Blah, Blah, Blog

I read tonight with the boys starting in Genesis 1:1. God created the heavens and the earth, the light and darkness (”And God said, let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness.”). He created sky, land, seas, plants, and trees. Then, he created the lights in the sky to separate day from night and to separate light from darkness.

Wanting to key in on the light/darkness contrast I decided to go to another passage and reinforce at the same time something we’d been discussing earlier today… Javen had been asking “How do we know that God exists?” and “How do we know that Jesus is God?”. I decided this could not be overlooked! We talked about it earlier but, tonight we had to read it again. John 1:1-14, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” We read ’til verse four where it says “…that life was the light of men”, Javen said, “Well, we are like candles and the people all around are in the dark and we have to tell them about the light so that they can see.” (after a little re-direct about who was the light, we went on… sometimes we adults think we’re so smart and have to correct everything 8)) Then it says “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”. I asked what that meant? Cullen said, well Jesus was good, and the people all around are bad (right on, buddy!). Then Javen, prompted by this said, “Now I know! Jesus is the match! He lights us on fire and we want to tell them all about him so that he’ll light other people’s candles too!” I told them that we are like candles and Jesus is the match. If we tell others about Jesus he’ll light them on fire too, so they can help us light more candles! There are a whole lot of candles that aren’t on fire, and we’re the ones giving them light so they don’t stub their toes, trip over the couch, run into walls, step on legos… (you catch my drift) because that’s what happens when people stumble around in the dark. They get hurt!

Isn’t it amazing how a child’s perspective can make things new again and so much more fun!

“From the lips of infants and children you have ordained praise”. Thank you God.

hmm… hmm… what shall I write? Is our life that boring? No, it’s just too busy to think…

Micah and I began reading “Islam and Terrrorism” by Mark A. Gabriel, last night.

It is written by a guy who was a professor in the top Muslim university in Egypt. He converted to Christianity and is now writing the book to expose Islam for what it is.

The first two chapters are very engaging. I’m sure we’ll finish it quickly. So far, highly recommended for a true introduction of Islam written from a guy who knows.

“So we make it our goal to please him… For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.” 1Corinthians 5:9

Some students take a Christmas vacation of 2 weeks, some colleges and universities give 3 weeks. We are still on Christmas vacation at our homeschool… Fisher Academy International Teaching Home to be precise.

Micah finished up the semester at Emmaus Bible College, and now we are heading back to Perú, so we are pretty much hit and miss, covering the basics in our homeschool until we get back to Perú, where we hope to get back into the swing of things. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with our lax program because I’m pretty sure my kids overall are ahead of their grade-level. (They are just finishing their 2nd grade math book!! - just a little bragging is necessary at times)

We will use a combination of Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason) and Teaching the Trivium (Bluedorns) and incorporating a few things from the Well Trained Mind (Susan W. Bauer). Traditionally, we’ve followed the WTM, but are looking to adjust to our ever-changing needs and lifestyle.

So, the secret’s out. We are living in a perpetual Christmas vacation. Doesn’t sound too bad now that I think about it.

Here are our fortune’s taken from fortune cookies we got at Panda Express today on the drive back to Dubuque from Chicago:

Mine: “To effect the quality of the day is no small acheivement. Lucky numbers 6,9,18,23,25,34″
That sounds pretty vague to me… Now, here’s the really funny one, especially if you know anything about Micah’s artistic tendencies (or lack thereof). Micah’s: “Your artistic talents win the approval and applause of others. Lucky number 1,12,24,33,36,39″

I wonder if I would have won the lottery if I’d bought a ticket today with those numbers! There was a lottery ticket vending machine right outside the Panda Express. I wonder who owns the vending machine…

I sure am glad Micah’s back!

“…for it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13

“…the message of the cross… to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God.” -Paul

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and
follow me.

The message of the cross?: Deny self. Take up cross. Follow God.

It’s what Christ did.
It’s what we are asked to do.

How? But, that sounds hard!

…it’s by God’s POWER the cross and subsequent resurrection happened,
and it’s by God’s POWER that it can still happen.

“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever wants to save his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” -John

What a child can do should not become the sole
judge of what the student is asked to do.

Well, as you can see, this is the most basic blog set up EVER! hahahaha. I do NOT have time to mess around with it for now, so here it stays! (and that aqua-colored graphic header thing is just about all I can take!)

Well, I don’t know if I should even attempt to start this… I tried yesterday, then I decided to uninstall and then I changed my mind hehehe
Here goes…

Trying to figure this whole thing out, while translating an 11page document from British English to Spanish, updating my virus scan, and reading my brother’s blog… Yikes, that’s too much, I think.

I wish I could come up with what I wrote yesterday for an introduction, but I’ve forgotten it all. So, here it is, my start at blogging. Hopefully, it won’t be a total flop.