Thursday, January 28, 2016

American Girl class: Molly week 1 (time #2)

We had a great class this first week of our new semester! It was fun to have some familiar faces and to meet new girls too! I missed them over the Christmas break, and all of their stories! Welcome to the class to all of the new girls! I hope you'll enjoy reading and learning with us!


For class this week, we read and discussed Meet Molly (book 1 in the Molly series). We also talked about the beginning of World War 2, and the Pearl Harbor Attack. After we discussed the book, we began our craft which was Crepe Paper hula skirts. Each of the girls got one two-inch strip of white muslin, which they tied around their waist. Then they took ten three-foot strips of green crepe paper, and we stapled them onto the waistband. It was very simple, but they looked great!

 The 1:00 class modeling their skirts and doing a little hula dancing!

 Our snack in class this week was Popcorn balls and apples. The popcorn balls were yummy and the girls loved them! I did not give the Moms a recipe, they just found one online to use. One worked well, and one was sticky yet crumbly! 
 The 2:00 class...
 Working and waiting on the stapler...
 The 2:00 class modeling their hula skirts, just like Molly wore in our book.
 Some of the dolls got little skirts too!

I had a little extra time so we had a "Hide the thimble" game in the 2:00 class too. I wished I had another craft! But it was a fun class. I'm looking forward to having a delightful semester with these girls.

    Psalm 17:8
    Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.


    Proverbs 7:2
    Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

    Proverbs 25:11
    Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.

    Thursday, January 21, 2016

    New kitchen sink!

    Last week, my hubby found a new kitchen sink at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. We shopped at Lowe's for some extra supplies for it that evening. On Saturday, he tackled the project. Our old sink was cast iron, very unforgiving on breakables, and we felt like the large and small sinks were swapped. We wanted to have the bigger sink on the left, and the small sink to scrape plates with the disposal on the right side, close to the dishwasher.
    Taking out the old sink, scraping the edges of dirt/grime and caulk...
     The project took him most of the day, and another trip to Lowe's, but now it is finished and it looks great! Of course, the older caulk that we had did not set, so he made one more trip to the store to return some things and get some new caulk. It will be so nice!
     Sink set in place, working on pipes underneath it...
      Caulking it...
    All done and so pretty!


    Matthew 14:22-32
    Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,  and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

    Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
    But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

    “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
     “Come,” he said.
    Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
    Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

    And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

    Wednesday, January 13, 2016

    American Girl: Preparing for Molly

    I am busy right now getting ready for our co-op classes to begin soon. This semester in American Girl class, we will be discussing the girls Molly and Julie. It should be a fun semester! I am looking forward to seeing my students again soon!

    Here is my plan for Molly for this semester:

    Molly McIntire who schemes and dreams on the homefront during World War Two. (1944)

    Book 1: Meet Molly
    Theme: Pearl Harbor Attack, beginning of World War Two
    Craft: Crepe Paper Hula Skirts (white muslin, crepe paper)
    Snack: Popcorn balls and apples

    Book 2: Molly Learns a Lesson
    Theme: Flag Salute/ “America The Beautiful” song, 
    War Message (p. 67)
    Craft: Tied Polar Fleece blankets to donate (from kits)-- Project Linus?
    Snack: Boston Brown Bread with Raisins

    Book 3: Molly’s Surprise
    Theme: Christmas; Dad being away for prolonged time period
    Craft: Pipe cleaner ornament (in book 3); how to address an envelope
    Snack: Cinnamon Sticky Buns; sing “Joy to The World”?

    Book 4: Happy Birthday, Molly!
    Theme: Princess Tea Party;   blackout drill?
    Craft: Crowns; Jump ropes from clothesline
    Snack: Margarine sandwiches, lemon tart & tea with sugar

    Book 5: Molly Saves The Day
    Theme: Summer Camp; play “Capture the Flag?”
    Craft: Sit-upons with oil cloth & duct tape
    Snack: Ice Cream Cones

    Book 6: Changes for Molly
    Theme: End of the War, Read from Welcome to Molly’s World 
    and Don’t Know Much about American History; Sadako and the Paper Cranes;  
    Geography Worksheets- Illinois; England
    Craft: Origami (Cranes?)

    Snack: Corn Dogs


    Of course, things may change, but this is the plan for now!

    Psalm 20:4
    May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
    Psalm 33:11
    But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

    Jeremiah 29:11
    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

    Wednesday, January 6, 2016

    Word of the year 2016

    Here we are at the beginning of a new year, a new month... so weird to write 2016. Where did 2015 go? Even my children have remarked about days and months going by quickly... I guess we are having fun because time is flying by! ; - D


    For my new word this year, I have chosen PRAYER. Last year my word was HUMILITY,  2014 was DENY (self), in 2013 it was JOY, in 2012 it was FAITHFUL. I recently saw the movie "War Room" and really enjoyed it. I thought a lot about its message of prayer, and purchased the book called "A Battle Plan for Prayer" by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. I also really enjoyed that book. It was an excellent read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I took notes as I read through the book. I have referred back to the notes often since completing the book. Some of the concepts I already knew, as a seasoned Christian, but I still enjoyed reading and being reminded of them. (i.e., types of prayer-- adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication and intercession.)

    I also found a free prayer app that I like, called Echo. I can enter in my prayer requests and later pray when I am waiting for an appointment, driving in the car (alone, doesn't happen often!) and even when I am home. I don't need my notes and notebook in front of me to pray. I can easily enter and expand on a variety of requests, and check them off when they are answered. I can have the app remind me to pray at different times during the day.


    This year I have begun a new devotional book called Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon.
    On January 2, I read this devotional called "A Prayer for this Year". 
    Colossians 4:2: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
    It is interesting to note how large a portion of Scripture is devoted to prayer. We are furnished many examples, precepts, and promises. We scarcely open the word before we read, "Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." (Genesis 4:26) And just as we are to close the volume we hear the "Amen" of an earnest prayer (Rev. 22:20).
            Instances of prayer are plentiful: a wrestling Jacob; Daniel praying three times a day; a David with all his heart calling on his God. On the mountain we see Elijah, and in the dungeon we see Paul and Silas.
           We have multitudes of commands and myriads of promises that teach the sacred importance and necessity of prayer. We may be certain that what God emphasized in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives. He has said much about prayer because He knows we have a great need for it. So deep are our needs, that until we are in heaven we must never stop praying. A praying soul is a Christless soul.
           Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian.
           If you are a child of God, then you will seek your Father's face and live in your Father's love. Pray that this year you will be holy, humble, zealous, and patient. Pray that you will have a closer fellowship with Christ, and pray that you will frequently visit the banqueting house of His love (Song of Solomon 2:4). Pray that you will be an example and a blessing to others. Pray that you will live for the glory of your Master. 
         The motto for this year must be, "Continue earnestly in prayer."
    ---------------------------------------------------------------



    Some Biblical examples of prayer are:
    Abraham, Isaac prayed for Rachel (Gen. 25:21), Moses spoke with God "as a man speaks to his friend" (Ex. 33:11); Elijah was an inspiration for New Testament believers as an example of prayer; David talked to God morning, noon and night (Psalm 55:17); Nehemiah, Daniel was willing to give up his life before he gave up his daily prayer time; Jesus who prayed all night before He chose His disciples, rose early in the morning to pray, His first sermon was about how to pray and not give up (Matt. 6, John 17); the early church (who devoted themselves to prayer, devoted= they stuck to it, insisted on it, clung to it) and Peter and Paul relied on it.


    God never intended us to live out the Christian life or accomplish His work on earth in our own wisdom and strength. We can seek Him freely to guide us! What a privilege that we can talk to the Almighty God of heaven and earth at any time! So what am I doing on the computer... I have got to pray!


    Some verses that I like related to prayer are:

    Matthew 21:22
    If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

    Mark 11:24
    Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

    John 14:13-14
    And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

    Acts 1:14
    They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 

    Acts 9:40
    Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

    Tuesday, January 5, 2016

    Word of the year review 2015

    Some of my diligent readers may remember this post about my word for 2015: Humility/ Humble. I feel like I have been humbled in several ways this year. Nothing major, but just in the day-to-day aches, pains and trials, I have been humbled that I cannot live this life on earth alone. I need God, each and every day. When I try to go about my days without him, it often leads to frustration and despair. When I begin my days with prayers and reading His Word, dedicating the day to Him, everything is a bit easier and my load has been lifted, as it says in Matthew 11:28-30: 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.”

    God has proved His faithfulness to us over and over. When we humble ourselves and pray, He guides us. When we offer our lives to Him in humility, He can do big things. My youngest daughter accepted Jesus into her heart this year, shortly after Easter. What a wise choice she made! Her sweet faith touches my heart. This was not my work, but God's.  "When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Mark 10:14  This is the same girl who told us over and over at Christmas, "Jesus is what Christmas is all about, not Santa!" She did not spoil anything for her cousins who still believe in Santa, however.

    I like the concept of focusing on One Word for the year. It usually leads me to memorize verses related to the word too. I'm so thankful that God gave us words to communicate with each other and with Him. John 1 talks about how the Word was God, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2) Who is the Word? Jesus! God in the triune was together in the beginning of all time! Our pastor talked about this concept recently, and I had never thought of this passage that way!

    From my original post:
    Upon reviewing the Greek and Hebrew words for humility, I found definitions meaning: to bring down low, submit or debase self, submit, put down, subdue, lowly. 

    As Christians, we are exhorted to put on humility (Col. 3:12), be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5), to work with humility (Eph. 4:1-2) and avoid false humility (Col. 3:18-23)

    This concept will not end with 2015. I will continue working on putting on humility for the rest of my life! God is not finished with me yet, and I am so thankful!

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