U-verse or U-nature?

"Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand thhe opportunities for them to watch it? More important, why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching? The highway's edges may not be postcard perfect. But for a century, children's early understanding of how cities and nature fit together was gained from the backseat: the empty farmhouse at the edge of the subdivision; the variety of architecture, here and there; the woods and fields and water beyond the seamy edges--all that was and is still available to the eye. This was the landscape that we watched as children. It was our drive-by movie."

~Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

Ironically, as I'm reading this book, we are embarking on a new journey in our family...the installation of AT&T's U-verse! For many years, we have resisted cable--and honestly--we had to drop a couple of other small monthly luxuries in order to afford it--so cost has always been a determining factor as well. We will have to remain extra-diligent in turning OFF the TV, and monitoring what our children watch. As they grow, we are interested in some additional educational shows (such as Animal Planet and Discovery network offerings). My husband and I, for a variety of reasons, do not often go out on dates together. However, we adopted a couple of weekly shows that we enjoy watching together and we call that time "dates". Sometimes, we have a special dessert together, or pick up take out, just for us (after kids are in bed). The trouble is, the times and/or nights of our chosen shows are not usually convenient; enter DVR capabilities! No more hustling children off without a story, because it's "date night"; no more impatience as we struggle to have everyone peacefully sleeping by an early hour. We can use technology to our own advantage to assist in marital bliss and keeping the peace simultaneously!

Last year, we happened to be otherwise engaged on the evenings in which kids' seasonal Christmas specials were aired. Not important, true, but something from our own childhoods that we enjoy passing along to our young ones. This year, we will DVR the shows to watch when we have time.

Last year, my husband missed all but one or two Husker football games; because our local programming doesn't generally air that team's games. This year, he can enjoy them, and even DVR them if he's working on the air date. Then watch them commercial free!

And so, tomorrow, we have U-verse installed! There are some other great features; like faster internet than we currently have, for the same price (yea bundling!)...we can upload photos to Flickr then watch them on our TV...a caller's name will pop up on our TV if we're watching and we can decide whether or not to take the call (great for those date nights, or movie nights, or whatever!)...and since we rarely go to the movies, we can pay-per-view a newer release with our children, for MUCH less than a trip to the theater!

During the hot and humid weeks of Summer, when mosquito bites cover us, if we venture outdoors (like now...my kids are done out there after only 15 minutes!), some educational (or just for fun) programming may help with peace-keeping. Same thing when it's too cold to go out in Winter, or when everyone is nursing the inevitable head-cold.

So we are all pretty enthused about U-verse...but as I read the above book, I am reminded to be vigilant in keeping outdoor time a priority whenever possible, despite the lures of modern TV!

Jeannie Fulbright fun!

Since I love and use Jeannie Fulbright's Apologia Elementary Science series, I was excited to see this giveaway she has planned!  We will be using the "Astronomy" book soon, so one of these notebooks would sure be a fun addition to our science lessons.  Anyone else joining in?

These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal. 

Each of the notebooking journals include:

• A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
• Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
• Review Questions
• Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice 
• Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
• An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
• Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
• A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

See the sample pages here:

Botany: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=128 

 and 

Astronomy: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=127 

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on her site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com 

Austen on the mind...

Jane.  Oh, how I adore her books-turned-into-movies!  And frankly, I've only read parts of the books themselves.  Yet, I want to read.them.all!  I want to be part of a "Jane Austen Book Club"...given the time period in which Jane lived and wrote, her books are quite incredible.  Scandalously exposing hidden rules of etiquette...showing society's rather unflattering tendencies towards extreme discrimination of all kinds...and yet the romance woven through her stories makes one wonder what her own heart held dear.  "Becoming Jane" was an enjoyable movie, casting light on Jane, herself.

Amazingly, her books remain relevant...the parallels between my culture and hers may be closer than I would think...the elements of culture may not be so changed as I might assume.  A woman's heart may be a deep ocean of secrets (Titanic), and at the same time, the secrets may be shared by all of us who call ourselves "female"--and proudly so!

Ahhhhh.  Austen inspires me to read.  To explore.  To head off to Starbucks for a monthly "book club" meeting, with the current read in hand.  Except...that...I'm not actually "in" a book club.  One can wish. :)

Hot Cross Buns

This year, on Easter weekend, I made "Hot Cross Buns"; something I've desired to do for many years, but oddly enough, have never done! I made my icing a bit runny, so the "cross" on the buns didn't work well--they ended up being "glazed" buns. But everyone loved them. So much, in fact, that I made a 2nd batch a day later. Then, in a stroke of genius, I made a 3rd batch later in the week--but that time--I rolled the dough out, spread it with butter, sprinkled it with cinnamon/sugar, and rolled it up like cinnamon rolls. They were wonderful; lightly sweet, but not overwhelmingly so.

I use the "dough" cycle on my bread machine for this recipe.

HOT CROSS BUNS
3/4 c milk
2 eggs
3 T butter
1/4 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
3 c unbleached flour
1 1/2 t yeast

My machine calls for the above order. Run dough cycle. When dough cycle ends, pull dough from machine, knead lightly, and let dough rest for 10 minutes. Roll out for cinnamon rolls -OR- cut dough into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place in greased baking dish. Cover and let rise until doubled or for about 35 minutes. Bake in preheated oven (350) for 20-25 minutes.

While still hot, mix together 1 c powdered sugar, 1/2 t vanilla, 1/2 t (or more) cinnamon, and 1 T milk to create a glaze. Pour or spread over hot rolls (or over cinnamon rolls). Mmmm-mmmm!

(These can have raisins added, but since my 2 guys don't like raisins, I left them out).

Holy Week

“God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED - To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.”

So many times throughout this past week, I’ve been reminded of my own faults, flaws, sins…all that which I am so tempted to point out in others. It is easy to judge, to think that I have a little more figured out than those around me. But as I’ve looked towards the Cross…pondering His death, it is clear that He died for me and my sins, just as for those of the world around me. He gently reminds me that I’m not perfect after all; that I see with human eyes, and I see outward appearances (I’m not referring to physical attributes of a person, but rather, “the way things appear” circumstantially). I have only “my” side when I view people and situations. I cannot see their hearts, I cannot see their lives. And I have not walked a mile in their shoes.

I hate being judged, and there have been many times that others have judged me. I have felt it, seen it, heard it. So it seems that I would be slow to judge others. To my dismay, this is not always the case! And so I need a Savior as badly as anyone…I need forgiveness, grace. I need The Cross.

And then, there are times I need a paradigm shift. There are times I need to see with the eyes of Jesus. There are times I need to realize that maybe I am the one who is flawed, and not always those around me! Holy Week, leading up to Easter, is a perfect time to reflect on these things. To seek forgiveness from Our Father, and reconcile with one another, and with The Cross. It is a good time to ask Jesus for His mercy, His compassion, and for His eyes to see with.

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick’s Day napkins…I forgot to set them out on our table. Fortunately, they will be used throughout Spring and Summer! As I read the book Saint Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola, the children enjoyed Irish Soda Bread, St Patrick’s Day Punch, cheese squares, and apple slices. Later on, we added Pistachio Green Fluff (as we call it!) to our dinner menu, and enjoyed St Patrick’s Day cupcakes. The kids really enjoyed “celebrating” (and wearing green!) and I hope to keep a closer eye on opportunities to create special days throughout the year.

We skipped school today, although my oldest two had their violin lessons. Our local schools are on Spring Break, but we are not officially taking time off, so I figured we could skip today. I hope to be finished with our Spring term so that we can take the month of May off, before beginning our Summer term. (We school year round for maximum flexibility). We’ve had gorgeous weather the last couple of days--70s--and so we’ve spent our afternoons outdoors, well into the evenings. Tomorrow may be fairly nice, but cooler temps are on the way for the remainder of our week.

My husband hasn't been home with us the last couple of evenings; I'm looking forward to the weekend, and having him around again!

Sabbath, part 3

Final thoughts on the Sabbath…as I've finished up the book Sabbath Keeping by Lynne Baab. I respond partially to questions she asks at the end of each chapter, to encourage reflection throughout her book.

Some activities which would keep my Sabbath restful could include reading to my kids, reading alone, watching NASCAR with my son/kids, playing outdoors, going to the park with kids…journaling, drawing, sewing, baking…these are all relaxing for me and they encourage gratitude in my heart when I have time to indulge in them. Or in this case, when I make time! These activities often allow my thoughts time to rest on God and His greatness, His mercy, His grace in my life...even as I watch my children laugh and play, I am blessed by their health, by their joy, by my love for them.

In order to prepare for our Sabbath, and to keep it restful for me, I need to have laundry caught up (mostly, at least)…I need to have meal prep started for the Sabbath Day so that there’s minimal kitchen work…and I need to mentally prepare for it by silencing those “to-do” lists that run nonstop inside my head. By starting at sundown, my mind has time to "shift" from the busyness of daily life, to a day of rest. Then, when our Sabbath ends, at sundown the next day, I can have an hour or so that evening to begin preparing for our usual routines to begin again; look over school plans, start a load of laundry...and so on.

I am mulling over possibilities for easy menus; that is, meals I can make on the Sabbath, and also meals that essentially “make themselves” (crockpot and so on)…or, plan out leftovers to have, freezer meals on hand, whatever will work for my family. I enjoy kitchen time, but at a leisurely pace--not--the “everyone-is-home-from-church-and-starving pace. J I need to write and print a list for Sabbath meals, so that I can more easily plan ahead and shop ahead when possible.

I also appreciate the suggestion of lighting a Sabbath candle; will have to think over this. I keep a candle on the table, and we light it for dinner, so I’m not sure how effective it would be for a “separate” candle to be lit on Sabbath--but, perhaps simply leaving a candle lit all afternoon? I love having a tablecloth on our table, too, but we use the table for school daily, so the cloth is inconvenient. Today, I put the cloth on after school (this is Friday) and I plan to keep it on through our weekend, removing it for Monday morning. This signifies a break from school for the weekend, and gives our table a more distinctive appearance for Sabbath.

Lynne Baab asks the question, in her book “Have you ever looked for animal footprints in the woods and tried to follow them?” She goes on to explain that it takes concentration to do it, and uses this illustration to further explain our need for Sabbath. She says “Our lives will be immeasurably richer if we notice God’s footprints in our lives, his fingerprints all over the events of our days. All this noticing takes time.”

I loved that illustration! I used to blog a “thankful Thursday” every week. It became ingrained in me to be looking for things big and small to be grateful for; to find graces in my every day and in special times; to watch for God’s mercy every Thursday. I miss the discipline of my thankful posts and perhaps will return to that at some point. But the habit of gratitude, hasn’t left me; it is weaker sometimes, yet still there. I believe an attitude of thankfulness is important as we go about our daily lives; remembering *not* to take for granted all that we’ve been given, our way of life, our families, and of course, God’s provision in our lives. Sabbath offers a day to reflect on these very things, if we choose to keep the day holy and set apart.