BOYDS CREEK ACRES

Got this one from Jen...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  YES! lol  Usually bags for friends and wrapping for family.  Don't know why, it just ends up that way.  My FAVORITE wrap is brown paper tied w/twine or raffia w/some sort of CHRISTmas Stampin' Up stamps.

2. Real tree or Artificial?  We used to do the real ones, but I pick up quills ALL year, so we have used a fake one for years.  Last year, however, we got the most wonderful tree!!  It's very rustic - just the way I like it - it has just a touch of "snow" (so it doesn't look 'cheap') and pine cones and we put only vintage and rustic ornaments on it.  LOVE IT!  I hate to take it down!

3. When do you put up the tree? If not the day after Thanksgiving, then the weekend following.

5. Do you like eggnog?  No. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Hmmm...my Barbie Dream House.  I'm old enough that it was the second edition, still cardboard, but it was WAY cool!! 

7. Hardest person to buy for?  My mom.  She's very well off and has 2 of everything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  My dog, Maggie!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes; it's the one my family has had since I was about 3 years old and is starting to fall apart.  I'd like to get replacement Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and a few animals from the company that does the wooden angels for all occasions (shoot, can't think of the name).  While I'm at it ... I CAN'T STAND to see the wise men in a nativity scene!!  They didn't find Jesus until He was 2 years old, for Pete's sake...so put them waaaaay over on the other side of the house that they can make a journey of it! 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Both.  If I have your e-mail address, you'll probably get an e-mail; family and friends w/o e-mail get cards. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  OK...I'm serious here...no joke...My dear grandma was a very frugal gal, having lived through the Depression she was always thinking of USEFUL things to give.  The first CHRISTmas we were married she gave us a can of Crisco w/a bow on top!!  lol 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White CHRISTmas.

13. When do you start shopping? Usually in December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes.  'Nuff said.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  My mom's stuffing!

16. Lights on the tree?  White.

17. Favorite Christmas song?  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander.  I have a really beautiful arrangement of 'I Wonder...' that I worked out on my hammered dulcimer.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?   We usually go to my mom's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?  Possibly...um...no.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  A rustic star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  We have our OWN family CHRISTmas on CHRISTmas Eve morning - when the girls were little we were always rushing all over the place and we weren't making OUR OWN memories and they couldn't enjoy their news clothes or toys.  So, when our oldest was about 5 we started our own tradition on the day before. 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year.  The emphasis on Santa and stores putting up CHRISTmas - eh hem - I mean 'holiday' decorations BEFORE halloween!! 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  Rustic, vintage.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Didn't I answer that?  My mom's stuffing.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  A digital camera.

The holidays are near so I want to know...

1.
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
 Hot chocolate!

2.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
 Nope, never did the Santa-thing.  Jesus supplies the gifts – that’s what we’ve always told them.

3.
Colored lights on tree/house or white? 
 White

4.
Do you hang mistletoe? 
 yes

5.
When do you put your decorations up? 
  always right after Thanksgiving :) 

6.
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? 
My mom’s stuffing.               

 7.
Favorite holiday memory as a child: 
When I was about 11, I couldn’t sleep one Christmas Eve night and I had my radio on.  It was about 2a.m. and Nat King Cole’s “Chestnuts Roasting” came on while huge, fluffy snowflakes floated down outside my windows.  Ahhhh.

8.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 
 2^nd or 3^rd grade.
9.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? 
Yes.  So that OUR family can make our own Christmas memories, we open our own presents on Christmas Eve morning so that it’s not interrupted by having to leave to go to someone’s house.

10.
How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? 
  We got a new Christmas tree last year that is very real-looking w/just a little ‘snow’ and pinecones on it.  We put away many of our more trendy ornaments for the girls to have one of these days and now only use the more vintage and backwoods-looking ornaments.  It’s very rustic and I LOVE IT!!
11.
Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love snow...especially when I’m inside looking out!

12.
Can you ice skate? 
  That’s up for interpretation…I’ve roller skated all my life and only ice skated once.

13.
Do you remember your favorite gift? 

Christmas of 1998, Ty got me my hammered dulcimer!!

14.
What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? 
Remembering God's gift to us in His Son Jesus and having my family all together for Christmas. 

15.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
 Pumpkin pie and red velvet cake.

16.
What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
The big family meal – everyone together and happy.

17.
What tops your tree? 
 A rustic star

18.
Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Definitely giving 

19.
What is your favorite Christmas Song? 
  O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander

20.
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? 
 Yum.

21.
What do you want for Christmas? 
A digital camera

22.
Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? 
 Ty’s work and – if can call it a party – our annual Christmas Eve service.

23.
Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? 

When I was little we dressed up for the meal.  Now we just wear ‘nice’ jeans and maybe a ‘dress’ blouse/shirt or sweater.

24. Do you own a Santa hat?
 nope – don’t do the Santa-thing here.

25.
Who do you normally spend Christmas with? 
Our family ~~ Christmas Eve day is for our own family; the weekend before Christmas day is w/Ty’s side of the family, Christmas Day is usually w/my side of the family.

I really enjoy my Old Farmer's Almanac newsletter and I have learned so much from it.  Today's newsletter offered and link to "Gardening Jobs by the Month," which is of interest to me as a novice gardener.  So many of those of you that I've spoken to lately are considering either planting a kitchen garden next year or expanding the one you already keep, so I thought you might benfit from this information, too.  Here's the link:

http://www.almanac.com/garden/jobs/index.php

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Here's something I found and thought it would be a great lesson for our children with Thanksgiving coming... {KW<><}...

In the White House, Abe Lincoln was pacing the floor of his office.  He felt more troubeld than he had ever felt before.  The fate of the Union was at stake.  He felt as if he were almost alone in his concern for the outcome.  Friends and aides appeared to be almost panic-stricken.  Abe felt that this was the most critical hour of the [Civil] war, perhaps the most critical hour in the entire history of the United States.

In desperation he left his office, went into this room and locked the door.  There he fell before a chair.  With his head in his hands, he wept and prayed.

Now, more than at any other time in his life he turned to God.  In deep anguish he told God that he had done all he could.  He pleaded for help.  There was nothing more that he could do.  He must leave the result of the battle in the hands of God.  He now knew that if his country was to be saved, it would be only because God willed it.

It was a heartbreaking hour of prayer.

When he unlocked the door and came out of his room he felt that a great burden had suddenly been rolled off his shoulders.  His intense anxiety and torturing concern had been relieved.  He felt a quiet and calm trustfullness...

On his desk was a copy of the Thanksgiving Proclamation.  He had proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of national Thanksgiving.  The nation had never before had such an annual Thanksgiving Day and he had decided that it was time the nation remembered in a special day what God had done.

Now he read slowly the proclamation:

We have been the recipients of the choistest bounties of heaven; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown.  But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

We have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he read these words, for he believed in them deeply.  It was because of this belief that he ordered the Treasury Department to engrave the words, In God We Trust, on American coins.

As he was sitting at his desk, thinking about these things, an aide rushed in and excitedly exclaimed, "There's good news from the battle at Gettysburg, Sir..."

But in spite of this great victory, his days were filled, dealing with generals, listening to the problems of many citizens, and handling endless administrative details.  For help he turned to God through the Bible and in prayer.

Almost daily now, he felt the need to go to his room to pray.  More and more, he became conscious of the work of God in the affairs of men.

Writing to a friend, Byron Sutherland, one day, he said,

I believe we are all agents and instruments of Divine Providence.  I hold myself in my present position and with the authority invested in me, as an instrument of Providence.  I am conscious every moment that all I am and all that I have are subject to the control of a higher power, and that power can use me or not use me in any manner and at any time as in His wisdom might be pleasing to Him.

One day, Mr. Chittenden, the register of the Treasury, asked him if he believed that God actually directed national affairs.  With a deep feeling of emotion, he replied,

The the Almighty does make use of human agencies, and directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements of the Bible...I have many evidences of His direction, many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannont doubt that this power comes from above.

~~~Reprinted from Honest Abe by Harry J. Albus.

For Today...

Outside my window...beautiful sunshine shining on a very thin layer of snow.  Sparkling like glitter on the roofs of the house and out-buildings.  It's been a few days since the morning has begun with sunshine.

I am thinking...how silly I was to have forgotten to do my Daybook yesterday!

Today started out so gloomy and cold as the rain brought in such frigid temperatures.  But I needed to go out to my favorite Old Order German Baptist farm dairy this morning to get some more whole milk and brown eggs.  Even on gloomy days, that little trip brings a smile to me face.  It's a nice 15-20 minute drive and I had my sweet little dog, Maggie, w/me and I put my CD of the music from PBS's "Frontier House" in the player and we were off. 

There was some sort of 'big doin's' at the Old Order meeting house this morning b/c I passed no fewer than 11 horses and buggies on my errand.  That's always such a wonderful sight.

When I got home, I fixed dh's favorite Saturday morning breakfast, Amish French Toast (http://www.homesteadblogger.com/wannabeone/105269/) and don't you know that 2 (TWO!!) of the eggs I cracked open had double yokes!! 

Then, about an hour later, the weather got cold enough that our rain turned to giant, fluffy snowflakes for about 2-1/2 hours.  What a lovely sight on a dark, quiet (except for the Ohio State Buckeye football game! ) Saturday.

It's the little things in life that mean the most.  PTL.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...Grey and cold.  It started out in the 20's but we are now in the 30's.  Indian Summer is over.

As many of you know, I attend the Thomas Bilney Theological Seminary, where I just received my Assoiciate's Degree in Biblical Studies in September (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Buckeyeblog/589967/ the series I just posted - The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children - is actually my Associate's thesis!).  If you live in the Dayton, Ohio/Miami Valley area of Ohio, I urge you look into the up-coming classes.  The BEST PART is that since the Dean is my pastor (Rev. Joe Getts), I have arranged for Senior High level homeschoolers to be able to take these INTENSIVE courses, too!!   For the homeschool students, once a course is completed and graded they will receive a Seminarian Certificate WHICH WILL BE TRANFERRED INTO CREDITS ONCE THEY HAVE GRADUATED FROM THEIR HOMESCHOOL!!  Awesome!!  So you and your high schooler can take courses together!

These are INTENSIVE courses. What INTENSIVE means is that, depending on the class, you will basically get one quarter's-worth of infomation in anywhere from 1 to 3 days - depending upon the subject/class.  It's basically the same as what some of the college-at-home schools call "fast track."  I have listed up-coming classes in the past, but it's been a while since I've explained how this particular Seminary works, so I thought I would do it again...

There are 4 Degree Programs:  1) Seminarian Certificates, 2) Associate Degrees, 3) Baccaaureate Degrees (Bachelor), & 4) Master's Degrees.  There are 5 Degree Disciplines:  1) Biblical Studies (CSS), 2)Theological Studies (TDS), 3) Interdisciplinary Sudies (IDS), 4) Christian History (CHS) & 5) Pastoral Ministries (PMS).  The classes or numerous and can take a look at some of those on the website (www.thomasbilney.org).  All classes are available in person (for which you earn more credits), in book/CD form and SOME may be completed on-line.  Also, no matter which Discipline you choose, you may take ANY course in ANY Discipline!  

Now to the meat of this post...Here are some up-coming courses you may be interested in - I'll be there!  ... 

Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Philosophers and the Christian Faith (IDS108)

Professor Richard Barker

3 Credits

8:00a.m. @ New Hope Commuity Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $30.00)

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

Comparing Religions in Grief (IDS110)

Joe Getts

3 Credits

7:00p.m. @ New Hope Community Church; Miamisburg, Ohio

(Tuition: $20.00)

CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES IN

Early Church History   

~Roman Civilization (CH112)

~Early Empire Religions (IDS110)

~Early Church History (CHS102)

~History of the New Testament (CHS106)

~Post Nicene Deveolpment (CHS114)

15 Credits toward your degree!!

Instructors:

Richard Barker

George C. Carpenter

Joe L. Getts

Michael P. Lorey

January 16 & 17, 2009

New Hope Community Church

1999 Belvo Rd.

Miamisburg, Ohio  45342

If you have any questions, just let me know.  OR go to the website and contact Rev. Joe Getts on the e-mail given.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

From The Old Farmer's Almanc...I thought this was interesting and something we can use for our homeschools or just for our own interest...KW<><

Signs of Winter

Few things concern the gardener more than the first warning signs of winter. At The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we employ scientific disciplines to predict the weather but also believe in keeping a close eye on nature. The following are all considered traditional signs of a severe winter ahead: 

• Geese fly south at a high altitude.
• Oak trees bear many acorns.
• Chipmunks are abundant.
• Lakes and rivers freeze later than usual.
• Onions grow thicker skins than usual.
• Squirrels are gathering a large supply of nuts.
• Woodpeckers appear early.
• Lots of berries.
• Corn husks are thicker and stronger.

What’s in store for your winter? For our Web site visitors, we have provided two months of free weather forecasts.

Well, I don't know about you - and I don't want to offend anyone's politics - but I am SO SAD over what happened to our country last night.  Never in my lifetime did I ever think that I would live to see a Socialist/Marxist voted into the office of the President of the United States.  My grandpa fought in WWI to defeat people like this; my uncle and my dad fought in WWII to defeat people like this.  How sad they would be today. 

HOWEVER...I DO know that GOD is still on His throne!  Whatever judgement we must go through, we can do all through Christ Who strengthens us.

But here is a bright spot in my day - my youngest dd, who is a Senior in our homeschool this year - handed me this impromptu essay that she's going to put on her My Space...

Yesterday a man was elected President of the United States.  Someone I fear.  Someone who approves of abortion, someone who approves of gay marriages and someone who is a Socialist and his name is Barack Obama.  I am starting to wonder what has happened to our country.  I have a couple of things I would like to say to you all today and I felt like I needed to share them with you.  I watched a movie today called "The Patriot," and if you haven't seen it yet, or you have seen it and it's just been a long time, then I encourage you to watch it.  Now, granted, the fact that the story of a man named Benjamin Martin (character played by Mel Gibson) and his family's story may not be true; but what they did to his family in the movie, those kinds of things did happen to other families back then; and they probably did things to those people that we wouldn't even want to see on screen.  The main thing that I want you all to realize is that they won the Revolutionary War because they didn't take God out of the center of that war.  We have taken God so much out of politics that it's sickening.  People like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would be rolling over in their graves over our nation right now.  Those two men made a difference in our country because they kept their faith in God!  So I ask you now...What has happened to our nation?  We take God out of our nation more and more, and let me tell you something, if you take God out of our nation there is not going to BE a nation.  I want to go back to that movie, "The Patriot," for just a little bit.  That main character, Benjamin Martin, lost so much.  But we see him hold on to his unfailing faith.  He always knew that God was with him. What a great testimony for those who are struggling.  But where has faith like that gone in our nation?  We all take so lightly the purpose of voting or just being here in America period!  I read an article about what some women went through just to have the right to vote.  They were arrested for wanting just to vote!  Listen to these true stories..."Lucy Burns was beaten until she could no longer stand.  She was chained with her hands above her head to cell bars and was left there hanging and gasping for air...Dora Lewis was hurled into a dark cell, smashed her head into an iron bed and knocked her out cold.  Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.  Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women."  This was called the "Night of Terror" on Nov. 15, 1917.  Nobody acts like they even remember what happened at 9/11 anymore.  I even forgot about it this year...how sad is that?!  God gave us a second chance to change the world on 9/11.  There has been so many opportunities for our nation to come together but we haven't taken them.  God wants us to witness to the world and how can we do that if our own nation is starting to fall apart with gangs and racial issues?!  I think these people would be disappointed in our choices and our actions.  I know some of you out there didn't even vote and that always disappoints me when someone doesn't vote.  Because the people before us worked so hard to be able to let you all vote and we take it for granted.  People want to take God out of public schools completely and that is just not right.  I will be praying for our country and our troops.  We need to remember that God is and always will be he center of our nation.  Not the President and/or Senators.  This is God's nation!

Last night, after the 11p.m. (est) announcement that Obama had officially crossed the 270 electoral votes, this dd came down and said, "Mommy, I think we need to pray now!"  I am so proud of my girls, but - as I'm sure you know - there are those moments that just make your heart nearly burst from love.  This was one of them for me.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE!!