Salehi family blog

I have moved

2009-03-02T11:02:00.001-06:00

Due to constant problem updating or changing this blog, I have started a new one. Please visit at :
http://salehifamily4.blogspot.com/

Little Smarties

2009-02-27T11:35:00.003-06:00

As a homeschooling mom, I often wonder where my kids measure in their development. I often look for typical standards for education and have also found some fun sites about mental development.
I realize that some people find these sites an extra pressure and many would say that we shouldn't compare. That is partially true, but for me, I like to know what my children can accomplish! If I see that there is an area we are a bit behind in we can put more focus into that area. After all, we are their only teachers and teaching is fun! When Isaiah was a baby, I had no idea what was normal for each stage. Sites like these always gave me ideas for things that we could do together.
Now it's Emma's turn. I think we'll start working on that tricycle riding!!
Call me silly, but I think my kids can do anything if given enough encouragement. :)

Here are a few that I have appreciated recently.

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/language_development.shtml

http://www.mamashealth.com/child/twoyears.asp

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/babysitting/age-infant.html

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/firstyeardevelopment.html

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/grade4

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

My Emma

2008-12-30T10:19:00.004-06:00

I love both of my gifts equally. At this time in life Isaiah is Daddy's boy all the way. Sure, he loves me and needs me very much but he is wholly absorbed in being a MAN and that's just how it should be. I would be a silly fool to be jealous or expect equal attention.

Just as Isaiah is Daddy's right hand man, Emma is Mommy's little shadow. Emma does everything like Mommy and WITH Mommy. It is a new thing for me; this extra set of hands and feet. I am not always good at coordinating them and find them cumbersome. All in all I find them a sweet presence. If I want a six year old that helps me with dishes, laundry and crafts then I absolutely must have a two year old that knows I LOVE her constant company!

I have certainly been tempted to leave her in front of the old idiot box while I do everything myself ( or be lazy and do nothing) but I am learning that there is no reward in that; absolutely none. If I was going to let TV raise my kids, they may as well be in daycare. I mean, in a daycare, people are paid to find ways to keep kids active and learning! Their reward, is money, mine is that amazing glow that my girl has on her face when she says "like u mommy?", or "me your friend", and don't forget, "I DID IT MOM!!".

I try not to wait for her to ask to help. Kids obviously need some play time but it doesn't take long for a toddler to get bored. I love to call out,"Where's my helper?" and see her come running with, "u need me mommy?". Her voice sounds so pleased and hopeful when she asks.

I could probably leave her on her own a lot more but where is the companionship and satisfaction in that? Besides, I don't want to raise a reclusive, lazy or self absorbed girl. I want her to stay my sunshiny daughter of virtue!

I certainly don't get it right every time, or even every day, but I really love trying. Knowing that my girl will always be my helper and friend makes me so, so happy! Seeing her bring ALL of the laundry in from the dryer, one or two at a time, and then shout with joy when she gets the job done is so much fun! She doesn't even consider it work because we're pardners, She helps me wash clothes, hang clothes on the line,bake,fold (ha ha),puts dishes in the sink after meals,brings Daddy his drink,sweeps,feeds Rocky and then wants me to pick her up for hugs and dancing.

It's not just work that we share. Stories,dancing,drawing,and reading are regulars here. You can learn a lot about what your little one thinks about when they draw or ask for certain stories. Lately, Emma has wanted "stories of God" and "Baby Jesus". She usually draws guns (like brother) or wants to do letters. Of course they don't look like much more than lines and circles but I tell her how wonderful they are. I'm not lying either, it really is wonderful to see her trying and learning, It makes me very sad to see parents that constantly tell toddlers "no, that's not right". Too much correction will kill the spirit of joy and adventure, so what if it's too big or not just quite grown up enough?

Having a toddler is such an amazing joy. I don't want it to end! This is the time that EVERY SINGLE word I say, really matters. The time when everything I do, or don't do, will shape who my girl will be as a woman. It is an exciting, happy,playful and enormously important time. A once in a lifetime time. There are no do-overs. I can't get back my two and three year old time when she's five or six. God gave me THIS time.

I think of all the closeness and joy that I would miss if I gave the TV my job of training and resolve to keep on finding new ways to be " jus me an u mommy", and hope to always hear her little voice saying "me your friend mommy".

moving

2008-12-29T19:35:00.002-06:00

We're actually getting close to being moved out. It has been an especially big job because of everyone being sick. Emma was up all night with fever and Teymoor has it today.
They say that you can really tell who your friends are when you're moving. There's a lot of truth in that. Everyone (sane) hates moving and wouldn't do it for fun. We have some exceptional friends who actually called and asked us, "want some help moving?". They came all the way from Missouri and brought an 18 foot trailer! They were helping us well after 11pm and it was SO COLD outside. I don't think we would have been able to get out on time without them!
Dad came down yesterday and took one load to Lost Springs and another to Salina. We can always count on mom and dad. :)
Teymoor's good friend Tim hasn't been able to come down yet but has called several times to ask how it's going. Just knowing that he cares is a blessing. He is also planning to come all the way from Topeka to haul our van for us!
At this point, we have no idea what the future holds. Plans can change too quickly or fail completely but it's great to know that we have such great friends and family.

2008-12-02T18:09:00.002-06:00

I am so relieved today! We have sold our home and are getting ready to move. Soon we will be living in a brand new house! This is going to be an extremely busy month, with moving and Christmas, but also very exciting.

Emma Noelle

2008-11-30T11:26:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday Isaiah!

2008-11-28T16:42:00.022-06:00

Nine years old!

Grandpa brought a snake for Isaiah to see

Checking out the snake

The bon-fire

Uncle Jerry

Aunt Renee and Elijah

The guys

Making the pinata

Hannah goes first

Then Emma

Naomi's turn

Now Caitlin

Isaiah cut it in half with two hits

Happy birthday to my wonderful brother!

2008-11-28T16:25:00.001-06:00

2008-11-28T14:42:00.001-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

2008-11-24T01:14:00.004-06:00

I was very happy to find out that my mom has a Christmas tree that we can use and thanks to generous freecyclers and family there will be toys on Christmas. :)

With there still being no income this should probably have been the least of my concerns but knowing that my kids will have fun on Christmas makes me feel a whole lot better.

2008-11-17T17:47:00.001-06:00

Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed

2008-11-17T03:08:00.002-06:00

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php

2008-11-13T23:11:00.002-06:00

Emma has been my helper all day. :)

2008-11-13T19:48:00.002-06:00

This has been the longest week. Our washing machine quit working,Hunny lost his job,Emma cut open her lip,We found out that we need to move - twice- in less than 4 months and I had to start remodeling the bathroom.
So today I painted the bathroom, did laundry by hand (my arms ache), hung laundry on the line,did dishes, bathed Emma and made dinner and started cleaning the kitchen.
We're supposed to show the house this weekend and I am so exhausted!
My favorite saying is keeping me going: This too shall pass.

2008-11-13T01:08:00.000-06:00

As in the days of Noah

2008-11-10T23:09:00.001-06:00

2008-11-08T10:35:00.000-06:00

2008-11-06T10:05:00.003-06:00

You can practice joy and thanksgiving. Every day, every right response makes the fingers of your soul find the notes of joy and thanksgiving easier and easier.
( Debbie Pearl, Created To Be His Helpmeet)

The wind and the leaves

2008-11-05T18:47:00.007-06:00

Autumn

2008-11-03T20:55:00.001-06:00

I love Autumn! Our yard is covered in beautiful leaves and our big pumpkin is almost ready. The weather is abnormally warm. It has been getting up to 78 during the day. The evenings still feel like Autumn though and we enjoy lighting the candles and snuggling under our blankets.
I have been baking more too;pies, pineapple upside down cake, cookies and biscuits. Soon we will start baking for Thanksgiving. :)
Yep, this is definitely my favorite time of year.

Trick Or Treat

2008-11-01T02:55:00.005-05:00

2008-10-31T09:14:00.001-05:00

2008-10-27T22:15:00.001-05:00

2008-10-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

Isaiah helped make our Apple Pie

Grandma is the best

2008-10-26T10:52:00.002-05:00

"close to u" and her little toes too.

Isaiah was overjoyed to share a pallet with Grandma.

Emma love her Grandma very much.

Fun Lessons

2008-10-26T10:38:00.006-05:00

Emma wanted to keep Bubba close while she worked. She kept saying "hug u" and "look Bubba".

Bubba loves it

Emma kept saying "look mommy!"

Isaiah's History coloring page

Buddies

2008-10-25T16:41:00.002-05:00

There are a few things that you have to get right the first time around.

2008-10-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

Discontentment is not a product of circumstances; it is the state of the soul.
Debbie Pearl

2008-10-21T15:02:00.002-05:00

2008-10-20T21:34:00.002-05:00

Your relationship with your husband is the single most important role you will ever play. If you fail here, then you have failed at your life's work and have missed God's perfect plan.
Debbie Pearl ( Created To Be His Helpmeet)

Elijah laughing at his daddy

2008-10-17T14:08:00.002-05:00

"At Home"

2008-10-15T10:22:00.004-05:00

Being a stay at home wife and mommy makes me think about the subject of feminism on a regular basis.
It is so amazing that in just 50 years the attitudes and priorities of people have changed so drastically!
Why is the business of home considered such a menial task? The media loves to mock housewives and conservative living. How important can doing dishes , laundry and cooking be? What can you possibly teach your child that someone else cannot? To me the answers are too many to list. Yes, housework can be monotonous, but what job isn't? The housework is a means to an end. It isn't the sum of our existence.
I want to create an atmosphere. I want my home to mean something. I want my kids to look back on their home as a place where our heart is. I want the feeling that I used to get when I would go to Grandma's house! A neat, cozy room or the smell of hot baking bread and pies; these things are not really menial at all! They create peace and joy for those who are truly important to us.They make you feel the love that went into them.
If you are "at home " but are lazy and your heart isn't home it will show. If you leave your house a mess and watch soaps all day then you should rethink your attitude about your home. But, regardless of what the media says, this is not the typical housewife.
With all of the "freedom" of feminism ,where are all the happy people? The simple truth is that people used to be happier! I guess it's just to hard to look at the reasons for that.
I realize that there are some careers that can change the lives of others. Doctors and most branches of law enforcement are the only two that really stand out to me. The truth is that most careers are just "jobs". They are a means to attain money and, occasionally, recognition. When you lay on your death bed and look back at your life what will stand out? Would you find great satisfaction in knowing that you spent years of your life as a secretary, teacher, teller, cashier, manager,bus driver,dental assistant, hair dresser... etc. These things may have been useful for a time but hold absolutely no eternal value.Does bringing home a paycheck to a cold home, while the school system and daycare raise your kids really bring great pride and satisfaction? How about peace and purpose?
I want to look back on my life and know that I put my heart- my time and effort - into the place and people that matter most. I want to look back and know that I made people feel like my Grandma does; at home.

The Bakers Rack

2008-10-15T10:10:00.005-05:00

I am working on making "happy spots" in my house. I may never have everything done at once but at least there are places where it feels like it!

The scariest thing in the house

2008-10-15T10:04:00.003-05:00

Jar Crazy

2008-10-13T20:19:00.004-05:00

Today I decided to put spices and baking goods into glass jars. It took a while but was a fun project.

Apples

2008-10-13T11:04:00.003-05:00

Isaiah finally likes apples! YAY! Even when he was a baby he would shiver in disgust at the taste of them. I guess his taste buds are growing up. :)

Lastnight's Apple Cobbler

October

2008-10-11T18:27:00.003-05:00

Black & White

2008-10-11T18:14:00.004-05:00

2008-10-11T14:57:00.001-05:00

There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in ev’ry sound,
When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on ev’ry side;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home;
Love at home, love at home,
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
~John McNaughton~

My Babies Love Eachother

2008-10-11T14:48:00.004-05:00

This is not an uncommon sight for us. Isaiah and Emma are such sweethearts. Emma loves to get a pillow and cuddle with her brother. The sweet hand on his face while they talk is something that he really loves.

Catching Critters With Grandma

2008-10-11T14:46:00.003-05:00

My Boy and His Bugs

2008-10-11T14:44:00.001-05:00

2008-10-11T02:50:00.003-05:00

A Prayer for Womanhood
God, give each true good woman
Her own small house to keep,
No heart should ache with longing,
No hurt should go too deep.....
Grant her age-old desire:
A house to love and sweep.
Give her a man beside her,
A kind man, and a true,
And let them work together
And love, a lifetime through,
And let her mother children
As gentle women do.
Give her a shelf for dishes,
And a shining box for bread,
A white cloth for her table,
And a white spread for her bed,
A shaded lamp at nightfall,
And a row of books much read.
God, let her work with laughter,
And let her rest with sleep.
No life can truly offer
A peace more sure and deep....
God, give each true woman
Her own small house to keep

~Grace Noll Crowell~
~~~~~~1934~~~~~~

2008-10-11T02:45:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the Lord:
stand by the roads,
and look
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is;
and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.

2008-10-11T02:25:00.002-05:00

"A woman makes a better wife when she doesn't try to make a better husband!" -Unknown

Emma helps make breakfast

2008-10-09T10:20:00.003-05:00

Grand grandparents

2008-10-09T10:10:00.004-05:00

Emma made grandma follow her into the bedroom and tried to keep her all for herself. She didn't even want me to come in!

Joshua Daniel, 9 months

2008-10-09T10:03:00.002-05:00

Babies behind glass ( A new kind of fun at Grandma's house)

2008-10-09T09:57:00.003-05:00

Sleepy Emma Noelle

2008-10-09T09:42:00.002-05:00

PICTURES OF THE LONG AWAITED BOY!

2008-10-06T12:09:00.004-05:00

O.K. so I stole these... but I'm just so danged excited!!!

VOTE FOR LIFE

2008-10-05T02:01:00.002-05:00

From Generation Cedar

2008-09-30T14:38:00.001-05:00

From "Education Reporter"

By Joe Larson

Marxism and Humanism are the predominant philosophies of America's education establishment, yet every day we send the public schools our most precious gift, our children, to be "educated." ...

America's educational system began to decline with the introduction of socialism, given impetus by the increasing involvement of the federal government. Lenin said: "Communism is socialism in a hurry." Socialism, therefore, is Communism by gradualism rather than by revolution. The socialist "Fabian Society," forerunner of most socialist groups in America, had as its motto "Make Haste Slowly." ...

John Dewey, known as "the father of modern education," was an avowed socialist and the co-author of the "Humanist Manifesto." The U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities discovered that he belonged to 15 Marxist front organizations. Dewey taught the professors who trained America's teachers. Obsessed with "the group," he said, "You can't make socialists out of individualists. Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the harmony of the collective society, which is coming, where everyone is interdependent."...

NEA specialist Paul Haubner, tells us, "The schools cannot allow parents to influence the kind of values-education their children receive in school; . that is what is wrong with those who say there is a universal system of values. Our goals are incompatible with theirs. We must change their values."

Don't miss that--"The Schools cannot allow parents to influence the kind of values-education their children receive in school..." Let that sink in for a minute. AND, notice who said it...a "specialist" with the National Education Association. This is the kind of stuff just being swept by the typical, distracted, American parent. I'm trying to undistract.

Full article HERE

Lessons

2008-09-27T18:20:00.004-05:00

Emma wants to do everything just like her brother and he is thrilled to help her. We usually keep the door closed while he's working but today she got in and I had to let her stay for a while. Isaiah was very excited because she made a very good 2,7 and two A's. :)

Cooking With Rachel Ray

2008-09-27T18:15:00.003-05:00

Emma loves cooking shows and cooking. Last night she set up her own little kitchen on the couch and listened to Rachel Ray while "cooking" her own food. She really did listen, and would nod her agreement and stop to see what Rachel was doing. :)

Life

2008-09-24T16:46:00.003-05:00

Our "baby" pumpkin has quickly outgrown the others

Our Morning Walk

2008-09-21T12:39:00.007-05:00

I loved these!

Can you see the spider?

Blue Damselfly

This Grasshopper is almost 3 inches long

A Beautiful Story By Debbie Pearl

2008-09-21T08:25:00.004-05:00

A Promise
By: Debi Pearl

Little Molly and her Mommy were filled with anticipation of Grandma’s visit this afternoon.

While Mommy cleaned the kitchen, Molly picked up all her toys and straightened her books. She then drew a picture for Grandma while Mommy vacuumed and cleaned the rest of the house. Molly knew Mommy was going to bake a cake for Grandma, but Mommy waited until Molly took a nap so that she could focus on the task at hand and keep the kitchen spotless. Molly missed being a part of it.

When Molly woke up, it was only 30 minutes before Grandma was due to arrive. Mommy took Molly out to the garden and into the field to pick flowers. The big brown vase waited on the old wooden table on the back porch where the flowers would be arranged into a beautiful bouquet. Molly was not allowed to pick garden flowers, but Mommy told her she could run into the field and pick those flowers. It was fun. Mommy’s skillful fingers put the tall flowers in the back of the vase and arranged the others in a beautiful cascading spray of color. But Molly noticed one tiny spot on the bottom where there was no flower at all.

“Look, Mommy, an empty spot. My flower needs to go here.” Molly stuck up her hand, which held tightly to a purple-topped clover flower. With her other hand, she pointed to the spot where her flower could be inserted.

Mommy’s response was immediate and abrupt, “No, it will mess it up the whole bouquet. Go throw that weed over there.”

Molly’s small body first went stiff with surprise and then deflated with disappointment, “But Mommy, my flower would look nice there for Grandma. Please Mommy, just one flower.”

But Mommy was staring at her beautiful handiwork, admiring her skill and the coordinated colors. She did not understand Molly’s eagerness to be a part of it. She did not perceive the crushed look on little Molly’s face. Within seconds, Molly’s joy had disappeared and in its place was anger, frustration, and disappointment.

With Molly’s meltdown came Mommy’s stern rebuke, “Molly…shame on you. Why do you have to have a bad attitude, today of all days? What is wrong with you that you would ruin this wonderful day by being so selfish and demanding? Now, go to your room and get control of yourself. Grandma will be here in just five minutes. She will be so disappointed in you for pitching a fit.”

The little girl fled to her room, not able to get control of herself because she was a child…not yet capable of sorting through her emotions. Instead she brooded. She looked at the now-crushed flowers she still held tightly in her hand. She flung them to the floor as if they had hurt her. She wished her Grandma could just come into her room and hold her without Mommy being around. Soon, she heard the sound of a car coming up the driveway.
Molly’s shoulders sagged as she heard Grandma’s welcoming voice ringing in the foyer, “Such beautiful flowers…you have such a gift…so beautiful…so full of color, but where is my sweet Molly?”

Where, indeed? A question asked many times by broken-hearted parents, “Where did it go wrong? What happened to my sweet Molly, my Linda, my Mary, my Elizabeth, my Joy?” In our haste to be productive and “perfect,” we are all guilty from time to time, but when it becomes a pattern, you can expect the child to develop anger and frustration, brokenness and defeat—depending on their personality. Frustrated parents don’t have a clue as to why their children are suicidal or why they use drugs. Rebellion is planted in their little hearts one seed at a time and watered regularly.

I know that most parents are sincere, but just self absorbed. It takes wisdom from God to know our own hearts and to keep the hearts of our children.
“Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom…” (Proverbs 8:11-14).

Here is what could have been, the other road not traveled.

Molly and Mommy spent the morning baking a big chocolate cake. After that, Mommy cleaned the bathroom while Molly picked up her toys and books. Then they had lunch together and talked about how nice the cake looked. While Molly took a nap, Mommy finished vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen.
When Molly woke up, they went out into the garden to choose flowers for a bouquet for Grandma, and brought them back into the kitchen to arrange them in a nice vase. Mommy’s eyes were glued to her creation as she fluttered one flower up and pushed another one back a tiny bit, making the arrangement look just perfect. Molly had found some small flowers off to the side of the sidewalk, and she knew her Mommy would like them. “Mommy, I see a hole where my flower needs to go.”

“No, Molly, that is not a hole…it is a spot that allows the eyes of the beholder to move into the whole bouquet. It is a necessary part of the art of flower arrangement.” The little girl’s voice took on an urgent plea, “But Mommy, my flowers, they would look so nice in that spot! Could I please put my flowers in the vase for Grandma?”

Something in Molly’s voice caught the ear and heart of her mother. Suddenly, the flowers were just decaying vegetation, here today and gone tomorrow…a passing project…a thing to be used to grow a child or to crush one.

Mommy looked down into her daughter’s pleading eyes, “You know Molly, I think you are right. Here, let me help you up on the table so you can add your flowers all by yourself.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wilted clover looked incongruous in the beautiful bouquet, as Mommy and Molly walked proudly together to set the vase on the table in the hall. They took a quick, last-second tour to check on and admire the clean house, the chocolate cake, and the flowers. “Everything looks so nice, Molly. We did a real good job.”When Grandma walked in minutes later, Molly threw her arms around her, and almost shouting, said, “Oh, Grandma, look at the flowers me and Mommy have for you!” Grandma obediently stopped to admire the beautiful flowers, at once noticing the wilted, drooping clover hanging over the side. Grandma’s eyes looked down, drinking in her beautiful granddaughter. “They are so lovely. I especially love the purple clover. I bet you put that one in.” Then, Grandma’s shining eyes looked into those of Molly’s wise mommy. “They look like a promise of things to come.”

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

FUNNY

2008-09-19T23:06:00.002-05:00

IRS AUDIT

The IRS decides to audit Ralph, and summons him to the IRS office. The IRS auditor is not surprised when Ralph shows up with his attorney.

The auditor says, "Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I'm not sure the IRS finds that believable."

"I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it," says Ralph. "How about a demonstration?"

The auditor thinks for a moment and said, "Okay. Go ahead."

Ralph says, "I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye."

The auditor thinks a moment and says, "No way! It's a bet."

Ralph removes his glass eye and bites it.

The auditor's jaw drops. Ralph says, "Now, I'll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye."

The auditor can tell Ralph isn't blind, so he takes the bet.

Ralph removes his dentures and bites his good eye.

The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Ralph's attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous.

"Want to go double or nothing?" Ralph asks. "I'll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, piddle into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between."

The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there's no way this guy can manage that stunt, so he agrees again.

Ralph stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, but although he strains mightily, he can't reach the wastebasket on other side, so he pretty much urinates all over the desk. The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. But Ralph's attorney moans and puts his head in his hands.

"Are you okay?" the auditor asks.

"Not really," says the attorney. "This morning, when Ralph told me he'd been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty thousand dollars that he could come in here and piddle all over your desk and that you'd be happy about it."

Submitted By: Michelle

2008-09-18T10:44:00.003-05:00

“Marriage is the union of two divinities that a third might be born on earth. It is the golden ring in a chain whose beginning is a glance, and whose ending is Eternity.” –Kahlil Gibran

To Judge Or Not To Judge?

2008-09-18T10:44:00.002-05:00

I have been wonderfully provoked to think on the topic of judging recently. This is such a touchy subject, with so many extremes!
I was raised in an environment of strong, surface, judgments being the norm for any Christian. By surface, I mean such things as, makeup, hair length, pants on ladies, or whether or not you read the King James Bible determined whether or not you are a "real" Christian. Most of us can see how ridiculous this is but there is a much more complicated level of judging.
While we are clearly not to "cast stones" the reality of what that means has been greatly diluted! To cast stones was literally to beat someone to death. There was no room for repentance. It is not casting stones to declare that that adulterous woman was in sin and needed to repent.
Jesus has given us the ability to repent of all sin and become a new creation. It is imperative that we do not consider it "judging" to see when we or another are in need of that repentance!
While the Bible commands that we spread the gospel of repentance, ( Mat. 4:17, Luke 13:5) we are shamed if we tell someone that they need it, as being judgmental!
There are two types of judging. One is to discern good versus evil, which we are commanded to do.
The other is to pass judgment, or consequence, which is God’s job!
SO WHAT IS THE GUIDELINE FOR GODLY JUDGING?
First, I believe that it is humility. We must not consider ourselves above another person, in value.
Second, is honesty? The word of God condemns HYPOCRYTICAL judging but demands righteous judgment in the body of Christ!
Third, we must use only Gods Word on issues as our guide, and not our personal opinions!
When we see that someone is committing fornication, it is not judging to say that they are in sin because the BIBLE clearly says that they are!
To call sins of choice "mistakes" is a way of softening the reality of their repulsiveness to God. Sex is not a "mistake", it is a choice. You cannot expect anyone to believe that you just happened to trip, and fall down naked under a naked man..... If we do not start facing our sins and admitting what they really are, we will never be right with God!
If a Christian smokes a cigarette, cussed, lost their temper or some other noticeable error, it is certainly NOT for me to say where there heart is! I have seen people pass these arrogant judgments numerous times.
Who are you, who judge another’s imperfections? That man who cusses may have spent 40 years in a gang or prison and his faith and purity of love may be more beautiful to God that yours has ever been!
On the other hand, if someone who claims Christianity is pregnant out of wedlock, sleeping with their boyfriend or is showing obvious sin, it is our duty, as the body of Christ, to say that it is absolutely wrong.
Do not make excuses for sin. Jesus NEVER did. Rather, show the lost one the right way to go and MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY!!
I have certainly committed my share of sins! Repentance is the only thing that brings peace, but it is never comfortable when you are shown the need for it!
As for Bristol Palin, I have no emotional reaction to her. She is just one more, of thousands of girls, who was living in sin. I am glad that she did not murder her baby and I hope that she has repented and been saved! Do I judge her heart, at this time? I cannot. Do I judge her becoming pregnant out of wedlock? That is simple; the Bible states that she was separated from God, committing sin, in rebellion. If I think of her, I will pray for God’s love and holiness to rule her life from this point on!
Here are some good articles that I found.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "Judge not, lest you be judged", I'd be thousands of dollars richer. Let's break down these verses in question shall we to get at the truth. Matthew 7:1-5 will be my focus but as usual I will be cross referencing these texts as well.

"Judge not, lest you be judged"- Matthew 7:1. Guess what people? Everyone will be judged according to what they have done in their body. "We must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, ACCCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE, whether good or bad"- 2 Corinthians 5:10. I don't know about you but I choose to practice discernment in this body and to help others see error in doctrine whenever possible. "Some save with fear, pulling them out of the fire"- Jude 23.

What have you done for the body of Christ? Have you ignored errors of doctrine? Have you watched potential brothers and sisters go down the spiritual drain without even lifting as much as a finger to help pull them out of whatever mire has them bound? Matthew 7:1 is as far as "Judge Not'ers" seem to go. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; And with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you"- Matthew 7:2.

If you were an alcoholic and advised a brother not to drink booze while you did that very thing once home, you would be a hypocrite! "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"- Matthew 7:3. Here is the speck and plank argument. Now if you're judging your brother while you have many a plank in your own eye that is very wrong. But what if you don't have a lot of plank's by way of bad doctrine? Are you truly loving your brother if you don't help them in whatever manner possible to remove the speck in their eyes before it grows into an immovable plank?

"Hypocrite! First remove the plank in your own eye, and then you will see CLEARLY to remove the speck out of your brother's eye"- Matthew 7:5. Those that say Christian's are not to judge are wrong! "If a man is overtaken in ANY trespass, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ"- Galatians 6:1-2. Judging is loving your brother or sister so much that you don't desire to see them drown in error. If you fail to love your brother or sister then you willingly watch them drown in moral or spiritual error. "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth"- 1 John 3:18.

"Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into caotivity to the obedience of Christ AND BEING READY TO PUNISH ALL DISOBEDIENCE WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED"- 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

How well do you love the brethren? When you fail to judge, or prune, your brothers and sisters in Christ you are doing them a great disservice. In the body of Christ, we are to judge. "What have I to do with judging those who are outside. Those who are outside God judges"- 1 Corinthians 5:12-13. Outside means outside the body of Christ. Those people God will most definately judge at the great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Some He has already judged and given them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28) or to a mind given to strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

Even so that does not negate your responsibility to help pull a brother or sister out of the mire of spiritual or moral distress. "Do you not judge those who are INSIDE?"- 1 Corinthians 5:12. Inside refers to those within the body of Christ. The body of Christ has ill prepared believers for judging or pruning people in peril. The church is sadly largely responsible for this gross error. "Everyone who partakes only of milk (teachings) is UNSKILLED in the word or righteousness for he is a babe"- Hebrews 5:13. The church, for whatever reason, largely is comfortable with keeping their congregations fed on milk teachings. You can find that in evidence as certain themes are repeated over and over again and in large measure thanks to the ecumenical calendar.

Some truth from Rev. D. Kuiper:

Tolerance is the buzzword of the day. We are told that we must tolerate the ideas, words, and actions of each and every segment of society. We may not pass judgment on the character of other people, but must accept them the way they are. What our elected officials do in their private lives must not influence our view of their qualifications for public office. We must accept the lifestyle of homosexuals as (viable!) alternatives to ours. We must cater to the whims and wishes of the feminists. We must not speak of God, lest we anger the atheists.

This attitude of tolerance is found even in the church world today. Many people, claiming to be Christian, will be quick to remind us of Jesus' words that we must not judge ( Matt. 7:1) and that we may not cast a stone because we are no better than the other person ( John. 8:7). This attitude has wreaked havoc in the Christian church, including churches which are Reformed in their heritage. Heresy is no longer denounced, and heretics are no longer disciplined. The foundational teaching of Christianity - that Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh, is our only and complete Savior - is denied. We are told to tolerate the religious thinking of non-Christians, because every religion has an element of truth to it, and because salvation is not exclusively for Christians. We must also tolerate in our churches the sinful actions of others. It is not our business if an unmarried couple lives together! It is none of our business if a member of our congregation practices homosexuality! We must not judge them.

Considering this sad state of affairs in the church world today, it is not surprising to learn that the most frequently quoted text of Scripture is no longer John 3:16, but Matthew 7:1

Of those passages which are used to support the idea of tolerance, Matthew 7:1 is perhaps the most often quoted. The text reads: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." It is clear that Jesus here forbids judging. The question, however, is whether Jesus forbids all judging, or only a certain kind of judging. Verse one by itself does not give us an answer to this question. Those who quote only verse one to condemn intolerance ignore the context, verses 2-5, and thus assume that the verse forbids all judging and intolerance. However, one who reads verses 2-5 sees that Jesus does not forbid all judging, but only hypocritical judging. The text in its context ( Matthew 7:1-5) reads as follows:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Jesus tells the Jews in verse one not to judge. In verse 2 He gives the reason why they must not judge: the standard which they use to judge others will be the very same standard which others use to judge them. They must not ignore their own sins while condemning the same sins in others. To do this is to judge with a double standard, to judge hypocritically. "Is it not hypocritical to condemn the brother for a little fault, or even to try to help him overcome this fault, when you yourself are guilty of a great fault?" This is the question Jesus was putting before the people.

John 8:7 and 11 are also important. The context is the story of the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery and was brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. In verse 7, Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." In verse 11 He speaks to the woman: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." The advocates of tolerance use these words to argue that one should not condemn others, because he is no better than they.

Although we will explain what it means to judge in more detail later, understand for now that when one judges, he gives a verdict: guilty or innocent. After one is judged, he is sentenced: the guilty person is condemned (sentenced to punishment) and the innocent is set free. The point is that judging and condemning are two distinct actions, related but not identical.

Bearing this in mind, notice that Jesus did in fact judge this woman, but He did not condemn her. By telling her, "Go, and sin no more," Jesus indicates that she did sin. In itself, the Pharisees' accusation was correct, and Jesus judged sin to be sin. This shows intolerance of the sinful action! Following Jesus' example, we must tell sinners to show evidence of genuine repentance by no longer committing sin.

While Jesus did judge the woman, He did not condemn her. She could go free; she would not be put to death. The gospel for penitent sinners is: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" ( Rom. 8:1). This message Jesus gives the woman: Jesus would Himself be condemned for her! He would bear her punishment, that she might go free!

Jesus' answer to the Pharisees exposes their hypocritical judgment in the matter. (Their primary purpose, of course, had nothing to do with the woman; it was to trap Jesus in His own words. Yet Jesus knew that the Pharisees prided themselves in their self-righteousness, and responded in light of this fact.) The Pharisees, Jesus reminds them, were also guilty of sin, and specifically of adultery, whether in the act or in the heart. Because they also were not free from sin, they were as worthy of death as she was. So, by wondering what judgment she ought to have received, they revealed their own hypocrisy and wrong motivation.

John 8:7 and 11 teach us how to deal with others who sin. Verse 11 teaches us that we must desire the sinner's repentance; verse 7 teaches us that we must not do so hypocritically, with wrong motives, or in an improper manner. The passage does not mean, however, that we must never hold each other accountable for our sins (that is, judge sin to be sin).

Outward, superficial judgment-that is, judging simply on the basis of what appears to be the case, without knowing all the facts-is rash, unfair, undiscerning judgment which is contrary to the ninth commandment of God's law. God hates such judging. Righteous judgment is carried out using the law of God as the standard by which to discern whether what appears to be the case actually is the case.

In The Yard

2008-09-16T11:11:00.004-05:00

Turning color

The "baby" pumpkin, one week later

I thought this spider was impressive. Not only did he make his web in about 10 minutes, he only had four of his eight legs! All four legs were on the same side of his body.

VOTE FOR FAMILY VIDEO

2008-09-13T19:25:00.001-05:00

FUNNY

2008-09-12T18:09:00.000-05:00

DEER CAMP

The guys were all at deer camp. They had to bunk two to a room. No one wanted to room with Daryl because he snored so badly. They decided it wasn't fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they voted to take turns.

The first guy slept with Daryl and came to breakfast the next morning with his hair a mess and his eyes all blood shot. They said, "Man, what happened to you?"

He said, "Daryl snored so loudly, I just sat up and watched him all night."

The next night it was a different guy's turn. In the morning, same thing--hair all standing up, eyes all blood-shot. They said, "You look awful!"

He said, "Man, that Daryl shakes the roof. I sat up and watched him all night."

The third night was Frank's turn. Frank was a big burly ex-football player; a man's man. The next morning he came to breakfast bright eyed and bushy tailed.

"Good morning," he said.

They couldn't believe it! They said, "Man, what happened?"

He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Daryl into bed and kissed him good night. He sat up and watched me all night."

Happy Birthday Daddy

2008-09-11T09:34:00.005-05:00

Cousin Fun

2008-09-11T09:18:00.007-05:00

Sweet girls

Emma loves Aunt Renee!

Handsome Elijah

Pretty Girl

2008-09-09T12:31:00.002-05:00

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. —Martin Luther

TRULY FREE STUFF!

2008-09-09T08:25:00.003-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know about these two great resources! Above Rubies and
No Greater Joy are the two places that I get my absolute favorite parenting/family magazines. Both will send them to you absolutely free of charge. If you are in the military, NO GREATER JOY will send you a complete box (over 250.00 worth) of free books and materials! I hope that everyone signs up and enjoys these as much as I do!
Blessings, Tammy

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/free-subscription/print-magazine/

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=support-troops

http://rubies.articledirectoree.com/subscription-form.html

THE GARDEN TODAY

2008-09-07T21:45:00.008-05:00

JR. PUMPKIN

A "BABY" PUMPKIN

A WASP ENJOYING THE OKRA

POTATOES

BELL PEPPERS

ON THE MENU TODAY

2008-09-07T21:37:00.004-05:00

FOR BREAKFAST, STRAWBERRY OATMEAL MUFFINS

FOR SUPPER,SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN ...

SAUTEED CHICKEN AND SQUASH IN BROWN SAUCE ...

PORK FRIED RICE :)

Lilly's batteries

2008-09-07T17:42:00.002-05:00

Emily told me about this and it is so cute that I have to share!
Her three year old, Lilly, said she need to go potty. Emily rushed her into the bathroom and onto the potty as quickly as she could. After several minutes of nothing happening, Emily asked " Lilley, you said that you need to go potty, why aren't you going?" Lilley looked up at her and said "The batteries are dead".
I love kid logic!

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=74043

2008-09-06T13:49:00.001-05:00

Sarah Palin's feminist folly

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: September 02, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

By Olivia St. John
© 2008

Bristol Palin, the 17-year-old, unmarried daughter of Sarah Palin, is pregnant. Although she plans to keep the baby and marry the father, her immoral shortcoming is still clear for the nation (and world) to see. Is it possible that her very busy, avowedly-feminist mother, the governor of Alaska and presumptive Republican vice-presidential candidate, could have made a moral difference, had she been more available for her daughter?

With this in mind, it is sobering that, among the thousands of conservative pundits praising John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate, no one is asking a very important question: Does America really need a feminist in the White House?

Yes, I know that the selection of Palin appeared almost providential. McCain introduced Palin to an admiring throng on his birthday, which also happened to be the Palin's 20th anniversary, which also happened to be, almost to the day, the 88th anniversary of the day women won the right to vote. Add to that the fact that Palin's son deploys for Iraq on Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and it appears the stars have aligned wonderfully for the Republicans' presidential campaign.

And yes, I know that the Aug. 29 crowning of former beauty queen Palin as "Mrs. VP America" effectively derailed the charismatic socialist festivities of Barack Obama's acceptance speech the night before. It must have been a terrible let-down for his messianic followers to see their anointed agent of change thrust from the limelight and replaced by the governor of a state with a population roughly equivalent to Fort Worth, Texas.

And yes, I know that leading Christian conservatives like Dr. James Dobson with Focus on the Family are thrilled that, in an election year when a Democrat runs on an infanticide ticket, Republicans have a two-punch pro-life ticket. It's an important year because one more pro-life justice added to the Supreme Court could mean the end to the mass slaughter of millions of unborn children within their mother's wombs. Conservatives now have hope. The timing is right.

(Column continues below)

But is it the right time for Palin's children and for the children of America?

As Palin stole the spotlight, her husband and children stood off-stage watching. Bristol held her mother's 5-month-old baby and carried her unborn grandchild. I wonder if the children know what's ahead for them.

Sarah Palin considers herself a feminist, which gives her affinity with liberals like Geraldine Ferraro and Sen. Hillary Clinton, both of whom she honored by mentioning their achievements in her speech: "It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America, but it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."

Described by Time magazine as fiercely competitive, Palin is not intimidated by juggling family with future responsibilities. She is ready for the challenge. But are her children?

It is clear that Bristol, at least, is not.

Last April, when Palin gave birth to her fifth child, she dutifully returned to her work as governor after three days. A few years prior, while serving as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she kept her infant daughter in a car seat under her desk while she worked in her office.

At a time when many former feminists cry foul upon realizing they were duped into thinking they could do it all, few seem to be asking if Palin can do it all.

More and more women who work outside the home say they are stressed and overworked. They regret ever having taken the mantle of both motherhood and working outside the home. They have discovered that under the weight of too much responsibility, something has to give – and any honest woman will tell you that it is the children who get the short shrift. After all, the pressure to make a project deadline in a salaried job is greater than the pressure to make time for one's own children.

While Palin is rightly applauded for her staunch pro-life stand, her embrace of a feminist worldview as it relates to family life is troubling. Palin's desire to "shatter the glass ceiling" is legitimizing the societal phenomenon of the career-centric absentee mother.

Assuming McCain wins the election, I can't help but wonder where under her vice presidential desk Palin plans to keep her bustling 1-year-old. Of course, there will be parent-substitutes to do that job.

In a 2006 edition of Mothering from the Heart, Audrey Broggi notes that Christians who ostensibly value motherhood are undermining it in their actions and words.

"I guess somewhere along the way, Christian women decided to listen to Betty Friedan," Broggi said. "See, the family can always take the back seat – even for the sake of 'the call.' You know what they say: 'God will take care of the children for the sake of ministry.'"

Where in our culture today do women hear about the priority of home and family? Where do they hear about the seasons of life? Some of us thought Dr. Dobson understood.

"The answer to the problem facing our families is not found in government intervention, but godly intervention at home," according to a 2006 In Touch Ministries article. "Parental devotion is hard to replace … children sense levels of commitment." The article goes on to say that the greatest fear our children face is the fear of abandonment.

Some mothers get high off the status afforded by a high-paying job. Others get buzzed as they're praised for being fighter pilots in our military. And still others receive honor for taking high political positions that leave them little latitude to meet young ones' needs.

"The American female is free to be an idiot," says Nancy Levant, author of "The Cultural Devastation of American Women: The Strange and Frightening Decline of the American Female (and her dreadful timing)." Having witnessed the emotional fallout children suffer when farmed off to caretakers, she says that too many homes are sterile because mothers have "lost their senses under the highly political guise of 'liberation.'"

Too many pro-life conservatives who oppose a mother's "choice" to abandon her baby in the womb think little about how pro-choice they are when it comes to leaving children in day-care centers and public school warehouses 50-plus hours a week. A child's life doesn't end once he is born. He still needs his mother.

What message was sent to the mothers of America as Sarah Palin took the vice-presidential spotlight while her children watched from the shadows?

FUN

2008-09-06T11:49:00.002-05:00

2008-09-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

This British video certainly applies to the American attitude as well!

MAKING ZUCCHINI BREAD

2008-09-04T18:09:00.007-05:00

WONDERFUL HAND-MADE GIFTS FROM MOMMA MEME AND GIRLS

2008-09-02T14:38:00.005-05:00

Poison Ivy

2008-08-30T16:05:00.003-05:00

You may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while. I have been dealing with a nasty case of poison ivy. I have rashes and blisters from my ankles to my ears! It's been a week and I look like I have 2ND degree burns all over my arms.
I've known what poison ivy looks like since I was a child and have never been bothered by it before.I even walk through it and garden around it. What I didn't know is that poison ivy is just as potent when it's dead and for many years after killing the plant! I made the disastrous mistake of raking and handling piles of the dried leaves. They say that there's enough urushiol on the head of a pin to infect 500 people! The Urushiol oil in poison ivy is the same oil in poison oak and sumac. So as a cautionary word to the wise, avoid these plants dead or alive!
Time for more meds: I'm itching like crazy!

POISON IVY

POISON OAK

POISON SUMAC

My Grandpa

2008-08-21T19:45:00.003-05:00

My Grandpa Delbert died last night. It is a very sad day for me. I love him a lot and have many memories of good times with him.
Grandpa was a hard man in many ways; you always knew exactly what he thought whether it hurt your feelings or not. Grandpa was also a very sweet and fun man! He ALWAYS kissed me goodnight, even the last time I visited him, and he loved to take us out to do something fun. On our last visit he took us for a long drive around the lake as soon as he picked us up from the bus stop!
I have many sweet memories of my grandpa; morning coffee, Fig Newtons,guitar playing, singing , going to a "singin", dog training tips, the McDonald's lunches, the tears that he had whenever I had to go back home and the playful arguments with Grandma. I will keep him with me, in that special place, where my dad, my sister and Lana also stay. This is my own little bit of the Heaven that they all share.
I love you Grandpa!

Emma's Birthday

2008-08-18T08:08:00.029-05:00

MY BIRTHDAY BEAUTY

BEAUTIFUL HANNAH

TWO GIRLS-TWO GRANDMA'S

LOOK!

ISAIAH REALLY LIKE THE PEACOCK

ROO

LOOKING AT ROO

DAD AND MOM

UNCLE JOSH SHOWS EMMA THE OTTERS

COOL CHICK

BIRTHDAY GIRL

BUBBA HELPS

AUNT RENEE HELPS

GRANDMA B HELPS

ISAIAH GOT EMMA A NEAT TOY CAMERA SO SHE CAN TAKE PICTURES ON OUR WALKS TOO

AUNT RENEE GAVE EMMA THIS GREAT DRESS UP STUFF!

THE PRINCESS GARDENER

PRINCE ISAIAH HELPS THE PRINCESS GARDENER

GRANDPA PICKED THIS DOLL BECAUSE IT HAS RED HAIR TOO :)

SPEECH IN THE KINGS COURT

ISAIAH BRUSHING THE GRUMBLY PIG

BRUSHING A GOAT

Tired cousins sit in the shade

Making Emma's Birthday Cake

2008-08-18T07:58:00.007-05:00

MAKING FROSTING

The Importance Of Noticing

2008-08-16T10:01:00.003-05:00

I have been thinking a lot about the importance of noticing.
There are so many obviously important points to parenting, love, affection, discipline, education, etc. but I think that the importance of noticing is often, well …. Unnoticed.
I have come to believe that noticing and letting your kids know that you do is one of the most important parts of parenting!
When the little one repeats a word or tries to say what you did, in that mixed up baby way, Pay attention! Make sure that they know that you understand that they are trying to communicate. It is our enthusiasm that makes them want to try again. When Emma started saying “gee” for scared and “dadoo” for water, it was important that I learn what she meant by them. It was important that I let her know that communication is what’s important and that it excites me when she talks to me!
I find myself pointing things out to others all of the time. I am constantly saying “did you see that?”
When they try to walk like daddy, notice, when they say a word, notice, when they bring their plate to the kitchen, notice, when they look like they are going potty, notice, when they nurse their baby, fix their little car or any of a hundred little steps that mean they are NOTICING YOU, notice and celebrate!
Our approval is what motivates our children to continue learning. If no one pays attention to a child who’s talking sounds like jabber than they will not think it important to clarify. If daddy isn’t proud when little man (or even our little girl) follows him around trying to copy each step, then he will not find following IN daddy’s steps to be important.
We, as parents, get very busy and distracted. There is usually something to do, or some noise in the background, drowning out the little things. Let’s try harder to stop and notice our children, as they go about the business of growing up, and let them know that you did!
Tammy S.

Time For Pictures!

2008-08-14T09:44:00.008-05:00

A WHOLE WAY OF LIFE

2008-08-13T18:55:00.001-05:00

A Whole Way of Life
By: Michael Pearl

The number of homeschoolers is rapidly increasing. Home-schooling is not just an alternative educational procedure; it is one of many expressions of a whole way of life.

It is the result of loving parents putting on the brakes and saying, “No” to this stampeding system of child-trampling New Agers. Our families will not be devoured and digested, becoming part of the feces of this carnivorous monster called public education, generated by the twisted minds of the morally ill.

As homeschooling parents, you have taken charge of your life to give God his rightful place in training your children. To teach biology in an environment that denies the Author of life is like eating an egg and denying the chicken. Such a process is stupefying—degrading to the intellect. To teach history apart from God is to praise the sculpture and deny the sculptor. To learn science and mathematics apart from the omnipotent God is to throw out the computer and do your computations with a roulette wheel. To teach children to read and then outlaw the reading of the only book written by the God called the Word is like giving a blind man sight and then outlawing seeing.

The public school expelled God from the class room, but when the immorality became a threat to personal satisfaction, as well as personal safety, they started talking about values. They will not get their values back any more than a man will get peaches from a tree he cut up for firewood.

We are not rebels; quite the opposite; we are just the minority who refuse to join a rebellion against God and the truth. We are taking our children to the tree of life growing beside the fountain of knowledge to be refreshed by the Author of life. We will not stoop for anything less. We will not compromise. We will not allow state testing to dictate our curriculum. They have made their position on God and morality clear. We are making our position clear. We will not attend their party, dance to their tune, or employ their fiddler.

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/general-view/archive/1996/september/01/a-whole-way-of-life/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An article on public school Socialism

2008-08-13T11:21:00.003-05:00

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?

For many young'uns around the country this is a momentous day. Sadly, for many of them, it is also a tragic one. Today millions of parents who should know better are going to take the most precious things in their lives, their children, and turn them over to the government to be educated. These parents all know that our government education system in this country is beyond horrible --- but for some reason they operate under the impression that the very school that, by chance, their child is going to attend is the one and only exception. Their child's school is extraordinary! It's those other schools that are so bad.

Yeah, right.

Today I'm going to take one entire chapter out of my book "Somebody's Gotta Say It" and reprint it here for you to read .. enjoy .. and hopefully heed.

NICE PENCILS!

Now, fork them over . . .

(From "Somebody's Gotta Say It" © 2007 by Neal Boortz, Published by HC Books, and imprint of Harper Collins)

What? I'm picking on government schools again? Don't I have anything better to do with my time?

No, I don't. A day spent slamming the concept of government indoctrination is a day well spent.

I love this country, but I believe it's in deep trouble. I believe we're losing our sense of individuality and our love of liberty. Americans have little idea of the sacrifices that so many made to create this country where we live our lives of plenty.

Most adults have no idea of how essential our system of economic liberty is to the standard of life we enjoy today, and are unaware of how American free enterprise has already lifted much of the world out of poverty, want, and despair.

Furthermore, most Americans don't understand something as basic as the importance of private property rights in maintaining freedom and promoting prosperity.

And for this state of affairs I place the bulk of the blame on our system of government-owned and -operated schools.

I'll go one step further: Many of our government schools today, perhaps even the one to which you have surrendered your child; start in from day one trying to discredit the very concept of property rights. How do they do it? Let's start by defining some terms.

Some of our brethren on the left denounce the idea of property rights by saying human rights are always more important than property rights. It's a clever line, but it's really a kind of misdirection, like a magic trick.

Why? Because property rights are human rights.

Think about it this way: Property has no rights. People have the right to property, and that right to property, the fruits of one's labor, is one of the highest human rights.

Chances are it's been quite a few years since you were in grade school. Believe me, much has changed since those days. Back when you were in school, for instance, it was probably okay to play tag during recess. Not so today. Why? Because tag involves (gasp!) touching! And besides, in tag someone is chased, and someone does the chasing. This teaches our precious little children predatory behavior. Now we can't have that, can we?

As if that weren't bad enough, the campaign to abolish private property starts with almost the first moment your child enters school.

Remember those weeks before school started for your brand-new first grader? There you were, you and your proud new student, walking the aisles of the local Wal-Mart, your list of school supplies in hand. Item by item you checked things off your list as you dropped them into the basket: pencils and erasers, notebooks and pencil holders, construction paper and paste. By the time you made it to the cash register, you had a full basket and a happy kid. As soon as you got home, your budding Einstein took the supplies to his room and spread everything out on the bed. This was his stuff, and it was important stuff, too—his very own tools and supplies, the things he'd use to learn and grow. And tomorrow he would be taking them to school. He couldn't have been more proud. On his last night before that magic first day of school, just before he went to bed, your young student would pack all his stuff in his backpack . . . then unpack it . . . then pack it again.

The next morning, it's show time! Off we go, full of apprehension and pride. Your young man is taking another grand step toward adulthood!

What could go wrong at school? Plenty. Remember, it's a government operation staffed by government agents.

As soon as the students are seated, the bell rings, and as fast as you can say the Pledge of Allegiance, the indoctrination begins: Your child is about to be introduced to the wonderful concept of "the common good."

Ready for class? Nope, not yet. There's a small matter that must be attended to first.

The government teacher steps in front of her virtual hostages and promptly delivers the first raw lesson in the power of government: She instructs her students to bring all of their precious new school supplies to the front of the classroom and put them into a huge box.

Wait just a minute here! Why am I putting my stuff into that box? My daddy took me to Wal-Mart and bought that stuff for me! It's mine! You can't take it away from me!

Oh, yeah?

As your child sits in stunned silence, the teacher tells him and his classmates that these supplies now belong to all of the class. What was once private property has been seized and transformed into community property, courtesy of the teacher's demands—demands that amount to a government mandate. There is no due process. No rule of law. After all, in school the teacher is the law. Your child's supplies are now everybody's supplies, and the teacher has assumed the responsibility of distributing them as needed.

Know this: This whole "dump all of your school supplies into this box" is no mere innocent exercise, no simple whim of a few individual teachers. It's a conscious policy, and it has a purpose that goes beyond simple expediency for the teacher.

Your child, and every other child in that classroom, is being taught that their private property rights end when someone in authority says they end. In this instance, that person in authority is the teacher—a government employee. And even if your child isn't able to understand that it's actually the government who's seizing his property, he certainly does understand that his property is being seized, and converted into everybody's property. Worse yet, he is told, very clearly, that this is a good thing.

And who is there to tell him otherwise?

I've talked about this property confiscation on the air many times. Some parents call in to scold me, convinced that I'm lying, that this doesn't really happen. But for every one who does, plenty others call in to confirm what I'm saying—to report that it happened to their own child! I've even heard from young parents who believed I was making it up . . . right up to the point when their own child returned home from his first day of school.

The most surprising thing to me is that some callers—even some parents whose children have had their school supplies confiscated— actually don't see the problem with the policy. Wake up, folks! The very concept of private property is under attack here, and government is leading the charge.

It is a simple truth that property rights are the very basis of human freedom. We come into this world with nothing but our bodies and our minds. Those are the assets we bring with us to the marketplace. And no society based on economic and social freedom has ever survived the loss of private property rights.

Nobody would seriously argue against the notion that we, as individuals, are the sole owners of our minds and our bodies. We present our physical and mental labor to the free enterprise marketplace and trade it there for wealth, usually in the form of money. It can be said that we have received that money in exchange for the expenditure of a portion of our very lives. When we convert that money to other forms of property, that property, too, represents a portion of our lives. That property is every bit as much ours as our very bodies and minds are. To demand that we forfeit that property to the government— even so trifling a piece of property as a schoolboy's notebook—is to demand a degree of involuntary servitude from us all.

I know this may sound a little preachy, but the importance of the basic human right to property, and its role in the preservation of a free society, cannot be overstated. When the government schools we pay for are working to destroy that concept, from the very first day of a child's very first grade, it's our duty to speak up.

Today we see property rights under attack from all quarters—as anyone who's ever confronted the idea of eminent domain knows too well. Government, after all, has an interest in weakening the concept of private property rights. The more Americans can be conditioned to accept the idea that the government has the right to confiscate our property for "the common good," the stronger government becomes and the weaker we as individuals become.

Come on, you say, my kid is only six years old! You don't expect him to realize what's happening and ask the teacher to respect his private property rights, now do you? What is he supposed to do, demand to be compensated for the seizure of his property?

Of course not.

Junior is a long way from understanding those concepts. But don't kid yourself: He certainly does understand, at least on a subconscious level, that his new teacher—someone he knows he is supposed to respect and look up to—thinks that the idea of seizing private property for general use is just fine. After all, the logic goes, there are other people out there who might need some of your stuff. And it's just not right for you to have something other people don't have or can't share in, is it? All you need to do to correct this perceived injustice, according to these teachers, is to let your superiors even things out a bit by taking some stuff from you and giving it to someone else.

Karl Marx had his own words for this concept. "From each according to his ability," he said, "to each according to his need." So what can be done to fix the problem? Well, I'll tell you what I did.

Actually, in my case, I didn't have to wait until my daughter, Laura, got into government school for this collectivist concept to rear its head. We learned this lesson in day care.

One afternoon I picked up Laura at her day care center. As she got into the car, I could see that her eyes were red; there were still traces of tears on her cheeks.

What happened? I asked.

"The lady," she said, had taken her candy.

You see, it was the day after Halloween and Laura had taken a bag of goodies to day care, to dip into throughout the day. As soon as the day care supervisor saw her bag, however, she seized it. She told Laura that it just wasn't right for her to have anything that every other child didn't have. If she didn't bring enough to share with everyone, then she couldn't have it at all.

As soon as I heard that, I spun my incredibly hot Ford Pinto around and headed back to the day care center. Once there, I asked for a private meeting with the director. I asked her if she was familiar with the concept of private property. She said yes. Then I asked why it was the day care center's policy to indoctrinate children into the idea that it was not right for them to have property that other children didn't have.

Blank stare.

Then I asked her how she would feel if the bank took her next deposit and distributed it evenly among its other customers, telling her it wasn't nice for her to have money that other people didn't have. She got it.

The next time Laura brought some candy or cookies to day care, the supervisors left her alone.

For nearly all children in America, Day Number One at school— whether it's in an informal day care center or a public kindergarten— is also their first time in an independent social setting. It's their first chance to experience how the world is going to treat them. Until we do something to fix it, however, Lesson Number One your children learn that day may be that their rights exist only as long as the government allows.

And that's just the first week! Wait a little while, and you just might get that call from Teacher with vague, dark hints of a better world for your child if you'll just allow him to go on Ritalin.

From "Somebody's Gotta Say It"

Neal Boortz

© 2007

http://boortz.com/nuze/200708/08132007.html#school

Emma Runs Fast

2008-08-12T14:54:00.003-05:00

Emma has to have her propellers up to run fast!

A WEEK OF BIRTHDAYS

2008-08-12T14:49:00.003-05:00

TO:
Heidi, 30
Christian,6
Emma,2 !!

The Draft Horse Show

2008-08-12T08:50:00.006-05:00

Random shots of August thus far

2008-08-09T17:40:00.007-05:00

I was surprised to see how many different beautiful colors are on the under side of the wings

Emma holds her butterflies

The garden today

2008-08-09T17:39:00.002-05:00

this is what I brought in today

Summer Fun with cousins

2008-08-09T16:59:00.016-05:00

Catching bugs

We made homemade play dough and the kids had fun for hours

Playing in the mud

I think Caitlin lost this mud fight

Emma was tired of being muddy!

Emma was so worn out after playing outside that she fell asleep in the chair while I was bathing the other girls

Watching the Wheel Bug eat a grasshopper

Chasing butterflies

Naomi was so happy to have her own butterflies too

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The Red Admiral Butterflies like Caitlin

The Red Admiral inside our office

THE RODEO AND FAIR

2008-08-03T11:19:00.016-05:00

Teymoor had to work on every day of the rodeo this year. We were very happy that Grandpa and Grandma were willing and able to take us! Both kids had a lot of fun. Isaiah says he wants to learn calf roping and Emma would point at the horses running by and say "me too!"
Yep, those are my kids!

Isaiah and Grandma watching the rodeo

Mommy and Emma watching the rodeo

Grandma made sure that Isaiah had fun at the carnival. She wanted to see him ride the rides but he had just eaten and didn't want to get sick. :(

Watching Bubba shoot hoops

Isaiah played each game in hope of getting a prize for his sissy. He won quickly each time!

Two of the prizes that big brother won for her

Emma thought the pigs were very "gee" but would walk in with Gapa

My sweet boy was surprised that this calf loved to be rubbed

Emma did not want to touch any of the animals but liked looking at the "baby" ones

Isaiah really liked this friendly goat

At the end of the day Emma just wanted to cuddle with Grandma

BACKYARD SCIENCE; MORE DISCOVERIES

2008-07-30T16:24:00.008-05:00

This Prickly Poppy is considered a weed. The prickly plant can be a bother to bare legs but I think it's beautiful!
Medicinal Uses: Analgesic, narcotic, sedative, antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal, antitussive, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac.

A Kildeer

Poisonous Pokeweed, this had proven fatal to children!

The hunt

Emma picking some ANNUAL FLEABANE

I was sad to see that several large Pines were cut down last week. This stump is the sweet smelling remnant of a still beautiful piece of nature.

This giant Cicada got away after I took a few pictures. He was probably twice as big as our other ones and very pretty.

This was a cool discovery. He is a Wheel Bug, AKA Assassin Bug. These are a very unique insect, being "one of the largest true bugs in existence". They eat smaller insects by plunging their beak into the victim and injecting them with an enzyme that dissolves their insides. They are said to inflict a bite that is more painful than a bee sting and can take months to heal.
We took this one home for study and he is now a member of the insect zoo. :)

Great quote for the day

2008-07-29T20:38:00.003-05:00

"I have become deeply burdened concerning the flagrant sin in the body of Christ. And yet, to some, church discipline is considered mean and insensitive. In the name of grace, we have sanctioned ungodliness. I want you to think about that...in the name of grace--a perverted view of grace in my estimation--we have sanctioned ungodly behavior.

We're becoming increasingly spiritually impotent and are not taken seriously by an unbelieving world because what we talk about--the power of God to change lives--is not represented in our own lives....the forgiveness of God is predicated on repentance.

We need to be repentant. We need to be people who reflect the honor and glory of God. We need to seek to pursue holiness as a standard and not use the grace of God as camouflage to cover over a heart that doesn't really seek God or just wants God to come alongside to endorse who we are.

Too may Christians have settled for a nice, comfortable, predictable Christianity. We don't want to be viewed a different or distinct, so we're comfortable with reflecting the average Christian life. however, in our desire to be seen as normal to those around us, we're in danger of losing the luster and compelling brilliance of an authentic Christian life.

I believe we have to be terribly careful about what we project. We're living in a Christian culture that says, "hey look, you need to be warm, friendly, and like the people around you." I'm not suggesting that we look weird an act strange, but there is a difference about us. There's something distinct about us, and that distinctiveness needs to be demonstrated and shown in our lives. God is looking for an uncommon commitment beyond the ordinary."

Crawford Loritts

Our Backyard Science Bug Zoo

2008-07-28T21:15:00.005-05:00

Yes, they are already dead!

This display is our insect burial ground

TODAY'S DISCOVERY

2008-07-28T17:53:00.004-05:00

We found this fellow today, while taking our walk. We put him in a jar and spent some time online looking for his identity Success! He is a Cottonwood Borer and our newest member of the insect zoo. ;)

A great quote!

2008-07-28T15:01:00.002-05:00

I am woman, hear me glory in my Created place.

God's Pharmacy

2008-07-28T08:54:00.011-05:00

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit . There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (mo dern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoeslook like the pancreas and actual ly bal ance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just l ike the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

SUBJECT: Psalm 46:19
'Be Still and Know that I AM GOD'

Homeschool

2008-07-28T08:36:00.002-05:00

Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Fun With Cousins

2008-07-26T10:22:00.011-05:00