Celebrating Gardening

With the help of a good friend from our church, the kids and I have embarked on a gardening adventure. Debbie has graciously provided us not only with weekly "gardening lessons" at her home in her greenhouse, but she has also given us seedlings, pots and other goodies to help our garden grow.

We have learned about composting, collecting rain water and recycling all kinds of items to help us in our gardening ventures. Chase has become an expert at transplanting our little seedlings and Alyssa is our faithful watering girl.

My husband got in on the act and provided us with a lovely bed after painstakingly running the Rototiller, adding peat and sifting the stones out of our little plot.

We are planting corn, tomatoes, onions, brussel sprouts, watermelon, and potatoes.

We are also starting some herbs: chives, garlic chives, oregano and cilantro.

I am so excited for what the Lord is doing in our lives and in our little garden! I thank the Lord for all of his many blessings on our family.

Review: Vision Forum Christian Film Festival

Although I was not able to attend the San Antonio Christian Film Festival sponsored by Vision Forum Ministries, I was blessed by listening to the CD Set of the conference messages and  select performances, titled "History Has Been Made: Moments and Messages From The San Antonio Christian Film Festival".

The messages concerning Christian entertainment and media were especially eye-opening for me.  We consider ourselves to be fairly cautious in the media to which we expose our children but I learned that we could be doing even better.  The message from Kevin Swanson (of Generations Radio) was very informative in that regard.

Voddie Bauchan's talk about the "Journey In Confusion" of the roles of manhood in Hollywood was another excellent message portraying some of the problems with mainstream entertainment in America today.

I never thought that I had a particular interest in filmmaking but R.C. Sproul Jr.'s talk on Christian filmmaking was extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking.  With a challenging yet hopeful message, Sproul highlighted the growing importance of Christian filmmaking today.

Messages about entrepreneurial principles for independent thinkers and launching a radio broadcast via the Internet were of special interest to my husband and I.  We were not only inspired to contribute our creative efforts for the glory of God but to follow practical hints on debt-free financing as well.

One of the highlights of the set is the discussions of Fireproof.
 Kirk Cameron as well as a panel of others involved in the making of "Fireproof" was so powerful, moving and inspirational.  That message alone made the CD set well worth acquiring!

Sometimes, I find discussions about the decline of culture in America to be nothing but depressing.  I was pleased to find that this CD set featured so many positive, uplifting and action-oriented messages that I had no time to get depressed.

Overall, this CD set is both educational and entertaining that I recommend it for anyone concerned about the effect of mainstream media on our culture and looking for Christian alternatives.

Oh No! We Are Mess!

"Oh no! We are mess!" 

The above are famous last words heard after mommy left the children washing dishes in the kitchen to go into the other room to get the phone.

Okay, training children to wash dishes is important but they sure can get wet! 

Whatever you do, do not forget to reinforce the lesson that the water pressure coming out of the faucet should be kept fairly low to avoid the water-spraying-all-over-the-kitchen debacle.

As my sister said listenting to us over the phone: "At least they are learning and having fun."

I guess that is what home education is all about.

Best Cinnamon Bread Recipe For Bread Machine

We just made some of this cinnamon bread yesterday and my family is clamoring for more already!  The kids like getting involved.  I am nearly out of cinnamon so they grated a few sticks using the ginger grater and a multi-grater we have.  I use the bread machine for the dough. Then they punch it down, let it rest, divide it into two, roll it out, spread the butter, sprinkle the sugar mixture then fold over into thirds.

Here is the recipe:

1 c warm water
2 tbsp butter
1 egg
3 c flour
3 tbsp dried milk
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1 and 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast

Put all ingredients in the bread machine on dough cycle.  When done, remove, punch down and let rest for 5 minutes.  Dust surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll out into a large rectangle. Take 3 tbsp of butter, softened and spread half on each rolled out rectangle

Mix 1/2 cup brown or white sugar, 1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl.  Sprinkle half on each rectangle and then fold into thirds.  Pinch center seam closed and pinch and fold ends under. Place dough seam side down in greased loaf pan. Let rise in warm place until doubled (about 1 hour for us, on top of a warm oven).  Bake for 25-30 minutes at 325-350 degrees.  Take out of pan, put on cooling rack once done, slice after 5 minutes and enjoy.

Classic Bible Storybook: A Review

Our family was blessed with the opportunity to review the Classic Bible Storybook written by Kenneth N. Taylor and published by Tyndale House Publishers- Thanks, Christy!

This beautifully illustrated book contains over 100 Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments. Both the children and I enjoyed reading from this Bible storybook as part of bedtime ritual.

The Classic Bible Storybook has several unique features that made it a big hit with our family:

• Warm, charming, realistic illustrations. We find that some modern Bibles with their cartoon-like illustrations are distracting and perplexing.  For me, unrealistic, silly or exaggerated illustrations subtly convey a message that undermines the holiness of the Bible.
• The 121 Bible stories include some that are not commonly found in children's Bible story books.  Job, Paul's Epistles and Revelation are included in the book's material at a level that children can easily understand.
• Short review questions, usually 3 or 4 of them, are featured after each story to aid in comprehension and retention of the important elements of each story.  My children especially love this feature and each tries to answer as fast as he or she can, game-show style, to see who can answer first.  Mom is gratified because she can tell that the kids are listening carefully to the story and the kids have fun.
• Not too "dumb-downed".  The stories often use the same language found in the Bible and they avoid irreverent paraphrases.  At the same time, the language used is certainly not too difficult for most children and this level gives the children an opportunity to ask questions when they do not understand something, helping them to learn.

Kenneth Taylor is a gifted writer of Bible stories for children and his stories have been read to three generations of children around the world, including his own ten children.

I believe the Classic Bible Storybook is a book that you and your children or grandchildren will enjoy reading over and over for years.  We continue to enjoy it nightly. It would make a wonderful Easter gift or surprise in a child's Easter basket.

Click below to find out more or purchase from Christian Book Distributors.

Classic Bible Storybook

Fun Trips, Sickness, New Reviews and More

It is good to be back blogging! We started February with a lovely trip to Kalahari. We then came back, got sick and cycled through various illnesses for some time. In the meanwhile, I have been reading to review one Bible storybook and one audio CD set on the growing Christian film-making movement. Add to this my growing notebooks of devotionals the Lord has been gracious to give to me that I would like to share with other Christian moms and the growing list of Christian family resources and links that I am assembling into a website and I have been pretty busy when I am not homeschooling, discipling and keeping house.

Stay tuned for more details!

Snow, Beautiful Snow!

Snow, snow every where
Snug inside, I haven't a care!

There is just so much snow outside that I am amazed every time I look out at it. My husband has a hard time understanding my awe- "It is January in Ohio you know."

Yes, I know but mounds of the white stuff do not fall every day, even here and if they do, the snow drifts do not often last long.

Grateful we were able to stay in all day.

A big pot of linguine with meat sauce seemed a fitting ending to a cozy day.