Saturday, November 22, 2008 - And Then There Was Six
You may have heard that Caesar, our rooster, was assassinated by the cruel ‘Brutus’ (a.k.a – Dad) early August.Sadly, our Mary, Queen of Scots, has also been assassinated.By whom, you ask?Nobody knows.
Last night, when the ‘ladies’ were escorted back to their quarters for the evening, there was seven.When Sir Daniel collected the eggs this morning, there were seven.When he came back to check if there were any more eggs there was still seven.One being dead.
Naomi knew which chicken was Cleopatra, the only other historical character we know who could have been assassinated.It obviously was Mary, Queen of Scots.But how?It shall remain a mystery until the end of time.
And then there were six.
Moving right along…
Last night, we, our Speak UP group, presented our best speeches from throughout the year at a presentation night.Although I was extremely nervous, I was fairly pleased with my overall appearance.I presented two speeches; an expert from The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass- a Dramatic Interpretation, and Simple, Complex, Degenerated? – a Persuasive Speech.Everyone did a fantazgreat job with their speeches!
I can vouch for every person in our group for improving amazingly – we all have overcome obstacles in our public speaking. Thanks to my wonderful mother for teaching us so patiently all year!
Phew – this year is already drawing to an end!!November always inspires me to be more diligent in my school all year round!What about you?
Is your Christmas up and going?I have almost, almost finished making my Christmas presents, although I have a few more up my sleeve.I have still to wrap them, make some more cards, perhaps create a bedroom decoration and a gazillion other things!
Because we didn’t get home until late after Speak UP last night, Mum required that we all turn off our alarms and sleep in – consequently, I didn’t wake until 8:45am!!*Shudders at the prospect of sleeping in, although admits it was nice FOR A CHANGE!* After we woke up, we cleaned all morning!Too much fun, right?!
Isn’t 1 Peter 5:7 such an awesome verse – always there when you need it!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.Even though I am really busy, with Christmas, Mainly Music, school and the like happening all at once (or so it seems), I know that Jesus just longs to hear all about my day, and no matter how many mistakes I make, I know that he really loves me!
Thanks for all your feedback on my ‘new’ template – it fits nicely on all our screens except one, which shows what I think it looks like on your PC’s.Another question – was my template always too wide for your screen?
While I’m on the subject of computers – do any of you have a Shelfari account?I do - as you can see on my side bar – and would love to know what books you’ve read/are reading/plan to read!
If there is ever a link to my Shelfari bookshelves but the actual bookcase doesn’t show up, then just click the ‘refresh’ button and it should reload properly.If you look on the far right sidebar, I have a second bookshelf for my books I plan to read.Enjoy!!
**Note: part of this article is about The Apprentice, which is an M-rated show.Our Mum taped and pre-watches the episodes and fast-forwarded the parts when there was bad language**
For the past 12 weeks the Letchford family has been watching The Apprentice, with Sir Alan Sugar.In case you aren’t familiar with The Apprentice, I’ll give you the scoop: Sir Alan Sugar (one of the richest businessman in England) was offering a position as an apprentice.Fourteen people were chosen to perform different tasks, and at the end of each task, one person would be fired, until two people were left and he chose one of them to be his apprentice.
The assignments Sir Alan set up for the candidates were ones associated with sales, leadership, teamwork, and to a measure, creativity.The 14 candidates were split into two teams, with a manager/leader chosen out of the team to lead the assignment.After the assignments were over, the losing team had to go to the board room and be ‘questioned’ how they failed, and why the other team made more money.After a think and lots of talking, Sir Alan fired someone.
If we’d known who was going to be the apprentice at the beginning, we probably wouldn’t have believed it – or wanted to believe it.The chosen apprentice, Michelle, kept a fairly low profile initially, while we were going for others who took leadership.Eventually, the choice was either Michelle, or Ruth, two completely different personalities.
Ruth…
Already seemed to ‘have’ the skills of an apprentice
Was very confident with herself
Great salesperson
Was older than Michelle
Michelle…
Was younger than Ruth
Was ready to learn/knew she could learn from Sir Alan
Promised to give Sir Alan 110% work effort
Knew to work hard, as she had done that her whole life
I was surprised that Michelle won, because Ruth, although in the losing team most of the time, had done exceptionally well personally, where as Michelle didn’t shine in comparison.However, I think Michelle’s character of respect, hard work and meekness pulled her through the older, more ‘knowledgeable’ person.
The whole idea of an apprentice is that you learn from your boss.The apprentice doesn’t know everything, or else it defeats the purpose.Although Sir Alan wanted one with experience, he also wanted someone humble enough to be instructed.
From what I gained from watching them, Sir Alan was looking for someone who could lead a team, keep the individuals at bay, and yet, at the end of the day, be thinking of themselves and their position.He wanted someone to be firm and yet respectful to their leader (cockiness doesn’t seem to go down well with businesspeople).He wanted someone who could crack a good bargain and used their brain to get the most money.
What did I learn from the leaders?
Do split up/when you have a short deadline
Do work with the team and the majorities’ personalities and wishes
Do keep track of others
Do accept responsibility for your/the teams’ mistakes
Do keep track of time
Do follow the rules
Do be respectful of everyone else, respecting that it’s their project too.
Do not leave all the hard work to others and take the easy jobs
Do not have favourites
Do not be obsessive with notes and planning
Do not pick a fight
Do not pick people who don’t work well together to work together
Do not be bossy!
What did I learn from the team/followers?
Do listen to your team leader
Do try to understand where your leader’s coming from
Do pull your weight
Do obey your leader
Do support the final decision and leader
Do speak up and voice your opinion
Do be respectful
Do not whine or sulk
Do not be obsessive with notes and planning
Do not try to take over leadership
My Mum has always taught us to be a leader, not a follower.In our social groups, Joshua is the oldest person, and with the exception of one other, I’m right behind him.And while there aren’t many older kids about, there sure are lots of young ‘uns around!And I see that as an opportunity.
Mum tells us that when Josh and I were little, we had family friends who’s youngest were in their early teens.Why would they want to show much interest in two mischievous little kids?But when they came over with their parents for the afternoon, they would give themselves to us, play dolls and trains with us, and ultimately, go crazy with us.We always thought they were just awesome!That’s what I want to be to younger kids, when I’m put in leadership, because I am, especially within the Homeschool group; and I constantly will be.
We know one family who has three young boys, who go to the Church we often go to.Although their boys are under five, they invite us all to their birthday parties and include us older kids – and I greatly appreciate that.It is always something special when big kids join in with little kids.I can always sit up at the table and talk with adults later (although I’ll admit, I do that sometimes already), but now, now is the time where I can, where we can, as young teens (and are still kids!) Do Hard Things, step up and lead who I can, no matter what the age group.
There once was a jail keeper who was known for his good works and righteousness.One night, he went on his rounds to find that all the doors of the cells were open, and fearing for his life that he had failed his job, ran outside to try and kill himself.Two of the prisoners were Christian missionaries.When they saw the jail keeper trying to commit suicide, they ran outside to assure him that all of the prisoners were still there.After hearing the missionaries’ explanations of hope, the jail keeper realized that even though he was fairly upright, he needed Jesus, and asked what could be done about it.Together the missionaries, whose names were Paul and Silas, answered: Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.
Unfortunately, some believe that Paul and Silas’ last statement was a lie; that you don’t have to believe in Jesus to be saved.Henry Beecher was among them.He believed that Charitable acts are a stepping stone to heaven.What does the Bible say about getting into heaven?Jesus stated, For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whomsoever believes IN HIM shall not die but have everlasting life.Note that he doesn’t say whomsoever has power, or does good, or made something cool will have everlasting life, but BELIEVES IN HIM.
On another occasion, Jesus announced, I am THE way, and THE truth and THE life.NO ONE comes to the father except through me.There is just one truth but lots of lies – and only one way to the father.
Paul wrote to Titus in chapter three verse five: He saved us, not because of the righteous things we’ve done, but BECAUSE of his mighty mercy and through Jesus Christ his son.We all have sinned, and no matter how ‘fairly upright’ we are, we all need a saviour: Jesus Christ.Doing good is good, but doing good is not good enough for God – we need Jesus.
Honestly, there isn’t any proof outside the Bible that hints which way we should go, but if we trust the Bible we know that no charitable act will get us into heaven.
I delivered this speech today as a part of our Speak UP program.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - Pooh Bear... you are so wise!
“When you are a bear of very little brains, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”A.A Milne
Joseph: faithful, diligent, truthful.Daniel: available, loyal, dependable.Both were reliable.
Daniel was taken captive when he was 16, and he never returned to his homeland Israel.Nevertheless, he continually showed availability to the several kings he served throughout his whole life.Showing availability involves being ready when called, serving cheerfully and putting others needs above our own.Although available to these kings, Daniel remained first and foremost firm and steadfast to his country, and more importantly, God.Character First! defines loyalty as, “using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve.” He loyally served God and was always wherever God had placed him, ready for God’s instruction.
Although a slave in a pagan land, Joseph also stayed true to God in the thick and thin of life.Diligently he upheld and respected the wishes of his masters, and completed his tasks to the very best of his ability.Faithfully carrying out God’s commands, Joseph took responsibility for his actions, regardless of who was – and wasn’t – watching him.
Other traits enhance the essence of reliability, such as punctuality; respecting other’s time and efforts, and determination: purposing to accomplish the right goals at the right time regardless of the opposition.Joseph and Daniel’s leadership reminds me of a card tower; the people rely on the King, the King relies on Joseph and Daniel, and Joseph and Daniel relied on God.Joseph and Daniel can lift their heads up high, knowing they stayed faithful to God and authorities.Can we?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Analyse the Character, Construct the Foundation
Amos Lawrence, a buisnessman and philanthropist of the 1700's, was a man of principle, faithfulness and self-control.Regardless of where he was or who he was with, He continually chose to deny himself the pleasures that would ultimately lead to trouble, even if they seemed acceptable at the time.
Self-Control
At one place, where he worked, they broke up at 11:00 for a drink each day.“After four weeks,” He recalled, “I found myself admonished by my appetite of the approach of the hour for indulgence.Thinking the habit might make trouble if allowed to grow stronger… I declined partaking with them.”Although a legal indulgence, Lawrence knew and accepted his limits before it became a bad habit.
Faithfulness
When Lawrence became a businessman, he never went to bed without a business deal recorded in his journal or enjoyed a weekend with an account unsettled.Faithfully, he also wrote to his brother, a business partner, sisters and his children.Although it would have been easier to write, he chose to do what was harder and write consistently to his loved ones.
Principle
Amos Lawrence was a man who not only confirmed his beliefs in his personal life, but took his convictions out into his business.When offered a partnership in a bank, Lawrence refused because the bank’s principles didn’t line up with his own personal standards.Only a few months later did that same bank go bankrupt.
So that’s all very well for a man who lived 200 odd years ago… how does that apply to us personally today?As Amos Lawrence advised his son, “Analyse more closely the tendency of principles, associations, and conduct, and strive to adopt such as will make it easier for you to go right than go wrong.”In our life, although hard-going, we should strive, and not compromise to be comfortable, to develop character habits and construct a strong foundation on the author of all those traits: Jesus Christ.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11,12
Saturday, October 18, 2008 - I'm going to chase a goanna!
{Domino’s point of view today}
I’m going to chase a goanna!
I’m going to chase a big over-one-meter one!
What a beautiful day!
I’m not scared!
{Goanna’s point of view when Domino has picked her target}
Oh-oh!A dog.
A big-ish dotty dog!
I’d better run…
NOW!
Uh-oh!Walls!
Big white walls!
I can’t go over it
I can’t dig under it!
I’ll have to go through it!
{Runs through the door.Domino stops}
Uh-oh!Feet!
Mummy’s feet!
I can’t go back
I can’t go under it
I’ll have to go over it!
{Runs over Mum’s feet}
Uh-oh!Lounge!
Carpet and chairs!
I can’t go over it
I can’t go under it,
I’ll have to go through it!
{Runs over the carpet and through the chair}
Uh-oh!I’m stuck!
Look out the window… but….
I can’t go over it
I can’t go under it
I can’t even go through it!
I’m scared.
{Humans call for help.Then they try to flash cameras at it.Domino gets locked up.}
Oh.This isn’t so scary.
The dog is gone.
The camera is gone.
The Human’s feet are gone.
I can go back!
Back over the carpet and through the chairs.
Back around the table.
Back through the door – checks, no dog – good.
Over the veranda and onto the lawn.Phew!
No danger.I’m home.
Human’s are happy.Goanna is happy.Dog not happy. Help comes. Goes home happy.
And they all live happily ever after!
If that didn’t make any sense, then basically our dog chased a HUGE goanna into our house today, ran over Mum’s foot, and hid in our loungeroom. After ten minutes though, he just walked back out.
Last week, we watched the movie Cars.Don’t you just love that movie?It is one of my absolute favourites; as you will find out.I almost cried the first few times I watched it.My favourite part is when McQueen fixes Radiator Spring’s neon and stops, gives up the piston cup to Chic, goes back and helps McKing finish the race.
I was thinking about what McQueen says to the McKing as he pushes him over the finishing line, ‘A grumpy old race car once told me, “it’s just an empty cup”’
The Piston Cup is what McQueen wanted most; it was his passion, his dream, his life.Yet he gave it up to honour and help a fellow race car.
What will we do with our lives?Will we strictly follow our dreams, or help one in need?When was the last time we went out of our way to help someone else?Are our dreams and ambitions so important that we should snub others?We can’t take our efforts to heaven.In heaven, Jesus will look at all the times we’ve done so much as given our little brother a drink; when it comes right down to it, our dreams aren’t so important that we can’t love one another first.
Even if one of you gives one of my little ones so much as a cup of water, then I tell you the truth, he shall certainly get his reward.
My dear brother Joshua, aka Spitfires, tagged me with a tag I actually really wanted to do – so volia!Here it is!Note that these aren’t listed in specific order.
7 Things I Want To Do Before I Die
1. Become an author
2. Go oversees to Turkey and Italy
3. Reach at least fifth grade in piano
4. Speak another language – Italian, Latin, pig Latin…
5. Know the Bible well
6. Be known as an influential and encouraging person
7. Be a Mum and homemaker
7 Things I CANNOT Do
1. Draw
2. Sing opera (at least, others don’t think I can)
3. Not look solemn for more than an hour when there’s no need to be
4. Not crack up when I try hardest not to
5. Not make my bed
6. Go without checking my emails!
7. Stay in my pj’s longer than 30 minutes of being awake
7 Things That I Love About My Mum
1. She loves me!
2. She teaches me!
3. She feeds me yummy food!
4. She understands me!
5. She jokes around with me!
6. There seems to be no end to what she’s done or can do!
7.She is ready to ask for help from me to do something she can’t
7 Things I Say The Most
1. Can I please put some music on?
2. Let me see here…
3. What was I going to say? Oh yeah... 4. Oooh, emails!
5. Cool
6. Mum…
7. I don’t speak.I giggle.
7 Movies I Could Watch Over And Over
1. Anne of Green Gables #1
2. The Creation Adventure Team! Starring Buddy Davis
3. Drive Thru History documentaries
4. The Sound of Music
5. Cars
6. Beverly Hillbillies
7. Veggietales movies
7 Books I Love To Read
1. The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson
2. The Rise of the Wyrm Lord byWayne Thomas Batson
3. The Final Storm byWayne Thomas Batson
4. He Chose You (the Kid’s version) By Max Lucado 5. Fireblazer Biographies; the older kids’ ones.
6. The Bible
7. ALOF books
Do you journal? I love journalling! My current journal would be my third or forth, because the others are either unfinished or lost!
For me, I’ve been continually inspired by several parties.
Millie Keith (from A Life of Faith). When she wrote, she wrote a lot of her feelings down.
Hudson Taylors’ mother and sisters. I read a biography of him and it talks several times of how they would look back at journaled events that happened to them, and it’s helped me to take the time to write in my journal well.
Rachel Joy Scott. She was a Christian martyr in the ColumbineHigh School shooting in 1999. I read her biography, Rachel’s Tears by her parents, Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott. Her journals were a declaration of her faith and predominantly, her prayers to God (from what I read from the excerpts). She had amazing faith; I highly recommend the book.
I write about events and also record my prayers. Sometimes I write down songs I like. When I first started I would title each entry, and it would be written in a more formal way, but I write more causually now and try to actually put my thoughts on paper. Sometimes I write to a person, like a birthday wish. I write about books that I enjoy and have made me think. Or I write down challenging thoughts I’ve been having.
For my devotions, I have another journal, in which I mostly write a verse everyday from the passage I was reading. The only way I’ll remember a sermon is to write it down, so I take it to Church with me. Sometimes I write prayers in there too. Occasionally, I have something from my devotional booklet I want to write down.
I have a third sort of journal too: a reading journal. In it I write thoughts, quotes, timelines, mud maps, ideas for notebook pages, lists, family trees, topics for future research, questions – anything from the books I’m reading! I don’t really have a choice in this sort, but I like doing it now.
My journal is simply a normal bound, lined paper book, with a Jessica-decorated cover. I’ve typed up songs that mean a lot to me, and made a banner that matches my blog banner (!), put a sticker on there, and glued it all onto yellow paper, glued onto the book. Although I’d prefer it not laminated, it was getting too tatty otherwise, so I laminated it.
So, do you journal? Do you like it? Why or why not? Are you 'forced' to journal, or is it something you chose to do?
Reading aloud:what fun!Does your family do this much together?Although we don’t ‘do’ it every night, it is something we all tremendously enjoy.
Recently we read together The Great Turkey Walk by Katherine Karr.It is a fantastic book!Alright, I’ll admit, it has a bit of romance in it, to which Nomi and I were groaning immensely, but other than that, I cannot recommend it enough.Believe the back of the cover when the Published Weekly predicts: Readers will gobble up Karr’s hilarious novel!
When reading aloud, Mum can easily expect some begging on our behalf to read another chapter.Once, we had one of Dad’s fellow workers join in for the night.At the end of the chapter when we finished our pitiful moaning in hope of another chapter, he jumped in too: “I think I might join them Belinda: please more!” It still didn’t work.Still, Mum is a champion when it comes to choosing good books.If any Mum’s out there want some book recommendations, ask her!
Currently we are reading Treasure Island by Lois Robertson Stephenson.Also a fantastic novel!When reading a book aloud, it adds a whole new dimension to it; you might understand the book where you couldn’t before.This is our first ‘classic’ book - other than Winnie the Pooh by A.A Milne.They are extremely witty books!
Books we’ve read aloud:
Winnie the Pooh by A.A Milne
Pharaoh by Jackie French (this one Mum had to skip pieces due to it being of different, ancient cultures)
A Biography on Brother Andrew (I can’t remember the proper title!)
Never underestimate a kids’ story book – ever!We’ve enjoyed many story books being read-aloud, even Josh and I.An example was a book about Marco Polo; it was a longer, not so easy–going book as other ones but a good read aloud still.You can find many historical, mathematical and scientific books out there in kid’s book format.
Christmas: there are so many wonderful books out there with Christ being the focus of Christmas. 2007 Christmas Mum went and bought a large amount of Christmas, Christian books, predominantly from Koorong, and starting at December, read them aloud. We didn’t get through them all!She bought some beautiful books and these will last us for the next few years. An Angels Story by Max Lucado was our definite favourite; it will last us a few years in the coming Christmases. Mum also tried reading aloud some books at Easter time; after a few goes, I’m sure we’ll be better at it!
Give reading aloud a go!After dinner, after lunch, during morning tea – whatever time is best, it still is so worthwhile! Notebooking it afterwards isn’t a bad idea too; after we read Winnie the Pooh we started making a lapbook together.There are so many great books out there – enjoy them together!It is always worth the effort.
Even Dad’s enjoy it – if our Dad isn’t going to be around when we are nearing the end of our book, he will read the last few chapters ahead of us and keep us in suspense, knowing what happens!
I was challenged by the fact that there are too many good books in the world to waste us reading the OK ones and repeat reading the same books. Pleas go read it, then come back and tell me what you thought of it!
I’ve had several comments recently talking about the power and effectiveness of having a blog and telling the world what Jesus has to say on the important issues of today. So I came up with an idea.
What Would Jesus Say? And more importantly, are we prepared to say it?
The WWJS idea is this… just to write one post on any issue you feel God has something to say about once a month, or more if you want to. The goal is to create awareness, even with a few people, of the importance of a Godly, Christian worldview in all of the issues and questions facing our world today, from video-games to foreign aid.
A post can be anything from a thoughtful couple of sentences to a conclusive essay, about any issue, and what God has to say about it. Write a post on the same issue as your friends, or choose something of your own. If you would like to participate, just comment me and we’ll send you the link for the blog button to put on your blog. You can also, if you’d like, put the banner on your blog as well. Of course, you are all free to take part in the challenge without using the banner, or just taking part sporadically.
But what to talk about? I have a short list here; if any body has any other ideas, please tell me.
Another good idea (and a huge time saver) is to use schoolwork you have already written. You could also share links to other people with the same ideal; to tell the world what Jesus has to say. Because He has a lot to tell us.
Abortion
Evolution vs. Creation
A part of Scripture
A Quote you disagree with
An idea you read in a book
An idea about God
A social issue such as poverty, spending money, the environment
A quote you do agree with
A thought you had
A common conception in society
The expectations people have of you (or lack of them!)
Political issues
This is from Joshua's blog. Please go over there and check it out if you want to be involved with this! I certainly intend to. There is a blog button for this on my left-hand side sidebar; please copy it if you are taking the challenge! Forsimplicities' sake, if you would like to take the challenge, don't comment me, comment Josh!
Last week was my 14th birthday! I had a positively wonderful day!
I awoke at 5:45 in my favourite of favourite pj’s and after making my bed and changing, I was greeted by an enthusiastic mother and ‘enthusiastic’ brothers (Nomi was still asleep). Around 7:30 we ate a breakfast of pancakes… Mum cooked something like 3 times the amount of pancakes we ate, so we had plenty of leftovers! Just before breakfast, I opened my presents.The best present of all was a labeling machine from Mum and Dad… yippeeeeeeeee!
Just before breakfast, I opened my presents.