Speaking from the Heart

I had planned for the kids to have school on Monday and Tuesday, but Prince Charming took the week off and decided to go to Alabama 2 days early. We packed and loaded the truck on Monday. Prince Charming went to bed early. I followed him a few hours later. Prince Charming and I allowed the kids to stay up all night watching TV, playing video games, or reading. By the time they got in the car, around 5:00 AM, they were ready for bed. This made their journey a little shorter. The drive was long, but I enjoyed the togetherness, something we don't do much at home. The kids enjoyed asking us about our childhood, as well as about theirs. When we were too tired to chat, we listened to Christmas music.

More than 12 hours later, we reached grandma's (my mom) house. She greeted grand kids with gifts, Prince Charming with a homemade Cheesecake, and me with my favorite Vietnamese food. We were spoiled by her hospitality.

After visiting grandma, we went to our next destination, Thanksgiving family reunion in the mountains with Prince Charmings' aunts, uncles, cousins, parents,etc. Afterwards, we returned home with my in-law. While the rest of the family will be watching Alabama vs. Auburn, Minnie and I will be shopping with Mom on Saturday. When Sunday comes around, we will be back on the road heading South to Florida.

I miss you all. I'll visit you next week.

Jean

A dear friend gave me an almost complete set of Saxon Algebra 2 curriculum. The only thing missing is the complete solution to the tests; however I do have the answer key. Being thrifty, I opted not to buy the solution book. For any problems that The Inquisitor misses, I would work out the steps. I have an electrical engineering degree. I took differential equations in college. Algebra 2 should be a breeze. Right? (LOL).

I usually have to solve a couple of problems. However, there were 9 problems this week. I had to looked through the textbook for examples. It took me more than an hour. It seems like I am retaking the course. However, this time I have a better understanding of how to approach the problem. I must be able to apply mathematical rules, before I can solve the problem. I didn't understand this concept the first time I took it. Take the following problem as an example:

Find an equation of the line that passes through point (7, 5) and is perpendicular to the line 2x-3y=6

Before I can solve this problem, I must remember that if two lines are perpendicular, the slope one line is the negative inverse of the other. Once I retrieve this information from my cobwebbed brain, I am able to set up the problem, and the calculation becomes a breeze.

When I am not blogging or playing Scrabble with Prince Charming, I have a pair of knitting needles in my hands. The patriotic toboggans and a poncho are my latest projects. The red, white, and blue sweater is 32 + years old. Mom made it for me when I was Minnie's age.

For more Friday Show and Tell, click on the clipart.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am counting my marriage blessings:

• I am thankful for Prince Charming's commitment
• I am thankful Prince Charming for being a good husband and a dad.
• Prince Charming tells me that he was with his girlfriend, instead of working at the the office at wee hours. I am thankful he and I can laugh about it.
• Prince Charming teases me about wanting a divorce . I am thankful that he knows he can't find anyone better than me.
• I am thankful for my mother-in-law. She gave life to Prince Charming.
• I am thankful Prince Charming doesn't mentally or physically abuse me. When he is around family, friends, and co-workers, he uplifts me.
• I am thankful for my father-in-law, who taught Prince Charming about being a good husband and a dad.

For more Thankful Thursday, click on the clip art. Happy Thanksgiving.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ... Philippians 1:27

As a mother, she is building great cathedrals. She cannot see if she is doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what that mom has built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of The Invisible Mom.

For more M.O.M, click on the clip art.

Dandelion Seeds is hosting her 2nd Annual "Giving thanks everyday..." From November 1st until Thanksgiving Day, make it a point to be thankful in all things, every day and begin to focus on the many blessings in your life.

I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. Psalms 13:6

A couple years ago, we had to cap our Christmas expenditures. It was such a blessing. I spent more time at home making things and baking cookies. The children were able to enjoy their Christmas vacation, instead of being dragged to the mall for endless hours. How do you spend your Christmas holidays?

Although we had a busy week, we managed to put in two full days of school. Our longest day was Friday. Both children had trouble with conversions. After spending an hour and a half on the metric system with Minnie, I spent another 2 hours with The Inquisitor teaching him how to convert a polar form to a rectangular form, and visa versa . Why did it take so long for each child? I continued to give them math problems to solve until I knew that they thoroughly understood the concepts. They didn't like the repetitious work, and thought it was a cruel punishment. Maybe one day they will look back and say "thanks mom" for teaching me perseverance.

The Inquisitor had his first debate forum. He and his partner argued that elevator music should be "new age", while their opponents stood firm on classical music. Both teams had to come up with a convincing argument to support their beliefs.

Minnie and her speech classmates had a ball experimenting with dry ice. Each child had to demonstrate an experiment and gave a speech on it. Minnie chose to make carbonated root beer (see below). With 14 drops of root beer concentrate (which can be found at Sweetbays), 2 teaspoon of sugar, 1 cup of water, and a small chunk of dry ice added, root beer is made.

I am still not spending enough time teaching Minnie. She is good at doing her work. It is me who gets behind in grading them. By the time I do check them, she is 3 or 4 lessons ahead. I completely missed the opportunity to teach her the concept. Speech, debate, and computer science classes will be done in December. My goal is to be home 3 days starting in January.

Dandelion Seeds is hosting her 2nd Annual "Giving thanks everyday..." From November 1st until Thanksgiving Day, make it a point to be thankful in all things, every day and begin to focus on the many blessings in your life.

Answer me when I call you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer . Psalm 4:1

For more of Iris' Thankful Thursday, click on the clip art.

Now here are the rules for this award:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate 3 or more blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs telling them they've won an award!
6. Start preparing the bread starter

Amish Friendship Bread Starter
It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.

2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.

3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Day 1: Do nothing (This is the day you receive the batter, but go by the date on the bag).
Day 2: Mush the bag
Day 3: Mush the bag
Day 4: Mush the bag
Day 5: Mush the bag
Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag. Don't worry if the starter smells, it is fermenting.
Day 7: Mush the bag
Day 8: Mush the bag
Day 9: Mush the bag
Day 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three (reality) friends.

To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will bake every 10 days. The bread is very a good quick bread and makes a great gift.

Dandelion Seeds is hosting her 2nd Annual "Giving thanks everyday..." From November 1st until Thanksgiving Day, make it a point to be thankful in all things, every day and begin to focus on the many blessings in your life.

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Psalms 40:4

Dear Lord,

Sometimes it is hard for my loved ones to have faith in things that they can't see. I must lean on You for guidance. I will wait on you to cue me when to speak and when to sit in silence. I will continue to pray, for I know prayers do not go unanswered. It is in Your time, and not my time.

Thank you for my pastor. He is awesome. He has no qualms of admitting that he is a sinner. He does not put himself above his congregation. He frequently admits that he has faults like the rest of us. Thank you for my children's Sunday School teachers, who have made a huge impact in their lives. Thank you for men like Debra's husband (pictured above) who looks to you for guidance. Amen