Worry

I've been dealing with worry a lot this week--a case of the "what ifs" has set in controlling my thoughts and emotions. I have been the "o, ye of little faith". I've been reading through the Gospels during Lent and as I was beginning to read today...I prayed for the Lord to speak to me through my reading. It never ceases to amaze me how the Word speaks to the very situation we are struggling with at that moment. Toward the end of my reading, I came across an all too familiar passage. If I kept the same Bible for years on end, this page would probably be stained and the type worn thin.

One of my goals this year was to memorize two passages of Scripture...sad to say, I haven't started. Frankly, I've struggled with what passages to actually memorize. Since, I'm having such a hard time with worry lately, I can't think of a better, more fitting passage to commit to memory.

Do Not Worry

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:22-34

Spring Break

We were off for Spring Break this week...it's been a lazy/productive week. Lazy in that we've all been sleeping in most mornings. The kids have been getting up at will, doing crafts, having play dates. It's been productive because we got most of our garden started this week. I wanted to do tons of Spring Cleaning but that didn't last too long. I did get the bathroom cleaned top to bottom and some other little odd jobs. I had the kids do 2 little jobs a day but my list was not completed. I'm really not worried about it though. Since I lost my list anyway, I'll just say we're done.

Tera taught Michael how to play hide and seek:

All my little boys dancing in the kitchen:






Weaving and learning how to finger knit:

Michael and Mazey dog watching:

Reading...Weaving

I've been reading these books:

Weaving Made Easy

Weaving Without a Loom

The Story of Science: Newton at the Center

Miss Read's Fairacre Series and Thrush Green Series

I didn't read all these in one week, but have been reading since our last library trip. I've made a goal this year to read 2 new series and that has already been completed. So, I changed my goal to include reading something academic each time we go to the library. Just to help stretch my own brain a little. The Story of Science did that ...all 433 pages of it.

I've also been weaving:

I bought some weaving sticks from Hobby Lobby, I'm now in love with weaving. I'm almost finished with my first scarf. I can't wait to start the Native Finger Weaving.

Forgiven...

I heard this on the radio on this morning...it was speaking right to me and just the reminder I needed today. The bolded type especially.

Forgiven

Well, the past is playing with my head
And failure knocks me down again
I'm reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just won't let me forget

In this life
I know what I've been
But here in your arms
I know what I am

I'm forgiven
I'm forgiven
And I don't have to carry
The weight of who I've been
Cause I'm forgiven


My mistakes are running through my mind
And I'll relive my days, in
the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain,
wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry

When I don't fit in and I don't
feel like I belong anywhere
When I don't measure up to much in this life
Oh, I'm a treasure in the
arms of Christ ‘cause

Sanctus Real

(click my playlist for the audio track)

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Psalm 27: 14

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Bloom or Sing Where You're Planted

I found this little poem in a daily devotion I read...

"He placed me in a little cage,
Away from gardens fair;
But I must sing the sweetest songs
Because He placed me there.
Not beat my wings against the cage
If it's my Maker's will,
But raise my voice to heaven's gate
And sing the louder still!"

Bloom where you're planted...sing louder even if you're in a cage!

Nativefest!

  Check out more cool field trips at Field Trip Fridays over at It's a Boy's Life!     We went out to a local Nativefest today. There was drumming and native singing.


We got a demo on finger weaving. Now I'm definitely getting hooked on weaving.


There were all kinds of native interpreters.



Daniel got bear grease smeared on his finger by the above interpreter which the Cherokee would use to apply face paint, as a sunscreen and insect repellent. We also learned in Cherokee society, women were the ones who owned the land and home. It was ahead of it's time for equal rights.


There was Native dancing, which Tera and her friend were able to join toward the end.




We did a couple potato dance. Basically, you balance the potato between your foreheads and keep moving, but don't drop the potato. Needless, to say we did not win.




Then, I was thrown to the natives by my wonderful husband for a Native 2-step dance. One of the interpreters tried to volunteer us both for the dance, but JP was not about to get up in front of that many people. So the Rodney Dangerfield of the Cherokee nation, who was emceeing came and grabbed my hand to lead the dance. I was just a bit nervous, and JP thought it was the best part of the day. I have to admit it was fun, though! But JP's hand is still the only one I want to hold. The dance was surprisingly similar the the English country dances we've seen in various Austen movies.






Face paintings, water buffalo tooth necklaces, stick ball demonstrations...




One cute little boy really enjoying his day!

Unit Week

We finished up our unit week today...it could not have come sooner. Either I'm getting what the kids have or I'm just tired from them being sick, but my patience for this week is gone. At least they were struggling with different projects today, so I got a little reprieve. Tera didn't want to think hard enough to write her poem and Daniel was struggling with his art project. We probably should have taken a day off but we made it. Spring Break next week...WOOHOO!

We started the morning finishing up our reading about the Aztecs, Incas and the Mesopotamians. We wrote pyramid poetry and here are their much labored-for samples.

Tera's Poetry:

Cinquain-
Butterflies
Pretty Small
Caterpillar Insect Air
Flutter Fly
MOTH

Tanka-

Look at the flowers!

Roses, daisies, daffodils

Red, blue, purple, pink

Irises swaying in the wind.

Oh no, please don't pick those ones!

Daniel's Poetry

Cinquain-

Zebra

black white

cheetah lion leopard

run swim

Horse

Tanka-

Mazey

Mazey , crazy Maze

He is fun to play, hooray!

Watch out! He might bark

Jumps high, runs fast, likes to dig

What a happy dog, he is!

We did Central American molas--art applique projects

We finished by reading about the various foods of the different cultures, while we ate chocolate bars and drank hot chocolate.