Posted in Family Life

... and wishing I had more of it! But we're home and trying to get back into the swing of things.

BTW, I won the quarter bet! Too fun.

Let's see ... we went to Seattle -- yes, again. This time Dan was with us, as was the rain, which while appreciated after the heat in our neck of the woods, still interfered with our fun. We were rained out at Woodland Park Zoo, and then again on a hike on Steven's Pass. It ruined our camera, or so we thought; we ended up buying a newer, better one at Costco before finding the old one was just too damp. But we do have good pictures of the zoo, the aquarium, the space needle, the science center, and other generally fun things we did.

We've also been to the regional fair in Waterville (very tiny county seat near us) where Dan judged another baking department and I chased children around (mine, my nieces, and some other little munchkin they made friends with there). We visited the uncle with cancer; the chemo is doing its job, but he's looking incredibly old all of a sudden. We met up with an old friend from college and his wife and two little boys at Sun Lakes, where they were camping with her family. We had a work day at the church, where my darling and I are in charge of creating our website. We had a church-in-the-park and picnic. We picked up our poor little truck from the mechanic. I made a stab at cleaning the office, or orifice (as my darling calls it). Hubby made dog biscuits for our client. And then we dropped the busy vacation schedule for the busy normal schedule. Never a dull moment.

The main thing that's been on my heart lately though, is the question of whether I'm actually where I need to be spiritually. Not that I feel like I'm backsliding or purposely sinning, but rather that I don't feel as much as I used to. I had the great privilege tonight of visiting a very special friend by the name of Eva, who was once a missionary to the Alaskan Eskimo tribes and who currently -- even in her 80s -- teaches GED courses at the county jail. Wonderful Christian lady who just exudes the love of Jesus.

I asked her this question: in our Christian walk, is it normal to feel a quiet comfortableness and yet still be passionate about Christ? I put it in terms of that stage of marriage that we're all warned about, where the passion dies off and you become familiar, comfortable even, but still love that person without the overwhelming emotion. Seeing as she never married, I wondered if I stated it wrong, but she is always so gracious.

She described it as one of the phases of life, and yes, of our walk with Him. Sometimes we need comfort, sometimes overwhelming joy, sometimes a dose of humility, but none of those take away from His love for us, or our love for Him. I think I get it. I grew up in a denomination that involved emotion -- not a bad thing in itself, but I can see now where they've gone way too overboard with it. I guess I tend to think I should be emotional about my God. I'm learning more these days anyway to control my emotions, and maybe this is just another area that I need to examine.

That was just one part of a wonderful conversation with this true saint of the Kingdom. I need to see that woman more often; I'm thinking it won't be too long before she leaves this world for His, and I just want to soak up all she can pour into me.

That's it on my thoughts for the night.

Posted in Family Life

... and my fingers can't spell tonight anyway. My backspace key is getting quite the workout.

So just a few notes:

I got another "so good to see you again" at the Republican booth tonight, this time from the undersheriff who acted as the PCO of my neighborhood last spring when the one in that position was down with a brain tumor. (She's completely healed, BTW, and has a wonderful testimony, but that's why I ran for the position.)

My mom and sister joined me in judging 4H demonstrations tonight. We only had three, but tomorrow's lineup looks more in the way of twelve. At least we'll be sheltered from the 104-degree heat by a newly AC'd building. I love this job, and having my mom and sis with me makes it even more fun.

Mom, Dad, Sis and I spent way too much time giggling with our chiropractor in the commercial booth too. To keep themselves busy, he and the staff have taken to dropping quarters in the path and betting on who will pick them up. Tonight we upped the ante -- literally. We had been watching for who would pick up the nickel (the food booth I stopped at didn't have quarters, and we were trying to mock the chiropractor, so we went with what we had). Then my sis dug out an old Starbucks card with only a dollar on it (she's not a coffee drinker obviously -- I would have had an empty one in my wallet!) and tossed it in the path. We then each claimed an age/gender combo that we thought would pick it up, and tossed in a quarter for the pool. His insurance expert won a few minutes later, so she got the dollar-fifty. But then we had to do it again, but back to the quarter -- people actually pick those up quicker than a card for some strange reason. We'll check in when we get there in the morning to find out who won. Too funny!

Anyway, not too much wisdom or humor elsewhere in my life today. Just trying to get everything done and stay cool at the same time. Much easier to do when you stay inside with the AC on, but then the animals get a little upset, and chores don't get done, and stuff doesn't get mailed. Yeah. So, goodnight, sleep .... uh .... cool. Yeah.

Posted in Family Life

Short post tonight.

We've recently rediscovered the Muppets. We got a great deal on the first three seasons (of five?), and are happily nearly done with season two. Happily because we're enjoying it immensely.

I've discovered that my favorite character is Crazy Harry, the lunatic who runs around blowing things up. He's hysterically funny! We shared an evening of Muppets with our best friends over a steak barbecue (now there's a contrast), and now her preteen boys ask, "Did someone say explode?!" I love it. Insanity at it's finest.

Second in line is the Swedish chef. I loved this guy long before I married a Swedish/Slovak chef of my own. My daughter now yells out, "Daddy!" whenever that skit shows up. Today she said something about "the Swedish chef, otherwise known as Dad." How cute!

After that, it's skits like Pigs in Space, how everyone looks at the ceiling when the announcer speaks on the Veterinary Hospital skit, the ancient hecklers in the balcony, Dr. Teeth, the ballroom scene ... oh, my. There's probably pretty close to nothing I don't remember fondly.

If you can get your hands on these old episodes, they're worth it. And season one has the original pilot, which is very different from the show we all know. So there's my wisdom for the night!

Posted in Teachers Corner

Today was much less interesting, but I tried to get a lot done. I put up the shelving pieces that have been all over my floor for a month waiting for me to decide where they're to go. I helped my hubby rearrange his delivery bin so he'd only have a thirteen-hour day. I did the dishes. Wow. I feel accomplished. Oooh.

Actually, we finally got some schooling in. She did a tangram, very quickly too -- I might have to filter out the easy ones from now on. She learned her times tables, yes, all of them. I picked up a "Times Tables the Easy Way" a couple of weeks ago (sorry, Dena -- I hadn't connected you with the competition at that point), and she's pretty much got it, with the exception of speed. That will come. She also started in on a book called "God in Art" (I believe) that I picked up after that wonderful art class at the conference. And then we played a logic game tonight. Not too bad. Oh, and we enjoyed a lovely romp through extremely odd time signatures with composer Leroy Anderson -- I love his music!

I was incredibly impressed with the speakers at the conference this year. Dr. Tom Hoyle of Genesis fame started out, but I only caught half his presentation. Fascinating. He made a scale model of Noah's ark, using only the info in the Bible (not all our crazy notions about how it had to be), and then compared it to scale models of modern-day ships that we know. Highly effective.

The Brain Guy, Terry Small, was one of my favorites. He's a brain scientist, and has never spoken to homeschoolers before. Boy, did he have fun with us! We may be a little too overeager about learning; he loved getting us to do goofy things during his talks. I was even scolded in front of everyone for laughing too much (actually, my "partner" in all these hilarious antics he had us doing made a goofy comment to me using what he was teaching us, so I wasn't really in trouble, but he did "stop the class" to make us share. Essentially, she called me a genius -- I couldn't help but find that laughable!).

He made quite a few good points that I'll be introducing in our lessons this year, but one of the most significant in my eyes was one he related to Alzheimer's. In most of us, myelin sheaths cover our synapses so that we retain information and that connection is strengthened; I've known this for about six years because of some research I did into behavioral problems with early-term preemies (my dd was 8 weeks early). What I didn't know is that recent research shows that Alzheimer's patients lose their memories because the myelin sheathing disintegrates!

I had never thought of that before -- my daughter's behavior back then (and generally that of others with this same problem -- usually labeled ADD, ADHD, Asperger's, Autistic, and others) resembles that of an Alzheimer's patient! Short attention span and memory, major fits over minor issues, hyperactivity, aggression, uncontrolled emotions, and so on -- it all sounds so familiar.

So my next question was: what can we do to improve the production of myelin in these children? I asked Terry, and first of all, he hadn't heard of this research. I'll have to send him the links to the info I found years ago. But second, he said I shouldn't worry because the brain continually produces more and more myelin. I didn't want to offend the man, so I thanked him and figured I'd send him on this goose chase later, but I had plenty more questions. If the brain continually produces more, what causes the brain to stop producing more in the brains of Alzheimer's patients? And the research I read said these early preemies have some improvements (and remember, there's a wide range of affectedness in this group), but most have ongoing issues for most of their lives, at least as long as we've been able to track it. So somewhere, somehow, there's a switch that either gets turned off or damaged in these kids (probably because they trying to survive in an incubator instead of focusing on producing all the remaining developments they've missed in the womb).

Hmm. I can't wait to see what he and other scientists come up with on this one. I wish I had taken more of his courses.

Enough of my ramblings for one night, but I thought I'd start giving you a flavor of what the conference was like. More later.

Posted in Family Life

Get it? "Boot-stomping good time" is the fair theme this year. Get it? Yeah. You should have seen the other title I had going.

It's been an interesting and very long day, with some interesting lessons.

I spent eight hours on barn duty in the home ec building, keeping the glass cases free of fingerprints and sticky remnants of ice cream, and showing people to the entries they couldn't find, and explaining the premium system to fairground newbies. (By the way, do you realize that the cleanliness and overall organization of each barn at your local fair eventually leads to the premium amount you earn for the ribbons you win there? Fascinating process, actually.)

In this long stint, I spent a lot of time thinking over the changes I'd like to bring to our failing fair and our poor little baking department. Highest on my list for both is the idea that grouchy old ladies scare little children away from entering their little projects the following year; if you're going to man a building or sit around demonstrating how to crochet or quilt, SMILE at the children! And everyone else for that matter. So, I was rather irritated with the scowling quilter who calls herself a "fixture" in the neighboring department. She would smart off that things couldn't get that dirty between my third and fourth rounds of Windex patrol. When I let her and the sweet old lady beside her know that I needed to head out for lunch and a bathroom break, she basically questioned that baking was suddenly in charge of the building. For goodness' sake!

Later, I learned that this poor woman has been sick for two weeks, recently moved and has been dealing with quite a bit of other hard things in her life. That doesn't mean I still won't take on the "we've always done it that way" cranky crowd, but I guess I should have a little more sympathy now and then.

So, feeling put in my place a bit, I finished out my shift and spent some time with this year's superintendent learning some more about the books. I finally got a call from my poor hubby, saying he still wasn't done with what he expected to be a 16-hour day, which meant I headed out to get him some dinner, pick up my little fair-worn dd at my sister's house, and head for the hinterlands. On my way out, I passed the Republican booth, and thought I'd wander through quickly and see which personnages of notoriety were stationed there for the day.

I didn't notice anyone I knew offhand, but a few people turned and said hello, including a darling little elderly woman in a blue dress with a slightly mismatched blue straw hat. She asked me to sign the log, and began to offer info on what the party believes, and on and on. I turned to her and said, "Sweetheart, I'm already working for your party." (I can't remember what I've posted and what I haven't. I am currently running unopposed for Precinct Officer of my neighborhood. I don't think she knows that, but somehow my answer pleased her.)

They introduced themselves all the way around, and two gentlemen I recognized by name as being somewhat familiar, the third being the state Republican delegate to the national caucus. She then asked my name. When I told them, I got definite recognition. The delegate turned to the lady and said, "This was one of our delegates to the county caucus." My thought was, Wow -- he must have been there that night, of course. Then the next guy said, "And she's good too." Now I got the hint; they knew me only from that night, and I must have made a bigger impression than I thought.

So, I blurted out something like, "I guess I made a pretty big stink, didn't I?" The third guy said, "Yeah, but that's what we need." At that point, I didn't know what to say. It's a big deal to catch the eye of politicians; you have to do something pretty intense to get that. I knew I was pretty vocal and pretty intense that night, but I just thought I was one of a crowd of us that want to return to true conservative foundations. Maybe it's the younger crowd/female gender phenomenon -- you know the one, the "you're pretty rare in this racket" thing.

It was definitely a boost to my ego, and a confirmation that I'm not the only one in my area feeling this way about a party gone liberal. I can't say it didn't feel good to have people recognize me (or at least my name).

On the other hand, it's greatly humbling. Number one, to be a spokesperson for so many people is a huge responsibility, no matter what level of politics I end up in, but I'm also sad that so many others don't have the education or training to do so for themselves. Why God would choose me to be one of those who ended up in the few effective school programs out there that taught the skills I use today, especially when there are so many others more passionate, more effective, more powerful than I am to do these types of things. His grace is overwhelming, and I so wish that I could pass on all that learning and experience to others on a whim, with the shake of a hand or maybe a simple statement of encouragement.

It also made me think of all the times I feel like I'm invisible in a crowd. I never am, and I do know it at some level. Too many people know my husband, my parents, my ministries, my friends, my church, me, even my car. That's probably the most frightening of all; my hubby calls me Mario for a reason. I'm not a Sunday driver by any means, and I pass anyone who's in my way. I forget how many people in our small region know me well enough to recognize me. What is that saying about me? I guess some level of aggressiveness is a character trait I've never managed to get rid of, but I always hope I use it in the right places (like at caucuses and with stick-in-the-mud fair boards).

After this happened, the radio in the car was playing the song "I Want to Leave A Legacy" by one of the newer Christian artists out there. I've always liked that song, because it is my heart's desire. I want people to see me as a Christian woman who did everything she could to remind people of truth, who laid a foundation that is based on Jesus and then supports a worldview that puts everything in life from politics to religion to education to the tiniest detail of life at the feet of Jesus.

My mother commented tonight that my reputation is beginning to precede me. I hope so, and I hope it's the reputation for doing the right thing, no matter what the cost. Isn't that what He's called us to? I think so. No, let me say that a different way -- I believe so. And that's how I intend to live

Posted in Family Life

The sign-in screen asks that. I laughed -- there's very few left who remember me by now!

Since I haven't posted in a month and a half, I should tell you I had major eye surgery on July 1; it all went well, and this last week, the surgeon released me until late October. Yeah! In fact, I'm seeing so well these days, I even drove myself and my daughter to Seattle for the WATCH conference. Got there and back fine, obviously.

Which brings me to my next topic ... I had the incredible pleasure of meeting Paul and Gena Suarez, our dear publishers here at TOS blogs, and Dena Wood, also a familiar face to TOS readers. Oh, and I can't forget SuzyScribbles, who was signing her new books in the exhibit hall. How much fun that was! It was another one of those times when you know someone so well because you talk on the blogs, that it seems like you're hanging out with your dearest friends from childhood. Well, maybe not since childhood, but at least since having children ourselves!

In a chat session with Gena, she commented that another familiar blogger, SpunkyHomeschool, was just an average mom who is now famous on the blogosphere, simply because she POSTS EVERY DAY. I know that's yelling, but that's about the way it hit me. I'm a journalist for crying out loud, and I can't get myself to write every day! Hopefully that's the kick in the butt I need to get my act together -- not that I want to be famous, but if God keeps telling me to write, I should probably be doing so. Duh.

So, over the next few days, I'll be posting a bit about the conference for those of you Washingtonians who missed it (shame on you!), and a little about the (continual, yes) zoo that my life is.

As for today, we headed out to the prep day for the Grant County Fair. The previous baking superintendant is quitting simply because it's time, and they are desperate for someone new. My hubby was nominated a few weeks ago, but his schedule won't allow it, and if he's the "stupor" (as he calls it), he can't judge anymore and no one in the county wants that. So, yes, I'm it. I spent the morning learning from the pro and meeting all the pertinent people. Shouldn't be too big of a job under normal circumstances, but the administration is new this year (meaning chaos), the previous admin purposely dumped all the previous records (chaos), the numbers are dwindling all over the fair (general depression), and the quilting department is taking over our space (animosity and frustration); thus I have a great deal of work to do this year. I guess one of the reasons my name was brought up is because I actually welcome confrontations, unlike everyone else in line for the job. Sounds like fun, huh?

I also ended up canceling women's bible study for the summer. Too many people going too many directions, and two of my main attendees (out of maybe six) have either had their baby three weeks ago or are on bedrest for the rest of the pregnancy as of this afternoon. So another month or so reprieve, and then we begin Ruth again. (Maybe I didn't mention that before -- we finally finished Philippians after 19 months! We got one lesson into Ruth before the surgery.)

We also visited the book guy again (did I mention he gave me that ancient bid document for Grand Coulee Dam -- what a treasure!), saw the dad of a guy we both went to high school and youth group with (and I dated at two different points in my life), chatted with the 4H super that I'll be judging for this weekend, hung out with the pastor's wife and step-daughter (and her darling little baby), and ran into another friend of mine from high school. It's like people come out of the woodwork on fair week. Wow -- maybe they're thinking the same about me. Ooh.

Anyway, I'm still unpacking from last weekend and this new week's already off and running at full tilt. If you're reading this, thank you for being faithful to me, the ever inconsistent one. I hope to get some good stuff posted here soon. C ya!

Posted in Teachers Corner

I almost forgot! Any of you Washington homeschoolers need to go check out watchhome.org for info on the Christian homeschool conference in August.

They really reconfigured everything this year, and I can't wait to go! The kids are welcome this time around, with their own mini-conference alongside ours. It's at the Seattle Pacific U campus; we get to stay in the dorms or apartments for prices similar to motels, but with the benefit of rubbing shoulders with the conference speakers. BTW, TOS's own publishers Paul and Gena Suarez are supposed to be there too! Nice to have them visiting our neck of the woods!

It's going to be a wonderful conference, and I'd love to have some friends there to visit with. If you decide to go, let me know so we can make plans to meet up

Posted in The Christian Life

Yep, once again, my health has taken over my summer plans.

I was hoping to get online tonight and post some fun thoughts from my weekend rafting trip, or a cheerful hooray because we finally completed Philippians in our women's study after a year and seven months (which we did tonight, BTW).

Instead, I get to tell you that my right eye (the good one) just hemorrhaged again, after seven months. Stepped off the platform after worship yesterday and suddenly couldn't see out that side. Wonderful.

I'm doing better now emotionally. Everyone else seems more upset about it than I am, maybe because I've been through it several times before. The thing that I'm getting this time around is that it's like the grieving process in a way.

I was supposed to teach Sunday School yesterday, so in the rush from worship to the classroom, I pretty much tucked it away -- that's the denial. "No, it has to be something else. I don't have time for this." A mother and daughter came in and took over for me (they knew because the dad is the elder that I asked to initiate prayer after the service, since Pastor was already starting the lesson). That was such a blessing, and allowed me the time to fully comprehend what was happening to my eyes.

When the board prayed for me, I finally hit the grief stage. Having been through this, I knew that surgery will follow (pray for me on July 1), and that all the things I meant to do this summer will be put on hold or canceled altogether. It also means that whatever progress I've made in controlling my blood sugars went out the window with the pizza and pop I had Saturday night, and the McGriddle I had that morning (my assumption may be wrong, but I'm assuming that's the reason it happened at the time it did). So I cried, but only for about five minutes.

Now, that's not a brag. That's almost a criticism of myself, actually. With all the changes that will occur in my life in the next six months because of this, I should have cried for at least an hour. Five minutes. I don't know whether that's good or bad. Either way, It's grieving, and I hit it in front of most of the church.

The next part, the acceptance and coping, seemed to hit immediately. I worried about the plans Dan and I had with our friends and a river raft; Dad ended up taking my place on the raft, and Mom drove me to meet them afterward for dinner. I was still running around encouraging ladies to come to Bible study, and talking about next week's Sunday School lesson, and making plans for the ladies' activity in a week. If it wasn't for the blur in my vision, it would have been just any other Sunday. Almost sounds like denial again, doesn't it?

I thought so too, until today. Now I see it as the anger stage too.

My pastor's wife was sick and home from church yesterday, so she called today to pray with me and find out how I was doing. She said, "Dani, I don't even know how to pray for you." Most everyone's just praying for my eyes and my vision, but Pastor and his wife are both nurses, and understand that it's more than that. The whole thing is so complicated, and this is so common for diabetics, that simple prayers for vision and health every week, every day, seem to be not near enough to address the real issue.

I told her that my prayer request is for peace and rest. I go through stuff like this all the time. Comas, broken bones, vision problems, pain in my feet, threats of dialysis, so many other things, all the time. I actually said, "I just want to be left alone." Not being isolated from friends and people who love me, but from the constant feeling that my life is one disaster after another. From the sorrow I feel for my family who has to care for me instead of enjoying the summer, or the carefree days that we watch other families share. From the physical suffering. From the comments like "what is it this time?" or "It's always something with you, isn't it?"

I began to understand Job in a different sense. He lost so much, much more suddenly than I have, but a deep loss nonetheless. He mourned over his loss. He bent under the weight of it. He begged God to tell him why, to stop the pain and loss, to explain Himself. He buried himself in what had to be done, burying his children, cleaning up the mess that his life had become, all the while questioning God and feeling angry at no one in particular.

I know how that feels. I'm not angry at God; I've known since I was a child that I would endure these things before His promised healing would come. I'm not angry at myself; I may not have my diabetes under complete control, but I try every day. I'm not angry at doctors, family, society, anything. I'm just angry, and hurting, and frustrated, and tired of the battle.

When I think of Job sitting in the dirt, scraping off the scabs with broken pottery, listening to his best buddies say, "Give it up, Dude. Curse God and die," I now see the tired eyes that look up and respond with quiet determination. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

My eyes are tired, but this won't stop me. I'm reading, but with glasses now. I'm driving, but with a strength in my left eye that I never had before. I'm teaching from my memory and from the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I'll get through this, just like I have every other disaster that's befallen me. My God is bigger than the Boogey Man (thanx, VeggieTales), than the prince of this world, than this disease. This will all be to His glory someday. In Philippians 4, at the end of the chapter and of the book, Paul says, "this suffering is nothing compared to the glory that He will reveal to us later." Amen; this is truth; it can't be argued.

In the meantime, pray for me. For peace in this storm. For patience with all the changes and frustrations that come with this. For grace in accepting the help of my family and friends. For the faith that I know God is creating in me. Thanks.

Posted in Family Life

... has finally been published!

Yesterday, the Columbia Basin Herald published its summer "Choose Your Own Adventure" travel guide, which this year included a lengthy piece on local historical markers and points of interest, written by me! How exciting!

My dear hubby and I love to prowl around with old tomes in hand, searching for faint clues to the past. We've discovered ice caves in the middle of the desert, abandoned railroad cuts, roads trailing off into rivers and lakes, native axeheads, and the vantage points from which many famous pictures were taken. This is probably our number one family hobby. Dd comes home from excursions with as many ticks as the dog, and sometimes months down the road we have difficulty deciphering what the subject of that picture was. But it makes us very happy.

So when my dear boss asked if I would take on this project, I was thrilled! We had so much fun traveling around snapping the 200+ pictures, of which I only sent the paper 70. I think they only used a third of them, but some of them were actually really good ones. We prayed for sunny skies, and God granted them, with the exception of the stormy one that perfectly set off the white hills of the diatomaceous earth mines. How cool He is!

Anyway, we're planning on taking this basic info and writing a book on this area. We have several people from previous generations that we're going to interview, and so many books to read, that I have no idea how long it will take us, but I'm sure I'll let you know.

In the meantime, if you're headed this way for any reason, contact the Chamber of Commerce in Moses Lake, or the Columbia Basin Herald, and they should be able to get you a copy. That is, if my family doesn't snag them all up first!

Posted in Family Life

This is my latest favorite incident.

I'm a horrible night owl, and my only time alone is after everyone else is in bed. So my daughter has been taught to get up, feed the animals, have a piece of fruit, and watch a couple of cartoons (we have Boomerang, so she gets all the good old ones!). I get up an hour or so later.

A couple of mornings ago, I came out and sat near her on the couch. She began chattering about the morning's shows, how the dog was behaving, asking what my activities the night before entailed, all the while looking around the room and ignoring the cartoon she had been watching.

Finally, she sighed and said, "I really need to find a book on conversation starters. I just don't what know what to say to you that's interesting."

Oh, my. Poor thing! She just wanted to talk with me, and didn't know what to say!

Posted in The Christian Life

Remember that editing project I was working on months ago (yes, back when I abandoned my blog yet again -- what of it?)? Well, I received the book in the mail yesterday!

The paper I was editing was published as an appendix to a reprint of "The Battle for the Bible" by Harold Lindsell, which was originally published in 1976 through Zondervan. This version is abridged (removing a few chapters on specific church movements of the 70s), and includes an intro by Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel movement. His brother Paul is the one I was working with, and our paper is found in the back of the book. They put my name on the title page as the editor of the appendix.

My name has been in the paper more times than I can count, and some of my work for them doesn't even get an official byline, so I've probably had a few hundred of my articles, stories and ads be published locally. This, though, is way more cool. In a book!

They did a press run of 3000 books, hoping to give them out at the various pastors' conferences around the country. Right after publishing, the east coast conference ordered 2000! Wow. Humbling. The main conference is next month; at this rate, they're going to need to print more in a hurry. We'll see what they do.

I could care less about my name being in lights on some marquis. I'd much rather see it in print! Now to prepare for the backlash from the other side ... pray that God gives us wisdom and compassion.

OK, OK, already. I'm sorry I've ignored you for so long. Please forgive me.

That good enough?

Posted in Teachers Corner

My dd just informed me that the pinecones are popping! If you don't know about this, check my post on it from last year.

Hooray!

Posted in Family Life

This evening I had one of the most traumatic experiences in my life. I've had several, none of which you really want to hear about. Come to think of it, you may not want to hear about this one either.

We had a batch of chicks hatch last year, and now that they're all grown up, they fly very well. In order to protect them from dogs and coyotes, we have a 100SF strawbale coop which opens into a 1/2-acre, fenced pasture, where our flock of 6 geese, 3 ducks and roughly 15 chickens live. If they can fly, they aren't safe. So about once a year, we have to clip the outermost feathers on their wings.

Now, we've learned from past experience that trapping them all in the coop after dark is the easiest; we then corner them, clip them, and toss them out into the pasture while we catch the rest of the flock. They tend to be quietly roosting, half-drugged from melatonin or its chicken-equivalent, and thus fairly docile. Normally they're this way. Tonight they were not.

The three of us barricaded ourselves in there, dd at the small chicken door to the pasture, armed with a screen and a fear of flying chickens. Warranted, considering what came next. Fifteen angry birds began to fly over our heads, dive-bombing us as they tried to find a way out. Several hens seriously thought they could get through the screen and made a horrible racket letting us know how upset they were at not getting through. Our poor girl began screaming as the wings and claws flew in all directions. We'd finally catch one, and it would squeal like a stuck pig until it realized we weren't hurting it; but then it would scream again when we dropped it outside the warm coop into the blackness.

Part of the way into the flock, we caught one of our new roosters, and through the cloud of dust, we were admiring his beautiful feathers. Suddenly he let out a shriek, and caught me across the cheekbone with a wing. Let me say, that was two hours ago and it still hurts. But that wasn't the traumatic part.

We were down to two little hens huddled in a corner behind a stack of boxes, and I crawled back there to scare them out. I managed to get a handful of tail feathers on one of them, and as I was trying to get a good hold on her, the other flew up and tried to land on my head. I managed to hand off the first one to my hubby, simultaneously trapping the second one with my head against the wall of the coop. That was a tricky move; I was pretty proud of myself. I reached up to grab her, catching her throat on one side, and a leg on the other.

Now, remember that we're coughing up lungs in the dust, I've been beat up by a rooster, and I broke at least one nail. I'm already having a bad night.

As I pull the hen up over my head, my dear hubby says, "Ooh! She's throwing up!" Yes, that's what I said. In my hair, down my neck inside my coat, all over my hand and arm. She's fine; thanks for asking. I'm not.

AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! I don't remember anything else as disgusting in my life! And I don't get grossed out easy, either.

So, we're standing on the back porch, commenting on how we need face masks next time. My husband notices that I'm covered in dust (somehow momentarily forgetting that I'm also covered in chicken puke), and begins to beat it off the front of my coat. This seemingly kind and helpful action was instead rubbing it into my neck and making me ill. I don't think I've ever made it from the back porch to the shower in that short of a time frame ... ever.

Oh, the joys of animal husbandry. Next time I'm wearing a bio-hazard suit.

Posted in Teachers Corner

I was so unbelievably proud and excited for my little girl today.

This morning, in reading Genesis where God asks Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, she caught on to the typology! Seems like such a ridiculous thing, but I believe it shows that she's understanding the link between the OT and the NT, prophecy, and the theme of the Bible in general. I watched her eyes light up when she made the connection between Isaac and Jesus, Abraham and God the Father, Mount Moriah and its later name -- Golgotha, the three day journey home that doesn't mention Isaac, the missing lamb sacrifice that Isaac was to replace, and the substitutionary ram in his place. I know I've said it before, but this is why I homeschool!

The other event of the day was venturing out for a bike ride (yes, it was over my temperature threshold of 50 degrees, so I agreed that I was going to die of hypothermia). She was terrified to ride a bike two years ago, then interested and slowly progressing last year until I broke my ankle in May, and now finally excited. So we loaded up the gear and headed for the old airport roads a couple of miles away. The excitement turned to frustration and crying, though, but mostly because she's more of a drama queen and less of the tough girl than she thinks. But by the end of the trip, she was riding for 80 to 100 feet at a stretch, and starting and stopping on her own. Hooray! Maybe now we can all start losing some weight...

Oh, and I have to mention that we were out there before the public school kids were released from their institutions, and that we nearly got stopped in a school zone on the way home. Fortunately the officer knew we were pulling out in the middle of the zone, couldn't see the sign, and didn't see any kids yet, so we didn't know. He reminded us with a gesture as we went by, without stopping us. I guess that's one drawback to homeschooling -- we don't know when the others are going to and from school. But I'll take that anyday!

Posted in Teachers Corner

I am getting a recurring message from multiple sources lately that I can't ignore anymore. I've come across it in the Word, in talks from homeschool and church leaders, and even in conversations I've just "happened" to have lately.

It all points to one thing -- my job is to teach my daughter about Jesus, first and foremost. To teach her about His ways, His principles, His commands of us, His mercy. To teach her how to apply that and remember that in her everyday life.

I've been spending too much time trying to cram in all the traditional school subjects. She balks, makes excuses, gets distracted by everything from the weather to music to the trains that rumble by multiple times a day. She eventually gives up all hope of completing the task, because Mom's already too frustrated to have patience with her. Not every day, but too many.

So, we've changed our tactic. I know, seems like I can't stick to anything for more than two weeks, but we're liking this. Everyday we start out with her spelling and grammar starter -- one of those little flip calendars that has a mini-activity for each day. We do this over breakfast, using her little whiteboard at the table for writing suggestions.

Next, we read the Bible. She decided she wanted to read through the Bible in a year (I think I mentioned that in my last post), so her reading schedule is posted on the wall of the classroom and she marks it off every day when we're done. It takes us about an hour to read the chapters and discuss them, talking about how to apply the lessons in them to her (and my) life.

Then she does her spelling. This child has an excellent vocabulary, but her spelling doesn't exactly match up with her big words. She completes a unit of twenty words every two days (her schedule, not mine!), and gets practice writing and alphabetizing in the process.

After that, each day has its own topic. Mondays are langurage arts (vocab, italics handwriting, grammar, word roots), Tuesdays are math (she's in a wonderful phase where she's covering everything from addition to division to graphing to algebra), Wednesdays are science (today we covered weather -- for the hundredth time but at her request -- and made rain inside the house -- read the current issue of TOS for the instructions), Thursdays are history (I've talked about the books we're using in a recent post), and Fridays are arts and crafts (oh my, all the directions we can go with that).

I guess I'll add in the character development, manners and home ec stuff here and there, but maybe she'll agree to do those the weeks Daddy works on Saturday. And, of course, she's gearing up for planting her flower and vegetable gardens, so we'll have to work that in somewhere too. Oh, and we're reading from Kids of Courage on Sundays after church.

She's already happier with this schedule. We went for a family walk this afternoon (unheard of, but mostly because I am cold-blooded and need greater heat in order to get me to venture outside), and she was able to play with a neighbor friend for a while too. She's built targets out of big markers and rulers, and then shot them down with Nerf dart guns. She's happy!

So, we'll see if this works. Above all else, I guess I just need to focus on God's command to teach her His way instead of worrying about the state's screwed up priorities.

Posted in The Christian Life

I don't know why I have this kind of writer's block. I have years' worth of notes and studies I've done that I can pull out and bring in here. I read all the time and have amazing (to me, anyway) thoughts about these readings that I can share. But somehow, when I sit down to the computer -- and sometimes even when I'm just thinking about sitting down to the computer -- I can't seem to come up with anything to say. How does that work?

I did get invited to edit and write for Pastor Paul. We're trading emailed versions of the paper as each item gets corrected. I suppose this will ensure that we pay our internet bill on time. This paper will be used as an introduction to a reprint of a book that hasn't been published in 30 years. Then I may have the opportunity to help him write up information on a regular basis for the pastors. I know my typing doesn't express it clearly enough, but I'm ECSTATIC!!!! Wow. What God has planned is never what you expect.

So, in deciding that the best way to prepare yourself to write is to read -- a lot -- I'm reading all sorts of things ... the Bible, books on the Christian walk, books and magazines on homeschooling, Christian novels, old books (like Jane Austin), and ministry newsletters and websites. I'm listening to nearly as much, from news with a Christian worldview to home educators' seminars (thank you, Dana!). The interesting thing I'm finding is that, no matter what the source, the materials I've surrounded myself with involve either the inerrancy of Scripture (and/or how we apply that Scripture if we really believe it) or just simple truth in general (as in the social ills portrayed in Pride and Prejudice). Even our deacon who taught church yesterday (our pastor and wife should be home from vacation today) touched on this subject.

This morning, my dd and I decided to try to read the Bible in a year. We found a website (actually, it's Answers in Genesis) where you can create your own reading schedule, using various formats and starting dates. So, today was the first three chapters of Genesis. My little one was commenting on how evolution differs from the Creation account. I was able to begin teaching her about trusting the Word, partly because of another conversation we had last night. We had spent some time at Voice of the Martyr's Kids of Courage site, and were reading about the Muslims in Morocco and around the world. We read that less than half of the Christians who claim that they read the Bible (a very small number already) also believe that it's the inerrant Word of God! My little one was appalled.

How can we call ourselves Christians -- followers of Christ -- and yet not read or believe what He says in the Bible? And yet so-called Believers are falling for the teachings of Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and even Oprah Winfrey -- that the Bible is irrelevant, outdated, flawed and outright NOT the Word of God Himself. My heart grieves for them. They're getting lost in a deception straight from Satan himself, one that is extremely difficult to explain to them while they're immersed in such an overwhelming "experience." Without the foundation of the Word, no experience is accurate and no freedom is true.

I know I'm probably preaching to the choir, but it's so prevalent these days. I can only pray that God protects our minds and hearts, and opens our eyes to the lies that lead us astray. Sorry I'm being so heavy today, but this is such a heavy burden. Ask Him for wisdom, and He will give it to you -- James 1:5.

Posted in The Christian Life

I caught something today in Hosea 4. Verse 6 says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge..." Now, how many times do we hear people (I think I've even said it) say that this says that we need to know as much as possible about any sort of plan, because we're doomed to fail if we don't know what is or has gone on.

That's not what this passage is about. The context is tied up in judgment of Israel for their sins, and specifically here for the sin of the priests. This is a statement to the priests, who have refused to teach the people about God and His ways, that they too will be taken down when God deals with Israel. Verse 1 says God has a legal complaint against Israel on a number of counts, one being that there is no knowledge of God in the land. Having told the people several generations earlier to "teach their children" His ways, to remind them constantly of His precepts, to tell them how He brought them out of Egypt and out of the wilderness -- here God brings this transgression of His own command before them, and then lays out the judgment.

Interesting. So our kids "are destroyed for a lack of knowledge" about God! I don't know what that says to you, but it tells me that my little one is right where she belongs, learning about God, His ways, and His love for her every day -- not just on Sunday. It also tells me that I need to keep it up, even ramp it up; last thing I'd want is for her to not remember Him and then be chastised by Him all because of my failings.

It also tells me what kind of knowledge is important. Not just sucking up every bit of news that comes on, researching any other topic to the Nth degree, reading just to be reading (though all of those have their appropriate place, and for a limited amount of time) -- my desire for knowledge should be centered on learning more about Him.

That's my thought for the day.

Posted in The Christian Life

I sent off the corrected copy today. I can't wait to see where this goes.

I get an email from him the other day. Said he had been given permission by this scholar's family to publish his books, and that he believes I'm a vital link in that process. Wow. Humbling. And exciting at the same time.

I called to talk to my mom, mostly because my hubby was already asleep for the night, and she reminded me of a conversation we had over ten years ago. God had been very clear that I was not to go into an architectural firm, that He had something better for me. After throwing a royal fit, I began to ponder what talents He had given me, and what He might have for me to do.

Not expecting all the wonderful things I could never have dreamed of, like my beautiful daughter and homeschooling and writing cancer stories for my local newspaper and all the other odd things I've done in the last decade, I had come up with something involving writing and architecture. Mom reminded me that we had actually discussed the idea of editing for some periodical, possibly an architectural one.

Now, here, after all these years, suddenly I get a carrot dangled in front of me. What's the possibility that I get to edit, not in the physical architecture world, but in the spiritual architecture world -- building up the Body of Christ? I hope this is it, and I'd trust in Him even if it wasn't, and I'm anxious too -- can I really do it? This isn't the local paper, even with it's millionaire publisher and high-tech press. This is a world-wide, Christian publishing company -- and God very clearly gave me a divine appointment with the man who could get me involved.

Oh, how I hate waiting for a clear answer. Let's see if I'll even be able to focus on writing until I get a response.

Posted in The Christian Life

This last week, as I mentioned yesterday, I attended the Pastor's and Leader's Conference for our church movement for all of the Northwest Region of the United States. Wonderful event, and God spoke to me in so many ways. I wanted to share with you my favorite.

On the drive to Spokane, I was listening to John Loeffler's radio show on CD (you'll find a link to his website on my side bar under Steel on Steel, I believe). He was discussing the problems with the emergent church and seeker church movements, and mentioned yet again the classic work by Francis Schaeffer. I've wanted to read this book for quite a while, but always seem to forget to put it on my shopping list; the man spoke of the direction the church was taking and where it would end up, much of which is coming to pass today.

That afternoon, I saw again a gentleman I met last year by the name of Paul Smith. If you're familiar with Calvary Chapel, he's the brother of the founder of our movement, Chuck Smith. Paul is a sweet, grandpa type, with a shy smile, deep intelligence, and a heart for his Savior. I didn't get to talk to him until the second night, and that's a story in itself. A friend from my church had invited me to stay at her mom's place with her in Hillyard, and made sure to show me how to get there the first night from the Spokane church; this night owl needed to get there on my own, while she went home as soon as we let out to be with her family. After she left, I then decided to go back into the side hall (where all the books, CDs and other info tables were) to look again at a new textbook on apologetics for kids (more on that another day). This particular lady left after half an hour, so I moved on to Paul's table to peek at whatever books he might have available.

The background on him involves the structure of our movement. We are a loose band of churches with the same beliefs and basic format, unlike denominations such as the Assemblies of God, which have a clear church hierarchy and national office. So, for us, the publications, books, and general information department, called Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship, serves to link us all together. Hence Paul being present at this conference.

On his table, was a DVD of Francis Schaeffer with the same title as his classic work. I asked the man behind the table if it was just a collection of talks that Schaeffer gave on the subject, or did it actually include the text as well. He didn't know, and called Paul over to give me what info he knew. We ended up in a fascinating discussion of church history, current church movements, and the recently released papers of a scholar named Harold LIndsell. Paul suddenly stops and says, "Here, why don't I give you a copy of a paper I just wrote?" We continued the discussion for a while, then I left to go "home" for the night.

I only read half of the document before really needing sleep, but I was noticing typos and minor corrections that needed to be made -- call it my background doing proofreading, but things like that are very obvious to me. I concluded that he hadn't published it yet, and considered offering him my services in proofreading the next morning first thing. I fell asleep wondering why he had given it to me, and not someone else of greater stature, or at least greater age.

I didn't catch him again until the conference was over the next afternoon. More than 3/4 of the attendees had left already, and I thought I'd just check the side room one more time before leaving myself. As I turned the corner, he was coming right at me on his way out. He confirmed that he had not published it yet, and I asked if he'd like my help in proofreading it. I thought he was going to cry! He simply said, "That's an answer to my prayers!" He gave me his contact info, and we went our separate ways.

If you have been following my writing at all, you know that my heart is to write, and in fact, that seems to be part of the call on my life. The main problem I face is location; I'm a stay-at-home mom in a rural part of Washington, so how do I get to use my talents? I can write for my local paper, teach my local women's Bible study, do a little blogging here and there, but nothing on the kind of scale that I'd love to do. Here I get wrapped up in proofreading for a man involved in the distribution of Christian materials from California! Who knows where this will lead, but I see a bit of light through a doorway that I didn't notice before.

So, paper is proofed. I need to mail it off, and see what happens from there. God's ways are truly mysterious, above my own, and greater than I could ever ask or hope.