My three kids... plus one! =)

♥ ♥ ♥

Rebekah and Callie Anne, JohnDavid, Bethany

Does she even look like she's gonna have a baby in about 5 weeks??

sMiLeS,

Missions Conference

Many of you may know that my daughter Bethany began college this fall.
This week they had their Missions Conference and here are some things she did.  =)

At the beginning of the year, she had chosen Asia as her continent to pray for, so when her RA (Resident Assistant) encouraged her to volunteer for this project, she chose to work in the Asia room.  Of the several countries to be exhibited for Asia, she was assigned India and Burma, and worked together with the son of her Bible Geography professor, Dr. Jacob, who is actually from India!  =)  They recruited two more girls to assist them, and they all did a wonderful job!

They began last week doing research and gathering material for the displays.

Burma Table -- The writing around the edge is Burmese, and is
John 3:16.  They looked it up online and found it written in a missionary's
journal!  The writing and map were both done by Bethany.  She had already 
had some practice drawing maps in Dr. Jacob's Bible Geography class! =)

India Table -- Since her Bible Geography teacher is
from India, they had some authentic items to display.  

Besides their two countries, they also made a section for some videos to be played, set up the Asian Market, and decorated the room in general.  They went to the real Asian market to get food and tea, and shopped for supplies for whatever they needed.  They researched for facts and pictures to put on each of the boards.  I still just love that Burmese writing!! =)

The 3 on the left - Bethany and her other two helpers - are in authentic dress from 
India, courtesy of Dr. Jacob's wife and daughter.  =)  The groups dressed for their country 
each day of the conference, and were at their tables each evening awhile before service 
to give a presentation about the country, and to request prayer for that nation. 

Other people in the church dressed up too!  Dr. Jacob's daughter in the pink.  =)

Monday, Bethany posted the above picture with this caption:  Missions Conference was such a blessing today! These girls are the best! I thank The Lord for the Jacob Family.  Helping them in our Asian Village has been so much fun and encouraging. Please keep us in your prayers this week as we continue to work and seek the Lord's guidance.

Dr. Jacob's wife in blue; his older son in the back (the one who also worked on this project)

Asian foods and chai tea to sample (chai rhymes with pie)   Bethany
said Mrs. Jacob makes amaaazing homemade hot chai tea. =)

This looks like an incredible experience!  Much work and research went into this, so Bethany learned quite a bit.  They didn't have classes the three days of the Missions Conference (M-W of this week), so she was able to fully enjoy it.  =)  I would love to have been there!

I get to see her next week!!!  Fall break.  =) =) =)


sMiLeS,

Homemade Vegetable Soup

My Mom's recipe -- this is the best!

• 2 lbs. beef (optional) cut into cubes, boiled w/ 3 T. powdered beef bouillon 
  
• 5 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 c. chopped onions 
• 1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 cans petite diced tomatoes
• 1 29 oz can green peas
• 1 can baby lima beans 
• 1 can of corn 
• 1 28 oz can Bush's pinto beans
• 2 T. sugar
• 1 T. garlic salt
• 1 T. basil
• 1 T. Italian seasoning
• 1 T. parsley
• 1 t. pepper
• 3 T. powdered beef bouillon, or bouillon cubes

In a pinch, (or if you're a tired mama)♥ I have cans of vegetables I can just dump in, and have a meal pretty quickly.  About 12 15oz cans of your choice (liquid included) for the amount of spices listed (include the bouillon also), and add water as needed.  I've done this, especially when having company without much notice. 

This recipe makes 1½ gallons.  You'll need a really large pot!  =)


►Fill 1½ gallon pot halfway with water, put in beef & bouillon (if you only have bouillon cubes, you can add those later), and bring to a boil.  Cover and turn on low for about 3 hours or until beef is fork-tender.

►Chop up vegetables and have them ready about the time the beef is done.
If needed, remove meat for dicing right before adding vegetables.  Cut into several chunks and allow to cool a bit while doing the next steps.
Add all vegetables and spices to pot.  No need to drain canned vegetables unless it looks like the pot will be too full.
Add water if needed to within an inch or so from the top.

►Bring back to a boil.
If you did not use powdered bouillon and are using bouillon cubes, dip out about a half cup of boiling liquid and dissolve bouillon cubes, mashing a little w/ the back of a spoon, stirring until dissolved.  Return to pot.

►Cover and turn on low.

If needed, cut up meat and return to pot.

►Continue to cook on low for about 45-60 minutes until all vegetables are tender.

Great with a grilled cheese sandwich!  =)


sMiLeS,

Ranch Roll-ups

These are delicious!

• Eight large flour tortillas, burrito-size.
  I think the ones we get are about 9 inches across.  Using this size rather than the very small ones will eliminate so many "end" pieces.  
• ham, turkey, and/or pepperoni
• 1 8oz. block of cream cheese
• 1 packet of dry ranch dip/dressing mix
• ¼ cup green pepper, finely chopped (about 1/3 of a pepper)
• ¼ cup onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 of a medium onion)
• lettuce, optional

NOTE:  If you use rectangle ham as in the picture, 12 slices will be enough.  (1½ each tortilla).  If you use thinner, round ham, you may want several slices.
One 6 oz package of pepperoni looks like enough for an entire batch if you put about 10 pepperonis on a tortilla (check serving size info on package), but we usually make some of all three meats, so we have never actually counted everything out.

Actually, that ham needed to be over to the side,
and an additional half piece beside it.

►Divide the cream cheese into several chunks and heat in a microwavable dish - about 1 ½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
--Add in the ranch dip mix, peppers, and onions.
--Mix well.

►Spread a spoonful of the ranch mixture onto the tortilla, making sure to get all the way to the sides that will be the "ends" after you roll.

►Place a slice or two of ham, turkey, or slices of pepperoni on the ranch mixture.  We like to put lettuce on the turkey ones.
Be sure to get some mixture and meat all the way to the edges that will be the "ends."
In the pic above, this wasn't done.  We now use 1½ slices to get the tortilla covered across.  The ends all get eaten.  =)
When rolled up, if needed, smear on a little more mixture on the last edge to make the roll stay closed.  Lay on a plate edge side down.

►Refrigerate for about an hour before slicing.
You may be able to get about 10 slices from each tortilla.  Or simply cut in half and eat it that way.  =)
Store in refrigerator in air-tight container.

When sliced, a double batch fills up a 13-cup Ziploc or Glad container.

My whole family loves these.

sMiLeS,

IT'S A GIRL!!

My baby's having a baby.  =) =) =)

I'm gonna be a GRANDMA!! =D

This little one should arrive around December 6!! ♥♥♥

BIG sMiLeS,

Our Country!

Told by David C. Gibbs, founder and president of the Christian Law Association.

Faith of Our Founding Fathers



Story of the Star-Spangled Banner




sMiLeS,

Country Style Steak

Happy Father's Day!! =)

Oh my!
That's about the only way I can describe this dish.

• 2 lbs. cubed steak (I had close to 2½ lbs)
• flour - about a cup or so
• salt and pepper
• ½ c. oil or so
• Two 10.5-oz cans of cream of mushroom soup (I had a little more meat, so I used one 26-oz. can)
• Two cans of water (or 1 large can)

►In large pan, heat the oil on medium heat.
You can mix the salt and pepper with the flour, but I just did the pepper.  I can see it, and know about how much I put in.  =)  I didn't use a whole lot - just a little.
Salt both sides of the meat then bread both sides with the flour.
Cook on medium heat about 4-8 minutes each side, depending on how many you have in the pan and if your pan fits your burner, how hot your oil is, and how thick your steaks are.  (I cooked mine about 7-8 minutes in a large, full pan -- they were around 1/2 - 3/4 inches thick.)

These will not be tender yet, and will not be totally cooked through.

►►Cooking the meat the night before saves a lot of time in the mornings if you're going to church, etc.

►When meat is browned, place in crockpot.

►If there are any burned clumps of flour, etc, in the pan, scrape and remove those.

--------------
►►If need to cook the night before, put the meat in another container, put a lid on your pan and put it in the fridge, then reheat in the morning.
Don't add the soups yet.  They will heat quicker at room temperature the next morning.
--------------

►Pour can(s) of cream of mushroom soup into the pan along with the still-hot drippings from the meat.  
Add can(s) of water.  (I tend to forget this!)  Mix thoroughly with whisk and heat for a few minutes.

►Pour soup mixture over the cubed steaks in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 6 hours, or on high for 1 hour and low 9-10 hours.

Serve with mashed potatoes and biscuits.
Cut with a fork.
Yummy!


Update: 
I saw this video on facebook that showed that after browning it on both sides, you could add the soups then cook it on low in the pan, covered, for 45 min - 1 hour. 


sMiLeS,

Class Party

PARTY!!
We had Ham and Cheese Rolls, Ranch Roll-ups, home canned garlic pickles from one of the moms (and she brought me strawberry jelly -- strawberry!  My favorite!),  and homemade cupcakes from another of the moms who runs a business making yummylicious cakes!  And she left extra for my family!  And one of her daughters made homemade cookies.  And of course we had the regular chips and dip and drinks, etc.

It's been 3½ hours since lunch... and now I'm thinking about the leftovers that are for supper.  =D  Hubby will be happy too.  He loves those ham and cheese rolls.  =) =)


When we have class parties, I always invite all the family.  After all, we can't leave the littles at home!
I wanted to include them, so I figured some allowances in our Minute to Win It games.  We had 2 teens per team and one younger sibling.  They participated in the games a little, but usually ended up running around, lol.  And "helping."  =D  But it was fun anyway.  Even for the losing team, who had a wonderful "helper."  ;)  We had a great time.

The boys' team was simply The Boys.  Courtney and Ava were Team Cava, and Bethany and Sarah had to choose between Team Barah or Team Sethany.  They chose Team Sethany.  =)


I tried to name these games, but couldn't come up with anything catchy, lol.

Without touching the balls, each teen had to thread all 3 Wiffle balls onto a pipe cleaner, then drop them all into a glass.  The littles had to place a ball on a magnifying glass and "pour" it in, one at a time.  They were allowed a little assistance, esp the 4-year-old.  =)

The teen teams had to blow 4 cotton balls onto the same sticky note (Post-it), and the littles had to do 1, 2, or 3, depending on age.  They each had their separate sticky note, placed strategically away from the older kids.  ;)

 ↑The timer  ;)          

We did this game twice because the Wiffle balls kept bouncing out, but the second time we put a hand towel in the bowl.
Each team went separately on this one.

We had about 25 Wiffle balls, and even though kids were scurrying around trying to re-gather them up for the throwers, we still kept running out.  How many balls can 2 boys throw in one minute??  A LOT!
Some girls got tired of scurrying... and decided to be catchers.  ;)

Awww, little Jeremiah hugging his sister.  =)  He kinda "launched" himself into her arms, lol.  =D

And here we have one of our helpers.  ;)

We did have to keep a lookout for helpers who wanted to put the balls into the orange bowl instead of back into the clear bowl, lol.  It was kind of chaotic, but altogether a lot of fun.  =)  I guess I wasn't very clear about where to return the balls.  ;)

We actually played a few more games than these - using straws to put beans into a glass, and a relay with 8 items that had to be picked up with skewers! (littles used clothes pins), but I forgot to get out my camera!  And... those were the pics Ava would have been in!  But she had to leave early for Driver's Ed!  First day driving.  (Hang in there, Mom.)

So... go here to see Ava.  ;)  She's one of the cute ones.

No, not those goats... keep scrolling!  =) =) =)


sMiLeS,

Biology 101, Chapter 7, Biology History, Cells, Genetics [and DNA]

This chapter had so much in it that I would loved to have taken 6 weeks!  Or more.  =)
But I did have them pre-study some things during spring break, so that just had to do.

We learned all about cells in the first class.  The composition of just the cell wall is amazing!  They also had to learn all the cell parts and their functions.  I was going to  have them do something like this, but we ended up just drawing on a large dry erase board in the middle of the table.  But I forgot to take pictures.

Then we learned about DNA, which they already knew about.

And we learned about the processes of mitosis (asexual division of cells) and of meiosis (sexual division of cells).  Did you know there are hundreds of genes on each chromosome??

We also learned about genetics, and how meiosis gives us our unique traits.  We did quite a few Punnett squares to get them familiar with how they work as well as the terminology (genotype, phenotype, alleles, homozygous recessive or dominant, heterozygous, etc.).

This just cracks me up! =D

Then we did the fun part.  We made Spud-Doodles!

They had to draw 4 letters (alleles) from cups to see what genotypes were possible for each trait.  Two gray pieces of paper for the father's alleles, and two white for the mother's alleles.  Two alleles  make a genotype [ex. BB, Bb, or bb].  They wrote these genotypes above and beside the Punnet square for that particular feature (eyes, nose, ears, tail, etc), figured the four possible genotypes that would result from the parents' genotypes.  They rolled dice to see, of 1-4, which which of those four they ended up with for that feature.
(While they were doing the drawing and figuring the Punnett squares, I did not let them see the chart that showed which genotype would give them which trait.)

They had to do this for all 8 features, then "decorated" their spud-doodle according to what genotypes they happened to get, going by this chart.

As you can see, we have 3 girl spud-doodles.  JohnDavid kept talking about his as if she was his little girl, and later when he and Bethany were making another pic, he said, "Oh, we gotta do it over; she blinked."  He is hilarious!

My very last class.  Ever.  sniff

Seriously!  The other day after getting everything printed for this class, I closed my document where I type up their schedule... and I've been doing this class for 5 years... and I realized it was the very last time I would close it.
True, it was a pitiful schedule, one I wouldn't share with the public, lol, but still...

My grandbabies?!  hee hee! =D

sMiLeS,

Be Ye Kind

A few months ago we were at a church where a visiting preacher preached and his family sang.  They were smiling and rejoicing in the truths in the songs and giving testimonies.  The preacher brought a great message -- one of those that make you think.  =)
Afterward I was in the foyer, and many people had left already.  (Our family tends to stay awhile!)  =)  I saw the visiting preacher's wife over to the side with a lady she obviously knew pretty well.  The preacher's wife was struggling to hold back tears, and the other lady had her arm around her and was comforting her, murmuring words of consolation and saying she was praying.  I don't remember what was said, but obviously that preacher's wife (and maybe the preacher too!) was going through some hard times.

Sometimes we see people who are "out there," and they are smiling; doing God's work, tirelessly, it seems; helping others; taking prayer requests from those who look up to them and know they can "get a-hold of God."  They just keep going on, day after day.  And many times they still have small children and/or teenagers.  I'm talking about the families of evangelists, pastors, missionaries, bus workers, and more, all serving the Lord with their wives and children.
It's a blessing to see families like this.  Those who have raised their children to love the Lord.  The families where you know the wife is following her husband with a joyful spirit, and is not bitter because of her husband's choices.

But these people are just people.  Like you and me.  They have struggles.  They have kids who argue, who have attitudes toward mom and dad, who get tired of being under scrutiny because others think that the preacher's kid shouldn't get tired and cranky, shouldn't have a sinful nature (...really??) like other kids do.

 
Hmmm...

Wives who have kids who are under such scrutiny surely have more stress than those whose aren't.  Who, if they need to stay home from church, won't feel judged as to whether their sickness was "sick enough."  Some people handle illnesses better than others, and not because they are tougher, but because it doesn't affect them as much.  You see it in your own children -- some seem to get sicker than the others in the family.
Being a wife and a mom is a lot of work.  Being a wife to a preacher, and mother to that preacher's kids, is a lot more work.  Because everyone expects her husband to be available.  Because other ladies sometimes expect her to do all, be all.  Because people expect her kids to act better than theirs. And if their own children are super great, some people don't think hers should be less than super.

But sometimes a wife gets discouraged.  She misses her husband when he constantly needs to meet someone else's need.  When he's visiting someone at the hospital, when the kids are sick and she needs a shoulder to lean on, when the washer breaks and there are piles of laundry and it's revival week, when supper burns and everyone is running late and one child lost her shoe and another fell and busted his lip...
And sometimes kids in a ministry family feel like they're always being picked on for not being perfect.  When other people's kids pick up on their own parents' criticism, and begin their own whisper campaign.  When they have to stay late after church and are tired and have school the next morning.  And if they homeschool, maybe being left out of things because the schooled kids are better friends since they see each other every day.
And if the children are made fun of or left out, the mom feels even more stress.

So if they're just people like us, what is the difference?  The difference in ministry families and lay people is that one family answered God's call to minister to others.  They're out there serving, not looking to receive.

We don't see behind the scenes.  We don't see the tears, the heartache - for with life eventually comes some sorrow.  We don't see the exhaustion, the temptation to give it up.  Because if a person is truly wanting to do the Lord's will, they will do their best to be an encourager to others, so you see that side of the picture.  

I know people like this and they amaze me.  They have troubles, but are the encouragers, the ones who offer prayer, who will be willing to talk if someone needs it.  The ones who don't make you feel less than them if you aren't as spiritual as they are.
For you see, those who have this love for others, this attitude of forgiveness, of caring... these are the ones who are so full of the Love of God that it spills over, even when they have their own troubles.

. . . . . . .

But sometimes a wife or children will get so discouraged, they do become bitter.  Maybe not terribly, but the discontent is there at times.  They may even slowly stop being the encourager, the giver...   They may begin to show a bit of resentment, being peeved at some things, and may even say something that hurts your feelings!
And people begin to see the flaws, the cracks... And they begin to criticize.
(Why do we think criticizing is a lesser sin than the sin we are criticizing??)

But a criticized person will not feel encouraged to change.
But WE NEED to encourage our sister in Christ!  Whether or not they're doing something wrong, whether or not we think they should be more kind, should not have said those words, whether or not their Johnny kicked your Susie...

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."  Galatians 6:1

Note the phrases, "ye which are spiritual" and "in the spirit of meekness."
And "restore."  If I had a priceless antique that I wanted to be restored, I would want to choose someone who knew what they were doing.  I would want someone who was careful, who took their time to do it correctly, who used the right tools, etc.  Be careful how you restore.

res·to·ra·tion

 noun

1.  the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.

2.  the state of fact of being restored.

3.  a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.

4.  restitution of something taken away or lost.

5.  something that is restored, as by renovating.

Restoration won't happen with criticism or disdain.  We women especially can convey extreme disdain with just a look!  And those looks can really hurt.

Sometimes we just feel like what some else is doing is just so wrong, though!  She should not act like that, or have an attitude, or do this or that.
Why do we think badly of someone who sins differently than we sin??
        "For all have sinned..."
And unforgiveness is sin.

No matter what the other person does, we are responsible for our own actions.  We can't blame our actions on theirs.
I listened to a message the other week by Bro. Johnny Pope* "The Suburbs of Forgiveness."  I'd like to encourage you all to watch it.


Look for things to do for a family who is in the ministry, even if they are simple things.  Add them to your prayer list and pray for specific needs, for the Lord to uplift them, for Him to give them a scripture that will help them though their day, for Johnny and Susie to see that their mother needs them to be a help around the house and to pick up after themselves, etc.  No matter how small, whatever need you see! 
  (Here is a great message on "Power in Prayer" by Dr. David Gibbs, Jr.*)

Look for ways to be kind.  I think a lot of faults can be covered by being kind.

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Proverbs 31:26

I saw this statement once - "To become the Proverbs 31 woman, you can't skip chapters 1-30."
I encourage you to read a chapter in Proverbs every day.  Really search for verses that are what you need for that day.  Make a point to write them down, maybe in a small notebook.  If you didn't find a verse, re-read until you do.  Make it a habit to be thinking through each verse as you read.  Proverbs isn't a book to be read quickly.  And if you soak it in, it will change you.  =)

Be an encouragement when you're around ministry families.  Watch for things to compliment them on.   If you see their child being kind, give a compliment.  If you see their kid not doing something they shouldn't, give a compliment.  Give compliments for character, not on clothes or hair, etc.  Engage the kids in conversation or offer to watch small children in the nursery after church so mom can have a chance to talk to other ladies.  Look for ways to be helpful, maybe even something at their house, and be sure to ask how they want it done.
Often I think doing something for someone goes a long way, more than giving something.  Doing something takes more time than handing someone money for a new dress, etc.  Dresses and other things that we can buy are really super nice!  It's great to spoil your pastor's wife and I think it should be done!  But when you also show you care about someone enough to give your personal time, it speaks to someone's heart.

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:3

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32 

The book of I John is also really good to read -- has a lot about brotherly love.  Just 5 short chapters.  =)

Read here.


P.S.  Several articles:

• Nine Secrets Your Pastor's Wife Wishes You Knew by Christina Stolaas
• Seven Ways to Bless Your Pastor's Wife by Daniela Johnston Houk
• Kind People in a Mean World by Bro. Scott Pauley*
• 10 Things Pastors Never Want to Hear by Summer Stevens
• Why Churches Should Rethink their Preacher's Salary by Wes McAdams
  (actually more about the reasoning behind his salary)

A book:

• Don't Muzzle the Ox: All the Things a Pastor Wishes His Church Understood but is Hesitant to Tell Them, by Bo Wagoner*
  Also available for Kindle

In the above articles, if you read something you don't agree with, keep reading!  These authors are doing their best to get across what many church members need to know.  If you truly care and are truly searching, God will show you some things!  =)


DISCLAIMER:
*I have personally met and heard these* men preach, some many times.
The others I linked to, I like this particular article by them, but have never met nor heard of them before.

• Proverbs 26:20-23  "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross."

-- A lot of division between brothers and sisters in Christ is caused by the tongue, which "no man can  tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  James 3:8

Gossip, whether true or not, makes the devil happy. 

• Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

--What kinds of things do you dwell on?  Past wrongs?  Pour out your hurts to the Lord.  Then pray for those who have hurt you.  Keep praying!  It will take time, but you'll begin to see a change in your heart.  😊

• Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."  

sMiLeS,

Biology 101, Chapter 6, The 6th Day - Mankind part 2

►Videos for this chapter

Circulatory, Digestive, Lymphatic, and Endocrine Systems

This chapter was divided into 2 parts, and we have 2 classes per 'part,' one class every other week.
So this was our third class for this chapter, and we studied the circulatory and endocrine systems.

This time we had a game within a game.  I asked questions, they earned points, and then their team got to move based on how many on their team knew the answer.
Even though this was a game about the circulation system, we also learned and had questions about the endocrine system.

The Circulation Game (printables and instructions)
In this game, there were 2 types of waste product tokens to be taken out of the body (CO2 goes to the lungs, other waste goes to the kidneys in this game), and O2 and sugar & protein tokens get taken to 5 designated cells on our little man here.  Both CO2 and O2 can only "ride" on red blood cells.

We were talking about the alveoli at the ends of the bronchioles, and I told them on some videos it was pronounced al-VEE-oh-lie, and on others, ahl-vee-OH-lee.  They liked the second because it sounds like "ravioli."  So they promptly decided his name was Chef Boyardee.  LOL!  They name everything, and I love it. =D

Team Orange moving their playing piece, Team Blue still counting, deciding on the best move.

Two teams of three, all six kids gave an answer, and for each one on their team that had the correct answer, they got to move 10 spaces.  (Seems like a lot of spaces for one turn, but this is a long game!)  And even with an hour, because of the questions we still didn't finish the game, but tallied the points to determine the winner.
Individual points won candy, and the winning team got extra. =)  Blue team won!  =) 24-26

And they were so funny.  One of the girls said she just couldn't think today, and somehow something was mentioned about tacos, and they were saying she ate too many tacos (although she didn't even eat a taco at all!) and no one really knows how that got started... so when someone got an answer wrong, or didn't know the answer, they would all say, Taco!
And once, JohnDavid didn't know an answer, so he drew a taco on his answer board, lol.



4th class for this chapter - digestive system and lymphatic system.

The kids had to name and label the digestive system, as well as distinguish which organs were part of the actual digestive tract (where food actually passes through).

Again, they brought up tacos when someone couldn't remember something, lol.  These kids are a lot of fun.  One more chapter....


sMiLeS,

Biology 101, Chapter 6 - The 6th Day, Mankind part 1

►Videos for this chaper

The Brain and the Nervous System, the 5 Senses, and the Skeletal System

We have fun in our class!  I "lecture" (if you can call it that, lol), and give an overview of the chapter.
Sometimes I have visuals or handouts for them to look at along with me, or to read aloud.  We discuss as we go.  The kids know there will be a "quiz-game" at the end, and they win chocolate, so they listen pretty well.
I ask questions aloud and they all write the answers on small dry erase boards and show me when they know I'm looking.  I don't tell who is right or wrong until all have answered, and they get one try.  We've tried several different ways, including written quizzes on paper, but we all agree that this is our favorite way.  I love that all the kids get to answer each question, and that we can discuss each answer as we go.  Often I will ask a question more than once especially if some have missed it, or just ask it in a different way.
Usually I have gone over most of them during the 'teaching' time, questioning them as we go, re-questioning ones they missed, etc.  So they do pretty well when we get to the quiz-game.


Labeling Oscar
Sometimes we get to physically do something as part of the quiz-game rather than just answer questions, but there are always questions too.
Our first class was about the brain and nervous system, and I had no activities really, so no pics.
During the second class for this chapter, they had fun labeling "Oscar."  My oldest daughter and niece had named him Oscar when we did Biology 3 years ago.  They name everything! =)

One of the teams labeling Oscar - use super sticky Post-its!

The boys putting Oscar in all sorts of silly poses =D

A couple of illustrations for fun =)

There was some discussion as to how one would know if a skeleton was male or female.
JohnDavid said one way to know, is that if the jawbone was wore down more, it was female!  Or, he said, you can look to see if the feet are pointed toward the mall!
He cracks me up! =)


sMiLeS,

My Mom and Dad... the most amazing parents and in-laws ever...

♥ ♥ ♥

And now I'm a mother-in-law...

During my early married life, I can remember some examples of how my Dad let Travis and me make decisions for our family.  And I never remember a time when he tried to make us feel like we were making a wrong decision.
It's amazing I even remember this! I guess it's because of how he was so gracious. ♥

Once the kids and I were at Mom and Dad's, and in the extra bedroom there were stacked 2 mattresses on the floor. The kids were jumping around on them and jumping off. I told them not to do that.
Now when other kids are at your house, and they're doing something that's perfectly fine w/ you, and their parent says not to, you might be thinking that the parent said it because they thought YOU didn't like it. I'm sure that's what my Dad was thinking. He told me (not in front of the kids) that he didn't mind them jumping on the mattresses. I think I said something like, "Well... I'd rather them not anyway... and I've already told them not to..." And he just nodded his head and said, "Okay."  And that was that. 
(Have you ever had someone continually let your kids do things you didn't want them to do? So glad my kids never felt like they could disobey Travis' and my rules while at my Mom and Dad's. I never had to worry about that.)

Another time was when we needed a new washer. Our old one was totally messed up and not fixable. So Travis was looking around for a new one. 
Sometimes people give advice in a way that makes you feel like you're making a mistake if you don't do it their way, you know? Not my mom and dad.
Now growing up, we always bought used whatever we could. My dad is a handyman and could fix something up and make it work in a way you'd never dream of. It was just a common thing, and we knew Daddy could fix it. So when our washer quit on us, my dad suggested to me a place that sold used ones. I told him Travis was wanting to get a new one that would last awhile since we had 3 little kids and I would be doing lots of laundry, and a new one would have a warranty. He nodded his head and said, "Okay, yeah, a new one will last longer." And that was that.  And he probably gave me a hug. =)

Rebekah & Caleb ♥

I'm a mother-in-law now, and I only hope I can be half as good at it as my mom and dad were.  ♥♥♥

sMiLeS,

♪♫ Man of my Dreams

I have been waiting forever to post this!!! (not really, hehe)  

After the wedding, we were advised to get the song copyrighted before posting publicly, so now I can post it!!!

This song was written by my daughter and my niece.  My daughter sung it on her wedding day, January 4, 2014, and my niece played the piano.

Man of my Dreams

written by Abigail Hawks and Rebekah Hawks Moore

When I was a little girl, I dreamed about the day,

My prince charming would come; Daddy would give me away.

His eyes would be blue; his smile would melt my heart.

And one day my dreams would come true.

I fell in love with the man of my dreams.

My heart to him I gave, from others I would keep.

I waited for the day I would finally meet

The man of my dreams.

As the years went on, I prayed about the day

That God would send the one for whom my heart I’d saved.

His life would be surrendered for the cause of Christ.

Faithfully we’d serve, and for God we’d sacrifice.

And one day my prayers would come true.

I fell in love with the man of my prayers,

For my heart to God I gave, from others I would keep.

So I waited for the day, I would finally meet

The man of my prayers.

                  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

sMiLeS,