (10 cubits x 10 cubits x 10 cubits)

Regarding the Temple:

The Holy of Holies was a cube (20 cubits x 20 cubits x 20 cubits)

4 THE NUMBER OF CREATION - North, South, East, West; 4 Seasons. The 4th commandment is the first that refers to the earth. The 4th clause of the Lord's Prayer is the first that mentions the earth. The materials of the tabernacle were four and so were the coverings and the ornamentation's.

5 THE NUMBER OF GRACE. Redemption. Israel came out of Egypt 5 in rank (Ex 13:18). David picked up 5 smooth stones to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:40). The Holy Anointing Oil was pure and composed of 5 parts (Ex. 30:23-25).

6 THE NUMBER OF MAN: Man was created on the 6th day. Man labors 6 days only. The Serpent was created on the 6th day. The 6th commandment is "Thou shalt not murder." Six words are used for man: Adam, ish, Enosh, gehver, anthropos, anar. Also, 6 x 6 = 36. 36 + 35 + 34 + 33 + 32 . . . 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 666. 666 is the number of the antichrist. This means that the name of the antichrist in Greek adds up to 666. This is a mockery of the Trinity.

7 THE NUMBER OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION. Seven days in a week. Seven colors in the spectrum. Seven of the 10 commandments begin with the word "not." There are 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 parables in Matthew, and 7 promises to the churches. There are 7 "eternals" in Hebrews which are: A priest for ever (1:6); Eternal salvation (1:9); Eternal judgment (6:2); eternal redemption (9:12); eternal spirit (9:14); eternal inheritance (9:15); and everlasting covenant (13:20). Jesus said 7 things on the cross: 1) Luke 23:34 "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots; 2) Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise"; 3) Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" -- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"; 4) John 19:26 "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son"; 5) John 19:28 "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 6) John 19:30 "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit"; and 7) Luke 23:46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last." "Hallelujah" occurs 28 times or 4 x 7. "Hosanna" occurs 7 times. "Milk" occurs 49 times or 7 x 7. "Abaddon" occurs 7 times. "After the order of Melchizedek" occurs 7 times.

8 THE NUMBER OF NEW BEGINNINGS. 8 people on Noah's Ark (2 Pet. 2:5); circumcision on 8th day (Gen. 17:12); God made 8 covenants with Abraham

9 THE NUMBER OF JUDGMENT. There are 9 greek words derived from the root word meaning judgment = dikay. The following words each occur 9 times in the Bible: abussos (bottomless pit); asebee (ungodly); aselgeia (lasciviousness); and astrapee (lightning). The gifts of the spirit are 9 in number (1 Cor. 12:8-10): the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

10 THE NUMBER OF DIVINE PERFECTION. There are 10 commandments (Ex. 20); 1/10 of your income is a tithe; the were 10 plagues on Egypt (Ex. 9:14ff); 10 x 10 silver sockets formed the foundation of the Tabernacle (Ex 38:27); There are 10 "I AM"'s spoken by Jesus in John: 1) I am the Bread of Life (6:35); 2) I am the Bread of Life which came down from heaven (6:41); 3) I am the Living Bread (6:51); 4) I am the Light of the world (8:12); 5) I am One that bears witness of Myself (8:18); 6) I am the Door of the sheep (10:7,9); 7) I am the Good Shepherd (10:14); 8) I am the Resurrection and the Life (14:6); 9) I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (11:25); and 10) I am the True Vine (15:1,5).

Reference: http://www.cam.org/

Chore Sticks

I have been wanting to find an easier way to getting the boys to do their chores, but it is a “chore” in itself to motivate them. We have tried using chore charts before but a preschooler and an older special needs child, I needed a more physical way presenting a chore chart to them so I found chore sticks.

In my search, I found out about a variation on chore sticks from 30 Handmade Days, in

Grief and Children

Does anyone quite understand the grief children can suffer?

It may be a death, a divorce OR leaving everything familar to move away.

For myself it was loosing my grandfather not long after my father left.

The song was written by an old man simply known as 'Pop' and I listened to the words while driving home. After a visit to a friend.

Grandad Samuel, Granny Agnes Annie.

"There is no-one like my Jesus, he is all in all to me, there is no-one like my Jesus...."

Tears escaped the prison storage of my eyes to finally seek release.
Hearing this dear man sing with a simple quitar accomplishment brought back memories long lost, hidden deep within the crevasses of my mind.


God keeps our tears in a bottle, None are wasted. (Psalm 56:8) 
Tears stand for sorrow and with sorrow comes, learning, understanding and hopefully wisdom.


I was eight years old when my maternal grandfather passed away. The telegram explaining this was delivered to my mother. A piece of paper extinguishing a life.
How can a child fathom that? so to me it was untrue!
I often sat at the window and watched far up that long dirt road, waiting for his return.


For many years I kept this Godly man alive in my heart. I remembered the feel of his rough trousers as he crowded us grandchildren on his knee and sang. "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world."


It took a simple tape for me to cry,... thirty two years later.

None but Jesus with lyrics

Regrets

Regrets, we all have them don't we.

If only....I hadn't said what I did, I wish I could turn back time.

I could have been kinder to that person, why didn't I think?

If I had my life to live over again, with hindsight, I would never make the
same mistakes twice (God willing).

Yet life is full of doing what we'd rather not.

The Apostle Paul spoke it well when he declared in Romans 7:15-20

"I do not understand what I do.
For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So sad!  While we reside in the earthly tent, no matter how hard we try, no matter how good we try to be, we will at times, do what we hate.

 

But we cannot allow our minds to be taken over by these regrets.
If we do, they will rule our lives and tell us, we will never, ever, be good enough.

The truth is, we never will be good enough.....
But Jesus, Gods son, is!
We are made righteous ONLY through believing in what He has done for us. 

The Apostle Paul said!
"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." (Galatians 3:23-25)

SO the Good News Is......from the mouth of St Luke.
He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—
You and your household." Acts 16:30-31...

Praise God....SO, don't hold onto those regrets....
But....
Always do your best, asking forgiveness with repentance.
And thank God, with a grateful heart.

                              

Geography Book Review: Children Around the World

Children Around the WorldWhen I last posted a book review it was on “Children Just Like Me.” A good friend, Natalie@ Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns was in search of a similar book for younger children and so was I. In my search for a similar book to Children Like Me, I found this wonderful book at our local library.Children Around the World by Donata Montanari is a wonderful book that shows kids what

Our Schooling Space

We live in a small space, a 2 bedroom 800 square foot apartment. It is 998 square feet if you count our outdoor patio area. We use our dining room and living area as our homeschool space; however we usually are found doing crafts, science projects, nature studies or other activities outdoors in our patio area when the weather is cooler.

Although we do not have an official school room, we’re

Flower Wonders

Psalm 118:29
Give thanks to the LORD,
 for he is good;
his love endures forever.

The gazania.

August our last month of winter, and the flowers still bloom.
When God created the earth, He thought of everything. 
Right down to the beautiful design and formation of flowers.

In the garden of miracles we take our delight .......
In the different colours, shapes, perfumes and sizes...

Fashioned to bedazzle our heart and re freshen our soul.  

The Lord will guide you always,

He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land,

And strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

And...a Great Carpenter Bee,

all from my front garden.