Friday, April 30, 2004




I never tire of this book....

_________

Nor these words from Seventeenth Summer;

"And then, I, Angie Morrow, who had never done anything like this before, who until last Monday night had never even had a real date, could feel his cheek on mine, as warm and soft as peach fuzz. And I knew if I moved my face just a little, just a very little...
In the movies they always shut their eyes but I didn't. I didn't think of anything like that, though I do remember a quick thought passing through my mind again about how much he smelled like Ivory soap when his face was so close to mine....I remember that behind him was the thin, yellow arc of moon, turned over on its back, and I remember feeling my hands slowly relax on the rough lapels of his coat.
Sitting on the cool grass in my new sprigged dimity with the little blue and white bachelor's buttons pinned in my hair, Jack kissed me and his lips were as smooth and baby-soft as a new raspberry."

Ahhhh....I was a dreamy teenager....that was as lovely and romantic as it got back there in the innocent 40's. It suited me just fine in the 70's.
I read this whole book out loud to my sister and some friends one summer night. We were sleeping out in the back yard.

This is how we would sleep out. Grab the t.v., a radio, a light, sleeping bags and pillows and sleep right there on the cement patio. We would fall asleep after midnight and wake wet with dew on our faces and sleeping bags at sunrise.

A funny aside...I have reread Seventeenth Summer with Emma and was so surprised by the smoking and beer drinking in the book. It didn't even phase me when I was a teen...and now as a mother, I cringe a little at those parts of the book.

I mostly remember the innocence and nostalgia of the book. I remember Angie's mother napping in the afternoons and her little sister playing on the sidewalk. And I remember her boyfriend Jack...who is a baker's son.

I happened to be a baker's daughter at the time....and I later married a baker.

Memories,
Donna



The Friday Five is on April hiatus AND the 'past fives' are blocked this morning. This can mean only one thing. I must come up with one myself. A big stretch here....
Think...think....think....

Favorite Scripture
Favorite Childhood book
Favorite Teen Book
Favorite Book Read this School Year
Favorite Subject to Learn About
Favorite Subject to Teach
Favorite Piece of Clothing
Favorite Television Show
Favorite Movie (this year)
Favorite Album (dates me, I know)

Those should be fun to answer!

More a little later....
Donna

Thursday, April 29, 2004

Bottom's Up Bucket Hat



Isn't that cute...
What a great project!
Katie's hat is knit on size 7 needles with Flash 100% mercerized cotton in Lapis.
If you would like to join in and have buckets of fun. Go here

__________

If ya want to talk about America Idol...feel free to comment....
I was able to watch on Tuesday and was shocked at how poorly most of the kids sang. Who knew Gloria Estafan was so talented? Her songs were so hard to sing...
The gal who sang last, Diana, did the best...
Everyone else...not so hot...almost painful to watch.
By the way....Simon is mean but he is right! John Stevens does look like Stan Laurel and Fantasia does sound like Donald Duck!

Is anybody watching???

"When you feel down and out...sing a song..."
-name that tune-who sang it?

Encourage one another,
Donna



Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Knit-a-long

I am participating in my very first knit-a-long...
Fluffa-bucket-knit-a-long

Katie and I went to the Sow's Ear yesterday afternoon and picked out some yarn for her summer bucket hat. I wanted to knit in pink and orange..she wanted blue and green...it's her hat...she won.



You must realize I am sticking my neck out here...
I have already made a mistake or two....so I consider this an experiment...and we all know how those turn out around here :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Man, we could make this thing fly!



It was a strange gift. I thought...
I don't remember anyone asking for it. Our father just brought it home for us one Christmas.
It was odd to think of our father buying things...but he did...things like records and circus peanuts...
and a little girls vanity and a tandem.
A tandem for his girls.

Well it was a big ole thing to ride but once we got it going we could fly! We would race to town on a Saturday afternoon....in five minutes we were at the in-between popcorn shoppe, downtown Wheaton.

I remember peddling so hard and fast and my feet slipping off the pedals. Then the trick of getting my feet back on the whirling spinning pedals while a sister or friend would continue to pedal like a maniac. It was so fun and fast and silly and exhausting. It was a wonderful ride!

It is very weird to ride a tandem alone. Sometimes it was necessary to go and pick up a friend. But it was a very lonely ride.

It's kinda like driving a car with your friends in the backseat...and no one up front with you.
Oh the horrors....

That was just the funniest thing to do to your friend wasn't it? Everybody jump in the back seat and insist your friend chauffeur you!

"No way! I am not going anywhere until someone gets in the front seat with me!"

It was fun being a teenager. It was just plain fun.

Encourage one another.
Donna

Monday, April 26, 2004

Important Discussion and Report
Over at Amy Welborn's blog, Open Book, they are discussing the pro-abortion March...


Classical Cat



Maggie the Sassy Cat cozying up to Virgil.
She thinks she is 'quite the cat'.
Tut...Tut...
The good parts version

Carmon at Buried Treasure is commerating National Poetry Month with few poems this morning. I thought I would join her and share portions of poems that sing in my ear.

There are two reasons for posting only portions...I am assuming ( which may be wrong, I know) your attention spans are like mine...short, and to be honest many times when I read a poem I hit a bit that I don't understand.
So instead of posting the whole poem I'll link it and if you like the sound and are curious about the 'rest of the story' you may go off and ponder further in the quiet of your....bathroom....closet...

Here is a bit from Ode on Intimations of Immortality by Wordsworth;

"Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song!
And let the young Lambs bound
As to the tabor's sound!
We in thought will join your throng,
Ye that pipe and ye that play,
Ye that through your hearts today
Feel the gladness of the May!

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, or glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;....

and the final haunting words...

To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears."

A good part from The Barefoot Boy

"Blessings on thee, little man,
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!
With thy turned-up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistled tunes;
With thy red lip, redder still,
Kissed by strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face,
Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace,
From my heart I give thee joy,-
I was once a barefoot boy."
-John Greenleaf Whittier

Moonlight

"How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will we sit, and let the sound of music
Creep in our ears: soft stillness, and the night,
Become the touches of sweet harmony."

-William Shakespeare
from "The Merchant of Venice"

Not everything Shakespeare wrote is difficult to understand :o)
_________

I see the moon and the moon sees me,
God bless the moon and God bless me.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Sunday, April 25, 2004

Excellent Quotes

Our Pastor quoted A.W. Tozer this morning. I loved this quote:

"We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God."

And then I found this quote which is also superb:

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

_________

Many thanks to my dear blog-sistah, Samantha for teaching me to make text-links!

Hip...Hip...Hooray! Blog-Sistahs Unite!

Encourage one another!
Donna
A Magical Place



Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people.
-Henry Miller

Saturday, April 24, 2004

April Showers




It is sunny and cold outside today but I wanted to share this darling illustration with you all before April slipped away....

Navel Gazing

Emma is selling Krispy Kremes again today.

Katie is playing with a little girlfriend this morning.

Patrick is cleaning out the garage.

I have a hair appointment at 11:15. Hubby says, "Cut it short." I haven't had a haircut in a year!
I will post a photo (maybe) if my hair looks nice and we can get that silly camera to take a good picture of me.

Happy Saturday All,
Donna

Friday, April 23, 2004

Friday Five

1. Where were you born?

2. If you still live there, where would you rather move to? If you don't live there, do you want to move back? Why or why not?

3. Where in the world do you feel the safest?

4. Do you feel you are well-traveled?

5. Where is the most interesting place you've been?




Home Sweet Home

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Home! Home! sweet Home!
There's no place like Home, there's no place like Home!

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;
O, give me my lowly thatched cottage again!
The birds singing gaily, that came at my call -
Give me them - and the peace of mind, dearer than all!
Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

How sweet 'tis to sit 'neath a fond father's smile,
And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile!
Let others delight mid new pleasures to roam,
But give me, of give me, the pleasures of home!
Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

To thee I'll return, overburdened with care;
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there;
No more from the cottage again will I roam;
Be it ever so humble there's no place like home.
Home! Home! sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

-Written by John Howard Payne


Encourage one another,
Donna

Thursday, April 22, 2004

Salad Days

Who loves salads?

We do, we do!

Last Spring I went to a Pampered Chef party and bought a little envelope of recipes called Super Salads.
I had not used it yet.

Yesterday Emma, Katie and I went shopping. Emma and I each brought along a recipe card that we would shop for and later prepare. (Home Ec the Homeschoolers way...)

A for Emma.....B- for Mom....

(I forgot one of my ingredients and had to run to the store at 5:00!)

Oh bother!

Here is the recipe Emma choose and prepared.

Pesto Tortellini Salad

1 package (9 ounces) uncooked refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
1 medium zucchini, cut and sliced
1 cup cherry tomato halves
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup prepared basil pesto
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts

Cook tortellini, drain and rinse.
Cut zucchini and tomatoes. Combine mayo, pesto and garlic. Mix well.
Add tortellini, zucchini and tomatoes and walnuts (cheaper than pine nuts)
Mix. Eat or Chill.

-Recipe Courtesy of The Pampered Chef.

It is a very tasty salad.

We will have to do this again...




Doesn't this movie look cute?

It looks exactly like Big, but with a girl instead of a boy...
Her whole outfit is darling on the poster and the Website has some really fun, teeny-bopper activities. Like the game of M.A.S.H. Who remembers that game?

Let me know if you see this movie...thanks.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Movie Recommendation



Winged Migration
Winged Migration is a visual of migrating birds...period. The music and photography make it the special movie that it is. It is not a movie to be watched for gathering facts. It is a movie to see the beauty of flight and the diversity of birds and their behaviors.

I especially liked the diving birds, the dancing birds, the music and the babies.

There is a website to visit and it has some fun activities.
www.wingedmigration.com

Women and the Draft

I didn't know this was in the picture. I hate that it is in the picture.
I do not believe women should be in the military. They certainly should not be in combat.
I believe women are created for loving and nurturing their families and seeking to glorify God.

The feminist bandwagon left without me aboard.

My ideas of womanhood come from the Bible.

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored."
Titus 2:3-5

That is my life verse.

I see nothing about taking up arms....women leaving home and defending men...
women living with strange men....

Women out there protecting Men is opposite world, from my perspective.

For Our Children

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them...

Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.
Read the language of our longing,
Read the worldless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.
-Amy Carmichael



When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
-Sammis

Trust and Obey,
Donna


Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Mrs. Potato Head




Ta-da...

It is a good thing when your experiment/craft really works.

I am a bit experiment shy. But this cute little potato head grew hair just like it was supposed to grow hair!
Katie made this potato at a children's playgroup last Tuesday.

Instructions courtesy of Katie

"First I made the smiley face, then I made the nose, than I made the necklace. I didn't make a chin ,then I did the arms and I did the ears...you have to grow the grass. You have to put water in. It has to go in the sun so the hair can grow. That's how you do it."

The potato is hollowed out and it is filled with dirt. There was a little onion stuck in and then the grass seed was scattered on top.

Katie was much more interested in the decorating of the potato than the whole grass growing phase....perhaps she couldn't imagine it before it happened...but she thinks it is mighty neat now :o)

"for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.
For,
All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
But the word of the Lord abides forever."

Encourage one another,
Donna

Monday, April 19, 2004

Curriculum Fun

Let the Planning Begin.

Curriculum planning is one of my favorite jobs as a homeschool mom.

I have eight classes in mind right now...this is too many. Emma is a doll of a student...but I think to cover things in depth and well I better think about thinning.

Geometry- Christian Light or Chalkdust
History- 400-1600 Lots of books!
Lewis/Tolkien Writing Class -Oxford Tutorial
Art- Exploring Art -Oak Meadow School or Potter's School Art
Science-Apologia Science or Physical Science NorthStar
English- Warriners Grammar and composition 5
Logic- Traditional Logic
Latin- Henle

We have not used any correspondence courses but this will be the year to try it out; now that our computer is fast, fast, fast.
I think I will let Emma choose between Logic and Art as her 'elective'. I know what I would take :o)

I took Art History when I was a Junior in college and was fortunate to go to Florence Italy two weeks later...It was the coolest thing ever.

Everything I saw in the books was right there in front of me.

The David



Here is a funny Grandma Hansen story about the David...

I took three photos of the David while in Florence. He is very tall. The pictures are full length. David is naked.
As I was showing Grandma the photos of my trip she remarked, "One picture of him would have been enough."

I had almost forgotten he was naked...oops...Sorry Grandma :o)


Don't be shy

If you have used any of the above curriculum and want to share your opinions on it...or if you have a favorite that is not mentioned...drop me a line!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Sunday, April 18, 2004

Aren't these the cutest books?



Katie is happily working on her Starting to Count book.



Moo...

Encourage one another,
Donna

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Glitches

For those of you who had problems leaving comments and getting to Quiet Life yesterday...
So sorry...
I still don't know what the problem is, however I have written blogspot to see 'what's up?'

I would still love to hear your beauty secrets if you have not posted about them already.

____________

We are having an early and warm spring here in Southern Wisconsin.

It is lovely and fresh. There is growing and greening and sprouting all around.
We had a fat ole fly buzzing and bumping into walls yesterday.

Buzz...clunk...buzz...clunk...

It is never too early to go outside to play!



APRIL
Through the meadow April comes,
Leaving, as he passes,
Companies of daffodils
All among the grasses.


Tulips round about the door,
Ranged in martial order;
Violets in sweet array,
Up and down the border.


And beside the lily-pond,
Mindful of its sleepers,
Guards of light frittillaries,
For its fairy keepers.


Sow your fine chrysanthemums
While he blithely passes,
Dahlias too, and thrift, to blow
All among your grasses.
-Dolly Radford


Encourage one another

Friday, April 16, 2004

Ya wanna talk about lip-stick?

Hi I'm Donna and I am 46 years old and I am a make up novice.

I recently bought some lip gloss from Lancome. It is way too sticky and gooey.

Please recommend your favorite brands. I would like it to feel barely there and have a nice taste and smell.

___________

I also bought these little bronzer papers and they are o.k. But who remembers the wonderful Bronzing Gel from Bonnie Bell in the 70's? They had this nice bronzing gel and blushing gel. I can not find anything like it.

I have heard that some of the men's lines have a bronzing gel...

Any tips on bronzing gels?

______________

I bought some MK mascara and it is not thick enough for my sparse eyelashes. I have used many Lancome mascara's over the years and find them to be thick enough. But I was hoping to find something less expensive than that.

What mascara do you use?

__________

I am a huge fan of lotions and soaps. Here are my favorites:



Ahava Hand Cream.

ShiKai Henna Gold Shampoo

Jardin de L'Olivier Soap




I would love to hear about your favorite products. Help this ole gal learn some new tricks ;o)

Encourage one another,
Donna


Thursday, April 15, 2004

The Red Cross





http://www.redcross.org/museum/

Attention ambitious curriculum writers out there;
A Red Cross Unit Study would really be cool don't you think?

Check out the Red Cross website...
Besides getting to see al of the beautiful posters, you can download a coloring book and find the patterns for the socks and sweaters the ladies were knitting during the war.




I think I still have my Red Cross Swim Card.

My sister Sue and I took swimming lessons together in Elmhurst. I remember three things about it.
The water was freezing, our parents came to watch, and we passed!

Burrrr...Public swimming pools in the Midwest, in June....burrrr....

Encourage one another,
Donna

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

We wish you a happy Easter.... Wednesday



How 'bout those pretty baskets, Janice?
Although it is hard to see...Patrick Jr. has a big ole Brach's Malted Milk Ball Egg in his cheek.
We think the Malted Milk Ball Eggs are the Holy Grail of Easter Candy :o)

www.quoththemaven.blogspot.com

Janet over at Quoth the Maven said this yesterday....

"We get to choose, too. Every day in zillions of tiny ways, we choose who we truly are. And once in a while in big ways.

Go choose who you want to be. And choose boldly."

She said a lot more too...

She is a Christian Screenwriter and in my opinion that means she has two very cool things going for her :o)

But back to her comment..."Every day in zillions of tiny ways, we choose who we truly are."
I think that is freeing...it makes me feel happy and dare I say it, 'empowered'.

Now if I can only tie it to this whole weight loss thingy....I choose to make good choices *wink*

And...to make you feel super lucky to live in America...
Gasoline Prices Around the World

Hong Kong.....$5.45
London, England.....$5.23
Amsterdam, Netherlands.....$5.16
Paris, France.....$4.95
Stockholm, Sweden..... $4.58
Hamburg, Germany..... $4.53
Tokyo, Japan..... $4.25
Cork, Ireland...... $3.60
Madrid, Spain.....$3.59
Ljubljana, Slovenia..... $3.58
Bangalore, India..... $3.18
Brasilia, Brazil..... $2.81
Darwin, Australia..... $2.75
Havana, Cuba..... $2.56
Managua, Nicaragua..... $2.36
Hanoi, Vietnam.....$1.29
Kuwait City, Kuwait.....$0.69
Cairo, Egypt.....$0.55
Caracas, Venezuela.....$0.14

Source: AIRINC ; CNN/Money

Wow!

Encourage one another.
Donna

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Until my techie wakes up...




This digitally enhanced photo is by a guy named Tom Croizer, from Wisconsin.

I think I should be on the Wisconsin Arts council...if there is such a thing....

I just love our Wisconsin artists!
Anyway...The Picture is titled Mineral Point Rd.
That is just around the corner from us...
Pretty, huh?


FUNdraiser

The kids made $900 (profit) selling those yummy Krispy Kremes in one day!
They will do this a few more times before the Summer Youth Group Trip.

The donuts did not sell very well at Wal-mart so they came back to our little town and set up 'shoppe'.

You know folks are looking for a deal at Wal-mart...not coming to spend $6.50 on donuts :o)

Thanks for the tax hug, Alaska :o)

I survived the meeting...
We came away with loads of dough...
Remind me next year not to fret!

The Sweet Potato Queens' Big A** Cookbook
(and Financial Planner)


Yes, you read that correctly. I am reading this book. Smiling and snickering all the way.

The recipe's are a riot: Pig Candy, which is bacon and brown sugar, The Gooiest Cake in the World, Gorilla Casserole, Twinkie Pie. You name it...they eat it!

The head Queen Jill Connor Browne is sassy with a capitol 'S'...but I get a kick out of woman like her!

Here is what Queen Jill has to say about aging;

"Moles have started to reproduce themselves at will all over your body but show a particular fondness for your chest, neck, and back. One might be considered a "beauty mark"; one thousand and you've moved past overkill-it's distracting at best."

"One of the reasons your eyesight is so poor is that your upper eyelids are spending most of their time hanging down into your actual line of sight instead of perching up there above your eyes displaying eye shadow, the way nature intended."

The book is good for a laugh and a few recipe's...the financial planning, well, let's say, it's intended for humor too.

I have always been such a straight arrow....I may have an inner Sweet Potato Queen trying to get out.

Nah!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Photo of Janet and her family coming soon...It 's fabulous!

Monday, April 12, 2004

Tick...Tock

Our oldest son graduates from college in four weeks. I have a lot of work to do on his graduation present...the photo album! eekkk.... I've gotta get in the habit of working on it, bit by bit. It will come together. But you know that feeling as a deadline approaches and you are not in gear yet???

Another thing that gives me a sick feeling....every year...is going to get the taxes done at our friendly neighborhood H and R Block. We usually get a refund...so I don't know why I am so scared...
It is one of the worst tasks I face in the whole year!

I will go this afternoon. Breathe in, Breathe out....

Your time has come!



Congratulations Phil Mickelson

Besides being a family of golfers...we also love to watch golf.
Phil Mickelson is known as the best golfer to never win a major.
He put that to rest yesterday with a very exciting birdie on the 18th hole.
He won the Masters. Which in my opinion (not worth much) is the coolest Major to win. I mean how about that green jacket?

Good for you Phil!

And from my perspective...ya gotta love a guy with three little blonde children four and under :o)

Movietime
Emma went to see Ella Enchanted yesterday. She thought it was cute and 'clean'.

We rented Something's Gotta Give this weekend. I think it is such a funny movie.
Patrick thinks Jack is funny no matter what....
Diane Keaton was just great.

We love the eyeglass mixup, the viagra jokes, the jokes about killing Jack off in her play,
and I think her loud sobbing was really funny.

The music is very sweet too. I swear the same person did the music as in Term of Endearment or something very familiar...but I just can't place it exactly. I tried to find it on IMDB but didn't succeed.

The important thing about Easter...

The important thing about Easter is that He lives.
He lives within my heart.

I had a conversation this weekend with a skeptical family member. A faithful churchgoer...who isn't quite sure the whole thing is TRUE. So I was kinda at a loss when I couldn't point to the Bible and say....here is the Truth. And then on Sunday when we sang 'He lives' in church , it hit me...
I know it is true because He lives within my heart. The holy spirit comes to live in our hearts when we believe. "Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world"

Probably wouldn't have made a difference had I said it...but the tears rolled down my eyes as I sang the song in church and realized how true they were and how these words should be the first thing I think of next time it comes up.

He lives within my heart!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Sunday, April 11, 2004

He lives

words: Alfred H. Ackley
music: Alfred H. Ackley

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thru all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving so good and king.

CHORUS
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.



He lives within my heart,
Donna



Saturday, April 10, 2004

A fundraiser I can get my behind, behind!

Emma's youth group is selling these delicious donuts today. This happens to be an excellent fundraiser here in the Madison area because we do not have a local Krispy Kreme store. So the youth leaders headed out at 3:30 this morning to pick up a vanload of donuts in Milwaukee. Emma says they intend to do this a few more times before the summer youth group trip.
The kids have a table set up at the Wal-mart...so we know there will be a lot of traffic.
And of course we have done our part :o)

Yum....melt in your mouth...



Gotta love it...Meet you there :o)



Only four or five points a donut! I'm counting them as four :o)

Encourage one another...especially your teens,
Donna

Friday, April 09, 2004

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

"Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, 1707. Charles Wes­ley re­port­ed­ly said he would give up all his other hymns to have writ­ten this one."

Visit: www.cyberhymnal.org
Why is Good Friday called Good Friday?



WHAT IS GOOD FRIDAY?

"Good Friday, the second day of the Triduum, is the solemn remembrance of Jesus' death on the cross. The name "Good Friday" is a corruption of "God's Friday," although the term is a very fitting one since the Lord's death was for our eternal good. "

"In spite of the solemnity of Good Friday worship, it is not by any means a funeral service for Jesus. It is rather a time of quiet and serious contemplation on His great saving work."

For more detailed information visit;
http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/holyweek.htm#WHAT%20IS%20GOOD%20FRIDAY?

Good Friday is called Feria VI in Parasceve in the Roman Missal
he hagia kai megale paraskeue (the Holy and Great Friday) in the Greek Liturgy
Holy Friday in Romance Languages
Charfreitag (Sorrowful Friday) in German

I actually like the German...seems fitting.

With Humility,
Donna

Thursday, April 08, 2004

Thank You for the wonderful comments today!

Sometimes not often enough
We reflect upon the good things
And those thoughs always center around those we love
And I think about those people who mean so much to me
And for so many years have made me so very happy
And I count the times I have forgotten to say "thank you"
And just how much I love them

Who remembers this song? Who sang it?

Love,
Donna

Yes, of course I know the answer....


"Mom, look what I found!"
Today I remember our mother



Esther Jean would be seventy today. But for all her loved ones she is still thirty-nine.

You would have loved her!

She was a lovely mother and devoted wife, a wonderful sister and a great friend.

I remember her delicious cooking, how well she managed our home, her laughter and the sound of her tap dancing in the basement.

"She had every gift but length of years."

and

"Esther loved her babies."

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. You would have loved our father, Jim, too. His birthday is in August :o)
He was a big tease and loved his family too! "Esther, why did you bring along all of the neighborhood children?!"

Wednesday, April 07, 2004

Veeerrrry Interesting

"Do not do for your child what he can do for himself. We need to reject all of this popular "self-esteem" stuff. The world’s problems can be summarized in one simple expression: too much self-esteem. Too many people think they are too good for what they get in life. They think they deserve better. And among the things which foster such notions is parents fawning over their little children. For the first year of his life, you pretty much need to do everything for him. But after that, the situation should begin to change rapidly. He can learn to do many things for himself in the next couple of years. He can clean up his own messes.

An important corollary to this is: Do not do for yourself what your child can do for you. Your child needs to esteem himself lower than others, beginning with his parents. He can gather the clothes for laundry, and he can fold the laundry. Then he can do the laundry. He can set the table and wash the dishes. Then he can help fix the meals. He can vacuum the floor and dust the furniture. Then he can wash the windows. If you do all of this for him, then he will get a notion of self-esteem: "I am so important everyone ought to do things for me." But if he learns to do it for himself, then he will get a notion of self-confidence: "I can do it myself." And if he learns to do it for you, then he will get a notion of self-usefulness: "I can be helpful and I am needed around here.""

-Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn p. 327.

I just love this line,

"I can do it myself." And if he learns to do it for you, then he will get a notion of self-usefulness: "I can be helpful and I am needed around here."

__________

I need to do this!

Since I stay at home, I figure it is my job to do most of the work myself...but I may not be doing my children any favors with this attitude.

Emma (15) does her own laundry, unloads the dishwasher, helps pick up when I ask, and watches her little sister when I run errands...not a terribly long list...hummm....

I think it would benefit her to start preparing meals.

Anyone else have their teens preparing evening meals?



We put the kids to work in Chicago last month. Here they are cleaning windows at the John Hancock building!!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

If you are interested in Classical Christian Homeschooling check out the Bluedorn's very meaty, passionate book.

Tuesday, April 06, 2004

The Wind

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song:

-Robert Louis Stevenson


Have you ever noticed how the wind makes different sounds depending on which trees it is blowing through?
It howls loudly and quietly and whistles and hums.



-Emma

And from my favorite folk singer...

Love calls like the wild birds--
it's another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of
things to do...away.

-Greg Brown

Monday, April 05, 2004

Feeling so happy with my girls...



Two of the reasons we homeschool...
Class of 2007 and 2017

Donna
The Passion

Janice asks in the comments, "Have you seen The Passion?"

No, I haven't.

Katie and I are the family holdouts :o)

The boys saw it at college. Emma and her father went together. Everyone thought it was powerful.

I feel I could not handle the violence. I will watch it at home where I can leave the room or fast forward.

I have a hard time with violence.

I walked out of Taxi Driver...the killing was horrible at the end...

I was stuck in the middle of a huge crowd for Platoon...couldn't get out.
Even the music breaks my heart when I hear it.

Saving Private Ryan was saved for home viewing and I just didn't watch the first 45 min.
Still didn't like the movie....Polyanna here...all the good guys die. Booo!
There's No killing Tom Hanks in a movie!
Well I guess there is...How about the ending of Philadelphia....When they are showing movies of the little boys playing and Neil Young is singing in the background. No violence....just violent sobs....

I have not seen Braveheart, The Patriot or The Matrix. Actually I saw bit of the Matrix....the part where that thing goes in him...whatever...icky, creepy, gross.

AND as soon as folks started getting hit in the face with large round pointy things, I stopped watching The Gladiator!!!

So you can imagine my horror at watching Our Savior being tortured. I believe it is true. And that it was probably just as awful as Gibson represents. I believe that beyond the physical suffering and the physical separation from His Father in Heaven (which is a mystery) Jesus took on all the SIN of the world at that moment. I believe it was even worse than it looks!!!

I do not need to see with my eyes what I already believe to be true in my heart.
I am eternally grateful and awed for His sacrifice.
I am even more thrilled that He rose from the grave...
Easter Sunday is wonderful!



My favorite Religious movie of all time is The King of Kings (1961).

Our father called us all down( to the little family room in the basement) to watch it when we were young.
I was eight. It made a big impression on me. It was shown during the Easter season on television....back in the day.

This I can recommend to your whole family.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Sunday, April 04, 2004

Boy was that hard....

Our internet has been off all day....
I missed you all!



Have you read this book?

It is sweet and sad.

__________
Palm Sunday Blessings

John 12:13
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.




"Franciscan monks, holding palm fronds, walk from Jerusalem's Mount of Olives to the Old City, seen background, during the traditional Palm Sunday procession Sunday, April 4, 2004. Streams of Christian pilgrims gathered Sunday to trace the path of Jesus Christ's last journey into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) "
-Yahoo photos

Wouldn't that be amazing to trace the path of Jesus' last journey into Jerusalem?

Blessings,

Donna


Saturday, April 03, 2004

Easy and Cute Project





Look what I made yesterday. No need to be super impressed :o)

All you have to do is ;

Buy some fleece
Fold it in half and lay it on the floor
Cut, Cut, Cut....
Tie, Tie, Tie...

All done!

These would make very nice baby gifts and gifts for college students....
We all like the weight of these blankets ( double the fleece, double the pleasure)

I used my 40% coupon from Jo-Ann's....very helpful :o)

__________

We are painting Katie's room today. Lavender and mint green.

Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace....

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday, April 02, 2004

Friday Five from the Archives

1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?

2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?

3. How do your normally wear your hair?

4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?

5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?
_________

Something beautiful for the eyes...



My heart



Do notice the tiny blue earrings....and the messy, yet yummy Java Chip pie.

and the soul...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths."

-Proverbs 3:5-6

_________

The photographs of the flowers are by Jill Bedford. She is another fine Wisconsin artist.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Thursday, April 01, 2004

Lighten Up Francis!

So I'm told :o)

Here is my idea of funny.

Calling Sadam Hussein, So dam Insane tickles my fancy. Don't know why?

Almost anything Albert Brooks says cracks me up. " Say it! Say it! Say "I lost the nest-egg." Go on, say it! "

Steve Martin in The Jerk...very funny.
Navin R. Johnson: He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans.

And the joke that cracks me up...but my children think is terribly dumb...

This is a Pauly Shore joke...yeah...he said something funny...once...

Jakob Dylan and I went to highschool together. Jakob was on the baseball team.
One day I was at a game and happened to be sitting next to Jakob's dad, Bob Dylan.
Nearing the end of the ninth inning, Jakob was on third. Fly ball...Jakob sprints for home...
He slides and is OUT!
His father says, "How does it feeeelll, to be out at home?"

You must tell this joke in your best Bob Dylan....but nobody will laugh anyway...
I have found!

There...that was for my boys. I am famous at their college for my love of this very silly joke!

Thank you...Thank you very much!

Donna

One for the little kids in the crowd.

Why is Cinderella such a terrible football player?

Her coach is a pumpkin.




I hate April Fool's Day

I don't like to be teased and I can not stand silly tricks and practical jokes.

So there.



A quiet fool can go undiscovered for a long time.
-Cooley

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
-Alexander Pope


Everybody plays the fool sometime;
There's no exception to the rule.
Listen, baby, it may be factual, may be cruel,
I ain't lying, everybody plays the fool.
-Main Ingredient

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool
than to speak and remove all doubt.
-Lincoln (I think)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
-Proverbs 1:7

Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men, but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
-Ephesians 5:15-17

Encourage one another,
Donna