Deuteronomy Overview By Bible Project

Here's a Bible Project Video Summary of Deuteronomy. Moses gives his final words of wisdom and warning to the Israelites who are about to enter into the land. He calls them to covenant faithfulness, obedience to God's law, and to love God with their whole being.

Amazing Timeline Resource

I am doing some home school prep work and came across this very cool website with timeline visuals

disclosure: There was one not so great add (girl with not enough clothing type ad) so be prepared to minimize the page to avoid seeing anything undesirable.

Home

Leif Ericson

Hernando de Soto

Thirteen Colonies

Henry Hudson

Slavery

Native American

William Bradford

George Washington

French and Indian War

The War for Independence

King George III

Colonial America

Mexican - American War

War Between the States

Inventors of 1800's

World War I

Great Depression

Holocaust

World War II

Cold War

President J. F. Kennedy

Vietnam War

Space Exploration

President Nixon

President Carter

President Reagan

President G.H.W. Bush

President Clinton

President G. W. Bush

If you are on the home page and press and hold control while you press the "F" key a search box comes up and you can search for the person you are studying in history!  Way cool!! The links listed above are representative of our weekly history plan. 

Babbling Brook

Here is a recommending web site!  My friend Brook just began offering her services as a freelance poet/writer/editor.  Please visit her new web site by clicking here. Have a Happy Labor Day!!  I hope to spend the day finishing up my "school" planning.  If I am really organized we will start school tomorrow!!  If not, I guess it will be Monday the 8th but the goal is to start tomorrow!!

Our New Van - Name Suggestions Requested

In October 2010 the Lord provided an amazing vehicle for us to drive. 

There does come a point in the life of a vehicle when it must be retired, however. The "Tuecke Tank" as it became known served us well for four great years but alas Drew began thinking about replacing him. He started looking on craigslist after narrowing down what he wanted, a 12 passenger van with the rear wheels set far back on the chassis, as low mileage, as good condition as possible & about $5,000 (tall order)! Today he took the plunge and drove to see one that he thought might fit that description.  He traded in our vehicle for this 2000 Chevrolet Express Van with 114,000 miles. I am truly thankful! Our other van was getting a bit scary to drive. It stalled regularly enough to set me into a cold sweat just about every time I drove it. I would be turning at an intersection, usually a busy one, when it would conk out, causing me to lose power steering.  I would throw it into neutral, frantically pulling on the wheel to keep us all safe, then crank it over yelling back for the kids to PLEASE stop fighting and start praying! When we took it to the mechanic he could not make the problem reoccur. Ugh! The 2000 Chevrolet Express fit the description and Drew and Jacob drove it home! Now I am thankful for a new problem: Backing up this beauty! Isn't she LONG!!  

Abram, you may not drive! Remember what happened the last time you drove??

Interior with 4 buckles in back row, 3 in middle and 3 in front row.

The Man!!Thanks for working hard on behalf of the entire family!!

What should we name her?  Leave a comment if something comes to mind. I expect a name will kind of grow on her but the ideas have to come from somewhere!  Here are the names the kids have come up with so far:
Scarlet
Red Rackham (from Tin Tin)
Bob the Tomatoe

Printable paper dolls

I found this extremely cute free paper doll printable pages Tuesday!

Printed them in black and white and glued them to some card stock (a cereal box would work but I am saving all of them for another project :)).

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/princess-paper-dolls.htm

Fun Name that tune Challenge

I shared this last year, but thought it was good enough to share again. If you follow the link here you can listen to a Piano Puzzler.  This definitely counts for school! :)

For more Piano Puzzler's:
Click Here or cut and paste the URL below
http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/podcast/piano_puzzler/

Juggling Balls

I found this in my drafts post list from March of this year.  One of the original set I made for Jacob ripped shortly after I made it.  I wanted to make him a replacement and couldn't find the pattern I had used.  Low and behold I had the pattern right in my drafts.  So of the sites below the first one listed proved to be the most useful.  The juggling balls are a great size and shape.  Oh and the reason his ripped is because I failed to put interfacing on the fabric.  The interfacing is dual purpose. One, stiffening the fabric and two, preventing fraying. So if you decide to make these I recommend doing the interfacing. Now it's happy sewing!!


This site gives detailed, yet complicated instructions.
http://juggleballs.amielmartin.com/all

The site below has good advice on what type of fabric to use etc.
http://www.jugglingdb.com/compendium/skills/equipment/making/balls/barnesybags.html

The site below has printable patterns for many different styles of balls
http://www.jugglingdb.com/compendium/skills/equipment/making/balls/sewingpatterns.html

I clicked on this link and got this:
http://www.jugglingdb.com/compendium/skills/equipment/making/balls/Sewing%20Patterns%20for%20Juggling%20Part%20I.pdf

This site gives somewhat useless information about making juggling balls =)
http://www.pjb.com.au/jug/leatherballs.html

Glass Etching

I followed this site:

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/06/glass-etching.html

to make this. . .

 

 for a friends wedding!

I used contact paper as my transfer paper which worked fine. I was able to use the same piece of vinyl backing twice. After the first etching was completed I paper toweled it off really well, took the contact paper and pressed it back on the vinyl backing. The little in between spots did not want to adhere to the contact paper but with a little help from my finger nail I got them where they needed to be. I left my etching on 12 minutes. I am pleased with the results and thankful for this great idea!

Sun Catcher Hearts

Here are the wax paper hearts.  The hearts were inspired by Martha Stewarts site.  I used this template to cut out the hearts, with lots of help from Mary and Abi!

Random Thoughts and Happenings

I have really been enjoying reading through the prayers of Paul in the New Testament.
Challenging!
I am stuck on Romans 15. Asking myself where is my hope, who is my hope. what is hope.
HE, God is my hope. Scripture, God's word alive, Jesus - perseveres and encourages me.

I have had a little more time for reading blogs and have found great encouragement in these posts:
January's Joy Dare on Holy Experience
Feeling Like a Terrible Mother from Anne's Coffee Break
7 Thieves that Rob our Time


Oh I started flying with flylady again. I haven't done this since the late 90's. They, she, whatever have revamped and instead of your inbox being over inundated with huge amounts of emails you get one BIG email. I am ONLY reading the Fly Plan, when I receive the email's which is working great.

My dad's birthday would have been Thursday. I feel the pain of losing him 7 1/2 years ago. I feel that pain often. That is when I cling to God, His Word and am so thankful for His indwelling Spirit. Well, I will be cracking the whip around here in just two short days :). Since I just can't fit blog updating into the daily routine (unless something changes) my blog updates will dwindle immensely. I have really enjoyed our break but am ready to be back to the routine!

Sleigh Ride

On one of those rare quiet car rides Abi and I caught this version of Sleigh Ride on the radio. We enjoyed it so much we found it for everyone to listen to when we got home.  Click Here, then go to 6:38 on the audio slide.  Sleigh Ride goes from 6:38 to 9:34. See if you can hear the horse galloping, and the horse neighing.  I had my kids raise their hand every time they heard the whip crack.  Keep listening for a really enjoyable and challenging Piano Puzzler.

For more Piano Puzzlers:
Click Here or cut and paste the URL below
http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/podcast/piano_puzzler/

Sharing the Word I've Heard

This is sort of an experiment.  I am really enjoying Chip's preaching and am wondering if I can link to his sermons so any of my friends and family can listen.  Click the scripture below and let me know if you can listen.  If you can, be encouraged by the preaching and teaching of God's word!!

Galatians 6:6-10

Snapshot Summary #44

Monday
1 - August, 2011

The finished curtains!!

Chloe showing the pattern on the fabric. I was so thrilled to find this fabric. I fell in love with it at once and since I had already painted was looking for just such a compliment for the windows.

The boys caught some baby bunnies hopping around the yard.

Friday
5 - August, 2011

After play practice (I don't think I have mentioned that Mary, Jacob and Abi are rehearsing to be in The Wizard of Oz at The Five Flags downtown Aug. 12 and 13th)Abram and the three older children went to Guttenberg to visit Great Grandma and get some work done here and there. Baruch, Chloe and I painted the living room! Yes, it is the summer of painting.

I gave Chloe one of the sample bottles to use so if/when she spilled it would be a smaller clean up. I painted three walls buttercup yellow and one Historic Blue. I am planning to do some rag rolling with a lighter shade over the Historic Blue but ran out of time, you will see why when you read tomorrow's summary. :)

Saturday
6 - August, 2011
Today Drew started sanding our dining room and living room floors. He didn't get too far before he realized that the sander we had was not going to cut it for the living room. The dining room had been refinished 10 years ago and since we didn't put a stain down it was easily sanded this go around. We had never done anything to the living room other than about 4 years ago rip out the carpet. Well, we had Steve replace some boards too. Otherwise I don't think any previous owners of our 1917 built home had done any refinishing. The stain was NOT coming off so. . . I was sent on a run for a drum sander. So when I got back we had both sanders flying! For a while anyway, until I needed to get lunch ready.

Notice the dark floor to the right. We think that was the original stain put in when the house was built.

When I started painting the living room I took down the light switch cover. It is brass and in need of some polishing. I googled brass polish and read here at Jules blog about making your own. Here are the results

I took Jules advice and decided to make enough polish to bury the switch plate. Chloe helped me stir the flour and vinegar together

And then she helped me stir in the salt.

And mixed well. Please note the black poster board in the background. It is another story altogether. You will have to check the blog tomorrow for that story :)

At this point Abram and Abi caught wind of a project and joined in. Well, as soon as I brought the switch plate over I remembered I was suppose to do this in plastic or glass but NOT metal pan! So we switched it. . .

I wish I had gotten a better before picture.  Anyway here the kids are pouring the polish over the brass plate.

Cover it well.

Here are the brass screws.

I got a pretty good before picture of one of them.

These were covered as well.

I decided the brass polish should have plenty of time to work is wonders.  The smell of the vinegar made my children think the reaction baking soda and vinegar have, which caused me to suggest paper mache, which turned into this. . .

Monday
8 - August, 2011
After the paint dried they fired off the volcano!

Drew decided that I should put down the poly urethane, telling me how much better I am at making very little splashes, spills etc. when applying it. So I put down the first coat and then he talked to a friend who chewed him out for not making me wear a respirator. So here I am putting down the second coat, wearing my respirator!

Drew's awesome sanding job sure looked great as I spread the urethane over it. I think I got the way more rewarding aspect of the work. The wood looks so beautiful as it is transformed from dusty looking to clear, vibrant and full of life!

Tuesday
9 - August, 2011

The wood floor got two more coats today. One early in the AM, the other after supper. Low and behold there are air bubbles in spots :(  This means fine sand paper and another coat. Refinishing has improved the floor a hundred fold no matter what!!

We uncovered the brass objects. The pictures don't do justice to the improvement.

Then we went to play practice.  All the children are looking forward to dress rehearsal tomorrow.  The older three because they are thrilled to be in a play and the younger three because I am taking them to watch it!!  After play practice we headed out to Swiss Valley to check out the damage the heavy rains had on one of our favorite parks.  Incredibly extensive damage occurred 13 days ago. The devastation amazed me. The POWER of the water rushing through the park amazes me still! The pavilion we had church fellowships at - completely GONE! The cement slab remained, we found pieces of the pavilion scattered. Roof here, pillar there.  The creek itself looked cleaner, wider in some spots.

cement slab

picnic table

pavilion roof and picnic table

Wednesday
10 - August, 2011

My Emerald citizen, flying monkey and munchkin had their first full dress, dress rehearsal, even though their costumes weren't 100% complete ;).

After work Drew keeps plugging away on the cellar doors.

Friday
12, - August, 2011

I dropped my performers off for their very first EVER play performance. We were even one minute early, 5:59 PM! I headed out to look at a couch I saw on Craigslist. It was gorgeous, a love seat, which is what I wanted, and the price was right, well, after some negotiations. It was 6:50 and I was almost home. Drew, Baruch and Abram were on the river canoeing. An extreme urge came over me to see my babies perform (even though I had tickets for Sat.) I headed straight to the theatre and Chloe and I loved every minute of the wonderful performance of The Rising Star Theatre Company's The Wizard of Oz!! I am so so so so SO glad I went with my gut and came to the show. It was awesome to be there.