Standardized Testing

Thoughts?????????

Re-thinking Standardized Testing. Having graduated one out...I know that in the long run it's all nonsense...but in the short term....it's good to keep these kids/us on their/our toes... or so I have thought all along.... every 3-4 years or so.

A side note:
Privately administered and nobody but us ever sees the results.

At the end of the day though...who cares? I know.

My mind drifting to Italy....


...and my mind drifting to NYC. Oh my goodness!!!!!!! The things you can taste on just about every street corner.

We love boiled cabbage around here. I like to mix one head of purple and one head of green. Served on a platter w/a bit of butter, salt & pepper.

Due to my Irish roots...I have it in my mind that cabbage always goes w/potatoes....so I buy those cute little baby ones...drizzle w/olive oil, add salt, pepper & rosemary and stick them in the microwave until tender.

A nice way to get veggies into the kids if you don't mind the flatulence which may follow :)

Also, I save the cabbage stock...freezing it for a rainy day vegetable soup base.

Happy Flower Designs

Mrs. Jayamohan, your Custom Order is ready :)

Happy Flower Designs

Mrs. Starks, your Custom Order is ready :)

Into The Wild

I really loved this film even though it made me really sad.

Three standout heartbreaking moments...when Hal Holbrook sheds that one tear...when William Hurt walks the driveway and crumbles to the pavement...and when Emile Hirsch reconciles in his heart & mind...but finds no way home.

I'm folding laundry in the living room when I overhear a conversation taking place between the girls in the kitchen.

Zion: So are they Catholic?

Jemima: No.

Zion: Mormon?

Jemima: No

Zion: Well, what are they?

Galilee: People who think they can cast out demons.

Zion: Ohhhhhhhhh.

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Did not get involved.

Came across these Manhattan images from our last trip....and that familiar longing in my heart appeared.

"The Talk" about "The Thing"

Time to have "the talk" w/our older girls.

It seems that they believed their sweet dear darling girlfriend when she told them that she has heard that the Duggars got all their kids without doing "the thing."

All three wide-eyed girls seriously thought those 19 blessings were delivered to Jim Bob and Michelle by the Lord w/out any involvement of "the thing."

I'm so happy on the one hand that the girls are this innocent...but to be 100% honest ....I am horrified that they are such complete and utter dorks.

Torn between two emotions.

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It's funny that this wrestling w/in me comes now.

During a visit w/a friend in LA last week....I witnessed first hand a precocious group of 10 & 11 year old unsupervised girls hanging around (hunting down) her son and Mcabe...morning, noon, and nite for days on end. One was the daughter of a porn star...another the daughter of a Playboy bunny. Their conversations and suggestive behavior were so completely out of line that I was asked to write a letter to the school describing what I saw.

Mcabe was horrified by these little girls. When recounting his experiences w/them he used a word that rhymed with NUTS.

Both Galilee and Jemima said at the same time, "What's that mean?"

Two different worlds.

All in the same week.

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It's okay that G & J are complete and utter dorks, right? I mean, they will not be this way forever.

In fact, it may all disappear after "the talk" :(

For some reason...while garage saling...this visual struck me as odd...so I snapped a shot.

The weirdest part of the shot for me is the kids' play gym to the left of the house. What the hey????????????? How awkward and odd. Strange juxtaposition.

It got me to thinking about our dreams and what we are willing to sacrifice to see them realized.

With that said...what does life look like if we stop reaching for our dreams?

Whole Wheat Fettuccini w/ Spinach

Saute two bags of frozen spinach & freshly chopped garlic in a lil' olive oil. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian herbs...to taste. Toss over whole wheat Pasta. Drizzle more olive oil (health benefits when not heated.) Add a handful of shredded mozzarella.

If you like it crazy SPICY like me...douse w/lots of red pepper flakes.

I am recycling all my jars. The pasta sauce ones....the pickle ones etc. Would've liked to buy a whole bunch at IKEA...then thought to myself...Why bother?????

Just like with soooooooooo many things I think I "need"...He has already provided.

MAN, that preacher man Voddie Baucham!

It really is like an onion being peeled back...layer by layer....this walk out of darkness and into Light. How our hearts deceive us because they are deceitful above all things

Obviously, one of the most difficult things to do is to pray for those with whom we are angry. It goes against every instinct we have in our self-preserving self- glorifying bones.

Yesterday...as I was walking and talking with the Lord...He softened my heart towards one particular person which caused me to cry. Freely amongst the majestic saguaros. What a gentle and forgiving Father we have.

Eve just made my day.

Anthropologie Bird Feeder

I call it that because it reminds me of something that would be hanging in their stores. Hundreds of them....from the ceiling...w/fake birds dangling as if they were flying.




Supplies:

a balloon
glue
yarn
tuna can

Blow up a balloon. Cover the bottom half w/glue. Drape yarn scraps any which way. Add more glue.

Decorate tuna can using yarn and glue...and maybe a rhinestone or two if you want some dazzle.

Allow to dry for 2 days.

Pop balloon and peel away from "nest."

Hang nest w/ tuna can...add seeds.

Hear birds chirping through your open window.

Field Trip

I love the diversity found w/in our circle of friends.

Never ever ever...would you find me cuddling chickens or spending money raising rabbits. But, I am very pleased that we know a family who does so.

Spiritual Warfare

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are....great show....if you don't mind all the baptisms by proxy that will be occurring due to the show's connection w/the lds run data system.

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The #22 thing w/Emmitt Smith was pretty cool. And, I love all the historical stuff.

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On a side note....it was the lds obsession w/geneology that started a friend of mine down a path of Bible Study...which the Lord used to reveal truth to her heart ....resulting in her salvation and departure from this false religion.

Whole Wheat Margherita Pizza

Some days I need to come up w/three meals a day. I can be challenging, I know...so I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Hope you enjoy some of mine.

I used those whole wheat sandwich rounds you can pick up at any market as my pizza base. They bake up really toasty and they're only 50 calories per.

Spread w/pesto. Drizzle w/olive oil. Sprinkle w/spices. Add fresh sliced tomatoes and shredded mozzarella. Bake at 350 until lightly golden. Pop under the broiler for a few minutes. Sprinkle w/ fresh chopped basil.

Bean Soup

Sautee sliced carrots, onion, and celery in a bit of olive oil & garlic. Add seasonings to taste.

Stir in one package of fresh lentils (Trader Joe's)...two cans of Progresso Lentil Soup...one can of drained garbanzo beans, one can of drained red kidney beans, one can of drained white beans, one can of drained black beans and one can of corn w/ liquid. Add one box of chicken stock. Add 5ish dry bay leaves.

Simmer and serve w/grated parmasean.

Spiritual Warfare

Info on Joyce Meyer's teaching for those who are interested in such things. If you are not....then, don't read the article.

More spiritual warfare reading.

In my experience...Christian book stores...church libraries...women's ministries...men's ministries...and counseling ministries are being overrun w/ troublesome teachings such as these.

Advice we heard years ago by a very wise pastor when "spiritual warfare" situations started popping up in our lives...

"If it's new it ain't true & if it's true it ain't new."

The Red Carpet Issue

Enlightening. Fascinating. A must see film for those interested in fashion and Hollyweird stuff.

Her people are denying it but I think Zion Evangeline has had some work done.

Pretty Hair Things

Jemima's making more pretty hair things. Now, it's Floral & Tulle Tiaras , Floral Barrettes and Floral & Ribbon Barrette Holders.

The Old Rugged Cross

I might be the worst home-educating mother in the history of home-education. "Why?"....you ask. Well, for one I always put dot dot dot when I can't figure out the punctuation rule I'm supposed to be following which is a trick I will most likely pass down to all five kids and....and secondly, I couldn't care less about Science Fairs or Spelling Bees...but would rather spend all our days forever and ever all day long every day creating lovely things. Braverijah and Mcabe are making art out of found items. Both find themselves at an age where they need spending $. My advice....Why work for "the man" if you don't have to?












We do manage to squeeze in academics. But it's the hot glue & soldering guns that get my blood pumping.

This gets my blood pumping too (dot dot dot)...and it's "academia" related (is that how you say it?)...


Prayers for Braverijah. He's off to L.A. all by his lonesome for a story seminar w/ Robert McKee.

One of the really sweet things that will come as Braverijah grows older I think...will be...the leadership role in the family Mcabe will take. Already, I see him stepping into those shoes.

Also, he will have growing pains...as big brother ventures more and more out of the nest.

Oscar Nite

Tomato, Basil, Mozarella

Feta, Kalamata, Tomato



Potato, Shallots, Rosemary

Wolfgang Puck has No thing on me.

PAUSE my Music Player.

Ada had a problem with her belly button. It hurt. I'm praying for her and I hope she feels better. She's special to me because she's my friend. She's nice and fun and helpful. This video that she sent me is very sweet. I love her.

Zion

Our beautiful niece, Rayne and her Dad...Damon....who has 46 days!

This settles it....my justification for not being firm or buff or ripped or toned.

Zion: I would still love you....even if you were bald.

Me: Well, I should hope so because love has nothing to do with hair.

Zion: Yeah. (pause) Would you still love me if I were bald.

Me: Of course.

Zion: (long pause) And I love you even though you're soft and mushy.

Abortion

Snippets from my life experiences:

In 1946...my unmarried maternal grandmother and grandfather found themselves faced with an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. They kept the baby...my mother.

Approximately a decade later...my paternal grandmother was sent away to a mental institution for 7 years after a suicide attempt prompted by an unwanted abortion she was "forced" to have by her husband.  She turned on the gas and placed her head in the oven.

These stories were told as I was growing up..told in hushed tones when the adults got together...but told nevertheless and overheard by me.

We didn't "believe" in abortion in my family. We knew it was "wrong."

I grew up knowing that "we do not do that."

We weren't believers....so what did we base our convictions on? Were they really convictions....firmly planted and rooted deeply?

No.

Well, "yes" for us personally....maybe.

What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web.

Job 8:14

Somewhere in my early teen-aged years...we had a housekeeper who's daughter "was in trouble." She was desperate for "help." Our family doctor would not perform an abortion so she was sent to Planned Parenthood. My parents paid for the procedure.

Later on...a friend found herself in a frightening predicament. We took her (@ her parents request/they were overseas) to a pediatrician...who prescribed her a version of "the morning after" pill.

It could've easily been me. Easily.

We have a male family member who was devastated when his girlfriend at the time chose to terminate the life of the child they were carrying although he begged her not to.

And, I remember the moment when as a newly married wife I was filling out the paperwork for a D & C. "Spontaneous Abortion" is what they called my miscarriage. I was not pleased and said so w/ much emotion and much waiting room drama.

As a young believer.....I pleaded w/a girlfriend not to go ahead w/an abortion...I told her that if in fact that she did go through with it...that special permission would have to be made so that I could hold her hand all the way through because I did not want her to be alone. Happy ending......her child is fine :)

As a woman walking w/Christ for a bit of time...I'll never forget the dazed and confused sound of a certain young woman's voice (we've never actually met) as we spent hours upon hours of days upon days together on the phone...walking through her predicament in light of Scripture. One day, she stopped calling. According to her...she is a Christ follower ..........and I've heard via others that she ended her child's life without telling her husband and then divorced him. Crushing.

Snippets. As I process them.

There are more snippets.


My heart is heavy tonight for all who are affected by abortion. The children, the mothers & fathers. The family. The nurses and doctors. The friends.

Margaret Sanger Soapbox

UPDATE:
Interesting article. Thanks, Tamara.

UPDATE:

I am currently involved in 3 ongoing "abortion" discussions w/ three different people....hence my heightened research and discussion.

For the sake of clarity and spoken in Biblical Truth as it has been revealed in Scripture..."yes".... abortion is murder...but abortion in and of itself will not send anyone to hell and is infinitely forgivable when laid at the foot of the cross by a repentant sinner.

As with all sin...it is a matter of the heart.

We've all got to deal with the problem of sin.

Every single wretched one of us human beings has to deal with it.



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If you are interested in the Planned Parenthood discussion:

As I was looking into Margaret Sanger's story....I came upon this article about author H.G. Wells. Towards the end....we learn of his relationship w/ M.S. You can also learn more about it here.

Margaret Sanger...as we all do... seems to have had life experiences which affected her thinking process and helped shape her worldview.

Add to that...the sinful desires of her own heart...

...and the experiences/worldviews/sinful desires of those whom applaud her contributions to humanity....


...and the experiences/worldviews/sinful desires of those whom don't applaud but do little or nothing to resist or offer solutions....


....and we have a humanitarian nightmare on our hands.

CHRIST FOLLOWER'S IMMEDIATE TO DO List:

Care for orphans (true orphans & social orphans)

Be fruitful and multiply.

Live out before & teach Biblical truths to.... up and coming generations.

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Nevertheless...I cannot help but cry for Margaret Sanger. For the personal wounds she must have carried deep in her soul. For the wounds she inflicted. For the legacy she leaves behind. For the loneliness, emptiness and barren nature of her existence today and for eternity.

She probably sincerely believed that she was doing mankind a great and noble service...

....but could not have been more wrong.

Planned Parenthood was conceived in the pit of Hell, people.

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We all have friends and loved ones affected by abortion. Love on her/him today..... and every single day as long as you both shall live.