tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42173018291122414712024-03-05T18:15:48.601-06:00The Robertson CrewLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-31761450884597632322009-06-22T10:04:00.004-05:002009-06-22T10:19:13.965-05:00It is all Good: You are my strength, my portion, my Deliverer.God has been moving in our lives, in the midst of loss of health, financial security, and other areas. I can truly praise Him because He alone is good no matter what our earthly circumstances pose. He is good all the time, all the time He is good. In the midst of pain and suffering, He is refining and loving and showing us more of Him and prayerfully changing us to be more like Him. We begin to see truth as we have never known it before and know beyond a shadow of a doubt all things pale compared to knowing and living for the One True God. It is a humbling experience to be broken but the True Gospel has a healing balm for all believers. We were created to glorify Him and this is my prayer in all of my life that I may bring Him glory no matter what the "circumstances" around me may be.<br /><br />We have sold our home to a dear Christian couple. We are moving sometime in the next month or so to somewhere :) Jim is interviewing for several different jobs. A few that would require him to travel again. We are all disheartened by the thought that he would be on the road again, but if this is "the job" I know that several people need to hear about our Lord. He is also interviewing this morning for a job in Tulsa that we are praying for. I am joking now that we are "jobless and homeless" but it is a great, freeing, humbling place to be. I KNOW God as our provider and sustainer. This experience has brought me to know new truths of our Lord and I am so grateful. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My strength, my portion, my help in time of need</span><br /><br />I will trust Him at all times.<br />He has delivered me from all fear.<br />He has set my feet upon a rock.<br />And I will not be moved,<br />And I'll say of the Lord:<br /><br />You are my shield,<br />My strength, my portion, Deliverer.<br />My shelter, strong tower,<br />My very present help in time of need.<br /> <br />Whom have I in heaven but You?<br />There's none I desire besides You.<br />And You have made me glad<br />And I'll say of the Lord:<br /><br />My very present help in time of need.<br />My very present help in time of need.<br />My very present help in time of need.<br /><br />Here is a post from John Piper that I took from my friend Marci's face book page. He is powerful and speaks a truth that is real. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukcV-xtU3hc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukcV-xtU3hc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-86666158338143963862009-05-22T08:51:00.003-05:002009-05-22T09:04:18.265-05:00Falling on My KneesNope, we have not heard a word. Silence on the job front line. Still waiting. A few leads here and there. I am ready to see what God provides for us, but He has us in a holding pattern. I am still trusting alone in His provision. I know His time is not our time, probably a very good thing indeed. I would rush and jump in and then think about it with regret later. I have been falling on my knees a lot, wrestling with anxiety, hope, trust, faith, mixed in with worry.<br /><br />You know I can't finish without another worship song that tugs at my heart and puts my mind in focus. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hungry by Kathryn Scott</span><br />Hungry, I come to you<br />For I know You satisfy<br />I am empty, but I know<br />Your love does not run dry<br /><br />So I wait for you<br />So I wait for You<br />I’m falling on my knees<br />Offering all of me<br />Jesus, You’re all this heart is living for<br /><br />Broken, I run to You<br />For Your arms are open wide<br />I am weary, but I know<br />Your touch restores my life<br /><br />So I wait for you<br />So I wait for You<br />I’m falling on my knees<br />Offering all of me<br />Jesus, You’re all this heart is living for<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_j8wT8d8ps&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_j8wT8d8ps&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-25860301774286505922009-05-16T20:49:00.004-05:002009-05-16T21:09:29.867-05:00Desert SongI was listening to the words of this song tonight and my heart cried out echoing them. We touched on this in our Saturday morning bible study today. Here are the lyrics:<br /><br />Verse 1:<br />This is my prayer in the desert<br />And all that's within me feels dry<br />This is my prayer in the hunger in me<br />My God is a God who provides<br /><br />Verse 2:<br />And this is my prayer in the fire<br />In weakness or trial or pain<br />There is a faith proved<br />Of more worth than gold<br />So refine me Lord through the flames<br /><br />Chorus:<br />And I will bring praise<br />I will bring praise<br />No weapon forged against me shall remain<br /><br />I will rejoice<br />I will declare<br />God is my victory and He is here<br /><br />Verse 3:<br />And this is my prayer in the battle<br />And triumph is still on it's way<br />I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ<br />So firm on His promise I'll stand<br /><br />Bridge:<br />All of my life<br />In every season<br />You are still God<br />I have a reason to sing<br />I have a reason to worship<br /><br />Verse 4:<br />This is my prayer in the harvest<br />When favor and providence flow<br />I know I'm filled to be empited again<br />The seed I've recieved I will sow<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4WYK6TxWX7s&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4WYK6TxWX7s&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-18170639694064153232009-05-05T12:58:00.003-05:002009-05-05T13:02:12.443-05:00May's Birthday Celebration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxBtiNvKnEcxIMd5zxLbiT5CWfhzX-bOm3rP_dJc6_YiLsqXLikiLzFJMj67I0TrYoy4m2G7A0dGvae_v9JDmj02Bd-W9A94mnbjjS3gCZ3UoezM8xk0_Yz7oCN8KB6ye33tBplk99gQp/s1600-h/sp_may2009_desktop_1280x800.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxBtiNvKnEcxIMd5zxLbiT5CWfhzX-bOm3rP_dJc6_YiLsqXLikiLzFJMj67I0TrYoy4m2G7A0dGvae_v9JDmj02Bd-W9A94mnbjjS3gCZ3UoezM8xk0_Yz7oCN8KB6ye33tBplk99gQp/s320/sp_may2009_desktop_1280x800.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332401510655161410" /></a><br />My baby turns 10 this month! I can't believe it. I just finished my desktop screensaver from the shabby shoppe and wanted to share! She looks so grown up. Sniffle, Sniffle!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-86288210425223045952009-05-04T21:21:00.016-05:002009-05-04T22:01:08.087-05:00Ethiopia or Bust<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3565906&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3565906&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/3565906">Ethiopian Orphans</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/scionka">Simon Scionka</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />I have recently gotten back in touch with my friend Tanya. Tanya and her husband Tony are an amazing couple. They were high school sweethearts who married out of school. They both attended KU and Tony went on to medical school and is now a pediatric physician. Tanya and I grew up together in Bartlesville and as little girls we took ballet together. Later God wove our path together at KU as we both worked toward our OT degrees at KU medical center. After Jim and I were married, we spent a lot of time with Tony and Tanya as newlywed couples at Heartland Community Church in Kansas City. As God has moved our families to different parts of the country, it is really fun to reconnect and see how God is working in their lives. Currently, they are on a journey to adopt and bring home a child from Ethiopia. The Pruitt's journey is amazing and I wanted to include a link to her blog <a href="http://sixpruitts.blogspot.com/"><a href="http://sixpruitts.blogspot.com">http://sixpruitts.blogspot.com</a>/</a> named A Long Obedience. Take some time and check it out. Grab your kleenex box and be ready for God to move in your heart.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4151141&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4151141&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4151141">Scared - A Novel on the Edge of the World</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/hopechest">Children's HopeChest</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />Here are some unknown facts about Ethiopia.<br /><br />* Did you know in Ethiopia<br />* * There is approx. 1 doctor for every 24,000 children<br />* * Ethiopia has approx. 4.3 million orphans and the country is twice the size of Texas<br />* * Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school<br />* * The median age in Ethiopia is 18<br />* * 1 in 6 children die before their fifth birthday<br />* * 1 in 10 children die before their first birthday<br /><br />If you are called to make a difference, check out these websites:<br /><a href="http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com">http://www.adoptionsbygladney.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.compassion.com/">http://www.compassion.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/">http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/">http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.mochaclub.org/">http://www.mochaclub.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.5for50.com/">http://www.5for50.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/">http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.charitywater.org/">http://www.charitywater.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.worldorphans.com/">http://www.worldorphans.com/</a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-90593799062108800492009-05-03T14:58:00.002-05:002009-05-03T15:14:08.153-05:00Blessed Be Your Name<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRl7LD-3qtQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JRl7LD-3qtQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MpkJtWWjCaU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MpkJtWWjCaU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Here are two of my favorite worship songs. I am worshiping God today for who He is. I am humbled by His provision and His Love.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-50768697933042070452009-04-30T08:09:00.006-05:002009-04-30T22:04:09.225-05:00Waiting, Melting, and Being Challenged"I wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. " Psalm 62:5<br /><br />One of the hardest things to do in life, is to wait. Especially for me. I have NO patience. Our very nature wants what it wants when we want it. When our deliverance from a situation seems to take longer than we think it should, the battle rages in our mind between trust and fear. This is exactly where I am, in a battle between trust and fear.<br /><br />My husband got home Tuesday night from his interview and he said it went well. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yeah!</span> This would normally be good news for most people. I just happened to choose that moment to have a spiritual and emotional "melt down". See, I didn't get as much information from him as I would have liked. (Wives do we ever?) I also realized in that moment, that I had another unknown date to wait for until he A. got a phone call that offered him the job and B. well you know, the other alternative. Inside, I was broken that we didn't seem to be any closer to the end of this particular journey and honestly I was a little peeved.<br /><br />After Carter's diagnosis and all of our crazy history, I rarely cry any more, but the past few days I think the flood gate has broken loose. My husband is unsure of what to do with me and is keeping a healthy and safe distance. He really is a wise man :) I can relate highly to Psalms 69:2-3 which states "I sink in deep mire, Where there is not standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for God." As I have been chewing on this verse, I realized that my eyes do NEED to fail me. Because if I look at my circumstances with human eyes, I can mire in worry, anxiety, and fear but If I trust in His Name, His AMAZING Provision and His plan for the Robertson family then I have no fear. It is through this journey that Faith is being built, prayerfully His character being developed, and I am being changed more like Him and less like my selfish nature.<br /><br />I also realized that I am such an Israelite wandering in the desert. God has continuously blessed our family in amazing ways and yet, I am still quietly grumbling over His plan. So I had another heart to heart today laying everything out on the floor broken in front of me. The I don't want to move from this house, I don't want to move from this city, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to...you get the picture. (Yes the house IS God's house and I would give it up if I am called. Honestly, I am just too darn lazy/weary and tired to pack up this family of 6 for the 6th time in 8 years. Especially now that my awesome momma organized my house and I can actually find something and we just planted a garden). I digress. The underlying root of my three year old rant is lack of TRUST in my Lord and still fear of the unknown. As I was reading today through different articles on learning to wait on God, I was reminded of David who throughout the Psalms had to convince himself anew EVERYDAY that God would take care of him. Of course I am thankful that I literally am not being hunted and marked for death, but I was reminded of what a spiritual battle that I am in. My eyes need to be blinded to the things around so that my HEART can worship and Trust in God's Amazing Plan and His Amazing Provision, no matter where that is or what that looks like. Hmmm, easier to write out than to live out in the flesh:) <br /><br />Isaiah 30:18 "Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."<br /><br />Isaiah 26:3-5<br />You keep him in perfect peace<br /> whose mind is stayed on you,<br /> because he trusts in you.<br />Trust in the LORD forever,<br /> for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.<br /><br />Lamentations 3:21-26<br />21 But this I call to mind,<br /> and therefore I have hope:<br />22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;<br /> his mercies never come to an end;<br />23 they are new every morning;<br /> great is your faithfulness.<br />24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,<br /> "therefore I will hope in him."<br />25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him,<br /> to the soul who seeks him.<br />26 It is good that one should wait quietly<br /> for the salvation of the LORD.<br /><br />Psalms 27:13-14<br />I would have lost heart, unless I had believed<br />That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the<br />land of the living<br />Wait on the Lord;<br />Be of good courage,<br />And He shall strengthen your heart;<br />Wait, I say, on the LORD!<br /><br />I will end with this quote mainly for my own benefit!! "God is never late, but seldom early".Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-44043156362817144732009-04-28T13:49:00.003-05:002009-04-28T13:52:14.759-05:00Praying Today for My Husband<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-Y_IHOZZvk94fX3RhyphenhyphenYyTEI0_8mPpNskcbY3MBzaFwOPEGtfaLkPr3WcERzzjYUcZRBBcwJELZRgzmA8s86Jef-dASUXhqd83xnie0SNTsuR0F9ICCLsXd99gJjahrp1j3LwQlmcY7Bp/s1600-h/TCS_BrushSet_BibleVss-Comfort_LO600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-Y_IHOZZvk94fX3RhyphenhyphenYyTEI0_8mPpNskcbY3MBzaFwOPEGtfaLkPr3WcERzzjYUcZRBBcwJELZRgzmA8s86Jef-dASUXhqd83xnie0SNTsuR0F9ICCLsXd99gJjahrp1j3LwQlmcY7Bp/s320/TCS_BrushSet_BibleVss-Comfort_LO600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329816401680010610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">"All Your Worries" by Thao Cosgrove<br />www.scrapgirls.com </span><br /><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-36145821030074165362009-04-26T23:13:00.004-05:002009-04-27T08:15:49.936-05:00God's Amazing Provision for Our Lives<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >"Wait Upon the Lord, Be strong and take Heart and wait upon the Lord" Psalm 27:14
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<br />We have been waiting upon the Lord for His provision of a job for Jim. It has been hard for me to wait but it has challenged my faith and courage to know for sure that my amazing God is really who He says He is. God's provision for our everyday needs has blown me away and strengthened Jim and I in countless ways. Below are some of the things I have learned and the amazing ways God has provided for our needs and humbled my heart.
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<br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >First of all, I have learned with every hardship comes blessings. 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mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Though there were growing pains to begin with, we have adapted into quite a comfortable routine. I love having my husband home and watching him interact with the kids. I also love having him around for myself as well. We are the best of friends. <span style=""></span> Bionic man is also a pretty handsome guy and it has been great to fall in love with him all over again. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">We have had really good discussions, challenged each other spiritually in different areas, handled the kids like a professional parenting team "What did your dad say about that?" and also fought like cats and dogs :) Which in turn reveals my sinful nature and the need I have for my Savior! I will really miss him when he returns to work full time :) (Which again will be a HUGE BLESSING!)
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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the things Jim and I have learned over the past few weeks is how faithful God is. During a precepts bible study with Carter this month, one of the topics we discussed was not taking the Lord's name in vain. Exodus 20:7 states "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in Vain. The lesson went on to say "Taking God's name in vain is the opposite of hallowing it. When you take God's name in vain, you are disbelieving, denying, and distorting the truth about God. The name of the Lord is not just a title, but it is how God makes Himself known to us. His name tells us WHO He is. It tells us about His character.
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<br />When you don't believe what God says about Himself, then you are taking His name in vain because you are thinking wrong thoughts about Him. An example of disbelieving God would be to say, "God , doesn't care about my needs." Did you know one of God's names means He is our Provider? So when you say God doesn't care about my needs, you are thinking wrong thoughts about God and are disbelieving Him and his provision. You are taking His name in vain. "
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<br />Kay Arthur "Lord, Teach Me to Pray for Kids" p.42
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<br />Jim and I were both kind of stunned with that. It sunk in that when we allow anxiety and worry to creep into our thoughts about the future and how are needs are going to be met, we are literally taking His name in vain by not trusting in Him as our Jehovah Jireh (provider). So every time we start to get anxious about a job, money, insurance, health etc...we remind ourselves and each other <b>who are provider is</b>. And you know what, in comes this amazing peace and sense of security as we have been learning to lean on God.
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<br />On that note, I want to share some of the AMAZING ways God has provided for our family during the past month or so. Some of this has been hard for me to except as I feel like we are not desperate, deserving because there are so many others who are suffering, or poverty stricken. God has been teaching me though to rely on Him for <b>everything</b> moment to moment. This is one area, he has really stretched me in.
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<br />First, a friend of ours provided us with half of a cow for our freezer.
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<br />Second, we had grocery money given/forced upon us for two weeks worth of groceries. I say forced because it was SO hard for me to except it thinking we didn't need that just yet...we still have savings and severance to live off of. Now in July, it may be a different story :) But God was providing manna for us and so I praised Him for expanding my box of comfort.
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<br />Third, our garage sale was overwhelmingly fruitful. Huge praises to my mom who gave us hours of her time to force me to reconcile with the stuff and chaos in my house! When we were done, I even alphabetized our books and CD collection.
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<br />Fourth, a friend called me out of the blue and gave me a load of new or hardly worn size 8 shorts and clothes for Carter that are "so cool and camo".
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<br />Fifth, we were able to get our air conditioner fixed in the suburban for under $100. WhooHoo! Your body does adjust to wind and warmth but it is really nice to be cool...actually I am freezing now but what a blessing! We were willing to go without a.c. this summer thinking it was going to be a thousand plus expense.
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<br />Sixth, a dear friend dropped off bread in our mailbox from the Harvest Bread Company.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Seventh, our electric meter apparently wasn't working for a time. The guy who checks the meters, knocked on the door last month to let me know he was replacing ours. I was really nervous thinking our bill was going to be ASTRONOMICAL. I prayed about it and when I got the bill this month, we had actually been OVERPAYING and our bill was only, drum roll please...$8.00. Seriously only God can do that!
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last, I wanted to stop at Sonic the other day during happy hour, my wise husband looked at me and I realized that it was really not a "need". We came home and walked in the door and what do you know...our neighbor called out of the blue with 2 large cherry limeades that he bought for his family. Apparently, when he got home with the drinks, his family was not there. For those that know me, I really was blown away by this little "coincidence"
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<br />My point is that I have kept God in a box for way to long. I have been humbled and blown away by His love, grace, and continued provision and protection of our family. I was able to challenge a friend the other day going through a difficult trial and questioning her need for control over finances and need to make money. I asked her "Is God really who He says He is in your life, if He is than you have to release control and trust Him to provide." He will do it in unbelievable and surprising ways and He will met your NEEDS. Sometimes not your "wants" but your needs.
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<br />On that note, Jim has a job interview on Tuesday that we would appreciate prayers for. If this is the new tapestry that God is weaving in our lives, I will have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">very cool story</span> to blog about :) This interview has been in the makings for almost 5 months now. God has impressed the lesson on my heart of waiting for His timing and praising Him in the meantime. Please see my earlier posts. The interview was scheduled almost 4 weeks ago. Again, I had to put on my waiting stance. I realized though that this has given Jim's hair an opportunity to grow out over his incisions and will help him avoid the questions of "Did you have brain surgery lately or what !" So that is probably a very good thing :) We are really excited and hopeful about the opportunity for Jim to possibly work at this company. It has some really neat Godly men and is still located in Oklahoma :) So if it is God's will, please pray that He will find a place to use my husbands talents in this company for His glory and be offered the job. We continue to "wait upon the Lord, and be strong and take heart, and wait upon the Lord." Psalm 27:14</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="">I also have another prayer request regarding Carter's pump supplies. We have a very low supply of transfer sets which is the tubing that connects from the pump to the infusion set he wears in his body. I called the diabetic supply office trying to get a refill on just the transfer sets and apparently the company quit selling those individually. I heard as well that they are discontinuing the pump that Carter wears. (You would think I would get better at changes, but this one is hard for me). Long story as short as possible, I have to get a new script from the doctor tomorrow to try and beat the insurance clock so that we can continue to get the supplies covered under Durable Medical Equipment. Without that approval, his pump supplies almost equal a small house payment. :( So if you would pray for that to be approved that would be very helpful. I know regardless, God will take care of my little man and all of his diabetic needs. I take comfort in the fact that God loves and cares for him even more than I do. He is in His hands. I also know that He alone will provide for Carter's needs. I am sure I will have a neat story to share about that as well :)
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<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="">We are still here, waiting upon the Lord for His plan and His purpose for our lives. We appreciate your prayers. He is Good all the time, All the Time, He is Good!
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Waller - While I'm Waiting Lyrics</span>
<br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting on You, Lord </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And I am hopeful </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting on You, Lord </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Though it is painful </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But patiently, I will wait </span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will move ahead, bold and confident </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Taking every step in obedience </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">While I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will serve You </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">While I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will worship </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">While I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will not faint </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'll be running the race </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Even while I wait </span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting on You, Lord </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And I am peaceful </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm waiting on You, Lord </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Though it's not easy </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But faithfully, I will wait </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I will wait </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will serve You while I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will worship while I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will serve You while I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will worship while I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will serve you while I'm waiting </span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
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<br /></span> Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-89859585524067321362009-04-26T21:37:00.012-05:002009-04-26T23:12:53.052-05:00Spring Cleaning Mania! Beware<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJeySqxsYUIDS0M12CFP4pyA3Mfvvpp4VGq2cLmKeUsbzuw1hTz8zNzuRBP359thyphenhyphenzocfUUfVzzVsDcjIf9iyQ6YkeV_lq4QlEIeLA_5Y7wkgOrFgk-_2POzl508mHhze4kujViimmZAR/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJeySqxsYUIDS0M12CFP4pyA3Mfvvpp4VGq2cLmKeUsbzuw1hTz8zNzuRBP359thyphenhyphenzocfUUfVzzVsDcjIf9iyQ6YkeV_lq4QlEIeLA_5Y7wkgOrFgk-_2POzl508mHhze4kujViimmZAR/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329218347751815202" border="0" /></a>This is Little Red and the contents of her purse aka hidden treasures. Can you believe all of the stuff she crams in there and all of the RANDOM things she does put in there! It is really fun when she carries it to various places and proceeds to empty the contents and play with them. :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnfqczVA-ceM6V5oLxS95MI4-kHrrL1LiuTdcSw0OCd1q81DwfBgUCFnoYpCW8dUehobEWz9x7iPDlB_6WW1ZP4dlTLt_EdG5O3G2rIzXzMGAXYDva3kDcXQecGUpG77i1R47ACu8-mQ2/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnfqczVA-ceM6V5oLxS95MI4-kHrrL1LiuTdcSw0OCd1q81DwfBgUCFnoYpCW8dUehobEWz9x7iPDlB_6WW1ZP4dlTLt_EdG5O3G2rIzXzMGAXYDva3kDcXQecGUpG77i1R47ACu8-mQ2/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329217197892252882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYK7wL5HBG47hAAHApp8sInXl4U8uR-p21RNIitgfkk3w7OzID-twj8ZwVfuqEFr9D9bjakcbePu7-7rb9kZF3233kdUIRR4ssynsoYrQ-gUrRa-3pxyWllJxv8R8x7wTImbglaLOtSiE/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYK7wL5HBG47hAAHApp8sInXl4U8uR-p21RNIitgfkk3w7OzID-twj8ZwVfuqEFr9D9bjakcbePu7-7rb9kZF3233kdUIRR4ssynsoYrQ-gUrRa-3pxyWllJxv8R8x7wTImbglaLOtSiE/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329217192148448418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPE_IgKvGluIpqVeb5D8vY5iZJ26Y7aWVS6l3xtbJhvXlC4rf0pOrgV5Z-jMCfcjJBOiapcYPtbjfDYGLYYVA6z1AwUSuSByWKeLsRGHnKhfdp-QahGc7KKZLBiu10ZisN95pJbOHgqkW/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPE_IgKvGluIpqVeb5D8vY5iZJ26Y7aWVS6l3xtbJhvXlC4rf0pOrgV5Z-jMCfcjJBOiapcYPtbjfDYGLYYVA6z1AwUSuSByWKeLsRGHnKhfdp-QahGc7KKZLBiu10ZisN95pJbOHgqkW/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329217191706312898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It has been a while since I have posted. We have been busy tearing through our house and cleaning with my mom's amazing help. I have seen places of this house I have not seen since we moved in. My poor mother..."she didn't raise me this way" but let me just say with four kiddos, homeschooling, and really LIVING LIFE everyday in our house chaos sometimes wins over. So she put on a brave front and kept us going and working through the worst of it. Sometimes, I wanted to close the door and NEVER look back. I had that feeling in the girls room. The little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">packrats</span> had "stuff" everywhere. Let me warn you it was quite the challenge. After 5 very long hours, we had things sorted, trashed, and piled in heaps for the garage sale. Little Red still has her "stash" to keep her sane with her 5 year old nesting habits but I can finally breathe relief when I step in their room. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Di-6lQ6OVDiOFYBzhP2j0SY9eMBBLYsVcaY1tPa_GSQw8xxl0ZP4QO7PxTFChNjVJMz-vH9nXh_qXq0VKymEgYkH_eE7jsnZWnaYS2FmFM5GlEuOE9ssHU5M12EhbOSmln3F7eUzSlDS/s1600-h/100_1790.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Di-6lQ6OVDiOFYBzhP2j0SY9eMBBLYsVcaY1tPa_GSQw8xxl0ZP4QO7PxTFChNjVJMz-vH9nXh_qXq0VKymEgYkH_eE7jsnZWnaYS2FmFM5GlEuOE9ssHU5M12EhbOSmln3F7eUzSlDS/s320/100_1790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329197112112184930" border="0" /></a><br />Emma's box of stuff?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGar4sZUni9At3IhxOxfZN7b675fJbweavvWEii5AUoMcA4UWCFcYyP1G-VwGkE13lStGmsZWpIlINxYUKa1LxXe0ecm7A7xuvZHKuTVXh7KLQ5SyRQY0seJqGmgDKH6g9hyphenhyphenDQEQodM66/s1600-h/100_1792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGar4sZUni9At3IhxOxfZN7b675fJbweavvWEii5AUoMcA4UWCFcYyP1G-VwGkE13lStGmsZWpIlINxYUKa1LxXe0ecm7A7xuvZHKuTVXh7KLQ5SyRQY0seJqGmgDKH6g9hyphenhyphenDQEQodM66/s320/100_1792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329196731906817058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Things we found under the beds and in the corners of dark, scary places :(<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaCE9wMuD3d8qe2tArCz4UEzG09mT2uaEqkBaT7gYqwQ48XKhxhGtnYB4uhKJv14uMV37iQr1tfZ8hVU1wwNrUWyCK-gQRS-n9DlE8QRwv7HO97pysrEFW22eWqJCgzOmX1Nc6FoffGl0/s1600-h/100_1791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaCE9wMuD3d8qe2tArCz4UEzG09mT2uaEqkBaT7gYqwQ48XKhxhGtnYB4uhKJv14uMV37iQr1tfZ8hVU1wwNrUWyCK-gQRS-n9DlE8QRwv7HO97pysrEFW22eWqJCgzOmX1Nc6FoffGl0/s320/100_1791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329217186315906002" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0F9Mzkh4gwxGmysDLvNIVfAEx3nhOXyNRIzdnOalyygNmhXnqse4lQ3iMK_2nwAE8OUqP1oluI3T7iGXP1PBVRjoLCnQif1K_SQmHoof8m9tBXDiGWuxVkO3vbuWwIXw_KNrDgFjC_QU/s1600-h/100_1797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0F9Mzkh4gwxGmysDLvNIVfAEx3nhOXyNRIzdnOalyygNmhXnqse4lQ3iMK_2nwAE8OUqP1oluI3T7iGXP1PBVRjoLCnQif1K_SQmHoof8m9tBXDiGWuxVkO3vbuWwIXw_KNrDgFjC_QU/s320/100_1797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329196743448249682" border="0" /></a><br />Making progress. Emma is just like me and wanted to take off constantly during the cleaning process. We both are way to easily distracted!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVayAeCtmAxl4RfOjqL8l4MXcT3edsLtNT1yruiFLgtar2nheYCllYRdqJMdMfbbIeUccqLJZrfsJdy1hCjq4jhH9qxD9gyPO1EoetFbI_dpiLITpPcxfuESkDk0nGo2haHQs4y07GDiG/s1600-h/100_1798.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVayAeCtmAxl4RfOjqL8l4MXcT3edsLtNT1yruiFLgtar2nheYCllYRdqJMdMfbbIeUccqLJZrfsJdy1hCjq4jhH9qxD9gyPO1EoetFbI_dpiLITpPcxfuESkDk0nGo2haHQs4y07GDiG/s320/100_1798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329196738273677394" border="0" /></a><br />We got it done and 3 weeks later it is still in fairly good shape. That makes me peaceful. Mainly because I don't want to go in that room again and do it over.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-77489055549103605592009-04-24T02:53:00.001-05:002009-04-24T02:54:39.670-05:00Our Fieldtrip to the Oklahoma Aquarium April 2009<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f446b774e7a55314e773d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Trip to the Aquarium April 22,2009" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f446b774e7a55314e773d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=sweetshoppe&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-61666580872189785572009-04-07T08:37:00.005-05:002009-04-07T08:50:23.257-05:00Happy Easter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24vi4VHvRR1CzyjQpNsjIAHQOqo_QWrwGnZZxCv2wq_sQpX8RD1nBGBDNXUJegWqw7LL-RI8f34n_2z5ZC8NlHOE442y3CDA-0IycbpgsHf3pQDtZEEDSHeX_U9SmFXHP0wudRFNCBV6c/s1600-h/SP_FreeDesktops_April2009_1280x800+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24vi4VHvRR1CzyjQpNsjIAHQOqo_QWrwGnZZxCv2wq_sQpX8RD1nBGBDNXUJegWqw7LL-RI8f34n_2z5ZC8NlHOE442y3CDA-0IycbpgsHf3pQDtZEEDSHeX_U9SmFXHP0wudRFNCBV6c/s400/SP_FreeDesktops_April2009_1280x800+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944623220741266" border="0" /></a>Here are my two Easter Eggs and bunnies decorated all by themselves for Easter. I don't think I could have done a better job myself! Below is a picture that just cracks me up. I secretly love chickens and miss my Bantam hens a lot so this picture always gives me lots to smile about.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKzdo93LUgRukPfFgMzyBkCYpEb1cbNwkw-uK2lpiqvSi7jZmKEMOl5_K7QG5alnaetPInvlrhyphenhyphencVOpr6Qx2FLDg8zYIDV_GB50-HaBX0TGJp6VU6QJzhTGohRiRFypXxI8AC9h46v2n/s1600-h/When+easter+eggs+hatch.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKKzdo93LUgRukPfFgMzyBkCYpEb1cbNwkw-uK2lpiqvSi7jZmKEMOl5_K7QG5alnaetPInvlrhyphenhyphencVOpr6Qx2FLDg8zYIDV_GB50-HaBX0TGJp6VU6QJzhTGohRiRFypXxI8AC9h46v2n/s400/When+easter+eggs+hatch.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321944248527611810" border="0" /></a><br />I have been spending this week reflecting and looking toward the future. Some dear friends and I are going to start studying Revelations together. The song "People get ready, Jesus is coming soon we will be going home" has been burned into my mind lately. To me Easter is the most important time of the year as I reflect on the gift of LIFE that I have been given through my Saviour. This world is temporary and soon we are all going home. I am excited!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3TYBXMPBVtI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3TYBXMPBVtI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /> <br />Lord I'm ready now,<br />I'm waiting for your triumphant return.<br />Your coming soon.<br />This world has nothing for me, I find my peace and joy soley in you.<br />(Only in you)<br />I want the world to see, your alive and living well in me.<br />Let me be apart of the harvest, for the days are few.<br />Your coming soon.<br />So people get ready, Jesus is coming.<br />Soon we'll be going home.<br />People get ready, Jesus is coming to take from the world his own.<br />Peple get ready, Jesus is coming.<br />Soon we'll be going home.<br />People get ready, Jesus is coming.<br />Soon we'll be going home.<br />(We'll be going home.)<br />There's a day that comes,<br />when we will be divided right and left...<br />For those who know him (those who do not know)<br />Those who know him well will meet him in the air HALeLUja!<br />God is with us!<br />Those who do not know...<br />They will hear, "Depart.. I know you not."<br />For all my friends, you see...<br />There will be a day when we'll be counted..<br />So know him well.... Know him well!<br />(Chorus)<br />To take his own (to take his own)<br />To take his own (to take his own)<br />We'll be going home ( We'll be going home)<br />We'll be going home ( We'll be going home)<br />We'll be going home!<br />For my friends, you see<br />There will be a day when we'll be counted.<br />So know him well, Know him well!<br />(Chorus)<br />People get ready!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-85464764953988772832009-03-30T06:49:00.000-05:002009-03-30T06:50:06.090-05:00History Repeats Itself<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">by</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Bodie and Brock Thoene</span></span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Dear Thoene Friend,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Scripture tells us, “Woe to those who call good ‘evil,’ and who call evil, ‘good.’” </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Those of you who have read The Zion Covenant have already seen and recognized in our own time that the history of tyranny is indeed repeating itself. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Over the course of 25 years we have researched and written about the destruction of the German Republic and its constitution….THROUGH LEGISLATION! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">You asked us for specifics. Is there any historical precedent for the present Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress giving massive bailout loans to banks and to industry? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Back to that question in a moment.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">This week the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Geitner, demanded from Congress that he be given the PERSONAL power to regulate and nationalize U.S. banks and all financial institutions. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury also wants to have the power to decide what is a “good” business and which businesses should be taken over by the government! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">President Obama agrees with this! Obama believes Geitner, the tax evader, should have this power over U.S. business! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"> At Obama’s demand Geitner’s power would include the authority to shut down U.S. companies at a whim! Do you own a small business? Mr. Geitner would be able to shut you down! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">The magnitude of the Obama Administration’s tyrannical power-grab has never before been witnessed in American history. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Review this example: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">Obama forces Wagoner out as GM CEO; 31-year career is over</span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">by JUSTIN HYDE and TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS • March 29, 2009</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">President Barack Obama's rescue plan for Detroit automakers will be unveiled Monday, but one condition became clear today: the resignation of General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">As a condition for additional government aid to GM, the Obama administration asked Wagoner to step aside, which Wagoner agreed to do today, people familiar with the plan said. Wagoner’s move, effective immediately, ends a 31-year career with GM.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Not since President Franklin Roosevelt</span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-style: italic;"> considered </span><span style="font-style: italic;">taking control of Ford Motor Co. in 1943 from a failing Henry Ford has the federal government pushed for such sway in the management of Detroit’s automakers.</span> (emphasis added)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">The tack suggests a hard-nosed approach from the Obama administration toward the automakers, bondholders and the UAW, all of whom have yet to reach agreements on key concessions, despite months of talks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">Obama will unveil the new rescue plan for GM and Chrysler in a White House ceremony this morning.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">And there you have it. The President of the United States is now DICTATING who will run General Motors. Obama is saying there will be NO Government FINANCIAL HELP FOR General Motors UNLESS they dump the CEO! Obama has the power to destroy the 31-year-career of a man who ran a great American company while the corrupt U.S. Congress ran the business of America into the ground. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">We will say this plainly: Barak Hussein Obama has, in nine weeks, proven to us that he is a tyrant. He is now assuming dictatorial powers over our lives and businesses which NO PRESIDENT has EVER assumed in the history of our nation. BY new LAWS enacted by a Democrat Congress, Obama, son of a Kenyan Muslim, is now ignoring WE THE PEOPLE and taking over every corner of our lives. Our Constitutional rights are in shambles. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Has anything like this ever happened in another country? If so, what was the result?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">We searched our historical news files and found this headline from Germany in 1935….</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">February 22, 1935, Friday</span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">Page 11, 598 words</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">HITLER AUTHORIZES HUGE FORCED LOAN; Gives Finance Minister Wide Power to Raise Up to Billion Marks to Provide Jobs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-weight: bold;">BERLIN, Feb. 21. -- Reichsfuehrer Adolf Hitler empowered the Finance Minister, in a decree passed by the Cabinet today, to float a new loan of between 750,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 marks. [The mark was quoted here yesterday at 40.28 cents.] </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">It isn’t really necessary to spell out the conclusion of the comparison is it?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">To sum up: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"> Do not be silent. You must not remain silent. Tyranny threatens your American Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would not believe what these Democrat-agogues are doing to Freedom today!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Stand and be heard, Americans! Your nation and the world are in peril!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Blessings in The Mighty Name of Jesus!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">Bodie and Brock </span><br /><a href="http://www.familyaudiolibrary.com/"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;">www.familyaudiolibrary.com</span></a></span><a href="javascript:void(0);/*1238386143137*/"><br /></a>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-82908008413023478952009-03-19T21:01:00.008-05:002009-03-19T22:15:52.432-05:00My Husband, The Bionic Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaRdbPSqR7amMqicz5rZU6EA4-vblMD76CUF79R32h1NBGPeix3pCVKQ3fLj61mSvPn3_RpsiVOnrTbIhrKJzd_ORxUDeHWnN5jDKrm8CoHN3ziOXmRHjkOehWOcK4serGdGWFwg3tuME/s1600-h/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaRdbPSqR7amMqicz5rZU6EA4-vblMD76CUF79R32h1NBGPeix3pCVKQ3fLj61mSvPn3_RpsiVOnrTbIhrKJzd_ORxUDeHWnN5jDKrm8CoHN3ziOXmRHjkOehWOcK4serGdGWFwg3tuME/s400/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315091160589305474" border="0" /></a><br />My husband, Bionic Man, is in a clinical trial for Occipital Nerve Implants. The implants are being studied to reduce or eliminate quickly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hemiplegic</span> migraines and cluster migraines. So as a friend of mine reminded me, we are braving the new frontier of science to prayerfully help those who suffer from these things in the future. The great part about the implants is that they are working. When Bionic man gets a headache, he turns on his little machine and waves it over the battery. The battery turns on and the electric wires up his spine and into his head send out electric impulses into the occipital nerve that quickly diminish the pain from the headache. This is a great thing for him since these headaches when they persist for days on end cause paralysis in the right side of his body and other fun symptoms. :) Obviously, the symptoms go away in time but it is really not a fun condition for him to live with. Bionic man is TOUGH and RARELY complains of a headache or quits working. This is probably to his detriment. So we usually all figure it out as the right side of his face is drooping as well as his speech.<br />Bionic man had the initial surgery the first part of January. It is a blind study in which some of the patients received a placebo device that was not activated. God heard our pleading and allowed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">himto</span> have a device that was turned on and it worked!!! After three weeks, the electrodes slipped out and moved down into his left shoulder. When he turned on his machine, he got a nice electric shock in his left shoulder that sent him to the floor. It was actually quite amusing if you have our twisted since of humor. The second part wasn't so fun though as we had to go back to Springfield in February and have the electrodes re-anchored into his skull. This time, they used very large anchors to get it to "stick." It stuck so well, that the wire on the left side of his head decided to expose itself on the outside of Bionic man's skin. (Not a good thing :( ) At this point, I guess the risk of infection was HUGE and the neurosurgeon and his staff were pretty much freaking out telling us to get back to Springfield ASAP. Easier said than done with 4 kids to take care of but I am grateful for all the help :)<br /><br /><br />Currently, we are HOME from Springfield. The Bionic Man is all intact. He no longer has any wires that are poking out of his head. This obviously is a good thing. We checked into the hospital at 1 pm yesterday with no time to spare. They were already paging us to the surgical area :) Once we got settled (I say we) I really meant Bionic man back into his handsome hospital gown with the giant gap in the back, everyone wanted to see the Bionic Man with the wires sticking out the back of his head. After the novelty wore off, the charge nurse read the order for the day's surgery which included removing the entire device. She explained we would have the option of coming back in two or three months and redoing the entire thing. At this point, I got into my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pitbull</span> with lipstick mind frame and apologized for my rant ahead of time and said "Oh no, we are NOT going to go home without this device because it is working (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">PTL</span>). I said they were going to have to talk with the neurosurgeon and come up with a different answer for us because that wasn't going to work."<br /><br />The neurosurgeon came in to talk with us. He was already scheduled for another surgery before ours and that patient had to wait a bit. Doc used several colorful words to describe what he saw in Bionic man's head. He could not believe that we were back and that the wire was exposed. Doc scratched his head and was as frustrated as we felt. He tugged on the exposed wire in Bionic man's head <span style="font-weight: bold;">hard</span> and it didn't budge. Doc was rather pleased with the anchors he put in last time. "Hell they are strong." he said. Doc laid out our options, stated the risk for infection with the exposed wire, stated his inability to tell whether it was connected to the right or the left side. Listened to our impassioned pleas and said he would go ahead and redo the entire surgery again with new wires and electrodes. I will spare you the rest of the gory, long details but after 3 long hours, he was reattached and the device was buzzing in his head just fine. Doc told me that Bionic Man scars "like a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">freakin</span> mother" He said he was amazed at how much scar tissue the man had and that he just kept having to use his knife to cut it all away. I said I believed it. He always has bad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">keloid</span> scars. So here is what Bionic Man looks like right now with a ton of wire hidden up under his skin and a battery as big as a cell phone in his back. Isn't that cool? I love technology. I think it is amazing how well this works. So here is to future research...clinical trials.... and prayerfully no more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hemiplegic</span> migraines. Please continue to pray that his body does not reject any of these foreign objects and that no wires come to the surface again.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5N_wHTrz3xuDzAtuKNr91g_1hdmTwv8e6sY_kE5GEomUBwdGs-9eimP21iQQy5Zf52YvqzbzXOEpBqbrieRdOW7q4rcM7nYQ8XvqcfgBm0SNV_qwvbUWTWkIot0Fk2ZNEYTCLltiTtPc/s1600-h/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5N_wHTrz3xuDzAtuKNr91g_1hdmTwv8e6sY_kE5GEomUBwdGs-9eimP21iQQy5Zf52YvqzbzXOEpBqbrieRdOW7q4rcM7nYQ8XvqcfgBm0SNV_qwvbUWTWkIot0Fk2ZNEYTCLltiTtPc/s400/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315091997231142162" border="0" /></a>This is where the battery for the device is and where the wires are screwed in that run up the spine.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj515c02xkrzZd-WBKIWynZQ_5f7K0Q9JU8qInmi1vsxTulm72aF8C4-0OHDuVbDEba16ePkOPeuqSV1AZZwqgg1FmssRXZAX6Ph801WQPsAmjfQYYGABl3wfdq9qmovZmrqYwBy2kXGZcm/s1600-h/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj515c02xkrzZd-WBKIWynZQ_5f7K0Q9JU8qInmi1vsxTulm72aF8C4-0OHDuVbDEba16ePkOPeuqSV1AZZwqgg1FmssRXZAX6Ph801WQPsAmjfQYYGABl3wfdq9qmovZmrqYwBy2kXGZcm/s400/Bionic+Man%27s+3rd+Surgery-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315091802607605970" border="0" /></a>These are the beautiful incisions where the wires attach to the electrodes and where the electrodes are anchored to his skull. Doc was able to use the original anchors because they were fastened in so tightly!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-9165146916456599192009-03-17T12:29:00.005-05:002009-03-17T16:42:53.319-05:00While We are Waiting<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bb7TSGptd3Y&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bb7TSGptd3Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />We had the opportunity to share Sunday night about our homeschool journey to parents who are interested in knowing more about it. One of the questions that was posed to Jim and I and another couple was "How do you expose them to the real problems of life? I mean they are never going to experience the conflicts that kids deal with today in the schools. How are they going to grow and mature as Christians?" After a pause to reflect, I answered to him that we literally live LIFE with our children. In the past 4 years, my husband has had a stroke and literally the Lord only know how many surgeries, my son has been diagnosed with a high maintenance incurable disease, we have had dear friends lose their children, my husband has traveled on the road for 10 years Sunday thru Thursday, we had 4 kids somehow during that time, and currently we are trusting God for employment. I don't know how much "realer" life gets than that I said, but we have walked this road as a family. I encourage my children to see God's hand in all of these things and how He has used it for His glory. They have seen the good, the bad, and the really sinful side of their mom and dad but most of all I pray that when they go through hard times (and they will), they will know that they can always "Trust in the name of the Lord our God."<br /><br />We are going back to Springfield. We need prayers today. Jim asked me to look at one of the incisions on his head last night. Low and behold, the wire is sticking out through the scar. There is close to an inch of exposed wire. After calling Clinvest last night, we got an urgent phone call this morning asking for Jim to come back in immediately. Apparently the risk of infection is VERY high and we have to go back to Springfield tomorrow and have yet another surgery. Right now the neurosurgeon is saying that he will have to remove the lead (leed) and that Jim can have ANOTHER surgery later to have them put back in. We DON”T want this to happen. We are praying that they can just move the lead over to another incision site instead of removing everything. The device is working amazingly well. So please pray that God will take Jim’s body under his amazing protection and there will be no risk of infection to his brain or anywhere else. The staff at Clinvest and the Neurosurgeon are kind of freaking out about the risk of infection. Pray that Dr. Baker won’t have to remove everything and that the device can stay intact. Please pray for my sanity. Please pray for anything else that may come to mind as I really can’t think.<br /><br />Regarding our current job situation or lack there of :). Jim has a strong lead that we have been praying for. <span style="font-weight: bold;">If</span> this is an open door for Jim, then it will all work in His time and would be amazing. If not, there is a different plan and direction and we will continue to trust in His provision for our family. I appreciate your prayers and would ask that everyone would continue to hold us up in prayer as we seek to go where God ultimately desires us to be. I know the next chapter is bound to be exciting. The growth that is occurring personally in our lives right now during these challenges is important and prayerfully a witness to those around us. My heart is that this will all be used for His glory in spite of ourselves. My praise is that I love having Jim home with us and so do the kids. What a blessing this time is and God is providing for our needs.<br /><br />I love the following scriptures. They have challenged me the past few weeks, reminding me that again I am not in control and that I am to "wait for the Lord." His plan is amazing, His grace is sufficient, and He is the only one that can ever meet my needs. The house we live in is His house, the things that we have our His, the food that we eat are His, and I want most of all for me and the rest of my family to be all His. I hope these are encouraging verses for you as they are for me. Blessings to you my friends (and I don't mean materially, I mean the blessing of the Lord spiritually). Again, God is good <span style="font-weight: bold;">all the time</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">all the time</span> God is good.<br /><br /><br />Psalm 25:4-5<br />"Make me know Your ways, O Lord;<br />Teach me Your paths.<br />Lead me in Your Truth and teach me,<br />For You are the God of my salvation;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For You I wait all the day."</span><br /><br />Psalm 25:12-22<br />"Who is the man who fears the Lord?<br />He will instruct him in the way he should choose.<br />His soul will abide in prosperity,<br />And his descendants will inherit the land.<br />The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,<br />And He will make them know His covenant.<br />My eyes are continually toward the Lord,<br />For He will pluck my feet out of the net.<br />Turn to me and be gracious to me,<br />For I am lonely and afflicted.<br />The troubles of my heart are enlarged;<br />Bring me out of my distress.<br />Look upon my affliction and my trouble,<br />And forgive all my sins.<br />Look upon my enemies, for they are many,<br />And they hate me with violent hatred.<br />Guard my soul and deliver me;<br />Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.<br />Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For I Wait for You.</span><br />Redeem Israel, O God,<br />Out of his troubles."<br /><br />Psalm 27:5-6<br />"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;<br />In the secret of His tent He will hide me;<br />He will lift me up on a rock.<br />And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,<br />And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;<br />I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."<br /><br />Psalm 27:14<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Wait for the Lord;</span><br />Be strong and let your heart take courage;<br />Yes, wait for the Lord."<br /><br /><br /><br />In the meantime we are waiting. That would be a good scene to describe us. I pray that we will move forward serving and worshiping as God would intend us to no matter what our earthly circumstances are.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-56954839494026578062009-03-07T22:05:00.004-06:002009-03-07T22:24:51.342-06:00What Does it Really Mean part 2!A couple of days ago, I had the arrogance to post a blog pointing out someone's error in spelling and grammatical context. I was having fun laughing through it. Then God has a sense of humor...ha ha ha! I attempted to be creative the other morning to ease my stress level. (I have to create something to relax) Needless to say my dear friend Brenda is having a Q & A for a group of couples at her church who are exploring homeschooling. I thought it would be fun to make a flier on photoshop to share with other friends who may be interested in coming. After reading this through 3 times in Adobe Photoshop, this is what I sent out. Can you catch all of my spelling errors? I don't even want to know about the grammatical ones!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsB9eU13y7IaGyRLeltLsXsmTcsdai4POZDV1_7o_hKbn6uvngg3Wlrm29arLyZUPRYHfnE9TB2u_OFUDtDMmkxS2qLj8plw-k1ujCWmLl3swDTuMw7QaTvcliDTIrxcC1ALgAEIoMDUR/s1600-h/Open-House-March-15th.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsB9eU13y7IaGyRLeltLsXsmTcsdai4POZDV1_7o_hKbn6uvngg3Wlrm29arLyZUPRYHfnE9TB2u_OFUDtDMmkxS2qLj8plw-k1ujCWmLl3swDTuMw7QaTvcliDTIrxcC1ALgAEIoMDUR/s400/Open-House-March-15th.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310663589658124082" /></a><br /><br />Yep, I dun one smart homeshooling mama! The most frustrating thing besides actually sending this out to lots of people, is that it literally takes an hour for me to fix it in photoshop. There is no spell check and when you use Adobe, you literally are scrapbooking a bunch of different layers to a page. When you think you are finished, you hit merge! It is like sending the page through a laminating machine. There ain't no way you can dun go back! It is sure gonna be hard to fix when that there thing is all smashed and glued together! <br /><br />So lessons of the day. DON'T make fun of something you will probably end up doing yourself. Always have your friends like Dalene, Christy, and Kipplyn edit and proof read your work before hand and last always save a sample of the thing you is workin on in photoshop in a layered form so you can dun go in a fix it! <br /><br />Thanks to all my amazing and gracious friends who lovingly emailed me with the correct spelling and grammatical changes. You guys even gave me great excuses to why I had failed to do it right (thanks Kristen and Laura). You guys are awesome. <br /><br />By the way, if the new one has any errors on it...I am resigning!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-72411077950311643622009-03-07T21:38:00.006-06:002009-03-07T21:41:44.099-06:00Do You Know?I originally saw this on the Life Church blog update that I get everyday. I was emailed it again this evening and was able to show my hubby. We both agreed that it was worth a blog post. By Karl Frich and Scott McLeod<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cL9Wu2kWwSY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cL9Wu2kWwSY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-51312768956661583662009-03-07T14:50:00.002-06:002009-03-07T14:55:20.812-06:00The Little Mr. Conservative<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_vz1TVpwme0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_vz1TVpwme0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />A NY Times article <br />By JAN HOFFMAN<br />Published: March 6, 2009 <br /><br />SITTING in the back seat of his mother’s van as she drives through Atlanta suburbs, Jonathan Krohn is about to sign off with a conservative radio talk show host in Florida. In the 40 minutes he’s been on the air, with the help of his mother’s cellphone, this hyper-articulate Georgia eighth grader has attacked the stimulus bill, identified leaders he thinks will salvage the Republican Party’s image, and assessed the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s birth certificate.<br /><br />The show’s host chuckles and asks whether President Obama has called Jonathan “a little fascist.”<br /><br />“The president hasn’t come after me yet,” Jonathan says chummily, “but we’ve had other people come after me!”<br /><br />“Jonathan!” his mother hisses from the driver’s seat.<br /><br />The interview concluded, Jonathan wistfully handed his mother her cellphone. His parents still won’t let him have one, even though he turned 14 last Sunday, right after he became an instant news media darling and the conservative movement’s underage graybeard at last weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.<br /><br />The annual convention brings in the movement’s grand old lions, like Rush Limbaugh, as well as cubs to rally 8,500 of the faithful, who were shaken by the election of Barack Obama. Jonathan, a slight, home-schooled only child whose teeth are in braces, is so passionate about his beliefs that he spent his summer writing “Define Conservatism,” an 86-page book outlining what he says are its core values. In January, he contacted CPAC organizers, asking to speak there.<br /><br />With some skepticism, they gave him a spot on a Friday panel of grassroots activists. But Jonathan, an experienced child actor, rocked the house with a three-minute speech, which was remarkable not so much for what he said, but his electrifying delivery. The speech was part pep talk, part book promotion. By Saturday morning, an archdeacon of the movement was saying, “I’m Bill Bennett: I used to work for Ronald Reagan and now I’m a colleague of Jonathan Krohn’s!”<br /><br />As video of the speech coursed through the Internet, radio talk show hosts and television reporters at the conference sought him eagerly.<br /><br />In less than a week, Jonathan appeared on “Fox and Friends” and CNN, and broadcast network anchors requested interviews. He has lost count of the number of radio shows he has spoken on. Though his family has received hate mail, accusing them of brainwashing their son, a Jonathan Krohn fan club has sprung up on Facebook. High honors: Jon Stewart has already poked fun at him.<br /><br />And the invitations have only snowballed since the family returned to their modest house in a subdivision here.<br /><br />Why just that morning, his mother, Marla Krohn, marveled, a staff member for a potential candidate for Georgia governor asked for a meeting with Jonathan. In her gentle drawl, Mrs. Krohn said cautiously, “I’m not sure I’m a supporter of his.”<br /><br />“Neither am I,” Jonathan piped in.<br /><br />“But I’m a voter,” Mrs. Krohn reminded him firmly.<br /><br />Jonathan retorted, “Now that I’m a political pundit, I have the ability to influence people. I have to think about it!”<br /><br />But first, his mother reminded him, he had some homework to finish.<br /><br />He’s an unusual kid with an unusual background. Jonathan’s parents, Doug, a computer systems integrator, and Marla, a sales representative and former actress who teaches drama and speech to middle-school students, have been home-schooling their bright, curious son since the sixth grade. On Fridays, Jonathan joins 10 middle-school students at the Classical School in Woodstock, where classes are taught from a Christian perspective, for five hours of study, including Latin. They have two 10-minute recesses for tag, said Jonathan’s teacher, Stephen P. Gilchrist. Lunch is eaten at their desks while they work.<br /><br />“Other children his age are not quite sure how to take him,” Mr. Gilchrist said. “Jonathan is so intense, so verbal and a strong personality. But as they get to know him, they respect him for what he is. And he is tons of fun.”<br /><br />Jonathan’s father oversees his math; he studies Arabic with a tutor.<br /><br />“Before I got into politics,” Jonathan said as he sat with his parents in the study of their home, “I wanted to be a missionary to people in the Middle East. I thought it would be better to speak with them in their own language.” The family are active members of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross, Ga.<br /><br />That was several careers ago. But he is sticking with Arabic, because, “it’s important to talk with our allies in their language.”<br /><br />Although the Krohns are conservative, they say Jonathan’s passion for politics is largely his. “Politics bore me,” his mother said flatly. “I’ve learned a lot from Jonathan about the candidates I’ve voted for.” Doug Krohn said he listened to talk radio, but with his Iowa-born soft-sell manner, he’s hardly the pontificating firebrand his son is.<br /><br />Jonathan said he became a political enthusiast at 8, after hearing about a Democratic filibuster on judicial nominations. “I thought, ‘Who goes to work saying, ‘I’m going to filibuster today?’ ” he said.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn, looking bleary-eyed by recent events, muttered, “And now he can filibuster with the best of them.”<br /><br />Jonathan would wake up at 6 a.m. to listen to Bill Bennett’s “Morning in America” show and became riveted by politics and American history. Soon, Mr. Bennett, whom Jonathan now describes as, “my mentor and very good friend,” was taking Jonathan’s calls.<br /><br />“Jonathan was an extraordinary boy, very special,” Mr. Bennett said, in a phone interview. “He wowed my audience, he wowed me. He’s very engaging and learned. He’s got staying power.”<br /><br />Last spring, as the presidential campaign was in full roar, Jonathan decided the term conservatism was so misused that he needed to write a book explaining it. He received a computer from his maternal grandfather for his 13th birthday. “In the Jewish culture in which my mom was raised, 13 is a big deal,” he said. “But since I’m a Jewish Christian, I don’t do a bar mitzvah.” (Decades ago, his mother became a Baptist.)<br /><br /> Although the family said they hired an editor to go over grammar, Jonathan, they said, wrote the book himself. “My mom would get tough,” Jonathan said. “She’d say, ‘If you don’t stop writing now and go outside and get some exercise, I won’t let you finish this book!’ ”<br /><br />The family said Jonathan paid to have the book published with his own savings, earned from writing and performing on a syndicated radio Bible show for children.<br /><br />His father made a spreadsheet of their contacts for publicity, and then Jonathan went to work, glad-handing. He already had developed poise, as he put it, “during the 20 or 30 productions I was in during my acting career” — he’d performed in Christian Youth Theater plays and regional shows.<br /><br />Jonathan apologetically described the book as a “first effort.” The second edition, he said, will have less about Thomas Jefferson and more about Alexander Hamilton and James Monroe.<br /><br />But as Lisa De Pasquale, director of CPAC, noted, he is still a kid.<br /><br />“He seems to at least have a historical perspective,” she said. “But at 13, there’s not a lot of life experience yet. But as he attends more conferences, he’ll have more ammunition and education, and see that there are more than black and white viewpoints.”<br /><br />Jonathan also sees room for improvement: “I have good voice inflection, that’s why I’m good on radio,” he said “But on TV, I look too big because I move my hands around a lot.”<br /><br />He still has the zeal of a missionary. His voice rising to a wobbly squeak, he grabs any opening to press the cause. “Barack Obama is the most left-wing president in my lifetime,” he said.<br /><br />Mr. Krohn buried his face in his hands. “Oh, Jonathan,” he sighed.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-26689824575588752912009-03-06T15:55:00.004-06:002009-03-06T15:59:53.438-06:00FriendshipA couple of my friends and I have had a really hard week. To cheer me up today, especially today, my friend Kipplyn sent me a poem to make me smile.
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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoPlainText">This is for you my friend! :-)</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p>None of that 'Sis'-sy Stuff</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>Are you tired of those</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">/ *sissy*/* 'friendship' poems*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">that always sound good,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>but never actually come close</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*to reality?*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*True Friendship.*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">You WON'T see<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*cutesy little smiley faces*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">on this card-</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Just the stone cold truth</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>of our great friendship.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">1.* When you are sad,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I will jump on the person</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">who made you sad</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">like a spider monkey</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*2.* When you are blue,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I will try to dislodge</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">whatever is choking you.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*3.* When you smile,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I will know you are</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">plotting something</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">that I must be involved in.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*4.* When you're scared,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">we will high tail it out of here.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*5.* When you are worried,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>it could be until you</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>quit whining, ya big baby!!!!</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*6.* When you are confused,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I will use little words.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*7.* When you are sick,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Stay away from me</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">until you are well again.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I don't want whatever you have.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*8.* When you fall,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I'll pick you up</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">and dust you off--</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">After I laugh my rear off!!</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">*9.* This is my oath...</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">I pledge it to the end.</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">'Why?' you may ask;</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>-- because _you_ are _my_ FRIEND!</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">***********************</p> <p class="MsoPlainText">Friendship is like peeing your pants,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">everyone can see it,</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">b ut only */YOU/*</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""> </span>can feel the</p> <p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoPlainText">true warmth.</p>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-47993470645799147142009-03-05T12:40:00.003-06:002009-03-07T21:57:47.162-06:00An interview about mom with my kidsWith some trepidation, I embarked on this challenge to find out some of the thoughts of my children. I sat down with Carter at 6:15 this morning and finished with the last kid at 8 am. Here is how the interview went :)<br /><br />1. What is something mom always says to you?<br />Emma age 9: thank you<br />Carter age 8: Be Quiet!<br />Hope age 5: hmmmm, always be sweet<br />Eli age 3: I don't know<br /><br />2. What makes mom happy?<br />Emma: When the house is clean<br />Carter: when we all work together<br />Hope: to be sweet all day<br />Eli: underwear (now let me clarify that he had been streaking around the kitchen all morning long )<br /><br />3. What makes mom sad?<br />Emma: if we fight<br />Carter: when Emma scratches me<br />Hope: to not be sweet all day<br />Eli: spanks<br /><br />4. How does your mommy make you laugh?<br />Emma:When mom says she is a dork and is a comedian<br />Carter: tickling me<br />Hope: tickles<br />Eli: tickle<br /><br />5. What was your mom like as a child?<br />Emma: silly<br />Carter: "I have no idea!"<br />Hope: a baby<br />Eli: liked presents<br /><br />6. How old is your mom?<br />Emma: 36<br />Carter: 35 (he's right)<br />Hope: I don't know. My guess 60<br />Eli: I don't know how old you are<br /><br />7. How tall is your mom?<br />Emma: I don't know, 5.7" wait I mean 5.7 feet<br />Carter: How tall are you?<br />Hope: 61<br />Eli: this tall<br /><br />8. What is her favorite thing to do?<br />Emma: relax!<br />Carter: on the computer, read your bible, read a book, play with family<br />Hope: do school, computer, and church<br />Eli: do school with me and Hopey, Emma, and Carter<br /><br />9. What does your mom do when you're not around?<br />Emma: clean the house<br />Carter: read<br />Hope: find me<br />Eli: go back home<br /><br />10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?<br />Emma: comedy, singing, and dancing ( I think she was self-imposing her dreams on the last two :)<br />Carter: the longest one on the computer (Ouch!)<br />Hope: church<br />Eli: ummm, how bout Jesus<br /><br />11. What is your mom really good at?<br />Emma: loving God<br />Carter: teaching school to us<br />Hope: school<br />Eli: teaching school, games, and making dinner<br /><br />12. What is your mom not very good at?<br />Emma: controlling your temper<br />Carter: sports<br />Hope: messing up papers<br />Eli: I really don't know<br /><br />13. What does your mom do for her job?<br />Emma: clean the house<br />Carter: clean<br />Hope: work<br />Eli: do laundry<br /><br />14. What is your mom's favorite food?<br />Emma: coke, sushi<br />Carter: tomato's maybe<br />Hope: basghetti, meatballs, macaroni and cheese<br />Eli: everything<br /><br />15. What makes mommy proud of you?<br />Emma: when I clean and don't fight<br />Carter: when I do what she says<br />Hope: cleaning up the whole house<br />Eli: cleaning up<br /><br />16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?<br />Emma: The Pink Panther<br />Carter: Penelope Pitstop<br />Hope: a mommy<br />Eli, number 95 Lightening McQueen<br /><br />17. What do you and your mom do together?<br />Emma: go to Sonic and talk<br />Carter: play games and do school<br />Hope: cut out things<br />Eli: play games<br /><br />18. How are you and your mom the same?<br />Emma: we both like a clean house and we both love God<br />Carter: I have No idea...wait, we both like HOT water!<br />Hope: we have the same skin<br />Eli: I don't know<br /><br />19. How are you and your mom different?<br />Emma: your older, I'm younger<br />Carter: you have long hair and I have short hair<br />Hope: I'm short and your tall<br />Eli: I don't know<br /><br />20. How do you know your mom loves you?<br />Emma: cause she does<br />Carter: well I don't know, cause you hug me and your my mom<br />Hope: because I work so hard<br />Eli: a hug, and a kiss, and a little bit of this (he is shaking his booty)<br /><br />21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?<br />Emma: hang out with friends and Cancun<br />Carter: Sushi Train and K-Kauai<br />Hope: the store<br />Eli: wal-martLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-13024419870315123952009-03-03T13:48:00.003-06:002009-03-03T13:58:28.120-06:00What does that really mean? I came across this today in an article. It made me laugh but at the same time made me think <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oh My Goodness</span>! I am by far, one of the worst with run on sentences and fragments. I am also very grateful for spellcheck. Can you find the error in this below? Do you really want to purchase this item to help your child get better test scores on the SAT?
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<br />
<br />I borrowed this from the blog A Word Aptly Written. These were actual signs that were posted in various places. Enjoy!
<br />
<br />In an office:
<br /><em>TOILET OUT OF ORDER…… PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW
<br /></em>
<br />In a London department store:
<br /><em>BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS
<br /></em>
<br />In an office:
<br /><em>AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD
<br /></em>
<br />Outside a secondhand shop:
<br /><em>WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
<br /></em>
<br />Notice in health food shop window:
<br /><em>CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS
<br /></em>
<br />Spotted in a safari park:
<br /><em>ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR
<br /></em>
<br />Seen during a conference:
<br /><em>FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN’T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR
<br /></em>
<br />On a repair shop door:
<br /><em>WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN’T WORK)</em>
<br />
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-64974783743415119012009-02-26T19:29:00.003-06:002009-02-26T19:34:02.346-06:00Our Handmade Valentine's Boxes<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4e7a6b794d6a55784e773d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox greeting: Our Handmade Boxes" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4e7a6b794d6a55784e773d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=sweetshoppe&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own greeting - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/ecards" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox greeting</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Well better late than never. I wasn't able to upload these the last few weeks because my card reader somehow became <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disconnected</span> on my computer. I can't even imagine how that could happen with 4 children all vying for a turn on the computer :) Even so, we had a grand time the Sunday before Valentine's. Jim even got in on the action and Carter and he went to town designing the greatest Chief's stadium Valentine box I have ever seen. Eli stuck with something that is close to his heart...The Cars movie and thus his box...Race Cars with love. Hope used her glitter, paint, hearts, and princesses to decorate her special box. Last but not least Emma went to town designing her own Valentine house for dogs. It was a fun day and a great way to play together creatively for our family. I love messes and glitter, sparkle, scissors, and paint are right up my alley. The kids even did fairly well helping to clean up.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-29073833329998673952009-02-25T16:33:00.001-06:002009-02-25T16:39:51.250-06:00Everything is so amazing, and nobody is happyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus<br /><br />I tired to embed this video but there was no code. Please click on the title and it will take you to watch this video. It is really good take on humanity with a dose of humor for 2009.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-66559715073636261462009-02-23T15:45:00.005-06:002009-02-23T15:55:50.242-06:00Dr. Seuss Meets the CPSIA<h2><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >This post was sent to me today. My friend Nicole and I have been befuddled by a little known law that went into effect February 10th. It had originally been designed to protect all children under the age of 12 from poisonous plastics and lead. Though the intent was great, somewhere down the line of goverment things went haywire which I am sure is a HUGE shock to many. :) Anyways, on with the fun...this post is great. Please check out their websites for more information on CPSIA and other great homeschooling material. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote children's stories that were also often </span><a style="font-weight: normal;" href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/01/23/mf.seuss.stories.behind/" target="new">social commentary</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Here is a great activity for creative students who love the style of Dr. Seuss. Pick a current event or controversy in the news today (ie: illegal aliens, health care, etc.) and write an imaginary story in classic Seuss style! </span></span><br /></h2><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br />I have chosen to write a story myself that demonstrates my strong feelings about a law I do not agree with -- the CPSIA." You can read more about that law at the following links:<br /><br /><a href="http://familyclassroom.net/BookBan0210.html">Children's Books to Be Banned</a><br /><a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/governmentinfo/cpsia/cpsia.cfm" target="new">The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act</a><br /><a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/smbus/sbguide.pdf" target="new">Guidance from the CPSC</a><a><br /><br /><i>The following story was written by me, Heather Idoni, of </i></a><i><a href="http://www.familyclassroom.net/">The Homeschooler's Notebook</a> and <a href="http://www.belovedbooks.com/">BelovedBooks.com</a>, with help from my wonderful friend, Jodi Whisler, of <a href="http://www.homegrownhearts.com/" target="new">HomeGrownHearts.com</a><a>. It was really fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it! (P.S. If you have feedback or a suggestion for a title, please write to me at </a><a href="mailto:feedback@easyfunschool.com?subject=CPSIA">feedback@easyfunschool.com</a>.</i><br /><br />[slightly revised 2/21/2009] Working title: "The Trouble with String"]<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">In the town of Beddubble, far out on the Moor,</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />there lived a small tot, who was not more than four.</span> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Little Annabelle Ruth (her close friends would recall)<br />had swallowed the string from a dilly-dunk ball.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And then in the Spring of two thousand ought one,<br />she died of the thing that the string must have done.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They were sure of this fact, though the details were thin --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Something HAS to be done, we have GOT to begin!"</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Those dilly-dunk balls that tots spin on a string<br />are quite dangerous toys -- What a horrible thing!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We'll form a committee to draft legislation --<br />The Dilly-Dunk String Tot Protection Foundation.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is no time to waste, get the paper and ink --<br />This string must be stopped, there is no time to THINK!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Every dilly-dunk ball in the town of Beddubble<br />(no matter the cost and no matter the trouble) --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">must be taken by dumpers to tops of high hills<br />and dumped there -- forever to rot in the 'fills.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The law with the rules that they hurriedly drafted,<br />so brilliantly worded and carefully crafted,</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Would certainly solve this great problem they had --<br />Who would complain? How could it be bad?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Out with the bathwater, baby and all"<br />was the rallying cry from the town's city hall</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Every dilly-dunk ball shall be gathered and trashed --<br />and before that is done, they'll be burned up and mashed."</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">No matter the cost and no matter the trouble,<br />they must be got rid of -- right now on the double!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Mayor and the Dilly-Dunk String Tot Protectors<br />made ready to send out their troops of inspectors</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">to check all the stores in the Bedubble Mall<br />to make sure not one ball was for sale in them all.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What they saw on the shelves brought great cause for alarm --<br />more toys with more strings that could bring greater harm!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They called for the head Dilly-Dunk Tot Protector,<br />who brought out his big STRING INSPECTION DETECTOR --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and he looked in their books and the shelves full of clothes --<br />Why this string was in EVERYTHING under his nose!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We must ban these toys, all the clothes, every book --<br />We can't keep all this dangerous gobbledygook!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For in memory of little tot Annabelle Ruth,<br />we must keep our promise, we must tell the truth.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So because of a tot (who supposedly died)<br />from a string on a thing that got tangled inside,</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">the girls and the boys of a town called Beddubble<br />were in big piles of mess and a big heap of trouble.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For how would they learn now? And what would they wear?<br />Without books to read and with no clothes to spare?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They had no intentions of swallowing strings --<br />and tangling them up -- and dying of things!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Books were to read; clothes to wear, toys to play.<br />This law must be STOPPED -- it's plain silly, okay?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But the law was the law -- and what more could be done?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They put in a call to the mayor's only son.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Little Jimmy was all alone in his room playing --<br />when a boy rang him up and -- now, WHAT was he saying?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"What a strange silly law!" Jimmy thought to himself,<br />and he took down his favorite book off the shelf --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And he read and he thunk and he thunk and he read<br />'til his thinker was sore and his brain hurt his head.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What could HE do -- he was just the mayor's son --<br />Just one voice, just one person -- what more could be done?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Then he got an idea... a strange, happy idea --<br />That boy got a crazy, amazing idea!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">He packed up a sack with some snacks and a peach<br />and headed out south toward this shack on the beach</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Where he'd heard a girl lived by herself all alone,<br />since she'd left years ago from her childhood home</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After causing a stir with some string from a ball --<br />Why that girl wasn't dead as they said -- not at all!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">He wrote down her story and headed back north<br />and gathered the Council in town and so forth --</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With his notes in his hand and a smile on his face,<br />he told the town council, "I'll now state my case."</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(And his dad, the Lord Mayor sat patiently listening<br />til the sweat on his face was all silvery and glistening)</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Now you know, since these men did not research their facts<br />before they enacted their laws and their acts,</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">a strange, silly ruling has come into play<br />and our fine and fair citizens now rue the day</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">that they ever elected this great legislature<br />who think up strange laws that have gone against nature.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For Miss Annabelle Ruth (she never did marry)<br />Had a time with that string (oh, yes, it was scary)</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But swallow it she never did, not at all --<br />that string from the 'dangerous' dilly-dunk ball.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In fact, that small youth, little Annabelle Ruth<br />had only just tangled it up 'round her tooth!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And that testimony, my friends, is the proof<br />That the law that you made is not based on the truth."</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The men all just stared, their lips trembling with shame --<br />they glanced 'round the room seeking someone to blame</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But the shame came in waves on the men in their places,<br />whose hats from their heads were now hiding red faces.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Then the mayor spoke up proudly, "My son you've done well...<br />You've made our stupidity clear as a bell.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This law must be changed, be un-done, un-enacted --<br />It's clear that the lawmakers overreacted!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I hereby decree throughout all of Beddubble<br />this string ban is ceased -- there will be no more trouble.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Call all of your friends to a huge celebration --<br />we'll build a great fire for this bad legislation!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So each girl and each boy brought a dilly-dunk ball<br />and they had a great feast at the city's town hall.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And Miss Annabelle Ruth carved a roast Beezle duck --<br />and she kissed all their cheeks and she wished them good luck.</span></p> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >-----<br /><br />Copyright 2009 Heather Idoni and Jodi Whisler - All Rights Reserved - EasyFunSchool.com<br />Link to this page: <a href="http://www.easyfunschool.com/the_CPSIA_meets_Dr_Seuss.html">The CPSIA Meets Dr. Seuss</a></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4217301829112241471.post-73956962211884284612009-02-21T09:22:00.003-06:002009-02-21T09:40:08.732-06:00Life in a Fallen WorldJim and I faced another bitter disappointment yesterday. The wounds from the world can sting and smart. Why is it that I so expect the very best from people? I expect people to be inherently good, moral, honest and to do the right thing. I should know from my own heart that I am not inherently any of those qualities. I am a selfish sinner saved only by grace through the blood of Christ. The following is an encouraging quote that touched my heart this morning while I was reading. <br /><br />We often expect too much but <span style="font-style: italic;">"Life is not like that. Christ calls us to be willing servants. He commands us to accept our humanness and the thorns which this world presses into our flesh... We are called to accept the imperfections life casts upon us and look to Him for strength and wisdom. We must accept that we cannot arrange the world as we would like, and that at times logic will not supply the proper course, nor will our deepest desires be entirely met. This is life in a fallen world, where wars come and go, where nations rage and people cry in torment. We must be strong, not in ourselves, but in Him. And trust that His love and His wisdom and His light will see us through."</span><br /><br />from <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Beloved Land</span> by Janette Oke and T. Davis BunnLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09500244268951151172noreply@blogger.com0