i was reminded by a precious woman after reading the last post that God does love the sinner... as much as he does my little anna. i want to never forget this... He is the God who came for the lost, the broken, the angry, and the rebellious. (and i am one of "them.")He is the God who gave His life for those who would take and trample it. yes, it is my tendency even in fear for my child's life to cast blame on others for my life's bumps and bruises. i want to throw my anger at "that person" who seems to create difficulty for me and mine. and one cannot argue, a president who is anti-human life and anti-sacred marriage and pro-government control, with the support of a system of leaders with the same "value" system, could, indeed, make my life difficult. it is not all right to keep silent, or to pretend the reality doesn't exist.
for me, the battle is in the mind, as scripture asserts. the challenge is to recognize the reality of a world forsaking its creator, a nation handing its authority and hope from God to a broken human and rotting set of beliefs, and remembering that this same God allows it. that in seemingly hopeless situations He springs forth hope. that He looks at ugliness (in each of us) and sees the beauty of His original creation. that out of ashes He brings beauty. and my calling is to somehow, in His power alone, find strength to love as He does - no holds barred. to speak the truth, and to do it in love. to pray that He will blow his breath into the lungs of His enemy as He has done for me, and God willing, if He calls, that i would be willing to be his instrument.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
trust in the Lord...
with all your heart. lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
today our new president took office. today in the midst of a recession, our nation spent more money than in history to celebrate that inauguration.
today the news magazine covers celebrated this man, who spits in the face of God with his beliefs and passions, as "the hope of America."
this man is not our hope.
God Almighty is our hope, and it is in His plan to use this time in history to shape and mold and prune His people, to teach us again to trust in Him, and to be glorified.
trust in the Lord. with all your heart.
today i sent my three oldest to ride their bikes to our garden plot a few blocks away for only the 4th or 5th time without my watchful eye. as i read with my #4 while littlest was napping, my husband called. "she's okay, but anna's been hit by a car. your friend faith is with her."
trust in the Lord. with all your heart.
i screeched down the street, after cupping e's face and demanding he "be brave and wait here - brian will be right home."
i closed the door on my poor scared boy, leaving him to wait for his big brother to come. i floored my vehicle over speed bumps and ignored stop signs.
i wrapped my tiny little angel-girl in my arms and held her tight. listened to the strange woman say, "i was looking down the road for other cars coming. praise Jesus, she's okay." took the stranger's card in my hands in case we needed to contact her.
lean not on your own understanding.
today i hastily stated,
"well, that proves it. i can't let them out of my sight."
remembered "bad" things can, and will, happen to them again. asked my Papa to give me clarity. and wisdom.
heard my husband give council.
watched as e. wrapped his arms around her and, tears running down his cheeks, told her, "when i heard what happened to you anna, i started crying."
remembered that my Papa allows strange things to happen sometimes to remind us He is, and He loves. more perfectly than I can.
tonight i kissed Little Girl on the neck and told her it's okay to go to sleep. told her to ask Jesus to help her learn what she needs to (look more carefully) and thank Him that He protected her. that her brothers were there to comfort her. that a dear lady we know was driving by just as it happened. thanked God in my heart she was wearing a helmet. that He chose to let us keep her longer.
in all your ways acknowledge Him. acknowledge me, little one.
today i thank my God that it is He who is in control. now matter what our nation's status, no matter what the economic state, no matter who is in office, no matter what others think, no matter how dangerous the world seems.
You are God, my Papa.
today our new president took office. today in the midst of a recession, our nation spent more money than in history to celebrate that inauguration.
today the news magazine covers celebrated this man, who spits in the face of God with his beliefs and passions, as "the hope of America."
this man is not our hope.
God Almighty is our hope, and it is in His plan to use this time in history to shape and mold and prune His people, to teach us again to trust in Him, and to be glorified.
trust in the Lord. with all your heart.
today i sent my three oldest to ride their bikes to our garden plot a few blocks away for only the 4th or 5th time without my watchful eye. as i read with my #4 while littlest was napping, my husband called. "she's okay, but anna's been hit by a car. your friend faith is with her."
trust in the Lord. with all your heart.
i screeched down the street, after cupping e's face and demanding he "be brave and wait here - brian will be right home."
i closed the door on my poor scared boy, leaving him to wait for his big brother to come. i floored my vehicle over speed bumps and ignored stop signs.
i wrapped my tiny little angel-girl in my arms and held her tight. listened to the strange woman say, "i was looking down the road for other cars coming. praise Jesus, she's okay." took the stranger's card in my hands in case we needed to contact her.
lean not on your own understanding.
today i hastily stated,
"well, that proves it. i can't let them out of my sight."
remembered "bad" things can, and will, happen to them again. asked my Papa to give me clarity. and wisdom.
heard my husband give council.
watched as e. wrapped his arms around her and, tears running down his cheeks, told her, "when i heard what happened to you anna, i started crying."
remembered that my Papa allows strange things to happen sometimes to remind us He is, and He loves. more perfectly than I can.
tonight i kissed Little Girl on the neck and told her it's okay to go to sleep. told her to ask Jesus to help her learn what she needs to (look more carefully) and thank Him that He protected her. that her brothers were there to comfort her. that a dear lady we know was driving by just as it happened. thanked God in my heart she was wearing a helmet. that He chose to let us keep her longer.
in all your ways acknowledge Him. acknowledge me, little one.
today i thank my God that it is He who is in control. now matter what our nation's status, no matter what the economic state, no matter who is in office, no matter what others think, no matter how dangerous the world seems.
You are God, my Papa.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
i can hardly breathe.
i am NOT melodramatic. at all. but i must tell you, i am in love. meet lily, who came to our house to live today, and join her little sister, my dear friend who shall now be called betsey. i named them because a friend suggested it and because when i met her, she had to have a name. besides, i think the three of us are going to be very, very good friends.
she came with a 50mm lens, my first prime. i used it on betsey to take this shot (it doesn't autofocus on her, so please forgive that it isn't tack-sharp) and i actually have butterflies. i'm giddy because this is my biggest investment ever, and because photography is the most technically difficult thing i've ever studied, and because i'm still amazed that i love it so much. when i walked in the door and saw her lovingly displayed by my husband, i couldn't keep my hands off her. my kids acted like they were just as excited - anna had the first privelege to hold her. (she's pretty heavy compared to my sweet little D40, who will join us on our shooting adventures.)
it's official for the whole bloggin' world to see: i've lost my mind. yippee!
Oh, boy, here we go...
always wanted to learn Latin. isn't that a good reason to teach the "bigs"? actually, we are going to study it for greater language grasp, to improve our spelling, and to widen the opportunities if they want to study other languages. wasn't i a happy little bird when this arrived as a product to review for our journey with the TOS Crew?!
on another note (sort of), it's been a really awesome couple of weeks back to school. i think the gang was ready to be done with our "break" and back to our routine. there's nothing in the world sweeter than curling up on a giant beanbag next to a few of my little people and reading together. i think it might be even cooler (okay, didn't i just say that was impossible?) when they're engrossed in their own books. it's a Marco Polo week... joshie says, "mom, this guy was kind of wierd!" and there you have it.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Core Learning
Crayola Art Studio from Core Learning is perhaps the most purely FUN product my kids (they won't let me at it much!) have had the chance to review this year.
"Core Learning has partnered with Crayola® to produce an outstanding art software program for children. Based on the Basic and Junior Levels of Core Learning’s award-winning corefx Three Level, Crayola® Art Studio provides children with powerful, yet easy to use drawing and painting tools. Select from 12 realistic art brushes including Crayola® Pencils, Paints, Markers, Crayons and more! Learn to edit and transform digital images with several hundred Crayola® creativity starters. Make invitations, decorations, greeting cards and much more! Adaptable to any user,regardless of artistic ability and computer knowledge. Ages 4 and up." The product costs $24.95.
This is the blurb you can read on their website. The blurb I can give you is that it's pure digital artistic fun for my 11, 10, 8, and 5 year olds. They've used the different tools to draw all kinds of artwork, and the desire from EVERYONE to use the program has sharpened our sharing skills, as well!
A note: Core Learning also offers additional programs for art/creativity, as well as tools for Health, Language, and Critical Thinking. This is not an inherently Christian company, so parents (as with any company!) need to view products before passing on to their children. In the case of the Crayola Art Studio, however, I give my unreserved "thumbs-up!"
Motherboard Books
"Imagine your kids building web sites. Imagine their sense of competence. They can do it!!" This comes from the homepage of Motherboard Books, a company founded by Phyllis Wheeler, producing computer science curriculum specifically designed for homeschool students. (Rest assured, though, that ANY student would benefit from this program.)
Our family (well, specifically, oldest!) had the opportunity to try out a downloadable study called "Let's Make a Web Page." Designed for ages 8-12, this 60 page e-book is available here for $19.99. In working through the book, Brian is able to download a trial software for free (30 days), and then learn various aspects of building a web-page. Created by a veteran homeschooling mom, it is a really neat little study that has taught him quite a bit of basic computer knowledge, and gives opportunity to "have something to show for it" at the end.
Brian's spending a good bit of time here these days!
I like that it is easy to understand, and gives hands-on project experience. For moms who have little-to-no computer knowledge, this is a great study to work through together! My only note is that for us, the availability of blog-building, etc, will preclude the need for a web-building software in the short-term. The graphics/design, also, on the book we tried, could use some updating in a computer-savvy generation in which everything they view has visual bells and whistles!
Nonetheless, this is a great computer text that would build a quick knowledge base. Other offerings from Motherboard include Web Site ABC's (for adults and older teens), Logo Adventures (ages 8-12, but I might try this one!), and Let's Make a Web Page Jr. (ages 7-9.)
Our family (well, specifically, oldest!) had the opportunity to try out a downloadable study called "Let's Make a Web Page." Designed for ages 8-12, this 60 page e-book is available here for $19.99. In working through the book, Brian is able to download a trial software for free (30 days), and then learn various aspects of building a web-page. Created by a veteran homeschooling mom, it is a really neat little study that has taught him quite a bit of basic computer knowledge, and gives opportunity to "have something to show for it" at the end.
Brian's spending a good bit of time here these days!I like that it is easy to understand, and gives hands-on project experience. For moms who have little-to-no computer knowledge, this is a great study to work through together! My only note is that for us, the availability of blog-building, etc, will preclude the need for a web-building software in the short-term. The graphics/design, also, on the book we tried, could use some updating in a computer-savvy generation in which everything they view has visual bells and whistles!
Nonetheless, this is a great computer text that would build a quick knowledge base. Other offerings from Motherboard include Web Site ABC's (for adults and older teens), Logo Adventures (ages 8-12, but I might try this one!), and Let's Make a Web Page Jr. (ages 7-9.)
Alphabet Alley
A sweet little game we received from a company called Alphabet Alley. This is perfect for my "bigs" to play with Ethan and, soon, Isaac, too!"Alphabet Alley is a faith-based company that produces high quality toys for the early childhood market. We use all original graphics to illustrate solid values in a fun and entertaining way. Children choose Alphabet Alley products because they are fun! Parents, teachers and schools choose Alphabet Alley products for their educational, motivational and spiritual values," says their web intro.
Their toys are sweet and old-fashioned, and could be simple, easy conversation-starters for little people and their grown-ups.
We received both the Two by Two matching game and the
Noah's Ark Go Fish card game. Both were sturdy and had cute illustrations.
In a time when it's all too easy to find objectionable philosophy tucked into every little corner of our children's world, it's neat to find a company that has such lofty goals, and to find products that focus on "whatsoever is true..." even for the littlest set. The online store also offers neat stacking wooden blocks puzzles, and magnet sets with Bible story character illustrations. If you're looking for a little something extra for your little ones, and you're tired of mass-marketed secular character offerings, check out Alphabet Alley!
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