tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27084111843095979952024-02-18T18:53:21.188-08:00leading little hearts homeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-41261780944599191582017-03-01T13:49:00.002-08:002017-03-02T00:03:14.864-08:00BUILDING CONFIDENT READERS {a week of lesson ideas} <br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">I wish it wasn't so, but the truth is learning to read just doesn't come easily to everyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">For all my older kids, the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487803580&sr=8-1&keywords=100+easy+lessons">100 Easy Lessons</a> worked pretty well. It was just a matter of eliminating distractions, putting in about 15 or 20 minutes a day and viola! Out came a reader.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">For my youngest; however, that just wasn't the case. After spinning my wheels for a while, I realized I needed help. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">I turned to the only reading expert I know, my sister, Dale. Dale has a lot of practice implementing programs to bring under level readers to level in the classroom; was nominated for Teacher of the Year and now both trains teachers and establishes new schools. Yep, she's a real smart cookie! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0l8No7rjPMqANv1I7dza4jCbJgnXtGjfdfq0qiH8SB9rbvBwnJf2emsrcCrz9CILTxlz34F6hVjxaWN73oq26BF3Dr6wd6_8CDd-B6YWtZ9tgtb1geXW_joUykRx-4MDvBT-mjwBcds/s1600/Me+and+Dale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0l8No7rjPMqANv1I7dza4jCbJgnXtGjfdfq0qiH8SB9rbvBwnJf2emsrcCrz9CILTxlz34F6hVjxaWN73oq26BF3Dr6wd6_8CDd-B6YWtZ9tgtb1geXW_joUykRx-4MDvBT-mjwBcds/s320/Me+and+Dale.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dale is the super smart looking one on the right!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Her approach allowed us to make real progress, build confidence and cemented the phonograms I could not previously get to stick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>THIS ISN'T ABOUT LAZINESS</strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Right away when Dale assessed Hailey she let me know that <em>struggling to read has nothing to do with laziness</em>. When we are frustrated and our kids are frustrated, that can be pretty encouraging to realize. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">The truth is, all of their guesses are real effort, but somewhere along the way something didn't click. And it was time to get clicking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>ONE BOOK A WEEK</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">With Dale's help we came up with a new plan. Dale encouraged me to slooooow down. I don't know about you, but when I feel behind I start rowing faster. Rowing faster is not what Hailey needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Dale said instead we were going to focus on one sound/ word family/ phonogram sound a week. And over the year, that slow work has really added up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">She had me subscribe to <a href="https://www.readinga-z.com/">Reading A-Z</a> which provides both slowly incrementing <a href="https://www.readinga-z.com/books/decodable-books/">Decodable books</a> along with lesson plans and activities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This is what one of the books look like printed. Mine are usually in black and white, this in color business was kind of a fluke, but it looks pretty if you have the ink. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e_xXNMWlZGH3zri0zjFz6C2_r4J6JLRL-tzutv3lbJb9052vf9UR-k98Pa9oRXumcNgRMeEE4udRYANWPyrE8ZJDDeTElmYuPtH3LMCNf_mAxCyqIP6AQxbAE6iu5BN6oGs9Xc0Avoc/s1600/New+book_1_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e_xXNMWlZGH3zri0zjFz6C2_r4J6JLRL-tzutv3lbJb9052vf9UR-k98Pa9oRXumcNgRMeEE4udRYANWPyrE8ZJDDeTElmYuPtH3LMCNf_mAxCyqIP6AQxbAE6iu5BN6oGs9Xc0Avoc/s640/New+book_1_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've worked our way through from the very earliest books. I think we started at book two or three. And they increment very slowly which helps emerging readers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPsahAVFUHU-BQNenpAOfHF888oRQVaKjhPpSGcWwxhKwBe415KNSRjoHsEYxnq31XoJmfDqO9BI2b1xwFhx7AKBAcfsD1X191k-sddVvtfes3JpPyw6pJHloD_qRog1xlPX_NbBma9I/s1600/Folded2_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPsahAVFUHU-BQNenpAOfHF888oRQVaKjhPpSGcWwxhKwBe415KNSRjoHsEYxnq31XoJmfDqO9BI2b1xwFhx7AKBAcfsD1X191k-sddVvtfes3JpPyw6pJHloD_qRog1xlPX_NbBma9I/s640/Folded2_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are instructions for book assembly at Reading A-Z, but basically you cut the cover and back page, fold the inside pages, staple together and tape over the staples. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKnr1pPqQ6H4jTmdGQtI8eEXj-uZsDMJgbuSaeABeM1eNj7Y1DZFogDeTrwN1rE-XN7KXVZRvfw3_Or1T0nRtbrJUJapfbAVGYPPW62GSUjz314yZ56Fmqt0l34yUeWNhy38qe4dQFyc/s1600/Lesson+Plan_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKnr1pPqQ6H4jTmdGQtI8eEXj-uZsDMJgbuSaeABeM1eNj7Y1DZFogDeTrwN1rE-XN7KXVZRvfw3_Or1T0nRtbrJUJapfbAVGYPPW62GSUjz314yZ56Fmqt0l34yUeWNhy38qe4dQFyc/s640/Lesson+Plan_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tada. This weeks book along with the lesson plan and provided cards to reinforce our new sound /x/. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>WORKING WITH NEW SOUND- DAY 1</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>1. Introduce New Sound</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">One of the first things on my list is to introduce the new sound and elicit words from my student that have that sound. Sometimes I help her or give her a 'rhymes with' word, then I write the words we come up with on a white board she can see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Often the lesson plans from Reading A-Z will also have a list of words, some with the new sound you are working on and some without, and as you read them you can ask your student to listen for the /x/ sound and clap or give a thumbs up if they hear the new sound in the words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">You could always Google "Word Family -at" for example and do this on your own. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKwM5Qgr6RxTrbmA2AGkwdAltMNbIyy6AJwU1GdfBlMBOoO-cgRhyEmA5jxN5KehjASWyXpAJtP2cyF1WHeTo_v1kBh9WxgFmWASgVwscgX9E-OogNmKkHsluzReqc_ToXMdgtGnHBoY/s1600/On+white+board_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKwM5Qgr6RxTrbmA2AGkwdAltMNbIyy6AJwU1GdfBlMBOoO-cgRhyEmA5jxN5KehjASWyXpAJtP2cyF1WHeTo_v1kBh9WxgFmWASgVwscgX9E-OogNmKkHsluzReqc_ToXMdgtGnHBoY/s640/On+white+board_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sloppy writing. Some of the words for this sound were from the word cards provided from Reading A-Z. X is a tough one! Sometimes I Google Word family and the family we are working on for help.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This is also a great time to do a word family sort. The cards below are from Reading A-Z and was a printable with the book we are working on. This activity helps the students to differentiate between the words with the sounds they are learning that day from other word sounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Again, you can create this same thing using 3x5 cards and a Google word search. If you are working on -at sounds that week, you could Google that word family ("Word Family -at") and "Word Family -op" for example. You want them to look different enough that sorting the cards won't be too difficult. Here is a <a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Xvv8svRe&id=D9EF9DFDFB3C416B41666750197243D3C1029D84&q=word+families&simid=608041433458806761&selectedIndex=0&ajaxhist=0">Word Family Chart</a>, but they are easy to find. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uGnnTLWWy4HkyUSff5l3XGgsXVtp3JNCigNQ-Mi6MGhHTpcObZOXB7M9elGtY-NlvPuIXPbYaPSdLgpO8XRoVU_ty4O7Gf-nhbtX-trBp6CI2vwAse4StNsoyRbym0maZZxGtqs4MW0/s1600/Word+family+sort_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uGnnTLWWy4HkyUSff5l3XGgsXVtp3JNCigNQ-Mi6MGhHTpcObZOXB7M9elGtY-NlvPuIXPbYaPSdLgpO8XRoVU_ty4O7Gf-nhbtX-trBp6CI2vwAse4StNsoyRbym0maZZxGtqs4MW0/s640/Word+family+sort_SMALL.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>2. Use manipulatives to make words using the new sound</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Each week I type up a homemade Spelling with Stickers worksheet using eight new words and sometimes words from a previous week so that Hailey can use letter stickers to make the words herself. I usually get these words from the new book or the word cards Reading A-Z provides. It only takes a few minutes to make but keeps her busy for a while. Worth it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuSoIKGVse3T5YiXQeVHbRSbjfetwG6F6XfnKh9p-luYbN2OzZqsBpHEgrgPkbHF7pGyC7hC_llXSW0L16kGxZIiUPK2Md__mFbxV2U2nmanTx_Ge3UT77HumNyGA7y67oFHyhocz6IM/s1600/Spelling+w+Stickers_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuSoIKGVse3T5YiXQeVHbRSbjfetwG6F6XfnKh9p-luYbN2OzZqsBpHEgrgPkbHF7pGyC7hC_llXSW0L16kGxZIiUPK2Md__mFbxV2U2nmanTx_Ge3UT77HumNyGA7y67oFHyhocz6IM/s640/Spelling+w+Stickers_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick custom worksheet made in Word. It's not fancy but it works. Behind my worksheet a Reading A-Z worksheet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM25bS68Ud7wlHigqiBsV8vCSkgX822BMcAMZSQokGr0tEiVVcnKAZjA-a3PKX1sG-OlR5ONsxBj6-366TLU2JLf6bEFAAUuKxY66S0un_dJggvaKO7CBbWWOwCEFOkoMjT-QJkOtDBmE/s1600/Stickers_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM25bS68Ud7wlHigqiBsV8vCSkgX822BMcAMZSQokGr0tEiVVcnKAZjA-a3PKX1sG-OlR5ONsxBj6-366TLU2JLf6bEFAAUuKxY66S0un_dJggvaKO7CBbWWOwCEFOkoMjT-QJkOtDBmE/s640/Stickers_SMALL.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stickers from the Walmart craft area and letter sorter purchased in the Walmart jewelry department. Sorting letters is the kind of job I do at night, but you could solicit an older kiddo to do it. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">While Hailey works on Spelling with Stickers I can cut out the other resources for the week and tuck them in my reading box. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Once Hailey is done, we read the sticker words together. Then I save the sticker words for a later activity (Rainbow Roll). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Next, I will have her go through her new book and underline words with the new sound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>3. Read the Book</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">At the earliest levels, I might read the book to Hailey for the first go through and talk with her about the pictures. As her reading got stronger, I would read the first sentence on the page and she would read the next. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">And that is the end of day 1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>WORKING WITH NEW SOUND- DAY 2</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><em>The plan for Days 2-4 are basically the same steps, but if you are like me, I want to see photos of how each step is done. Once you read day 2 you can skip ahead to the printable cheat sheet and resource links at the end of this post or you can hang in for the nitty-gritty details!</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>1. Reinforce the New Sound using Manipulatives</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">One of the first things I do on day two is to work with the new sound to reinforce it. Usually there is a learning mat and letters to print with each lesson (remember the cutting out on day 1?). Using these along with the word cards or the words from the Spelling with Stickers sheet used the day before, Hailey can create new words.</span><br />
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You could easily use magnetic letters, Banagram letters or other letters you have on hand to try this. <br />
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I have her spell the words from the word cards and then we sound each one out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh48hZ9IEQNdge9An1ajoruRVhzONDa1G73LmeJxSqJLeAIY5wTrd4iqL16AVFfAiZdbXbHtLYrW74rvI2voRhOBkPYSN6MHg06KqQT7BFhN9r7Mln4E1i3jZ-cb-Zltd4t23O8j8VLk/s1600/Making+words_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh48hZ9IEQNdge9An1ajoruRVhzONDa1G73LmeJxSqJLeAIY5wTrd4iqL16AVFfAiZdbXbHtLYrW74rvI2voRhOBkPYSN6MHg06KqQT7BFhN9r7Mln4E1i3jZ-cb-Zltd4t23O8j8VLk/s640/Making+words_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Learning mat and related letter cards are usually with each new decodable book at Reading A-Z.</td></tr>
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<strong>2. Reinforce the New Sound using a Word Work Activity</strong><br />
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I choose another <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Activities-2210378">Word Work Activity</a> to reinforce the new sound. If I have at least two Spelling with Stickers pages done (these have 8 words each), I can choose to have Hailey work on Rainbow Roll (which has 16 slots). Worksheets can be purchased along with the entire <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Activities-2210378">Word Work package I use at Teachers Pay Teachers.</a> <br />
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If you want to make your own activities, the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Words-Their-Way-Vocabulary-Instruction/dp/0133996336/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=82BY6AEFA5DTNYJT4329">Words Their Way</a> has a lot of ideas for games and other ways to Work with Words. You can also search "Words Their Way" on the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/">Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) site</a>. I started with Words Their Way and was making my own board games, but over time I fell into using things already created for speed (shown below). <br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTZ4OsmanKPgglLYbXP-Ei-K8MhrWhLr8d5zGPQd7TFnZcqtElbW_C2IR58nt2PND3IguSan5rmapfTmfYHwdqVw85qRAYT7m5aKhnNrjd2tZ90Gst1WMvkHR8geW2tncHphN7F3s55s/s1600/Rainbow+Roll_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTZ4OsmanKPgglLYbXP-Ei-K8MhrWhLr8d5zGPQd7TFnZcqtElbW_C2IR58nt2PND3IguSan5rmapfTmfYHwdqVw85qRAYT7m5aKhnNrjd2tZ90Gst1WMvkHR8geW2tncHphN7F3s55s/s640/Rainbow+Roll_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Activities-2210378"> Rainbow Roll</a>, students roll a dice, then write their word in the color they roll. You could chose to have them write the words in lowercase, but I'm ok with doing some of both.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8awYY5Hryzo4G57xNooTdEv6Nziw5cMN6xKgicQLLuYtCIxI73oR_ddRS_RtkDBizgEBflZYUVc6thrdgEKSZsgYUJvaX0PilaEa69aHAMYRd78IL6fYRCRmKOIPBRwGRBNLMJwrlII/s1600/Rainbow+Roll+supplies_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8awYY5Hryzo4G57xNooTdEv6Nziw5cMN6xKgicQLLuYtCIxI73oR_ddRS_RtkDBizgEBflZYUVc6thrdgEKSZsgYUJvaX0PilaEa69aHAMYRd78IL6fYRCRmKOIPBRwGRBNLMJwrlII/s640/Rainbow+Roll+supplies_SMALL.jpg" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Rainbow Roll supplies tucked into a $1 Pencil holder from Dollar Tree and in the Word Work May Do Box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ9zMH2XSQUaet7Kc17sr1n58dlgYUcfKn8NhkHcHe6OVmw3Nkij3E_VWFHShPgo8CVw43NqmKjYuy5VdlkymSASyM1bXcLjfny7kHSF8GPOw32N7TMnyhHGt-pow88bBNIZ4XFGfiAo/s1600/Word+Work+boxes_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ9zMH2XSQUaet7Kc17sr1n58dlgYUcfKn8NhkHcHe6OVmw3Nkij3E_VWFHShPgo8CVw43NqmKjYuy5VdlkymSASyM1bXcLjfny7kHSF8GPOw32N7TMnyhHGt-pow88bBNIZ4XFGfiAo/s640/Word+Work+boxes_SMALL.jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Word Work boxes. I love, love, love these locking boxes from Walmart. They are just $3.88 and keep all of my reading tools handy and compact.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"></span> <strong><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">3. Read the Book</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"></span> <span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Usually on day 2, Hailey will slowly read through the book herself. If that seems too much you could try reading the first sentence on the page and letting your student read the next. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlXuvdO72PnvAAZACXcBgPASTI69H3X4egoLr1lNCAD0HNt5WSRdqU53JYXaoZnywGOQ3fejcWFx-5FYGw8bNJoropGiFIcJv0IOqyJmAsZIyVXRLStdS4EU9AhHlWbAjTYL0z8sHOZI/s1600/Reading+w+Hailey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlXuvdO72PnvAAZACXcBgPASTI69H3X4egoLr1lNCAD0HNt5WSRdqU53JYXaoZnywGOQ3fejcWFx-5FYGw8bNJoropGiFIcJv0IOqyJmAsZIyVXRLStdS4EU9AhHlWbAjTYL0z8sHOZI/s640/Reading+w+Hailey2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">And that is the end of day 2. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>WORKING WITH THE NEW SOUND- DAY 3</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>1. Reinforce the New Sound using Manipulatives</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This is where you can choose to do something your kiddo enjoys. Some options would include the Reading A-Z word mat with letters pictured above, Banagram letters, Magnetic letters, listening for their new sound in a poem or string of words and clapping- the choice is yours!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFsrzWKfgKMDvngsrC-HGnoe_OqiYYOINSayainnXPJSTml63lbENsYNktfRnbH75aufaNcEo37r08Y_qLL_HyKmw-n9eBg7GkTvc_1xrZjzPs6-S289rajgBNDaajkHAH2UXNNKonMo/s1600/Magnet+letters_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFsrzWKfgKMDvngsrC-HGnoe_OqiYYOINSayainnXPJSTml63lbENsYNktfRnbH75aufaNcEo37r08Y_qLL_HyKmw-n9eBg7GkTvc_1xrZjzPs6-S289rajgBNDaajkHAH2UXNNKonMo/s640/Magnet+letters_SMALL.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using magnet letters, salt box writing, pipe cleaner letters, play-doh letter cut outs, letter beads- you name it. Choose a hands on activity to reinforce their new sound and words. </td></tr>
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<strong>2. Reinforce the New Sound using another Word Work Activity</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This is another easy to prep Word Work activity, called Squiggle Spelling (again, these are all in one very inexpensive, printable package at TPT) which I keep tucked in my "May Do" box for the week. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawX7wxrYwBGPJJWtetvRV4tzEAO1FliO392utGZclKLv4fyCsS7uwWT3rj5Ffqq1AdfmOSEJTEOIEpvEKHuQ42SMzw401TwZ48TTebt7n6KRgf2rJG56Enh25vY_PtqqWvNSWObkHBss/s1600/Squiggle+spell_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawX7wxrYwBGPJJWtetvRV4tzEAO1FliO392utGZclKLv4fyCsS7uwWT3rj5Ffqq1AdfmOSEJTEOIEpvEKHuQ42SMzw401TwZ48TTebt7n6KRgf2rJG56Enh25vY_PtqqWvNSWObkHBss/s640/Squiggle+spell_SMALL.jpg" width="546" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little hard to see, but we are getting more milage from the Reading A-Z word cards for the week. Hailey uses them to fill in a new word for each shape. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">3. Read the Book Independently</span></strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ytrdmlXSlIvXTE3iiLXJ6hKP4l-P-krct3TJAPEywcbD05XprpTKdaCSNZdfNAqPbRebEIQMgu5yyBObgVEgk9aQe4UiFoaA2ld3eFjvDYz2ZZdC2UgRX-H5lZrMTFVDbzpfvaZeK1o/s1600/Book_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ytrdmlXSlIvXTE3iiLXJ6hKP4l-P-krct3TJAPEywcbD05XprpTKdaCSNZdfNAqPbRebEIQMgu5yyBObgVEgk9aQe4UiFoaA2ld3eFjvDYz2ZZdC2UgRX-H5lZrMTFVDbzpfvaZeK1o/s640/Book_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By day 2 or 3 the student usually feels confident to read the book independently. It may be slow but it will continue to speed up each day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">And that is the end of day 3. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>WORKING WITH THE NEW SOUND- DAY 4</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>1. Reinforce the New Sound using Manipulatives</strong></span></span></span><br />
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<strong>2. Reinforce the New Sound using another Word Work Activity</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sHfwPmP2hLI7n1KAdhWbnBkUOYx1kbMcEn6EDdUXxAdH0Ue2gMbdSoWl7N92jrIz59whwveuvQO9WzS17YJSV8Q9B_5t9HKsduXP5ed9zwOrGjb6UAOzDxqgz9OlT8HcXhrG3xBJuMs/s1600/Ghost+words_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sHfwPmP2hLI7n1KAdhWbnBkUOYx1kbMcEn6EDdUXxAdH0Ue2gMbdSoWl7N92jrIz59whwveuvQO9WzS17YJSV8Q9B_5t9HKsduXP5ed9zwOrGjb6UAOzDxqgz9OlT8HcXhrG3xBJuMs/s640/Ghost+words_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The title ghost words is silly but the fun of this activity is the kids write their words using a white crayon, then colors over it with a marker. The same technique as paint resist applies here. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>3. Read the Book </strong><strong>Independently</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">And that is the end of day 4. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Read, Read, Read!</strong> This is the day we read the weekly book, then pull a book or two we have mastered and read those to Mama or a sibling. <a href="http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com/2016/08/bribe-your-kids-its-ok-really.html"><strong>Kids earn tickets</strong></a> if they read to a sibling- the reader gets a ticket and the patient listener get a ticket because I want to encourage that process! And see how I just bought myself some time? </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hailey's school cart has an "I Can Read" section filled with books she's mastered! I plan to show you the kids school drawers again soon so you can see what we are using for the youngers.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pep Talk</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Chances are if you have a struggling reader, they are a bit emotionally exhausted with trying. And just as likely, you are too. When we are feeling blah about school work I often talk to my kiddos about stamina. I remind them that people don't buy running shoes then go sign up for a 10K race, but if they work little by little the hard will get easier and easier because they are building stamina. I encourage them that reading is the same way, if we work, what's hard today won't be hard later! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pros and Cons of Reading A-Z</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pros</strong></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">The books increase in difficulty very slowly so the student feels successful (finally! Even leveled library books jump too fast, right?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">The pictures relate to the words which is really helpful for emerging readers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Each new sound and book comes with a lesson plan and activities so you are not trying to come up with lesson plans yourself- hooray!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">There are actually a ton of other books for all level of students available with a subscription. We are about to move into the leveled books (I'll keep you posted) and they are all right there! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Cons</strong></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">The subscription is $100. for the year. It's expensive but honestly I was desperate enough to fork over the money and I feel like it was totally worth it. Because it's really geared for a classroom (20+ students per license), I'd feel fine about families going in together or you could plan to print and binder all the lessons and use them again and again with the kiddos that will come afterward. A big binder filled with lots of page protectors and dividers (just found them for 47 cents a package at Walmart) and you've created your own reading program you can use for multiple kids. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">You need to print resources and assemble the books- this wasn't a huge issue for me but for some people it might feel like it's a negative</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Resource Links</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.readinga-z.com/books/decodable-books/">Reading A-Z Decodable Books</a> (with Lesson Plans)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Activities-2210378">Word Work Activities</a> from Teachers Pay Teachers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/">Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT Store)</a>- tons of lessons and activities at inexpensive prices made by teachers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><em>As always, Leading Little Hearts Home does not take funds from vendors or sponsors.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Printable Cheat Sheet</strong><br />
Here is a link for a one page summary of the sequence we are following. I love having a cheat sheet close by. </span><br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz-uMjQbQ8SvY0xPbldMTnk3UEU/view?usp=sharing"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Reading Sequence</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">What's working for you? Want to see more Word Work activities or hear about how to assess readers? Let me know!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-39374945242623903572017-02-15T12:57:00.002-08:002017-02-15T12:57:45.948-08:00HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS! {read aloud time}<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Who doesn't love reading aloud as a part of their Language Arts program? While you could certainly find the research to prove the benefits of reading aloud-- such as increased vocabulary, increased attention span and child to parent bonding the truth is, it's also just plain fun</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">The shared experience of reading aloud allows parents to help their child grapple with difficult issues in an engaging and meaningful way. I mean you could lecture someone on peer pressure or you could share a story that demonstrates the consequences of peer pressure and talk it through. Of course, parents are the best judges of when and what content is appropriate for their child so please filter any book recommendation (here or anywhere) through your own grid of what is right for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">One of our most recent read alouds was </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">How to Eat Fried Worms </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">by Thomas Rockwell. It's a fun story about a group of boys that come up with a bet that puts</span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> Billy in the uncomfortable position of having to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days (yuck!). </span><span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;">The worms are supplied by his opponent, whose motto is "The bigger and juicier, the better!" At first Billy's problem is whether or not he can swallow the worm placed before him, but later when it looks as if Billy will win, his opponents try to utilize other tactics to keep Billy from success. You are in suspense until the end, never knowing if Billy will make it through this gastronomical ordeal! <u></u></span><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"><u>Some of the topics the story brought up:</u> Telling your parents when you are in a tough spot, peer pressure and making bets, fairness, cheating and more. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; mso-default-font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; mso-latin-font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN9sFzT5p73CJW7jySKCgvdWIn9MzIQP6fMloRc53zVXCzZP4lLhKpoowfzqsK-u79l3m8YFZKQte1JUqsNMUuENeOC5oXewfglNep_CbbT6G0xAQ2s0n1eM5L4KzC5y5eZQJ-nKalnk/s1600/Fried+Worms_Lydia+and+Hailey_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN9sFzT5p73CJW7jySKCgvdWIn9MzIQP6fMloRc53zVXCzZP4lLhKpoowfzqsK-u79l3m8YFZKQte1JUqsNMUuENeOC5oXewfglNep_CbbT6G0xAQ2s0n1eM5L4KzC5y5eZQJ-nKalnk/s640/Fried+Worms_Lydia+and+Hailey_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">And I just couldn't resist feeding the girls "dirt and worms" while we read this one! Too fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;">What are some of your favorite read alouds?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home.</span> </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-62446693808294882962017-02-14T12:31:00.001-08:002017-02-16T16:55:53.376-08:00PERSUASIVE WRITING {using Oreos!} <br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">I love using tangibles when teaching, so when I came across this persuasive writing assignment using Oreos, I knew it was one I wanted to do with the kids and share it with you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This is not an original idea, so you will find a lot of free helps with this lesson simply by searching <em>"oreo persuasive writing"</em> but here's what I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">First, I started by explaining why we use persuasive writing to my kiddos and sharing how OREO can help us clearly structure an opinion essay. I just typed up the following for myself in Publisher to be ready to explain the idea.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">I also made a super quick poster board for a visual to have on our school table. Remember that as a homeschool mom <em>tri fold poster boards are your friends!</em> I am a huge investor in poster boards (Walmart, white foam $7). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Visuals (maps, timelines, new lessons) are incredibly helpful tools, but at the end of the day or the week I don't want to live in a classroom, so poster boards are my thing. I can set up my classroom visuals in minutes and then tuck them away when I don't need them. I even take lessons off of the poster boards and reuse them. They are my temporary walls and truly keep me sane. A small price to pay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Ok, so back to the lesson. The idea is this: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">OREO- </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><em>The two O's stand for your opinion stated at the beginning and end sandwiching the R's and E's (Reason and Example "stuff" inside).</em></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">I found <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/54958057928683253/">this</a> premade Opinion writing form that I thought was great and I just copied it into a document and printed a copy for each kid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">What I love about this fill in form is that the kids can use this to lay out their opinion and supporting arguments with very little work and then when they bring it to me it is all right there so we can discuss if their thoughts need a little adjusting before they write out their essay. I was looking for clear statements at the beginning of each paragraph (their R- Reason) and then that their supporting sentences (their E- Examples) really tied to the idea they had stated (provided the "stuff"). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Below is a super sloppy working outline to show how we used the fill in form. We wrote down ideas, crossed some out, moved others to places where they better supported their subject sentence and so on before they wrote their essays. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">It really tightened up their writing and made them far more articulate than if I had just assigned them the task of writing an essay without this step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Let's face it, writing is practically impossible if you don't know what to write about and I didn't want to see the kids staring out into space for 20 minutes, so I decided to have the kids pick a famous American that we already read about for their subject and explain why they felt they had played an important role in history. They could go back and look at their books to grab some of their reasons. Easy peasy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Just as a side note, I love these <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Earhart-Kate-Boehm-Jerome/dp/0448428563/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1487103959&sr=8-8&keywords=books+who+was">"Who Was"</a> books. They are a great length and provide just enough information about a person of interest to be engaging for all ages. This year we have read a stack of these and have more in the wings that we are going to tackle. They are pretty fast so they make a great once a week read aloud during the morning. We usually tackle a Famous American each Monday. Older kids who have had their appetites whetted can grab more books on this person during our weekly library trip. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-kpQK41CLjSwmklNnOD_EhaKxXsoeRHVyD03v1wDkU94aYrvOLN30TNEroon-hSPR_3Ne73LKyVsplXPuNJzL8kYr6UU8-f0JAgHUDgxjrnn1zsxYH1Fud-dibyJO0dmG63EWBRFmX4/s1600/Persuasive+writing_Sarah+and+Kayla_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-kpQK41CLjSwmklNnOD_EhaKxXsoeRHVyD03v1wDkU94aYrvOLN30TNEroon-hSPR_3Ne73LKyVsplXPuNJzL8kYr6UU8-f0JAgHUDgxjrnn1zsxYH1Fud-dibyJO0dmG63EWBRFmX4/s640/Persuasive+writing_Sarah+and+Kayla_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved that this lesson can be easily adjusted for any age. While High schoolers will write longer and meatier essays, the format is the same for everyone. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Once the outlines were done, the kids wrote out their essays. You can always make this a multiple day lesson and have students type out their essays (a great skill for anyone above 3rd grade) but I was happy with the handwritten content for now. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFttKxnNhoS0ns1mF0kEZ3a0AIVYU8BY41b2-sI6LlLB18FJFQlKpERIPSOJ37-0wkf2ffKCH415LE70JBujoDzmI31j-mIqYgxea6xaKht1uM4KEGzHiNuKGURpSYdEKhNshWutD4yvU/s1600/Opinion+sample_Lydia+with+corrections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFttKxnNhoS0ns1mF0kEZ3a0AIVYU8BY41b2-sI6LlLB18FJFQlKpERIPSOJ37-0wkf2ffKCH415LE70JBujoDzmI31j-mIqYgxea6xaKht1uM4KEGzHiNuKGURpSYdEKhNshWutD4yvU/s640/Opinion+sample_Lydia+with+corrections.jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elementary (5th Grade) sample with corrections. The paper is still not perfect but has met my objectives for our lesson. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Overall the kids had fun eating Oreos and working with these tools. And I was happy with the outcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Hope you enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-61236699344320533712017-01-17T17:56:00.000-08:002017-02-16T16:56:17.653-08:00CHOOSING JOY {and kicking worry to the curb}<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Joy is the
serious business of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span> </span></span> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><strong>~ C. S. Lewis</strong></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Joy may be the serious business of heaven, but it's also the serious business of kids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Children have this amazing tunnel vision, like blinders on a horse, that block so much of what could be heavy from their sight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">This December Tom's business brought us down south to Los Angeles and Santa Monica the week before Christmas (crazy timing!). And I have to say that what made our time so enjoyable was watching our children experience joy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">While they were excitedly putting their hands in the handprints of Bing Crosby in front of Grumman's Chinese Theater, I was of course panicking on the inside about germs and kidnappers. And while they were being tussled and splashed by waves at the beach, I was counting heads, fretting about drowning and sharks (don't worry, it was a dolphin!). Ya, I'm a real blast at parties too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As moms some worry is just going to be carried on our shoulders so our kids can be kids- and that's a good thing, but </span><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kRdnf0P0M3AC&pg=PT24&dq=Robert+Leahy,+Ph.D.,+The+Worry+Cure+In+fact,+85+percent&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAGoVChMIttWJ4vS6xwIVSfI-Ch1b3Atp#v=onepage&q=Robert%20Leahy%2C%20Ph.D.%2C%20The%20Worry%20Cure%20In%20fact%2C%2085%20percent&f=false"><span style="font-size: x-large;">studies</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> have shown that most of our worries are simply baseless. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The truth is, where people wrote down their worries over a two week period, not only did the things people worry about not happen, but 85% of the time what actually happened was positive instead!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">In other words, we worry most about things that won't ever be a problem. And that can be a problem. Worry is a joy stealer. It's time to pay attention to when we worry and if it's not productive stuff, kick it to the curb! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We worry about the news, the elections, what will happen now that the elections are over, what people think of us and so on only to arrive later to find that none of the terrible things we fretted about happened at all but we had wasted moments that could have been joyful. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">God says worry won't change a thing- at least it won't change things for the good (Psalm 37:1-11).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But joy. Joy is an amazing force. Joy comes from focusing on what God has done and is doing. It's being grateful for the specific things God has sovereignly placed in our journey (writing them down is a great idea!). Joy comes from keeping our eyes on Christ and trusting Him for the future. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. -John 15:11 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That doesn't mean we will always feel joyful- it can be a real job to analyze and refocus our thoughts! But making joy the business of our homes will help us to experience little slivers of heaven here on earth. Cultivating joy is like taping the fountain of youth. I can only imagine how it makes our Heavenly Father feel to see us resting in His care and doing cartwheels in our hearts over the blessings He has given us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In our home we have tried different things to encourage our hearts toward joy. One thing we did last winter was create a big "Gratitude Attitude" poster board where we each wrote down one thing a day we were grateful for. People remember what they do (write, say etc.) so this was a good way to choose joy and kick worry to the curb for us. I think I'm ready to do this again! What are some ways you choose joy in your home? </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOb2LyPN7JadR0AY3fbXK6Pb7yQHEpQRqXJRaurQ3iaghdOG6BeDRYSiwIY9cCohyZWLPBhDXSGst0iLM-trLLbdMZqRxwU1ISNMce972_5-WopuN3JJPIe0-ASAgpxrhESz64bMZbc8/s1600/Gratitude+attitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOb2LyPN7JadR0AY3fbXK6Pb7yQHEpQRqXJRaurQ3iaghdOG6BeDRYSiwIY9cCohyZWLPBhDXSGst0iLM-trLLbdMZqRxwU1ISNMce972_5-WopuN3JJPIe0-ASAgpxrhESz64bMZbc8/s640/Gratitude+attitude.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the simple stuff that we sometimes forget: "...warm air in our home, Lydia's help finding puppy, humor, a mom and dad that love us, sunshine, our church, sleep..."</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. -Psalm 77:12 </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">_________________________</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUk8XWWPYFSbOBAYoA2Ub7RQIg_9dr8OClC86I5Jpdc0fjvzKjAK61aXAhxKlE2JCtZb0BUsXuX0ytaUig9rtZjcm5rsSTZP7yWRepLuWYQaeaEVPO63l63Ot8VhFi4eHGcR_gxnNRXs/s1600/Tom+and+I_BIO+PHOTO_B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUk8XWWPYFSbOBAYoA2Ub7RQIg_9dr8OClC86I5Jpdc0fjvzKjAK61aXAhxKlE2JCtZb0BUsXuX0ytaUig9rtZjcm5rsSTZP7yWRepLuWYQaeaEVPO63l63Ot8VhFi4eHGcR_gxnNRXs/s200/Tom+and+I_BIO+PHOTO_B%2526W.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home. </span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-89088349215884882802017-01-03T09:21:00.001-08:002017-02-16T16:56:36.686-08:00HOW TO ENDURE THE HARD STUFF<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">While searching for our snow clothes last week, I bumped
into our old house plans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve lived in
the home my husband built for 10 years now, but until we got here these plans
were the only indication that this flat land surrounded by eucalyptus trees was
going to sprout a house someday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">I remember those plans being rolled and unrolled over and
over as my husband would talk to my uncles about the home he was going to build
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having built homes before my
uncles had a much better vision of the future house than I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They talked through the details and I poured
the coffee but the plans always just looked like blue lines and an almost
impossible amount of work to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">And it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> a crazy
amount of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even while we were framing
or installing insulation into what would someday be walls, the house didn’t
take shape for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still seemed like just
a small box and I had no real sense of the size or wall height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">But we had a kind of faith we worked by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believed two things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, we believed we were called to this
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had prayed and felt God lead
us to this land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That really helped us
to keep going when the road got hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And secondly, we believed that that if we stuck to the plan, regardless
of how painful, in the end we would move into our new home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I guess was really a faith in the
architect since we had never built a house before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">For me, 2016 was a tough year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were stresses and discouragements that
I really didn’t want to go through and as the new year approached I had a
secret hope that trials know to follow calendar years and will now vamoose!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But through the difficulty, God keeps
reminding me of this verse:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For I
know the plans I have for you,” declares the </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah 29:11</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Can’t you almost imagine God rolling and unrolling His
blueprint for your future when He says this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the Master Architect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
even though we’ve never done this life thing before, He has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He
knows the plans He has for us</i> and they are good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His plans are to prosper you and to give you
a future and a hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">So how do we walk by faith in the hard times?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, if we’ve prayed and allowed God to
lead us to where we are, we have to hang on to that truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will get us through the rough spots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many times when we hit a hard patch in our
marriages, finances, relationships and so on we think that if
things are hard, we must be on the wrong road!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that just isn’t biblical (check out how Paul felt in 2 Cor.
7:5-6!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t think you have
prayed and been led to where you are, pray now and ask for wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God loves that and He will lead you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">And secondly, we hang onto faith in the Architect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we live in His Word and trust Him through
the difficulties that come to all of us, we endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while “just endure it” isn’t going to be
the top slogan for Nike or companies that value self-achievement anytime soon,
enduring has its place in the lives of God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the grit of real that holds still and doesn’t
lose ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus despised the shame of the cross but He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">endured</i> it (Hebrews 12:2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Blessed is the one
who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will
receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James 1:12<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">God has a plan for whatever is happening today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of how it feels, the Master
Architect is right there doing a good work in you!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">_________________________</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUk8XWWPYFSbOBAYoA2Ub7RQIg_9dr8OClC86I5Jpdc0fjvzKjAK61aXAhxKlE2JCtZb0BUsXuX0ytaUig9rtZjcm5rsSTZP7yWRepLuWYQaeaEVPO63l63Ot8VhFi4eHGcR_gxnNRXs/s1600/Tom+and+I_BIO+PHOTO_B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUk8XWWPYFSbOBAYoA2Ub7RQIg_9dr8OClC86I5Jpdc0fjvzKjAK61aXAhxKlE2JCtZb0BUsXuX0ytaUig9rtZjcm5rsSTZP7yWRepLuWYQaeaEVPO63l63Ot8VhFi4eHGcR_gxnNRXs/s200/Tom+and+I_BIO+PHOTO_B%2526W.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home. </span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-13805292655727637432016-08-31T13:02:00.000-07:002016-09-01T00:01:23.536-07:00SMASH IT {genesis} <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even in judgement God gives his people mercy and hope.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As teachers we are always thinking about the best way to reach our kids. As Christian moms we are especially concerned with how to impact our kids with the Word of God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At the start of the new school year I thought I would try to use the various learning styles together and have my kids SMASH their way through the book of Genesis. </span><br />
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It's been years since I've taught Genesis, but it is such an important book that I knew I wanted to go through it again- in a way that would stick. </div>
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So this is what we are doing. First, I read a chapter of Genesis each day and then the girls "smashbook" it. If you are unfamiliar, smashbooking is very similar to scrapbooking but it's kind of the casual cousin. Rather than taking a lot of planning to work through a theme and obsess over the perfect layout, smashbooking encourages the smasher to do something different on every page. You can add random do dads and celebrate messy as you document what moves you. Kids love that. </div>
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My mom (a retired teacher) always said that teaching was about staying one chapter ahead of the kids and really anyone can do that, right? What a freeing thought. </div>
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I just give myself a little bit of time each day to prep for the next day by reading the chapter, creating a sample page in my book and printing out some clip art for the girls to use. I have a bucket of supplies including scissors, scrapbook squares (adhesive squares that allow you to place a picture, then lift and move it without damaging the page), markers, scrapbook pens, colored pencils, stickers and do on. I try to encourage the girls to get the content down that we discuss but be as creative and colorful in its presentation as they like. And their pages always turn out better than mine. </div>
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By slowing down the process, we are all getting a ton out of each lesson and it really seems to stick with us through the day. </div>
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I am keeping the clip art files to post here for you as we accomplish various sections. I hope you will join us in smashing Genesis this year or just go for it with another book! It's really so fun! </div>
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Praying for your school year! </div>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-5628698009851356532016-08-04T20:36:00.000-07:002016-08-04T20:40:09.958-07:00BACK TO SCHOOL {re-post}<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Hello friends! This post is one is from the archives. It was originally posted in 2012 (has it been four years already?), but I love a good homeschool post, so I thought I'd mix it up with a few oldies and a few new posts to get those homeschool juices flowing! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Love sharing the journey with you!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">August 28, 2012</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>There's no doubt about it. If you're a mom and you homeschool, you are one of the busiest people around!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I've been asked to share what has changed over the years in our homeschooling as well as how we juggle school with our wide age range while keeping our sanity. Well, I've heard that sanity is a relative term (ha!), but here's what we are up to at this stage of the game! The fact that we no longer have tiny toddlers certainly makes a difference! Which brings me to what is most important:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is no such thing as "one size fits all" when it comes to homeschooling. Or families. Or what it looks like to follow Jesus. So whenever you read anything here take what works, leave what doesn't and enjoy the peace of Christ. He is our biggest help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>1. WE TRY TO COMBINE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Over the years I have had a mind shift in this area. <em>At one time I would have wanted separate books for every subject at every grade level- History, Social Studies etc. and then I'd just pull my hair out to trying to figure out how to squeeze it all in.<strong> </strong></em>Now I have a different approach. I try to include as many people in as many subjects as I can. While we have separate Math and Language Arts we find that we can exercise together, study the Bible and worldview together, memorize Scripture together, study History, Geography and Science together and so on. It not only builds family unity but keeps school time truly simple and enjoyable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>2. SOMETIMES IT MAKES SENSE TO JUST BUY THE BOOK. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the past I've spent a lot of time creating homemade unit studies, figuring out lesson plans and doing research online. That can be fun if you don't need sleep... This year I am using pre-made materials and just tweaking them rather than creating them from scratch. I finally bought the My Father's World package and I love it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>3. TAKE INFORMATION IN SMALL DOSES. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not sure why I sometimes try to give my kids a drink of water from a fire hose. It's not really the best way to teach. Charlotte Mason recommended taking school subjects in small doses and I think she is dead on. Keeping lessons short and sweet works much better for us. Reading 1-2 pages of Anatomy and having the kids label a part or two works. You can come back to it the next day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>4. CREATE A PORTABLE CLASSROOM. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's another one of those keeping our sanity topics for me. I love homeschooling but I just don't want to live in a classroom. Well, I can't believe how long it took me to figure this out, but why not just make movable walls using tri-fold presentation boards? I use a different one for just about everything- calendar, phonograms, history (with a world map on the back) and so on. It's a portable classroom. Easy. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we introduce new phonograms, they are added to this board for a visual.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now playing at the /er/ theater, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com/2012/06/springtime-just-photos.html">Zuma and the Secret of Peru</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This board serves as our timeline. I draw a simple illustration for each </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mystery of History lesson that the girls color. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, that's what is working for us! Hope it blesses you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By His Grace.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-36737131324566840332016-08-04T14:23:00.000-07:002017-02-22T18:39:00.605-08:00BRIBE YOUR KIDS {it's ok, really!} <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Managers develop strategies all the time to </span>encourage<span style="font-family: inherit;"> employees to do their best. Books are written on long term incentive plans; committees are formed to </span>run them and budgets are made to fund them. Why? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Because companies with incentive plans tend to demonstrate higher productivity, profits and customer loyalty. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And it doesn't always need to be a "big thing" to make someone feel valued. I </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">once heard of a manager who had created a extraordinary atmosphere. One day while this manager was talking with an employee, the employee shared a great idea with him. This manager was so excited that he looked around and then grabbed the closest thing he could find to give him- a banana from his desk. It was a funny gesture and word of it probably circulated the water cooler, but the result was that the employee felt knew he was appreciated and he probably didn't hesitate to contribute the next time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As moms, we are managers too and we can use positive rewards to help our kiddos to develop good patterns in much the same way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do I do? I simply stock inexpensive tickets from the Dollar Tree (pictured above and found in the birthday/ prize area). Then each day if people have been working hard and doing what I need for school, they earn a ticket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If they go above and beyond, I give them two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then when they earn three tickets, they pick a prize from the basket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's not a huge thing, it's a banana, but lets them know I see what they are doing and I appreciate it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">“</span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;">But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, <u>and your reward will be great, </u>and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind...</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26px;">” Luke 6:35 and<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #23221f; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, <u>he will not lose his reward.</u>" </span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; line-height: 26px;">Mark 9:41</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; line-height: 26px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, I guess God uses incentives too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;">Rebecca Jones is a believer on Christ, passionate about God's Word and applying it to life. She and her High School sweetheart have been married for 25 years and have 5 daughters (yes 5!). Rebecca has a degree in Marketing, has been home educating for 15 years and writing since 2008. Her oldest daughter is presently attending a Christian college while the other 4 daughters continue to school at home.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Just a P.S. I don't bribe kids for things they have little control over, like natural talents and abilities, but I do encourage good character and positive attitudes. I've always loved SM Davis' teaching on this topic: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Develop-Character-Your-Children/dp/1929241909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470343774&sr=8-1&keywords=How+to+develop+character+in+your+children">How to Develop Character in your Children</a>. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-13292651245541257262016-07-31T15:08:00.001-07:002016-07-31T15:32:09.077-07:00WITH COURAGE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"With courage you can stay with something </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">long enough to succeed at it." </span></i></div>
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-Earl Nightingale</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Most things worth doing take courage and perseverance. Raising godly children is certainly something that takes that kind of fortitude and resolve. Homeschooling is another one of those tasks that takes great 'stick with it' strength. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I have been working on my Proposed Course of Study for the new year, Tom and I were laughing at how I kind of go through the five stages of grief each year. It sounds completely terrible to say because I love being home with our children and I love the ability to homeschool- I don't take any of that for granted! But if I am completely honest, I must admit that some years it takes me a few steps to get to the acceptance stage. Why is that? Because homeschooling can be hard! Combat hard. </span><span style="font-size: large;">And hard things are easily discouraging. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It takes time to see the fruit of our work and it takes trust to believe God that we will reap a harvest if we just hang in there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Let us not become weary in doing good, </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>for at the proper time we will reap a harvest </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>if we do not give up.</i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Galatians 6:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a few verses that I tend to remind myself of at the beginning of each new year. You know, once I am past the denial that summer is coming to an end and I've stopped asking God to send a Christian Mary Poppins with excellent grammar to my house to do the work for me (could be called the bargaining stage). Once I remember again that this is a special calling for my life, it is then </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">that I remind my soul to focus on truth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe homeschooling isn't your specific calling from the Lord. Maybe you are focusing on the task of raising godly kids in an ungodly culture; just trying to make your marriage work or are simply trying to function in godly way in difficult circumstances. I hope these verses will encourage your heart as well because truth is truth. And in order to be courageous, our feet must be planted on it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>God says that we are <i>not</i> alone; He will be our help!:</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.</i> </span> - Psalm 121:1-2</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'</i> </span> -Isaiah 41:13<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.</i> </span>-Proverbs 3:5-6 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. </i></span>-Philippians 4:13</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Whatever the task, it is GOD who gives the knowledge and <span style="font-family: inherit;">understanding that we (and our students) need:</span></b></span></span><br />
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<i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">To these four men GOD gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.</span></i><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i>-Daniel 1:17 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we see things clearly, we realize that our success depends less on us and more on Him. Our courageous task then becomes simply to trust the Trustworthy One.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">May we meditate on His truth!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Officially homeschooling and proving that God's strength is made perfect in weakness since 2002. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-25040501446144723892016-03-29T15:42:00.000-07:002016-04-07T20:46:06.691-07:00THANK YOU, MOMMY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Today is my mommy's 70th birthday! There is no way that I can express adequate thanks for all that she has done for me or the positive impact she has been on my family, but on her birthday I wanted to express a few of the thank you's that are on my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">THANK YOU, MOMMY. <i>Thank you for always taking us to church. Even when you had to take us alone.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for teaching us how to make holidays feel special. For remembering to include M&M candy canes in our stockings and for showing us that a little garnish can make things prettier.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for teaching us that love is the thing. That we will always have all that we need when we have each other. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for always cheering on our children. Whether it was their first jet ski ride or their first year in college. You will never know how much your encouragement means to us.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for teaching us that a little poise and a fun spirit can take us far in life. And not to run with scissors. Thanks to you we never poked our eye out. Not even once!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for being willing to love us while we were a work in progress. And really, we still are. Knowing that you care for us and pray for us every day is such a gift.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for gingham tablecloths, for doll cakes and for back yard bar-b-ques. We didn't have a lot of money but we always had a lot of love.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for remembering what it was like to be little. For always sending our children cards for every birthday and holiday and for taking the time to get down on the floor to play a game with them.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for always being a positive example to us in exercise. When I was a girl I remember exercising with you to a record and going on walks. Now my girls exercise with me to a DVD and go on walks as well. We think of you often when we do.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you for so many life lessons that could only have been taught by you. For being the prettiest room mother at school. For driving me to Girl Scouts and for encouraging me to try out for the school plays. For letting me be alone in my room with the music way too loud on hard days. Thank you for believing in me; for always being my listening ear and for your tireless example of hard work and perseverance in Christ. You really have been the best mom ever.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><i>For all the millions and millions of thank you notes that should have been written, but will always be written in my heart. Thank you! I love you so very much, Mommy. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I think you will agree, she is a pretty special lady. Happy Birthday, Mommy! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Love,</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-45842415537847215102016-03-21T10:55:00.004-07:002016-03-24T00:31:12.341-07:00EASTER EGG HUNTS, CHRISTMAS TREES {and other straining out of gnats}<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif";"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL_0-zMAhLMmBqBjERhkyeP_moEWmu7omPwpag1K1q5VE8iGuVJLn6IBk3A589cypLwOnoKQz157QlaUc7RRRNAlFCyFQ3aedpPK1jgZwPbPyyPqMPY85kfAm3r_80uY7yySQGp956Lo/s1600/Sarah+and+Mom+with+eggs_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXL_0-zMAhLMmBqBjERhkyeP_moEWmu7omPwpag1K1q5VE8iGuVJLn6IBk3A589cypLwOnoKQz157QlaUc7RRRNAlFCyFQ3aedpPK1jgZwPbPyyPqMPY85kfAm3r_80uY7yySQGp956Lo/s640/Sarah+and+Mom+with+eggs_SMALL.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Little Sarah with her Grammie enjoying Easter traditions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Egg
Hunts for Easter; Christmas Trees in December and all of the holidays in
between. Are these examples of Christian
liberty or a shocking worldliness that must be addressed? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It
seems that every time there is a holiday, conservative Christians want to bring
up these issues and point to the fact that if you will simply take five hours
to research the subject on the internet, then you too will be convinced that
everything you are doing is pagan and must be avoided. But if you spent the same five hours studying the Bible you would never come away with such convictions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It certainly
seems fastidious and religious, but without a focus on what God calls us to
emphasize, we are easily distracted and miss the point. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The
New Testament never tells Christians they need to celebrate </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">any</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> day. So any day we choose to celebrate (birthdays,
anniversaries, the Fourth of July, St. Patrick's Day, New Year’s Eve, Easter, Christmas and so on)
are under no more religious requirements than any other day on the calendar. We celebrate all things simply to the glory
of God. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Whoever
regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to
the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord
and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:6</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Under
the Old Covenant, God instituted observing of new moons, holy days, Sabbaths
and so on, but those were fulfilled in Christ and have passed away.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Colossians
2:16-17 teaches that we should “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, in
drink, or in respect of an holyday or of the new moon or Sabbath days which are
shadows of these to come but the body is Christ.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As
New Testament believers we observe the Lords supper (not on a specifically
assigned day), but beyond that we have liberty in accordance with our
conscience. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In
fact, in the book of Galatians Paul challenges the gentiles of his day not to
put themselves again under bondage with the Judaizers (Jewish legalists) to
keep certain days or requirements related to certain days. He called those beggarly elements to be
avoided. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We
also have the clear example of Christ when dealing with the folks that strained
out the minor things—which always leads to the avoidance of the major
things. Christ condemned these diligent
hoop jumpers saying: </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You blind guides! You strain
out a gnat but swallow a camel.</span></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Matthew 23:24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyAJmMGEPC9xeHIrw4vnB8ES4FAGygm9Dyhr5h_hwByk8dvGqHR-K7xWHKNrhXhRfXFCjRIB5PAc7MCRPRKY7srKyCQ6q34QrFL5Giuq4siJd8u5RYoL8Lk_CFVZ60UyZGoo69eQDTNk/s1600/camel-and-a-gnat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyAJmMGEPC9xeHIrw4vnB8ES4FAGygm9Dyhr5h_hwByk8dvGqHR-K7xWHKNrhXhRfXFCjRIB5PAc7MCRPRKY7srKyCQ6q34QrFL5Giuq4siJd8u5RYoL8Lk_CFVZ60UyZGoo69eQDTNk/s640/camel-and-a-gnat.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Pharisees of Christ’s day were so </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "century gothic" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">very concerned</span></span><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">about
keeping the laws that could be seen by men that they would strain their water
or wine with their teeth rather that gulping or sipping it the way we
would. That way if a gnat (the smallest
of the unclean animals, Leviticus 11:42) got into their drink during the wine
making process or while it sat at the table, it would be caught on their tooth
and they could remove it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But Christ said they were so busy law keeping
(counting out herbs for their tithes and straining gnats) that they were
swallowing the largest unclean animal of all (Leviticus 11:4); the camel. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And what was this camel they were gulping down
according to Christ? It was the
weightier law: "You have omitted
the weightier elements of the divine law," implied divine, "justice,
mercy, and faith."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Isn’t that always the case? The more we work to strain out minor things, the
less grace we tend to give others. The
more minuscule we get in focusing on minor themes of Scripture the less time we
have for the things that God has put in the foreground. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So why do people worry so much about the
minor? Because it tends to make us feel
pious and righteous. It seems like the “extra” work
or dedication of abstaining (at least in the mind of the law keeper) demonstrates how really devoted we are. The fact that it might bring a greater
respect and approval from men doesn't hurt either. The
Pharisees of Jesus’ day and ours are usually really, really good at sacrifice in these visible areas. Really good at counting out dill seeds and
really bad at what God wanted even more: justice,
mercy, and faith.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">John MacArthur in his sermon series, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Condemnation of False Spiritual Leaders</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
says:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Listen
the Pharisees and the scribes didn't do justly, they were inequitable. They
were unfair, unjust. And they were merciless, brutal, unforgiving, unkind,
ungenerous. They abuse the people. Piling, as it says in verse 4 of this
chapter, heavy burdens on them, grievous to be born and not even moving one
finger to help lighten the load. And they had no faith. They walked by sight.
They walked by works. They walked by law. They walked by their own efforts. And
so He says you're real great at counting out kitchen seeds used to flavor food
and you've missed the whole point of what is really important, justice, mercy,
and faith.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Those are not the words that we want describing us! If you are spending time focusing in on whether a Christian can wear green on St. Patrick's Day or can hunt eggs on Easter- just stop! Because chances are while you are straining that gnat you are missing what God calls greater or weightier. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These are areas of liberty before Christ and do not impact the world or the gospel- except in distracting us from doing the work we were called to do. Our unbelieving neighbors have no such questions or concerns rolling around in their minds and we do them a disservice if we teach them to strain out gnats even
if we have been taught to do so. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Just give grace and liberty to the Easter egg
hunter or the Christmas tree decorator and focus on those things that God desires more. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"He
hath shown thee oh man what is good </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and
what doth the Lord require of thee, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">but
to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-Micah
6:8</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and
in all things charity.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-74435133892361213392016-01-14T07:58:00.001-08:002016-01-14T07:58:24.631-08:00OUR MOST IMPORTANT WORK<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxgcCYOuUa78XpEyClb92bmSMFGqayNwf2tpWp6OA4g5_jIzNmsspb3NzxrLwJNHFEbLz5aM_YqN4n9VY4n9wcQoywUfHwi2Ri0zTs_zo0faGlAwmOh_5yvQjBnbbvdsd39mb4iEJ_vw/s1600/Hailey+doing+magnets_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxgcCYOuUa78XpEyClb92bmSMFGqayNwf2tpWp6OA4g5_jIzNmsspb3NzxrLwJNHFEbLz5aM_YqN4n9VY4n9wcQoywUfHwi2Ri0zTs_zo0faGlAwmOh_5yvQjBnbbvdsd39mb4iEJ_vw/s640/Hailey+doing+magnets_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h1 data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Children are not distraction from more important work. </span></span></h1>
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<h1 data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They are the most important work.</span></span></h1>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">-John Trainer, M.D.</span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">Someone asked what cards we are using here for Hailey's magnet work. I believe they are these are these free cards: </span></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://designedbyteachers.com.au/marketplace/sight-word-flash-cards-dolch-pre-primer-free/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnsHKhJoGFIM2_6NflTLQtsDsXbU6y7BgemJ9K2hgA4YOfJgFqHPae1LXB6pZE7jNi7nZvWWrvLnWE7CFjIJW5V33788bYAOcxez2mc86tjoPOeK4nsMLjY1vo8XQppdojjVcG3xm4tw/s200/Sight-Word-Flash-Cards_PP_2-300x212.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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</span><br /><span style="font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Baking pan from the Dollar Tree. </span>Magnets<span style="font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> from </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013CELOK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage" style="font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Amazon</a><span style="font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: #f6f7f8;" /><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">Also, if you haven't used </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=73502446873&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/TeachersPayTeachers/?hc_location=ufi" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 16.08px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers</a><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;"> yet, check out these! </span></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Playdough-Mats-Sight-Words-315727" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32EvMozFh2bM4k6_MluNSuvuj890TycjAZsuDYz5gxAzxDZYX5M-RTHP9luPlNkSSqLdFxpWFRO6KonfNDRwRmNZLkNE-oytxJozoUCe6b2F42k0N_5HAYbcnlSy7ZNMr5y2JlCYMcX4/s200/original-315727-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">You will love their free and inexpensive resources! </span></span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-51448471986430409182015-11-24T11:32:00.000-08:002015-11-24T11:33:50.851-08:00"INNIES" FOR INSTAGRAM!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU-PQDWssFyFioQPOj1YbIi6F_mBQ7bwQNt-FEqFyB1UbJbvxyQc8ZTRGkRgb91y4ah9634HT6IhvXRBB4XnJDrYIk3UFyU5xJ74hiZ_MYnHHzgOwTrykApsy8C7WND_fGRw3v1Ap6ZI/s1600/1389861_937961402927417_77811940_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU-PQDWssFyFioQPOj1YbIi6F_mBQ7bwQNt-FEqFyB1UbJbvxyQc8ZTRGkRgb91y4ah9634HT6IhvXRBB4XnJDrYIk3UFyU5xJ74hiZ_MYnHHzgOwTrykApsy8C7WND_fGRw3v1Ap6ZI/s640/1389861_937961402927417_77811940_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are you an "Innie?" Over the years, I have realized that I am much more of an introvert than an extrovert. As I have learned more about introverts, I realize that I too recharge in quiet. I am not anti social by any means, I love my friendships! But I tend to enjoy deeper talk, the one on one type. And I find that I have less social stamina than the extroverts I know. I need mental margin in order to be the creative person that God designed me to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Over the years people have contacted me asking for a list of blogs I would recommend for them to read. That is always a really hard question for me to answer because for myself it's quiet that I crave for inspiration. You would be far more likely to find me cuddled on a couch reading aloud to my kids than reading a blog. And yet I blog... is that a contradiction? Ha! Probably. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Even Facebook is too noisy for me most of the time. While I love to check in to see how I can be praying for or encouraging people, I find that I am more often met with too many posts that demonstrate how easily offended we Christians can be by an unbelieving world. I just don't have the emotional energy to be offended by red cups or the latest upset. As I remember the Lord's command in Proverbs 22:24: <i>Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man. Do not associate with one easily angered. </i> I find it is easier to simply log off and find quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I will literally go weeks without even opening Facebook. Did you know that if you don't open Facebook for weeks, they will begin to send you emails to try to entice you back with all you might be missing? It's true! I get those emails all the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With a couple of my dearest friends on Instagram, I finally succumbed to joining them. I really did not want more noise in my life, but one of my friends who had left Facebook for Instagram convinced me it would be a good thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's been about a year now and I realize that I really enjoy the quiet of Instagram. It's just photos. I don't follow people with loud political opinions or axes to grind. In fact, I don't follow many people at all and it's not personal because unlike Facebook that doesn't mean we are "friends" or not friends. We are just following or not. It's quiet allows me to share simple and creative moments that I would ordinarily tend to just keep to myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I enjoy looking back over the year and the thought that I can easily make a photo book from our little square photo moments at any time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As 2015 winds down, I thought I would share some photos from this year's Instagram feed. No words, just moments for those of you who enjoy photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, here's to finding quiet in a noisy world, my friends. May you be blessed. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Love,</span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".7.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></h1>
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<span data-reactid=".7.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></h1>
<h1 data-reactid=".7.1.0.0.2.1.0.0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".7.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." </i><span style="font-style: inherit;">- 1 Thessalonians 4:11</span></span></span></h1>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-44870957140457602382015-10-26T20:10:00.001-07:002015-10-26T20:42:54.800-07:00STEP INTO A STRANGER'S SANDALS<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The other day, Faith asked if I might do a quick proof read on something she had written. It was unlike her other papers which are usually in MLA or APA format, so tidy and professional. I read it through more than once and my response was, "I have no corrections, Faithie. Only tears." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I had to share it with you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Love, </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">By</span> <strong>FAITH JONES</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I see only horror.
The feeling of black night envelops me. Every image I see and voice
I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hear all carries a
threat. I cannot control myself. I cannot do anything to stop the
destruction </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that follows in my wake.
All day and night without rest I shout hoarsely, staggering blindly t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hrough the slums of
Jerusalem. I’m not from here; I’m from Magdala. I wish I was back
there </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">now. Here everyone
stares at me distastefully, as if I am the devil himself. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel as
though I will </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">be ripped apart from the
inside. The writhing in my soul is too great for me to bear. I
scream </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">loudly and shrilly,
hoping to ease the agonizing reality I find myself in, but nothing changes.
I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cannot remember anything
different. Has it always been this way? Will it always be this way?
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope is a foreign
concept; I know nothing of it. I collapse to the ground, head reeling and
body </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">shaking. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Through
the fog in my mind, I see Him. He is looking at me. My face must
have </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">contorted into something
horrific as I cursed, spitting in His direction. He does not scurry away,
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as many do. He
does not curse back, like some do. He does not even frown at me, making
me </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">feel like the scum I am.
He smiles. A smile? I had almost forgotten what that was. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I begin to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">tremble and sweat
streams down my face. My breathing becomes hard and I try to stand up,
but </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to no avail. Instead, the demons throw me down into the mud on the street. I
convulse wildly, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">crying out with voices
that are not my own. The Man rushes over to me. His shadow falls </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">across me in the fading
light, and sitting up, I strike out at His feet. He is not intimidated,
nor is </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He disgusted. His
presence overwhelms me, and I suddenly feel calm. It is an unfamiliar </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">emotion. Peace.
What is it? Fear of this Stranger and His power over my demons
begins to grip </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">me. Who is He,
that He can still them? No witch nor authority has ever been able to do
that. I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whimper, covering my
face in my hands. Dirty hands. Hands broken and bleeding from the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">years of hardship.
Years of pain. Years of hopelessness. I feel His warm hands
envelop mine, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and His kind voice
reaches into my darkness. He says a command, but it’s not directed at me. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, with a loud
cry and one last convulsion, I collapse in utter exhaustion. His strong
arm </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">catches me before I hit
the ground, and I gaze into His loving eyes in wonder. My demons are </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">gone! I feel
almost human again. I inhale shakingly, then melt into tears while He
hugs me </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">close. The
struggle, the pain, the alienation from my fellow man: gone. My muddled
thoughts </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">clear, and my
everlasting headache recedes. I look up at Him again, amazed at the kind
of love </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that it took to reach
out to such a repulsive person as I am. Why did He even bother? Who
am I t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hat He cares? Who
is He, that He would be willing to reach down into the sin and grime of my </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">life to rescue me? Whoever He is, I don’t think He’s human. No human has that kind of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amazing love. No
one can love me. Except Him.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am not the same woman
as I used to be. My demons have been cast out. I am clothed. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am loved. I am a
follower of Jesus. He was the One that healed me that day, and I have
been </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His disciple ever since.
I can’t help it; I am possessed by a different Spirit now. I hope
Jesus </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">knew what He was getting
into that day, because I’m never letting Him go. I have tried to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">express my gratitude
many times, but all my feeble efforts fall tremendously short. I simply </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cannot repay Him.
He rescued me from a life that was hell on earth, and I will live with
Him in </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His kingdom for all
eternity. He will never let me go. Salvation is truly an amazing
thing. God </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">doesn’t care for riches,
or comfort, or popularity. He cares for me, and others like me.
Sinners </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in pain. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have
seen Him heal many other demon possessed people. I don’t think most of
them </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">had as many as I did,
but when I looked at them, I felt their despair; despair that I remember </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">quite vividly. Then, as He healed them, I see the same inexpressibly joy that
overwhelmed me. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His compassion is
unsurpassed. I can only thank Him, and all I have to give Him is my
meager l</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ife. He has it. I am His forever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tonight is very cold.
I am fighting hopelessness once again. This time, though, it’s not </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">demons. It’s the
religious leaders. I thought they were supposed to be the righteous ones;
the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">teachers, people who are
our example. Now they have arrested the Son of God, and are illegally </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">trying Him for
blasphemy. I think it’s blasphemy to drag God down to their petty level,
to bind </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Him and make Him play
their stupid game. I wish I could do something, but I have absolutely </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">no influence with the
Pharisees. They still look down their lofty noses when I pass them in the
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">street. They think
they are so holy, but in reality, they are prideful and graceless. They
make up </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">impossible rules and
judge us all for breaking them. They call Jesus a criminal. Jesus! </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">incredible enough to put
aside His heavenly throne to come and save us from the consequences </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of our sin. Yet
they tied Him up, hauled Him to a courtroom, and delight in scorning Him. He is </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">patient. All night
long He is taken from one courtroom to another. They are trying to find
some </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">fault in God. Good
luck, Pharisees! God doesn’t make mistakes. The sun is finally
rising, but </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the chill hasn’t left my
heart. I pray desperately, hoping that God the Father will think of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">best course of action. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a crowd now, running and yelling down the street. I join
them, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">trying to find out what
is happening. Then I see Him. He is beaten to a pulp, a twisted
crown of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">thorns pressed into His
scalp, and He is carrying a monstrous wooden cross. A cry of anguish </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">leaves my lips as I fall
to my knees. I call His name, tears streaming down my face. I don’t
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">know how He possibly
could have heard me, but somehow He did. His bloody face turns in my </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">direction, and He smiles
at me. How can He smile? </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I watch helplessly as He is forced up the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">street towards the hill.
Golgotha, the place where the condemned are crucified and left to die.
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The horror of the moment
fills my soul. I can do nothing. Nothing but follow. I have
followed </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Him ever since that day
He healed me. I will follow Him now. My body shakes as I try to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">suppress my grief.
At the top of the hill, nails are driven into His hands and feet.
Every cry of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pain that leaves His
lips becomes my own. I turn away as the cross is hoisted high, displaying
t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">he King of the universe
stripped and dying. I lose all track of time as I stare numbly at the
scene </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">before me. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
breathing is becoming shallow now. I inhale painfully, wishing I could
take His </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">place. I wish I
could heal Him the way He healed me so long ago. I wish He wasn’t on that
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cross. I jerk in
surprise when He cries out. Then His head drops and I know He is dead.
I bite </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">my lip as a soldier
pierces His side with a spear. The mixture of blood and water that pours
from </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His lung is proof of my
suspicion. The sky is suddenly black, and lightening flashes. I
turn and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">run, not knowing where I
am going. I don’t care. My Savior is gone.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The spices sting my
swollen nostrils as I mix them together. I have no more tears, only a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">dry grief that eats up
my soul with each passing moment. I am going to anoint Him. It’s
the l</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">east I can do for the
One who rescued me. I pick up the box of ointment and walk out of the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">house. The early
sun hurts my red, puffy eyes. I forgot my cloak, but I don’t even think
about </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the chilly morning.
I haven’t considered how I will roll the stone from the tomb when I get t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My feet
trudge slowly towards the tomb, mindlessly stepping over the guards’ bodies.
I s</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">uddenly look up in
surprise; the stone is moved away! I turn and stare at the guards, passed
out </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">before the open grave.
I peek into the dark cave, then drop my spices in amazement.
Turning, I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">flee down the hill, not
stopping until I reach Jesus’ disciples. I gasp out that He is gone; the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">grave is empty! John and Peter <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">immediately begin running back towards the tomb, and I pursue t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">hem. I finally reach them when they are emerging from the tomb, eyes sad. Peter is shaking his </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">head in despair, but John looks ecstatic. John keeps going on and on to Peter about how Jesus </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">promised He would raise from the dead, but Peter wordlessly shuffles down the hill. I watch </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">them go, and grief overcomes me. Someone must have stolen His body! But who? And where </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">would they have taken it? The grief <span style="font-family: Georgia;">in my heart flows down my cheeks. I look into the grave </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">again, but this time it’s not dark. I gasp as two angels, clothed in white, ask me why I am </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">weeping. I turn around and see a Man standing behind me. He also asks me why I am crying. I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">figure He was the gardener, so I ask Him where He took Jesus’ body. The Man says my name, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and the life leaves my legs. I cry out as I recognize my Savior. He is alive!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-60681342817237990532015-10-25T23:38:00.001-07:002015-10-26T10:15:40.496-07:00ALLOWING OUR KITES TO FLY {teens and releasing the string}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLpEyx-aPKsQxRHJJyIg4CwRsKKXwoNXaZ44AJZDCoi_eXhg6XyRvmXDzSRbMETEeGHQANy83qQAG3RiMyUB07mNjvwmLcsMDP7i2RkNZPKZ2TknH1fDX9nTVPD_UQ3DlJKrlN-J4TIw/s1600/Going+out_SQUARE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLpEyx-aPKsQxRHJJyIg4CwRsKKXwoNXaZ44AJZDCoi_eXhg6XyRvmXDzSRbMETEeGHQANy83qQAG3RiMyUB07mNjvwmLcsMDP7i2RkNZPKZ2TknH1fDX9nTVPD_UQ3DlJKrlN-J4TIw/s640/Going+out_SQUARE.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Older sisters taking Sarah out for her first 14 year old fancy coffee and a play performance on her birthday!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“<span style="line-height: 115%;">Kids
are much like kites</span>-
</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">struggling to become airborne, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">yet </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">needing the stability of the string...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God designed your role as a parent to pre</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">pare 'your kite' for flight...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Keep running with your child, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">releasing more and more string into the Lord's </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">sovereign hands."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">-June Hunt, speaking about teens at </span><a href="http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/hope-for-the-heart/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hope for the Heart Ministries</span></a></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That running with and releasing the string can be easier said than done. Just ask any parent with teenagers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">After becoming used to guarding and protecting our kites and working so hard to tie on that tail that will balance them later (the Word), it can be tough to even consider bringing these kites outside. This may be especially true with girls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">They have become beautiful under our care. Wouldn't it be better to hang them our wall to admire or tuck them away in a drawer for safe keeping rather than risk the diving and dipping that is sure to come as they begin to catch flight? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>But kites were made to fly.</em></span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mDdv4QLJsuYptsaLDDw53fWF0iGNnWObF_xhuOhtHStxu7BtddM20QPk4OwZP3bSkG2G7qtiyHAa2MkTv6Ao6OI5P5lT410rX8fzMkTwej7EEQfWQEWd14Qcfu6zYxd7p2RYpO9izRE/s1600/God+is+with+you_SQUARE3_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mDdv4QLJsuYptsaLDDw53fWF0iGNnWObF_xhuOhtHStxu7BtddM20QPk4OwZP3bSkG2G7qtiyHAa2MkTv6Ao6OI5P5lT410rX8fzMkTwej7EEQfWQEWd14Qcfu6zYxd7p2RYpO9izRE/s640/God+is+with+you_SQUARE3_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We gave this book to Faith when she was little, but the Ps. 139 message is still true. We will not always be with her, but God will.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><br />THE HURDLES AND HELPS<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">When I posted recently about <a href="http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com/2015/09/parenting-in-teen-zone.html">parenting teens</a>, I said that I would share a little about our thought process in sending Faith to college. Honestly, it was <em>not</em> an easy decision for our family. Really. </span></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Because Faith was always academic, we decided long ago that we would simply do our best not to close any doors along the way, in case the Lord might have plans we did not know about yet. We always figured that God can steer a moving ship, so we went ahead and had her take the PSAT and later the SAT, but all the while we were still not convinced that the Lord wanted her to go to college. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">While in secular circles a girl going to college raises no eyebrows, we have been exposed to a different way of thinking. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">First of all, as homeschoolers we are the types to usually buck the system. Pretty much any system. If the world approves it, it must be evil- or at least unhealthy. We're pretty leery about whatever is being peddled our way and we are willing to do our research. But in doing our research in this area, we had to admit that some institutions for higher education not only made sense, they were being redeemed for God's glory. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Secondly, over the last few years every bit of information related to college we had heard was fear based. K</span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">ids who go to college- even Christian college- will fall away from the faith. Or get raped. Or both. There were statistics and examples shared with us at every turn, so why in the world would we even consider it? But we remembered that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He knows our days before there is even one of them. Yes, we must navigate wisely, but not based on fear of man. </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As we prayed, God led us to reexamine the history of Daniel. We were reminded that all the best kids, from good Israelite families, were taken into captivity with Daniel. So why was it that only Daniel and his friends were committed to following what they knew pleased the Lord during this period of training (which was roughly around the same length of time as the college experience)? </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>There were only four out of all the best of captured from all of the tribes of Israel who resolved to obey God. They refrained from eating what was unlawful for them. </em><em>Later it was Daniel who was unwilling to stop his prayers to the Lord and his friends who would not bow down to an idol.</em> </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Only four. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We had to admit that sounded worse than today's statistics. <em>Maybe this was really a heart issue and not a college issue.</em></span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Thirdly, we knew our goal for Faith would be to prepare her to be a godly helpmeet someday. We had to consider, would a higher education improve her abilities to be a helpmeet or prohibit them? Personally, every skill I learned in college (except Trigonometry- yuck!) has been a service to me and to our household. It has never deterred me from my Titus 2 objectives, but it has helped me in numerous ways. </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Once we tackled those hurdles in our thinking, it was time to identify our actual goals for our daughter over</span></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> the next few years. They included:</span></span></o:p></div>
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<li><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">That she would continue to grow socially, intellectually and spiritually</span></span></o:p></li>
<li><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">That she would be fashioned into a woman who would be an excellent helpmeet if and when God blessed that opportunity</span></span></o:p></li>
<li><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That she would be equipped as best as we were able to equip her for an unknown future </span></o:p></li>
<li><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That she would continue to contribute in a meaningful way in her sister's lives and in our home </span></o:p></li>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The entire time we processed these thoughts, we never believed that Christian college would be the only avenue to achieve these goals for our daughter or that college was the right choice for every child. But we acknowledged that if God is creative enough to make each snowflake and fingerprint uniquely, He is able to have a different plan for different families and different children. We were convinced that we must seek Him and not parent based on peer pressure. </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This was our thought process. It is NOT a model to follow, but a peek into our hearts and minds on this issue. We had to lay it all before the Lord and process through point by point, always trusting the Lord to bring a Scripture to our minds at the appropriate time. Which He did.</span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Whatever is ahead for you in the teen years, He will lead you if you ask Him. You do not need to fear. He will direct you to a safe place in which you can release some string. Not every place will be safe. Not every season in your child's life will be a safe time. It may take adjustments. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For us, the Christian college (while Faith remains living at home) has been a safe place to release some string. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>And she is soaring.</em></span> </span></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWRg-apLf8LNRJWUykWWnQMhRsk2XktuyZOonBCeR-eQV2ScIRiFZtuJwJgr-ASajORx7741Pk-_7VCqy2aJ-35hJNK3pT7hNMpXc6JziIti83E2EALlfl2xLpl_AnezrafOipc_ilM/s1600/Banner_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrWRg-apLf8LNRJWUykWWnQMhRsk2XktuyZOonBCeR-eQV2ScIRiFZtuJwJgr-ASajORx7741Pk-_7VCqy2aJ-35hJNK3pT7hNMpXc6JziIti83E2EALlfl2xLpl_AnezrafOipc_ilM/s640/Banner_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade banner by the talented Michaela.</td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">CUT 'EM A BREAK</span></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Parenting teens is amazing, but navigating and learning when and how much string to release is not without some challenge. This is a time when parents and teens need your <em>extra</em> encouragement and support. </span></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The problem is, that over the years many well meaning Christian families have created models to help others "do better" with the teen to twenty year old years than the secular culture is doing (think: courtship, being fruitful and multiplying, specific modesty requirements, the trend of discounting higher learning etc.).*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But the doctrines of men tend to do something that is very dangerous for us. They tend to remove our need to seek the Lord in these matters. And they tend to make us judgmental if others don't follow along. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Don't be like that. Cut the parents of teens (and the teens themselves) a break.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Don't encourage the following of models. Encourage the following of Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Cheer on those who are walking the teen years and</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> trust God. These families may make decisions you don't think that you would. That's ok. God may be displaying His creativity, His grace and His ability to work all things together for good for those who love Him.</span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above all, love. God has a plan for these kites. <span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>Let them fly.</em></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In His grace,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EI8XFKj0cu21lh7s4P0oG6LlXHSQ6xDtsZOzCKB1lnLrFBSNBIv8CPycnP2HqLQqzylC-5-kE2qyTkH8nBlJCKZ8v114DuDKPlAKGSrfzezgEltugIQbG6FXHhwUVuOi4ipa1BepPjM/s1600/Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EI8XFKj0cu21lh7s4P0oG6LlXHSQ6xDtsZOzCKB1lnLrFBSNBIv8CPycnP2HqLQqzylC-5-kE2qyTkH8nBlJCKZ8v114DuDKPlAKGSrfzezgEltugIQbG6FXHhwUVuOi4ipa1BepPjM/s1600/Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EI8XFKj0cu21lh7s4P0oG6LlXHSQ6xDtsZOzCKB1lnLrFBSNBIv8CPycnP2HqLQqzylC-5-kE2qyTkH8nBlJCKZ8v114DuDKPlAKGSrfzezgEltugIQbG6FXHhwUVuOi4ipa1BepPjM/s1600/Sig.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Do you remember the modesty survey by Alex and Brett Harris that everyone was a buzz about years ago? Faith and I were looking for it the other day as a topic of conversation and found that it is <a href="http://therebelution.com/modestysurvey/#.VixCeqQgnVg">no longer online</a>. It took very little digging to find people <a href="http://www.shaneyirene.com/2013/03/why-the-rebelutions-modesty-survey-was-a-bad-idea/">involved with the original project</a> who say that there were so many problems with it, that they now apologize. Over time, people began to treat it as "the Word" on modesty, or use it <a href="http://www.thesoldiersofgod.com/true-modesty/">to enforce legalism</a>. Why do we do that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Apparently as soon as we find out about a man made standard has made it immodest to wear a thong style sandal, we will look down on and treat unkindly anyone who does. Oh, sisters. The Word is the standard. Man's word is not. Let's not be on a high horse with other believers. This battle is tough enough without friendly fire. :)</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-8106121430812192252015-10-15T09:45:00.002-07:002015-10-15T09:46:16.748-07:00LET HOME BE THE PLACE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FaS8JKNZIZCFElhqIBw5WWWk90OcncOtq1sOFX8zWY_lHjE0pxJElG5WWAIhYcmUkWgbsHBeZJ5mrfDCB00wjC4EImbw0cp6e-oP9XALiWe7F8EYY3KSWIgkZGaCF13y3MHXsxmFjCs/s1600/Lyddie+and+Hailey+playing+with+puppets_full_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FaS8JKNZIZCFElhqIBw5WWWk90OcncOtq1sOFX8zWY_lHjE0pxJElG5WWAIhYcmUkWgbsHBeZJ5mrfDCB00wjC4EImbw0cp6e-oP9XALiWe7F8EYY3KSWIgkZGaCF13y3MHXsxmFjCs/s640/Lyddie+and+Hailey+playing+with+puppets_full_SMALL.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, I absolutely love this quote:</span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">"When we cultivate a mood </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">of calm repose in our homes, </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">we are scooping out a space </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">of reflection and wonder, </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">for contemplation and reverie.</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">Our children are exposed to </span></span></span><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">incessant commotion </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">in the world that exists beyond our walls. </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;"> Let home be the place where they can find the peace </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;">and quiet to make sense of it all."</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0">-K. Kenison</span></span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1"><span data-reactid=".1.1.0.0.2.1.0.0.1.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-40899906450499928412015-09-22T15:00:00.000-07:002016-08-15T11:02:48.882-07:00PARENTING IN THE TEEN ZONE<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Faith was accepted to a local Christian college. I'll have to share more about that soon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>“To everything there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under heaven.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">~ </span>Ecclesiastes 3:1</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you would have told me that life could get busier with Faithie graduating High School and starting college, I wouldn't have believed it. I was pretty sure that I was as busy as I was going to get. But the truth is, as I have ventured into a new season with three teen girls at home, I am busier!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">God, in His wisdom, has created seasons for us. Seasons in nature, seasons in ministry work and seasons within the family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When I had a houseful of little ones, I have to admit that I was a little fearful of the next season. I was enjoying this time of cuddling up for read alouds, baking cookies and facing hurts that could simply be kissed away. I wanted to ignore the next season... maybe it wouldn't happen (fingers crossed). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The teenage years seemed to loom ahead, like the Bermuda Triangle, where all sorts of families go in but not all families come out. The "Teen Zone." Creepy-- and no thanks! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But of course, this was spring thinking. I was in that first season of parenting and let's be honest, it is just hard to see life as being better than spring when we have
only experienced spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New babies and
fresh tasks are exciting things that fill us with hope and passion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing little inklings of life pushing up
through the soil can be so thrilling, but God intends us to enjoy the pleasure
of fruit that is still to come!</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And you don't pick fruit in the spring.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">CONTROL IS NOT THE GOAL</span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;">In hindsight, I wonder now if part of the fear I felt about moving into the "Teen Zone" was the idea of not having control. I know that wasn't the entire picture, but when children are little we mommies have a lot of control. We train our little ones to come when we call, to wear the clothes we want them to wear and to do what we want them to do. That is good. That is proper in the spring. Its also easy- once the training is done anyway. But having parental control is not the final goal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;">I am sure you watch people like I do. You've met parents who want to stay in that place of control forever. Their child is twenty something and they are still telling them (arguing with them over) what movies to watch, what clothes to wear and when to go to bed. And by doing so, they fail to launch themselves and their charges into the next season. The sad truth is, that rarely ends well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;">Then there are other parents who may also want to stay in the season of spring, and seem to launch or check out way too early, focusing instead on other "spring" projects that bring them the excitement parenting used to. They go completely hands off with their teens as they focus their attention elsewhere. That also usually spells trouble.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The goal is not that we will have absolute control over our charges, or that we will have no input in their discipleship, but that we keep pointing them to Christ. We continue to walk with them, desiring that our children be constrained by the Holy Spirit, not by us. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Jews who were without the Spirit required law to constrain them. And even that law was not enough. But the Believer in Christ has the Spirit, Who is called the Restrainer to guide and direct him. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Parental control is not the goal, Holy Spirit control is.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ESTABLISHING CHRIST AS THE AUTHORITY</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find that inasmuch as we made the aim in our home to establish Christ and His Word as the ultimate authority, we have been thankful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have had to make a few tweaks here and there over the years, steering away from </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">"we say so" to, "Well, what does the Word say?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We have had to be willing to lay down pet doctrines that could not be supported by Scripture. And in laying them down, God has grown us in grace as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We have chosen to make concessions over little things- to shrug off a pair of jeans with a cosmetic hole or an old t-shirt; to say ok to a movie that may not be our favorite style (thank you, Dove Reviews and <a href="https://www.vidangel.com/home/">VidAngel</a>!) and to learn to make recommendations to our older children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">This doesn't mean that the teens just have free reign so to speak, but we are transitioning into the summer season of life, where the older ones are reading a movie review and telling us that they don't want to watch something that doesn't champion biblical principles, and so on. It's becoming an internal constraint and not a fight against parental law. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We are doing our best, God helping us, to treat our young adults with respect. And they have continued to treat us in kind, considering our desires and feelings over their own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We have simply not found that we </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">need to rant over movies, clothing choices and bedtimes. But we have also found that we need not go against our consciences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">It is a sweet season.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michaela is 16.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwC34Q8UGyM8cvoy46oFVBD6Fngh55YIYv9z9BRuXQsNLi9Nwf6Ce0eKrxARXdKuHwxlDE7AxHebWc09gcCaZo_Mc17zID3HIiVJdhmwKeWoAhMFrAbuO5Of3siaPgzmmyoQ6Z4HemRg/s1600/Sarah_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwC34Q8UGyM8cvoy46oFVBD6Fngh55YIYv9z9BRuXQsNLi9Nwf6Ce0eKrxARXdKuHwxlDE7AxHebWc09gcCaZo_Mc17zID3HIiVJdhmwKeWoAhMFrAbuO5Of3siaPgzmmyoQ6Z4HemRg/s640/Sarah_SMALL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah turns 14 next month and the countdown is on over here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hailey is 7-- can you believe it?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faith is 18.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the season of spring, our children were nourished by the pure milk of the Word, and now they have matured, they are ready for meat. We are so thankful to get to be the ones to hash things out with them. That was always the goal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Even Faith comes home from college ready to talk through the issues of the day and we ask one another, "Well, what does the Word say?" pretty much every night. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I don't want to give the impression things are perfect. They are not because we are not. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the "Teen Zone" hasn't been nearly as scary as we once thought. In fact, I think we are going to live to tell about it! </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Blessings friends,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WrqplXo5O22DUGo1c2-cF5vmUMAGW_bKSVGUdGlmL4ooLXMK7oOvNab19BtVv5BcPKaJxC43F-kvs3vxLWyGbIogLV8xH4zdGVWyv3GGBdZ5Y7FdIIRf4XgOck7ugN5UiWa5Fp_MxK8/s1600/Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WrqplXo5O22DUGo1c2-cF5vmUMAGW_bKSVGUdGlmL4ooLXMK7oOvNab19BtVv5BcPKaJxC43F-kvs3vxLWyGbIogLV8xH4zdGVWyv3GGBdZ5Y7FdIIRf4XgOck7ugN5UiWa5Fp_MxK8/s1600/Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WrqplXo5O22DUGo1c2-cF5vmUMAGW_bKSVGUdGlmL4ooLXMK7oOvNab19BtVv5BcPKaJxC43F-kvs3vxLWyGbIogLV8xH4zdGVWyv3GGBdZ5Y7FdIIRf4XgOck7ugN5UiWa5Fp_MxK8/s1600/Sig.png" /></a></div>
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Have you tried <a href="https://www.vidangel.com/home/">VidAngel</a> yet? We love it. :) </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-48472978168924924912015-06-06T23:29:00.000-07:002015-06-06T23:29:26.216-07:00GOD IS MERCIFUL (pass it on!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVthKZ1UiOqYfeB6UaaOe3gPo_zH9wRHi2JZAbShP9bt8MVUfmAVXvUFUW5AGZEqklHllTChhFBtOnzMVjYkntmvUDsiP-PoEy0-ZLRZ9kALyvM4daFSFtWO-Vz0ywCeeVXa8A9tm0wk/s1600/Hailey2_SMALL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVthKZ1UiOqYfeB6UaaOe3gPo_zH9wRHi2JZAbShP9bt8MVUfmAVXvUFUW5AGZEqklHllTChhFBtOnzMVjYkntmvUDsiP-PoEy0-ZLRZ9kALyvM4daFSFtWO-Vz0ywCeeVXa8A9tm0wk/s640/Hailey2_SMALL2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Last week the girls and I read the book of Jonah. It is a pretty short book, only four chapters, but such a beautiful picture of God's love for the Gentiles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have wondered in the past why God ever chose Jonah for the job of missionary. He was in fact the first missionary to the gentile people. But he wasn't the guy with his hand up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In fact, it seems pretty clear that sheer enthusiasm for the job was not a requirement in God's book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We read what may be the key in chapter four, where Jonah said:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I know that You are a gracious</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>and merciful God,</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em>one who relents from doing harm.</em> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">- Jonah 4:2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">God may have sent Jonah, not just to show us the lessons we often pull from it-- that we should be merciful to those we do not like, or that we cannot run from God-- but because Jonah knew God's forgiving nature which actually made him <em>a really good representative</em>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He believed God and took Him at His Word. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In fact, God used him to lay out the truth of the One true God "who made the sea and dry land" on his way to the sailors who were likely followers of Baal, the sky god. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And following Jonah's early exit from the ship, the men offered sacrifice to God and took vows-- indicating that Jonah told them more than was recorded for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">God has always wanted clear representation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You remember when Moses was told to speak to the rock in the wilderness, but chose to scold the people and smite the rock instead? That did not go over too well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What God said: <em>"Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield water..." Numbers 20:8</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What Moses did: <em>"And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, 'Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out..." Numbers 20:10-11</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hear now, you rebels? <em>Not </em>the representation God wanted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">God chose to make his servant Moses the example instead (Numbers 20:12: Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We must believe God and represent him as Jonah did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">God is merciful. God is gracious. He is slow to anger and He relents when we repent.</span></em> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jonah needed some heart correction to become more like God (just like you and I do all the time!), but he knew God. And he knew that God is merciful. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Pass it on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Blessings,</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-17956278688052543292015-02-12T11:31:00.003-08:002015-02-12T11:31:58.118-08:00BOOKS COME ALIVE<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">... when read by a sister.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I recently bought a little sign for our house. It says:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Enjoy the little things in life</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>because one day you will look back</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>and realize they were big things.</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I think there is a lot of wisdom in that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">May you be blessed,</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-58930256745527989802015-02-09T19:29:00.002-08:002015-02-09T19:29:18.142-08:00SOMETHING TO LOVE...<br />
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Charlotte Mason said that children need: </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> Something to do, </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Something to love and </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Something to think about. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> I think that is true for all of us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"></span></span><br />
<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our best to you,</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="timelineCommentText" data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0:$media916787551458666581:0.1.0.2.0.2.$text0:0:$end:0"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-44700850993028912852015-01-23T16:59:00.000-08:002015-01-23T16:59:01.024-08:00CELEBRATING ART {with eric carle}<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pcOxf0NFhOiKsPOzsCrnvJUVGkkVYH9DQ1CWR8BtZOYpXGM2F9Bhniv2GGeNlSejvJCZO3t5coXPAyHkRPXwU3jyyNxf5X3Up-mH4xJwiWPb4Kkh9J9Zav8rMlObliEn3ErJJxvXxys/s1600/Eric+Carle+Art+Supplies_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pcOxf0NFhOiKsPOzsCrnvJUVGkkVYH9DQ1CWR8BtZOYpXGM2F9Bhniv2GGeNlSejvJCZO3t5coXPAyHkRPXwU3jyyNxf5X3Up-mH4xJwiWPb4Kkh9J9Zav8rMlObliEn3ErJJxvXxys/s1600/Eric+Carle+Art+Supplies_SQUARE_SMALL.jpg" height="618" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I think it's also a really good teacher. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">To study Eric Carle's contributions to art, I had the girls copy the method he uses to illustrate the popular children's books we love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First Mr. Carle creates unique art pages using multiple colors and movement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then, when the art pieces are dry, he cuts the designs from those art pieces and glues them onto a new piece of paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">he fact that he uses irregular shapes and imperfect lines made this a fun project for kids. The pieces don't need to be perfect to create an uplifting piece of art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And it wasn't messy at all- ha!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Blessings friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I am feeling less ambitious, we also enjoy studying art by purchasing </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Color-Cassatt-Masterpieces-Dover-Coloring/dp/0486410404/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421987066&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=mary+cassatt+black+line+color+book"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">black line drawings</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, then seeking to match the artists colors as closely as we can to the original paintings. I love this type of exercise because it helps us to experience the paintings and the color choices made by artists I love.</span> <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-8358702853450804462015-01-20T15:36:00.001-08:002015-01-20T15:36:21.357-08:00WINTER CAMP IN!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQUG2vLVSiZT1gZPn8yVNBCjXRtmKqXTtcnePBxfSm0-8tERkmAaj7qTIc6fnVa2ZgGgOOW0uuGOdn1tfosgdFgmA1np7OGj8b8dWbq4PDH7am8yljF9svZce6LVZLWFPaa-pouhar9Q/s1600/Camp+in+check+list_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQUG2vLVSiZT1gZPn8yVNBCjXRtmKqXTtcnePBxfSm0-8tERkmAaj7qTIc6fnVa2ZgGgOOW0uuGOdn1tfosgdFgmA1np7OGj8b8dWbq4PDH7am8yljF9svZce6LVZLWFPaa-pouhar9Q/s1600/Camp+in+check+list_SMALL.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winter "camp in" date: S'mores Ingredients, Movie, Homemade Cookies for Pa, Air Mattress, sleeping bags and PJ's.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You've heard me talk about our camp ins for years, right? <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Camp ins are like a camp out, but without the <em>outside</em> (a personal plus in my book!). </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We love having them anytime, but we started to especially enjoy them while prepping for Christmas. Unfortunately, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">ith all the sickness, we missed doing it at Christmas this year, so we rescheduled for this weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The kids were so excited. It means all sleeping together in one room Little House on the Prairie style, watching movies and eating s'mores. Easy peasy on the parents and super fun for the kids.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoor s'mores cooker-- from the thrift store for under $5.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone had so much fun, we decided to camp in two nights in a row!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Blessings,</span><br />
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<em>Avoiding dirt since 2008-- </em><a href="http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com/2008/07/indoor-camping.html"><em>Our first camp in.</em></a><em> :)</em></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-32648603053370163742015-01-07T06:53:00.000-08:002015-01-07T08:09:30.833-08:00CHRISTMAS {not according to plan}<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfTSg3bNgXwDmXJS9_IlbYMfHQrRpITguHo05FNt0oFYz0ZasDEtM1YXnxXtu-0UHNci83-WJ6QM4-P88sEScJtBool-A5WKGBD8te50MBVc3f-NOX85TM8lZ6C4xSpJ020vqSNjLbts/s1600/Hailey+in+lights2_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfTSg3bNgXwDmXJS9_IlbYMfHQrRpITguHo05FNt0oFYz0ZasDEtM1YXnxXtu-0UHNci83-WJ6QM4-P88sEScJtBool-A5WKGBD8te50MBVc3f-NOX85TM8lZ6C4xSpJ020vqSNjLbts/s1600/Hailey+in+lights2_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll be honest, things did not go according to plan this Christmas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Well, maybe I should rephrase that. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Things did not go according to <em><strong>my</strong></em> plan this Christmas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I had so many lovely pinned and planned</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> Christmas ideas that simply remained undone as I was unproductive and in bed sick with a terrible cold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Even as I started to get better, my energy was sapped and my brain was foggy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Like I said-- not <strong><em>my </em></strong>plan at all. But God. How good to know that He is in control over all things and working all things together for our good.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYWfdiuUniSBxkK1lSbHN_CEbINJa8pPjSR5ouubD0WrYbZ6l_WzTkXFOSD4ZrVtRcBJUiFM-LaCF8bFQVfZ9tPhndSYD5cG2PomM-TRYc4VROdV-DLBuF9daOCW7Gggx_dyVI7P7kMk/s1600/Dessert+bar_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYWfdiuUniSBxkK1lSbHN_CEbINJa8pPjSR5ouubD0WrYbZ6l_WzTkXFOSD4ZrVtRcBJUiFM-LaCF8bFQVfZ9tPhndSYD5cG2PomM-TRYc4VROdV-DLBuF9daOCW7Gggx_dyVI7P7kMk/s1600/Dessert+bar_SMALL.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few crafts attempted just a night or two before Christmas. Seasonal "Chalk boards" made from 69 cent black poster boards and a chalk pen. Now hang in my laundry room.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As I listened in on big girls working with little girls on Christmas projects without me, I was thankful that they had the opportunities to manage things that needed doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And as I recovered slowly, I found that I spent more time in the Word as I had little gumption to move. Maybe there was a blessing even in that simple fact? </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covering a paint plate in Saran Wrap is always step 1 around here. Makes for quick and easy clean up when the troops are done. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">James says to <em>"count it all joy"</em> when we fall into various trials. Whatever those trials are. And David puts skin on the reason why in Psalm 27. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_63R6vIO5G0O_Fmp9l59jr-F12jXzk79OJtZdZx8CnWt0bzelb8oJpURaY_a0eNTQ9ebUlHE74bad1-YNq2JxtqDhaFKPW1i-gtkO66Y3F_QKgfl30W2kn2cv8sUiDOhrNT3szGVxNg/s1600/Lyddie+and+snowflake+sponge_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_63R6vIO5G0O_Fmp9l59jr-F12jXzk79OJtZdZx8CnWt0bzelb8oJpURaY_a0eNTQ9ebUlHE74bad1-YNq2JxtqDhaFKPW1i-gtkO66Y3F_QKgfl30W2kn2cv8sUiDOhrNT3szGVxNg/s1600/Lyddie+and+snowflake+sponge_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little girls kept busy post Thanksgiving making homemade wrapping paper from Dollar Store rolls of brown mailing paper and cut sponges.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Because when all is stripped away that would otherwise preoccupy us in happy distraction, trials make us single minded for God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">After David unfolded his trials (evil men advancing against him and foes attacking), his focus had become this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>"<strong>One thing I ask of the LORD</strong>,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>this is what I seek:</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>that I may dwell in the house of the LORD </strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>all the days of my life,</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>and to seek Him in His temple."</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">~ Psalm 27:4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One thing. Single minded. Fixed upon knowing the LORD now and in this life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What is it to dwell in His house all the days of our life? It is having that intimate knowing that only comes when we are living that closely with someone else.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLarYMZY7dTWzHyM-WS57eqIUTvdKSDaOCOhiyHZz2gF3gSGlb4LO5JS-sefbZuXETLGV6WxixszEFN70aTkxonc-kUgxAk1dZW3urIM_zAuKenKq3PtFqt1ISzBb24xVON-HeG2U6erA/s1600/Napkins_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLarYMZY7dTWzHyM-WS57eqIUTvdKSDaOCOhiyHZz2gF3gSGlb4LO5JS-sefbZuXETLGV6WxixszEFN70aTkxonc-kUgxAk1dZW3urIM_zAuKenKq3PtFqt1ISzBb24xVON-HeG2U6erA/s1600/Napkins_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Maybe our trials are not due to physical enemies-- usually our battles are not against flesh and blood. Maybe our battle is spiritual, or with the flesh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We all have them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But as much as I long to be single minded, I know that I also desire to avoid trial. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em><strong>"My heart says of You, 'Seek His face!'</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Your face, LORD, I will seek"</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">~Psalm 27:8</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little napkin folder extraordinaire!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our hearts tell us to seek His face, but trials seem to change our priorities. "A little later" and "tomorrow" are not good enough when trials hit us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Count it all joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You have to love how David ends his Psalm. Even in the throws of trouble, he knows he will see the goodness of the LORD, because he knows that he can trust God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">And he ends with an encouragement to us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><strong><em>"Wait for the LORD;</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><strong><em>be strong and take heart</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><strong><em>and wait for the LORD."</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;">~Psalm 27:14</span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4rGD4GOswzCXiDTIkUR0Iw8l3TWuFi9KP7et-S-tmVhYDlgZi1lsbD6vxkVrDJJMG2u7CPrKOGGMZstUhX7qYX0kRCQERa_pfUllJhlcr1jKcCMiKO_HnXOLY1UjlJQagBe_XIWsp6g/s1600/Christmas+Card_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4rGD4GOswzCXiDTIkUR0Iw8l3TWuFi9KP7et-S-tmVhYDlgZi1lsbD6vxkVrDJJMG2u7CPrKOGGMZstUhX7qYX0kRCQERa_pfUllJhlcr1jKcCMiKO_HnXOLY1UjlJQagBe_XIWsp6g/s1600/Christmas+Card_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="515" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ten minute photo session. Photo snapped, cards ordered and some of them even sent out- all at the very last minute. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Twice in verse 14 David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says, <strong><em>"wait"</em></strong> and it sounds to me like he is saying-- you have troubles? <strong><em>Just you wait and see what God is about to do!</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Things are not going according to plan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Your prospects seem bleak?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">You are being attacked on every side?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Be strong and take heart! Just you wait. You are about to see what God will do on your behalf.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Life's not perfect. And even our "perfect plans" are not perfect. But GOD.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX9_xMVRwraHxSnB1sG2LotPJBDsABJAxgAPiJnFnp9OIxGvsf3B1enXkZA7E53NCv-uGi2fYLRLcBMNDlNYfmsosn5brygufcx17CP-X-FN6IMNv0ZwgsNOsPGwvol5kuDFqMxU1ExQ/s1600/Table_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX9_xMVRwraHxSnB1sG2LotPJBDsABJAxgAPiJnFnp9OIxGvsf3B1enXkZA7E53NCv-uGi2fYLRLcBMNDlNYfmsosn5brygufcx17CP-X-FN6IMNv0ZwgsNOsPGwvol5kuDFqMxU1ExQ/s1600/Table_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know He is working all things together for our good.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Just you wait and see!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ2Et11aNFBx4LvptJKEhTj4ieeJiLZQURNu1KvlVTm6z-7wKUW_jxHUwbfzLVoO_fVrLUZkWhmmPg9gATReNAKcHOipuj_TGLvUho0QB0YwC7gyUfD3BiH66EvgyQW57r_-wJJVb4dc/s1600/Sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ2Et11aNFBx4LvptJKEhTj4ieeJiLZQURNu1KvlVTm6z-7wKUW_jxHUwbfzLVoO_fVrLUZkWhmmPg9gATReNAKcHOipuj_TGLvUho0QB0YwC7gyUfD3BiH66EvgyQW57r_-wJJVb4dc/s1600/Sig.png" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-2918230319947056292014-12-04T01:43:00.000-08:002014-12-04T01:59:43.177-08:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7u4t3jJHhbD6jkQAumCXsxExUAZdOvKCvoH8TtXLlW_s4sS-JAjs58sYX9m79dDS8rEek9GLaIo8M6WXFYdaNCJWJ8hrMAnn0OLhIGDPtehDd-e4zdGsjAqUfgqX3CxfqPXK6-_kRxk/s1600/Faithie_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7u4t3jJHhbD6jkQAumCXsxExUAZdOvKCvoH8TtXLlW_s4sS-JAjs58sYX9m79dDS8rEek9GLaIo8M6WXFYdaNCJWJ8hrMAnn0OLhIGDPtehDd-e4zdGsjAqUfgqX3CxfqPXK6-_kRxk/s1600/Faithie_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">There seem to be so many things to be thankful for this year. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl33-ZxALDo_T6-uTGXUM7oqpxei5GtlrARPLgQNChlF0BiHzHqAWiv1KnDFJJKy53U7rqSfHhlF4doc4so5EbzgtTfeuvI4LqDdZStsT-Ofnq0QsXrfaLBpSe4PRJ0RTfJL2Y46J6O0/s1600/Group+hug+w+Grammie+and+Grandad_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl33-ZxALDo_T6-uTGXUM7oqpxei5GtlrARPLgQNChlF0BiHzHqAWiv1KnDFJJKy53U7rqSfHhlF4doc4so5EbzgtTfeuvI4LqDdZStsT-Ofnq0QsXrfaLBpSe4PRJ0RTfJL2Y46J6O0/s1600/Group+hug+w+Grammie+and+Grandad_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Health and family togetherness are certainly very high on the list this year. These are things we can just not take for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We are especially thankful for friends and family who have come through potential harm, protected by God's kind mercy this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And we are thankful for those dear ones (you included!) who have become even dearer with each new year spent together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs1rJccVzJ-kiKELgiveyumg-Npfblhq6apLfM30ZQ9QskEMSYKBkb6uf0JGA3UujnwHKya1qLkYW-fDINfFhTHnGmJqA5ad0wRsQIWaGtUwgmGfPS9jpLHnbbYMpcMBTTMTGgKZHbZA/s1600/Ice+skating+pose+w+Grammie+and+Grandad_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs1rJccVzJ-kiKELgiveyumg-Npfblhq6apLfM30ZQ9QskEMSYKBkb6uf0JGA3UujnwHKya1qLkYW-fDINfFhTHnGmJqA5ad0wRsQIWaGtUwgmGfPS9jpLHnbbYMpcMBTTMTGgKZHbZA/s1600/Ice+skating+pose+w+Grammie+and+Grandad_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We had to give a fun "hat tip" to my mom's cute expression of happiness through my entire childhood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mom, a figure skater for many years at the same rink as the famous Dorothy Hamill, would always strike one of these adorable poses (above) on the kitchen linoleum floor whenever there was good news to be declared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We knew it well and it has become the symbol of all things wonderful. We are thankful and so... here is our pose to prove it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Lydia, Little Red, will turn 10 this month and she is a Jones through and through. It seems just a few days ago she was my favorite Christmas gift, arriving just slightly early, on December 20. She was a sweet Christmas baby, who has always been a sweet little girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So many of you have prayed for her over the years. To <a href="http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com/2011/09/prayer-request-for-lydia.html">you</a>, I say, "thank you." My mother's heart is beyond blessed by so many who have been there with us. I am happy to report that she is presently in very good health. We praise God for that! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Her excited hope this month? In addition to Christmas, for all Jones girls, turning 10 means getting their ears pierced. It's a pretty big deal and she can not wait!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lAaQpngQhmBL3O_yKLFVEQ5sY3n85MqolpfhafVzpnorAZQIl0uW4p9zKuEDxOMxw8XIf4dn4Cl-_wHKGI1zCGrAQwrk71xuB35cXtaQjIt8Ybi6RYCNgSoMdf-tFWhHFyQ1yPzFslk/s1600/Michaela2_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lAaQpngQhmBL3O_yKLFVEQ5sY3n85MqolpfhafVzpnorAZQIl0uW4p9zKuEDxOMxw8XIf4dn4Cl-_wHKGI1zCGrAQwrk71xuB35cXtaQjIt8Ybi6RYCNgSoMdf-tFWhHFyQ1yPzFslk/s1600/Michaela2_SMALL.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And this one. Tom says that when he looks at her he sees me. The same coloring. The same hair (at that age). The same passion for what is good and right in the world. The girl he met so many years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The other day she asked my husband if he would want to adopt a child who was smart mouthed, rebellious, unkind and unruly. He said, no. He would not really want to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">She said that she agreed. Neither would she, and that is why she marvels at God's grace toward us. Because we are exactly that rebellious child before a holy God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Amen and amen, Michaela. You remind us of truth every day. We are so thankful for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Would you believe that it was only one day after Thanksgiving when we realized we had even more to be thankful for?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was then that we heard the horrific news that my dear dad, Ray, was being taken by ambulance to the hospital after being attacked by two pit bulls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was while he and my mom were on their regular walk with their little terrier pup that either one or both pit pulls in a local yard punched through their fence and were trying to attack them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The dogs literally pressed an entire fence board out from it's nails and were viciously lunging at them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My dad held up the fence board they had dislodged back into its place as a shield while the attacking dogs bit into his hands and left blood dripping at the fence line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">At his command, my mom ran to get the owners of the dogs to call them off as he held them from escaping and attacking them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">He was a true hero and without his bravery, I do not even want to think what would have happened to my dear mom alone with those pit pulls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">God was so very merciful again to our family. We honor my dad, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Ray, as a true hero and God as the sovereign giver of grace and mercy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We are so thankful for their safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when we think of safety and kindness, it is God's Word that also comes to mind. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hebrews 4:12 declares that: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"...the word of God<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30027A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30027A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> is alive<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30027B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30027B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> and active.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">" </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As I read Psalm 19 this week, I was reminded of so many ways that God's Word is alive and active.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The law of the Lord is perfect,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #073763;">converting </span></em>the soul;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The testimony of the Lord is sure, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #073763;">making wise</span></em> the simple;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The statutes of the Lord are right,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"><em>rejoicing</em> </span>the heart;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The commandment of the Lord pure,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The fear of the Lord is clean;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: #073763;">enduring</span></em> forever.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And by His Word, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Your servant is <span style="color: #073763;"><em>warned</em></span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And in keeping them there is great reward." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">May His Word be alive and <em><span style="color: #073763;">active</span></em> in our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708411184309597995.post-6716733071695280872014-11-08T01:11:00.000-08:002014-11-08T01:11:46.616-08:00DUSTY NOTES<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know this speaks very poorly of my dusting skills, but this little "I love Mama and Pa" note in the dust blessed my heart this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">It's the little things...</span></div>
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