A new hobby

Well, I have a new hobby- Photography! I will need much prayer- I have no idea what I'm doing! Maybe I do just a little. My dear, sweet wonderful husband bought me a "real camera" for Christmas.  It's a Olympus SP-550UZ.  Now that I know how to take a few pics with it, I am really starting to get comfortable. Thanks to the patience of a friend who is helping me out, I just may take decent pictures after all (Thanks, Chris and Julie) Take a look:

Blogger Friend School Assignments # 11 & #12

Wow, in the midst of all the chaos of the holidays and birthdays and life in general, I haven't done my BFS assignments! Well, here they are...
Assignment #11: The assignment this week is to visit your classmates blogs and leave them a comment to let them know that you are praying for them. At the same time for your blog, please post any prayer needs that you have. The POWER of prayer is what binds us together with HIM!
1) Prayer for the sick and shut-in
2) My husband for continued strength to work and provide for our family.
3) Me, as I continue to home school my children
4) My children, as I continue to home school them
5) Our country, for this being the year of voting for a new leader
6) Our troops, serving overseas and their families for peace and comfort.

Assignment #12: Write out some goals that you would like to accomplish. These goals should include your personal goals, but also goals as a family.
1) To get moved into our house and get organized
2) ditto to #2
3) ditto #2 and #3

My Baby is 7 today!

Today is my middle sons birthday and he is 7! I am so surprised at how fast times goes when you're having fun. He's one of easy going children-he got that from my side of the family . Just kidding. Prior to having him, I was diagnosed with a disease and the doctors told me I could not have anymore children. I was raised to believe in the power of prayer. God healed my body and I am perfectly whole. My first indication of God healing me was to find out I was pregnant with my son. THANK YOU, JESUS!!! Not only did I have him, but we had another son after him- I should demand a refund from that doctor!

Anyway, we both almost died the day he was born, but God in His grace and mercy spared our lives. My favorite scripture from that day on has been:
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:21-23)

Happy Birthday my Honey Bun King!!!! I love you!

Classical Music & Composers Lapbook/Folderbook

For the past two weeks, we have been studying about Music and Composers.  It turned out to be more than I expected. My children really got into it and my daughter began her recorder lessons. When we move, we plan to begin her with piano lessons. My oldest son is interested in playing the drums. He got an unexpected surprise when my husband brought home a drum pad with the drum sticks and instructions. It wasn't too hard to teach the lessons, I play (or have played) the flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and a teeny tiny bit of the piano. I love music.

Since our curriculum had us also studying composers, I thought instead of doing a lapbook, we would do a "folderbook"- it's a mix of a lapbook with a folder. Yeah, I made the word up...I got the idea from another mom on a group list I belong to. I hot glued the lapbook to the front of a three prong folder.

I found many, many helpful resources. My favorite site was my blog friends, Jimmie Squiddo page: http://www.squidoo.com/musiclapbook
It was full of so much info and help. Our curriculum suggested we listen or watch  "Peter and the Wolf". My library had one copy and it was checked out. I finally got it, but then I read on Jimmie's page about a site that has the entire recording online that can be listened to for free! I f you plan to study classical music and want to make a lapbook- her page is the place to look.
Another wonderful site is: Classics for Kids: http://www.classicsforkids.com/
We would listen to the lessons about composers and the kids would do a short report from the info they heard. They have print outs about each composer that includes games. While my older ones were working, my middle son had fun at the site playing interactive games that helped him to identify notes, keep rhythm, and compose his own songs.
Our coloring sheets of composers were downloaded free from: http://www.notebookingpages.com/index.php?page=Free-Art-Music-Notebooking-Pages
Free lapbook booklets at HomeSchool Helper: www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/orchestra.htm
Music worksheets at Enchanted Learning: www.enchanted learning.com
For the orchestras by periods-Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids website: www.dsokids.com/2001/rooms/musicroom.asp

This is funny

I laughed so hard at this, until I cried! How in the world they got 25- I will never know:

Christmas Tradition

I am an Army Brat...so I lived various places. One place that I stayed the longest at was Kaiserslautern, Germany- 5 years. When we would go out on the "economy"- or out to the German stores, they would give out these calendars that would count down the days of Christmas. There were little windows on the calendar with numbers. So, on the first day of December, I would open the window that had the number one, on Dec. 2, I would open window number 2, ect. Inside the windows would be a piece of chocolate candy or little trinket. Considering I no longer live in Germany, I hadn't seen these Advent calendars since we left. I have often thought it would be something that I would like for my children to be able to experience. Welllllllll, I went to the base commissary with my mom about two weeks ago and guess what they had...German Advent Calendars!!!! For $1.50! I was so excited, yesterday was the first day my children opened their "windows" they were so excited (it have been me being all excited) I am just happy to be able to pass this German tradition down to my children. I heard they have them in the $1 store, but it was in my heart to have a German made calendar with German chocolates. Here's two pics. One is of the front of the calendar and the other is of the back with the address:

     

Blogger Friend School #10

Part A: Please share your Favorite Christmas/Holiday Cookie Recipe(s)!

3/4	cup margarine or butter
1/2	cup sugar
1 (3	ounce) package Jello gelatin, any flavor
2	eggs
1	teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2	cups flour
1	teaspoon baking powder
1	teaspoon salt

• < 60 mins Hand-formed Cookies


• Holiday/Event Hand-formed Cookies


• Kid Pleaser Hand-formed Cookies

1. Cream margarine, sugar, jello and eggs together in a medium to large bowl.


2. Add the rest of the ingredients.


3. Mix well.


4. Roll dough into little balls and place on a greased and floured cookie sheet.


5. Flatten each with a fork.


6. (Sometimes a little flour on the fork keeps it from sticking).


7. Bake 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Part B: Share a memory, story or tradition about baking any Christmas/Holiday goodies.

My tradition for baking during the holidays would be with my daddy. Every year he goes into "baking cake" mode and will make every kind of cake he can think of! Considering at early times it would be just him, my mom and me with about 5 cakes-double layered! Now, its at least 8 of us and not quite as hard to finish all the cakes off...

Part C: Share a verse that is upon your heart this week.

1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.