tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86560923075063755552024-03-13T10:41:03.470-06:00Loving and Learning on the High Plainswodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-89958282004142136672016-09-10T08:59:00.000-06:002016-09-10T08:59:26.855-06:00My baby is 9 years old today!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cev8CJ0vF4w/Ui7CI3r082I/AAAAAAAACsM/u0rSav1VjHI/s1600/wyattleggottnews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cev8CJ0vF4w/Ui7CI3r082I/AAAAAAAACsM/u0rSav1VjHI/s320/wyattleggottnews.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtZpQTZtWpE/Ui7COwfxeuI/AAAAAAAACsU/Gloku0uZfes/s1600/wyattsone3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtZpQTZtWpE/Ui7COwfxeuI/AAAAAAAACsU/Gloku0uZfes/s320/wyattsone3.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtEVQ-FXPH0/Ui7CfbBN5vI/AAAAAAAACsc/4mOvUH2hWvI/s1600/100_6539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtEVQ-FXPH0/Ui7CfbBN5vI/AAAAAAAACsc/4mOvUH2hWvI/s320/100_6539.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-POYPprFlHtM/Ui7Ci5Cgj2I/AAAAAAAACsk/Bp-P8BNbaDg/s1600/100_9565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-POYPprFlHtM/Ui7Ci5Cgj2I/AAAAAAAACsk/Bp-P8BNbaDg/s320/100_9565.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-up-ET9sVFqA/Ui7Ct9PCz7I/AAAAAAAACss/r4_1C9YsJVc/s1600/100_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-up-ET9sVFqA/Ui7Ct9PCz7I/AAAAAAAACss/r4_1C9YsJVc/s320/100_1526.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bqvMUUxwHQ/Ui7DG4KNnII/AAAAAAAACs0/dE1llNqolLI/s1600/2012-09-06_17-48-03_985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bqvMUUxwHQ/Ui7DG4KNnII/AAAAAAAACs0/dE1llNqolLI/s320/2012-09-06_17-48-03_985.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59ZWg14ZHCY/Ui7FR2pfxSI/AAAAAAAACtI/o-TflOwKA2Y/s1600/2013wyatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59ZWg14ZHCY/Ui7FR2pfxSI/AAAAAAAACtI/o-TflOwKA2Y/s320/2013wyatt.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Zticorm4RY/V9QewTTdN9I/AAAAAAAA41U/7ik-bAiG7bMxbAMiSmx3OgrjRs4GG7PVQCLcB/s1600/IMG_20140910_135646_958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Zticorm4RY/V9QewTTdN9I/AAAAAAAA41U/7ik-bAiG7bMxbAMiSmx3OgrjRs4GG7PVQCLcB/s320/IMG_20140910_135646_958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2014</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMKLoNv2oys/V9QfDTOvgEI/AAAAAAAA41Y/M7wWkzdwyqw7nsasM2Xr1dhGGiLEZIB4wCLcB/s1600/2015-09-17%2B15.47.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMKLoNv2oys/V9QfDTOvgEI/AAAAAAAA41Y/M7wWkzdwyqw7nsasM2Xr1dhGGiLEZIB4wCLcB/s320/2015-09-17%2B15.47.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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2015</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VYjIf5XMgX0/V9QfNux1m9I/AAAAAAAA41c/0Jd2-O0_QW8Ey53y-HTraAcdeJ5qhZ7WwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VYjIf5XMgX0/V9QfNux1m9I/AAAAAAAA41c/0Jd2-O0_QW8Ey53y-HTraAcdeJ5qhZ7WwCLcB/s320/IMG_1499.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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2016</div>
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This morning he was up at 6:45am, excited to go fishing with daddy for his birthday. What a great day it will be!<br />
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Where does the time go?<br />
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©2016 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-89647552324019291032015-09-14T00:32:00.002-06:002015-09-14T00:33:17.553-06:00Review of Home School in the Woods: Great Empires for Co-op Use<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For our 2015 Spring Semester of our co-op we have had the pleasure of reviewing <a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Home School in the Woods</a>: <a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/GreatEmpires.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Great Empires Activity Study</a> (for elementary ages). This "unit study" type approach covered 14 different great empires with over 35 different links, games, crafts, recipes, maps, and more. It is available as a download for $18.95 or as a CD for $19.95. They also offer pricing for schools or homeschool co-ops. This curriculum came as a download of a zipped file. When unzipped, there were files for:</div>
<ul>
<li>Masters: the maps, recipe cards, and masters of the craft projects, about 4-6 pages per empire.</li>
<li>Projects: this was one pdf sheet for each of the different empires, which had the overview of the unit study.</li>
<li>Text: this was the text to be read for each empire, averaging 1-3 pages per empire.</li>
<li>Timeline and figures: to show each empire in relation to each-other in the scope of history.</li>
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There are 14 empires covered by the Activity Study:</div>
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<ol>
<li><strong>Ancient Egypt </strong></li>
<li><strong>Spanish Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Ancient Greece </strong></li>
<li><strong>French Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Ancient Rome </strong></li>
<li><strong>English Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Ancient China </strong></li>
<li><strong>German Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Arab-Muslim Empire </strong></li>
<li><strong>Japanese Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Mongolian Empire </strong></li>
<li><strong>Russian Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Viking Empire </strong></li>
<li><strong>The United States of America</strong> </li>
</ol>
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For my 30 minute Co-op class, I had 10 students. We met every other week for 7 weeks. I had students ranging in age from 6 years to 2nd grade. While there is much more in each lesson than can be covered in 30 minutes, I adapted it to fit our class. First I chose 7 countries to focus on, one for each week:<br />
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<ul>
<li><strong>Ancient Egypt </strong></li>
<li><strong>Ancient Rome </strong></li>
<li><strong>Ancient China </strong></li>
<li><strong>Japanese Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Russian Empire</strong> </li>
<li><strong>Viking Empire </strong></li>
<li><strong>The United States of America</strong> </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mHdPwEjMis/VfZl-yXpaSI/AAAAAAAA4E0/IGd03sM5WQw/s1600/2015-02-10%2B14.21.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mHdPwEjMis/VfZl-yXpaSI/AAAAAAAA4E0/IGd03sM5WQw/s320/2015-02-10%2B14.21.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Before class I reviewed the suggested reading list in the lesson plan, and got lots of books from my local library about the empire we would study. I also prepared a snack using the recipes in the lesson, or something similar. If I was not using one of the recipes, then I would bring a food special to that region, for example: for the week we did the Japanese empire, I had a daikon radish for the kids to taste.<br />
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I also prepped the craft for the week, so it would be easy for my kids to get going right away. My prep time was usually less than 30 minutes, and I had most all of the craft supplies on hand.
When class opened I immediately handed out the craft sheets so the kids could begin coloring and creating with the help of my 2 room monitors, and while they worked, I read the lesson text that was included. I usually went through the lesson before hand and marked it up (highlighting), so I could skip ahead and summarize as needed for time. This gave us opportunity to stop and discuss and answer questions as we went along.
Some highlights of what crafts we did:<br />
<ul>
<li>Egyptian cartouche from salt dough</li>
<li>A pop-up book of Chinese history</li>
<li>Viking coins for the kids to plunder</li>
<li>Creating our own Matryoshka dolls</li>
<li>Tracing the voyages of Vikings on a map</li>
<li>painting a Roman frieze</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What we liked:
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The project sheets made it quick and easy for me to pick the best projects for my class. Most projects were easily accomplished within 30 minutes. Having the kids' hands busy made the history lesson easy to read while they worked. I like that the suggested reading list in each lesson was where I got my jumping off ideas for my library list. This gave the kids lots of pictures and info beyond the lesson itself. The kids were able to see, touch, and taste each culture!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What we didn't like:</span></h4>
Some of the projects printed on excessive paper. The history lessons varied greatly in length and detail, which required more preparation.<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bottom Line:</span></h4>
This co-op class was VERY popular and some of the kids mentioned it was their favorite class of the day. Even though this was my second time using the program, I found new and exciting things about it. We would likely using it again, and I really enjoyed the detail and variety of this unit study. Two thumbs up!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEDqm8UR04/VfZnkka03lI/AAAAAAAA4FI/1VClcYzCrHQ/s1600/2015-02-24%2B10.53.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEDqm8UR04/VfZnkka03lI/AAAAAAAA4FI/1VClcYzCrHQ/s400/2015-02-24%2B10.53.27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><i>Disclaimer: Our homeschool group was given a free download of this curriculum in exchange for our honest review. We were thankful for the opportunity to provide this experience for our co-op students, but this did not in any way effect the opinions expressed here. </i></span></span>
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-31564170632381211722015-03-09T08:00:00.000-06:002015-03-09T16:01:53.631-06:00Emma's ArtOrigami Girl!<br />
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Emma has become an Origami and Kirigami fanatic. Here's a few of the fun things she's made so far:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-fcX5qJsOM/VPTsGMnFEkI/AAAAAAAADsQ/640lWOR90iU/s1600/origamiEmma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-fcX5qJsOM/VPTsGMnFEkI/AAAAAAAADsQ/640lWOR90iU/s1600/origamiEmma.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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She's discovered pinterest, and now it's all downhill. :) So much fun creativity! What kinds of things do you do for home school art?</div>
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-52374784946514239962015-03-06T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-06T08:00:06.404-07:00Fun peek at Co-op, challenges and blessings Pt. #3<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Crimson Text'; font-size: 17.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">Our homeschool co-op has been rolling along, and 3 of the 7 weeks are behind us. We are finding there are certain challenges to face, and lots of fun to be had. There is must be a real choice to serve others to be involved in a co-op... as there will always be those extra miles to walk. See </span><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2015/03/fun-peek-at-co-op-challenges-and.html" style="font-family: 'Crimson Text'; font-size: 17.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;" target="_blank">here for the first part</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Crimson Text'; font-size: 17.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;"> of this post. <a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2015/03/fun-peek-at-co-op-challenges-and_4.html" target="_blank">Read here for part two</a>. The conclusion is below:</span><br />
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<b>Co-op Challenge #3: Needing time to grow as moms and teachers, but everyone is already too busy teaching!</b></div>
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If the moms in our co-op are anything like me, this homeschool social opportunity isn't just for the kids. We often talk about wanting a few mom classes too, but we are all teaching at various times, and rarely more than 3 or 4 of us are free to meet in the hall. We recognize that the camaraderie of homeschooling can be a great encouragement, but we're not sure how to tap into it when we are scattered in "the trenches" of the battlefield. </div>
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<b>Solution:</b></div>
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This semester we have tapped a few veteran homeschool moms to join us. They are moms who are ahead in the game, and some have even graduated all of their students. We set up a corner of the study hall area, with chocolate and flowers and a candle. We buy their lunch, and introduce them at opening exercises as tho they were celebrities. Then throughout the day any teaching mom who finds a free moment can stop in there and catch a few words of wisdom and encouragement, or just pray with a woman whose heart has been there. It's been a great success so far, and we hope to keep it up!</div>
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Do you have a co-op? Have you resolved some challenges? I'd love to hear what you have been dealing with too. Please share in the comments!</div>
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<i>©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com</i>wodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-41094586963399309552015-03-05T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-05T08:00:01.253-07:00In case you thought time was moving too fast......as I often feel on my birthday. (yep, today!) Here's a view from right out my window recently that reminds me that the "old days" aren't that far removed:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSD8gPGfK64/VPTsKVNcr-I/AAAAAAAADsw/fUcNFoL7b1g/s1600/viewoftheparirie2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RSD8gPGfK64/VPTsKVNcr-I/AAAAAAAADsw/fUcNFoL7b1g/s1600/viewoftheparirie2015.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Lamentations 3:22-23 </h2>
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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.</h2>
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-13698519806379588252015-03-04T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-12T12:55:17.182-06:00Fun peek at Co-op, challenges and blessings Pt. #2<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Crimson Text'; font-size: 17.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">Our homeschool co-op has been rolling along, and 3 of the 7 weeks are behind us. We are finding there are certain challenges to face, and lots of fun to be had. There is must be a real choice to serve others to be involved in a co-op... as there will always be those extra miles to walk. See <a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2015/03/fun-peek-at-co-op-challenges-and.html" target="_blank">here for the first part</a> of this post. Read below for part two!</span><br />
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<b>Challenge #2: Absent Teachers</b><br />
Because our co-op is made up of families offering classes and kids taking classes, we are all bearing the burden of teaching. Over half of the kids registered this semester are kids whose parents are also teaching. How do I know? Our teachers get the added perk of early registration, in hopes that more parents will offer to teach. Often times, this means that one parent is teaching 2-3 classes throughout the day. The parent in the above photo, Art D., is committed to teaching someone each and every class period. He's our PE teacher, runs opening exercises, helps his wife with several classes, and is also booked with private guitar lessons in every other free moment. We are so thankful for guys like Art! But what if Art gets sick? that's 6 class periods to fill! Then we end up with kids without a teacher, or with a substitute. I personally had to substitute in Origami one week and Boy's Bible Study the next. Each had a pretty tough crowd for me to keep up with! What an adventure this is!<br />
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<b>What is the solution?</b> It's hard to predict when someone will miss, and even the most devoted teacher has a surprise illness sometimes. We hope to encourage our teachers to have one "make and take" lesson pre-prepped for such a day, as well as to be thinking ahead about who can be their last minute sub. We are also going to plan for fewer parent-teachers, and more outside volunteer teachers. These non-parents are not going to have as high of a risk of sickness (admit it, our kids are the exponent on our risk factors!), and spread the teaching burden out a bit, so parents aren't teaching so many of the sessions. You can pray for us on that one, as we are still working it out!<br />
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Join me Friday for the conclusion of this group of posts!<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-1181274221119876602015-03-02T16:25:00.000-07:002015-03-03T15:03:43.515-07:00Fun peek at Co-op, challenges and blessings Pt. #1Our homeschool co-op has been rolling along, and 3 of the 7 weeks are behind us. We are finding there are certain challenges to face, and lots of fun to be had. There is must be a real choice to serve others to be involved in a co-op... as there will always be those extra miles to walk.<br />
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<b>Challenge #1: sharing the work</b><br />
Whether it is a child who comes down sick at the last moment, a forgetful mommy, or a general lack of commitment (among homeschoolers? What?!?!), it seems we often have missing families during co-op. Because a co-op is exactly that: "an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit", we had divided all the "chores" of cleaning the building, packing up the supplies, and tearing down the tables. Each family has one small part (to be specific, with 36 families... about 1/36th) of the clean up job assigned. Even our leadership team has chores. But when 5 families are missing then the 5 leadership families have double chores on top of the leadership responsibilities. This is compounded when a family who is present leaves without doing their "chore". We have had a some surprises, though. One of our private lesson teachers (a sweet young adult lady) has been adopting an unclaimed chore each week before she leaves the building. These little blessings make us encouraged.<br />
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<b>How will we resolve it?</b><br />
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Next semester I think we might divide the chore cards about 30 ways, and leave 6 wild cards that say: "Pick up an absent family chore card, and pray for them as you complete their job(s)". I pray that as we focus on loving those we serve, we will become the hands and feet of Christ. This is why we endeavored to start a Christian Co-op in the first place, right?<br />
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Join me on Wed. and Fri. for parts #2 and #3 of this series!<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-23510851365666183672015-02-14T17:37:00.000-07:002015-03-02T17:39:21.751-07:00Be my Valentine?Again this year, we had a great time sharing<b><u> <a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/02/make-your-own-gospel-valentine.html" target="_blank">Gospel Valentines.</a> </u></b><br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-4972625001467705292015-02-04T23:14:00.000-07:002015-02-04T23:14:49.974-07:00Exciting things going on with our homeschool...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'ts been a whole year since I stepped out from the TOS Review crew. It was a a great experience for me, and such a learning time! If you click my homeschool link above you'll see, we did a LOT of great reviews. Being a part of the crew helped me get to be more excited about blogging, and about the newest and greatest homeschool curriculum. I would have never looked into Nodgrass history or downloadable unit studies from Homeschool in the Woods, had the crew not been there to introduce me.<br />
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But truly the greatest part of my year of reviews was being part of the Crew itself, an amazing bunch of 200 bloggers who worked hard together to accomplish something that was logistically huge! The leadership team lived across the entire country, but accomplished massive efforts via online collaboration. This is what inspired the adventure I'm currently wrapped up in.<br />
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Last summer a few of my homeschool mom friends began to meet and discuss what it would look like to start a Faith-based homeschool co-operative for our kids. Between us we had about 30 kids who could benefit from joint classes such as choir, art, and PE. So we planned the summer away, and then began an online collaboration, since we felt as far flung as the TOS leadership team (across the county may as well be across the nation). This proved to be incredibly efficient, and we were each able to use the special skills and talents God had given us. One to assign the classes, one to correspond with and recruit teachers, one to build forms and manage data, one to write newsletters, one to manage set up logistics, and so on. And we began to PRAY. Hard. Together. Online and in person we prayed and planned, planned and prayed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Hot Springs</td></tr>
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When we opened the online registration I was on vacation. I was out of cell range in Yellowstone Park. We drove into Mammoth Hot Springs to do a bit of sightseeing, and my cell signal picked up. My phone started buzzing like crazy. My messages said that my little co-op science class was already at 36 students... and did I want to set a maximum? WOW! We had hoped for 30 students total, spread among the classes... we ended up with over 80. This semester we have almost 100, in 34 classes over a whole day every other week. We also have 4 private music instructors booked with lessons all day. This semester we added a mentor mom on campus for our co-op day, to pray with and encourage the new homeschool moms.<br />
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What an adventure this is! And what a gift! To be working closely with other Christian families to see God glorified in our efforts. I am so blessed! We will see how it goes. Expect a review or two soon of some of the curriculum we are using in our co-op.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Land Geography</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virtual Field Trip</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Tyler is getting guitar lessons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choir</td></tr>
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-16958152709899920072015-02-01T14:38:00.000-07:002015-02-01T14:38:59.248-07:00Oh how I've missed this...I haven't blogged in forever, but I haven't forgotten about it. Nearly every day I have a line of thinking that strikes me as something I'd love to share here. I've mostly lacked a computer from which to share it (had another drive crash in June). Thanks to a great sale at Best Buy, I have a new laptop, and thanks to my dad, a new desktop too. So my excuses are gone and I need to carve out the time to sort through my thoughts and dust off my writing. I realize that my blogging is not really for you, my readers, although I appreciate your being here, and your words of encouragement are valuable in ways you will never fathom... but really I write for myself.<br />
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So many times I am struggling, imperfect, lonely, despondent, and feeling like all I do is tread water. Going back to my journals ans seeing where I was before and far my Lord has brought me can be such an encouragement to me. So here I am. I'm going to attempt to write out my thoughts here on a regular basis again. I've updated the look of my blog and hope you enjoy it. If you find any view-ability issues, please comment!<br />
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I'm not sure what kinds of content I will be including here just yet, but there are a few things you can count on:<br />
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<li>Scripture, I'm studying in several places right now and need a place to record my discoveries and thoughts. </li>
<li>School reviews. We are back in the midst of our homeschool year and have discovered so many fun things I can't wait to share with you.</li>
<li>Thoughts on Life. My thought-life has been a roller-coaster lately, especially when it comes to marriage and friendships. As I work through some weighty issues I will share what I can without violating any trust. Just know that whatever is shared here is just a ripple on the surface of a deep, murky, and fast moving river. Somedays I feel like I'm rowing along and enjoying the river for the sights and recreation, and sometimes I'm just drowning in a whirlpool. </li>
<li>Rural life. Get ready for LOTS of pictures, recipes, fun farmy thoughts. </li>
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-47794952363195966022014-05-07T08:00:00.000-06:002014-05-07T08:00:02.639-06:00Learning, part 3One layer down, my thought life has a lot of progress to make.... I have always struggled with self-doubt, and worry about others opinions. I often bunch ideas off a friend or my hubby, but I realize that in the end I need to Seek the Lord in all these things. I won't make the wrong call if I'm looking to Him for every little choice. But I'm getting ahead of myself, for each layer is built on the foundation below it.<br />
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In my soul is the Holy Spirit, God indwelling, giving direction and wisdom when we ask. I have been blessed to overflowing by His gifts. Last spring I hit bottom, struggling to relate to my husband, and feeling quite bankrupted in emotional energy, I asked a woman in my church to mentor me. While I felt my schedule was packed and one more thing would not fit, I started on the path of discipleship. Until that point my training in this way had been limited to my mother's input and little bits of wisdom drawn from friends and books. Moments of peace in the Scripture were morsels of hope. But I wasn't making the time. I'd started so many books and not finished them. I started a Bible in a year program, and a blessing counting book with my 1,000 gifts friends. But the discipline wasn't there. With the addition of accountability that all changed. My mentor challenged me, and we began to memorize and read. We took an entire year to savor a book and to memorize passages each week. I shared my worries and, instead of fixing them for me, she took my hand and we carried them to the cross. Oh I have so much to learn, but I have come so far. When I am all tumult inside, I can choose to process and doubt, or hit my knees. So many times this year I have poured out the Scriptures in my heart awash with a flood of tears. How different each Scripture is, when framed in the circumstance of my trials.<br />
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In the mean time I'm as busy as ever. I completed two Awana T&T books and memorized 200 verses to do so. I've learned so much about my family, my schedule, my heart, but most importantly, my Savior. This foundation pushes up and strengthens my life. In turn I have had small opportunities to pour those words into others. I had felt completely inadequate to disciple another person, until I saw it for what it was. Leading others to Him, being filled with His Word, and being transformed in the process. Like water raining down on a mountain pools up and pours into the pools beyond, each overflowing to the next. The source is not the pool, but the One giving the water. As my pool flows out I need to be filled again and again.<br />
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I am so thankful for the lessons He pours out into my life!<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-39493259970457780212014-05-06T08:00:00.000-06:002014-05-06T08:00:05.831-06:00Learning a lot, part 2Next layer, personal discipline... As we come along to out last few weeks of our school schedule, I reflect on the fact that we have never been this close to caught up this time of year. I'm sure part of that is due to no longer changing curriculum every 4-6 weeks as we did when we were on the crew. A good bit is due to my sister devoting a hour or two of her mornings to getting school going while I'm down at the PO sorting the village mail. Also, my kids are learning more of the value of independent study, which is one of my favorite by-products of homeschooling. I'm really enjoying our group subjects his year, as we do <b><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-apologia-science-exploring.html" target="_blank">Apologa Science</a></b> and <b><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-notgrass-america-beautiful.html" target="_blank">America the Beautiful</a></b> for history. We usually snuggle up on the couch and read together, and on some nicer days, on the trampoline outside.<br />
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-update-<br />
We finished school! Friday the 3rd of May, right on schedule for the first time ever. What a great feeling! I had really worried my new job would get in the way, but the discipline of getting going every morning bright and early actually really helped us out. This year I had attempted to leave our sticker charts in lieu of assignment booklets, but everyone complained. The charts went up and a friend from church gave us a LOT of great stickers! It's been a great way to keep track of our progress, and all the stickers are filled in now.<br />
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To celebrate school finishing we had an ice cream party at home (due to chicken pox).<br />
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One layer down, my thought life has a lot of progress to make....<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-32812806848708900662014-05-05T16:03:00.000-06:002015-02-01T14:23:16.875-07:00Lost in learning...(written several weeks back and finally posting, that crazy here...)<br />
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In the past few weeks I've been learning a lot. Learning so much I haven't had time to share. I am so thankful to the Lord for putting people in my life who grow and stretch me in so many ways. I often have a deep thought (yes, at times) and think to myself, "Wow, I should explore that further in a blog post!" But time gets away from me and the next big lesson wipes me clean. So much is going on around here I rarely get time to sleep, let alone reflect for long. But today is different. I have a sinus infection. :P I'm stuck in a chair wearing a turtleneck, a jacket, and a blanket... and I'm shivering. I'm coughing like mad and have been drinking LOTS of fluids. That makes this mother of 4 think that the next lesson might be about bladder control. (Sorry, tmi)<br />
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So I have a moment to reflect, finally! I didn't realize how short I had been cutting myself until last week. I was doing a crazy diet with my sister, that required me to cut my coffee intake. At 9 pm I found myself passed out sideways across my bed, drooling on my hubby's pillow. Thankfully my kids took that cue and bid me goodnight and went to bed. (Mommies of littles, hang in there, this moment is coming! - not that it happens often.)<br />
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So, what am I learning? I'll peel back the onion in the next few posts. Starting with today:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3F-dnxyQg4/UUjYvylcj9I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/tPfE0_Ra0cs/s1600/sinusrinse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3F-dnxyQg4/UUjYvylcj9I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/tPfE0_Ra0cs/s1600/sinusrinse.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>Dry outer layer: body learning. I'm learning to be more traditional with my foods. I've been making Kombucha for months now, and my kids love when I flavor it with strawberries. I've even been caught handing off SCOBY jars to friends. (Leave a comment if you want to know more). This week a good friend brought me some milk kefir grains, so I spent this afternoon gleaning the wisdom of my younger sister, Mics, as to how I should prepare it. I had a small (given my cold, and the dairy) kefir/coffee shake today and it was really yummy. Further along my traditional foods journey, this winter completely depleted my stockpile of gallons of <a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/01/frugal-tip-make-your-own-broth.html" target="_blank"><b>frozen home made broth (from our own chickens)</b></a>. Every sore throat was soothed and our round of influenza took half as long as the last go-round a few years back. So this morning the edict was issued that the 3 roosters waiting in the barn be butchered, and they are now in the fridge and the bones and such boiling away on my stove for some more healing broth. Tomorrow I intend to drink the entire canning pot if I'm no better than today.<br />
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-update- It didn't take the whole pot to get over my cold, so now I have broth in the freezer again. Between that and the <b><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/03/sniffles-and-stuff.html" target="_blank">salt sinus rinses</a></b>, I am thrilled to say I beat the sinus infection without antibiotics... for the first time in a long time. I am so happy, since I didn't want to start over on all the pro biotic work I've been doing. Speaking of pro-biotics, I am having a great time with the kefir, and I have figured out how to make a really yummy herbed cheese spread with it. Now everyone is gobbling up pro biotic goodness as a chip dip or spread on crackers. I hope to post a recipe soon.<br />
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Next layer, personal discipline...<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-75993706205113925132014-04-17T22:54:00.000-06:002014-04-17T22:54:01.601-06:00Review: 31 Days to Happiness by David JeremiahThanks to the folks at Booksneeze, I received a copy of <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.thomasnelson.com/31-days-to-happiness.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">31 Days to Happiness How to Find What Really Matters in Life</a> by David Jeremiah.</b></span><br />
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In this volume, Dr. Jeremiah examines the Word of God as penned by the wisest man who lived: Solomon. As the Dr. works his way through the book of Ecclesiastes, he divides the readings into 31 chapters for closer examination. Each chapter ranges from 8-14 pages, and begins with a quote or story from current events and draws the parallel with the questions and pondering of Solomon to our present day struggles. Each chapter examines a new topic that fits with each and every part of our lives: from discontentment to financial gain, from careers to governments, from justice to wisdom. Jeremiah intertwines quotes from present day authors with his own observations, and the book reads like his easily relate-able sermons. As he moves through the book of Ecclesiastes from front to back, he never strays from the Scripture to make a private point. The book finds a delicate harmony between the words of Solomon and the crisis of our present times.<br />
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<a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/art/_240_360_Book.942.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://booklookbloggers.com/art/_240_360_Book.942.cover.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a>I was so excited to receive this book that I quickly recommended it to my book club, and we all read through it together and met over dinner to discuss it. Over pasta and dessert we each talked about what we liked best and what we didn't like. Namely, the title of the book was the biggest dislike. We felt it sounded like a fix-it course or a self-help book, rather than the reflection on life and the wonderful wisdom of Scripture applied. We each found something applicable in the insights and examples given, showing that with "then" and "now" compared, there really is "nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). We found encouragement for this life and gaining an "above the sun" perspective on it. So many of the quotes from the Scripture were well applied, and the quotes from other literature were well documented in the back of the book. I could tell Dr. Jeremiah shares my fondness for C.S. Lewis, and quoted him often.<br />
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Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. It's not a speed read, but a chapter a day is quite do-able. It would be even better enjoyed, one chapter a week, taking time to ruminate over the concepts. I attempted to use it as a nightly devotional with my kids. My 5th and 6th graders were interested, but my younger ones were not. In the end, it became my own nightly bedside reading.<br />
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I hope you get a chance to read this book. If you enjoy the teaching of Dr. David Jeremiah, or if you just need a fresh perspective on life, from the oldest book around, you will enjoy this read.<br />
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<i>*I received a free copy of this book ( a $15.99 value) for my review, even so, all opinions are my own. Please see the disclaimer above for more information about my reviews.*</i><br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-90535976626350681902014-03-26T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-26T06:00:08.266-06:00WW: Hiking near the Oregon Trail<br />
Fun hiking in January with my brother Chris:<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">Linked:</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/" style="color: #7b6333; text-decoration: none;" title="Wordless Wednesday on Only Passionate Curiosity"><img alt="Wordless Wednesday on Only Passionate Curiosity" src="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Wordless-Wednesday-250.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thejennyevolution.com/category/linky-parties/wordless-wednesday/" style="color: #7b6333; text-decoration: none;" title="The Jenny Evolution"><img alt="The Jenny Evolution" src="http://www.thejennyevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WW300.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com</span>wodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-32068585241524958002014-03-20T07:30:00.000-06:002014-03-20T07:30:05.152-06:00Spring has Sprung!<span style="font-size: large;">Happy First Day of Spring! To celebrate I'm sharing all my favorite spring cleaning tips for the farm! Hop over to <b><a href="http://www.homemakingorganized.com/cleaning/spring-cleaning-on-the-farm-guest-post/" target="_blank">Homemaking Organized</a></b> to read it all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Great tips including:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.homemakingorganized.com/cleaning/spring-cleaning-on-the-farm-guest-post/" target="_blank">So get going!</a> And leave a comment there thanking K for hosting us!</span><br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-42844349835989729112014-03-19T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-19T06:00:01.906-06:00WW: Skiing, for the first time as a family!<br />
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Favorites from our first family ski trip in January. :)<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">Linked:</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small; line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/" style="color: #7b6333; text-decoration: none;" title="Wordless Wednesday on Only Passionate Curiosity"><img alt="Wordless Wednesday on Only Passionate Curiosity" src="http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Wordless-Wednesday-250.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thejennyevolution.com/category/linky-parties/wordless-wednesday/" style="color: #7b6333; text-decoration: none;" title="The Jenny Evolution"><img alt="The Jenny Evolution" src="http://www.thejennyevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WW300.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">©2012-2014 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com</span>wodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-37631473189017805902014-03-18T07:30:00.000-06:002014-03-18T07:30:02.625-06:00In The Presence Of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill (Book Review)I've really enjoyed a book club I've recently joined. We get together once a month and have supper and discuss a book we all read together. Mostly homeschool moms, we take turns picking the books, and the theme for the meal. It's been a huge encouragement to me, and I'm thankful to my friend for hosting it.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kJlxyAhAUU/T0_oWLmfx-I/AAAAAAAAAYA/rdk_0IAzL7w/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kJlxyAhAUU/T0_oWLmfx-I/AAAAAAAAAYA/rdk_0IAzL7w/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a>We recently read <b><a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/Presence-Enemies/book/0842381384/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill</a></b>. I picked up a copy from <b><a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=lleggott@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PaperbackSwap.com,</a></b> and while there, <b><a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/Presence-Enemies-Audio-Cassette-Abridged/book/0842381414/" target="_blank">got it on audio as well</a></b>. I struggle with my schedule of work and homeschooling, and the audio book made it possible for me to keep up with the club reading schedule and keep up with my laundry folding at the same time. I LOVE audio books. My son loves his cassette "walk-man" that his grandma gave him. I had to borrow it to listen to this book. What a fun trip to my younger days using a cassette walk-man and headphones again.<br />
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The book is written from Gracia's personal perspective, and starts out with a good bit of background on how she and her husband got into missions in the Philippines. I discovered that her husband was in a Bible class with a pastor friend of mine, and their families were all within a short drive (in high plains terms) of where I live, so these were not some far off folks from some far off place.<br />
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Gracia tells of how she knew that God placed them there, and processes some of her "what-ifs" early on. The book unfolds day by day through their terrible ordeal as hostages of a terrorist group in the Philippines. Ultimately they spent over a year in captivity, an ordeal which her husband did not survive. But the day to day struggles, inwardly... as they kept their faith and prayed for their fellow captives and captors, and outwardly... as they physically fought the jungle, hunger, and grueling pace of constant movement, were a testimony to the God they personally knew, who was with them all the way.<br />
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My entire book club enjoyed reading it, and we all had a different take-away. Each of our mother-hearts ached for her children losing their dad altogether, and a whole year away from their mom. We each wondered, how would I handle the same thing if I were in her shoes? After I finished reading the book I let both of my older kids (ages 12 and 11) listen to it. It is very intense at times, and there are descriptions of violence, but nothing else of an inappropriate nature is shared. The grief is overwhelming, but the peace of God triumphs. Both of my kids were glad to read it. I wouldn't recommend it for younger children, or children who struggle with fears.<br />
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Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend you get a copy. If you have paperback swap, I'll be re-listing mine, and you can request a free book there just by setting up an account. *I do get referral credits for telling you about my favorite free book swapping service!* Please see my disclaimer above for more about affiliate links.<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-81125639376512033232014-03-17T20:43:00.000-06:002014-03-17T20:43:04.349-06:00Follow through with your chickensThis week my sis-in-law shared this article [<a href="http://www.nwedible.com/2013/05/you-absolutely-should-not-get-backyard-chickens.html" target="_blank"><b>You Absolutely Should Not Get Backyard Chickens]</b></a> with me. I thought it was pretty well written, and worth sharing with you all.<br />
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We've had our flock for about 4 years now, and have had chickens come and go. When I first started, I'd sell off my older flock, to someone who wanted cheap laying hens, fully disclosing they had already laid eggs for 2 years. Then we decided we'd eat the non-layer, like our extra roosters and older hens. We quickly discovered that they were scrawny and tough, compared to the <b><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2012/06/processing-chickens-and-fried-chicken.html" target="_blank">VERY yummy</a> </b>cornish cross meat chickens we raised.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L94HM9KZ5S8/T85SYU_vp8I/AAAAAAAABCk/OOzr4wjUfDk/s1600/2012-05-30_14-46-00_810-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L94HM9KZ5S8/T85SYU_vp8I/AAAAAAAABCk/OOzr4wjUfDk/s1600/2012-05-30_14-46-00_810-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meat chickens, only about 6 weeks old.</td></tr>
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Now we retire chickens systematically by butchering them once their laying slacks off, and putting them in the freezer. When I have a few saved up I fill up the stock pot and make stewed chicken and broth. This winter we all caught influenza A, and we were amazed at how much more quickly we recovered while sipping yummy <b><a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/01/frugal-tip-make-your-own-broth.html" target="_blank">home made chicken broth</a>!</b> It's always hard to decide when it is time to let an old hen go, but this is really part of the whole process here, and we have to follow through.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ye1NG88cTGY/T0nVGpvZFhI/AAAAAAAAAW8/jPJDgIjxG8I/s1600/100_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ye1NG88cTGY/T0nVGpvZFhI/AAAAAAAAAW8/jPJDgIjxG8I/s1600/100_1106.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Fair, T's favorite chicken.</td></tr>
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I recently went out and put leg bands on the hens who were no longer laying well (having gone through about 2 molts), so my hubby would know who to take when he had time to work on it. I had to band all of the green egg layers, including <a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2012/02/2011-chickens.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>a special fair chicken </b></a>of my son's. I told Tyler about it so he wouldn't be surprised, and he seemed ok with it. Later he went out to do his chores and came back declaring that he'd removed her band. That hen has achieved pet status. :) Guess we'd better name her.<br />
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For the record, my kids name their chickens all the time, but it doesn't stop us from eating them. :) Wyatt named the entire meat flock "Wyatt Junior" once. I'm not sure how to take that! All I know is that my kids are really comfortable with where their food comes from. I've heard Emma coo to a soft fluffy chick... "Ooooh, you're gonna taste so good when you get big!" And I think I've shared here before that once Mayda was wearing a chick all around the house on her shoulder like a parrot. When I asked her why she confided in me that "I feel bad for him; he's a fryer."<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-50039944280705569012014-03-14T07:21:00.002-06:002014-03-14T10:49:28.038-06:00100%100%<br />
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I struggle so much these days with being 100% "with it." Take this week for example.<br />
<br />
Work at the post office: get up early, wake the kids and get them started on their school day with daddy, then head to work to deliver the mail for my little village. With only two hours it is a struggle to get the mail sorted, the crisis dealt with (broken scanner! Eek!), customers cheerfully greeted and served, and still lock up and get out of the office without going over my alotted number of hours. Reports and paperwork piling up on my desk, but I must clock out and hurry home because the morning is half gone and homeschooling awaits... Trying to give my job my 100% attention while I am in it. As I leave, I wonder, did I really listen to my neighbor lady as she told me about her woes? Should I have lingered a little longer while handing over her mail?<br />
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Get home and walk through the door. Greeted immediately with a pile of questions. "Can I do math after recess?" "Did I have to do this assignment?" "Did you notice Wyatt's eyes are red and itchy?"<br />
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I try and answer, to switch gears in my head. Looking over Wyatt's eyes, I call and check with the doctor's office. Pinkeye? Probably. Can I bring him in in an hour? Sure.<br />
<br />
Sit down and try and get through a history lesson with everyone first. Bake some cabbage burgers so lunch can happen while I'm gone to the Dr. Be 100% here in the homeschool day. Be 100% here in my home life. Assess assignments, thank my hubby and sister for helping out. Find Wyatt's shoes and get off to the Dr.'s office.<br />
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Be there with him 100%. Play eye-spy while we wait for the doctor. Try and think of good questions to ask since he's not been in for a check up for a while.<br />
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Get the eydrops, get home, eat some late lunch. Phone call from my grandma. She's worried the weather (spring snow storm that day) will affect her dentist appointment tomorrow. Being 100% on the phone with her. Try and be sympathetic to her worries, without being frustrated since I know how hard it was to rearrange my work schedule to get the morning off to go to the dentist. Trying to be 100% focused on her needs. Try!<br />
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Off to bake granola at the coffee shop commercial kitchen I use. Be 100% on doing a great job making a great product that you are happy to sell in a local store. Bump into a friend there and take a moment to be 100% with her and appreciate her. As I leave I assess my 100%. Did I make myself enough of a help with the dishes and such to be invited back?<br />
<br />
Home for supper and and evening with the kids, being 100% appreciative of my hubby and sister helping me get through a busier than normal day. (What a blessing it has been that my sis is on spring break!!!) Snuggling the kids on the couch with devotions and prayer time, trying to listen 100% to their simple prayer requests: "that my kitties will do great!" (4 new kittens this week!)<br />
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Lord, I have invested my 100% about 1000 times today. Thank you that you keep filling up and filling up so I can pour out over and over. Help me to be 100% a vessel for you. Otherwise I feel so empty, so used up, so poured out and dried up. Oh to be 100%...<br />
In. Him. 100%<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-32106787042865774892014-03-08T23:06:00.000-07:002014-03-09T11:04:21.795-06:00Our Example1 Peter 2:21-24 NASB<br />
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"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin , nor was any deceit found in H is mouth ; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."<br />
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You were called for this purpose. This.<br />
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For what? I asked my son as he was working on memorizing this particular Scripture this week. I asked, what is the "this"? The answer is in the "also". Christ ALSO suffered, you were called to this, to suffer... because He did. For <i>you. </i><br />
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The example we follow, the perfect one, the one who did nothing to deserve what He suffered. I often think of suffering in the watered down sense that we as western society think of it. Ridicule. Bullying.<br />
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How about those<span id="goog_675821863"></span><a href="http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/6/kim-jong-un-calls-execution-33-christians/" target="_blank"> 33 souls that are being condemned to die <span id="goog_675821864"></span>in North Kore</a>a... for following his example? Am I willing, listening to this purpose to which I am called? Oh to be found so faithful! Tonight I join the throngs who are praying.<br />
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We pray for a miracle.<br />
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We pray for their families.<br />
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We pray for the hidden church in North Korea.<br />
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We pray for the persecuted church.<br />
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We pray for the courage to follow the example. His steps.<br />
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"...so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."<br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-31788352926787504522014-03-02T23:12:00.001-07:002014-03-02T23:12:18.760-07:00Insecurity*sigh*<br />
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Here I am again, Lord.<br />
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Babbling on to a friend about all the things I could have said better, or shouldn't have forgotten, or wondering aloud if I was ok (so that they will assure me I am).<br />
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Where does this insecurity come from?<br />
Is it a self-centered obsession with being approved?<br />
Is it a desperate desire to be liked?<br />
Is it a sign that I feel very little value?<br />
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I just need to. Get. Over. Myself.<br />
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Truthfully, I think I cannot see each moment, each conversation, each opportunity dealt with because of the mountain of self in the way. I am analyzing, critiquing, editing, every moment. To please them all, so they will be pleased with me, and I will be pleased with their liking.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>2 Corinthians 12:5-11</b><br /> On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.<br /><i><b> For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish;</b></i> for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me.<br /> And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.<br /> Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.<br /> And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness.<b><i> Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</i></b><br /> Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.<br /> I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.</blockquote>
Maybe this is my thorn in the flesh, meant for my good: I doubt myself because I fight pride, but truthfully, I should glory in my weaknesses, my failings even. Because these are the things that I turn to Christ and should give Him glory as He meets me there. In my mind I am the last line "I am nothing." Stripped of all my pretenses, my desire to "get it right" is the glory of Christ, who is right all along. Sufficient for my failings. Lover of my soul. What other approval do I need?<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>1 Samuel 16: 7</b> But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. <b><i>For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.</i></b>”</blockquote>
Lord, forgive my failings! Be glorified in my life! Thank you for keeping me here. Help me to worry less about self doubt, and more about trusting You!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THPiAa_wllw/UlNf4zjz4KI/AAAAAAAADAI/t1sO7dtI2VM/s1600/IMG_20130928_181624_385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THPiAa_wllw/UlNf4zjz4KI/AAAAAAAADAI/t1sO7dtI2VM/s1600/IMG_20130928_181624_385.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler helping me clean our barn: pretty red paint on the outside... lots of work to do on the inside.</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9</span></i><br />
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©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.comwodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-57319374649500576082014-02-23T06:00:00.000-07:002014-02-23T06:00:02.972-07:00Snapshot and a Scripture: my wish for youEphesians 3:14-19<br />
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1q7ieDl-2Q/UvKnhTL7LiI/AAAAAAAADRM/bm7NKhzpFGU/s1600/chrisvisit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1q7ieDl-2Q/UvKnhTL7LiI/AAAAAAAADRM/bm7NKhzpFGU/s1600/chrisvisit.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Photos from my brother, Chris's, visit in January)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Linked:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.glimpseofourlife.com/search/label/Scripture%20and%20a%20%20Snapshot" style="background-color: white; color: #7b6333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Scripture and Snapshot" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fdMVBS-ZCj0/UbNvKBr34GI/AAAAAAAAK1U/6myEP9tfWfI/w196-h240-no/Scripture+%2526+A+Snapshot.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2012-2014 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com</span></i>wodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-70659129153633586722014-02-20T18:24:00.001-07:002014-02-20T18:24:56.348-07:00The Holidays, a great time to start a new job with the Post Office<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Still trying to get my feet under me at my new job, I realized this week that I've been there for 4 and a half months. I'm starting to get the hang of my little PO. I'm the postmaster relief so in a sink or swim kind of fashion I find myself working extra hard at figuring things out or finding out who can help me get it right. This week I had one of the other postmasters stop over and show me some procedures that helped me out a LOT. Overall I'm really liking working for the Postal Service. It certainly helps that I love stamps. I have been a stamp collector since I was a kid. It's all I can do not to buy everything that comes across my desk!<br />
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It was really fun to get going at Christmas, seeing all the great packages coming and going. For Christmas we held an open house and my stamp collection was the "historical display":<br />
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In the process of getting everything ready to display I got to reading a bunch of the old postcards in my collection. My grandma had given me them when I began collecting, years ago, but only now do I understand their sweet notes and the name and places mentioned. It was a fun adventure going through them again. I hope we never give up on the written word. Emails are just so much less of a memory, and I doubt we will ever print them up and put them in an album. Because of this realization I've made a list of all the birthdays of all my nieces and nephews and all of my siblings and our missionaries and their families. I plan to send each one a card, and, or course, I've bought lots of COOL stamps to go on each one.<br />
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I even gave stamps as Christmas gifts this year. I can tell this may be getting out of hand. My little PO is now just a 2-hour office (it had been 6 hours a day), and yet the stamp sales are higher than last year. I hope that's not all me. ;)<br />
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I can see that I'm sort of meandering here so I think I'll wrap things up as quickly as I can. I am thankful for this week:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>my husband being home from a two week trip</li>
<li>my kids being healthier</li>
<li>the weather being milder</li>
<li>the animals all behaving, as I happily watch my free range chickens outside the window right now</li>
<li>Sunshine coming through my window</li>
<li>clean curtains</li>
<li>good smelling laundry</li>
<li>charts filling up with stickers</li>
<li>getting caught up with projects at work</li>
<li>friends that I get to see more frequently</li>
<li>Good books, more than I could possibly read any given time</li>
<li>Almost finished reading through my Bible and its complete entirety, a project which took me almost two and a half years even though I had attempted to do it in one.</li>
<li>Getting all of our taxes done and discovering that the granola business, the doula business, and a little bit of side construction work... actually all was worthwhile this year</li>
<li>Being invited to lots of 1st birthday parties for some of my doula babies from the busy spring that I had last year</li>
<li>Nearly finishing my Awana book, which will be the third book that I have endeavoured to do while the kids are in Awana as well</li>
<li>Discovering how much we love leeks and going through two bundles of them thanks to Bountiful Baskets, recipes forthcoming.</li>
</ul>
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So. Many. Blessings.<br />
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And grace, always, grace.</div>
wodakinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10618718404811793267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8656092307506375555.post-10616700670565096892014-02-17T07:00:00.000-07:002014-02-17T07:00:01.735-07:00What to do with our bountiful baskets? We have been loving participating in the Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op! Each week is something new and different, but always a bountiful portion for our $15 contribution. This weekend's basket included apples, cuties, bananas, pineapples, avocado, tomatoes, potatoes, acorn squash, leeks, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and I also bought a case of blackberries! So, what am I making with all that?<br />
<br />
Here's what I'm thinking:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Acorn Squash, roasted with Parmesan cheese</span></b><br />
<a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/02/acorn-squash.html" target="_blank">Recipe here</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Potatoes: Dairy Free Ham and Potato Chowder</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/01/dairy-free-ham-and-potato-chowder.html" target="_blank">Recipe Here. </a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHs6KAYr22s/UOYNwE4d0HI/AAAAAAAABsU/llbgdq9FIXA/s1600/chodwerblog2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bHs6KAYr22s/UOYNwE4d0HI/AAAAAAAABsU/llbgdq9FIXA/s1600/chodwerblog2013.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blackberries: Muffins!</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com/2013/06/m-is-for-muffins.html" target="_blank">Recipe here.</a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL2_UGdZGdc/UbUDTjs2HoI/AAAAAAAACWY/HejurLkg1SQ/s1600/Muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL2_UGdZGdc/UbUDTjs2HoI/AAAAAAAACWY/HejurLkg1SQ/s1600/Muffins.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, does anyone have any ideas what to do with leeks?</div>
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-L</div>
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