tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43132184379387802182024-02-21T06:11:54.341-08:00Lattice"For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice..." Pr 7:6. Whether I'm working and watching behind-the-scenes, providing actual structural support, or doing the stretching and climbing myself, lattice--structure--is always the foundation from which creativity freely springs. To paraphrase, "The Lord is my Lattice, I shall not want..." This blog site describes my view through Him...Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-193449532536567632014-11-29T08:27:00.001-08:002014-11-29T08:27:28.825-08:00For Ju, who refuses to network the easy way...<br />
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<br />Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-49304497430182265282014-03-31T15:36:00.003-07:002014-03-31T15:36:17.635-07:00Explosive Science (to augment Apologia Chemistry Chpt 16)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uFQdcKJUijQ?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-10523248369453892842013-12-23T05:59:00.001-08:002013-12-24T08:57:41.502-08:00Shepherds Watching Their Pig-Sheep by Night<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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(from My Father's World, authors of our home school curriculum)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">This Christmas, many will
read the story of the shepherds in Luke 2. But what if you have never seen or heard of a sheep? That is the case for the Apal people of
Papua New Guinea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In the Apal language, the word
for all large animals is the word for pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when the Apal look at pictures of cows, antelope, or
water buffalo, they call them <i>pigs</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With foreign animals, they often add
the English word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So cows become <i>pig
cows</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">, and elephants are <i>pig
elephants</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time you read sheep in your English Bible, the
translators use the phrase <i>pig sheep</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">
in the Apal language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Having decided what to call
sheep, the word for shepherds was easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are people who watch sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So the Bible translation team was able to translate the phrase about
watching the sheep in fields by night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For the next step, the verses
were read to the Apal people for comprehension checking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were asked, “Why were they
watching the pig sheep at night?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can imagine the shock when one man answered, “They want to shoot
them with their arrows.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several
others were asked the same question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone else agreed—they understood that the shepherds were watching
pig sheep so that they could shoot them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There was big problem with
the word for “watch.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The term for
<i>watch</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> in Apal can mean either
“care for” or “look at.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
pigs in Papua New Guinea don’t need to be cared for (in Papua New Guinea pigs
take care of themselves), and since the shepherds were watching the pig sheep
at night (the best time for hunting), the only logical conclusion is that the
shepherds were out hunting the pigs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To solve this, the word for
“shepherds” had to be completely changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They wouldn’t be very good shepherds if they killed off all of their
sheep!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though all the words
were technically “right,” they communicated the wrong message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the understanding that Papua New
Guineans have about pigs, the translators had to select another term for
shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the new word for
shepherds in place, the Apal people can now fully understand the meaning of
this passage in Luke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We invite you to take a
moment to pray for the many Bible translators around the world who daily labor
to communicate the true message of God’s love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gifts can be made to God’s Word for the Nations by clicking
on the link below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Father’s
World (<a href="http://www.mfwbooks.com/">www.mfwbooks.com</a>) continues to partner with God’s Word for the Nations to
reach all tribes, peoples, nations, and languages with the Word of God in their
heart language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.gwftn.org/#donate">http://www.gwftn.org/#donate</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-32503748099074621732012-11-08T20:27:00.000-08:002012-11-28T22:25:56.701-08:00Adding My Drop to the Ocean...<br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I just finished browsing several friends' positive and negative responses to the election. Some sound so depressed. This is a picture the Lord gave me a few months ago. Perhaps it will encourage: Our country, like all nations and empires that've risen and fallen before us, is a ship afloat on a sea He created. It began as something like Noah's ark, with God as general contractor and people listenin</span></span>g and building according to His directions. But along the way people changed focus--nationalism overtook them and they began to take pride and glory for "their" workmanship--and our ship became the Titanic. Now it's sinking. In the broad scheme of the universe, we are like bacteria on the ship. From that perspective, does it really matter who the head bacteria is? There is really no man who can turn this situation around. I don't see anything in Scripture that promises that this nation will be preserved. Rather, we will reap justified consequences. If God wants to make this nation strong, He can, but I think we've passed a point of no return, and we've passed it in His perfect timing. Rather than putting our hope in the boat, and teaching our children to put theirs there, we need to practice putting our hope in the God of the boat and the sea. I think we're gonna end up going for a swim, and the map our kids are about to take charge of is going to look very different from what we grew up with, but...it's not a surprise to God. He's got a plan, and He's the perfect Lifeguard. ;~)<br />
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Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-45496746489032171552012-09-01T04:55:00.000-07:002012-09-04T07:38:44.882-07:00Turning...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2ezis6sBmAdYzEwj_pEdKVcc2z9_fcProvYyJqlo-QXE3Sg72Mk1Pc1_mIeyCRW0xBXJ3sge4m2PcncapOc9ifSSBllWrNebvg7Fec5Lv2u1IhNu1zdIsApY7fwI4fSGhHOGTjIob1fG/s1600/DSC06288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2ezis6sBmAdYzEwj_pEdKVcc2z9_fcProvYyJqlo-QXE3Sg72Mk1Pc1_mIeyCRW0xBXJ3sge4m2PcncapOc9ifSSBllWrNebvg7Fec5Lv2u1IhNu1zdIsApY7fwI4fSGhHOGTjIob1fG/s320/DSC06288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
It’s
prob’ly early for most of you to think about this, but as our leaves begin to
turn, my mind turns with them toward thoughts of cooler weather…autumn
camping…sitting ‘round a campfire under the stars…and that special new star,
announcing the birth of Christ. <br />
<br />
The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles/Tents begins in one month, October 1<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord, I will be ready!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
The
hot weather this year has oppressed us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It feels like God’s big thumb pressing down on us, tethering us to a
place we do <i>not</i> want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temps in the nineties are nauseating,
triple digits paralyzing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bear Bait comes home every night and thanks God for the A/C, then begs for rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids go outside 2-3 times/day, but
only to go to the lake. During the hottest days in July, I happened to read <a href="http://www.jacquelinekelly.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calpurnia begins: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i>“In 1899, we had learned to tame the darkness but
not the Texas heat.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Her
story made me incredibly thankful to be living in 2012!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Yet
as the changing season woos me now into a state of reflection, I perceive that
the heat and oppression have not been in vain, nor was God’s intent to leave us
feeling impotent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, His
purpose has been to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>s-l-o-w<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>u-s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>d-o-w-n…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which has been scary…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Twenty-first century 40-somethings do not find slowing down to be
terribly comfortable! We're talkin' Midlife Crisis here!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Eventually
our discomfort has turned us toward God…for where else do we have to go? </div>
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At
one point in the <a href="http://www.leadershipinvestmentintensives.com/seventh-year.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">7th Year</span></a> study, I was directed to evaluate my
“self-talk,” to see if what I tell myself matches what God says about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For two weeks I sincerely tried to
evaluate, but discovered nothing profound until one night my son asked me what I
was doing in the morning, and I responded: “I’m going for a run.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly it dawned on me that my
self-talk usually doesn’t capture the truth that God is always with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not <i>I</i> who was going out for a run…it was <i>we</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so <i>we</i> went running the next morning…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And guess what!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2012/05/lessons-from-arctic-willow.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">It changed our lives!</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking “in the we” has been a whole
new exciting adventure since then!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
So
we have slowed, and then we have turned (which, if you’re going to turn, it <i>is</i> often best to slow down first), and from this
grueling rough patch we’ve gained skill in acknowledging God’s presence. Then a
few weeks ago the other shoe dropped when we attended a funeral and learned
that <i>to</i> <i>comfort</i> actually means “to go forth bravely together.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Spirit is our Comforter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This reminds us it’s not His will for
us to resolve our challenges alone using just the brains He gave us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, He wants to go through the
journey <i>WITH</i> us…together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immanuel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Like
a breath of crisp autumn air, these truths bring us an exhilarating sense of
freedom!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: right;">
<i>“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean
not on your own understanding; in all your ways <b>acknowledge Him</b></i><i>, and He shall direct your paths.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>—Proverbs 3:5-6<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God meets us where we
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However and whenever you
celebrate the coming of the Light of the World, we hope you feel blessed by the
treasures He’s given <i>you</i> this
year!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-25400434555703262972012-05-31T07:00:00.000-07:002012-09-04T05:19:55.044-07:00Lessons from an Arctic Willow<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
For the past few weeks in my reading, my time with the Lord, and through <a href="http://www.leadershipinvestmentintensives.com/seventh-year.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">The 7th Year</span></a> study, I've become conscious of a new perspective God wants to give me. The Holy Spirit has gently revealed this truthful picture: "Lattice, some of my children feel secure thinking of Me as their safety net, then balk when they see that I intend to lead them through a refining fire. But you, My child...you are much more secure. You tend to <i>light</i> the fire, enthusiastically jump into it, then invite <i>Me</i> to get in with <i>you</i>!" (No wonder half my relatives think Christianity is crazy, huh?!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
What can I say? He's right! I <i>have</i> always preferred masterminding and lighting prescribed burns to putting out catastrophic wildfires! ;~)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
His point, though, is that while I am secure in His planning, I struggle with His pacing. So these weeks, the Lord is retraining me--restraining my habit to anticipate His next move, then just roll up my sleeves and dive in and do it. His training method surprises and intrigues me. For instance, last week when I was out running intervals (running is not something I love or am good at, and I particularly don't like running intervals, but sometimes it's time...), as I looked ahead and anxiously tried to anticipate where I'd speed up and where I'd slow down, or which way I'd go at the next intersection, I suddenly became aware of God's presence, remembered that "I" was really "we," and the Lord murmured consolingly, "Don't fret. Don't anticipate. I'll tell you when it's time..." You know what? Running seemed a lot easier this way, and...wow!...<i>running with God?</i> It's a whole new concept... Who'd've thought?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
He's also <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-midlife-pout.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">changing my picture</span></a> of our relationship. Until we had the fire talk above, I sincerely used to see us as Him leading and me trying to follow, but not really follow from behind so much as understand Him to the point that I could anticipate and work for Him independently, like <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2011/10/ziva-did-it.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Gibbs and his NCIS team</span></a>. But now I understand why I felt like I was on my own so often, in spite of His assurance that He'd never leave me. Since I was often jumping ahead, I lost sight of Him regularly. I used to reassure myself by praying, "God, thank You that You're always with me wherever I go..." Or try to get myself back on track with, "God, please lead me...help me follow..." But now I sense that a more accurate prayer is, "Father, please <i>take me with </i>You."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Immanuel means "God <i>with</i> us." </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Not "with" as in alongside us, but rather "with" as in <i>in</i> us. </div>
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Not "with" as in me right here and you right there, but rather "with" as in together...unified...as one.</div>
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My 7th Year assignment this past week has been to:</div>
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<li>Prayerfully ask the Lord to show me how to transition my actions from originating in my head (my own reasoning, my plans, my pace) to originating from His heart. </li>
<li>Hold this prayer throughout the week with gentle attentiveness, not wrestling with it, but offering it as a continual question and willingness to learn.</li>
<li>Take it with me each day as I go on a walk with the Lord outside, investing the walking time in noticing <i>details</i> of God's creation.</li>
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And here is one lesson I learned on a very short walk (just a few yards from my front door) as the Arctic Willow planted beside my driveway captured my attention and I paused to peer more closely:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaB0Ip7ZAzkaf2Cy8FPagItxIawVHaq83ZuYBrFKxgNsMZGFehuSSGaFlc7XLgwsK-rYhWi16uUitXuSoI1Ldps7K4_f-u23fCHTc1ck4WMFJ2YPAt7XioFQUPKwNn9wWpLVCw0_s-qCkF/s1600/DSC08818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaB0Ip7ZAzkaf2Cy8FPagItxIawVHaq83ZuYBrFKxgNsMZGFehuSSGaFlc7XLgwsK-rYhWi16uUitXuSoI1Ldps7K4_f-u23fCHTc1ck4WMFJ2YPAt7XioFQUPKwNn9wWpLVCw0_s-qCkF/s320/DSC08818.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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All of its leaves do not bud out at the same time. Look at the photo, taken yesterday, and notice that the top-most tips of each branch still look like barren sticks. A few weeks ago, the leaves began budding at the base. Next, they budded out in the innermost center of the plant. Gradually, they've worked their way out and up. I haven't researched the ecology/physiology of the plant, but it appears to me that the leaf-producing nutrients must work their way up from the roots. As each section of stem sucks up nutrient-rich water, saturating it at a high enough level, the leaves bud. I bet my friend <a href="http://farsideoffifty.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Far Side of Fifty</span></a> has a name for this phenomenon. (She went to school to learn horticulture.)<br />
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I bet God has a name for it, too. But I don't think the name matters as much as the concept. The concept is that God doesn't do or fix or adjust everything in our lives all at once. He builds precept upon precept, a little here, a little there. (Is 28:10) There is a time for all things...and it's not time for the whole plant to be leafed out yet. This concept is to be a source of rest rather than anxiety. God's pace is perfect. <br />
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I do struggle with pace. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with too much to do, or sometimes I feel like not enough is happening or that good things aren't happening fast enough. I feel stressed, confused, and wonder where God is. It's not God, or lack of Him, that's the problem, though. It's me, wrestling instead of being gently attentive, taking myself out of pace with Him. Me, anticipating ahead of the nutrient-rich water that brings life and energy to the situation.<br />
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God's answer? Be like an Arctic Willow. The Arctic Willow is really a very patient plant. It doesn't fret that all the other bushes around it have already finished leafing out and the lilac is even almost ready to bloom, while its still got half-bare branches. The willow doesn't worry that it's being left behind, unable to keep up, shorter than all the other bushes, or that because of these differences its existence might be considered insignificant. It just sits in the ground, soberly letting God's blueprint work out at His appointed pace. The only part of a willow that really actively works is its roots, seeking, growing, and taking in life-giving nutrients. Beyond that, God's plan just kind of happens to it. <br />
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What if we were to focus all our energy on seeking and growing our roots in our Life-giving, nutrition-rich God? Doesn't He promise that as we became saturated in Him--<i>abide</i> in His Word, His Life-giving Water--our leaves will bud and fruit will blossom, offering sweet, abundant Life to everyone around us? God will prune, and we'll produce more. God will fertilize, and our fruit will become sweeter. God will tend us, and we will be His crowning glory...without even having to work at it!<br />
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<i>"Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." </i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">--1 John 3:24</span></div>
Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-4548245963188237992012-05-29T06:36:00.001-07:002012-06-02T05:45:33.153-07:00Oh, the Places You'll Go!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We've been done with school and de-cluttering for two weeks now. This is the week in between high school graduation parties and our end-of-year dance recital, which is an annual graduation party in and of itself. Recitals are exciting, thrilling...wonderful... And once all the performances are over, we will feel like it's really summer.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For graduation gifts these days, I like to give Dr. Seuss' <u><a href="http://www.seussville.com/books/book_detail.php?isbn=9780679805274"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Oh, the Places You'll Go!</span></a></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> </span> I hope the high school graduates really read them. I hope they laugh...and dream. Life is a special occasion. May our dreams know no limits...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the midst of all the exciting May events, last weekend a group of us homeschoolers also helped some friends move. We got to talking about how many times we've each moved, and one mom asked me where-all I've lived. Ha! When, during our house closing, we had to list all our addresses for the past ten years, I used a whole sheet of paper and our banker called me a gypsy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The memory got me to thinking...</span><br />
<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>The Places I've Been</b></span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I grew up in <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2008/11/common-decency.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">northern CA</span></a> and <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2008/11/watson-falls.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">southern OR</span></a>...<br />Went to college in MT<br />To study English and sociology while canoeing the Yellowstone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And alpine skiing at Red Lodge...<br />Married and moved to my husband's family's ranch in northeast WY<br />During a summer of great drought,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And lots of grasshoppers,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So no grass...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thus, the cattle were shipped off to the feedlot early<br />(Everybody asks: It was 40,000 acres; 10,000 owned, 30,000 lifetime lease, 16 miles long, 30+ miles across; 1,000 cattle and 750 sheep)<br />And we took off to AK<br />To make big money for school by sliming salmon...<br />For the next few years, it was WY...AK...WY...AK<br />Back and forth between college in WY (where I now majored in geography)<br />And salmon (where I packed and shipped frozen filets, loved shoveling shaved ice, and spent my free time picking fish scales off my arms),<br />Until we ran out of school money and moved back onto the ranch<br />To help with the cattle and raise 360 of our own sheep.<br />I liked moving and branding the cattle,<br />And buying and raising sheep,<br />But not with my husband or his father.<br />Thank God for the neighbors...<br />At the same time,<br />I worked in the office at the local bentonite plant for three years,<br />And then went to work for the USFS, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inventorying timber and fighting fires,<br />Which I loved...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But my husband hated.<br />We divorced.<br />I trained and fought fires for one more season in the Black Hills,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where I met my future HE (Husband Extraordinaire!),</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then moved to ID to live with my sister while<br />Working as secretary and teacher's aid for forestry professors<br />And finishing my bachelor's degree,<br />A very strong degree in general studies,<br />With plans to hurry up and start a Master's in fire science...<br />(So I could write curriculum and teach wildland fire mgmt/ecology...)<br />Then moved to MN and married my HE, Bear Bait.<br />Colleges in MN were not willing to work cooperatively with U of I<br />And we could not leave Bear Bait's mom and younger siblings,<br />So we managed apartments for a few months,<br />Then rented a basement apartment while we shopped for a home.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which we found and bought</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just in time,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because God promptly <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2008/12/walking-stick.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">made us parents,</span></a><br />Then sent <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2008/09/used-shoes.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Bear Bait</span></a> out as a <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2009/06/lucrative-fender-benders-driving-55.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">suitcase steamfitter</span></a>.<br />And while we've now had a home base for over a decade,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My gypsy days are still not over.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Until my mother-in-law, N, moved in with us four years ago,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The kids and I packed up our school supplies </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And traveled alongside of Bear Bait,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coming home only for a few rooted, stationary meetings like</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Church, dance lessons, wrestling practices, Scouting events, etc...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the same time that N moved in with us,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Bear Bait "just happened" to be hired for jobs closer to home,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And THANK GOD!, because N's needs kept me on the road!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Doctors, hospitals, Mayo, Social Security office...all hours from our home.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God made me a caretaker,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A place I <i>never</i> expected to go,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2010/12/romans-123.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">it was good</span></a>...very good.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And now?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now I am a dance mom of <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2012/04/watch-kids-here-they-grow.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">two young teens</span></a>,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which is like a soccer mom in that</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chauffeuring keeps the gypsy blood from boiling over,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But different in that every year</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I get to <a href="http://pr76-lattice.blogspot.com/2011/06/2011-dance-explosion.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">watch the kids graduate!</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psalm 139:7-14 celebrates that our comings and goings need not be blind wanderings. They can be joyfully led, securely guarded, and satisfyingly purpose-filled:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Where can I go from Your Spirit?</i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Or where can I flee from Your presence?</i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>If I ascend into heaven, You are there;</i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>If I take the wings of the morning,</i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,</i></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even there Your hand shall lead me,</i></span></i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>And Your right hand shall hold me.</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Even the night shall be light about me;</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>But the night shines as the day;</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>The darkness and the light are both alike to You.</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>For You formed my inward parts;</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>You covered me in my mother’s womb.</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</i></span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Congratulations Graduates!!!</span></div>
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</i></span>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-85519617330769524792012-04-17T04:59:00.004-07:002012-04-17T06:00:59.308-07:00Watch the Kids, Here They Grow!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recently I did a study in which I listened to feedback from a wide variety of family and friends about what my faith looks like to them. One interesting observation I made from this study is how different my </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">schedule</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> looks to different people. To some people, I appear to be following God, going along keeping pace with Him as I love and serve my family. To others I appear to be overcommitted and anxious, seeking to please Him rather than resting in Him. This morning the Lord pointed out that what I tell people makes me </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">sound</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> really busy, especially to people who tend to stay home a lot more than we do. Often I even </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">use</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> the word "busy" to succinctly summarize our life to others. But what I really am, during this season each year, is just...gone.</span></span><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We're really only doing 2-3 activities: finishing up a few academics, practicing for the play, and practicing for the dance recital. It's just that two of those activities require a large amount of time and commitment, so we have to say no to other extracurricular opportunities. Practices are scheduled around a lot of other people's schedules and stacked close together for our convenience, and they're not here in our home; rather, they're in another community a few miles away. To other people, when I explain that we're gone to a family gathering on Sunday afternoon plus practices and/or performances for the best parts of five days this week, that's a picture of "crazy busy." </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But actually, if the observers were IN the picture, they'd find that what I'll be spending the bulk of my week doing is either having fabulous conversations w/my kids, or else </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">just watching them! </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> We'll be talking during the drives to and from town, and they'll be thrilling me by either mimicking favorite lines they've picked up from favorite shows or by starting discussions about all the right questions (the ones I've been hoping they'd someday ask ME first!)--about God, relationships, driving responsibly, managing money, etc... And I'll be watching them learn what to do in the play...or supporting them by helping their classmates run lines...and then watching them learn their choreography...which never gets old for me b/c it's part of their personal bend--one of the things God created them to do. No matter how many times I watch them practice a piece of choreography throughout the school year, the novelty never wears off. During most of the year I buy groceries and do errands during dance b/c it's the only day I'm in town, so I only catch little snippets of their class. But by this time in the year, they have extra practices so I have lots of chances to do errands, and can spend a lot more time at the studio, just watching, or taking pictures, or sometimes relating to the other dance moms. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So anyway, I say busy, and I guess I look and sound busy, but really...I'm just out havin' fun w/the kids! ;~)</span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> --Ezekiel 47:12</span></span></span></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-38275783675911541662012-03-07T07:03:00.014-08:002014-03-18T20:43:20.278-07:00Counting Down the Ten Plagues<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we approach Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a friend asked me to post ideas and recipes we've used to make our Messianic versions of these feasts come alive for our children. This year, Passover (beginning on Nisan 15 in the Hebrew tradition) will most likely coincide with sundown of April 6th on our Gregorian calendar. The Feast of Unleavened Bread starts immediately after and will come to an end at sundown on Sunday, April 14th.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">We're not Jewish, so why Passover? Why lamb instead of ham? Why leaven-free crackers for a week? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why do we reenact the ten plagues, prepare the six elements, perhaps ask the four age-old questions, and actually <i>celebrate</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> a lack of bread for seven whole days???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well...why did God institute the holiday in the first place?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">For. The. Children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">God knew how to make His redemption story come alive for them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our family is so far removed from the birthplace of this holiday that we're still working to figure out how to celebrate it. If you're not sure what Passover has to do with Christ, a simple, beautiful piece written by Ann Voskamp will get you started <span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/?s=passover">here</a></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leading up to the first Passover, God used ten plagues to demonstrate the reality of Himself and His power to the ancient Egyptians, who worshipped many false gods. Each plague demonstrated that the Egyptian gods were powerless, and that the Lord actually had power over all things. I'm going to use my space to briefly share how each plague illustrated this point, and some fun ideas/recipes to augment and lighten a Ten Plagues Countdown you could do with your kids. Many of the activities are adapted from the resource <a href="http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Ten Plagues Countdown<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Begin nine days before Passover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commemorate one plague each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As noted,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for some days, food preparation begins one day ahead of time.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #1: Blood</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>"I will strike the water...and it will be turned to blood. ...There will be blood throughout all the land."</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Nile River was an incredibly important feature in the Egyptian culture—a main artery, or lifeline—and the Egyptians honored several false gods/goddesses as deities that controlled their fates by controlling the river. Freeing the Israelites from slavery began with God turning this lifeline into a real-life bloody cesspool, showing the Egyptians that HE was supreme over their lives. But His power to free did not end there. This was just the opening gambit. As we shall see, the Israelites' journey to freedom began with one blood covering, and ended with another. Today, we are still freed from sin through the blood covering foreshadowed by this historical event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activity: Before your kids awake, use red berry juice or organic red food coloring to color the water in your toilets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill the bathroom sink with water and color it, also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Serve them red water (not sweetened or flavored) for breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continue offering this odd sensory experience for awhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does it make us feel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods: Red drippy things, like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strawberry Shortcake for breakfast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beef hotdogs w/ketchup for lunch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Spaghetti with sauce for supper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shirley Temples w/homemade grenadine syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Shirley Temples</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 bottle POM 100% pomegranate juice (or make your own by simmering seeds of two pomegranates in water to cover, stirring until juice sacs release juice, about 5 minutes. Strain juice through cheesecloth, squeezing cloth to express juice. Discard seeds.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px;">(Note: A slightly modified recipe for pomegranate syrup is used in Plague #6. You may want to preview it ahead of time so you only have to purchase poms or the juice once.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">equal amount organic cane sugar (measure juice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">chilled lemon-lime soda or ginger ale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">maraschino cherries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whisk juice and sugar in a medium heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Store in a stoppered bottle. To make Shirley Temples, add a tablespoon or so of syrup to iced lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. Stir gently and float a red maraschino cherry in glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #2: Frogs</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>"Moses said to Pharoah...WHEN shall I entreat for you...that the frogs may be...left only in the Nile? And he said, 'Tomorrow.'"</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tomorrow??? Put plastic, rubber, paper, or sticker frogs all over your house, including in your breakfast dishes. See if YOU would have wanted Moses to wait until "tomorrow" to ask God to remove them from YOUR house!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Egyptians worshipped a false goddess of birth called Heqet. The head of this goddess was shaped like a frog's head, and frogs were considered sacred. People were not allowed to kill or harm them. Imagine having your house overrun by frogs that you consider to be sacred. With this plague, God showed the Egyptians that it was silly to worship creatures He had created, and that He was supernaturally in control of the limits and natural laws of reproduction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frog Eggs (Combine tapioca pearls, apple juice, a little green food coloring, and remaining ingredients according to recipe on the tapioca box. Cool before serving.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frog-Eye Salad (Make according to directions on the box of Acini de Pepe pasta, except stir a few drops of green food coloring into cream before whipping.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #3: Lice or Gnats</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>"...‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">This plague addressed the Egyptian worship of the false god Set, god of the desert (i.e., dust). It struck at the heart of all Egyptian worship, especially the priesthood, which was scrupulous about hygiene and ritual cleansing. An infestation of lice made them unable to worship their gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exact insect in this plague is translated differently in different Bibles, usually as lice or gnats. For certain, it was a very tiny, pesky insect. Feel free to focus on lice one year, gnats another, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activity: Learn about lice and imagine how uncomfortable and inconvenient this plague would be. Use a paper punch on a plain brown paper bag to make as many little brown dots as possible. (Employ the kids' help for as long as you can keep their interest!) While you do this, watch a video together about the life cycle of lice and/or how to prevent/treat head lice (you might preview this<span style="color: #2634ff;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDvq79628DI&feature=related"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">1940s explanation</span></a></span> versus these modern updates <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrScqdNuTpc&feature=related"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">here</span></a> or this very informational Canadian <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9vpZZHO9AQ&feature=related"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">LiceSquad.com</span></a> video). Then let the kids scatter the "lice" over their heads and imagine how uncomfortable these itchy bugs could make them feel. Let them shake off the dots and help you vacuum or sweep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods: Foods with very grainy texture and appearance, to simulate tiny bugs. This is a good time to try a new quinoa or couscous recipe. On the other hand, there are absolutely no grains in this “grainy” dessert:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Nutty Lice Balls </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>(grainy coconut sugar, ground almonds, and/or coconut flakes simulate "lice")</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a medium bowl, start with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup of organic creamy peanut or other nut butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stir in your choice of sweetener(s), mixing a variety if you wish, up to approx 1/2 cup total:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">coconut sugar (optional, but highly recommended for color and texture; drier and less sweet than other choices, so you may want to use 1/4 cup and then add some liquid sweetener; find where your store stocks organic sweeteners)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">organic maple syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a separate small bowl, measure your choice of thickening agent(s), up to 1/2 cup:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">almond meal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">protein drink powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">non-dairy creamer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">powdered milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Into dry ingredients, whisk any of these optional ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ teaspoon cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup unsweetened flaked coconut, blended fine in food processor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tablespoon dark chocolate shavings (shave the edge of a candy bar with a potato peeler)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Combine dry mixture with nut butter, adding a little honey or syrup if the butter is too crumbly to stick together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or parchment. On half of it, spread coconut and/or chocolate shavings out evenly. Shape butter mixture into 1" balls. Roll balls in shavings and place on unused half of lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate and enjoy. Makes approx. 12 treats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #4: Flies </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>"...if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people."</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">A difference. Separation. Compare with Ephesians 2:16-17...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">This plague related to the Egyptian’s false god Uatachit, which may have been pictured as a fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scholars think this plague may have defiled the priest’s sense of hygiene in the same way as the plague of lice or gnats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activities: Ahead of time, use a paper punch to make lots of small dots, this time out of plain white paper. Spread them around on your breakfast table and dining area floor before your kids awake. As the kids notice them, explain they represent baby flies (maggots). Watch videos to learn about the life cycle of flies, then talk about their important ecological role on the earth in balance with the importance of keeping flies off our food. As with the "lice" activity, let the children help you clean up the dots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Curried Lamb & Rice </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>(point out that rice LOOKS similar to baby flies, but doesn't wiggle!)</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 pounds lamb steak or roast, cut into 1" cubes (if lamb is unavailable or your family doesn't like it, substitute chicken)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">one large sweet yellow onion, coarsely chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">5-6 large cloves garlic, pressed or minced very fine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tablespoon olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-2 cups chicken broth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-2 teaspoons Thai Kitchen red curry paste (or another curry mixture you like)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">sea salt and pepper to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-½ cups brown rice, steamed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heat olive oil in large pan on medium-high until the oil flows freely when you swirl the pan. Add pressed garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, just until it releases its fragrance. Add onions and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, until they begin to change color. Pull onion/garlic mixture to the sides of the pan and add the meat to the center. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir fry until all is browned. Combine with onions and add most of the broth, reserving a few tablespoons. Add the curry paste to reserved broth and stir well, then add mixture to the meat/broth. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a little liquid if it reduces too quickly. Sauce should thicken slightly as it reduces. Taste test and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot over warm rice. Serves 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also on this day, begin preparing homemade chicken or turkey stock for tomorrow. In a crock pot, place a whole roasting chicken or several turkey pieces, and any extra chicken or turkey soup bones you’ve been saving. Add 1 carrot, 2 ribs celery, 1 whole onion, 2 bay leaves, and 2 teaspoons organic sea salt. Fill crock pot with filtered water and turn on high. After 2-3 hours, reduce to low heat and simmer overnight. In the morning, remove meat to a platter to cool. Then de-bone, cut into bite-sized chunks, and refrigerate. Cool stock and strain. Discard vegetables. Refrigerate stock so fat congeals on top. Discard fat and reheat stock when you’re ready to make homemade chicken soup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #5: Pestilence</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>“Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me. For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, behold, the hand of the LORD will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. And the LORD will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ”</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Egyptians worshipped a god and goddess of livestock, Apis and Hathor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This plague of pestilence killed Egyptian livestock, causing disease--"dis-ease."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activity: Gather all the stuffed animals around your house and turn them upside down so they look like they've died. In our house, we also run essential peppermint oil through our diffuser, as this is a scent we use as a preventive measure and to ease our symptoms of illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods: What disses your ease? For this plague we prepare foods we commonly use to "ease our dis," like warm lemon-honey drinks, and homemade chicken soup with almond meal biscuits:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Warm Lemon-Honey Drink</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fill a mug ¾ full with very warm water. Add raw honey and fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste (up to 1 tablespoon per mug).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Lorri's Homemade Chicken Soup </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>(Note: This recipe purposely does not include any pasta or grains.)</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Refrigerated chicken stock and chicken chunks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">5-8 cloves garlic, pressed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Any other vegetables you like in chicken soup, fresh or frozen (i.e., carrots, celery, onion, peas, green beans, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, cabbage...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">up to 1 teaspoon each of ground rosemary, sage, and/or basil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">few dashes cayenne pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">sea salt to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">If vegetables are fresh, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in pan until oil swirls easily. Add garlic and saute for approx 30 seconds, just until fragrance is released. Add remaining vegetables and stir fry several minutes, until mushrooms release liquid and vegetables begin to caramelize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Combine all ingredients in a large soup pot and heat on medium-high until contents begin to simmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reduce heat and allow to simmer 20 minutes to combine flavors. Taste test and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot with Almond Meal Biscuits (below).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Almond Meal Biscuits</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2-½ cups blanched almond flour (aka, almond meal)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ teaspoon sea salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ teaspoon baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup organic cooking oil (olive, grapeseed, or coconut oil melted over low heat)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup organic maple syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 large eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, syrup, eggs, and lemon juice. Stir the wet ingredients into the almond flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Drop the batter, in scant 1/4 cups 2 inches apart, onto the baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes, until golden brown or a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool briefly on baking sheet, then serve warm. These biscuits also freeze beautifully and make great quick snacks. Makes 8-10 biscuits. Recipe adapted from: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Almond-Flour-Cookbook/dp/158761345X"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam</span></a>, copyright 2009, "Classic Drop Biscuits", pg 20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #6: Boils </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.”</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Egyptian goddess Sekmet was believed to have power over disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They worshipped Sunu as the god of pestilence, and Isis as the goddess of healing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blech! I've had a rash of tiny itching boils on my wrist for over a week now—an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>allergic reaction to something—who knows what? Today, let your child dip a finger in red berry juice and dab it on his arm to simulate a skin boil. You might let him cover it with a band-aid. Research/explain what boils are, their common causes, how they feel, and what we do about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods: Welcome your kids into the kitchen to help you prepare boiled foods (boiled eggs, boiled veggies such as cabbage, boiled soup...) Our suggested dessert is fancy "boiled" pears:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Poached Pears in Spiced Pom Syrup</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In heavy medium saucepan, combine:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 btl POM 100% pomegranate juice (or make your own by putting fresh pom seeds in small pot, cover w purified water, and simmer few min until seeds pop; cool & strain juice--see Plague #1 for more detailed directions...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 cups purified water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-½ cups org cane sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">4 cinnamon sticks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">3-4 whole cloves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">several ½” strips orange peel (orange part only)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tablespoon quality vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Simmer 25 minutes over med heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, prepare:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">4 org Bosc pears, peeled, halved, and cored<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Add pears to sauce and simmer until soft (about 25 min), turning pears frequently. Cool pears in syrup. Then remove and keep warm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strain syrup into clean saucepan. Simmer over med heat until reduced to desired thickness. Place pears in individual serving dishes and drizzle syrup over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can be served with Greek-style yogurt, plain or vanilla flavor, if desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recipe adapted from: "Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta w/Poached Pears" by Bon Appetit, January 2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #7: Hail</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>"The one among Pharaoh's servant who revered the word of the Lord made his servants/livestock flee into the houses; but he who paid no regard to the Lord left his servants/livestock in the field. Now the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt.'"</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ah, the power of choice! Perfect love and perfect justice, perfectly blended...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here God gives every Egyptian the choice to either listen to Him, or trust in Nut, their goddess of the sky, and Osiris, their god of crops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activity: Discuss the relationship of love to justice, and the consequences of listening and obeying God (and parents) versus not. Then go outside and practice throwing cubed ice at a target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today's menu: Sweet Fruit 'n' Firm Ice Smoothies (perfectly blend your choice of fresh or frozen fruit, ice, vanilla, cinnamon and/or raw ginger, and a little sweetener; garnish w/fresh mint if you desire)...and "Hail Breakers" (white mini jaw breakers available at confectioneries.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #8: Locusts </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>"Thus says the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Or else, if you refuse to let My people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. And they shall cover the face of the earth, so that no one will be able to see the earth; and they shall eat the residue of what is left, which remains to you from the hail, and they shall eat every tree which grows up for you out of the field. They shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians—which neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here again, God shows the Egyptians that their god of the crops, Osiris, is powerless, and He is truly in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activities: Read Chapter 25, " The Glittering Cloud," in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Banks-Plum-Creek-Little-House/dp/0064400042"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">On The Banks of Plum Creek</span></a> by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You could also print images of grasshoppers, cut them out, and scatter them around the house as you did frogs. Note: This is messier and not as much fun as the toy frogs, though. Alternatively, you could study the life cycle of grasshoppers.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>GF (but decadent) Grasshopper Bars</b></span><span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Preheat oven to 325 deg F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>GF Flour Mix</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 parts org rice flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2/3 part potato starch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1/3 part tapioca flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whisk together and set aside. (Bob's Red Mill produces all three flours. They're usually in the health food section of larger grocery stores.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>1st Layer:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 cup org sugar or adjust amount for sweetener of your choice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup org coconut oil, melted via very low heat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">4 org eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup org unsweetened cocoa powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup GF flour mix (above)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 teaspoon vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cream first 3 ingredients. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread batter into greased 9x13 pan. Bake 30 min at 325 deg F. Cool well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>2nd Layer:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup cashews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup + 1 tablespoon water, divided<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1/3 cup org maple syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (I use 5 drops Imani essential peppermint oil)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tablespoon arrowroot powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">green food coloring (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In blender, puree cashews, 1 cup water, syrup, and peppermint on highest setting for 1-2 minutes. Place mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Continue to boil and stir for one minute, then decrease heat to simmer while preparing arrowroot paste. In a small bowl, dissolve arrowroot powder in remaining tablespoon of water, stirring to make a paste. Increase heat to high and add arrowroot paste to cashew mixture, whisking constantly for about one minute, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool well. Spread evenly on top of 1st layer. Refrigerate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>3rd Layer:</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips or 1 bar (3.5 oz.) org chocolate (dark or milk)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">6 tablespoons org coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 teaspoon vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Melt all ingredients together and drizzle over 2nd layer. Return to refrigerator to set before cutting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Verrrrry rich! You can cut 'em small! ;~)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recipe modified from: Cooks.com and The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam, copyright 2009, "Creme Patissiere", pg 126.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #9: Darkness</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.' ...They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings."</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here God demonstrates His supremacy over four Egyptian deities—two gods (Ra and Horus, both sun gods) and two goddesses (Nut and Hathor, goddesses of the sky).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the Egyptians, Ra (or Re), the sun god, was the supreme god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this plague, God shows HE is supreme over all things, including light and darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activity: Tape brown paper bags over your windows to eat lunch in the "dark" today. Study the sport of spelunking and, if possible, visit a cave where you can turn out the lights for three minutes (one minute for each day of the plague). Alternatively, study the art of making chocolate and learn about the differences between dark, milk, and white chocolate. ;~)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested foods: Blackened fish or chicken (try Big Daddy's recipe for Blackened Tilapia <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo-jr/big-daddys-blackened-tilapia-recipe/index.html"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: nonecolor:#2634FF;">here</span></a>!) Organic dark chocolate... If you don't want to buy an expensive candy bar, try this recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Supreme Dark Delight</b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup org unsweetened cocoa powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">2 tablespoons org maple syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tablespoon org coconut oil, melted via very low heat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine cocoa powder and maple syrup. Add melted oil and stir briskly to combine well. Pour mixture into four even circles on parchment paper. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set. Peel off parchment paper and serve immediately. Makes four 99-calorie servings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Plague #10: Striking down of the firstborn son </b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>And the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold.” And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians... Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: “On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year... Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’S Passover. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not only did this plague result in great heartbreaking loss to the Egyptians, but here again God showed Himself supreme to the Egyptian’s belief system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Egyptians worshipped Min and Heqet, the god and goddess of reproduction and childbirth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They worshipped Isis, who was supposed to be a goddess who protected children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Pharaoh’s son, himself, was considered to be a god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through this plague, the Lord not only humbled Pharaoh, but firmly demonstrated supremacy over everything Pharaoh expected to protect him and his country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suggested activities: Simulate spreading lambs' blood on the lintel of your door by having your children help you tack a red ribbon up one side, across the top, and down the other side. Explain that this represents the blood of the Passover lamb that the Israelites brushed on their doors as a covering, a protection from the last plague. Also explain that the Israelites continued to sacrifice a lamb at Passover each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Jesus, God’s Son, became the final Passover Lamb when He willingly gave up His life, using His blood to cover everyone’s sins, to make us right with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to sacrifice lambs and brush their blood on our doors anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we DO want to remind ourselves each year of what God did, to help us understand the way He does things and so people don’t forget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">In preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, let your children help you remove all the leaven (yeast, sourdough starter, baked goods like bread/bagels/cakes, baking soda, baking powder, etc.) from your house, except hide a few small pieces of bread for the leader of your home to search for and remove later this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explain that in this case, leaven symbolizes sin, and like sin, removing leaven takes care and close observation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like sin, sometimes we find it in the most unexpected places (such as the baking soda that might be in our toothpaste or laundry soap), and sometimes we really don’t want to give it up (like if we’ve just stocked up on bread or yeast to make bread…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make a big impression for a small investment, have these items on hand for the leader to use for the leaven search:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">To conduct the search for leaven, the leader goes about the house looking for the hidden scraps of bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a scrap is found, <b><i>don’t touch it!</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, use the feather to sweep it onto the wooden spoon, then collect it in the paper bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweep any crumbs into the bag, also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once all the scraps have been collected, put the feather and the wooden spoon in the bag, also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the bag and the matches outside to a safe place to start a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set the bag on the ground and light it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discuss again how the bits of leavened bread represent sin in our lives, and explain that as we confess our sins to God, He frees us from them—erases them from our lives—like the fire “erases” the bread. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also let your kids help you design a special table setting and prepare for a special Passover Seder meal tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Foods for a Passover Seder:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dried fruits and nuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Olives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Apples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Matza (unleavened crackers)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grape juice or watered down Kosher Passover wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Salted water (in dipping dishes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Parsley or other green herb (few fresh sprigs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Bitter" herbs such as celery ribs, or green peppers cut into large wedges, to serve as eating utensils<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Horseradish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Charoset (a mixture of minced apples, nuts, and spices)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">Roasted Leg of Lamb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you're interested in looking at our kid-friendly Passover Seder program, including preparation instructions and a script for the evening, leave me a comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-74592455324792214572012-03-01T05:43:00.008-08:002012-09-04T05:22:00.834-07:00My Midlife PoutIt just came to me during Bible study this morning. The study is titled "<a href="http://www.leadershipinvestmentintensives.com/seventh-year.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">The 7th Year</span></a>" and the assignment was Part 5 of a six-part exercise to make a timeline of our own personal spiritual formation. In Part 5, we are to note our perceptions of God during the different seasons of our life. After a lifetime of ups and downs...of walking near, then less near, then near again...after <i>all we've been through together!</i>...the perception that most closely describes my current season is, "desperate hope." Desperate hope? Why?!<br />
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And then it came to me. Although I've perceived the Lord as intimate, even my best friend, for almost two decades...although He's surprised me, thrilled me, provided me with everything I need, directed me whenever I didn't know what to do--really <i>been there</i> for me...He hasn't used me to an extent that shows me I'm a valuable asset to Him. It seems to me He's made a rather hefty investment. But here I am, in midlife, and my life is so little...so inconsequential. The Bible says all His followers will bear fruit, but...where's mine? Why hasn't He allowed more of a return for all His investment in me?</div>
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Search me!</div>
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Yes...<i>search</i> <i>me, O Lord.</i>..</div>
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Well, have I been faithful with what He's given me? </div>
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Perhaps, lately, not so much... </div>
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He's given me a couple kids to guard, equip, and chauffeur, and sometimes I'm a really bad example to them of patience and grace. Currently, He's assigned me to a distant, little bitty church congregation in the middle of the country that I often chafe to attend. And right now the paychecks are too tight to be fun to manage, so I don't. And to top it all off, how do I respond to my dissatisfaction with my current season? Do I take the matter to my Best Friend and talk it out with Him? No...I pout! </div>
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Well, not anymore! The issue is out, I've had my cry of repentance, and I am FREE! Free again to patiently love my teens, worship with my congregation, manage our finances and home, and hope, dream, dance, walk & talk with my Best Friend! Yeah!!!</div>
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Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">"For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have in abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."</span></i> (Verse 29)</div>
Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-46750676775525964752012-02-14T06:38:00.001-08:002012-03-02T20:26:33.384-08:005 Ideas for LovingFirst, I LOVE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><a href="http://robbieiobst.blogspot.com/2012/02/love-letter.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">this post</span></a> </span>by Robbi Iobst!<div><br /></div><div>Jesus tells us the greatest command is to love God, and the second greatest is to love others as ourselves. But what does that mean? How do we do it? Around Valentine's Day, we like to host a 5 Love Languages Treasure Hunt for our kids and their friends' families. It's a fun way to teach, remind, model, and explore different ways to communicate love. We close the party by rating our favorite ways to be loved and sharing them with those who spend the most time loving us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some of our favorite party activities for each of the five love languages:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) Quality Time: Read a story together. One great title for this party is <a href="http://enemypie.com/blog1/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Enemy Pie</span></a> by Derek Munson. I make individual Enemy Pies (use tart or pie crust with berry filling) and serve them for dessert.</div><div><br /></div><div>2) Acts of Service: Prep the ingredients and crust ahead of time to make homemade pizza together. If you hide the prepped food in your vehicle ahead of time, you can send the kids out to get it, then thank them for their act of service when they bring in the groceries.</div><div><br /></div><div>3) Words of Affirmation: While the pizza bakes, exchange cards with affirming messages, toast each other with sparkling juice, and/or decode a "message in flowers" (choose flowers you know the meanings of and use them to create a message bouquet, then give the guests a key so they can decode it)</div><div><br /></div><div>4) Physical Affection: Have a foot spa! There are lots of ideas online for different themes. We usually make this one a chocolate foot spa. This activity makes a big impression for a small investment. ;~)</div><div><br /></div><div>5) Gifts: Rather than a bunch of cheap party favors, I like to give our guests 1-2 pieces of individually wrapped fine quality chocolate and a couple meaningful tokens to help them remember their experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year we handed out badges as we completed each activity, and at the end of the party each person taped their badges onto a chart in the order of their importance to them. It was a fun way to see which activity spoke "Love" most profoundly to each individual.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year we also prepared a script, complete with treasure hunt clues, directions, and tips. If you would like a copy, please leave me a comment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love, </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">L</span></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-84306475695640708862012-01-07T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-10T06:03:41.025-08:00Canadian Geese Winter Over...Up North in MN!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIzeF7-Hz-1JRHm-RaFpjnKg-_FLZTEuRgc7y0eGEjqzZ1vQx2uk5KFRcLPwc_p8fIFNnAeqwUueL5ea2cR6dbJKM58HyV8gjc_yPqAyK8C31kRnrY7OsQDMki9qlAo516uXynGk-6wxU/s1600/DSC06525.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIzeF7-Hz-1JRHm-RaFpjnKg-_FLZTEuRgc7y0eGEjqzZ1vQx2uk5KFRcLPwc_p8fIFNnAeqwUueL5ea2cR6dbJKM58HyV8gjc_yPqAyK8C31kRnrY7OsQDMki9qlAo516uXynGk-6wxU/s400/DSC06525.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694901146802857762" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br />Okay, so, we went downhill skiing yesterday. This may not sound too incredible being as it IS January here in Minnesota...except that we have no snow. <div><br /></div><div>Well actually, WE have a skiff of snow in our yard left over from three days ago, but there isn't a stitch of the white stuff to be found for at least a 1-hour radius around the ski resort. Our drive to the resort was amazing. We live on the meandering boundary between forest and farmland, and the resort was developed on a hill in the middle of farm country about 90 miles south. About half way there, we started seeing huge groups of Canadian geese--the cornfields were alive with them! This year, that's as far south as they had to migrate!</div><div><br /></div><div>Given the shortage of snow around our place, I was a little leery about ski conditions and hesitated to commit to the homeschooling downhill ski day in advance. But earlier this week the resort website said they were making snow and most runs were open, so I finally capitulated. As we covered the last few miles, though, I began to get a sick feeling. We were driving through nothing but bare, brown fields and old, dead, cured stalks and grasses. Enough snow to ski...really???</div><div><br /></div><div>The resort was a surreal sight: camouflaged from distant sight by a crown of dormant bushes, it popped up suddenly out nowhere--a shiny white hill sitting like a clean little blob of marshmallow creme on a huge chocolate sheet cake--wow!</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a blast! Kudos to the resort--they created an incredible little recreation microcosm, they're staying in business, and I hope they're making a profit! There was only a 6-12" base of snow, but it was enough. The sun was shining, there was only a light breeze at the top of each chairlift, the temps were great, the snow was in decent condition, and our kids went from the tentative beginners they've been for the past three seasons to black diamond dare-devils!</div><div><br /></div><div>The much-discussed, much-researched, much-hyped year of 2012 has finally arrived. Not to be an alarmist, but as I look at its beginning and the Bible's end, I can see why so many people are taking a closer look. I predict we're going to have an interesting fire season this year. And I'm wondering how the farmers are going to do...and where our produce is going to come from this year...and how much it's going to cost??? I tried to get the kids to focus and dialogue about this as we were driving through the goose fields, but they were too excited, anticipating the ski day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reminds me of this biblical head's up in Matthew 24: 37-39, 42:</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">"In the days before Noah's flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage...and they knew nothing about what would happen </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">until the flood came</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">... </span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore, keep watch..."</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Is it hypocritical, then, as I ponder food shortages, firestorms, starting a local soup kitchen to provide nutritious fodder for the malnutritioned in our community, and other FEMA-type relief efforts...that once I post this blog, I'm leaving to do nothing more with the rest of my day but drive 80 miles to have lunch and go purse shopping with my daughter and close friends??? Well, that said, I'll also be on the lookout for ways I can invest rather than simply spend the day!</div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-80069330135752168302011-10-21T04:20:00.000-07:002012-06-06T14:02:42.934-07:00Ziva Did It!For the past year our family movie time has been riveted on what was, for us initially, an unlikely target--the highly successful crime show series, NCIS. So far we've watched (in order) every episode of Seasons 1-8. And as family movie watching often does, this activity has produced a new level of comradeship among us. We've experienced every episode together, discussed and played with some aspects, made common memories. To make the endeavor and time even more valuable, the teacher in me assigned an extension activity: Write an essay telling what you learned from the show. Here we list our family's most valuable lessons:<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Ziva did it! </span></i></b>This is code for "Dad is funny, albeit repetitious." He blames Ziva for everything around here now!</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~"On your six, Boss." </span></i></b> There is such a thing as a team, and it requires loyalty and dependability. Don't take a job unless you're committed to supporting your team. Your co-workers are depending on you. Incidentally, your family is a team, and it depends on your support as well.</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Give 'em a Gibbs</span></i></b> A head slap on the back of the head for saying/doing something foolish is just affectionate feedback. If the whack was on the front, it would be demoralizing. No whack at all leaves you feeling insecure, unsure of your value and position in the group. (That's NCIS's perspective and we laugh about it, but Bear Bait insists that if his boss ever gave him a Gibbs, that'd be the end of THAT job!)</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~The Rules</span></i></b> Everyone needs a code they can live by. There are rules. Sometimes they're more like guidelines, but... My house, my rules. Gibbs has about 50. See them <a href="http://ncis.wikia.com/wiki/Leroy_Jethro_Gibbs/Rules"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">here</span></a>. We each have a favorite. Mine is Rule #51: Sometimes I'm wrong.</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Time Management</span></i></b> </div>
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<i>"A little less time for the rest of the world / And more for the [four] of us..."</i></div>
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(Okay, that's not from NCIS. I borrowed it from the song <i>Honesty</i> by Rodney Atkins--thank you, Rodney! I borrowed it because my HE, Bear Bait, truly worked hard at and learned the value of giving the world a little less time while we were deep in the throes of watching NCIS. "Projects? Projects--schmojects! We've got a DVD to watch!")</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Chinese Takeout</span></i></b> We all love it! The restaurants are trying to get away from packing their entrees in paper cartons nowadays, but it's worth the extra trouble to clarify that desire to the person who takes your order. Besides the extra xenoestrogens we don't need around here, it's just not the same eating Chinese out of plastic.</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Morality vs. Ethics</span></i></b> <i>"The ethical man knows that it is wrong to cheat on his wife, whereas the moral man actually would not do it."</i> --explains Dr. Mallard to his assistant ME, Palmer. I appreciate Ducky's analysis. It's good to mark the difference here, so you're not so disappointed if the person you vote into office, go into partnership with, or even just look up to turns out to be more ethical than moral...</div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">~Semper Fi</span></i></b> Most of my family members rebelled against the idea of actually WRITING their thoughts, but one actually did turn in an essay, and it's awesome:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I learned what the word "semper fi" means, even though I don't remember now. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I learned that you don't have to tell everybody your business (unless you need to). </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I learned you can't love someone too much, because everybody eventually passes on. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I learned that you can't trust someone too much because there's always a chance </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>they will turn against you. I learned that I am very interested in Forensic Science.</div>
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How about you? Any favorite gold nuggets from this show? Or just an opinion? Love it? Hate it? Feel free to leave comments! ;~)</div>
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Semper Fi...(Always faithful), </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><i>Lattice</i></b></span></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-40846606525335473332011-08-21T04:32:00.000-07:002011-09-13T06:14:09.525-07:00I AM SO THANKFUL TODAY!I am so thankful today<div>that last night I was able to go to bed at 11:30 and sleep through the night without pain...</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful today</div><div>that on this day over a decade ago, my friend, Leone, was available to pick me up, drive me to the hospital, and coach me through the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful today</div><div>that my HE is still happily married to me, even though on this day over a decade ago, I (apparently...according to him...though I absolutely can't imagine or remember myself doing this) told him to "Get out of my face!"</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful today</div><div>that on this day over a decade ago, in spite of all that could have gone wrong, God blessed us with the safe delivery of a precious little girl who was the spittin' image of her baby brother when he was born!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." --Psalm 139:13-14</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful today</div><div>that on this day over a decade ago, the Lord gave us the final biological member of our family. We welcomed her along on our journey of teaching and learning from/with each other as we pursue Christ-centered living together.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful today</div><div>for the gift of marking days and looking back,</div><div>for today as I reflected on many fond memories, I also discovered I was still holding a grudge against one of the nurses who was assigned to help us that day. I know the wisdom and freedom, now, of choosing to forgive and not despise God's other children, and it is easy--a relief, even--to let go of that burden.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." --Matthew 11:28-30</span></i></div><div style="text-align: right; "><br /></div><div>Finally, I am so thankful today</div><div>that I am not being poked or pierced with anything. It's our daughter's turn for that. She got her ears pierced! ;~)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPNsGOA-80ioWCdfYI0dLHzfzIQcHfduzVnN8dDzxojWKXadJqeKhTNiadmeFRQCmelmsUWWGzdG4ZY67CUti_SybiT8PXavsnxRfilLpEMVrfuQUuZbQdG0DL7zbbtlyTUGGW0ig17qh/s1600/Earring.tiff" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPNsGOA-80ioWCdfYI0dLHzfzIQcHfduzVnN8dDzxojWKXadJqeKhTNiadmeFRQCmelmsUWWGzdG4ZY67CUti_SybiT8PXavsnxRfilLpEMVrfuQUuZbQdG0DL7zbbtlyTUGGW0ig17qh/s200/Earring.tiff" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651831611034001298" /></a>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-25758739867981294592011-06-08T19:55:00.000-07:002011-06-08T19:56:21.277-07:002011 Dance ExPLOSION!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a55784e44677a4e6a6b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a55784e44677a4e6a6b3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=hallmark&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Another <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows.html/?partner=hallmark" target="_blank">free slideshow design</a> by Smilebox</td></tr></tbody></table>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-74777358373306443082011-02-02T05:32:00.000-08:002011-07-27T04:04:03.855-07:00Aha!<i>[He] knew he should say something more, but his mind was still reeling. He couldn't think of anything else to say that wouldn't take more explaining than he was capable of right now.</i> <div>(from <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=k7SMVXrZT5YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=impeachable+offense+neesa+hart&source=bl&ots=63SSqtO0Si&sig=JT7vYizE7PSIKf0UA88j33ILOeM&hl=en&ei=Zl1JTe3yJcP_lgeGuNj2Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Impeachable Offense</span></a> by Neesa Hart, pg 3)<div><br /></div><div>My mind's been reeling for months. Somewhere in the middle of last school year I lost both my bearings and my footing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Footings... Hmmm...</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it was when I broke my foot! That was last mid-December. I'd promised our son I would meet him on the ice to skate while his school friends were still arriving for his party. He was excited, and I was late. Running quickly through our crowded house, I failed to negotiate a turn in our hallway and whammed my pinkie toe, HARD!, into the wall corner. Black and blue, swollen and bleeding...suddenly skating, as well as dance practice, walking, and even putting on a shoe, were out for the evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>The owie slowed me down, but didn't stop me. I limped through the Christmas break and had to sit in the lodge during our annual downhill ski trip, but I was ready to teach and dance again by mid-January. A few weeks later we spent a lovely afternoon XC skiing and my foot didn't hurt at all--just felt tired when we were done. Until an hour later, when I re-broke it playing in the snow at the campground where we stopped for teatime! This time I ended up in a walking boot. Dance class was no longer an option and I limped through school and housekeeping for six weeks. All my favorite winter sports activities were out, and the bare necessities were harder to accomplish--took more time. Since I had commitments and responsibilities, I gave my quiet times away to work. I figured it was just for the short-term, because I had to.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, like Mary's sister Martha, I was "distracted with much serving..." (Luke 10:38-42). By summer, my foot was healed but my soul and spirit were not. My prayer life had virtually petered out. As a teacher I was burned out to the point that little disappointments made me critical, and I no longer wanted to participate in our homeschooling co-op. I also had no heart or gumption for my favorite warm weather activities. I spent almost the whole summer sitting on the beach while my kids swam, and I hardly biked at all. Still, I did not recognize my depression. I <i>felt</i> "fine"--just tired, and cold...</div></div><div><br /></div><div>My functional med doctor saw me in late summer and insisted I exercise harder. Run, he said. I hate running, but...our son decided to try XC running, so I did, too. After the initial rotten first two weeks, running went well and felt good until mid-fall when N got sick and there was just driving and hospitals and doctors--no time or place for exercise.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now it's winter again.</div><div>I'm feeling old,</div><div>and noticing a pattern of lack of ambition. I see now that </div><div>I've been drowning for months, </div><div>and struggling for weeks to regain a foothold so I could rise above the surface again.</div><div>This week I returned to my piano to worship musically,</div><div>and finally, just today...</div><div>a whole year after breaking my foot...</div><div>had a basic, real, honest-to-goodness prayer time again.</div><div>Ahhhh....!</div><div><br /></div><div>Short, simple, and...successful, the Lord definitely met me where I was. I feel..wooed. And excited for tomorrow. Because...well, have a gander at the gold nugget He gave me today:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">"Be still, and know that I am God." </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">~Psalm 46:10</span></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-70397018187632428632011-01-04T05:55:00.000-08:002011-01-04T06:59:56.478-08:00He Gave Them Charge<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span><i>So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage. </i><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span><i>Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land." </i></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span><i>But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?" </i></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span><i>Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt... </i></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span><i>Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You will speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land."</i></div><div style="text-align: right;">~Exodus 6:9-7:2</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Moses did not feel empowered. It wasn't his fault the Israelites were too despondent to believe God sent him to free them from slavery. Cruelly burdened by a tyranny that grew over centuries, they felt abandoned by God and looked upon this dusty, aging shepherd from the wilderness with disillusioned skepticism. But Moses took their rejection personally. Their response shattered the initial self-confidence that had carried him across the desert since his meeting with God at the burning bush.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yet it is in the midst of his pain and questioning that God gives Moses and Aaron a charge--</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">an assignment,</div><div style="text-align: left;"> a responsibility, </div><div style="text-align: left;"> a stewardship, </div><div style="text-align: left;"> a commission...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...not only to the Israelite slaves, but also to the Pharaoh who held them in bondage, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Notice God does not give the brothers a full briefing; rather, throughout the Exodus, information comes on a need-to-know basis. This MO promotes trust, faith, and great opportunities for God to reveal His glory and character. But at this point, all they know is that they have a job to do--an overwhelming job for which Moses does not feel equipped.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Verses 14-27 establish their credentials. Credentials? What credentials? Moses and Aaron descend via some rather intriguing characters and circumstances. Their father, Amram, married his Aunt Jochebed, and these two bore the brothers. However, notice the information in verse 16: "These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations." It is the genealogy, not circumstances or skills, that make Moses the man for the job.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally in Ex 7:1 God reveals an encouraging element of His plan: "See, I will make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I </i>will make you...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lord, please make me into the person You created me to be, and direct me, that I might fulfill the purpose for which You created me. Grant me discernment to know what You give me charge of, versus what You don't, that I might stay on task. And thank You for not giving me too much information ahead of time. I love to watch You work and I love Your surprises! Oh my Lord, be glorified!!!</div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-15601203747789723052010-12-16T03:39:00.000-08:002011-07-27T04:11:49.926-07:00Romans 12:3<i>For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.</i><div style="text-align: right;">Ro 12:3</div><div><br /></div><div>Our son had a temper tantrum today. It wasn't the yelling, thrashing, foaming-at-the-mouth (ok...I exaggerate) meltdown kind of toddler tantrum. It was the passive, pathetic, nobody-cares-I-might-as-well-go-eat-worms, Eeyore kind of teenage tantrum. As he's sought scumble (as used in this fun read-aloud, <a href="http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/yreaders/savvy/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Savvy</span></a>) over his feelings, esp during times of disappointment, our maturing young man has overcompensated. His response to disappointment has mutated from highly intense to bitterly despondent. While we applaud his effort (and acknowledge that the latter <i>is</i> quieter)...it's not really much of an improvement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why? </div><div><br /></div><div>Because it's not truthful.</div><div><br /></div><div>In <a href="http://www.ywam.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">YWAM's</span></a> course titled <i>Relationships</i>, Dean Sherman expounds on Romans 12:3: "We could say it this way: Do not think more highly <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">[or lowly]</span> of yourself than you ought to think..." Sherman explains that thinking more lowly (negatively) of ourselves than we ought to is not humility; rather, it's just negative pride. And it's just as wrong as thinking too highly of ourselves, because it's inaccurate, untrue...<i>a lie.</i> God wills that we would accurately understand the truth of our value as well as everyone else's.</div><div><br /></div><div>We discussed how this concept could extend to how we express feelings--how extreme, irrational highs and lows tend to be inaccurate, untruthful, and unhelpful--and the tantrum dissolved into rational reflection. Then came a thoughtful, "Mom...I don't know why, but I've just kinda felt mad for a long time now...ever since you left us with Clarks."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Ya Mom," came our daughter's calm contribution, "<i>I'm</i> not <i>mad</i>, but...I do wish you would've taken us with you. I wish we would've been there when [N] passed away."</div><div><br /></div><div>If we would have known Wednesday would be N's last day, we would have taken our kids with us to the nursing home. But we didn't. We dropped them off Tuesday night to stay with good friends, thinking that Wednesday dance class was the bright spot in their lives that we could keep stable in the midst of a six-week upheaval in our routine. N was declining rapidly now, right on the verge of coma but still getting nutrition. All family was enroute. Until Tuesday night, N was still waking a few times a night to cry out for help, and didn't want to be left alone. Her needs were temporarily consuming and we weren't our most available to parent. And not being God, we were unsure how long the process of actively dying would take. But if we'd known, we would have brought the kids with us that night.</div><div><br /></div><div>That was a few weeks ago. Next came the flurry of work--arrangements to be made, funeral to attend, and finances to figure out. Then the activity died down and everyone grew quieter, more contemplative. Long private group Facebook messages ensued between the adults in the family, each of us welcome to offer our two cents' worth. It was a good way for us to all stay connected no matter where we live. Now depression has set in for some, and we gently check in with each other, evaluating where each member of the family is in the grieving process (denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, acceptance) and encouraging as the Lord empowers us. Through all of this, the kids have seemed okay emotionally. But...perhaps I've missed something?</div><div><br /></div><div>"See, Mom, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it and I'm not blaming anybody--not even God--but I'm just...tired of everybody around me having to be sad. I guess it just makes me mad that the family has to be sad."</div><div><br /></div><div>From the mouths of babes...</div><div><br /></div><div>As I pondered this young wisdom, I discerned anger in my own heart. I was mad, too. But I also realized my anger was less innocent. I suddenly recognized it as subconscious anger, subconsciously misdirected at the loved ones who are grieving, especially the ones who have a relationship with God. I'm not angry that they're grieving, but that they're failing to find hope and strength in their faith, that they're NOT taking every thought captive, they're NOT walking in the freedom of Truth, their minds ARE anchored in this world. I haven't really <i>felt</i> judgmental, but...I guess I have been. Perhaps that's why my encouragements have sounded more like commands than compassion, even to my own ears???</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been guilty of pride, then. Lord, forgive me. Thank You for redirecting my anger toward the true and only culprit--Your enemy, satan. Now by the blood and in the name of Your son, Yeshua (Jesus), please give me Your mind on this matter. Prepare me to wage holy war and be a holy sanctuary for Your sake. I claim Your ground in the lives of our loved ones, and refuse any retaliation from the enemy. Gird, strengthen, and lead us in this fight. Give us Your ears to hear, Your eyes to see. Give us Your love and patience and joy. Be our comfort, our peace, our Answer. Give us an accurate assessment of ourselves, and this matter of death and life. And for those who doubt...Lord, you met Thomas where he was. Please meet each of us where we are, too. Praise You, Lord God Almighty! Amen.</div><div><br /></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-22830504918932719892010-11-22T13:54:00.000-08:002010-12-21T05:26:36.449-08:00Bear Territory<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord... The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.</span></i></span></p></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~1 Kings 17:2-7</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>It's finally snowing today. It's about time for the bears in our area to retire to a cozy cave for the winter. Yesterday we did not even think much about them during our family outing--a grouse hunting trip. Rather, as we moved single file I brought up the rear, and was captured by the sight of our daughter, who, like a whisper of ghostly fog, wafted quickly and silently over, under, and through all manner of obstacles as they lay strung like matchsticks and tangled Christmas lights across our woodland path. What an incredible little waif! And our son, more solid in step and experienced at carrying a shotgun, intrigued me with his already mature skill at barrel management...wow! Even without looking he is always aware of where it's at, lacing it through any manner of obstacle without ever pointing it at anything he shouldn't!<div><br /></div><div>Except for the loud call of a raven and occasional sighting of crows, we saw no birds, bagged nothing for our stew pot or grill... <sigh...></sigh...></div><div><br /></div><div>On several levels, food is on my mind a lot these days. For one thing, our diet has been in transition for the past two years, ever since we chose to change our lifestyle in the hope that I could avoid surgery. Now I spend a lot of time educating and re-educating myself--and those in my sphere of influence--about nutrition. And even MORE time preparing even FRESHER meals than before. And then we finally joined the unemployment statistics last week when my husband was laid off for what appears to be an extended period, and with loss of income the challenge of procuring fresh organic or local wild food is even more challenging.</div><div><br /></div><div>But all of these issues took a backseat to the one that suddenly popped up again this morning, after 17 or so years... Does it bother any other woman on the face of this planet to be absent when another woman provides her husband with a meal??? I remember when my mother used to graciously invite temporary bachelors over to join our family for a meal while their wives were away for a week. It just seemed like friendly hospitality then, like something right out of the Waltons. But for some reason, I am very territorial about Bear Bait's stomach! It's been my concern ever since we first started dating. Even though I liked the woman who was my colleague and his supervisor back then, I felt like scratching her eyes out and stomping on 'em whenever she brought him muffins to start the day!</div><div><br /></div><div>As Bear Bait left this morning to go spend the day installing his friend's water heater, visions of the woman of that house offering my husband lunch made my stomach churn. He insisted he didn't need to pack a lunch from home because he was too full to care about a midday meal, but I knew she'd talk him into eating so I insisted that he take at least his high quality nutrition shake and a piece of fresh organic fruit or veggies. Thankfully he acquiesced gracefully.</div><div><br /></div><div>If he's still unemployed in a couple months, perhaps I'll be forced to rethink my position. Perhaps I'll be more willing to farm him out during mealtime, just so he doesn't starve. But for now, Mama Bear retains dominion, scanty though the larder is...</div><div><br /></div><div>For my hope is in Him. He will provide today, as He did in Elijah's time.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” </span></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD God of Israel: “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’ ” </span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: right;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~1 Kings 17:12-16</span></span></p></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-74597525812757892432010-11-08T04:09:00.000-08:002010-11-22T13:54:08.210-08:00Ending WellFor almost three years now I've been the primary caretaker for my husband's mother. She's been trying to convalesce with us, contributing to our family and challenging/expanding my knowledge of both allopathic and naturopathic health care. Last week her body took a critical turn and she is now in end-of-life stage.<div><br /></div><div>Blessed, beautiful friends take time to email their condolences. These notes often include compassionate apologies for our suffering. The thing is, God is walking through this with us, and we are not suffering. As we stand by N's ICU bedside and work to comfort her and interpret her needs and wants for the nurses as best we can (she is not a typical patient in that she can barely talk or respond to questions now, so ideally she needs someone who knows her standing by 24/7), it is exhausting and sad, but also somehow satisfying. It is the same feeling that caring for her for the past three years has often produced. There is something "right" about returning the gift of care that someone else has provided for you in the past.</div><div><br /></div><div>What feels odd to me is the lifting of responsibility. Suddenly, she can never live with us again. Suddenly, I no longer have a 9am deadline to poach an organic egg, double-toast a piece of her favorite English muffin bread, or section half a grapefruit. I feel like a hermit crab, about to shed my exoskeleton.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the race is not completely over. Today I have to wake my children and head to the hospital. Today is the day we find out what comes next. I hope we will all end well...</div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-65708518177848126052010-09-16T04:09:00.000-07:002010-09-16T04:15:30.338-07:00To My Faithful Mountain View ReaderI don't know if you read my blog or just pass through on your way to somewhere else, but if you do actually stop by, I wanted to give you a word of encouragement: please don't give up hope! I have several fresh blogs in mind. It's just that I'm late to make my daughter's lunch and prep for my son's schoolwork...MOST mornings! In another month or so a couple extracurricular activities will conclude and I'll be back...<div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading! ;~)</div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-3832573269079929172010-09-03T03:16:00.000-07:002010-09-03T09:44:31.315-07:00Between WavesAre you kidding? June 28th...?! It's been two whole months since I've sat down to blog??? <div><br /></div><div>Do you know how discomfiting it is to read your last blog entry and find most of it completely unfamiliar? ...I said WHAT? ...We really did THAT? I don't even recognize my own voice anymore, let alone the plot!</div><div><br /></div><div><div>I take solace in a bit of wisdom from the remade version of Freaky Friday: "If she was doin' it, she wouldn't be writing about it in her journal--she'd be out there doin' it."</div><div><div><br /></div><div>That's me. I've been out there "doing" life--just living it rather than writing about it, because I've felt like an arrow shot toward a target I can't see. The journey has been interesting but nothing terribly spectacular, and it's all happened rawther faster than I can even think. Following a school year in which I felt like I was walking on water, I climbed back in the boat and entered a short season (amazingly short!) of catch up and rejuvenation--a season where I felt, spiritually speaking, as though I was "between the waves." I'd just finished an incredible ride, but couldn't yet imagine what was over the next oncoming wave. I had no vision, no direction. And for the time being that was just fine with me. I was tired, and welcomed a time of rest. Despite my best intentions and willful submission to it, though, I'm not sure I took proper advantage of it. It seemed to be gone quite suddenly, like when you wake from a dead-tired sleep and feel as though you haven't really slept at all. And when it was gone I still felt scatter-brained and had only very limited vision.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps my rest was stolen?</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Stolen by storms. Or by expectations. For while I expected storms during the month of June, I also expected them to end by the beginning of July. (While there's surely a metaphorical level to this discussion, I am, at this point, actually speaking of physical storms.) This summer it was storms, storms, storms. Thunderstorm after thunderstorm, tornado after tornado, and rain-pelting wind, wind, wind. July is usually a long, mellow season of beach days and barbecues, but this year it was a staccato of starts and stops laced with extreme environmental violence.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now it's September, and still the storms continue. Last night I fell asleep to pattering on the roof. This morning I woke to a windy gale, more rain, and temps that direct my thoughts toward hot spiced cider, pumpkin goodies, deer hunting, and even snow. In fact, it just snowed in my home state a few days ago!</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus walked on water and calls us to get out of the boat--out of our comfort zone--to walk on it with Him. But He also slept in the boat...in the midst of the storm...up, down, and between the waves...</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm."</i> ~Luke 8:23-24</div><div><br /></div><div>Lord, please help us to rest with You, and trust You for our vision. And if it's not Your will for the storms outside to subside here as they did for You there, then please help us look above them as we walk in their midst.</div><div><br /></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-8713976283137453932010-06-28T03:41:00.000-07:002010-12-21T05:20:03.901-08:00A Season of Good-bye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcJHFmf-01VMBUNMpEYMIsqq14ybfeuw0vSHna-XRs33kPwtBx1WGm3RHKAuL4dwYOk17s3BfFncptEhj5FFIThZMZiTIwHCBmdExzH7TMhAeoB3O3GFD5iILR6WYOTGc8th5EJy-PCXt/s1600/PIng+Pongs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcJHFmf-01VMBUNMpEYMIsqq14ybfeuw0vSHna-XRs33kPwtBx1WGm3RHKAuL4dwYOk17s3BfFncptEhj5FFIThZMZiTIwHCBmdExzH7TMhAeoB3O3GFD5iILR6WYOTGc8th5EJy-PCXt/s320/PIng+Pongs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487795656430295778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHyk9m3Y-OXbJXtGdkKY15aDndRiB82g98UofLHE_zPM_96f5B-qnKvdI9lxtx8hHEzCM22hu-DsHpJhldW1SnClDOy9ofnDb-Mre2tDBL85wn-w9IiHFfN_5ahm1LTzvmGeaqoVlJRbj/s1600/Turtle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHyk9m3Y-OXbJXtGdkKY15aDndRiB82g98UofLHE_zPM_96f5B-qnKvdI9lxtx8hHEzCM22hu-DsHpJhldW1SnClDOy9ofnDb-Mre2tDBL85wn-w9IiHFfN_5ahm1LTzvmGeaqoVlJRbj/s320/Turtle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487794680675418594" /></a><br />It is a homeschooler's life to get behind in housework for a season here and there. Educating gets priority, and sometimes the academics get the highest of all. And sometimes academics just take more focus and time than we expect. Despite my best efforts and intentions, no matter how well organized and well-oiled the machine (that is, our household) is at the beginning of a new set of curriculum, eight or nine months is a long time for a home to run on auto-pilot. So summer is typically a time to catch up and de-clutter (as well as garden, bicycle, read, fish, camp, vacation, and enjoy the sun and water at the lake every livin' afternoon!).<div><br /><div>This year some of our "clutter" is unique. For instance, for over a year now we've been living with a cluttered driveway. Now, we have a nice long driveway and what is currently a single car garage (it's big enough to be a double, but there's only one door for vehicles and the second bay is enclosed, a cluttered storage room we've dubbed "The Hell Room") at the end--PLENTY of room for a couple vehicles, and maybe even a boat! But currently have five--yes, I said F-I-V-E!--vehicles, PLUS a boat and another trailer--creatively parked in it! Our driveway ALWAYS looks like there's a party goin' on here! There's a story and a practical reason behind each piece of equipment, yet they seem an ostentatious display and they're definitely an encumbrance. Yesterday the culling began. With a resigned Bear Bait telling me what to say, I posted my first ad ever on <a href="http://fargo.craigslist.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Craigslist.org</span></a>. Anybody in the market for an '87 Ford F350 Crew Cab 4x4 that's never seen salt? The interior is worn but the truck runs good, and has really low miles, a heavy-duty bumper, and an onboard inverter. The thought of parting with it makes Bear Bait wanna cry, but being hungry makes him grumpy, too...</div><div><br /></div><div>Another unique thing we've had to declutter this summer is one of our pet tanks. After loving and learning on two painted turtles that hatched in our yard almost two years ago, the turtles (Ping and Pong) suddenly quit eating and began spending inordinate amounts of time trying to swim through the glass walls of their aquarium. We researched and worked on this problem for a couple weeks, even putting crappie minnows in the tank for them to hunt. It was all to no avail. They enjoyed chasing the minnows and stalking them under rocks, but could only grab a tail now and then--crappie minnows were too big and fast, and only appetizing when they were alive. Finally we faced the fact that it was time to let Ping and Pong go. This was heartbreaking for our pet-keepers, as they'd envisioned keeping the turtles until their shells were five inches long before releasing them back to the wild (as mandated by our state Dept of Natural Resources). Ping and Pong were prob'ly up to about 2.5 inches in diameter...halfway there. As hard as it was, though, our brave kids realized the turtles needed to be reintroduced now or they weren't going to make it. In a tearful-but-joyful goodbye ceremony, Ping and Pong seemed to settle quite naturally into our swamp among cattails that gave them excellent cover from predators like birds. The last we saw of them, they were smacking away on fresh something-or-other that we couldn't offer them in captivity. The kids continue to harbor a sneaking little hope that they'll wander back into our yard for a quick visit someday.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week we started repainting the exterior of our house, then moved inside when the humidity and rain showed up. We repainted and rearranged our entry/dining area and pantry. This week I'm diving into our daughter's room and finishing the exterior. Hopefully next week Bear Bait will finish our son's new bed and we'll begin using it to declutter his bedroom space (it features custom drawers and shelves for more storage)...while at the same time making room in the garage for a little mechanical work on the boat. By then I should be practiced up, ready to tackle the worst room of all--mine!</div><div><br /></div><div>I love fresh, clean, decluttered living/working space...space that WORKS for you! And every year the kids are a little older and a little more interested in actively managing the space (in the midst of their academic activities), too. Now here's hoping (and praying) no tornadoes will hit us just when we get finished!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is out of context, but in light of our build-up of clutter and recent tornado weather, I connect with this portion of scripture today:</div><div><br /></div><div>"...it is the season for heavy rain and we are not able to stand outside. Nor is it the work of one or two days..." ~ Ezra 10:13</div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-10230551193363695912010-06-16T18:37:00.000-07:002010-06-16T19:05:38.856-07:00I WISH to Write!I wish to write<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>without pressure of rhyme or meter or cadence,</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....(</span>(though, alas, such play continually in my mind!)</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish to write</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>the taste of melting butter and honey</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>on fresh steaming homemade fruit dumplings...</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish to write </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>the sound of the sweetest melody</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>perfectly tuned to universal lyrics,</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">..........</span> the glory of the panoramic alpine vision</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">..........</span> unmarred by man's footprint or even his breath,</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">...............</span> and the sensation of shrinking into myself</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">...............</span> as the universe expands, unwinding...</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish to write</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>the feel of your skin brushing mine</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>and our essence mingling together</div><div><br /></div><div>And of</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>the pure, clean necessity of time to embrace aloneness</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>with all the weary hot tears and crumpled heaps,</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>melting into quiet reflection, rest, and direction.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish to write</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>of my free-spirited passion for life...</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet even the richest articulation can never really tell it all,</div><div>And besides...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.....</span>I have SUCH the writer's cramp! :~O</div><div><br /></div>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313218437938780218.post-45938882998661529162010-05-19T05:46:00.000-07:002010-05-19T06:23:05.917-07:00Auditory Smorgasbord<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is finished... Homeschool co-op classes, the Rest in Rivendell/Lii campaign, AND hunter's safety! Success reverberates from all three endeavors. A vibrant ornithologic dawn song is also reverberating through my window this morning, wrapping 'round me like a light cocoon in which I can study peacefully...the perfect amount of "noise" to keep an auditory learner from</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, as my daughter says, "deconcentrating." For a quick, free diagnostic tool to help determine your primary learning style and concise descriptions, strengths, and tips for each, click </span><a href="http://pesdirect.com/learning-styles.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></span></a></span></span></span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For the rest of this week we will concentrate on our end-of-year dance recital. Five of the numbers have reverberated through our house all year and we've gradually become emotionally attached to even the jazz music. The recital will be a smorgasbord of sound--40 or so songs, some of which will be nice oldies but others will be new and will crash into our senses discourteously. Between dress rehearsal and the performances, we'll hear them all at least three times. The choreography and costumes will be fabulous, and by the end we'll like each song at least a little bit. Then Dance, too, will be finished for the year.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But our home will not be silent. ;~)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes I long for silence. Then when I get it, it feels like a stagnant black blanket and I grow dizzy and chafe under it. Thank God for sound, for senses. Praise Him for the natural undulations of life, and be glad He sets boundaries on that sea...that fantastic smorgasbord of sensorial input.</span></span></div></span>Latticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16053740512917999340noreply@blogger.com0