Pies and dyes

Our dearly beloved grandparents were coming over for the nationally-so-called "mother's day weekend" and I decided to make a Key Lime Pie for my grandmother. Being a good learner (it has taken me 17 years to get some left-brain, but give me a break) I decided to make a trial first and then a final.

The hardships began with the crust, which had to be pre-baked. I stuck it in the oven (nicely rolled out, perfectly fluted, etc) and checked on it 5 min. later only to find that butter crusts don't enjoy holding their shape in high temperatures. I re-made the crust with a fork, and tried to stick it to the edge of the pie-pan, but when it finally cooked hard....it was still not above the edge. *sigh*

I used bottled "calamansi" juice, and followed the recipe otherwise, but the juice already had sweetness in it...and I used a *bit* too much coloring.....which made my creation a little too reflective of alien slime and not so much of limes.

However, my first-time meringue turned out *perfect* (which is no small accomplishment for ME at least).

In a right-brain flair, I scrawled a big letter on my meringue to represent whom it was for....which I had to then TELL my mother and sister (who did not seem to be able to recognize it...grrr).

Because it was a test, I allowed the mortals who inhabit my house to try a piece....and when it was cut...it was not only alien slime.....but alien juice as well. We quickly placed it in the fridge to see if cooling it would induce it to congeal. Using already-sweet juice also ruined it, because it was WAY to sweet and rather sickening.

Having now ruined my first batch, I made an effort to get REAL key limes to make it not-so-sickly-sweet and more like the real thing. After many dire predictions of failure....I found the rather expensive green balls with great promise.

After another unsuccessful crust episode, I spent 5 minutes slowly dropping mili-teaspoons of coloring into the filling in hopes that it would not be too green again....and the effort payed off.

It tasted rather interesting....and it didn't goo...although it did "drip" water somehow. I managed to make two perfect meringues, two awful crusts, one good filling and one alien-slime filling. I have decided not to venture int Key-Lime territory for a while.

No Greater Promise-

Once on a hillside, people were gathered
Hoping to see Him, as thousands were fed
He touched the blind eyes, healed broken spirits
He moved with compassion, while He raised up the dead

Once on a hillside, people were gathered
Watching as Jesus was crucified
No one showed mercy, to the one who had healed them
Yet, Jesus loved them, as He suffered and died.

Once on a hillside, people were gathered
For Jesus had risen and soon would ascend
Then, as He blessed them, He rose to the heavens
And gave them His promise to come back again

Chorus:
We shall see Jesus, just as they saw Him
There is no greater promise than this
When He returns in power and glory
We shall see Jesus, we shall see Jesus, just as He is!

Quote

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."

— G.K. Chesterton, essayist and poet

Quote:

She was heartily ashamed of her ignorance. A misplaced shame. Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To come with a well-informed mind, is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing any thing, should conceal it as well as she can....

Northanger Abbey Volume I

TeenPact

This past week, I have been attending the charter class of TeenPact Pennsylvania. I had more than a "blast", and definitely plan on repeating the class next year, and possibly attending some alumni events, should God provide.
I did not go expecting much, but not being attuned to this culture (which fact this week has only more securely fixed in my mind...what IS the "hokey-pokey"?) I was not sure what TO expect.


At 12:45, Monday afternoon we walked up the steps to the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, where (after passing through security) we were greeted by a man in a suit, and directed to our destination.
The rest of the day was spent surveying the ropes, and learning the basics of what would be covered the next two days.
Tuesday morning, we began with singing, a bible study, and a "prayer walk". Then, the leader began a lecture on why he believed in Theistic Evolution. Debate followed, some questions, and a couple students moved into the forefront of the debate. I was confused, because his position contradicted what I had understood of the program, and the position of the founder. The student at the end of my table wrote a note and passed it down, "He doesn't really believe it, he just wants us to debate", which turned out to be the correct analysis. A speech by the Chief of Staff for Judge Marjorie Rendell followed.
We then went out on a field experience, and learned about lobbyists, and walked around the capitol trying to find said specimen of creature, and asking them questions. Lunch next, divided by committees, where we discussed the bills assigned to our committee. (Each student was required to write a bill to present to the legislature)
After lunch was a speech by Representative Sam Rhorer, and then a field experience of examining forms of media, identifying their bias, and analyzing the facts, opinions, and emotions presented in a newspaper article.
Upon re-assembling, we were divided into two political parties, the Party Party, and the Surprise Party, and we formulated party platforms on the issues of Education, the Economy, and whether or not to change the state dog to the Chihuahua, or keep the Great Dane. We then elected two representative candidates, and one gubernatorial candidate.
Following this, was the TeenPact Legislature, where Parlimentary Procedure was strictly followed, and the bills passed by committees were presented to the entire class. Two bills failed, and one passed unanimously. The daily quiz came next, and then we were dismissed.
Wednesday, everyone lobbied the class with cookies, candy, and pamphlets supporting their party, and their candidates, and the daily devil's advocate subject was the "separation of church and state" which evil Johnathan stoutly defended. Field experience consisted of analyzing bills. After lunch, a speech by Mr. Paul Clymer, last field experience (the house and senate) and a slideshow about political campaign disclosures, and gerrymandering, and (of course) the awesome legislature... although the other two committees decided to gang up on our committee, and they passed a resolution making our committee sing and dance the hokey-pokey before the entire class.

Thursday, we had our final quiz immediately after prayer, and the our "Daily DA" (welfare). We then had a game time "Contitutional Power Grab", and then we broke for lunch, finished up all our committie's bills. Legislature was even better than before, in the Majority Caucus rooms (with it's official desk, and gavel), and bills seemed more hilarious than before....but then we had to adjourn singe die. I am sure all the emotional females felt very badly about it, and one girl even put a crying-face on her notes page. Graduation followed, and everyone got a pretty piece of paper stating their achievement and a handshake from all the staff (I got hugs.....from the girls). Then, we all got sharpies, and everyone signed almost everyone else's blue TeenPact logoed shirt. Then, we were all encouraged to come to Alumni events...which I think would be at least as exciting, if not as profitable.

I got to sleep in Friday, and today, we have Grandparent's over!

3 Kids?

I thought the National Average was 1.5, but maybe I am mistaken. This article discusses the interesting comments one recieves from people when you announce your expectation of a third child.

This link shows that the "average 'family' size" to be 3.2.

Rant ala Politico

I am SO glad I can vote!! Are you aware, cher reader, that you are of no use in the world until you turn 18? Your signature cannot be honored, you have no social status, and nothing you do will be paid attention to without someone in charge giving you allowance. (unless you commit a crime, and then you are given a slap on the wrist and told very solemnly to "not do that again" and set free) However, even when you turn 18, you are only worthwhile so much as you vote and smoke.

Life only COUNTS when it turns the grand old age of 21, and then you are allowed to be a responsible citizen, voice your opinions to your elders, and work for any extended period of time.
It highly annoys me that, until July, I have no importance in the world. Even my signature is worthless. It is all the result of a government that wants teens and children to be completely dependent. If you don't have the power of citizenship...they do (or someone does). It will be eventual, that even 20-somethings don't have their citizenship power, and the 60+, and then down from there, and up from 30, until the government (or rather, those who are running it) has all the power and the generations used to meekly submitting to their "minor" fate will continue to submit, and Marx will be looking up at us with joy.

Edit: In response to the comment alleging that this post calls for the government to allow children to vote--
No, I'm calling for a reduction of government restrictions on "teens" aka young adults. I do not think that children should vote.
I think that life should be valued whenever it benefits society, and when it can be responsible and improve its surroundings.
I also think that the "minor" status (although necessary for younger children) should be downplayed, because it encourages immaturity and the phenomenon seen in "teens" and "tweens" know as "wild oats". Responsible citizenship is not exactly possible when one cannot even sign their name, and have it respected.

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches" (Proverbs 22:1) does not start at 18, or 21!

I found this

I found this under the title: Very Interesting and Unusual Scientific Facts

A comment:More specifically, men in America speak about 1500 moderately important/necessary words during the day, whereas women in the U.S. utter approximately 15.

Re-what?

Has anyone ever consciously thought recently that the Union of the States of America is a republic? Or was? Or was meant to be? Or what it matters?


Past the typical definitions, and the biased definitions, let us look at the original Constitution (with the first 10 Amendments) and think.

A democracy is a system of government where the people choose who governs them. In a democracy, the majority rules, and what the majority wants is what the government must do.

A republic is a system of government where the people choose who upholds the laws that they have decided to live under. In a republic, the representative of the people (whether he be a president, senator or governor) is elected to follow and keep the laws of the state/commonwealth/country.

In the original Constitution, State/Commonwealth Senators to the government of the United States were appointed by the legislatures of the State/Commonwealth. The problems of majority/minority were non-existent because they didn't matter.

One example is in 1868, when Andrew Johnson was a hair away from being impeached. The House of Representatives impeached him by a landslide, but the Senate was trying to balance on a teeter-totter of the law vs. the people. In the end, only one vote decided it. The senators who dared voted against impeaching the president. Johnson's conduct may have been scandalous and he may have been a bad president, but there was no legal backing for impeaching him.

In my Internet search to verify the names of the dissenters, I came across this comment:

But the duty of the Senators, with whom we indeed differ, will be only the plainer. They must follow their sincere convictions, conscious that in so doing they maintain the only permanent principle of a free government; and their task will be the more difficult because they will maintain it against the cry of the party which is its natural protector.

Well people, I hate to break it to you...but a democracy stinks. Majority rule is only one step away from the tyranny of the majority. Then comes the tyranny of the few...and that is only another name for socialism.

It would probably be folly to try to assign a date to the day we became a democracy, but I think that the day the 17th amendment was ratified is close enough!

Representation:

Do you females out there know that NOW is representing you to Congress and the Federal Government? NOW is an organization bent on bringing you full representation but even so, they have a membership of 0.00166 of the U.S. population. Apparently this irks them!

In 2007, the US of A (and Puerto Rico) had about 302,000,000 people. NOW has a membership of "more than" 500,000. Yet, they are the largest feminist organization.....poor them!

Women on the line

This lady (if she really wants to be called that) is finding out why fighting wars isn't exactly the best thing for a female to be doing.

Why might this be? What inhibits women from being exactly like men? I really don't think anyone wants my answer!

This mother is finding out how far is too far....in methods such as brainwashing and you-are-no-different-from-them-there-is-no-reason-why-you-should-be-treated-differently.

I really enjoy the links I get from LAF!!!

Misc of the Day:

It has been scientifically proven that stroking a cat can lower one's blood pressure.

Wake up call for cat people!

Definition:

Buying a house = Paying for the right to be taxed

Quote:

People are still willing to do an honest day's work. The trouble is that they want a week's pay for it

--Adams

Mercy?

Belgium is considering making it legal to kill your children. Euthanasia is not just for old people.....but for those who "likely" won't survive.

Is this startling? It shouldn't be. I life has no value when it begins...only when it breathes outside air...and if life has no value wehn crippled with arthritis and a weak heart.....why should life have ANY value when sick, hurt, or not "likely" to survive. Is the so-called 'mercy-killing' really mercy?

But then, why is living so improtant anyhow? Life is a blog of random chemicals and proteins. What IS the use? Where is the hope? Where is the reason for the hope that lies in YOU?

Redundant?

In keeping with a theme I thought this verse was pretty funny:

Genesis 26:13
The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;

Profitable in all things....

I Tim. 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

I was teaching my littlest sister spelling and reading from dear old Alpha-Phonics, when we came across a word she could not spell because she could not understand it's meaning.

As I tried to explain, her picture-perfect face wrinkled in confusion, and I knew I was not explaining well enough. I was about to try again, when she interrupted me. Her face light up, and she quoted a memory verse with that word in it-

"Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

I suppose "kept is the past tense of keep" was a bit over her head, but I sure didn't think of a Bible verse immediately....out of the mouths of babes, eh?

7 Random things

I suppose, since I got tagged, that I should find seven things about myself. I doubt I know 7 MORE people who would enjoy this, so it is stopping at me.

1. My favorite childhood activity (besides singing opera and making alligator soup) was poking out fish eyes.

2. I have a handle on 4 languages.

3. I have a very pregnant, very selfish cat. When I do school on my bed, she climbs in my lap, and sits right smack dab in the middle of my books/papers/etc.

4. For the day the Catholics declare that Jesus proved himself to be God (which is interesting, because they don't belive that Jesus is fully God, anyhow) by raising himself from the dead, I sang Then Came The Morning, and When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again. (Don't ask me why, I wouldn't know)

5. I slept on a wooden floor for almost 10 years of my life.

6. I have no friends my age. They are all 4+ years older, or 2+ years younger.

7. I had a baby when I was 10, and again when I was 12.

Quote:

The only instance of praying to saints mentioned in the Bible is that of the rich man in torment calling upon Abraham; and let it be remembered that it was practiced only by a lost soul and without success.

--Cecil

Languagash

The title of this post stands for "Language Mishmash"

Knowing many languages can have it's positives, it's downsides, and it's hilarity.

FYI, the 'little kids' are being drilled in Greek verbs and nouns (until such time as they are able to take in the letters, language structure, and grammar). Howerver, most of them have completely lost/forgotten thier Cebuano.

So...how is language mishmash funny? Some words become so common that everyone knows them and it confuses guests.

-Nathan told Micah to "leave an agianan" so that people could walk through

-Instead of going throught the paces of an entire sentance such as "Is the baby sleepy?", I use one word "gitulog?"

-I hate having to remember the English equivalent of tsinela/tsinelas, and am forever explaining. ("flip-flops" must have gotten thier name when thier inventor threw a pair at his cat, and adopted the 'spit-hiss' the cat gave as it ran away as the name for his new creation)

-"Katabaino", and "blepo" are becoming used by the 4 year old. (it is rather interesting!)

The Girls

Solution for America

This afternoon, the phone rang, and I actually beat everyone to asnwer it. Miracles aside, the call was interesting for more than a couple reasons. A very excited (recorded) girl's voice invited me to a come join Hillary in Harrisburg for her "Solution For America" rally!!!

After I hung up, I got the GREATEST idea. It took a while to convince me NOt to call the number back and cordially invite them ALL to a "Solution For Hillary" rally here at 6**

Image of a God:

Shiva?

Man?

Conglomeration?

"No image [of God] is adequate. To select one image and bow down to it is idolatrous. If we draw on a variety of God images, and let them balance, enrich, and clash with one another, we shall be following the instincts of biblical faith and the methods of many biblical voices. Allowing God images to clash is important, because it reminds us that we are approaching that which is beyond all images"

"Every person needs to learn to trust his or her own images. It is precisely out of this trust that the artist in us is born. Without this trust all newness, all adventures, all hope, all divinity is aborted or stillborn"

"Dieu a cree l'homme a son image, et l'homme le lui a joliement rendu."
(God made man in his own image, and man has returned the compliment.)
(This statement is attributed to Voltaire)



Why try seeing God in any form?
Why not just love his fingerprints?

"We shall behold Him, we shall behold Him...face to face, in all of His glory..."

You know:

You wear skirts a lot when:

....a relative stranger tells you that the skirt you are wearing is one of the shortest they have ever seen you wear (it is a little bit longer than knee length)

....a girl you have 'seen around' asks you if you like to wear "antique clothing"

....you wear pants and your sibling think you look different

....you answer those "get to know you" questions that ask what color pants you are wearing as "n/a"

....people explain the weird answer for you by saying "... ____ wears skirts all the time..."

....even when you DO wear kapris or pants, no one seems to be able to remember....

.....you feel inclined to wear pants to an activity because you have worn skirts all the time, and people are looking at you weird...

....you have so many skirt hangers in your closet that they continually fall off/mess up eachother/etc.

....you 'find' an old skirt you loved underneath/behind a skirt you haven't worn in forever...

...your friends comment on your skirts when you walk in the door. Something like "I haven't seen you wear that one before..." or "Is that a new skirt?" or "yeah....she wore that before...."

...you head outside in the snow in a skirt, and get weird looks

Guess who!?

We had an interesting visitor yesterday.

I am sure that many of you know her

Can anyone identify her?

Quote:

"In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been." - Robert Moffat

1-30-08 - For RM

Caleb started Math 1

Isaiah sleeping.... With Daniel Who decided to put an adult-size ski mask over him... And then to give him a "mental note" (so he hadn't combed his hair that day)

Tolerance....according to the U.N.

U.N. 'Declaration of Principals on Tolerance'

1.3 Tolerance is the responsibility that upholds human rights, pluralism (including cultural pluralism), democracy and the rule of law. It involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism and affirms the standards set out in international human rights instruments.

Yeah....like "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No man comes to the Father but by Me"

1.4 Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustice or the abandonment or weakening of one's convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one's own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. It also means that one's views are not to be imposed on others.

So...no evangelism, but you have the right to hold whatever views you wish. Just a sec....I thought our religious views were intolerant. Can't we be tolerant to in-tolerant religions?

4.3 Education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to
fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people to develop capacities
for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning.

If I can/should be able to think for myself.....why are they telling me what to think, and defining this for me?

4.4......This means devoting special attention to improving teacher training,
curricula, the content of textbooks and lessons, and other educational materials
including new educational technologies, with a view to educating caring and
responsible citizens open to other cultures, able to appreciate the value of
freedom, respectful of human dignity and differences, and able to prevent
conflicts or resolve them by non-violent means.

I.e.....you instructing us as to what we need to and don't need to teach our kids! So....dogmatic religions are out. We need to teach our kids what the U.N. authorizes, and we cannot be violent towards other religions. You know....like 'radical Islam'. Funny, they are outspokenly violent towards Israel and the U.S.....but Israel should give it's land to these people.


"You must give up your land. If you give it up, these people who are bombing you (and telling the whole world over and over that they want you anhilated) will stop and be content. Now, it is true that you have already made HUGE concessions to them and they aren't happy, but see, you must be tolerant towards thier longing to see you all dead!"


Interesting thing....my computer is not 'authorized' to view the 'Tolerance Homepage' found at the bottom of the article.

Quote:

"No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any."

— Thomas Jefferson, 1787

Sinulog

".....armed with candles in hand and hearts filled with pure love our beloved Santo Niño, will surely not only please one’s self – but the dear Child Jesus as well." January 12 - 20, all of the Island of Cebu will celebrate "Sinulog". With blind, catholic devotion everyone will celebrate and pray to a small stone/wood figure that is supposedly representing the Christ child, the "Holy Child", or in Spanish "Santo Niño".

"....a Festival Queen has the privilege to bear in her hands the image of the Christ child. She has become the resemblance of Queen Juana receiving the image of Santo Niño. The latter can be traced back to the year 1521 wherein together with Rajah Humabon, Hara Amihan or Queen Juana received the image of the Santo Niño from Magellan as a baptismal gift among the first Filipinos to be Christianized."
The girl who holds the Santo dances her own dance as the 'queen'. With arms outstretched, she takes the idol in a large circle, and up and down, bending her elbows, and circling from her waist. Sometimes, a contingent of the troupe lift her up, as she holds the little child out for the adoration and praise of all...

In hopes of absolving their sins, the people all go to a mass mass (pun intended) ...
..and burn candles, and sing praises to the "Santo Niño". The little girls all hope to grow up to be the most popular girl, the girl who gets to hold the saint, and dance.The lost-ness is overwhelming... the eyes searching for hope in the eyes and ears of the little child in red... who cannot see or hear them. This is where my heart is.....

Every barrio and barangay trains its school children for months, has endless band practice, and prepares the most elaborate costumes it can think of. Depicting the Spanish possession, or a battle with the moors, the dances then turn to a depiction of flora, fish, or fauna that show how the little child has benefited their lives. (the background dancers in the picture are fish)If you care for a more "surround sound" experience, please listen to this Youtube video. It is the song that is the "theme" of all of Sinulog. Everyone walks along singing and chanting.

After looking in vain for a lyrics sheet, I will just write out a few words for you.

"Pit Señor" is the theme, which means "praise the Saint"

At the end of the first 'verse" is the line that always makes me want to cry. "...Praying and worshipping the Santo Niño, offer (up) your life so that god will (still) be happy... Sinulog, shout it out loud, everyone celebrates" (repeat 2 times)

Thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinulog/ for the photos.

The Cebu Sun Star's website also displays some moving pictures.

Try Wikipedia for an overveiw.

(Bethany wrote out what lyrics she could hear)

Sinulog, isyagit ug kusog; (Pit Señor, Pit Señor) tanan magsaulog

Sinulog, isyagit ug kusog; (Pit Señor, Pit Señor) tanan magsaulog

Sisisinulog, sisisinulog

Sa balanghay maoy atong dungog

Pagsayaw nga giparis patihog sa sulog

Panadje ug manampit alang sa santo Niño

Ihalad ang kinabuhi aron malipay pa ang Ginoo

.... mga langyaw sa tibouk kalibutan

apil ang mga langyaw sa atong pagsaulog

malingaw sa pagsaulog sa mga pasundayag

magkiay ta sa pagtambong kay naabut nang panahon

Someone needs to make new words:

Sinulog, syagit ug kusog, JESUS LAMANG, JESUS LAMANG, tanan mag...something... Hmmm..

Cartoon Break

Legs that mock.....have knees that bow

Farm Show 2

I am sorry for not being more complete. I had a specific amount of time in which to post which ran away rather quickly.

Here is the video OS (Oldest Sis) took of the second competition dance. She got most of it...except for about 3 seconds in the beginning.

She was unaware of the necessity of keeping the camera vertical, and felt sure of a better shot holding it lengthwise. So, I am putting a disclaimer. I will not be held responsible for any neck strains, aches, pains, nor will I compensate any monetary amount in fixing said injuries. Enjoy at own discretion.

Note: the camera focuses in on my younger brother's square for a couple seconds. They are the ones in red and black.

Note 2: yes, there is a mess up. Apparently the judges missed it. (providence, perhaps)

Oh....and this was the outcome of the night:

BLUE RIBBONS!!!!!!

Farm Show!!!!

Yesterday was the 92nd Annual Farm Show Square Dance.

We had practiced the day before and in a sweltering room above the pine tree exhibits...and I must say that we did marvelously!! (Pictures, etc. by oldest sister) We are promenading to our square.

This is a short clip of our first warm-up dance

This is my square waiting for the Division C dance.

Happy Farm Show Week Everyone!!!

Psalm 90 meditations

This is not just because of the "New Year", but more what I have been mulling over for a while now...

1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Update:

I have been banned from computer for some time, therefore I have not updated, or responded to any recent comments.

My plays went ok. My performance was sometimes comical, and other times just sad. The first night I was much to quiet, and my aim was very bad!! (I throw candy to the audience in a part of my play)

Yes, Rache, they thought the accent most unique, and since I was the only person really doing it I stood out. One person who knew me in a different context was really, really shocked and impressed by how 'well I did it' which was probbably very bad according to any knowledgeable judge.

For those of you who were not initiated, I played the part of an old Russian grandmother, and when I decided of my own volition to add an accent, I called up a lovely friend who was from around there and who would naturally know all about what to do and how to roll the tongue properly. (though...I did forget the "ing-a" a couple times!!!)

Thursday, I said a line to early, and therefore messed up the dialogue and said the opposite of what was intended, but the church had SUCH amazing resonance that even the people who could not be heard were able to be understood.

Saturday, Bethy returned from her missions trip, and we finally had a camera, so all my pictures are from this one play. I missed coming in because we were all talking behind the curtain...but I guess it didn't show. I hit people with candy, and burst out laughing, which made me loose my train of thought. I then messed up a very serious dialogue, and had to run through it again...and apologised to the audience. Then, after forgetting my last sentence, I waited for my 'son' to say his line. He was awaiting my last sentence, so he said nothing. I assumed that he had forgotten his line, so I went on on the next sentence I could remember......which happened to be a whole page away. Thus, a whole chunk of the story went missing, and most of the little details were left hanging. We finished off in good style, and I only wanted to get away and have a good cry.

Because of the rectangular set-up, the cast had to sit behind a room-divider the entire play with the lights off so as not to distract....so I got to sit in a corner and no one knew what I was doing. I managed to fake a smile for the rest of the play, remembered the rest of my 5 lines, and bore out through Cast & Crew pictures, family hugs, congratulations from everyone on what a great performance it was, and the last piling of things into their respective owners cars.

I do not know if I was meant to be included or not, but as I was standing by the director's daughter, she could not help but invite me to an unofficial cast party at Friendly's, as she was inviting a couple other people. My dear oldest brother stayed behind to drive me home in his car, and volunteered to take me. I decided to go...thought not with much gusto, as I had a bad headache He scolded me for crying, and told me he had enjoyed the performance, and not noticed any problems but my 'sorry'. (which was unutterably sweet of him)

Because we got to the restaurant first, the manager kept on addressing me, who had no idea what was going on, and who was in no way able to organize for an American group of an unknown number at a very strange restaurant. My dear brother paid for some ice cream, and made the night much more enjoyable that it would have been by opening up conversation with some people, and getting things going. I left glad that I had gone, and in a much better frame of mind than I was before.

The next few weeks were filled with a whole lot of 'preparation-for-guests' cooking, and 'making-up-for-the-people-who-are-gone' work, and 'why-is-the-house-such-a-wreak' cleaning, and a bunch of other things which might possibly bore you.....

So I shall end with what we did last night......

Cut deer!

(Note: the WMD you see pictured here is a sundang (soon-daung)....and is very, very, very common in the RP)

Should We Own Our Ancestors?

Ape Rights

Quote:

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives … and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."

-- Nate Saint

It is Snowing....

HOW can one be happy?!

A Mission Statement:

A life's passion...

Invitation:

Dear blog readers:

For those of you who are at all interested, or care, I am in a homeschool drama club, and practicing a play. I am issuing a public invitation for some who can come, and a 'let you know' for those who can't.

The shows will be Dec. 4, 6 and 8 at 7pm.

The show on the 4th we will be at Grace United Methodist in Carlisle.
On the 6th we willbe at Hope Grace Brethern Church, in Dillsburg.
On the 8th we will be at the Camp Hill Church of God in Camp Hill.

Be forwarned, two have 'X-mas themes' and may not be in harmony with your weak stomachs. The play I am in has little to do with ch- sorry X-mas, but with 'giving out gifts'. The theme of the other plays also color mine however.

I shall not give seasons greetings, but I DO give an invitation to all interested and semi-interested parties. Come, or not. But you HAVE been invited!

The Death Penalty and Genesis

Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds man’s blood,

By man his blood shall be shed;

For in the image of God

He made man."

I was reading Genesis in Time and Space, by F. Schaeffer, and he made a very interesting point in ch. 2. He said that the image of God changes the way we look at the death penalty. The reason we have a Biblical command to kill murderers, is not primarily because they killed another human being. It is because they have silenced the image of God. The image of God in every man is the reason that man has personality. It is the reason that man craves love and communication, and they are the evidence of a personal creator.

When we minimise the necessity of the death penalty, we are actually straying from the Biblical method. Murder is punishable by death. Murder is a defacing of the image of God.

I thought it very profound.

Worth it?

What is a concert worth?

Another amazing Square Dance

Luke 11:32

When I was about 13, I made a list of the 'earthly treasures' that I prized the most. I have since lost that list, and forgotten most of the dozen things on it. However, near the top of the list was my 'one great beauty' (to quote Amy March) my hair, which the Flipinos compared to cornsilk.

This past week, I have wanted to add one more thing to the top of that list...a little thing of earth that matters to me a lot more now. My eyes.

A couple people have asked me what made me 'get into' photogrophy. I don't know. I began to enjoy 'seeing' things through a camera. I made good shots, and attended a class. But now, as I begin to treasure my eyes, the camera has becaome dearer.

This month has been a roller-coaster eye-wise for me. I have gone in for check-ups three times now, and tried out contacts. My glasses are a really old perscription, and since I got them early summer 2006, my eyes have gone down two more steps. What a person with 'normal' eyes can see at 100 yards, I can see at 20. The doctor apparently told my mother that he didn't know how I made it around without my glasses.

Suddenly, sight means so much. Being an (oftentimes over) imaginative child, I have often imagined myself as a great saint, bed-ridden and weelchair-bound. Or a frail, pale creature, slipping slowly away. What? Blind? NO!

I always loved verses in proverbs about the eyes. But the one that echoes through my head a lot lately is this:

The lamp of the body is the eye....

Day in Philly:

This week, I had the opportunity to go back to NJ to see old friends and aquaintances.

Thursday I was in Philly for a fun-filled time with newly-met friends.

I got to go to a concert,

And was even 'allowed' to tour the Liberty Bell building!!!

It was very sad to be a citizen of this country, to live here in peace and (supposedly) in freedom, but to have to undergo humiliating and invasive 'security' checks before seeing my own national monuments.

I feel violated because people are authorised to paw through my bags and search me for 'dangerous devices' because I am not allowed to protest. This is why the second ammendment was enacted....does anyone CARE anymore?

Proposal!!!!

Saturday night I recieved a proposal of marraige. This dashing young man not only bent on one knee to ask for my hand, but he gave me a bright red rose, and quoted Romeo and Juliet lines about me.

I was so charmed, that a refusal would not come out....I accepted, and we marched to the front of a church, in front of an adoring audience, and (quote) "...on that day she became Mrs. J___ N_____"

My wedding boquet was a lovely white. I wished to invite a couple of you dear readers, but we needed to hurry. Of course, I had to explain to my family, and...of course...my father....but I have high hopes that this sudden, suprise engagement and wedding will turn out for good.

Yours-
Mrs. N_____

Pledge of Divergence?

How would you like to help out the poor people today who are suffering from religious oppression?
This article shows how some students are trying to make a change....by making pantheism the main religion.!!

"I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to the diversity, in which our nation stands, one nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all."

"A lot of people have different reasons (for the protest), but mainly it's (because the traditional Pledge is) a complete violation of our separation of church and state," one student said.

Strangely, they are protesting a law which is actually not a Federal law, and not even a constitutional right, but a:

...state law requiring that schools make a time available during the school day for students to recite the traditional Pledge if they want...

They plan to hold a protest every week until the oppression is lifted. An interesting postscript is on the last paragraph of the article.

Boulder High also is the school where students were herded into a mandatory seminar where a special guest speaker encouraged them to use drugs, and etc.

"Planned Deception-hood?"

In Aurora IL. Planned Parenthood has just built a new building.

What is the fuss?

Well, not only had Planned (Non-)parenthood not only kept the REAL purpose of it's building a seacret....(i.e...abortions from states all around the mid-west)...but it has kept it's own identity under covers. The building has been in the works for years now under the ownership of 'Gemini Office Development', who had no idea- even until last month- what tenant would rent it.

Strangely, Planned Parenthood had planned on moving in since....since! It had also scheduled abortions for Tue, Sept 18, it's planned opening date.

Citizens became suspicious of the 'office building' when bulletproof glass was installed, and after some searching, (which the city officials didn't bother to do) they found out the true purpose and owner of the building.
Here is and OR article that gives the basics.

When petitioned, a judge made the clinic not open, and remain closed until things could be sorted out.

Then, a Planned Parenthood spokesperson wrote a letter to the town saying that PP had NOT done anything deceptive, and condemned the pro-life protesters for their 'long history of violence'. See whole letter here.

This Article is about the requirements that PP skirted by posing as 'Gemini'.

Funny Picture

Quote:

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy."

President John Adams

For Big Families Only:

Have you ever threatened to "kakishapoo you lazshy shmugeroos"?

2 Month Old Picture

Two months old, and sucking his thumb!

I also got him to laugh...but he doesn't do much more than giggle....

Send ME!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bfn4BUBuKw

On the other side of the world
She stands on the ocean shore
Gazing at the heavens
She wonders, is there something more
Never been told the name of Jesus
She turns and walks away
What a shame


Just across the street in your hometown
Leaving from his nine-to-five
Gazing down the road
He wonders, is this all there is to life
Never been told the name of Jesus
He continues on his way
What a shame

Whom shall I send?
Who will go for me?
To the ends of the earth
Who will rise up for their King
Here am I, send me
Here am I, send me

Whether foreign land or neighbors
Everyone's the same
Searching for the answers
That lie within your name
I wanna proclaim the love of Jesus
In all I do and say,
Unashamed

Whom shall I send?
Who will go for me?
To the ends of the earth
Who will rise up for their King
Here am I, send me
Here am I, send me

How beautiful are feet of those who bring good news
Proclaiming peace and your salvation

Whom shall I send
Who will go for me
To the ends of the earth
Who will rise up for their King
Here am I, send me
Here am I, send me
Here am I, send me

The music is rather loud and boisterous. But it brought tears....and an ache to my heart.
The video is sad. At 2:06 the people are offering incense sticks, and they sing "searching for the answers, that lie within Your name".

Oh....why can't I GO!!!!

Words of a Legacy:

“Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.”

--Dr. D. James Kennedy,

1930-2007

Guests!!!

We have people over!

Not exactly a full house.....but almost! :)

Skip that post!

Because not 20 minutes later I found two more!! There are 7 so far.

Oh....just a sec.......





















































Oh.....ok.......I'm back.....I'll keep you posted!

Jehova has given...

And Jehova multiplied!!!

Today my lovely, sweet cat gave birth(!!) to 5 furry little balls of cuteness!!!

Psalm 66 meditations:

v. 8- Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard.
v.9 - Who keeps our soul among the living...

v.10- For You, O God, have tried us,
You have refined us as silver is refined...

v. 12(c)- ...But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

v. 17- Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul...

v. 20- Blessed be God
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!