Completely...

I've been singing this song all day. Have you seen Facing The Giants? If you haven't... you'll love it!

The secret of life is letting go
The secret of love is letting it show
In all that I do
In all that I say
Right here in this moment
The power of prayer is in a humble cry
The power of change is in giving my life
I’m laying it down
Down at your feet
Right here in this moment

Take my heart
Take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
And let all this is within me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
Completely

This journey of life is a search for truth
This journey of faith is following you
Every step of the way
Through the joy and the pain
Right here in this moment
Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life
Hear me say
I am yours and yours alone
Completely
-Ana Laura

The Disappearance...

No, I didn't write this story. I found it online, it was authored by a homeschool student, and I thought it was pretty funny. It's a short story, maybe 10 pages, but it's worth being checked out.
The Disappearance

The Church in Germany 1936, Part 2

Lori Kalner has written more in response to my sister's question concerning the German church in 1936. I believe that what she has to say, especially regarding the similarities between what happened then and what is happening right now in our world, is very important. The Church in Germany in 1936 and The Church Today, Part2 We, as Christians are asleep. We need to wake up!

Snow Day!

So, what do 7 girls that are snowed-in all day and unable to go out do to keep themselves busy? Play dress up of course! And no, a woman of nearly 5 and 20 years of age is NOT too old to play dress-up!

These 7 girls are of a "literary turn" so of course they're not dressed up like just anybody...
They are....
Miss Georgianna Darcy

Miss Jane Fairfax

Miss Molly Gibson

Miss Jo March

Mrs. Bella Harmon and Miss Bella Harmon (aka "The Inexhaustable)

Queen Berengaria

And finally: The Inexhaustable... Exhausted

The Church of Germany 1936 and the Church Today

I know I posted a link to Lori Kalner's letters once already. But, this letter is too important not to be read. Please, please go to The Thoene's Blog and read her latest letter.
A note of interest: the question Lori Kalner is responding to was asked by my sister.

you might be a homeschooler if...

I found this list online a couple of years ago and laughed and laughed! Even though I am no longer in school... having graduated several years ago... I still can totally relate to some of these!
...if the only bell that rings at your school is the telephone.
...if you think an "Anglo Saxon" is a math text book.
...if your school planner has a column entitled "chores."
...if your teacher has ever attended school in her pajamas.
...if your kitchen table serves as a lab, supply center, work area, and, occasionally, a place to eat.
...if you have to stop and think when asked, "What grade are you in?"
...if you shop for back-to-school clothes in your older sibling's hand-me-down pile.
...if your class roster sounds like a Biblical genealogy.
...if you have to move dirty laundry off your desk before you can study.
...if your school bus is a nine-passenger van.
...if you consider school work after lunch to be cruel and unusual punishment.
...if your social life is viewed by others to be one rung below that of a Benedictine monk.
...if your father has ever told you to tell the check-out lady at Wal-Mart, "We're on a field trip."
...if your yearbook is also your babybook.
...if your first real date is on your honeymoon.

Springtime in Alaska

I'll be the first person to admit that snow can be beautiful. There is definitely something magical about the first snowfall every year. HOWEVER, the temperature here in Southwest Wisconsin has finally reached above freezing for the first time in... 6 weeks? Anyway, I think spring may be here. Maybe it's just wishful thinking... :-)

But, all day long I've been thinking of a song that my Great Grandpa used to sing. It goes like this:

When it's springtime in Alaska and it's 99 below

The Eskimos go barefoot in the white and drifting snow

The polar bears get sunburned and the seals sing all the day

When it's springtime in Alaska.....

I'll be heading the other way!!!!

"Who Strives Valiently..."

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Teddy Roosevelt

Pray for our troops....

Lori Kalner

If you have ever read Bodie Thoene's Zion Covenant series, you may remenber her character Lori Kalner. Lori's father was a pastor in Berlin who spoke out against euthanasia and abortion, before and during World War 2. Her own story is incredible, and I've recently discovered that she is a real person!!! She is 85 years old and blind now. Her story is true and she has agreed to answer reader's questions through Bodie and Brock Thoene's blog.

Even if you've never read these books I strongly encourage you to go to the Thoene's Blog and read her letters. She has some amazing and very insightful things to say especially concerning what is happening in the world today compared to what happened the 1940s. Her words moved me to tears. This is a definite MUST READ!

The "Green Dress" Club

My sisters and I discovered this wonderful green fabric at Wal-Mart in a $1/yard bin! We *sheepishly* bought the whole bolt! We wore these dresses to church today and were dubbed the "green dress" club by everyone who did not have a green dress!




I made my dress (on the right) using Butterick 4827








And Susie's (left) using Sense and Sensibilities Romantic Dress Pattern




Katie is a proficient seamstress and made her own
dress using a combination of different patterns!
Here we are again...

The Measure of a Heart...

One of my very favorite books is Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Little Nutbrown Hare tries very hard to tell his Daddy just exactly how much he loves him… But, he can’t think of anything really big enough to fully express his love. I have always been under the impression that love is absolutely un-measureable. Until the other day when my baby brother turned to me and said with incredible sincerity “I love you 180 calibers.” I’m not sure exactly what a caliber is…. But I’m sure I love him 360 calibers......

Valentine's Day....

Happy Valentine's Day... a little late! I must admit Valentine's Day has never been a favorite of mine.... Maybe because it always seemed like everyone had a Valentine except me. Or maybe because I've always had a job that meant Valentine's Day would be a lot of work. First at DQ making loads of Valentine cakes. Now at the flower shop arranging hundreds of roses. :-) Whatever the reason, I think I'm over it now...
I'm glad for the people in my life that I love and who love me. I'm thankful that once a year I get to see 1000 gorgeous red roses all in one place! I am really blessed!!!

being single

Every single girl should check out http://www.ylcf.org/. Jeannie Castleberry has been writing some awesome articles on being single. Her title is "Content But Not Complete." She's hitting the nail "smack-dab" on the head... I couldn't say it any better myself so please check it out...