Encouragement

Recently I have had several friends reach out to encourage me. I just love when God does this kind of thing. He reaches out through those around us to love on us, to grow us up, to speak to us, to confirm himself and His word to us and so much more!! God is PROACTIVE!!! God is FOR you NOT against you!!! So I wanted to share with you what was given to me by a couple of special ladies because I think God will also use it to encourage you!!!

*****************************************************

Angie,

You used the tree and it's roots as an example this evening and I wanted to say that trees grow deeper roots during times of drought and their trunks grow stronger through the winds and storms that blow against them. So although you've known the Lord your whole life, the trials of life that come against you only make you stronger in the Lord and you grow your roots deeper into the "water of life". So another way to look at those things is that God is calling you deeper into Himself, deep calling unto deep. It's also great to know that He's always with us and never leaves or forsakes us. No where can you hide from His love. OK I'm rambling now. Have a blessed week!- W.

*******************

Hi Angie,

I saw this today and thought of you.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you to me with loving kindness. I will build you up again. (Jeremiah 31:3-4)

Lovingly, R.

Read more...

Another Fun Science Experiment

MIND BLOWING SCIENCE

1. In our first experiment we got to mix baking soda, Citric Acid, water and see and see Water Dancing.

2. With our 2nd experiment we added Red Cabbage Juice Powder and water to Citric Acid and Baking Soda. We then got to see different colors appearing.

3. Next we added these wee little white crystals to the colored solutions.

4. Over the next 2.5 hours we watched the crystals absorbing the colored solutions and becoming bigger.

5. Then we poured the excess solution off and we had Colorful Jiggly Crystals.

6. Then the boys observed them with their eyes, nose and hands. They found out they were squishy, jiggly, soft, wet feeling and that they would bounce and also stick to glass.

7. Then they picked some to keep in an airtight container so that they would stay as they were and we left the rest of the crystals out to see them change as the water solution evaporated from them.

8. Finally in a little over 24 hours the crystals had returned to their original size, the only difference being the colors they were now.

***************************************

Our Experiments were called Dancing Powders and Colorful jiggly Crystals and they were introducing us to Bases and Acid solutions and how they work, also Matter, Solids, Liquids, Gases and Solutions.

Bases and Acids:
This is not the experiment that we did but it looks like it would be fun, cheap and easy.
Here is what looks like a simple experiment to expose your children to something Acidic and something that is considered a base. Why not one more experiment =o)

Matter:

Fun with Matter Lesson and Experiment.

Steaming Up Experiment

Chocolate Leaves Experiment

lifting Ice Cubes Experiment

Great Kids Science Sites:

Kid's Science Experiments Site

How Stuff Works: Science Experiments for Kids

Chem4Kids

For younger kids:

Sid the Science Kid

Read more...

Scars of Life

A friend sent this story to me today by e-mail and I just had to share it! The LORD huigged me tight as I read it and I know he'll do the same for you!! I want to thank my friend for allowing God to work through her to love on me!!

*********************

SCARS OF LIFE

From Robert Leonard

The mother and child story is true.

I do not know who drew the great parallel with Jesus.

*********************
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not - let you go.

Read more...

A Book My Boys Loved!

Today was the first time my boys saw (and heard) this book: Stranger in the Woods and they loved it, they also enjoyed the Stranger In the Woods movie. We got both from our wonderful local library. The Photography that is in this book is amazing!! It is not a "meaty"book but it is like a tasty little piece of candy. Even if there were no words just seeing the pictures will delight your children!! We also have enjoyed the first book Lost in the Woods by the same authors!! Check out all their books HERE.

***************************************************

Check out more "Snow" themed books HERE from my friend's blog The Bookworm's Book list. She has also included a themed poem and fun craft project.

Read more...

Think Outside the Box : Building with a Deck of Cards

This project challenge by THINK was amazing. I started it with my kids and we worked for a while and finally I stopped to move onto something else. Well, almost every free moment that day the boys continued working on this project. I loved it because it made them THINK!! It was also something that made them TRY, TRY and TRY again!! When I started it I ended up getting a little frustrated because the cards would fall so easily but I would just laugh and try again, I'm not always a good example to my kids but I was trying hard to be one at this time =o) We started out on our hardwood floor in the living room, that wasn't working out so well so we moved to a bedroom with carpet, it still wasn't working great so we cheated a little and used something to balance the bottom pieces on. Later when my husband peeked in to see what was going on he said we should bend the cards just a little and that would help them to stand (or balance) better. I knew husbands were good to have around =o) Once again I appreciate the Project Challenges that the THINK Blog puts out!! Go ahead give it a TRY!!

Here are the Instructions from THINK:
Week Twenty-One -- Cities
Place a deck (or more) of cards on the table. Tell your student to build a city. No other instructions. When done, check this out. --Quote directly from the THINK BLOG

Read more...

Our "Clouds in Art" Study

We have been doing a Weather Nature Study for a while now. So this Art Study that I came across on the Hearts and Trees (HAT) fit right in. It is called "Clouds in Art" Study and the owner of Hearts and Trees put together a very nice Mini Unit Study (Notebooking Pages PDF).

"This is a set of 7 notebooking pages designed to help you and your students really get into the pieces of art. Each page includes questions to help you and your students take a deeper look and gain a deeper understanding of the artist, subject and style. (You can consider these questions orally or have your children write their responses in the space provided.) A short biography is included for each artist. Some pages include easy art activities you might wish to spend some time completing after viewing the artwork. Most of the notebooking pages include the piece of art being studied. (The Lawren Harris piece is not in the public domain, and is thus not included, but there is still a page for the work of his included in the art show.) f you would like to purchase the Clouds in Art Mini Unit Study, I am offering it for $4.95. "--Quote from HAT Blog

Here are three paintings that are used in the study. You can see them and the others used at the HAT Blog. I love all the paintings that were picked for this study but my buys favorite so far is the 3rd pic above.

The last pic here is of them looking at the painting and sketching their own version of it. I had saved the painting as the "background" on our computer. This a nice break from just our normal picture study. We get to appreciate the painting and learn about the artist but we also get to appreciate the clouds and the weather aspect of it. If your looking for something new or different check this out at Heart and Trees (HAT) Blog.

Read more...

Have FUN with Magic Nuddles

My oldest got something for his birthday that I had never seen before. It or should I say they are called magic Nuudles. It is a Biodegradable building product. The boys loved them, they had a lot of fun using them today. Their imaginations were on overdrive while they were building =o) I just wanted to share because I thought there may be someone like me that hadn't heard of them. My older sister that had gotten them for my son found a box of them @ Hobby Lobby for only $5. They were a hit and I know when we are completely done with these we will be getting more.

Magic Nuudles stick with a little water ... and melt with a lot! All of our craft foam and paper materials are made from cornstarch, nature's finest adhesive. Mix and match Original Magic Nuudles, Bloxx, Stixx, CornStruction Paper, and CornFetti to build, decorate, and create anything you can imagine!

HERE are ideas for using Magic Nuudles in your "school lesson"

HERE are other magic Nuudle Products

Read more...

Another Special Day

Recently we celebrated another special day for us. My oldest Birthday! We had a wonderful time marking this day with a Family party a couple of days before and also special day with just the four of us. Here is my first baby growing up so fast!! He is to us a true miracle. Thank You Lord for this special boy!!

The last pic is of my oldest and my dad, they share the same birthday!

Read more...

Have FUN getting your kids Thinking and Creating!

Science Projects (Here are just a few)
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/WxExperiments.htm
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiments
http://www.sciencenerddepot.com/Easy_Science_Projects.html

Snowman Theme: Books, Poetry and a Craft @ The Bookworm Blog
http://thebookwormsbooklist.blogspot.com/2009/01/snowman-theme-picture-books-and-poetry.html

Unplugged Blog Challenge: Examples of Weekly Themes: 1.Orange 2.Square 3.Balance
http://www.blogger.com/

2 Things Blog Challenge (Photo, Art Work, Poem, etc): example of weekly theme: Paper/Plastic
http://www.blogger.com/

Think: Kids Who Think Blog Challenge
http://www.blogger.com/
Example of challenge:
Scales
Use some or all of the following materials to build a scale. Then see if you can balance it with 5 pennies on each side. 2 pencilsan erasera cup4 straws4 paperclips2 pieces of paper1 item of your choice4 inches of string4 inches of tapeYou may use scissors in construction but not the solution.

Sketch Tuesday: Hands Up (Due Monday Night, 1/12/09) and ? (Due Next Monday)
http://www.blogger.com/

Elementary Math Challenge:
http://www.blogger.com/
Tyler and Cody were playing out in the snow. They thought it would be fun to throw snowballs at the boys playing next door. They threw a lot of them before the boys figured out where they were coming from. Cody threw seven snowballs. Tyler threw ten snowballs. How many snowballs did they throw altogether?

Craft and Art Ideas @ The Crafty Crow
http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/

Sewing Projects for Kids @ The Kid's Sewing Blog
http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com/kids-sewing-projects-blog.html

FUN with and IN God's Creation.....Nature Challenges, Nature Crafts, Nature Information, etc.. @ All the About HIM Blog
http://aahnature.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20in%20and%20with%20God

Weekly Nature Challenges by HandBook of Nature Study Blog
http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/

Art and Nature Kits, Lapbooks and more @ Hearts and Trees Blog
http://heartsandtrees.blogspot.com/

Learn how to play Chess http://www.chessdryad.com/education/magictheater/

Have Fun at the ChildFUN Site
http://childfun.com/dev/

Learn to Read @ StarFall
http://www.starfall.com/

Learn about Dinosaurs @ The Great Dinosaur Mystery Site
http://christiananswers.net/dinosaurs/home.html

Check Out Bembo's Zoo.......it is an Animal Letter Book that comes to life =o)
http://www.bemboszoo.com/

Read more...

ART LESSON

ART LESSON: FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

You can view all the above Art work HERE

and you can click on each pick to ENLARGE.

*************************************************************************************

WHAT is a FACIAL EXPRESSION?

A look on one's face that shows one's feelings.

Here are just a few different types of facial expressions =o)

*************************************************************************************

First we started out by talking about what Expressions were, as you see in the pics below we had lots of fun making different expressions (Have a mirror on hand so your kids can see themselves making the faces, they will just love that), next we sketched different facial expressions

and last we moved away from stick people and sketched a persons body using some easy shapes and of course we sketched an EXPRESSION on this person's Face.

MAD/ANGRY

CONFUSED

CRAZY

HAPPY

SAD

SURPRISED

AFRAID

(he was having so much fun that he couldn't stop smiling, so I know he doesn't really look afraid)

1st PIC belongs to my oldest and 2nd pic belongs to my youngest

Read more...

Tea Time anyone?

Making Cookies for our "Tea Time" (aka T.T.)

The Table is set and ready for our T.T.

My youngest serving his older brother

My oldest serving me

"Come on mom stop taking pictures we're starving for our cookies"

******************************************************

We had our first Tea Time today that we've had in a good while. For one reason or another we just haven't done it. The boys were thrilled that we were having it. As you see from above we made Chocolate Chip Cookies to have at T.T.. You may ask why do you have T.T. especially since i only have boys. Well, I have several answers for that question and here they are:

1. It is a FUN way to practice manners 2. It's a FUN way to practice sitting still and quite 3. We use that time to read poetry or some other type of Literature and 4. As the boys get older and their doing more and more things by themselves it will be a great way to come together in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week and check in with each other.

Read more...

Science Anyone?

Our boys love Science Experiments and for Christmas by their Nana they were given Science Experiment Kits. They have about 8-10 experiments in each kit and they supply MOST everything you need. What they do not supply are things you have on hand............water, jar, plate, etc... This past Sunday we did our first experiment from one of the kits and it was so easy and it was a lot of fun. The kit we picked from this time is called MIND BLOWING SCIENCE .

Below are some pics I took while the boys were being little Scientist. At the end of the experiment they recorded their observations in their Science Journal I made for them. They had a lot of fun and they can't wait to do another one. I just want to encourage you to check these kits out if your looking for an easy way to do experiments in your home.

Our Experiment was an Underwater Volcano and it was introducing us to how Bases and Acid solutions work.

Here is a Video of a REAL Underwater Volcano Erupting.

This is not the experiment that we did but it looks like it would be fun, cheap and easy =o).

Here is what looks like a simple experiment to expose your children to something Acidic and something hat is considered a base.

All our supplies and mixing the 1st ingredients

Oh, look we see BLUE

Wow, now we see bubbles, it changes to pink, it's erupting and spilling over the side.

It's saying Snap Crackle and Pop........Can you hear that? Yes, I can!!

Read more...

REMINDERS.....sometimes we all need them!!!

I was thinking last night about the time I told my younger sister that parenting was just REMINDING.......over and over again. Of course that's not ALL parenting is by any means!! What I was trying to do was encourage her that day many years ago. I was trying to say if we as parents get it into our heads that we are going to be doing a lot of REMINDING during our children's lives and that really is o.k. than maybe we can let ourselves and even our children off the hook some times. Now don't get me wrong I am all for teaching your children good manners, good habits and good behavior. I am also all for expecting them to LISTEN and CHOOSE what is RIGHT! I also KNOW how much I need to be REMINDED of things daily in my life. I make notes for things and I forget to look at the notes. Now I know there are some people that seem to never need reminding but I think that's the exception to the rule. I mean if you look back at the Old Testament, how many times did GOD need to REMIND His people WHO He was, Who they were in Him and How they needed to live for Him and WHAT He would do for them WHEN they lived for Him! Just look below at the scriptures in Deuteronomy to see the detailed instructions God gave to His people so that they would continue to be REMINDED of these things I mentioned above. I believe that God gave these detailed instructions because He knew that we continually need to be REMINDED of HIM and HIS commandments. He created us and He has always been willing to continue to REMIND us so it leads me to believe that REMINDING our children over and over is not a bad thing. If we look at it like this......If the Lord is willing to REMIND His people......if He is willing to REMIND me over and over WHO HE is, WHO I am, How I need to live, What HE will do for me WHEN I live that way and most importantly How much He loves me than I am going to do the same thing for my children. I will first REMIND them over and over what they need to know about their HEAVENLY FATHER and when needed I will remind them about the other things I want them to learn. If we want to we can even consider REMINDING a form of showing MERCY and again our example comes from our HEAVENLY FATHER whose MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!! So I'll end here with the REMINDER to you as a fellow parent, the next time you are telling your child something that you've told them a million times before, just take a deep breath and REMIND yourself that you are just being merciful to them by REMINDING them one more time. In the end when we REMIND, when we show mercy we are TEACHING our children the ways of our HEAVENLY FATHER which is the most important thing we can teach them as a parent!!

**You know after writing this I realize why I was thinking all this, because God wanted to REMIND me of a few things =o)**

Deuteronomy 6:

1NOW THIS is the instruction, the laws, and the precepts which the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land to which you go to possess it, 2That you may [reverently] fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, and keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3Hear therefore, O Israel, and be watchful to do them, that it may be well with you and that you may increase exceedingly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. 5And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. 6And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] 7You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes. 9And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10And when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you, with great and goodly cities which you did not build, 11And houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and cisterns hewn out which you did not hew, and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and when you eat and are full, 12Then beware lest you forget the Lord, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 13You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God and serve Him and swear by His name [and presence]. 14You shall not go after other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are round about you; 15For the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and He destroy you from the face of the earth. 16You shall not tempt and try the Lord your God as you tempted and tried Him in Massah.(A) 17You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His exhortations and His statutes which He commanded you. 18And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, 19To cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised. 20When your son asks you in time to come, What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and precepts which the Lord our God has commanded you? 21Then you shall say to your son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and evil, against Egypt, against Pharaoh, and all his household, before our eyes; 23And He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in to give us the land which He swore to give our fathers. 24And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to [reverently] fear the Lord our God for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25And it will be accounted as righteousness (conformity to God's will in word, thought, and action) for us if we are watchful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.

Read more...

Look at these two miracles of mine!

Didn't the lord do an amazing job on these two little men of HIS. You would say that also if you knew the work HE is doing on the inside of them!!I am so Thankful that He blessed me with with THESE TWO SONS!!

Read more...

End of the Year Camping Trip

While on our trip we went on a walk and ended up at this overlook that they built out on the side of the mountain. We were very, very high up, it was really windy and so beautiful.

Below are just some miscellaneous pics from our trip. We went on lots of walk, enjoyed lots of different types of weather......foggy, windy, sunny and rainy. We also enjoyed campfires, looking at the beautiful night sky's, playing games together (Bird Bingo, kids Monopoly and Chess) and reading about stars and the moon.

The last pic is of our branch and "adornements" we were using for our 12 days of Christmas Devotions.

We left on Dec. 26th and we stayed until Dec. 30. We stayed at a state park about 2 hours away from us. It had a little history itself and while we were in the area we also visited two other State Historical Parks. It was a great trip and a wonderful time spent together as a family out in God's amazing creation!

**We found out when we came home that we were seeing Venus close to the moon.
We knew what we were seeing had to be a planet but we didn't know which one so it was very nice to have access to the Internet when we got home so we could do some research.**

Read more...

More December Highlights

1st pic: Our boys just put out milk and cookies for you know who 2nd pic: Is of the boys on the bed we made them in our room. They were pretty excited so needless to say it took a little while to get to sleep. 3rd pic: Our oldest with his new gun on Christmas Morning

4th pic: Our youngest with his new gun 5th-8th Pics: The boys and their new skateboards

Here is the Chess Set they got from my hubby's brother and his wife. The boys LOVE it!!!

Riding around and having fun on their (very) little motorcycles

Here are the boys in a Christmas play at church. They both did GREAT!!

Here they are making some sugar cookies to share with family. The last pic is of some home made ornaments they made. The recipe we used came from HERE.

***********************

It was a wonderful, FULL and very blessed December!!

Read more...

What is an Old Gingerbread House good for?

Shooting Practice =o)

1st pic: Daddy and his boys with their new guns they got for Christmas 2nd pic: Our oldest shooting 3rd pic: Our youngest shooting

1st pic: Gingerbread house after both boys had taken one shot 2nd pic: Gingerbread house after shooting practice was over (Mom and Dad also took one shot at it ;)

Read more...