American Girl class highlights 2019

We had another wonderful semester of American Girls. This year I had three sisters join our group, and they were so fun! Their little brother is adorable, and their mom helped a bunch. We discussed Molly and Julie this semester, and World War II, and the 70's. I had fun wearing my bell bottoms, peace sign jewelry, bandana skirt and mood ring. 

During Molly, we tied fleece blankets again, and donated them to Project Linus. We made two soft blankets, one had watermelons on it and the other made mermaid like design.

 During Julie, we did tie dyed shirts again, and the girls loved it.

 Here they are wearing their shirts after they were washed. They lined up shortest to tallest on their own!

 This sweet girl finished three years of my American Girl classes and got a completion certificate!I will miss her cute personality and contagious giggle!

It was a fun and fantastic semester. I'm so thankful that their moms entrusted me with them for one hour a week. They were a joy to teach, and I'll miss them this summer!

What about you? DO you have things concluding for the school year? We have our AWANA awards night this week. We had our co-op finale on Thursday night, and I loved hearing the choirs, seeing the  dances and the ASL classes perform. They did so well and it was a delightful evening!

I'm planning on reading a lot this summer, and I'm looking forward to hopefully teaching my classes again in the fall!


Deuteronomy 32:2
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Psalm 78:1
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 1:8
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Music Monday: "Still Rolling Stones"

I have heard this song several times this past semester, since my 12 year old was in middle school ASL class, and they performed the sign language to this song in our semester finale at our homeschool co-op. I have had this song in my head ever since. I think it is a very appropriate song after Easter. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I have lately. (It's good really loud!) 😁

"Still Rolling Stones"

Out of the shadows
Bound for the gallows
A dead man walking
Till love came calling
Rise up (rise up)
Rise up (rise up)

Six feet under
I thought it was over
An answer to prayer
The voice of a Savior
Rise up (rise up)
Rise up (rise up)

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
(You're still rolling rolling, you're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones
(You're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones

Now that You saved me
I sing 'cause You gave me
A song of revival
I put it on vinyl
Rise up (rise up)
Rise up (rise up)

I once was blinded
But now I see it
I've heard about the power
And now I believe it
Rise up (rise up)
Rise up (rise up)

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
(You're still rolling rolling, you're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones
(You're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones

I thought that I was too far gone
For everything I've done wrong
Yeah, I'm the one who dug this grave
But You called my name
You called my name
I thought that I was too far gone
For everything I've done wrong
Yeah, I'm the one who dug this grave
But You called my name
You called my name

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
(You're still rolling rolling, you're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones
(You're still rolling rolling oh)

You're still rolling stones
(You're still rolling rolling oh, you're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones
(You're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones (you're still rolling, rolling)
(You're still rolling rolling oh, you're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling rolling
(You're still rolling rolling oh)
You're still rolling stones

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You can listen to this song here.

I'm so thankful that Jesus brought ME out of the grave of sin and into eternal life with Him! He can do the same for you if you trust in Him as your Lord and Savior! 

You can read more about how to do this HERE. It will change your life forever!



Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.


Mark 16:1-4When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.


Luke 24:1-3
Jesus Has Risen
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Fences

When I was growing up in the Chicago suburbs, there were lots of fences. Our neighborhood was a newer development in that area, down the block from my school. Yes, we walked to school, every day. But there were no hills, just lots of wind. Anyway, I digress...

One of my favorite things was our backyard, which did not have fences to other neighbor's yards. We could walk and play in our neighbor's back yard if we wanted to (he was an older man and didn't mind.) I really loved the idea of no fence. We knew where the property lines were. We had bushes separating our yard on one side. In the back, it was open for a few years until an international family moved in. They put up not only a chain-link fence, but a TALL one, with SLATS. We could see nothing in their yard. But the bonus was, since the fence was tall, balls didn't go over it as much. Next to our old man neighbor's yard, there was a fence, with a dog in it. It was a mean dog too. If a ball went over the fence, we did NOT try to get it, unless the dog was indoors. Even then... (flashes of scenes from "The Sandlot" come to mind... jumping and running...)

We could see several doors/ yards down. There were no wood fences, as I remember. Maybe since it was so windy all the time. Maybe since the winters were very cold and the wood just wouldn't take it...? Sometimes there were houses in the way, but I liked looking into other's yards, not in a nosy way, just friendly. Maybe that is what we are missing in today's society. Less fences, more being friends with our neighbors. You know, "Love your neighbor as yourself."(Luke 10:27)

I miss those days. I miss being able to ring the doorbell at my neighbor's house, as a little kid, and the older folks being delighted to see you, a little girl with crazy (probably frizzy) hair. Now I ring the doorbell as an adult and I feel like I need to have a purpose for bothering someone. I like chain link or hog wire (large squares) fences better than wood slats. But sometimes the chain link falls down, like in our backyard here. We took down our rotting split rail fence here and I like it much better. It's open and inviting, I think. No more mowing around a little fence.

I understand the need for privacy, and all that. But isn't that what the house is for? Go inside, close the blinds, turn off the lights and nobody knows you're home (especially if you park in the garage.) I doubt there are very many people sunning or doing chores outside with no clothes on (which you can see over a fence.)

There is something to be said about the good old days. Oh well, they are long gone, and here we are surrounded by fences. Maybe I'll go out and talk to my neighbors soon.

How about you? Do you like fences? Why or why not?


Leviticus 19:18
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Psalm 62: 1-6
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.