Your children's vocations

If you haven't met Anna yet (and even if you have :^), hop over to Pleasant View Schoolhouse and read her article "Vocations". I've often marvelled at her beautiful and talented home schooled children who are always pursuing their heart's passions, and in this article she tells how it happened and how you can help facilitate this in your own children.

Shhh!

After you've read a few books about Earth Day you can give your kids a bag and ask them to clean up the trash in the yard, toys too. For some reason, my kids are finding this to be a fun Earth Day activity rather than a chore today. See if it workds for you too!

Earth Day Question

If it takes plastic bags 200 years to breakdown in landfills, then what do you line your trash cans with? It seems like getting cloth bags for grocery shopping is all the rage now, and I wouldn't mind doing that at all, but I reuse those plastic shopping bags in my trash cans. And with little kids, I don't have to tell you how nasty the cans would be without them. Is scrubbing out every trash can in the house every day the only eco-friendly solution or do you all have a better way? Because if that's the only way, I'm afraid I'm going to have to find other ways to reduce my "human footprint". :^)

Earth Day for Kids

1. Plant some seeds in an empty egg carton
2. Christian Preschool Printables has a Genesis 1:1 coloring page of the earth
3. And their sister site, Little Blots of Faith, has a Creation lapbook
4. Get cool handwriting paper from PrimaryGames or abcteach.
5. Make a coffee filter earth craft from the Idea Box
6. Older kids can recycle CDs into a disco ball at National Geographic Kids
7. While you're there, play the online game, Recycle Round-Up
8. Learn how to grow a green garden and do a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Worksheet from Time for Kids.
9. Make rice krispy treat "earths"(alternate method here.)
10. Get a headstart on next year by ordering these Creation Globes

Easy and Fun

Earth Day for Grown-Ups

1. For information on climate change visit ICECAP.


2. If you haven't tried it yet, take the 10 question Global Warming Test.


3. Coolest way to reuse and recycle ever? a Paper Bag Floor


4. "Greener than thou" from World magazine


5. An essay at Answers in Genesis that explores two questions: “Can an evolutionist celebrate Earth Day?” and “Can a creationist celebrate Earth Day?”

Happy Creation Day!

Psalm 104, ESV

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

5He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 6You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. 8The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. 9You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.

10You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate,that he may bring forth food from the earth 15and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

16The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. 18The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

19He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

24O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. 26There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

27These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

31May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works, 32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 35Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

What is Global Warming?

Terror Level: High

Ever have one of those days when you can't decide which would make you feel better, locking all of your kids in a room, or locking yourself in a room? It's especially discouraging when you woke up that day with so many good things you wanted to do with them - reading, planting seeds... and at the end of the day, you did nothing but referee arguments, fix problems, and clean up messes. Makes ya glad that days only have 24 hours - then you get a new one. ;^)

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin flesh is rich in beta carotene (which converts to vitamin A in the body, and it's more concentrated and easier for the body to process in canned pumpkin!), potassium, and dietary fiber. A mom's dream come true. Especially when your two year old is a picky bread-lover.

Our favorite pumpkin muffins are these Pumpkin-Blueberry Streusel Muffins with the addition of xanthan gum, and the modification of mixing the ingredients all together rather than dry and moist separately (makes a denser, moister muffin). But the blueberry crop was damaged in the spring freeze last year, so we haven't made those much lately. Yesterday I decided to find a recipe for plain Gluten - Free Pumpkin Muffins, and these turned out well. everyone in my family enjoyed them, even the picky Rose, but you may want to put in less spice.

All you regular bakers, the first muffins were written as a regular wheat flour recipe - try them!

We interrupt this vacation journal to bring you:

It's opening day! PluggedInOnline's review. Answers in Genesis' review.

Day 2

Windy morning on deck

We were scheduled to pull into Freeport at noon. The plan: rent a scooter and go to Lucayan National Park to walk through a mangrove forest to a quiet beach and see some of a underwater cave system. The problem: Brian's boss who lived in Freeport for a while had suggested the scooter rentals, but everything on the ship's information discouraged it.

We had talked about snorkelling and other activities, but I had shied away from reserving them early, not knowing how Brian would be feeling, but Praise the Lord, he felt great the entire time! (And is still feeling well, making this past month and half the longest good streak he's had since diagnosis, I think. Although we have determined that whenever he is not working, he has that strength and energy to use on fun things. This is just not available on weekends after a long work week.)

Anywhoo, as we discussed this at 11 AM this morning, looking at the shore excursion list, and wanting to be sure that there would be no regrets, Brain decided that he wanted to go kayaking. I was a bit skeptical, but he insisted that he felt good and could do it, so I put in my hope to do some snorkelling, which perfectly combined in an excursion that was leaving at 12 PM! I was sure that there wouldn't be any tickets left, but on running to the purser's desk, we got the last two, ran back to our room to change and pack a bag, and ran to debark.

Of course, we waited at the wrong deck, enjoyed a conversation with a Baptist preacher and his wife, then ran to the right deck, debarked, and met Shami, the absolute coolest Bahamian guide and naturalist.

A study on palms (which, of course, turned out to not be native to the Bahamas at all):

native vegetation

Shami needed someone to sit in the front of the van with him and I quickly volunteered in hoped of getting a few shots on the way. He gave us so much information on the history of Freeport, its industries, and the native plants and trees.

Barbary Beach

view from Peterson Cay (pronounced "key") back to Barbary beach

Peterson Cay is a one and a half acre island. It and its adjacent coral reef make up the Bahamas smallest national park. It is basically empty except for vegetation and lots of little hermit crabs, which are more than happy to finish your lunch for you. Oh, and did I mention that there are no bathroom facilities on either beach? Fun times.

Another shot of Barbary beach

Tonight was the captain's dinner and the Grand Gala midnight buffet.

Also another example of missing pictures. I carried my camera all night, but never had someone take a shot of us dressed p for the formal dinner. Arrrgh.

Nightly turndown service with delicious chocolates and a new towel creation each night. Brian crashed for the night, but I had to stay up and see the midnight buffet.

Worth the wait. I will say, though, that it looked better than it tasted. Which surprised me.

I have more shots of the snorkelling and kayaking on an underwater disposable camera. I don't know how to scan them in, but I will share them when Brian has a chance to do that for me.

Day One

I found that despite carrying my camera everywhere, I took far fewer photos than I had anticipated. Life on the cruise ended up being far more anecdotal than event-oriented for us, and many a moment passed by me unnoticed until later. Next time, I plan to take pictures of more people and moments, and have more pictures taken of us together.

first view of the ship

Our stateroom. We also had three closets and a small bathroom.

The bridge we would pass under from the port.

Our first excitement came from skipping the required safety exercise. We could not understand half of what the speaker said from the upper deck we were relaxing on, and thought that it was optional. I kept worrying that we were goingot be in trouble, and characteristically, Brian was not at all worried. When someone finally told us that it was required we got five decks down to our stateroom for our lifejackets just in time to hear the all-clear signal. Good grief!

The bridge workers waved to us as we passed...

And we giddily waved back.

It looked like a tight squeeze, and the back of the ship was even higher.

First sunset and Brian making the first of many perfect wallpapers for his phone (and mine, because he's gonna share!)

Mikael, the jazz pianist we enjoyed many times.

He played right outside our dining room and we found sitting

and listening to him much more fun and relaxing than standing in line.

While you're waiting for the full scoop (and lots more pics)

Check out sermon jams - way cool. Try this one first, it's a bit longer than others, but still only several minutes. Loads of food for spiritual thought. LOVE IT.

We're back!

A new perspective on age

My mother was on the phone teasing me again about being old (I find this very amusing). Ethan was listening in and starting joining in the teasing, despite my denial.

Then he nailed me. "Yes, you are mom. You were born in the 1000's."

I started to deny that, too, when it struck me what he meant, and that it, indeed, was true. I was born in the old millenium, he was a part of the new.

Just think what they're gonna say about us when we're really old. [Read in news reporter drone]: "As the last survivors of the old millenium are now in their nineties..."

Am I the only one who hasn't seen this?

It is soooo cool!



Want to see more? This one's even better.

Wake-up call

"Mommy, the sun is up! Look, it is not black any more."

We finally dyed Easter eggs today

Anna Kate's Birthday Pics

the make-up kit she's "always wanted"

breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts


new outfits from Gramma - she sent four,

Anna chose one to wear to the park - and so did Rose!


at the park


finally at the end of the day, the new Barbie Mariposa
movie she'd been waiting for

She had to cut her hair too

She wanted to look like Ursula (George of the Jungle's love/wife).

She gave her dad another heart attack (see here, if you missed the first one).

She looks really cute (if I do say so myself).