tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354902082024-02-28T00:22:19.806-06:00You Are My Sunshinethe moments that shine on my life and even some cloudy onesRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-43021226538142622062013-02-15T11:27:00.000-06:002013-02-15T11:27:42.506-06:00Fun Times in UtahI have one week left here in Utah. The time has gone by fast. I'll be sad to leave but excited to get back home. We have done so much over the past few weeks. <br />
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<b>Girls Weekend in Las Vegas:</b></div>
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Mom, Amy and I went to Las Vegas for a well needed weekend get away. We didn't get many pictures of this weekend because we were having too much fun. We ate at Cheesecake Factory, shopped, shopped and shopped some more, laughed until we cried, and played games. </div>
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<b>Amy, Justin, and Haddie's visit:</b> </div>
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Amy, Justin and Haddie came up for a weekend. The kids has tons of fun playing with Haddie. Haddie kept waking up early wanting to play with the kids, too. Tyler followed her around for the first few days taking many, many pictures and videos of just her. So we've got pictures and videos of her walking and her eating and her sitting and her climbing the stairs. Its a good things she's so cute! </div>
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Amy and I went to Les Mis while she was here. I loved the movie! Bawled through the end of it. Les Mis is one of my favorite stories and plays. It has so many wonderful messages about love, forgiveness, justice and mercy. </div>
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Dad and Mom took us out for ice cream at Yogurt Land. Fantastic place. A lot like Sweet CeCe's but more choices in yogurt flavors. It was very yummy! Thanks, Mom and Dad!</div>
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<b>Glitter Pit:</b></div>
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Out in the desert near St. George there is an area full of glittery rocks called gypsum. I wish I could really show how much they sparkled and how many of them there were. They literally covered the ground!</div>
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The kids collected so many rocks that their bags split. Hannah took her coat off and used it as a makeshift bag. We eventually had to limit their choices to 4. There was no way I was shipping 30 pounds of rock back home. <br />
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<b>Star Wars Canyon:</b></div>
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Dad discovered by accident this canyon. He named it Star Wars canyon because it reminded him so much of the this: </div>
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While we were hiking through it I could definitely see the similarities. It is a narrow slot canyon that has been worn away over the years by water. We could see evidence of the many layers that have been worn away over time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud from a previous rain. It dried in paper thin sheets that you could pick up if you were really careful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layers deposited over time by water. There are 3 distinct layers here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwG2v7Ty-PgUFxcGLyi3bFBPjbsr_aHcNcLOySOt9wRh6YhrL9usoZVLdibhnkvS6uIv-_cXEkV-ZYhKVzd93T-AghK6KDTzugfRtwfiI-2rH0CcUG__CTk13_BKazlcW7pi5KA/s1600/100_2970.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwG2v7Ty-PgUFxcGLyi3bFBPjbsr_aHcNcLOySOt9wRh6YhrL9usoZVLdibhnkvS6uIv-_cXEkV-ZYhKVzd93T-AghK6KDTzugfRtwfiI-2rH0CcUG__CTk13_BKazlcW7pi5KA/s320/100_2970.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Amy sitting in the "Giant's Amphitheater." She's sitting on this very large step on the wall of the canyon. There were several more steps farther up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah rock climbing!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoMnjoJT_FKKVHil19jcilhMOKLzZh_xwq9BtlOH5duIWWttimZIOLSYvChuN7aQmzuQr2tpt04ey5thA-bXulVnGv1rAVn159m0mf6XgB63NlHszz9ggUQS2asFFcdvJXHrbSA/s1600/100_2953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoMnjoJT_FKKVHil19jcilhMOKLzZh_xwq9BtlOH5duIWWttimZIOLSYvChuN7aQmzuQr2tpt04ey5thA-bXulVnGv1rAVn159m0mf6XgB63NlHszz9ggUQS2asFFcdvJXHrbSA/s320/100_2953.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPhHkRlhNLYCvm9wcq-P1-nCbzkEgu6eLghLRc8dxMK4m-R5gZRisfu1YbqoC5HdVNrRfh5YprvG51ksPazE7ke0UH9rrYjdvLjXMLSx_2kUYPTeHpZwLdZ-2GyfXeJV1gyuq_A/s1600/100_2976.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPhHkRlhNLYCvm9wcq-P1-nCbzkEgu6eLghLRc8dxMK4m-R5gZRisfu1YbqoC5HdVNrRfh5YprvG51ksPazE7ke0UH9rrYjdvLjXMLSx_2kUYPTeHpZwLdZ-2GyfXeJV1gyuq_A/s320/100_2976.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler digging for gold. Unfortunately all he found was the top of a large rock.</td></tr>
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We didn't go all the way through. Once you get to a certain spot you have to climb over these 10 feet high boulders to get to the next level down. Not too safe with three younger kids in the group.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MV9XIYCitfvm6E1l7rCc59AOc-pBNaqbb8V1tbZQLUdO-DTFVgzxGkMiOYmJ6GwqUciGT0XlYUSLEF1YUPAf58OQ_MznIbrC73MKgQ-vg-y7V_iM4252-xbiWSa4OMOviN6Xxw/s1600/100_2964.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MV9XIYCitfvm6E1l7rCc59AOc-pBNaqbb8V1tbZQLUdO-DTFVgzxGkMiOYmJ6GwqUciGT0XlYUSLEF1YUPAf58OQ_MznIbrC73MKgQ-vg-y7V_iM4252-xbiWSa4OMOviN6Xxw/s400/100_2964.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look carefully you can see the huge boulders we would have had to climb over.</td></tr>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-91040097189471168242013-01-27T15:00:00.001-06:002013-01-27T17:59:49.193-06:00The weekend o' fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thursday we went and did some sight seeing. We went and toured the St. George tabernacle. We learned that the windows were shipped from the Atlantic Coast around the tip of South America to California where they were then carried by wagon load to St. George. Out of the several thousand panes of glass none were broken in transit or installation. We learned that Mitt Romney's great-great-great grandfather, Miles Romney, designed and built the spiral staircase. It was remarkable because it has no center support and is only connected on the top and the bottom of the staircase. We learned how they had to lower the balcony 5 feet and used 200 men to do it. (If you want to know more about that story you'll have to ask me. Its too complicated to type up.) We also toured the St. George Temple Visitors Center. The kids were excited to be able to touch the Temple wall as well. <br />
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This Friday and Saturday while Mom and I were in Las Vegas for a well needed girls weekend with my sister, Dad/Grandpa spent the weekend with the kids. After coming back and hearing about all the events of their weekend I believe they had more fun than we did.<br />
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They started the weekend off with a trip to the library where they checked out Swiss Family Robinson movie. Tyler had recently read it and wanted to see the movie. Then for lunch they went to Chuck-O-Rama with Great Grandma and Grandpa. The kids enjoyed their visit and all the food. Hannah ended the dinner with a 8 inch tall bowl of ice cream covered in sprinkles and strawberry and the other two had root beer floats. <br />
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Later that day they went swimming at the local rec center for a few hours. Then came home for dinner and a movie night.<br />
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Saturday the girls put together a Mickey Mouse puzzle and Tyler and Grandpa put together a wooden covered wagon. <br />
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They cooked hot dogs over a fire for lunch with Great Grandma and Grandpa. Tyler was proud that he got to cook Great Grandma's hot dog. They then spent the evening with a babysitter while Grandpa had some church meetings.<br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-67948502100752988702013-01-21T21:36:00.002-06:002013-01-21T21:36:53.873-06:00Red Cliffs Reserve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Note: I'm going to try and use this as somewhat of a journal so I can remember all the stuff we do here in St. George. Feel free to skip any and all parts you want. </div>
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Wednesday, the kids and I flew to visit my parents in St. George, UT. We will be here until February. The flight was uneventful and the kids were well behaved. </div>
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Thursday, I let the kids get settled in and then we got down to business with school. After 3 late nights they were quite the grumps but I felt we needed to start with some structure and not let the day descend into chaos. </div>
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Friday, Mom and I went to Las Vegas to help my sister with her little one who had been in the hospital with RSV all week. Thankfully she was doing much better and was her cute and adorable self. I enjoyed being able to play with her and get to know her some more. It was nice to be able to sit and chat with my sister, too. We returned home on Saturday.</div>
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While we were in Las Vegas, Dad and the kids went to the library, several parks and out to eat twice. Tyler even got to play with some little boys his age down the street. They are loving their time with their Grandpa. </div>
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Sunday was church. Karena was very apprehensive about attending a different church. I assured her that she would enjoy it and even make some friends she could play with while we are here. All the kids did great in their Primary classes and Karena came out feeling much less stressed. Tyler was actually shocked that the boys he played with on Friday were in his class at church!</div>
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Since Monday was a holiday we took the opportunity to go on a family hike. Dad took the kids and I to Red Cliffs Reserve. It is this mild hike that goes in between two sets of mountains into a canyon. We could not have asked for better weather. It was a little chilly in the shade but gorgeous in the sun. The kids had fun climbing the different mounds of rocks. I had several heart attacks watching Tyler scramble up and down them and get so close to the edge. </div>
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We ended up hiking next to a stream that due to all the shade was frozen over in many spots. The ice was thick enough that grown men could walk across and not break through! It had frozen into these amazing crystals. I tried to get some shots of it. Dad nor I had ever seen ice form like that in a river or stream. </div>
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Near the beginning of the hike we saw this fallen down Cottonwood tree that looked like an elephant head and trunk. The head was even hollow so the kids could play inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI0SyUQTz5J2DFZ_gwdLIZm9jDEU24AXm2YI33uBYdyArzHIJY2-ZEqGSd5wZsLZhyH6H5gK25iNRqshCEw6a4XPJq6O8zFaws3EVnvdjse7tBE5dzfc3zKJBbW7-omByl221mw/s1600/P1130145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRI0SyUQTz5J2DFZ_gwdLIZm9jDEU24AXm2YI33uBYdyArzHIJY2-ZEqGSd5wZsLZhyH6H5gK25iNRqshCEw6a4XPJq6O8zFaws3EVnvdjse7tBE5dzfc3zKJBbW7-omByl221mw/s1600/P1130145.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a> </div>
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Here are several other pictures I got during our walk. The scenery was truly amazing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCBBWOLsP0fmSN20QZcB88uMAfo13-oRUTLOB2BsK1ai4hog4kyIYxWiRR_euhXzLaaxGXXiYSznuR-il6T-OW3yOeUspfS2gNV0dU6JszKNmAql5TUpz2wv0puYTahIk5ldJsg/s1600/106_2900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCBBWOLsP0fmSN20QZcB88uMAfo13-oRUTLOB2BsK1ai4hog4kyIYxWiRR_euhXzLaaxGXXiYSznuR-il6T-OW3yOeUspfS2gNV0dU6JszKNmAql5TUpz2wv0puYTahIk5ldJsg/s1600/106_2900.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls were pretending to be the animals that left the 3 claw marks down the rock. Tyler is just being cool!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCzFH4t6Rl1-sWLUJ5SgUJx3vEAokjDl0Snbrxo19le0Cb8hD1k0fgTAIS0mXM3uaoodk7J4z54G7tChbE_xsWDZT-jxkuCX4aJ7qD-TY5feGWAXPLmKe8rM8NEvLKR3dYQH-rg/s1600/106_2902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCzFH4t6Rl1-sWLUJ5SgUJx3vEAokjDl0Snbrxo19le0Cb8hD1k0fgTAIS0mXM3uaoodk7J4z54G7tChbE_xsWDZT-jxkuCX4aJ7qD-TY5feGWAXPLmKe8rM8NEvLKR3dYQH-rg/s1600/106_2902.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karena peering through a hole she had just climbed up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pg8we0UVvCxgxKg5Y6Rz_hvx5qC2omtriQXrGuehi71vAnXQJfjJG6YMpnCvdSIQX5T-Uw5IPyg40HEkID1MP6FAgSaBQp1oI6ENtXcc2Z2Av7xc4TzZCzGmIGqUMorujoDszw/s1600/P1130124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pg8we0UVvCxgxKg5Y6Rz_hvx5qC2omtriQXrGuehi71vAnXQJfjJG6YMpnCvdSIQX5T-Uw5IPyg40HEkID1MP6FAgSaBQp1oI6ENtXcc2Z2Av7xc4TzZCzGmIGqUMorujoDszw/s1600/P1130124.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids standing on top of the rock that had the hole Karena was peeking through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end of the hike. We could have gone farther but it was a little too difficult with kids. The little notches above the man's head in the middle act like a ladder you have to climb to get to the next portion of the hike. There were people rappelling off the mountain cliff on the right. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evil, creepy looking tree walking back to the trail head. It looks even creepier in black and white.</td></tr>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-48589171709651767342012-05-24T15:00:00.000-05:002012-05-24T15:00:35.092-05:00Mother's Day 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Mother's Day was fantastic!! John and the kids all did a good job to make it really special. It got started on Saturday when John got me some beautiful flowers. Almost 2 weeks later they have just started to get brown and wilted. <br />
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As with most things in our family most of Mother's Day revolved around food. John made all the food that day. He often (as in most of the time) takes over the meal preparation on Sunday. This time though I was NOT allowed to help out in any way. I tried but he kept kicking me out of the kitchen. He made scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast with yummy muffins I bought at Sam's. After breakfast I opened my presents and cards. The kids all made me the cutest cards. The kids got me a gift card to Kohl's and John bought me a a GPS. I had asked for one for a future purchase (b-day, Christmas) so this was completely unexpected and very appreciated. I have since used it a lot. John even test drove it before he gave it to me. He is now jealous of my GPS. <br />
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For dinner John grilled steaks, made me a yummy and beautiful veggie salad (see below) a fruit salad, and roasted red potatoes. Everything was perfection.<br />
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The family right before dinner.</div>
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Karena had gone to Sam's with John on Saturday and decided she wanted to buy me a dessert. At first she looked at the cakes (too expensive) and then settled on pie. This particular pie was delicious and very interesting. It was four fruit pies in one - cherry, peach, blueberry and apple. They had each fruit in one quarter of the pie. I tried a yummy combination of peach and cherry. </div>
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I am very grateful for my wonderful family. I love them all! Thanks for making this Mother's Day very special.</div>
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</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-27359008918882798442012-05-19T15:33:00.000-05:002012-05-19T15:33:16.343-05:00School Plans: 2012-2013It has been my intention the past year and a half to focus on a more classical approach to our homeschool in regards to history and literature. The classical method focuses on teaching history in chronological order. By the time a student would graduate from HS they would have made at least 3 passes through each age in history. This year was to be the medieval times. I also wanted to make it a point to study language arts using real literature. So here were my requirements in no particular order of importance:<br />
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1 - Must be about medieval times.<br />
2 - Must use real books to teach the subject. I HATE textbooks. Ask my mom. She'll tell you.<br />
2 - At least for history, it must be able to be used by all 3 kids at the same time. I wasn't going to teach the same subject 2 or 3 times a day.<br />
3 - I must be able to afford it.<br />
4 - I have to feel good and excited about it.<br />
5 - It had to have a daily plan. I have learned that having just a list of books and activities does not help me. I need structure and organization.<br />
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I found some that fit 2 - maybe 3 of those items. I was frustrated. I was getting ready to settle for something I didn't like and was too expensive. I couldn't find anything else.<br />
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BUT then a few weeks back I was reading a blog post featuring a homeschool curriculum review for <a href="http://www.home-school-curriculum.com/learning_series/Paths_of_Exploration/" target="_blank">Trail Guide to Learning: Paths of Exploration</a>. It was one I remembered looking at several years ago when I first started this journey. But the kids were too young then so I filed it away for the future. Apparently I filed it away too well and never thought about it again. <br />
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I looked at it. It included not only history and literature but science, grammar, spelling, and geography all rolled into one amazing curriculum! The only problem - it focuses on American history. But after looking at it for several days I felt really good about it and really excited about it. I decided to chuck the classical idea. I have super high hopes for this year. All three kids will learn side by side as we study Christopher Columbus, Jamestown, the Pilgrims, Lewis and Clark and Daniel Boone. The only thing I have to add is cursive for the girls, some phonics for Tyler and math for everyone. <br />
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Best part: I found it used and it was even cheaper!!!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-55852484384134274802011-11-01T21:22:00.005-05:002011-11-01T21:58:51.168-05:00Trick or TreatWe had a lot of fun this Halloween season. Here's some pictures from our Halloween adventures.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Pumpkins</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx1IqleP2hyphenhyphen6Zhz9c29O-bSeFweu2iMY22Dvyr92_aaNlB-xeYG820itUyCg6vL_YwlcFYOLqJECdFgy3Mfpi0Qi7vTNVoGy6oea7iqw6P5mwzlFNixq0xXvPFVEwunhElrOLUA/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx1IqleP2hyphenhyphen6Zhz9c29O-bSeFweu2iMY22Dvyr92_aaNlB-xeYG820itUyCg6vL_YwlcFYOLqJECdFgy3Mfpi0Qi7vTNVoGy6oea7iqw6P5mwzlFNixq0xXvPFVEwunhElrOLUA/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670218741023385538" border="0" /></a>Karena's Cat<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikm7MkImCmL4lZR7FmUhw1bqKKwjtlgQtg-5m0ZGU6-Jm6Gweg6Br7LtaUJoKOSVVJ8tz9xjvlYy7kxylhqB4COjF6RTUt0UlGtqRMRbyDQ0oFNWW5ybXtIARHl5TVfLIpGo7PSg/s1600/IMG_0114.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikm7MkImCmL4lZR7FmUhw1bqKKwjtlgQtg-5m0ZGU6-Jm6Gweg6Br7LtaUJoKOSVVJ8tz9xjvlYy7kxylhqB4COjF6RTUt0UlGtqRMRbyDQ0oFNWW5ybXtIARHl5TVfLIpGo7PSg/s400/IMG_0114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670218736214675922" border="0" /></a>Hannah's Ghost<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDk6eImkINgxQUaviZI0-_kY_KBvVPwh18EGilo5cNENgISBZln5EJbS728-pNwrb2SIxkni1pIKr6hHLVZE3iyY2CBMkddTQA4-yASVJBoL6x6hyphenhyphenahDKTEC5iVVzQkTbJS94AA/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDk6eImkINgxQUaviZI0-_kY_KBvVPwh18EGilo5cNENgISBZln5EJbS728-pNwrb2SIxkni1pIKr6hHLVZE3iyY2CBMkddTQA4-yASVJBoL6x6hyphenhyphenahDKTEC5iVVzQkTbJS94AA/s400/IMG_0113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670218737674345810" border="0" /></a>Tyler's Monster<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Costumes</span></span><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90pCbYzWfTvZd7QfqY5XnQIjX_Dl8ZnNwsTaXFgui02ff4jZdxBpO9XhlYeynUYRUnInNQTsB8PHTc8mbzZNMIwrh0M-VNrQeHCDGwdNVH0Zu6HED_leblSMlsX86tCVjKO4biA/s1600/IMG_0223.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90pCbYzWfTvZd7QfqY5XnQIjX_Dl8ZnNwsTaXFgui02ff4jZdxBpO9XhlYeynUYRUnInNQTsB8PHTc8mbzZNMIwrh0M-VNrQeHCDGwdNVH0Zu6HED_leblSMlsX86tCVjKO4biA/s400/IMG_0223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670220166408569602" border="0" /></a>Tyler the Pirate<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JidIqz_DQoRjHLESEaJkbygVRlTLFEFwll9XmhTLk5H97eIMa2tmjpUUQ3Q8O8c5ttdWSRvnAwThBy9D6s_SNWcHsv3QKmlNg_Ie-xCtAYK8WTfxF74hkLVsZES011FKWNEFHQ/s1600/IMG_0202.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JidIqz_DQoRjHLESEaJkbygVRlTLFEFwll9XmhTLk5H97eIMa2tmjpUUQ3Q8O8c5ttdWSRvnAwThBy9D6s_SNWcHsv3QKmlNg_Ie-xCtAYK8WTfxF74hkLVsZES011FKWNEFHQ/s400/IMG_0202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670219468377248210" border="0" /></a>Tyler sporting a chocolate pirate's beard and mustache<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJzvva_6Gf9Ce9IT2ott9IDrdnUymBfN24jIalljes22iCOtiS23mstBSBHYi-kz_iSdvCiLjp9wFv4FwJ-aBRhMOiDki5bKIlx7r1gIDy5bGwO8vhHUE34pBeM5Pm52sesiouw/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJzvva_6Gf9Ce9IT2ott9IDrdnUymBfN24jIalljes22iCOtiS23mstBSBHYi-kz_iSdvCiLjp9wFv4FwJ-aBRhMOiDki5bKIlx7r1gIDy5bGwO8vhHUE34pBeM5Pm52sesiouw/s400/IMG_0221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670220163023254514" border="0" /></a>Karena the Plain Green M&M<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexacRV3zgYnRQ2SUsEiQXuM0NiNFOR1QhD65E6DkHxvFPWjFCO_O1guMUJGtoLp-FNp2_z1g-0caBWBeCfVvVEN2QGONAi8kYn87ayuHOs1gljlT5amuD8wNitccD-gQtSPn3HA/s1600/IMG_0226.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexacRV3zgYnRQ2SUsEiQXuM0NiNFOR1QhD65E6DkHxvFPWjFCO_O1guMUJGtoLp-FNp2_z1g-0caBWBeCfVvVEN2QGONAi8kYn87ayuHOs1gljlT5amuD8wNitccD-gQtSPn3HA/s400/IMG_0226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670220182026947538" border="0" /></a>Hannah the Orange Peanut M&M<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZAFjghNOhY7KCNW0Duabcl7KnAgg-mVmfGgc4hLgG-bllr5C6VEX1B-whRmL8CWtGVLf4Oc-is9TmBS5V3OtXOn-U-DVGsnb2jynUk8lTkG1JS2wjEO3wkkfxnXWyE0oOw0q7w/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZAFjghNOhY7KCNW0Duabcl7KnAgg-mVmfGgc4hLgG-bllr5C6VEX1B-whRmL8CWtGVLf4Oc-is9TmBS5V3OtXOn-U-DVGsnb2jynUk8lTkG1JS2wjEO3wkkfxnXWyE0oOw0q7w/s400/IMG_0197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670218747647140162" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWcMWZei3Hi9I1S7DNv8QD9d2SAHtGWBRJiA-OWQW9EVaFx3nI9J7XFUY3vTICenrL0RY6dVB3iu4e5dFrZOxwz8u4S3KVEX6f6aZBUI2puA9gU8lL48tuMdsPdPw3Z5xmX2Qwg/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWcMWZei3Hi9I1S7DNv8QD9d2SAHtGWBRJiA-OWQW9EVaFx3nI9J7XFUY3vTICenrL0RY6dVB3iu4e5dFrZOxwz8u4S3KVEX6f6aZBUI2puA9gU8lL48tuMdsPdPw3Z5xmX2Qwg/s400/IMG_0199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670218761441422290" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfH3d3uIF6po94I1RO47hETGKiFJursa8cp1Oheu47oQWtjRGCRoKBZHAbdLvx90Bz8DTM-Obbc7qmGqsfo1OuyeSHWyVkZ_MwJzryuN0ZXdNXY89Uwpqm8H9WHAvrOFn_U1ktQ/s1600/IMG_0201.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfH3d3uIF6po94I1RO47hETGKiFJursa8cp1Oheu47oQWtjRGCRoKBZHAbdLvx90Bz8DTM-Obbc7qmGqsfo1OuyeSHWyVkZ_MwJzryuN0ZXdNXY89Uwpqm8H9WHAvrOFn_U1ktQ/s400/IMG_0201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670219465919428418" border="0" /></a>Our Family in Costume at our church Trunk or Treat<br />John the Hunter<br />Me the Good Witch<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Halloween Dinner</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU65XfcHil8dqM1kJwiEr4X86DW_QDfAIe58csrHfDvqXTTmETkq0x2P6QkeRs3FYmHQEtMrCPgYDSD8byzyAIACy3v4AO9QK1sO4DLjcHcw3Oh-AWZwkA4Bp0WqJ9pjAdo2MRqA/s1600/IMG_0204.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU65XfcHil8dqM1kJwiEr4X86DW_QDfAIe58csrHfDvqXTTmETkq0x2P6QkeRs3FYmHQEtMrCPgYDSD8byzyAIACy3v4AO9QK1sO4DLjcHcw3Oh-AWZwkA4Bp0WqJ9pjAdo2MRqA/s400/IMG_0204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670219476018378386" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbTWfP7qcXN2WxVJ-BlK7cqfImin9ZZYORFL5iG27g_2aMuYs6SGzVW_Lgh-58aQNFhglRNWCTr9wxpthhwH2b-ofpaqhAYwIf0RhCIYhTTZUxdHgJxS5g33Z66kJvipXhZDtKQ/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbTWfP7qcXN2WxVJ-BlK7cqfImin9ZZYORFL5iG27g_2aMuYs6SGzVW_Lgh-58aQNFhglRNWCTr9wxpthhwH2b-ofpaqhAYwIf0RhCIYhTTZUxdHgJxS5g33Z66kJvipXhZDtKQ/s400/IMG_0214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670220154205868690" border="0" /></a>Hannah modeling my witch hat<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2DqMiJ-Dl3Pz9V3lsnWycLKOhL4-S0r8ebwOZMgXvsXXNJFWqcOYbpizSSdYHtNnhZi9zrbQooPMHSEkS9qT4XQ7hsT_FHV9EM1huhHH6mfP8k-MUNkRthqwqapW5E-bYBKgtg/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2DqMiJ-Dl3Pz9V3lsnWycLKOhL4-S0r8ebwOZMgXvsXXNJFWqcOYbpizSSdYHtNnhZi9zrbQooPMHSEkS9qT4XQ7hsT_FHV9EM1huhHH6mfP8k-MUNkRthqwqapW5E-bYBKgtg/s400/IMG_0218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670220157423372498" border="0" /></a>Dinner in a Pumpkin<br />aka <span style="font-style: italic;">Brains!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbTWfP7qcXN2WxVJ-BlK7cqfImin9ZZYORFL5iG27g_2aMuYs6SGzVW_Lgh-58aQNFhglRNWCTr9wxpthhwH2b-ofpaqhAYwIf0RhCIYhTTZUxdHgJxS5g33Z66kJvipXhZDtKQ/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY8ptxLr-BBoj7j6eo1EPXZyKv4PGAIWZm7wES4DmoHoZ4-j19PUYRu6ptCvRRWrRxZ9wlk20lKMvdSrUnLPN5XZqgCDbmlWuC16NQW9CH8Aza7-UTtuBNvGf4ormQT7O20ZLlg/s1600/IMG_0210.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY8ptxLr-BBoj7j6eo1EPXZyKv4PGAIWZm7wES4DmoHoZ4-j19PUYRu6ptCvRRWrRxZ9wlk20lKMvdSrUnLPN5XZqgCDbmlWuC16NQW9CH8Aza7-UTtuBNvGf4ormQT7O20ZLlg/s400/IMG_0210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670219482944324482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bones</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumBSZ6erYzso0AeAsO_nMriZZZhkOUMCDXU5MOkBv8_Cki-8rMICzzZ_2Vuu-JqsDevqn6KUAdDOuLjeVWKeJoKeSxJEIG5Z8-iMXKcsZUtpM4tFlBkOOXhjQXLDrr0eihETD8Q/s1600/IMG_0213.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumBSZ6erYzso0AeAsO_nMriZZZhkOUMCDXU5MOkBv8_Cki-8rMICzzZ_2Vuu-JqsDevqn6KUAdDOuLjeVWKeJoKeSxJEIG5Z8-iMXKcsZUtpM4tFlBkOOXhjQXLDrr0eihETD8Q/s400/IMG_0213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670219489392055234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Goblin Eyeballs</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZAFjghNOhY7KCNW0Duabcl7KnAgg-mVmfGgc4hLgG-bllr5C6VEX1B-whRmL8CWtGVLf4Oc-is9TmBS5V3OtXOn-U-DVGsnb2jynUk8lTkG1JS2wjEO3wkkfxnXWyE0oOw0q7w/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWcMWZei3Hi9I1S7DNv8QD9d2SAHtGWBRJiA-OWQW9EVaFx3nI9J7XFUY3vTICenrL0RY6dVB3iu4e5dFrZOxwz8u4S3KVEX6f6aZBUI2puA9gU8lL48tuMdsPdPw3Z5xmX2Qwg/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg"><br /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-85585485349733359292011-10-31T08:41:00.002-05:002011-10-31T08:46:13.500-05:0011 years ago!11 years ago today John and I met. I looked like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXFy-WsviyqzGs-q0oFChumM7AxCqfJbLcxjjbsl9TIfDWI6MI5EK6veiUQZK9dQ-RI4NBasHcJsLbW5wItxYoBZf02W3AxqLXoCaWljUesHDIkfbd5pRNUf0oFRgHafb7SRUBQ/s1600/Copy+of+Scan0002.tif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXFy-WsviyqzGs-q0oFChumM7AxCqfJbLcxjjbsl9TIfDWI6MI5EK6veiUQZK9dQ-RI4NBasHcJsLbW5wItxYoBZf02W3AxqLXoCaWljUesHDIkfbd5pRNUf0oFRgHafb7SRUBQ/s400/Copy+of+Scan0002.tif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669651892145448882" border="0" /></a><br />Just thought you'd like to know.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-73285978595920679442011-10-07T08:32:00.000-05:002011-10-07T08:34:10.419-05:00Five Things Friday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> 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mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">1. Tuesday night we went out for ice cream. It was the kids reward for being quiet during conference and letting John and I listen. This is our second time doing this and I love watching a new tradition start. <br /><br />Everyone but Tyler was done with ice cream. He was having a hard time eating his frozen skittles. So I took the girls and headed down a few stores to this new store that's opened up, Altar'd State. I love this store!!!! The girls and I had fun browsing the jewelry, belts, scarves and fluffy coats as Hannah called them. It was so much fun to watch them get so excited over truly girly stuff. They both found some hats they liked, but there was no mirror close by. So they would try on a hat, look at each other and then switch. I guess they figured they could tell what they each looked like in the hats by looking at the other one wearing it. Oh, to have an identical twin! <br /><br />Then the boys showed up. Tyler tried to sneak in. He's a bad sneak but it makes watching him try to be a good one so funny. I ended up scaring the living day lights out of him instead! I showed John these overly expensive and amazingly gorgeous coats I will never buy but just dream about daily. We found the $300 boots I tried on the last time I was there. Still love them! The girls and I decided that if we have a few hours that we will have to have a girl outing at Christmas to that store. <br /><br />2. For awhile now the kids have been giving John and I math problems to solve in our heads. Most of the time they are pretty easy. "What's 1,000 + 300?" Well, on the way home from ice cream they decided to up the difficulty. "What's 1,000 x 200 (so far I'm thinking I can do this) + 27 x 2, 097 (now I'm not so sure) x 400 + 84 (now they've officially stumped me)?" I start to get out the calculator on my phone. Then I realize they don't know the answer anymore than I do. "4,623,479," I lie. "WOW!!" "How'd you do that?" "You figured it out?!" <br /><br />One day I'll let them in on my secret, but for a while I'm content being the math genius. (By the way, the real answer is 22,847,684.)<br /><br />3. Karena slipped coming down the stairs yesterday. She's fine. Just a little bump on the head. She was supposed to be upstairs doing her schoolwork, so as I rocked her to calm her down I asked her why she was coming down stairs. "Because I don't know any other way to get down here," was her reply.<br /><br />4. Have you ever read the blog, Diapers and Divinity. Stephanie runs a fantastic blog that I've been following for a while now. I'm not sure how I stumbled on to it but do know it was for her <a href="http://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/09/30/general-conference-book-club-an-open-invitation/">General Conference book club</a>! You ought to try it sometime. Anyway, she's been running a series called, Find a Friend Friday, and today I'm that friend! <a href="http://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/10/07/find-a-friend-friday-meet-rachel/">Go check it out</a>. Maybe you'll learn something new about me.<br /><br />5. Tyler and I were working on his reading earlier in the week. He informed me that he didn't like to read. It was boring. I started to tell him about all the adventure stories he could read one day, the ones about pirates and cowboys. I went on and on about all the fun reading could bring. <br /><br />Tyler: But Mommy, I like it better when you read it.<br />Me: What about when you go to college?<br />Tyler: You can come with me.<br />Me: What about when you are married and have a baby and your baby wants you to read her a story? <br />Tyler: I'll call you and you can read it.<br /><br />I hope his wife doesn't mind.</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-37142811161667457132011-10-07T07:20:00.002-05:002011-10-07T07:23:48.290-05:00The Remarkable Women of God<div style="text-align: left;">This is a powerful video from <a href="http://sethadamsmith.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-quoted-by-elder-anderson.html">Seth Adam Smith's Blog</a>. I hope you take the time to watch it.<br /></div><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UKWDR_y6HT0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-44577766839889289922011-10-03T06:24:00.004-05:002011-10-03T14:48:08.239-05:00Conference Meme<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; text-align: left;"><strong></strong><span style="">I've been reading the blog, <a href="http://diapersanddivinity.com/">Diapers and Divinity</a>, for a while now. Her love of General Conference is contagious. She is hosting a Conference Meme. Quoting her, "</span>A meme is a questionnaire of sorts that is a little bit “viral”– it gets passed around among several people online." If you want to link up with this <a href="http://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/10/02/general-conference-meme-and-blog-share/">click here</a>. So here are my answers to this October General Conference Meme.</p><p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Who were your three favorite speakers? Which talk spoke to you the most? </p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">I loved Elder Uchtdorf’s RS talk – especially the part about not being forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Elder Christofferson’s talk on repentance was very insightful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I need to study that one more in depth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Elder Arden’s talk on time management hit me as something I need to work on more.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>What was your favorite Hymn and why did it move you?<span id="more-4248"></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Did the music enhance your General Conference experience? How?</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">I love the music of General Conference.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love it when they sing songs my kids know and hearing them sing along.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I Believe in Christ” and “Consider the Lilies” were two of my favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I also loved listening to the Primary Choir.</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Which speaker was the best dressed? (Come on, we can have a little fun.)</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did notice some hairstyles I liked from the different choir members.</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Were there any topics that you felt like were repeated often? Any conference “themes”?</p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Scriptures – read them, use them, make them your friend.</p><p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">Missionary Work – be prepared, don’t be afraid to be one</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">Being charitable</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">Families</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Share a few of your favorite quotes from any of the talks (paraphrasing is fine).</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">“Scripture can calm an agitated soul” – Elder Scott</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">“It is the caring that counts.” – Sister Beck</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">“Before immortality there must be mortality.” – Elder Anderson</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">“It’s better to look up.” – Pres. Monson, quoted by Elder Cook of the Seventy</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto">Speaking of the Book of Mormon, “Drink deeply and often.” – Elder Eyring</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"> <span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Name something(s) that made you smile or laugh during conference.</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">Pres. Monson’s stories, the 5 dollar bill and the temple speaker, his facial expressions this time were fantastic and his welcoming, “Hello!”</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">The fried chicken story</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">7.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>Was there any evidence that your children paid attention?</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">Amazingly yes!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Karena has just soaked in conference this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew she listened to Elder Bednar’s talk on family history but I didn’t know how much until Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The kids love the games and stories on lds.org.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Karena had asked to get on there before conference started back up again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The next thing I know she is hollering through the house, “Mom, how do you spell history?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was trying to get to the website Elder Bednar mentioned in his talk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/familyhistoryyouth">www.lds.org/familyhistoryyouth</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She, John and eventually all the kids got on and spent another hour on that part of the website.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was a little disappointed to learn she couldn’t log in herself for another few months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(You have to be 8 first.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">8.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>What are some of your post-conference goals?</p> <p style="margin-left:.5in">Read my scriptures with more purpose and diligence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Watch, read, or listen to a conference talk daily.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Work on memorizing scriptures with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be a better visiting teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be more charitable to those around me.</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-67874749392893560362011-10-02T18:53:00.004-05:002011-10-02T19:39:17.677-05:00CheekwoodWhy is it that a person will travel hundreds of miles and spend lots of money to see other parts of the country but fails to visit what's available in their own town? I've lived in this area since 1995 minus 4 years for college and have experienced very little of the historical and interesting sights it has to offer. I hope over the next few years to fix that. As of last week I am now one step closer to that goal.<br /><br />We went on a family field trip to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Mansion. John took the day off and we all went. It was coordinated by our local homeschool group. We started with a garden tour, had a picnic lunch and then toured the mansion and some more of the grounds. I wasn't too thrilled with the mansion. It was a big house with a lot of big rooms. The art they had displayed though was beautiful. I wish I could have taken some pictures to remember. There was a lot of nature scenes. John was captivated by a few of them.<br /><br />The gardens were spectacular. I'd like to go back in the spring and see more of what they have. We walked through these amazing herb gardens. Everything smelled delicious. I was very jealous. They even had a lime balm plant that smelled like fresh limes. <br /><br />One of the displays they have up now is a small collection of model trains. There is probably only about 5 trains but their tracks pass by models of different historical buildings throughout Tennessee. All of the model buildings are made of found, natural substances. Acorns, sticks, leaves, bark, etc. It was very remarkable to see them all.<br /><br />It was a fantastic day. The grounds are very large and we didn't get to see all that we wanted. I'm excited to go again and see more of what they have to offer.<br /><br />The sun was shining just right there and the weather was gorgeous. I was able to get some great shots off there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Water Lily</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eLmfa-KaOXHXo9ODdCl4QB5ZvASKaiUeLZsZ8xuo-QLM6wKkgZa8BrgCtKk1EvEN7WnDLhv6wNfCEnk2SU8hQLUL90UavdcDE-RX-HiwZBZDg13PuqLz9KbYj-EDnAQW4VJeHg/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eLmfa-KaOXHXo9ODdCl4QB5ZvASKaiUeLZsZ8xuo-QLM6wKkgZa8BrgCtKk1EvEN7WnDLhv6wNfCEnk2SU8hQLUL90UavdcDE-RX-HiwZBZDg13PuqLz9KbYj-EDnAQW4VJeHg/s400/IMG_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659047975653571970" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning Glory seed pods<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsZaUMWt0zE99wyvNtwjgSgA7vzSZqffY8RoSH8iIfYZK9VTx89AdGlsS3PDhFy9xzrj1tVkhPjn8kBJrEsQ89tRO96gS8oa7SpDjOa0btoi1vC4I_Ao3faAFITpBYdHFvHbNRw/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsZaUMWt0zE99wyvNtwjgSgA7vzSZqffY8RoSH8iIfYZK9VTx89AdGlsS3PDhFy9xzrj1tVkhPjn8kBJrEsQ89tRO96gS8oa7SpDjOa0btoi1vC4I_Ao3faAFITpBYdHFvHbNRw/s400/IMG_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659047977797860018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Japanese Dogwood</span><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9VckK6bFAT_lVORtTiKurBSWMfMJWPi-Apb-jbVWGE4ynq6Q761VLCIOmxMeqGFnnpmjlt0k9LmYHeXy0nAaNvJg62cNTSqn8NPZAMNwybe2K2GUJyJ-VQVPvfRmzfKs6yyCmw/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9VckK6bFAT_lVORtTiKurBSWMfMJWPi-Apb-jbVWGE4ynq6Q761VLCIOmxMeqGFnnpmjlt0k9LmYHeXy0nAaNvJg62cNTSqn8NPZAMNwybe2K2GUJyJ-VQVPvfRmzfKs6yyCmw/s400/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659047981939199314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Model Train Exhibit</span><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQPy-sULyclscNhfF0cIsLQ2GMDaldcSA8owFzqOisCekfU94Z1SYl3HPpo9tAnS-oJZgxMkzEB0D5yCjI_wc_rpXh7BurbT4BYfbZGQuGcpXThVUX-lVe9kDWQ5sNPPtpeJb_A/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQPy-sULyclscNhfF0cIsLQ2GMDaldcSA8owFzqOisCekfU94Z1SYl3HPpo9tAnS-oJZgxMkzEB0D5yCjI_wc_rpXh7BurbT4BYfbZGQuGcpXThVUX-lVe9kDWQ5sNPPtpeJb_A/s400/IMG_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659048004051723842" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83RjrFEB6WA8uyoV3xG5PomQq45lydkinwxbVmwoQsHu3xo5j95_X1XGNZGkShrn4mf3t_wzNs6I_IS65LYTIKMkO76kEjQYvi6TJ14vX0F4mKimeJnRIIdJMs9rExvKfuVDbAg/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83RjrFEB6WA8uyoV3xG5PomQq45lydkinwxbVmwoQsHu3xo5j95_X1XGNZGkShrn4mf3t_wzNs6I_IS65LYTIKMkO76kEjQYvi6TJ14vX0F4mKimeJnRIIdJMs9rExvKfuVDbAg/s400/IMG_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659047987675335634" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pVkZ7npqBOHhUHuDIF3w2SX8TyfdfOOnYzAolp317HzHAyLR8xRJIJpXufn63iyQYf1e2x4oACyAOG-yHhPO03qE0xsMkDEiKMGkkj-ADpT8_VcEhuPeJsHNCq1UUZuiJAiuMw/s1600/IMG_0027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pVkZ7npqBOHhUHuDIF3w2SX8TyfdfOOnYzAolp317HzHAyLR8xRJIJpXufn63iyQYf1e2x4oACyAOG-yHhPO03qE0xsMkDEiKMGkkj-ADpT8_VcEhuPeJsHNCq1UUZuiJAiuMw/s400/IMG_0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659048901679659970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Family Pictures</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48-zlr7TmLt7foCuCw4N01tsQ-epo44Lj_s_6q_PIQybPDn7Aoy3mNm1XaX-6FQ4ZB55XM-Vz3st69Xzk2mj8OOj1nhroiKEJIKnbGUD73XXyUJZ2PpqeQOpydvDweYIuPNPYbQ/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48-zlr7TmLt7foCuCw4N01tsQ-epo44Lj_s_6q_PIQybPDn7Aoy3mNm1XaX-6FQ4ZB55XM-Vz3st69Xzk2mj8OOj1nhroiKEJIKnbGUD73XXyUJZ2PpqeQOpydvDweYIuPNPYbQ/s400/IMG_0030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659048916550893554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyuRxD9k-04U4E3nVPJJOiEmJGOje84yGeRPLJFfzssn7Zh9S7SCihrj7A1AUayvcSr0Aw4kFYeB7aTSElus7PrONska7ycNRPsfTJWpoBeWBKwedRrt-EtFZTFGxNk3r7iIIbw/s1600/IMG_0029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyuRxD9k-04U4E3nVPJJOiEmJGOje84yGeRPLJFfzssn7Zh9S7SCihrj7A1AUayvcSr0Aw4kFYeB7aTSElus7PrONska7ycNRPsfTJWpoBeWBKwedRrt-EtFZTFGxNk3r7iIIbw/s400/IMG_0029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659048908640876386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApWiAId7uuyG5zEkEhypRTkMMWaiHWX7-a8oqwdPF4rJec4oP4ZXdjmKR84W2LZJ4ORxpOIhHXVE3C6R7L8cxz6nmAqy0ZS6dZ9U_yL9lmoT_Cy6J4gW7MUVVWkLsVMPssNb6CA/s1600/IMG_0031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApWiAId7uuyG5zEkEhypRTkMMWaiHWX7-a8oqwdPF4rJec4oP4ZXdjmKR84W2LZJ4ORxpOIhHXVE3C6R7L8cxz6nmAqy0ZS6dZ9U_yL9lmoT_Cy6J4gW7MUVVWkLsVMPssNb6CA/s400/IMG_0031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659048921206509474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83RjrFEB6WA8uyoV3xG5PomQq45lydkinwxbVmwoQsHu3xo5j95_X1XGNZGkShrn4mf3t_wzNs6I_IS65LYTIKMkO76kEjQYvi6TJ14vX0F4mKimeJnRIIdJMs9rExvKfuVDbAg/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9VckK6bFAT_lVORtTiKurBSWMfMJWPi-Apb-jbVWGE4ynq6Q761VLCIOmxMeqGFnnpmjlt0k9LmYHeXy0nAaNvJg62cNTSqn8NPZAMNwybe2K2GUJyJ-VQVPvfRmzfKs6yyCmw/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsZaUMWt0zE99wyvNtwjgSgA7vzSZqffY8RoSH8iIfYZK9VTx89AdGlsS3PDhFy9xzrj1tVkhPjn8kBJrEsQ89tRO96gS8oa7SpDjOa0btoi1vC4I_Ao3faAFITpBYdHFvHbNRw/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eLmfa-KaOXHXo9ODdCl4QB5ZvASKaiUeLZsZ8xuo-QLM6wKkgZa8BrgCtKk1EvEN7WnDLhv6wNfCEnk2SU8hQLUL90UavdcDE-RX-HiwZBZDg13PuqLz9KbYj-EDnAQW4VJeHg/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQPy-sULyclscNhfF0cIsLQ2GMDaldcSA8owFzqOisCekfU94Z1SYl3HPpo9tAnS-oJZgxMkzEB0D5yCjI_wc_rpXh7BurbT4BYfbZGQuGcpXThVUX-lVe9kDWQ5sNPPtpeJb_A/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg"><br /></a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-85658368519806967212011-09-26T11:02:00.002-05:002011-09-26T11:04:58.692-05:00Tyler is reading!Here's a video of Tyler reading. He just picked up the book and started to read. Its been a long and slow process but he is finally getting it <span style="font-weight: bold;">and </span>enjoying the process. For some reason when I uploaded the video it turned it sideways. Sorry about that.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C_sU2J2H7_U" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-33737231208401246152011-09-23T08:04:00.003-05:002011-09-23T11:13:51.499-05:00Five Things Friday<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I didn't get any posts out last week. It was exceptionally busy. The end of last week was CRAZY!! Here's what we did:<br /><br />1. Two doctors appointments for Granddad. The first I knew about well in advance. The second was sprung on me less than 24 hours before. BUT, it was for a good cause. We met with his orthopedic specialist and an orthopedic surgeon. The end of November he will have his first knee replaced.<br /><br />If you know anything about my father-in-law then you know he's struggled with his knees for a while but its become critical in the past year. The man can withstand more pain than anyone I know so when he says his knees hurt I know he's not lying. After looking at the x-rays this week I'm amazed he's not confined himself to bed. His knees are rubbing bone on bone. Add in bone spurs and you have a recipe for pain. The miracle of all this is he still walks 2-4 miles a day. The surgery should take away most of the pain. He will most likely not get rid of his cane or walker but if he doesn't have his knees done he can expect to eventually become completely crippled.<br /><br />November 28 is the big day!<br /><br />2. Tyler had a Spar-wars tournament for Taekwondo. He did very well. He ended up placing 3rd and winning a medal. It was unknown territory for all of us. Even with a few nerves he stayed calm. He competed with kids his same belt class and age. There were 3 other boys in his group. It was double elimination, so he had to lose twice. He won his first match and lost his next two. To win a match they had to either get 5 points or have the most points when the time ran out. Tyler lost one match 1-0. He was disappointed that he didn't win a trophy but perked up when his coach told him he could bring his medal to class. He tried his best and did very well. We are all very proud of him.<br /><br />Here's a video of his matches. Tyler is in the blue sparring gear and usually on the right. Ignore the clicking noises and the crazy woman </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">you can hear </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">cheering in the background.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sS3VyGpSySk?hl=en&fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br />3. We attended a picnic for a local homeschool association. I was amazed at how many people were there. I knew a lot of people and recognized even more. I love homeschooling!<br /><br />4. Tuesday I taught my Relief Society scripture class. We've been studying Alma and this class was on Alma 34-35. Chapter 34 is all about the Atonement. We discussed the Fall, how the Atonement is infinite and eternal, mercy and justice and how the ultimate expression of the atonement is charity for others. Here are some awesome quotes I found:<br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;" >"We grow in two ways—removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers. The Savior’s grace blesses both parts—if we do our part. First and repeatedly we must uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices. It isn’t enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy. But being forgiven is only part of our growth. We are not just paying a debt. Our purpose is to become celestial beings. So once we’ve cleared our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities. And then as our sweat and discipline stretch us to meet His gifts, “the flow’rs of grace appear,” like hope and meekness. Even a tree of life can take root in this heart-garden, bearing fruit so sweet that it lightens all our burdens “through the joy of his Son.” And when the flower of charity blooms here, we will love others with the power of Christ’s own love." Bruce C. Hafen, "The Atonement: All for All"</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;" >"The final and most important doctrinal fallacy in the concept of checklist repentance is that by concentrating on our outward actions we tend to emphasize our efforts and ignore the cleansing power of Christ. This approach to repentance makes it appear as though a remission of sins is something obtained primarily by mortal effort. Such a view minimizes the miraculous Atonement of Jesus Christ and the grace of God that makes a remission of sins possible. If we focus all of our attention and efforts on the steps we must take to repent, we tend to overlook what He did to make repentance possible. A humanistic or mechanical approach to repentance promotes “pseudo self-reliance.” Relying only upon our own efforts robs us of the repentance-enabling power of Christ. Thus the worst danger of this superficial view of repentance is that it causes an unwitting but crucial oversight of the most important “R” of repentance—Redeemer." Brent L. Top, “Faith Unto Repentance” in <i>A Book of Mormon Treasury: Gospel Insights from General Authorities and Religious Educators</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;" > "You must choose between being at one with God or with mammon; you cannot be one with both (see Matt. 6:24); the one promises everything in this world for money, the other a place in the kingdom after you have “endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it,” for only so can you “inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world,” where your “joy shall be full forever” (2 Ne. 9:18).</span></p> <span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi- mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Arial;font-size:10.0pt;" >"The key to keeping this commandment is, of course, faith, and faith is never without hope (anticipating and envisioning the results), and neither of these is of the slightest avail without charity. (See Moro. 7:41–44.) So we pray with energy for charity, which seeks not its own self-interest. (See 1 Cor. 13:4–5.) For “this love which [God has] for the children of men is charity”; without it, there is no “place … prepared in the mansions of [the] Father” (Ether 12:34, 37)—that is to say, there is no atonement." Hugh Nibley</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"> </p> <span style=" font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">5. Wednesday night we had the missionaries over for dinner. We asked them what they wanted for dinner and they requested chicken fettuccine alfredo. I know it sounds less than humble but I made an awesome dinner!!! I ended up making Chicken, Bacon, Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo and Marinated Tomato and Cucumber Salad. For those coming to Christmas dinner at my house we'll be having the salad. 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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=" font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";font-size:10.0pt;" ><br /></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-48396869088084927512011-09-09T10:35:00.002-05:002011-09-09T10:53:42.060-05:00Four Things Friday1. Last Saturday, John went scouting for a good hunting spot. He came home covered in ticks too many to count and barely too small to see. That night he started getting itchy. After counting he discovered over 100 chigger bites. Needless to say he's been extremely uncomfortable all week. <br /><br />2. Tonight John and Tyler are going to a Father-Son camp out. The girls and I are having our annual girls night. We plan on doing some shopping, eating out, and then coming home to paint our nails and drink Shirley Temples. <br /><br />3. I read this awesome <a href="http://aprongirls.blogspot.com/2011/09/straight-to-heart-of-matter.html">blog post</a> yesterday that somewhat followed up on my last <a href="http://tnaddisonfamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/thoughtful-tuesday-since-i-missed.html">blog post</a>.<br /><br />4. I have a new calling in church now. I'm the new Primary Music Leader. I'm a little overwhelmed because my job right now is to prepare all the kids for the primary program. I still have one more song to teach them.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-44437104481978507282011-09-06T19:13:00.001-05:002011-09-06T19:13:51.755-05:00Thoughtful Tuesday (Since I missed Monday Musings)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">For the past week or so I’ve been contemplating the word compare.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In a recent Relief Society class we were having a lively discussion about this very topic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many suggested that we should not compare ourselves to others at all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I sat there and thought I realized that in some ways though we should compare ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It isn’t wrong to look up to someone and want to emulate some of their qualities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know, being a woman, that one of the ways Satan tries to get at me is by comparing my <u>faults</u> to others <u>strengths</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He tricks us into thinking that we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">can’t</b> ever be that good, or that nice, or that whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I believe that where we can benefit from comparing is by believing that we CAN be that good, or that nice, or that whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It takes faith to bust through Satan’s powerful lies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are commanded to be like Christ and to do that we need to constantly compare our lives to His.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(3 Nephi 12:48)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Perfection is a seemingly impossible goal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we look at others lives it sometimes seems easy to claim their lives are perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I would caution that we not put the label of perfection on anyone other than Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It puts an incredibly heavy burden for them to live up to. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Who are they supposed to look up to if they are already perfect?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know I have become a better person by looking to those around me and wanting to be more like them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-4587523323798081872011-09-02T15:48:00.003-05:002011-09-02T16:15:03.414-05:00Five Things Friday: 2nd Edition1. Tyler received his green belt black stripe today. He tested last Friday and did very well. He's also been invited to participate in a Spar-Wars tournament on Sept 17th.
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<br />2. Hannah was sick this week with a strange stomach virus. She was nauseous and had a fever that would come and go throughout the day. After a day and a half she was fine. Thankfully no one else got sick.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRehQ7KSlW90XZ8GmdQ9CTPJDJPuzfMmgjwuPNrXzPtBJ6U4ResTktNgzoD1NqSauRq63G1fJ1bxN50K_tAieS3o42EAreciqR9zuXRcbEy4U74MSZpJ-fDPXhvUTmlaZF38HbmA/s1600/100_1294.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRehQ7KSlW90XZ8GmdQ9CTPJDJPuzfMmgjwuPNrXzPtBJ6U4ResTktNgzoD1NqSauRq63G1fJ1bxN50K_tAieS3o42EAreciqR9zuXRcbEy4U74MSZpJ-fDPXhvUTmlaZF38HbmA/s320/100_1294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647871885853348146" border="0" /></a>3. We had a tea party yesterday for lunch. We served triangle sandwiches, cucumber slices, pickles, grapes, grape juice and cake. The kids declared it the best lunch ever.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_ubGOkKhnE_xql23VBestj9zm2SaJnTgWpHzwCLn9p8i-0VmY-gfl58x4gXRStUV8srYFU1JIz5TtJ8U1QyBSzx4bmcLPNG-Dy2bByM2Z-ILPlh_Tws9UxpsJdbQgc1f_4N9CA/s1600/100_1298.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_ubGOkKhnE_xql23VBestj9zm2SaJnTgWpHzwCLn9p8i-0VmY-gfl58x4gXRStUV8srYFU1JIz5TtJ8U1QyBSzx4bmcLPNG-Dy2bByM2Z-ILPlh_Tws9UxpsJdbQgc1f_4N9CA/s320/100_1298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647871892265133458" border="0" /></a>4. I canned 6 pints of homemade tomato sauce yesterday. I hope its good.
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<br />5. This is my 4 post since last Friday. I am on a ROLL!!
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-69231118730472882692011-09-01T12:02:00.003-05:002011-09-01T12:05:39.010-05:00Summer SlideHere's a slideshow of some of our summer adventures. I know its rather late but I wanted to get them included.
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<br /><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a59304f446b774e54413d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a59304f446b774e54413d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none; width: 498px; height: 389px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" width="386" height="46" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">This slideshow design made with Smilebox</td></tr></tbody></table>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-9315036920240395992011-08-29T15:41:00.003-05:002011-08-29T22:28:24.666-05:00Monday MusingsI read this <a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/preparing-our-daughters-for-real-life-hazaq-v%E2%80%99-amatz/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RaisingHomemakers+%28Raising+Homemakers%29">blog post</a> this morning. It was about preparing our daughters for real life. How to teach them courage and not shelter them from the reality that life is hard. She quoted Joshua 1:9 and how they use that scripture in their family as a courage bolster. I remembered it from last year's Mutual theme. Here's the scripture in case you're not familiar with it.
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<br />"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
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<br />This prompted some serious thought for me this morning. Life has been hard for me lately. Many things are piled on my plate - some from my own choice and some have been put there by others. I've found myself complaining and lamenting how unfair it is for me. I've cried that I feel so alone. Wo, wo is me. On and on I go.
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<br />I'm amazed at the power one scripture can have. I've had my eyes opened in a way. I've been afraid and lacking faith. I haven't seen the amazing things that the Lord is doing in my life. "...Mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst...." (D&C 38:7) I need to remember this more as I go about my life. Most of what feels hard are things that the Lord has asked me or prompted me to do. I know He wouldn't leave me alone to accomplish them. I need to do more drawing near and seeking rather just asking and asking and asking. (D&C 88:63)
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<br />Today was a better day. I felt more peaceful and less anxious. I fussed less and said yes more. I enjoyed my day more and was more deliberate about the choices I made. I am grateful for today!
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-70445363601527757622011-08-26T08:17:00.005-05:002011-08-26T09:42:55.113-05:00Five Things Friday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C8xaZXkqpBmUBvfGSy4RJDEd3THEwM9K6H4tf4eW9PBabRswa2IHV7QpoX2fuxCT2QgzPo6ek63YFmf4pbGZcFBGDhW7SGcZtP-9tgXvmWVVgu3DlSzRKOGyOA3oAhg88mw7uA/s1600/egypt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 414px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C8xaZXkqpBmUBvfGSy4RJDEd3THEwM9K6H4tf4eW9PBabRswa2IHV7QpoX2fuxCT2QgzPo6ek63YFmf4pbGZcFBGDhW7SGcZtP-9tgXvmWVVgu3DlSzRKOGyOA3oAhg88mw7uA/s320/egypt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645175033716907298" border="0" /></a>
<br />So here are five random things that have been going on here lately:
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<br />1. We were all talking one day at dinner about being pretty. So I decided to tease Tyler and called him pretty. He objected by saying, "I'm not pretty. I'm awesome!"
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<br />2. Karena and Hannah have both started new activities this past month. Karena has started guitar lessons. She loves it and is doing quite well. She is now learning that she has to practice and practicing is not as fun as lessons. Hannah is doing gymnastics. I think she actually likes it better than dance. We've been working on not saying I can't. For a few days I annoyed her by calling her "Cannah" to encourage more of a "I can" attitude. I told her I'd quit calling her Cannah when she quit saying "I can't" all the time. So far it seems to be working.
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<br />3. We have discovered that certain TV shows in our home make my children argue and fight. Since eliminating those shows they get along much better.
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<br />4. The kids and I are all learning to crochet. Some are taking to it more than others.
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<br />5. This is the month of field trips. So far we've gone to the zoo to learn about Rainforests and visited the Tennessee State Museum to see an ancient Egypt exhibit. Next week we're going to the Purity Dairy to learn how they make ice cream. In a few weeks we get to go to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-53166905402298755102011-08-01T20:49:00.002-05:002011-08-01T21:02:28.023-05:00Things Overheard1. While discussing a past visit from Santa at the library - Tyler: Was that the real Santa or one of his dorks?<br /><br />2. While listening to talk radio about the budget crisis - Tyler: Next year I'm voting for President Monson because he's always good. <br /><br />3. Karena: You can't tell if someone is Mormon just by looking at them. You have to see how they act first.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-9997940239616269572011-06-06T19:24:00.005-05:002011-06-06T20:46:19.017-05:00What we're learningWell we successfully made it through our first year of homeschooling. I learned a lot about what does and doesn't work for us, myself and the kids. The past few weeks and months I have spent lots of time researching different curriculum choices for us for next year.<br /><br />Tyler doesn't like to write and it is affecting his reading. I found a curriculum for him that separates out the reading from the writing. He'll still be doing writing but not as he works on his reading skills.<br /><br />The girls did really well this year but need to be challenged more. They can read really well but need more practice in reading comprehension.<br /><br />So with those things and others in mind here are the curriculum choices I finally settled on:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tyler (First Grade):</span><br />Phonics: <a href="http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/pal-rc">Primary Arts and Language: Reading</a><br />**This includes a sticker page (the Phonetic Farm) that reinforces the sounds being taught. For example the sheep sticker goes on when we learn about the "squealy ee's." It also has a whole series of file folder games that again reinforce the sounds being taught. For Tyler this should be a lot of fun and I'm excited to start this up with him.<br /><br />Writing & Spelling: <a href="http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/pal-wc">Primary Arts and Language: Writing</a><br />**This is a precursor to the writing program I'll be starting with the girls this year. It not only teaches handwriting and spelling but also the basics of composition. It should go slow enough that by the end of the year when he's a little more academically mature he'll be able to sit and write several sentences at a time. Right now its just pure torture for him<br /><br />Math: I have several places I'm drawing our math material from. We'll be mainly focusing on improving his addition and subtraction.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Karena & Hannah (Second Grade):</span><br />Writing: <a href="http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/twss-d">Teaching Writing: Structure and Style</a><br />**I'm truly excited for this curriculum. I remember in our last phonics book the girls were asked to write a short story. Karena narrated this fantastic story out loud to me. When it came to putting it down on paper it was pitiful and turned into a huge ordeal. When I was introduced to this curriculum at a recent Homeschool conference the lady presenting compared writing to learning to play an instrument. She said just as it is ridiculous to expect a child to sit down at a piano and play an original composition with little to no instruction than it is to expect them to write an original composition after little to no instruction. This will be a curriculum we will use through high school.<br /><br />Spelling: <a href="http://www.all-about-spelling.com/">All About Spelling</a><br />**I love this spelling program. It teaches them why words are spelled the way they are. No more memorizing long lists for the test on Friday only to forget them by that afternoon. We're almost done with Level 1 and will be starting on Level 2 shortly. The girls really enjoy it so far.<br /><br />Latin: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prima-Latina-Introduction-Christian-Classical/dp/1930953526/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307406077&sr=8-2">Prima Latina</a><br />**Yes, we are going to learn Latin. We are beginning to start following a more classical education model of homeschooling. For a good definition of classical education click <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/classical-education/">here</a>.<br /><br />Math: Same as Tyler<br />**Still focusing on Addition and Subtraction and adding in fractions and beginning geometry and multiplication<br /><br />Literature: Reading and discussing several chapter books such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Winnie the Pooh, Boxcar Children, Little House in the Big Woods, </span>and<span style="font-style: italic;"> Little House on the Prairie. </span><br /><br />Music: Piano and possibly guitar for Karena<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everybody</span>:<br />History (Old Testament/Ancient Egypt): <a href="http://www.veritaspress.com/products.asp?dept=1020">Veritas Press</a><br />Bible (Gensis - Joshua): <a href="http://www.veritaspress.com/products.asp?dept=1018">Veritas Press</a><br />**Both of these we will be studying together. They are a series of cards that have specific information to memorize and then resources to add to it. We'll be doing different projects and worksheets along with these cards.<br /><br />Geography: Basic geography (maps, continents, oceans)<br /><br />Science: <a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Gods-Design-for-Heaven-and-Earth-Complete-Set,6505,194.aspx">God's Design for Heaven and Earth</a><br />**We'll be studying The Universe, Planet Earth and Weather and Water. I tried to do Astronomy this past year but I couldn't get into our science book. It read too much like a textbook and every time I brought it out the kids eyes would glaze over. (Mine did too, actually.) These books seem to be much better. They have a good balance of activities and reading. There's only a page of reading per topic for their age group. The books we tried before had pages and pages of material per topic.<br /><br />I believe that's everything. We'll be starting back to school in July. I've been trying to get everything planned and ready so we can just jump in with both feet.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-79100343789556383432011-06-04T22:35:00.002-05:002011-06-04T22:43:32.522-05:00Something I never thought I'd hearSo after a long and crazy week John and I got to have a fantastic and relaxing date night. After dinner we wandered towards Barnes and Noble. We got a phone call from our realtor (that's another topic for later) so we stopped at some tables outside the store to talk. John finished the phone call and we went inside. We made it to the back of the store and started flipping through some books. Suddenly John says, "I have a cicada in my pants." I laugh, thinking he's kidding. As I look up he's grabbing a small handful of his pants on his thigh and I realize he's actually not kidding. He really did have a cicada in his pants! I can't wait for those stupid bugs to go back underground.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-4895456697408059102011-04-25T18:20:00.004-05:002011-04-25T18:57:16.268-05:00Easter ActivitiesFriday began our Easter activities. We had our annual egg dyeing celebration. I always wish we had more eggs to color but one family can only have so many hard boiled eggs. The kids always have fun participating and I'm impressed with how creative they try to be. Even Tyler who is so hard to get to sit still through a whole craft project is often the last one done when it comes to coloring eggs. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Saaqtbf_MNoDveHdu8G1A9e54dx-Xvy5StWxRf0ITndRO4InEzBe7biciUvosPtgeNzXZXEX5ZQCbs1NB-nVS0hnrwR9VpZUsgMOL_KoT9JibLBgEAgzYN9q8feBoo6rY5RbsA/s1600/IMG_3536.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoFSP1XfEmBVupsMRYtUgN9QoNB_XIHpTQ24kDKnYkNeFw4l-vZMhNhWPmfj7DQV2xrTBH8vcK3Z0qkRTvs-ypHqlqPA9J1qSHebwYksapX9b6QInHwYECySco5-7lLE4W0WTtw/s1600/IMG_3515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoFSP1XfEmBVupsMRYtUgN9QoNB_XIHpTQ24kDKnYkNeFw4l-vZMhNhWPmfj7DQV2xrTBH8vcK3Z0qkRTvs-ypHqlqPA9J1qSHebwYksapX9b6QInHwYECySco5-7lLE4W0WTtw/s320/IMG_3515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599666532556164594" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gmcED67RDjNMUWFcLMhsBgu_BMH5dswAhAB7sb2SUT_FSMmUbO5ScMZ9QAlZcGBakFW06Er8mGhRmeO3UQU3fYVLjxjt3ZjcbWii_TRaLeWt-cJentbJv7mOsghCPMUysc5zKg/s1600/IMG_3514.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gmcED67RDjNMUWFcLMhsBgu_BMH5dswAhAB7sb2SUT_FSMmUbO5ScMZ9QAlZcGBakFW06Er8mGhRmeO3UQU3fYVLjxjt3ZjcbWii_TRaLeWt-cJentbJv7mOsghCPMUysc5zKg/s320/IMG_3514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599666525449162370" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGNQ1VEatClOAtnq5zT3UXCtWRAKS7WGJrE96XIzUvsZc7ouflscyFCzt2xU-LM3iRRfiGMIgbI9HnvAAxIzz5gfo3MRKfZ2KH6jmzYzlTgCruYCJL81xJfBdRSJ1SxLIbppUFg/s1600/IMG_3512.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGNQ1VEatClOAtnq5zT3UXCtWRAKS7WGJrE96XIzUvsZc7ouflscyFCzt2xU-LM3iRRfiGMIgbI9HnvAAxIzz5gfo3MRKfZ2KH6jmzYzlTgCruYCJL81xJfBdRSJ1SxLIbppUFg/s320/IMG_3512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599666518856366274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4NmtPfAF0QxwzSFvjZ2cDEivtC7a8oZL7EXHQTrDdySaiHNQcmFXYZ9z7OfgSgC0G7-V9HwgifNtNJ_8jm8cXX-McfqHk8BWPMWQqYdfwcLBBCAa7TLiMLsyHINlZOq3nOCh_g/s1600/IMG_3510.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4NmtPfAF0QxwzSFvjZ2cDEivtC7a8oZL7EXHQTrDdySaiHNQcmFXYZ9z7OfgSgC0G7-V9HwgifNtNJ_8jm8cXX-McfqHk8BWPMWQqYdfwcLBBCAa7TLiMLsyHINlZOq3nOCh_g/s320/IMG_3510.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599666514192004802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnG17w9rOGYMSGSkvsugyzcbYuIXT0sAd7xlMpUEo4pF-YbbeQspVWYx28zGX_UFsRAUgCW0y8WTJUYKd9hC_IS5MEoGAAXsf-kL6mwZq3IJhOkQcw5ZzuCInYHXNKSkCMX2eQ/s1600/IMG_3502.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnG17w9rOGYMSGSkvsugyzcbYuIXT0sAd7xlMpUEo4pF-YbbeQspVWYx28zGX_UFsRAUgCW0y8WTJUYKd9hC_IS5MEoGAAXsf-kL6mwZq3IJhOkQcw5ZzuCInYHXNKSkCMX2eQ/s320/IMG_3502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599666507114790498" border="0" /></a><br />Friday night the Easter bunny came to pay us a visit. (By the way - if anyone can tell me the significance of a bunny bringing eggs at Easter I'd really appreciate it. None of my kids nor myself get it. Santa I get, but not the Easter bunny.) Anywho - a friend of mine (Thanks, Maren!) introduced me to the Saturday morning Easter bunny. It leaves Sunday free for what and Who we are truly celebrating. (See <a href="http://tnaddisonfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-reflections-of-savior.html">this post</a> for my feelings about Easter.) The kids were just fine with it. Karena actually had a whole conversation with a neighbor friend about it that afternoon. <br /><br />We started with the Easter baskets. The kids had taken it upon themselves to write the Easter bunny letters. Tyler asked for a blue egg with a train in it. The Easter bunny was quite fortunate to stumble upon that very thing when it was hopping through Target the very next day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdyIIBVkiY8ijugcNMMG1wBlbjm59o6dyLbUZsFpxB-xv2COl2XApUx3MXslkH0VMArRGLMBLH-jRquUJ-rFboTOV6C5aNaJRsX2h4SiC39MQBgctnR0k7OcZp4dUTddkTgvqxw/s1600/IMG_3525.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdyIIBVkiY8ijugcNMMG1wBlbjm59o6dyLbUZsFpxB-xv2COl2XApUx3MXslkH0VMArRGLMBLH-jRquUJ-rFboTOV6C5aNaJRsX2h4SiC39MQBgctnR0k7OcZp4dUTddkTgvqxw/s320/IMG_3525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667091922355602" border="0" /></a><br />Hannah was quite impressed with her new package of underpants. She proudly announced Sunday morning at lunch that she was so excited to be wearing her new flip flop underpants. "They feel great!" I quickly asked her to try and not mention underpants at church that day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs_rdmaB34YeWAX8pQiBpy9XnuvlRHvhwWn653jfKSrtXZ0Jcl3M-LFTWC9VybARn9Ayi8zzoCu7OPKQ6b3Z59W7bp5oRih0PVzmpWx02KHTYYOZ1QU0gvQlh_2Lbe1rA7EM5Og/s1600/IMG_3522.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs_rdmaB34YeWAX8pQiBpy9XnuvlRHvhwWn653jfKSrtXZ0Jcl3M-LFTWC9VybARn9Ayi8zzoCu7OPKQ6b3Z59W7bp5oRih0PVzmpWx02KHTYYOZ1QU0gvQlh_2Lbe1rA7EM5Og/s320/IMG_3522.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667083600867890" border="0" /></a><br />After breakfast we had our egg hunt. John swears he say a huge bunny hopping off into the forest. "Wink. Wink." Tyler kept asking him if he <span style="font-weight: bold;">REALLY</span> saw a bunny, what he looked liked, what color he was, and even what he sounded like. I think he's had one too many people try and hoodwink him. <br /><br />Tyler and Hannah were like speeding trains through the whole hunt. (I've finally realized why almost all of my pictures of Tyler are blurry. He won't be still. It's like trying to take a picture of a hummingbird.) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeNJxz3qGOmjnnVTuz-fC5ijE4RmXaddjGR9w2DHvrs9-9wEzClZjMKIZ5dXp5P_TZTrIT9lIr-bgPFeaofVDcSmvYhAFE66-02G9I5JwslXLPga3HTOtJZNsU3R1I5_KGiVVhw/s1600/IMG_3529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeNJxz3qGOmjnnVTuz-fC5ijE4RmXaddjGR9w2DHvrs9-9wEzClZjMKIZ5dXp5P_TZTrIT9lIr-bgPFeaofVDcSmvYhAFE66-02G9I5JwslXLPga3HTOtJZNsU3R1I5_KGiVVhw/s320/IMG_3529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667095648291570" border="0" /></a><br />Hannah managed to collect every egg sitting in last years garden.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Saaqtbf_MNoDveHdu8G1A9e54dx-Xvy5StWxRf0ITndRO4InEzBe7biciUvosPtgeNzXZXEX5ZQCbs1NB-nVS0hnrwR9VpZUsgMOL_KoT9JibLBgEAgzYN9q8feBoo6rY5RbsA/s1600/IMG_3536.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Saaqtbf_MNoDveHdu8G1A9e54dx-Xvy5StWxRf0ITndRO4InEzBe7biciUvosPtgeNzXZXEX5ZQCbs1NB-nVS0hnrwR9VpZUsgMOL_KoT9JibLBgEAgzYN9q8feBoo6rY5RbsA/s320/IMG_3536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667408302874114" border="0" /></a><br />Karena was methodical and a lot slower than the others but she managed to find all the tricky ones. The other two were going so fast they missed a lot. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDD3bZ2PX7JmYZ9gCsr-HvjjQcZXce6CrFPpr2QTVN4Iq9fW9xXlWL60fZM6Eb4S92C3ffPRVhu3Ss6PPXJrWv_W7aqfbJws_8k_I2bQrKhQ-24ukk349bH6rNMvONnTotLtryg/s1600/IMG_3531.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDD3bZ2PX7JmYZ9gCsr-HvjjQcZXce6CrFPpr2QTVN4Iq9fW9xXlWL60fZM6Eb4S92C3ffPRVhu3Ss6PPXJrWv_W7aqfbJws_8k_I2bQrKhQ-24ukk349bH6rNMvONnTotLtryg/s320/IMG_3531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667099620505250" border="0" /></a><br />When Karena found one she certainly kicked it into high gear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpM397QxAwPuZyPZ6-4zZSX_wRncu89yKh_GA7j_lnKNm1lHlOpg0ccYJbFMYATBpecxxfXF_7u69nrcdcX7rEOCGLPg7H4uMobisyRABObpaq8ft6GEJZFF6sTmaz0DVO1NPTg/s1600/IMG_3534.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 438px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpM397QxAwPuZyPZ6-4zZSX_wRncu89yKh_GA7j_lnKNm1lHlOpg0ccYJbFMYATBpecxxfXF_7u69nrcdcX7rEOCGLPg7H4uMobisyRABObpaq8ft6GEJZFF6sTmaz0DVO1NPTg/s320/IMG_3534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667110386682114" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday was a nice day! We had some friends over for dinner and got to enjoy some yummy food! Unfortunately the only thing I took a picture of Sunday was the dessert! But it is a delicious picture. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Saaqtbf_MNoDveHdu8G1A9e54dx-Xvy5StWxRf0ITndRO4InEzBe7biciUvosPtgeNzXZXEX5ZQCbs1NB-nVS0hnrwR9VpZUsgMOL_KoT9JibLBgEAgzYN9q8feBoo6rY5RbsA/s1600/IMG_3536.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkevf-3UKN9s0zqTIWjeMj2MCjeDqy920tgTa4HRyigMxMwEENOUNp3O_nauArtbis3Jom0T3Pj8A_FeROm5BpkKLJXdEh84RNt6iL-Zp62Nm4KPxoCx5jQg_UUoiPM3py-v2jg/s1600/IMG_3546.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 426px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkevf-3UKN9s0zqTIWjeMj2MCjeDqy920tgTa4HRyigMxMwEENOUNp3O_nauArtbis3Jom0T3Pj8A_FeROm5BpkKLJXdEh84RNt6iL-Zp62Nm4KPxoCx5jQg_UUoiPM3py-v2jg/s320/IMG_3546.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599667412894032322" border="0" /></a><br />That's a homemade turtle cheescake. Oreo & pecan crust, a layer of homemade caramel, cheesecake, and pecans with caramel and chocolate drizzles on top. My friend convinced me to take a picture. It tasted as good as it looks!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-10030006408457431652011-04-17T20:24:00.003-05:002011-04-17T20:30:24.456-05:00My Reflections of the Savior<span style="font-family: georgia;">I had to speak in church today. The topic the Bishop assigned me was "My Personal Reflections of the Savior." It was an emotional week for me as I prepared this talk. I was struggling with some other things as well as having to prepare this. But it did give me a lot of time to reflect on the Savior which I am grateful for especially during this Easter season. 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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bishop asked me to speak of my personal reflections of the Savior.<span style=""> </span>To be quite honest this has not been an easy topic for me.<span style=""> </span>Speaking about my feelings is not a skill I’ve learned well over the years.<span style=""> </span>So this week has been quite the struggle for me to put into words my thoughts of the Savior and how He has affected my life.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve also never before worried about not having mighty spiritual moments.<span style=""> </span>But I did this week.<span style=""> </span>I worried about giving a talk when I don’t have anything impressive to share?<span style=""> </span>My concerns were eased after listening to Elder Ballard’s conference talk again.<span style=""> </span>If you remember he spoke of a gold miner that was frustrated with the lack of gold nuggets he was finding.<span style=""> </span>A wise old prospector taught him and me an important lesson.<span style=""> </span>“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Walking over to the pile of rocks, the old prospector said, ‘Oh, there is gold all right. You just have to know where to find it.’ He picked two rocks up in his hands and crashed them together. One of the rocks split open, revealing several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Noticing a bulging leather pouch fastened to the prospector’s waist, the young man said, ‘I’m looking for nuggets like the ones in your pouch, not just tiny flecks.’</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“The old prospector extended his pouch toward the young man, who looked inside, expecting to see several large nuggets. He was stunned to see that the pouch was filled with thousands of flecks of gold.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“The old prospector said, ‘Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you’re missing filling your pouch with these precious flecks of gold. The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth.’”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So my goal today is to share with you three of the little flecks of gold that have brought me great spiritual wealth and brought me closer to my Savior.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fleck #1:<span style=""> </span>His example of service: Christ was always serving those around him.<span style=""> </span>We have many of the great and miraculous ways he served recorded in the scriptures.<span style=""> </span>He healed the sick.<span style=""> </span>He blessed the children.<span style=""> </span>He fed the 5000.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes we focus on these miraculous ways and miss the small seemingly insignificant acts he also performed.<span style=""> </span>Many times after he performed a mighty miracle he stopped and spent some time with that person – teaching them, comforting them and bringing them peace.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I know I can’t accomplish the miracles that Christ did but I can follow His example as I reach out to comfort a troubled heart or bring peace to a worried mind.<span style=""> </span>I most likely won’t have an experience like in 3 Nephi where I see heavenly angels and fire coming from heaven to encircle my children.<span style=""> </span>But I know there are earthly angels that encircle them here every Sunday in Primary and teach them that their Savior loves them and cares for them.<span style=""> </span>I may not be able to take some loaves and fishes and feed the 5000 but by paying my tithing and fast offering to the Lord, He will take my few pennies and dollars and do miracles in the lives of those that need it.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fleck #2: When I was in college I purchased a little statue carved from olive wood.<span style=""> </span>I was so captivated by this simple piece.<span style=""> </span>The man I bought the statue from told me its inspiration came from a scripture.<span style=""> </span>The statue is an upright hand with a little boy resting in it.<span style=""> </span>The hand and the boy are not carved to look like two pieces but instead it has been carved to look as if the boy is part of the hand.<span style=""> </span>I went home and found that scripture.<span style=""> </span>It has since become my favorite.<span style=""> </span>The reference the merchant was referring to is found in Isaiah 49.<span style=""> </span>But I prefer the similar one found in the Book of Mormon - 1 Nephi 21: 13-16.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me – but he will show that he hath not.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When times get difficult I know on many occasions I have been as faithless as Zion and asked the Savior if He had forgotten me.<span style=""> </span>I have been assured each time that he cannot and will not forget me. He has “graven [me] upon the palms of [His] hands.” <span style=""> </span>His atonement, death and resurrection weren’t done for all of us as a collective whole. They were done just for me.<span style=""> </span>They were done just for you.<span style=""> </span>Not only did he do those amazing, miraculous works just for us he is continually helping each of us.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Elder Richards said in his talk, “The Atonement Covers All Pain”, “The Savior is not a silent observer. . . . </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps His most significant work is in the ongoing labor with each of us individually to lift, to bless, to strengthen, to sustain, to guide, and to forgive us.”</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How does he <b style="">know</b> how to help us?<span style=""> </span>How does he know <b style="">exactly</b> how to help us? I came to understand just a small bit of this as I was reading Alma 7:12.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“And he will take upon him death, that he my loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, <b style="">that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.</b>”</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always concentrated on what the atonement can do for me.<span style=""> </span>Until this verse I had never considered how the atonement affected Christ.<span style=""> </span>This verse taught me that the Savior chose to experience all our infirmities so he could know the perfect way to help me.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">President Henry B. Eyring taught: “It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. … And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He <i>chose to learn by His own personal experience.</i>”<span style=""> </span>When experiencing anything difficult many of us gravitate to those who understand and have experienced what we are going through.<span style=""> </span>What better person to turn to than the Savior, the one who truly knows, the only one who can perfectly understand what we are going through.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1in; font-family: georgia;">Where can I turn for peace?<br />Where is my solace<br />When other sources cease to make me whole?<br />When, with a wounded heart, anger, or malice<br />I draw myself apart searching my soul?</p> <p style="margin-left: 1in; font-family: georgia;">Where, when my aching grows?<br />Where, when I languish?<br />Where, in my need to know?<br />Where can I run?<br />Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?<br />Who, who can understand?<br />He, only One.</p> <p style="margin-left: 1in; font-family: georgia;">He answers privately.<br />Reaches my reaching.<br />In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend.<br />Gentle, the peace He finds<br />For my beseeching.<br />Constant He is, and kind.<br />Love without end.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;">As we truly realize that it was “my Gethsemane” we can sing and be joyful “for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; . . . for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fleck #3: Let me tell you about my grandmother.<span style=""> </span>She was an extraordinary person.<span style=""> </span>First let me describe her.<span style=""> </span>She was very petite – 4’11” to be exact.<span style=""> </span>She had this perfect head of white hair.<span style=""> </span>Her clothing was always very nice.<span style=""> </span>I remember she even wore her nice blouses and slacks camping with us.<span style=""> </span>And she did actually go camping with us – tent and all.<span style=""> </span>She was a convert to the church.<span style=""> </span>I will always be grateful that she and her children joined the church.<span style=""> </span>Through many of her life experiences I have learned perseverance in the face of trials.<span style=""> </span>I have learned from her to have a good attitude and to have fun with life.<span style=""> </span>I look forward to following her example and serving a mission with my husband.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During my freshman year of college she got sick.<span style=""> </span>Her funeral was the first I remember attending.<span style=""> </span>I remember walking into the viewing and seeing her lying there.<span style=""> </span>My only thought was it wasn’t her.<span style=""> </span>She still had the beautiful clothing on.<span style=""> </span>Her hair was still perfectly styled.<span style=""> </span>But something was missing.<span style=""> </span>Her spirit was gone and her body remained.<span style=""> </span>It was the first time I was truly grateful for the resurrection.<span style=""> </span>I will one day get to see her again.<span style=""> </span>I will get to see her extraordinary spirit reunited with her petite body.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">President Monson said in a talk in last April’s General Conference: “No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why seek ye the living among the dead?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“He is not here, but is risen.”<sup> </sup><a href="http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng#12"><sup>12</sup></a><sup> </sup></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”<sup> </sup><a href="http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/he-is-risen?lang=eng#13"><sup>13</sup></a><sup> </sup></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He is risen! He is risen!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell it out with joyful voice.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He has burst his three days’ prison;</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Let the whole wide earth rejoice.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Death is conquered; man is free.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 1in; line-height: normal; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christ has won the victory!</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus Christ stood up in the Premortal Council and volunteered to come to Earth and become our - become my Savior.<span style=""> </span>I know he didn’t volunteer in ignorance.<span style=""> </span>He understood his role in the plan.<span style=""> </span>Jesus was the cornerstone of the plan. Without him there would have been no resurrection.<span style=""> </span>Without him there would have been no repentance.<span style=""> </span>Without him there would have been no salvation.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br /></p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35490208.post-66814518684046504522011-04-09T21:42:00.003-05:002011-04-16T19:59:39.177-05:00Tyler-isms<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ism #1: (This is NOT an announcement, by the way.)</span><br /><br />Tyler: Mommy, I think you should have another baby. I want a brother or sister.<br /><br />Me: Well, Tyler, why don't you pray and ask Heavenly Father about that?<br /><br />Tyler: No, Mommy! That's your job!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ism #2: Walking through Sam's</span><br /><br />Tyler: Mommy, you need to get some new pants.<br /><br />Me: Why? (Suddenly realizing what he means.) Oh because they're too short?<br /><br />Tyler: Yeah!!<br /><br />Me: They're called capris. They're supposed to be short.<br /><br />(He's been growing so fast that he's been hearing his pants are too short a lot lately.)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ism #3: Sitting at lunch - A very profound one!</span><br /><br />Karena: Mommy, I feel like I don't have anything special.<br /><br />Me: Like what?<br /><br />Karena: Well, I don't know. Just something special.<br /><br />Tyler: The thing about things you get that are special is that the first day they are special. The next day they are about half special and the day after that they aren't very special.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029704520602066866noreply@blogger.com1