Fun Facts

This week we have been taking a much needed break from school. After nearly 10 weeks of tons of work (reading, math, history and science) we decided that fall break was looking like a pretty good option, so even if we go a week longer at the end of the year, I needed some time away from the books! I figured since I wasn't working as hard I would share some fun facts that I haven't had a chance to yet.

• Petra and I painted out nails together for the first time. My toes and her toes and nails.
• Silas has informed us that Mr. Popper named his penguins after my sister Jenny and her husband Scott, which I thought hysterical. (Poppers penguins are capt. cook, Greta, Magellan, Arabella, jenny Scott and some other names I cannot currently recall.)
• My kids think that a good competition is seeing whose mouth can open the widest. I think a good competition is who can keep silent the longest.
• My kids are all fascinated by Ancient Egypt right now, good thing we are currently studying that in history. I even got them watching a documentary! Am I a nut or what?!
• Fall is my favorite season of the year, but I hate that the fam always gets a cold at this time of year.
• I don't know about you, but I hate it when people tell me I must have the patience of a saint to handle more than one kid. I don't have the patience of a saint and I fail daily dealing with all four of my kiddos. Seriously I feel more inadequate everyday!
• I can hardly believe that 8 years ago this month my husband and I started dating...officially.

So I suppose those are out little fun facts for the week. Aren't we just simply the most interesting people you have ever met? :p

Hiking Malvern Hill Battlefield

Imagine being a reb trying to charge across this field toward these guns.

there was a whole bunch of them lined up on a small hill in the middle of the field.

Someone didn't quite make the whole walk.

Old farm road used by the conferate to try to flank the union lines. it didn't work, obviously.

If you are interested in knowing more about Malvern Hill and the Battle there. Here is a link to the wikipedia page.

Update.....Even When We Are Kinda Boring

Can't forget the crazy pic! Here's our fab female Boone Baby!

Drinking: hmm, I have to be thankful they have a Sonic here too! :)

Recovering: I don't want to answer this one, suffice to say that we have yet to recover. I suppose one can honestly say that we will always have the truth of our eternal allegiance upon us.

Reading: Where do I start? The Wizard's first rule-fantasy recommend from my sis Jenny. Rutherford's letters-I read them every so often and man is this guy on point or what?! I have read some of his letters before, I assume our current reality has something to do with his power today rather than yesterday. Also reading Luther's treatise on Good Works- Always knew I loved Luther. Slowly wading through Bonhoeffer Bio by Metaxes-I hope everyone knows by now I love reading Bonhoeffer! I am reading a few other things that are probably of little interest to anyone but me. Plus Gooney Bird Greene with my first grader (when did he get sooo OLD????).

Studying: Luke and Joel (now, just finished Lamentations)

Linking: http://www.goodreads.com/-If you haven't signed up and are a reading nut I hope you will. It is alot of fun to see what other people are reading and what their favorite books are. I heard someone say once that where one is well read one need not fear any ideas, it is only the less well read who must fear being apprehended by a wayward idea. I hope that means I am well read, although I would probably say I was far from well read, as you will see if you join! :)

Watching: Nothing right now. But I recently re-watched the Hiding Place and was reminded again that "no pit is so deep that He is not deeper still." I am not one to over-spiritualize by any means but I have to admit somehow that watching seemed providential, because I really wasn't wanting to watch it over. But I am thankful for her testimony once again. I love that Corrie ten Boom says that because her sister died she now gets to speak about Jesus to everyone. I often forget that my struggles are often the means by which the gospel is brought forth, already that has been true. It is easier for people in struggles seeing us so clearly struggling to speak to us. I suppose we are more available than ever before. More Human, but isn't that the point, to become what God created us to be.....true humans-just as Christ was the epitome of Humanity so one day will we be to--exactly what He created us to be if we follow Him completely.

Listening To: New iTunes songs I downloaded, maybe it is a bad sign when all the songs I like are .69 cents? I also was able to play a trick on my hubs, so that's ALWAYS fun!!!

Idols Are Usually Nice Things....Bummer, Eh?

Think it not hard if you get not your will, nor your delights in this life; God will have you to rejoice in nothing but himself.
                                           --Samuel Rutherford

Maybe personal happiness, ease or even delightful things aren't really as important as we would like to make them?

Where Milk Comes From

"My stomach hurts."

"Does it, Gresham?"

"Yes, I want some milk to make my stomach feel better"

"Okay....."

"Gresham, where does milk come from?" I cannot stay out of the conversation.
"It comes from the store." He is very certain about this.
"Yes, but where does the store get it from?"
"No where we just buy it, we just put it in the cart and I help."
"Milk comes from animals, Gresham."
"No it doesn't!" Quite indignantly!

"Yes it does it comes from cows." and here occured the funniest part. A blank and obviously disapproving stare met my last statement. He was stoick. "Don't you believe me?"

"No!" Total certainty again! I wonder why its absolutely unheard of from this boy of mine to get milk from a cow.

And if men want to praise us...

Martin Luther wrote....

...Be on one's guard, to flee from and to avoid all temporal honor and praise, and never to seek a name for oneself, or fame and a great reputation, that every one sing of him and tell of him; which is an exceedingly dangerous sin, and yet the most common of all, and, alas! little regarded. Every one wants to be of importance and not to be the least, however small he may be; so deeply is nature sunk in the evil of its own conceit and in its self-confidence contrary to the[se] two first Commandments. Now the world regards this terrible vice as the highest virtue, and this makes it exceedingly dangerous for those who do not understand and have not had experience of God's Commandments and the histories of the Holy Scriptures, to read or hear the heathen books or histories. For all heathen books are poisoned through and through with this striving after praise and honor; in them men are taught by blind reason that they were not nor could be men of power and worth, who are not moved by praise and honor; but those are counted the best, who disregard body and life, friend and property and everything in the effort to win praise and honor.

...quoting....

...St. Augustine says: "All other vices are practised evil works; only honor and self-satisfaction are practised in and by means of good works."

...very passionately he adds...

...The holy Name of God, which alone should be honored, is taken in vain and dishonored through our own cursed name, self-approval and honor-seeking. And this sin is more grievous before God than murder or adultery, but its wickedness is not so clearly seen as that of murder, because of its subtlety, for it is not accomplished in the coarse flesh, but in the spirit.

...vehemently he reminds all of his readers that...

And if men want to praise us and not God in us, we are not to endure it, but with all our powers forbid it and flee form it as from the most grievous sin and robbery of divine honor.......flattery is not to be endured. but not only that but any praise that detracts from the Lord.

I wonder if he thought we would need to listen to his wise counsel?
I know I need to hear this....frequently....

Another History Lesson

 I bet you are jumping for joy....

On Chancellorsville Battle Field near the sight of the accidental shooting of General Jackson.

the western end of the battle field, where the sign is of course, but also almost on either end of this sign were northern and southern troops entrenched.

the Road Jackson was riding on when shot, about 1900.

The road Today, not changed too much has it?

Artillery encasements on the hill east of the line of Jackson.

Map of the Wilderness battle field. May 1864 Lee met Grant and altogether there was an astounding loss of life. Aproxamately 28000 dead. The sadest part was that over 1000 union soldiers were simply left where they fell and were not even burried, at the fredricksburg national cemetary, for an entire year! That's enough to make your stomach turn!

My little fellows. And though they are willing fellows, the fact that there is never a good excuse for war has our eldest convinced he wouldn't have fought in this battle or in this war.

And so I actually have been to Chancellorsville. I have alsways wanted to visit and see these places, but it is sad to think of standing where you can actually see the entrenchments, often both sides across from one another. Knowing that they were fighting and dying here, very violently.

We visited several battle fields yesterday after running errands for Daddy. We got to see Chancellorsville, the battle of the Wilderness (Where Longstreet lost the use of his arm) Field, and Spotsylvania Battle field home of the infamous Bloody angle. What is most disturbing about this is that the Wilderness battle was quickly followed, only days later, with Spotsylvania Court House. If you are into this stuff, check out some of the history behind who our nation was and now why we are who we are. This War was very instrumental in making america of today. It's not shrouded in glory like we would prefer to think, but a sad history like any civil war.

Crazy Talk



I am certain no one can imagine a face like this being extra silly.

 "Daddy, You have a nose on your brain....and a mouth on your brain! Daddy! You have EYES on your brain!!" -Crazy Boy #2

...Father, If i should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty, make my heart prize thy love, know it, be constrained by it, though I be denied all blessings, It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants, for by these trials I see my sins, and desire severance from them. Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, tempations, if I an thereby feel sin as the greatest evil, and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee, acknowledging this is as the highest testimony of thy love....When I am afraid of evils to come, comfort me by showing me that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch, but in christ I am reconciled and live; that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest, but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace; that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good, but in Christ I have ability to do all things. Though now I have graces in part, I shall shortly have them perfectly in that state where thou wilt show thyself fully reconciled, and alone sufficient, efficient, loving me completely, with sin abolished. O Lord, hasten that day.

-Valley of Vision, "Contentment" pg 163 Bennett

In the Valley

The life of Christian faith is not freed from pain—but out of the pain comes rich blessing. The crown of thorns must be worn by the Master's friends who follow him faithfully—but the thorns burst into sweet flowers as the light of heaven's morning touches them.

"God has not promised
Skies ever blue,
Flower strewn pathways,
Always for you.

God has not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.

But God has promised
Strength from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
And undying love."

--J.R. Miller

www.gracegems.org

Great Worship Song---Please Visit HERE!!

Why Luther is a Cool Dude...

lThis is real strength, to trust in God when to all our senses and reason He appears angry; and to have greater confidence in Him than we feel. --Martin Luther

For that is no to have a god, if you call him God only with your lips, or worship him with the knees or bodily gestures; but if you trust Him with the heart, and look to Him for all good, grace and favor, whether in works or sufferings, in life or death, in joy or sorrow...    ---Martin Luther

Where is Your Train Headed?

If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

...because it makes me laugh

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Tea Time

Reading List Update

I have been very busy with homeschooling lately and haven't had the time or the energy to read as much as I would like, but here's where we stand currently. I am losing the battle, but I hope to turn things around in time. I will periodically post my progress, more for me than anyone, I hope it won't be terribly annoying!

Larissa's bookshelf: read-2010-11

Charlotte's Web

by E.B. White

tagged:
read-2010-11 and read-with-kids

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa

by E.B. Sledge

This book has been the most horrifying world war II account I have read. My grandfather was in the navy in the Pacific and was at okinawa and it is much easier for me to understand his personal feelings about the war after having read this....

tagged:
history and read-2010-11

Phantastes

by George MacDonald

Like many of the other reviewers, I am certain that a second reading would reveal much more of this story to me. Many times throughtout the reading I wished I could just jump into MacDonalds mind and find the key to much that I am sure is a...

tagged:
fantasy and read-2010-11

Pygmalion

by George Bernard Shaw

Truly enjoyed the dialogue between all the characters, but more because it was simply ridiculous and unbelievable, although I am certain that Shaw was most likely writing with all seriousness. I didn't however enjoy the long and boring expl...

tagged:
classics and read-2010-11

Charmed Life

by Diana Wynne Jones

tagged:
fantasy and read-2010-11