Reflections on the Journey

Sauder Village - Explore the Crafts

2011-07-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Summertime

2011-07-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

Strawberry picking

2011-07-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Dance Recital

2011-05-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

"Baby, Take a Bow"

Easter Eggs

2011-05-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Can you dye brown eggs???

Yep, you sure can!

The First Tooth

2011-05-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Toth Faree,
I lost a toth bot then I rilee lost it
From Rachel

Sam's New RGOs

2011-05-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

This new brace is called a Reciprocating Gait Orthosis (RGO).
It has a reciprocating bar across the back that helps Sam walk
using weight shifting and a small amount of muscle work.

This was only the first day, and the adults were doing the work to make the RGOs work,
but within a week Sam had figure out the step, shift, lean pattern to take steps.
Now he's learning to hold onto a walker and refining his weight shifts.

Mom's attempting to get the hang of this too.

He enjoys being in close range of all the buttons,
rather than reaching from a walker or a stander.

Spring Break

2011-05-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

Touring the Spangler Candy Company...
home of Dum-Dums and Circus Peanuts.

Getting ready for the tour...
Rachel is delighted with the fit of her hairnet.

A little gourmet dining...

and a LOT of swimming.

A Little More Art - a study in lines

2011-05-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Toasted Mud - Paint your own Pottery

2011-05-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Random Stuff

2011-04-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Another sign of spring - boxelder bugs

Mike's favorite activity...getting a haircut

Can I hold the ducky?

Goat #1, known as Oreo
(after one day of racket Dave bought it a buddy)
It's a fainting goat that doesn't faint - we have the the dud.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Happy 9th Birthday!

2011-04-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Favorite cake - fish (made by the birthday boy himself)

Favorite shirt - flannel

Favorite toy - legos

Favorite ammunition - potatoes

Snow Ice Cream...yep, that's real snow.

2011-04-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday!

2011-04-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

Presents...

Cake...

and a Tea Party for Four

Sledding Country-Style

2011-04-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Happy 3rd Birthday Sam!

2010-08-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

An "UP" cake

(When your uncle gets married the day before your birthday,
mom goes for the quick-to-assemble cake!)

The green ones are the best.

A few extra relatives

makes for a little extra birthday fun!

Some of Sam's birthday loot

2010-08-13T19:07:00.000-07:00

a handmade treasure box

art supplies

the one that really tickled his fancy - money, money, money

a bike trailer so everyone can go for bike rides now

(Thanks to all the grandparents for pitching in on this one!)

A Summer Wedding

2010-08-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

This fella

and this gal in blue crocs

turned into this good-lookin' couple!

Boy Scout Camp 2010

2010-08-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Troop 13

Danny easily passed bunk inspection.

Waterball
(look for the boy in the patriotic shorts)

And he told me he wasn't tired.
(11:00 am the morning I picked him up)

Chicken tip #1

2010-08-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

If you hug 'em a lot...

they give you double yolkers.

The Artist

2010-08-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

What are you making Rachel?

"I don't know...

whatever it turns out to be."

And the circus came to town

2010-08-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

And the circus came to town

2010-08-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Hot Air Jubilee

2010-08-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

I went to the Hot Air Jubilee in Jackon and saw...

ONE balloon launch - this one.

(too windy)

But Sam was impressed.

I was impressed by these - vintage flyers demonstrating
formations and techiques from the World Wars.

And the afterglow was very cool,
even if they did bob into each other like weebles.

???

2010-08-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, my cutest blog on the block background is gone. Does anyone have it? I certainly don't have time to look for it right now.

Nature Hike

2010-07-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

My hiking buddy

Danny and his buddy

The running buddies...

who beat a hasty retreat after surprising
a mama turkey in the woods!

Bathroom Makeover

2010-06-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

The Wallpaper Removal Crew - they work cheap.

Note to self: If you only have one bathroom for six people, do not hang wallpaper in it.

The Taskmaster

Sam managed to commandeer a squirt bottle and took great delight
in showering his siblings and telling them to get to work.

Last Day of Swimming Lessons

2010-06-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Random Stuff

2010-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

She can read! She can read! And write!
Rach has wanted to learn to read for ages,
but she wants to learn in five minutes or less.
She has officially made the connection that the letters "talk"
and she really is reading.

My rose bush...it didn't bloom last year, but it's beautiful this year.

A tootsie roll and a stroller ride...what more could a two year old want?

Danny has earned his Totin' Chit and his Firem'n Chit...
which means he's legal to carry a knife and play with fire at scouting events.

Memorial Day Parade (Pioneer, OH)

2010-06-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Night Graduation

2010-06-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

Danny and three other fifth graders have graduated from the
Wednesday night kids' program at our church.
In the fall they will attending the middle school program
at Crossroads Farms near Reading.

Spring Flowers

2010-06-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

Planting Raspberries

2010-06-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Raspberries are my favorite fruit, and I have wanted some since I was a kid.
A very kind-hearted neighbor gave us a bunch of plants, so our patch is on its way.

Michael didn't think it would be much fun
until he saw that a posthole digger was involved.

Rachel was my chief planter.

See the worm?

May 2010

2010-06-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

an art project that went a little crazy

planting our hanging buckets and porch pots

three turkeys in a tent

Art...From the Ground Up

2010-06-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

When your dad starts digging holes in the backyard...

it's the perfect place to collect your own clay...

and make your own pots.

Do you think this will sell on ebay?

April 2010

2010-06-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted, so here are some pictures
of the Sullivan family happenings.

Sam...up on his hands and knees.
That's a new accomplishment this spring.
He's not crawling this way, but he's up and rocking.

Bacon and Eggs anyone?

April Fool! It's really candy.

The traditional egg coloring

It works better if you use your hands, you know.

Happy 8th Birthday Michael

2010-03-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

The birthday boy - 0ne day early.
He got his birthday party bumped one day because of a quilt auction,
but in return he got to share his birthday was Auntie Rae and Uncle Gary.

Opening some bike accessories

A bow and arrow set, like his big brother's.

Michael didn't want a fancy cake; he wanted angel food cupcakes with
some "frosting slapped on" and topped with sprinkles.
The magic relighting candles were a surprise though.

When you noticed it was muddy, why did you keep walking?

2010-03-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Four boots - stuck.

Notice the bare feet.

Yes, Michael really is stuck.

Why does this only happen after the house and bathroom are clean???

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Cake Contest

2010-03-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

For the Blue and Gold Banquet, each Cub Scout had to decorate a cake commemorating 100 years of scouting.
Then the cakes were judged and auctioned off.

Practicing...

Writing...

The finished product.
This was one of several camping cakes :-)

Michael took first place in the Wolf Pack.

What I Did for my Birthday!

2010-03-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

A Little Art and Ancient History

2010-02-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

Painting...

painting with every color in the box...

painting nomadic cave art...

and creating a very unusual bird.

Pinewood Derby Day

2010-02-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

Michael, the Wolf Scout

On your mark, get set, go!

Michael's car is the green one. When on the north track, it won; when on the south track, it lost.
As a result, he got to race it about 10 times to determine which of these two was the fastest.

Michael received a participation trophy for 4th place (out of four;-)
However, he was very proud to have designed and made it himself.

Miscellaneous

2010-02-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

I'm thmiling!

Radio Kit

Hide n' Seek under Rachel's new quilt

Can we lick the pan? Please???

Guess Who's Five!

2010-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

A Few Christmas Pictures

2010-02-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

A Few Christmas Traditions

2009-12-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Tree Farm

2009-12-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

A Thought to Ponder

2009-11-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night. For all the ill that Satan can do, when God describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). ….the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth.”

John Piper

2009-11-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

I found a few pictures that were still on my camera
and didn't get lost when the hard drive quit.

Gobble, Gobble!

2009-11-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

A Little Fall Fun

2009-11-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

Another Good Thought for Reflection

2009-10-17T06:49:00.001-07:00

If you miss the sacrifice, you will miss your life's calling.
~ Beth Moore

In other words, if you don't take the opportunity to make a sacrifice to God, to sacrifice so that it really costs you something, you may have a good life, even a godly life, but you will miss your true life's calling. Every day is a decision between sacrifice and selfishness.

Therefore I urge you, dear brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
~ Paul, in his letter to the Romans

2009-10-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth Elliot on making yourself miserable

Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable
Count your troubles, name them one by one--at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Worry every day about something. Don't let yourself get out of practice. It won't add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.
Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.
Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man's gotta live.
Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they're going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.
Stay away from absolutes. It's what's right for you that matters. Be your own person and don't allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.
Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people's. You have your life to live, they have theirs.
Don't fall into any compassion traps--the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people's troubles, you may neglect your own.
Don't let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what's really relevant--things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones--they're where it's at now.

I came across this one a few days ago. Elisabeth Elliot has a gift for getting me, and many others, to think more deeply. Read more or subscribe to Elizabeth Elliot's daily devotions here.

Nature Hike

2009-10-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

The last daisy of the season

A co-worker directed me to a different parking area.
We're going to hike this area next time.

Nature Hike

2009-10-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

My hiking buddies

"Let's cut open the egg cases and see what they look like inside."

The goofiest hiker

This is the first sun we've seen all week. We just had to get out there.

Fall Food and Crafts

2009-10-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

Making Cinnamon-Sugar Biscuit Bears: Rachel cut and Sam assembled.

The finished bears are cute, but they definitely look better than they taste.
They make a better craft than a treat.
Just goes to show that because you see a cute recipe doesn't mean it tastes good!

New life breathed into an old wreath

Saw some cute plastic pumpkins at the dollar store...
Made my own with real pumpkins for free.

And...My, Oh My, Sweet Potato Pie!
This one definitely passed the taste test, even by the husband
who says he doesn't like sweet potatoes.

School Stuff

2009-10-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Should I have told her that four-year-olds are not supposed to be able to copy
names of Australian animals off the computer?
I did, and she giggled with delight.

This is an echida, also known as a spiny anteater.

A little Aboriginal artwork - Dreamscape style

A little Cat artwork - Samuel style

Covenant Reminder

2009-10-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sauce Makin' Day

2009-10-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

The apple washin' crew
(I can totally relate to needing your tongue to concentrate!)

The youngest crew member couldn't wait for the sauce.

Our new food mill: some assembly required

This is the neatest gadget!
It saves work on both ends of the cooking process. There is no need to peel or even core the apples.
And it separates the sauce from the sludge in a lot less time, with a lot less mess.

Meditations on the Rock

2009-09-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

In a thousand trials it’s not just five hundred that work for our good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine; plus one! ~George Mueller

More Arboretum Pictures

2009-09-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

Who's the kid in the back with the goofy grin?

This teapot is also a kaleidoscope.

Mommy, my legs are tired.

Just one last pose...

Fall Fest at Slayton Arboretum

2009-09-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Relatives Came

2009-09-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

It's a party!

2009-09-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hot Dogs and Ice Cream
+
A Big Backyard
+
12 Boys
+
A Whole Lot of Noise
_____________________________

Enough Energy to Power a Small Country!

A great time was had by all, with only one minor collision.

And what is it with boys and sticks?

: - )

Goodbye to our Mighty Maple

2009-09-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back to School!

2009-09-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

When you homeschool, you can start with a field trip!
We stepped back in time to the late 1870s when canal boat was a popular means of moving
people and goods through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Professional historians are hired to play the parts of 1870s folks,
and they do not step out of character until the tour is over.
It was a great experience!

This dam was originally build in the 1870's to hold back the Maumee River
and divert some of it into the canal system.

This canal boat takes you back in time on a small stretch of the remaining canal, which originally connected Toledo to Cincinnati.
The building on the left is the original waterpowered sawmill. Today it's a piece of living history. They still saw fallen trees from the Metroparks and make park furniture, and they also have demonstrations of grain grinding.

The canal boat takes you through a hand-powered lock. This one is lock #44 and is the
last remaining canal lock that is still in operation.

Our view from the boat. That's Jake out there, walking Molly and Sally. If it was really the 1870s, he'd
walk those mules 10 hours a day and earn 30 cents a day for doing so. The boat owner tried to hire Danny -
she said eleven year olds are the perfect age for walking mules.

Psalm 19:1

2009-09-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

The Birthday Boy and His Cake

2009-08-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

This year I frosted the cake, but Danny did the decorations.
I think it was his favorite cake ever.

Happy 11th Birthday Danny!

2009-08-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

A horse lover - just like his mom

A favorite of every boy: the multipurpose tool/knife

Cool Giveaway

2009-08-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

I came across a toy giveaway on a blog I visit - the toys are eco-friendly and really neat!

"Health Begins With Mom is hosting an eco-friendly toy giveaway sponsored by All Children’s Furniture who carries everything from kid's furniture to toys. Stop by before midnight Aug 27st EST to enter to win! "

Good Eats

2009-08-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

High Tea at the Sullivan Tea House

Ice cream...good to the last drop!

Friday Morning Nature Hike...before the rain

2009-08-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Country Life

2009-08-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

Petting a baby bird

A buggy ride from a good friend

A backyard fort made of old barn scraps

A bunch of country kids in front of a bed of cosmos

Yummy Kitty Cake

2009-08-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sam!

2009-08-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

More Zoo Pics

2009-07-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Binder Park Zoo

2009-07-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Petting Zoo
Maybe we should get a goat?

Feeding the giraffes was definitely my favorite part.

Jambo! Welcome to Wild Africa

This is the largest tortoise I have ever seen.

Canning

2009-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at canning...
all by myself...
and they all sealed.

Cindy, because you asked...

2009-07-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here's the garden view from the road. On the front of the fence are purple morning glories. Last year at this time they covered the whole front of the fence, but I think it's been a little cool for them. Starting from the front are carrots and beets, tomatoes, and then a late planting of beans. The big bushy plants towards the back are potatoes. To the left of the potatoes are a bunch of vines: gourds, pumpkins, squash. I don't think the melon came up. Also mixed in there somewhere are marigolds, kale, dill, cucumbers and zuchinni. From a distance it looks full of plants - you only see the grass problem when you get close. However, with a little rain we will have a great harvest - there are lots of tiny vegetables on the plants right now.

Behind the back fence, between the fence and the barn is a small herb patch and a circle of sunflowers. The sunflowers are supposed to get tied together at the top to make a fort, but I don't think it will work - they aren't getting very tall before they make blossoms. Too dry? Too cool? Who knows.

Rachel's flowers. Again, a little rain would help. This patch was full last year. The fence to the right has two grape vines on it, but it'll be a few years before they make grapes. Directly behind the barn is my raspberry patch, seeded by the birds. The wooden fence on the left hides an old willow stump and the compost pile. It was supposed to have sweet peas and morning glories on it by now. The sweet peas never sprouted, and the the morning glories are really small, so it'll probably be late August before I see any blooms there.

This is Dave's latest expansion on the rock garden. He added the Narnia lamppost and some additional stone. The lamp will be nice in the winter when it gets dark so early. Notice the sunflowers by the window. Those grew from dropped birdseed, and they're taller than the mammoth variety that I planted by the barn. Go figure.

I added this girl and her sweet bunny just because she's cute.
Today the bunny's name is Pepper. I'm told that tomorrow his name will be Flower.
Who knows after that!

Summer Happenings

2009-07-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Washing the Bug

The green bug is in need of minor repairs, so the black one
needed to be cleaned up and put back into service.

Michael caught yet another snake. I don't know why, but we
sure have an abundance of snakes this year.

When there are four kids in the family, they don't get as much one on one attention, but on the other hand, they have a built in cheering section. Rachel can't ride without training wheels yet, but Michael is sure he can teach her.

This is a fun toy the PT girls brought for the day. It's a four-wheeled cart with a joystick, and Sam had a blast toodling around the yard. It's just too bad our yard is bumpy - the cart gets stuck pretty easy.

July

2009-07-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

Fifth of July

The kids made their own Fourth of July shirts with glitter, even Sam.
This is one of Sam's crazy hair days too!

You can see Danny's shirt in this picture.

Michael says, "I know how a toasted marshmallow feels...crispy on the outside and soft on the inside."
Moral of this story: When your marshmallow catches fire, don't shake it!

Danny and Peter Cottontail

Standing Dani a.k.a. Sam's Wheels

2009-07-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

If you looked carefully in a previous photo, you may have seen part of this contraption. It is officially called a Standing Dani, although around here we call it Sam's Wheels. Basically, it is a wheelchair that he stands up in, and it is customized for his size and scoliosis needs. This photo is of the first time he ever used it, and his eyes lit up when he made the connection that he could move himself.

The Wheels are great for indoor used or outdoor. Sam can push himself inside where the floor is level, but he needs help in the bumpy yard. The guys from the Davis company added the pull handle, which saves my back. Thank you!!

We really like this contraption - it's therapy and mobility put together. It's great for building muscle leg strength, bone density, arm and back muscles, for stretching the hands, and for improving mobility, independence, and motivation. The other kids like it too. Indoors, they pull Sam around the dining room table, while he tells them "stop" and "go." Outdoors, he can be toodled safely all over the yard - it's quite heavy and practically untippable.

This one is on loan to us from the ISD (thanks Kim and Jamie!) but we are working on getting Sam one of his own. The folks in charge say that it usually takes about six months to get one - lots of hoops to jump through - so we are proceeding in that direction now.

Camp 9-1-1

2009-07-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Danny attended a 2-day camp called Camp 9-1-1. It was put on by the Reading Emergency Unit, Inc. and sponsored by many businesses and community groups.

The kids learned bike safety, fire safety, CPR, and First Aid. They got to tour several different fire trucks, an ambulance, and the smoke house. They were supposed to see the LifeFlight helicopter, but it got diverted to an emergency, so we'll catch it later over Labor Day.

Kudos to Reading Emergency Unit for a great camp! Danny learned a lot, had a great time, and got some great freebies. The camp was very well organized, focused on the community, and the counselors related well with the kids. Thanks!

Snake Hunter

2009-07-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Snake Hunter has a new pet...

...that Rachel thinks is so fine...

...but Sam is not convinced.

Book Review: Family-Driven Faith (Part II)

2009-06-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a little food for thought on a biblical worldview. Still expanding on Family-Driven Faith, but using quite a bit from Barna's website today too. (My words are in blue today. Words in brown are from www.barna.org)

Researcher George Barna found that less than 10 percent of self-proclaimed "born-again Christians" in America have a biblical worldview. What's worse, he found that only half (51 percent) of America's pastors have a biblicalworld view.

Yikes! Half our pastors don't hold to biblical teachings themselves!!! What do the remaining pastors and 90% of our "born-agains" believe?

By a three to one margin (71% to 26%) adults noted that they are personally more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a comprehensive set of beliefs taught by a particular church. Although born again Christians were among the segments least likely to adopt the a la carte approach to beliefs, a considerable majority even of born again adults (61%) has taken that route. Leading the charge in the move to customize one’s package of beliefs are people under the age of 25, among whom more than four out of five (82%) said they develop their own combination of beliefs rather than adopt a set proposed by a church.

So...pretty much we pull an Oprah...I believe what I like, and if I believe it, it must be true. Hey, I like Oprah, but she is way off base in her beliefs on God, spirituality, and eternity.

If I was choosing my beliefs, I'd leave out some too: belief in hell, pray for your enemies, forgive 70 x 7, and a few others. It'd be an easier pill to swallow, but it's not truth.

Evidence of people’s willingness to part with church teaching was shown in other data from the survey regarding what people believe. Among individuals who describe themselves as Christian, for instance, close to half believe that Satan does not exist, one-third contend that Jesus sinned while He was on earth, two-fifths say they do not have a responsibility to share the Christian faith with others, and one-quarter dismiss the idea that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

And these are the Christians...we should be like the Bereans in Acts who "eagerly accepted the message and examined the Scriptures to see if what they were being taught was true."

So, what is a Biblical worldview? If I am going to pass it on, I need to define it.

For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

Voddie Baucham defines a biblical worldview much the same way, but he expands on the principles a bit more.

Here's a great quote about truth from his book.

"That which corresponds to reality, identifies things as they actually are, can never fail, diminish, change, or be extinguished, must be able to be expressed in propositional statements, and is sourced in the God of the bible who is the author of all truth."
~Paul Shockley

Why It Matters

Ongoing research by The Barna Group on these matters consistently demonstrates the powerful impact a person’s worldview has on their life. A worldview serves as a person’s decision-making filter, enabling them to make sense of the complex and huge amount of information, experiences, relationships and opportunities they face in life. By helping to clarify what a person believes to be important, true and desirable, a worldview has a dramatic influence on a person’s choices in any given situation.

Barna’s research has discovered that there are unusually large differences in behavior related to matters such as media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices.

The firm’s studies have also pointed out that a person’s worldview is primarily shaped and is firmly in place by the time someone reaches the age of 13; it is refined through experience during the teen and early adult years; and then it is passed on to others during their adult life. Such studies underscore the necessity of parents and other influencers being intentional in how they help develop the worldview of children.

To read more, go to Barna's website.

Life Around the Homestead

2009-06-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

Setting up the tent in the front yard - notice the caveman tool. All three big kids slept out there alone for the first time. They were out there all night anyway; I'm not sure how much sleeping was done.

Nothing like falling asleep in your spaghetti

Look Momma, we used all the blocks.

It's amazing how fun the sandbox is when it's been cleaned out.

Book Review: Family-Driven Faith (Part I)

2009-06-15T08:45:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd share a few things that I've gleaned from a book I just finished reading. The book is called Family-Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God, written by Voddie Baucham.

Take a look at this quote from the beginning of his book:

According to researchers, between 70 and 88 percent of Christian teens are leaving the church by their second year in college. That's right, modern American Christianity has a failure rate somewhere around eight (almost nine) out of ten when it comes to raising children who continue in the faith. Imagine the alarm if nearly 90 percent of our children couldn't read when they left high school. There wouldn't be room enough at the school board meetings to hold all of the irate parents.

Doesn't that quote just take your breath away? What is going wrong? Why aren't kids who are taken to church their whole lives making God and the church part of their adult lives? It is the job of the parents to pass the torch of faith on to their children. What are we doing wrong? What do YOU think?

This is obviously very important to me because I am in the season of life of raising my children and trying to pass on that torch of faith. And I don't want to get it wrong because knowledge of, love for, and commitment to God are the most important things for them to learn, with more eternal consequences than learning reading, writing, or arithmetic.

Think on this quote for a while, and I'll share some more gleanings in part II.

It Works! It Works!

2009-06-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is Sam modeling the latest in a TLSO brace, otherwise known as a body jacket. And yes, it is covered in cute little zoo animals. Hey, you can choose from about 40 different patterns and matching straps. Statistically, for infantile scoliosis, the brace will halt or improve the progression of scoliosis in 85% of the cases.

Guess what? For the first time in a long time, this boy falls in the majority! Last September, his curvature was 28 degrees, which means we wait and see. By December, it had progressed for 40 degrees. He began wearing the brace in February, and his curve now measures 30 degrees, which his body can maintain with the brace off. We are giving thanks to God for this good news!

Because it limits his ability to do about everything (since he can't walk), he only wears it at night. It really isn't that big of a deal, as we slip it on him after he falls asleep. He does get a little stuck on the bed sometimes, and usually has to be flipped over a couple of times during the night, but he goes right back to sleep. The biggest issue with it is it makes him sweat a lot.

Please don't tell me to keep the room cool! I can't tell you how many people have asked if the room was cool - like I have no idea that a hot room might make him sweat more! He's just a hot baby, has been since he was born, and a plastic vest doesn't help. Hey, wrap yourself in plastic wrap and see if you sweat ;)

During the day he wears a Benik vest - imagine a soft vest made of wetsuit material. If you look closely in some of his pictures on this blog, you'll see him in it - it's royal blue and goes right over his clothes. It gives him a little bit of posture support, but is flexible enough to allow him to move and bend in any direction.

Anyway, we are very happy to have some definitive good news! He will continue to wear the TLSO and Benik, and we'll go for a re-check in four months. Will he continue to improve? Only time will tell, but so far Sam's progress is wonderful.

Portraits of June

2009-06-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

The Little Garden Girl
(Our rock garden actually looks like a real rock garden this year!)

The Little Sunday Driver

Peony in Full Bloom

Mixed Lettuce and Spinach
(It's even organic!)
Price of comparable greens at the store: $2.99

New Tire Swing!

2009-05-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

(Photos by Daniel and Michael)

The bigger kids are making the old swingset "bump" when they try to swing, and Danny's legs are way too long to even try to swing anymore. This is our upgrade that is big enough for everyone. The lady holding Sam is his Early On teacher, who comes to our house twice a week.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Rainy Day Play-Doh

2009-05-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Random Science Stuff

2009-05-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

How many seven-year-olds go to the library and ask the librarian to help him find these?

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We have a toad ranch. Current population: 2

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The kids have planted "their" gardens. They used survey flags to stake out their territory, and they chose what they wanted. Basically, each of the boys has beans, carrots, potatoes, and gourds. Michael also chose cantalope and marigolds, and Danny chose mini-pumpkins. Rachel's is 100% flowers so she can pick all she wants. Danny learned about companion planting - tomatoes love carrots and onions, but they hate kale and potatoes, etc.

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Sam has decided he likes play-doh. Until yesterday, he hated and didn't even want it near him. Now it's his favorite thing. Go figure.

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My kids were stunned and amazed by my demonstration of centrifugal force using a full bucket of water. Then Michael tried. His somewhat soggy sister was less than impressed.

Supper 'Round the Firepit

2009-05-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

(No, we didn't have just s'mores for supper!)

Starting the Garden

2009-05-10T05:53:00.000-07:00

We are tripling the size of our garden this year. Last year's garden is fenced, and we need to re-work the fence to enclose the new area. If we don't, the wild rabbits will have a feast - and we won't! The kids each want their own garden too, so we will divide up the new plot before we plant. Since it is fresh soil, we should have a really productive year.

Danny helped plant. So far, we have planted carrots and beets, as they are cooler weather crops. We also re-planted pea-pods as they didn't come up well, and I think some of them got accidently tilled.

I planted lettuce and spinach a few weeks ago. They are up, but not enough to harvest yet. I'm guessing we'll get our first harvest in about two weeks.

Michael loves the garden weasel! I just have to keep an eye on where he is so he doesn't weasel the newly planted rows.

Danny's job is to cover the tiny carrot and beet seeds after Momma sows them. He'll be in charge of planting the bigger pea and bean seeds.

Life Anew

2009-05-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Our apple blossoms
Our tree yielded eight apples last year, but seems to be gearing up for more this year.

A winsom lass and her bouquet

The view from my bedroom window

Experimenting with a Collage

2009-05-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

More Signs of Spring

2009-05-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Flowers Bloomin'

Ticks Crawlin'

(Hee-hee-hee!)
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Kids say....

Michael: "Momma, is Sammy the runt? Is Sammy the boy runt and Rachie the girl runt?"

Church Away From Church

2009-05-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Skippin' church here again in an effort to avoid germs. On those days I tune into one of Mark Driscoll's sermons at Mars Hill Church. (That's the one in Seattle, not Grand Rapids.) They're a bit long, but well worth the listen, and with the audio-only option, even slow computers can play them. I've finished all of Vintage Jesus and am currently working through A Rebel's Guide to Joy. Nothing like a little theology, conviction, redemption, and worship to start the day!

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons