The End

Tonight was the last night in my Systematic 1 class. I will miss the discussions and the friends I have made.
I remain a confused theologian but I may be on the road to being a biblical systematic theologian. I'll figure that out next semester in Systematic 2.

Lots of Baseball

On Oct. 30 and 31st, Nick's fall baseball team had a tournament. They played 6 games in two days winning 5 of them and the tournament. Nick received his first baseball trophy. I was able to see several of the games including the last game of the tournament. Nick and his friends were so excited. They worked hard adn had a great time.

A Great Weekend

Wonderful weather
Backyard filled with kids
Laughter
Friends and Family
Reconnecting
Planning
Worship
Prayer
Fun with babies
Great conversation
Dreams

Stand

This song really spoke to me when I heard it on Youtube today.
It is by Donnie McClurkin

What do you do
When you've done all you can
And it seems like it's never enough?
And what do you say
when your friends turn away,
you're all alone?
Tell me what do you give
When you've given your all,
and seems like
you can't make it through?

Stand and be sure
Be not entangled in the bondage again
You just stand, and be sure
God has a purpose.
Yes, God has a plan.

Tell me what do you do
when you've done all you can
And it seems like you can't make it through
Child you just stand
You just stand
Stand
Don't give up
Through the storm, through the rain
Through the hurt, through the pain

[Chorus]
Well, you just stand
When there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand

Don't you bow, don't bend
Don't give up, don't give in
Hold on, just be strong
God will step in and it won't be long

VERSE

Tell me,
how do you handle the guilt of your past?
Tell me, how do you deal with the shame?
And how can you smile
when your heart is broken and filled with pain?
Tell me what do you give when you've given your all
Seems like you can't ;make it through?

After you've done all you can
After you've gone through the hurt
After you've gone through the pain
After you've gone through the storm
After you've gone through the rain
Prayed and cried, you've prayed and cried
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
After you've done all you can, you just stand

Child you just stand,
when there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes after you've done all you can
You just stand.

Lemonade and Popcorn

Nick and Ben wanted to help the kids at Hope Village in South Africa. They had a lemonade and popcorn stand on Friday raising $27.60. Today they put that money in a special collection at church. Three cheers for Nick and Ben! Three cheers for Pastor Tom who rode his bike across country from North to South to raise awareness and funds for Hope Village.

Read about Pastor Tom's adventures on his blog Share the Road.
http://bentbikerblogger.blogspot.com/

Argyle Bathroom

I walked into my powder room this morning and thought someone had stenciled diamonds on the wall. They were arranged in a neat pattern and it looked cool but... Then I touched them. Wet cardboard. I took one off to find that it had once been a toilet paper tube.

Did you know that when a cardboard toilet paper tube is opened along the seam, it becomes a flat piece of cardboard that is almost a diamond?

Did you know that when this cardboard is soaking wet, it will stick to a wall?

Thanks to Ben's creative decorating style, I do now! Proved to be an easy cleanup. Life is an adventure, live creatively.

Camp days

Nick and Ben are having a blast at Miss Betty's Camp. My favorite part of the day is picking up some very happy, dirt covered kids and taking them to the Hallman's General store for an ice cream treat.

Today is theater day. Ben will be doing a skit with the 2nd grade boys. He is very excited about it. Tino and I are both going. Can't wait!

On Eagle's Wings

Changed the title of my blog today. The new title comes from a scripture and a song.

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

The chorus to the song:

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.

So I place my hope in God and feel as if I am soaring. Then I get some upsetting news and feel as if I crash landed.

LORD, help me to keep my hope and trust in you during the longest month of my life.

Galactic Blast - Crossroads' VBS

Gearing up for this year's VBS. We had a meeting after church on Sunday. Lots of energy and enthusiasm at the meeting. I will be organizing the Bible Story center. A lot different fom last year. Last year we needed only a few props as the setting provided us with a river, mountain, upper room etc... This year we will be in our Sunday school classroom so the scenery and props will be more important. Better get started...

Sunrise

Sunday, I rose early. I walked downstairs to have some time with God before the house woke up. The sunrise caught my attention. It wasn't the most spectacular sunrise but it captivated me. In it I saw the great potential each day holds. Every day is a chance for a fresh start. Every day is filled with hope. I began singing LORD, you are good and your mercy endureth forever... Yesterday, the sunrise inspired me in a way that reached my very soul. I thank and praise God for the sunrise, fresh starts, hope, the promise of a new day... May the whole earth praise the Lord. We worship you. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, We worship you for who You are.

Mathematical Ben

I have been blown away by Ben's math ability. Just last night I cut some circles into halfs, thirds, quarters, sixths and eights. Then I wrote some mixed numerals down and some improper fractions. Before I had time to explain them, Ben had converted the mixed numerals into improper fractions and the improper fractions into mixed numerals. I couldn't believe he really understood it so I had him explain it to me using the fractions of circles I had cut out. He could have taught a lesson on it.

Then I thought I'd be really clever. I knew he understood that 5/6 > 4/6 > 3/6, so I changed it around. I asked him to put the fractions in order from greatest to least using the same numerator and different denominators. (3/8, 3/4, 3/6) He did it immediately saying it was easy and rolling his eyes when I wanted to show him using my paper circle cutouts.

Guess I spent 20 minutes cutting out fractions for nothing. Except at least I know he understands what he is doing.

What makes this all the more amazing is that I thought math was a trouble area for Ben at this time last year. He had been having to memorize his math facts at school using flashcards and answering them in 3 seconds each. He found this stressful and said he couldn't do math. He was so stressed by it that he had reflux and migraines. He would often be sent home from school just before math class. So he missed math instruction in first grade. In second grade when we were given flashcards to work on at home, I said that Ben would not be doing them. Somehow he mastered his addition and subtraction facts without flashcards. His 2nd grade teacher picked up on the fact that he was good at math. He was evaluated and given some more advanced work. This summer Ben begged me to sign him up for the Aleks math program. I signed him up on July 1st. He loves it and works on it for 5 to 20 minutes a day. In just one week, he has completed 69% of the third grade course work. With doubts that anyone could master material that quickly, I felt a need to teach him some of the skills it said he had learned or was ready to learn. That is why I spent all that time cutting out fractions. But Ben already understood the concepts and could explain them to me, even the ones it said he was ready to learn next. Where did this child learn these skills? I have no idea. He just loves math.

Drums

Two of my boys are now drumming. Nick began at school this year and had his Junior Band concert a week ago. He can't wait to be in marching band some day.

Ben began taking lessons about three weeks ago. Both think they are ready to play in a band. Fortunately, our church encourages kids a lot! So Nick got to play during a song at the children's worship service last week and Ben got to play this week.

Nick's drum lessons are all about reading music and learning different rythms using a snare drum. Ben's lessons are mostly listening to tunes and playing along. Both kids like their drums. The part I did not anticipate is that Ben now drums everywhere with everything. He will drum on his legs, a table, desk, railing etc... I don't know if it is because of the different style of lesson or if it is just that Ben seems to always have a song in his head.

Bragging on my Kids!

I am so proud of Nick. He won high honors at the Chester County science fair this week. He also had an awesome report at the parent teacher conference.

Ben had a wonderful report at the parent teacher conference as well. They want to test him in math to see if he needs more challenging work.

Josh got a post card from his Spanish teacher congratulating him on receiving an A for a cumulative midterm.

The kids are doing really well in school and I am so proud of them.

Surprises!!!

The biggest surprise of this semester is that I love Church History. It is my favorite subject. Crazy since I was never interested in history before, but all the sudden it seems to have taken on significance. I'll be reading Calvin's Institutes this weekend. Can't wait to get started.

Lenten devotions 2010

I am using this during lent for my devotional time. If anyone is interested, it is an ebook and I can send it to you.

What do about Lent?

Been thinking a lot about Lent and I finally decided that I would give up facebook. It is hard to do as I have used this social network to reconnect with some old friends and keep in touch with family. However, I can use email or pick up the phone if need be. I think I spend way too much time on on facebook, time I could be spending with family, friends and God.

I am also using the Lenten Devotions 2010 by Rev. Dr. Richard E. Rusbuldt. This is a series of scripture readings, reflections and questions which invite a person to journey to Jerusalem with Jesus and the disciples. My goal is to grow in my relationship with and understanding of God by spending time with the Lord.

I've been thinking about my faith recently and realize that it may reflect western values more than God's values. Not sure what to do about this, but wanted to remember the thought.

The Big Fall

My stepmother, Andrea, slipped on the ice yesterday. She broke her ankle and is in the hospital. Hopefully she will have surgery tomorrow and be able to go home.

The Big Snow

Two big storms in the last week. The first Friday night 2/5 and Sat. 2/6 leaving about 20 inches of snow. The second Wed. 2/10 leaving 24 inches.

The boys are in heaven. Three days off school and plenty to do. They have been busy building tobbogan runs with banks and ramps as well as forts, igloos and tunnels. They have also had time with neighbors including an awesome snowball fight. Just ask Nick. Inside there have been fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate, roasted hot dogs, toasted marshmallows etc... Yes the house is beginning to look like a ski lodge. The only problem is that when we leave our gloves by the fire to dry, Dexter steals them.

Tonight we took in a movie. Percy Jackson - The Lightening Theif. The boys loved it.

Tomorrow I'd like to get them to Valley Forge Park for some serious sledding down big hills.

No school on Monday because of Presidents' day. It is like an unplanned mini vacation and we are taking full advantage of it.