Praising Him for the Beautiful Hum of a Furnace

I never thought I would say the hum of a furnace is one of my favorite sounds.  But now it is.

As the weather turned quite cold this past week, Mountain Man tried to turn the furnace on Tuesday evening.  However, instead of heat, we got a diagnostic code letting us know we'd be cold a bit longer.

Mountain Man tried to fix the problem himself using online diagnostic tools, but he was never able to get enough specific information.  With snow arriving on Wednesday, the temperatures had dropped significantly, and we were so COLD.  We drank more hot cider, hot chocolate, and hot tea in the next few days than I care to admit, but it did help keep us warm.

We kept the Littles in sweaters and socks!

I tried to capture Peep's little red nose, but she wasn't very cooperative. :)

I finally broke down and called the gentleman who does repairs on our home, hoping he could just give us some advice instead of having to come out to fix anything.  When he called, he explained that there were twenty customers ahead of us, but he did tell me what part he thought we should try replacing.  Before he hung up, he suggested I try tapping on the part to see if it was just locked up.  I did, and nothing happened.

When Mountain Man came home, I relayed the conversation and mentioned that the light was no longer flashing.  We gave the furnace a try, and IT CAME ON!  We were so thankful!  There was lots of praising the LORD!  (And, as a bonus, our ice maker, which has not been working again for the past month, was full of ice!)

Our needs are one of the magnificent vehicles God uses to manifest His power and glory and mercy.  What wonderful opportunities they provide for us to increase our faith and practice what we say we believe.

Being without heat for only three days made us appreciate this seemingly small thing that we regularly take for granted and offered us another opportunity to see God answer our prayers in such amazing ways. 

"Children, let me tell you about the time my family didn't have any heat, and there wasn't money in the budget to get it fixed......let me tell you about the time my sister cracked our glass door....let me tell you about the time God protected my Mommy when she was pregnant with my little sister....and so on and so forth.

These are the memories I want our children to pass on to theirs....abundant testimonies of God's faithfulness.

Studies for 2009-2010~ The Littles

We're continuing to enjoy Ambleside Online for our main curriculum. 

Together, Whistler, 3rd grade,  and Reaches Up, 2nd grade, are in Year 2 of AO (which doesn't correspond to grade levels.)  They're studying the Middle Ages with a great selection of living books and will start making a timeline this year.   The rest of their curriculum is as follows:

Bible:  Daily Quiet Time reading from Old/New Testaments alternately, Scripture Memorization, Catechism

Math: Math Mammoth, Calculadder Math Drills, Pattern Blocks, Wrap-Ups

Science:  Considering God's Creation, Science Experiments from My Big Science Book

Grammar:  English for the Thoughtful Child

Handwriting:  Italic, Daily Copywork

Physical Ed:  Run 1 mile 3x a week; regular outside play

Poetry:  Walter De la Mare (for this first term)

Geography:  Beginning Geography:  How to Use a Map; Land Forms and Bodies of Water

Music:  Whistler (piano)  Reaches Up (Recorder)

Discipleship:  Plants Grown Up and Polished Cornerstones

Handiwork:  Whistler (crocheting)  Reaches Up (models with his brothers)

Nature Study:  Nature Study Readers, exploring outside, nature journals

Art:  Teaching Art to Children and various projects from art websites

Spelling:  Sequential Spelling

Since Whistler and Reaches Up are only 18 months apart, I can keep them together in many of their studies while just customizing the individual subjects to their own levels.

They both give daily narrations each day from our history readings as well.  Charlotte Mason encouraged short lessons at this age, and I find that to be a wonderfully effective method for retention as well as for developing a love for learning.

Boo was excited to start lessons this year, too (very informally and moreso because she loves to do things that her siblings are doing....she's always asking for an "activity.")

Bible:  ABC Bible Memory Book, Beginner's Bible, Catechism

I really like the Kumon workbooks, and she's working through those learning tracing, cutting, pasting, writing, and counting skills.  She and Little Bit still watch the Signing Time DVDs.  Of course, we do plenty of reading aloud, and all the Littles still enjoy plenty of play time.

Basic Christianity, Gender Neutrality, and Dumbing Us Down

Scribe and I are reading John Stott's Basic Christianity together this first term of the school year.  Because I like to mark in my books:), I bought a second copy.

However,  I got more than just an another copy of the book...I got a dose of gender-neutral language changes and well as a more "modernized" version of the original. 

Here's Mr. Stott's explanation:  "It was obviously necessary to udate the language....and to respond to sensitivities relating to gender."  Sensitivities? 

I had already started reading the original, and I wasn't in the least bothered by the use of "man" to refer to all of us.  In fact, I didn't really focus on it until I read the preface to the newer version explaining some of the changes made to the text and then thought of some recent comments I heard from Pastor Tim Bayly about the importance of using the word "man."

Consider his points:

"One day I realized that when God named the human race "adam," He used the same Hebrew word that Genesis records as the name of the first man.  So when we see this same Hebrew word, "adam," used by the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament to refer to Adam's descendants, the whole race of them, if I were committed to the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture--that every single word of Scripture is inspired by God and useful--I would name the race as He did.  And that meant, of course, that I would repent of my scrupulously neutered habits of speech."


"Through His words and Word, God is training us to think Biblically about the Fall, but also about the authority of our Heavenly Father that is resident in early fatherhood, starting with Adam and coming down to us today.  God could have decreed that it be otherwise, that Eve represent the race with Adam, but He didn't.  And every single time the Holy Spirit speaks in Scripture about the distinction between the sexes, reinforcing the Edenic truth that creation is neither matriarchal nor egalitarian, but patriarchal--that God is the Father from Whom all fatherhood gets its name--we need to listen up, believe, and then confess this glorious truth with our actions and words."


"Over a hundred words are in the English language because early translators like John Wycliffe and William Tyndale knew they'd need to bring Hebrew and Greek usage in, coining new words and phrases in English in order to assure the proper communication of the Word of God.  So today, why are we allowing feminists and their willing helpers to strip usages common in the English language for centuries out of our vocabularies?  Are we really so naive that we don't know they're doing this because they hate the Biblical concepts communicated through that usage?"

So, not only is the new Basic Christianity full of "human race" instead of "man," it's also updated to make it "easier" to understand.  Sadly, "modernized" often simply means "dumbed down" and politically correct.

Consider the differences in the old and new versions.  Is the old version truly too difficult to understand?

"He is altogether beyond our comprehension.  Therefore our minds, though wonderfully effective instruments in the empirical sciences, cannot immediately help us here." (original)

"He is altogether beyond our understanding.  Therefore our minds, wonderfully effective instruments though they are when it comes to scientific investigation, cannot immediately help us here." (modernized)

"We are not concerned primarily to discuss the nature of His philosophy, the value of His system, or the quality of His ethic.  Our concern is fundmentally with the character of His person.  Who was He?" (original)

"We are not concerned primarily with the effect He has had on the world, important though that is.  Our concern is basically with the man Himself.  Who was He?" (modernized)

"That Jesus did in fact claim this intimate relation to God is further confirmed by the indignation which he aroused in the Jews." (original)

"That Jesus did in fact claim this very close relationship with God is further confirmed by the indignation that He aroused in the religious leaders who opposed Him."  (modernized)

(hmm....why didn't they just keep the word "Jews.")

In some cases, modern translations can be very helpful, but truly, the original of this book is not written in such a sophisticated fashion as to have the reader scratching his head wondering what has just been said.   
The original is just fine..."man" and all, and if we're challenged by the language, isn't that a good thing?

So, all of that said, Scribe and I will be sharing the original version.  Because, especially with books, old is often much better than new.

Pressing On,
Queen Mom

Popcorn Snow

I was planning on doing a dyed popcorn craft with the Littles today.  Instead, inspired by the weather, they designed popcorn snow pictures.  So simple, minimal mess, and lots of fun.

Reaches Up's

(even one of the Big Guys took an interest....)  Little Big Man's

Little Bit's

Whistler's

Boo's

First Snow

This morning............

Life in Pictures 10/24/09

It's been a busy week for us as we started our new school year after being on a break for the past six weeks.  I have to say, this first week has been one of the best ever, and we are all enjoying this new year.  I'll post more on what we're studying as well as great changes we've made this year that seem to be making quite a difference.  For now, here are some highlights from the past week.

Here's our annual "first day of the new school year" photo.

  Yes, it was just a bit windy! :)

Little Big Man enjoyed doing his first science experiment of the new year.

Here's an experiment he did today....don't you love the surprised reactions?

Sweet Whistler hurt her foot a few days ago but still managed to do her lessons from the couch

Little Big Man knows books are always more captivating when shared with Peep.

Mountain Man generously treated everyone to his beloved omelets last weekend.

Peep loves to play with Daddy.  She's just not sure what to think of his antics here...

Yes, the children still fight over Peep.  Ever the Little Mama, Boo is always looking out for her little sisters.

PW's Perfect Pancakes

Here's a very different recipe for pancakes....it uses cake flour!  I made these yesterday morning, and the children loved them.  They definitely have more of a cake-like texture.  Here is Pioneer Woman's website which has many more great recipes.


3 c. plus 2 T. cake flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. baking powder
2 T sugar
2 C. milk
2 large eggs
3 tsp. vanilla extract
4 T. butter

Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix together milk, eggs, and vanilla in a separate bowl.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring very gently until just combined.  Melt butter and add it to the batter, stirring gently to combine.  Cook on a greased skillet over medium-low heat until golden brown.  Serve with an obscene amount of butter and warm syrup. (those are her words...:))

Yum!  Yum!

Happy Eight Months, Peep!

Life in Pictures 10/15/09

Last week we enjoyed having our nephew, Samuel, visit with us.  We had a great time that included lots of good food, games, and chasing balloons. 

He did a great job learning how to throw hawks and knives and was especially talented with the knife!

His sidekick's name was Little Bit.  She loved being with Sam!

Peep loved him, too!

Friday night, we enjoyed a special meal in his honor---homemade pizza, salad, and sparkling grape juices.

Saturday found us enjoying balloon chasing with our good friends the R. family.

Isn't that a sight?  That's the R.'s vehicle and those are the many balloons we're following.

Here's a pretty one up close.

We stopped at a field so we could choose a balloon to follow and help land. (well, that was the the goal.)

Hmm...which balloon should it be?  Winnie the Pooh or Barney?

This lovely balloon won the vote instead.  We parked above where it landed, and the children rushed to see it.

The children got a balloon card with a picture of the balloon on it.  Afterwards, we chased another only to lose it.  As we were ending our balloon chasing, we happened to find it!  So, the children ended up with two balloon cards.  We later enjoyed lunch at Zio's Italian Restaurant.

Later that evening we watched a comedy DVD and enjoyed this treat of orange colored oreos with ice cream and whipped cream. Yum!

There was a lot of chess playing goin' on while Sam was with us.

We enjoyed a feast of potato chowder, homemade french bread, salad, and sweet tea on Sunday evening followed by playing Sam's new favorite game, Pictionary. (Ahem, yes, that's a hint.  He would really like that game for Christmas.:))

Alas, it was time to take him to the airport on Monday morning.  The children sent him off with lots of waves goodbye and well wishes and didn't go inside until our van was out of sight.

Peep is really on the move and pulling up on everythng now.

Including the Littles' book basket...

Here, she can't believe she found some twaddle in the book basket. 

Don't you remember what fun it was to cut out eye holes in paper bags?  Seriously, this was worth at least thirty minutes of entertainment for these Littles.