We dutifully hung our hangers a couple of weeks ago and waited for birds. None. They were in the BACKyard eating dog food but not the two kinds of bird seed from our science experiment. They are along the fence and in the tree in the backyard but avoiding the front.
Finally, last week we saw a couple of birds. THIS week there are lots of birds. This morning we saw 8 grackles, 3 doves, a sparrow looking bird and a red cardinal. We are also hearing some unknown song bird and the doves in the early a.m. outside our bedroom window again.
NOW we can go ahead and put out the other bird experiments.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
BREAD BAKING
I baked my first real loaves of bread since moving….first time in 8 months. The boys are enjoying it but I’m not sure quite what I did wrong. They did NOT rise like they usually do. I’m thinking either the yeast was too old or I’ve lost my touch. I had brought enough grain, dough enhancer and SAF yeast to last a month while I looked for another supplier of grains. I’m thinking the yeast has sat too long. I’ll try again when we eat these up and proof the yeas first. I’ve been spoiled with not needing to do that with my BOSCH but maybe since it is older yeast that will help.
We’re going to the park this afternoon. I’m going to help Adrienne and Heather as they set up a new produce co-op…if I can remember any tips that might be helpful. {G}Adrienne is going to bring the catalog from her co-op and I’m going to see about ordering some grain and get back into the swing of baking. She assures me that she has never had bugs fly out of buckets of grains with gamma seals on them…so maybe I can make this work in TX after all. . .
We’re going to the park this afternoon. I’m going to help Adrienne and Heather as they set up a new produce co-op…if I can remember any tips that might be helpful. {G}Adrienne is going to bring the catalog from her co-op and I’m going to see about ordering some grain and get back into the swing of baking. She assures me that she has never had bugs fly out of buckets of grains with gamma seals on them…so maybe I can make this work in TX after all. . .
SPEECH WOES
I'm a bit unsettled about Nolan's speech. I talked with his therapist yesterday. Thursday I will observe. I'm not sure if I should try to have another discussion with HER, her supervisor or call the district and talk to those who did his IEP.
He's always LOVED speech - for the 2 years he's gone in AK. He is visibly upset now when he knows it's a speech day. He's tense, uptight and has even teared up when walking into the building. This is not normal. After I talked with the therapist yesterday about her method of teaching, I heard her with her supervisor. The supervisor was telling her she needs to make eye contact etc....and she was saying "but he won't look me in the eye"...this is so not like him.
My talk with her had nothing to do with him not wanting to come. She's brand new. I know that she is learning that "patient/client manner" that is so important for new docs and such to learn.
Yesterday, she told me that he CAN make all the sounds now but speaks to fast. She's teaching him to read. I told her I was doing that. She showed me the book she is having him "read". I told her that is way beyond his reading ability. She showed me that she tells him to trace the word, memorize its shape and then they close their eyes and say the word etc. and that he is learning to read. I explained that we are teaching him to read via phonics and that I didn't want her to be teaching him to "read" via the whatever this method is way. She said the only thing to help him artic is to learn to read this way. I told her that if the only thing they have to offer is to teach him to read then this is a waste of the school district's money because WE are teaching him to read and can read to him and slow him down at HOME.
In AK our speech therapist was giving him exercises to strengthen his jaw and mouth muscles...he has weak muscle tone. She was giving us things to do at home, she insisted he needed a thorough hearing exam by an audiologist...which we didn't get due to the move.....
Here they send nothing home, do no exercises, haven't said a word about the hearing test (though I requested it in November) and all she tells me each week is "we read a book". On top of this he now is visibly worried about attending speech.
Please pray with us as I try to figure out what to do and where to go from here. I certainly don't want to pull him out if they can still offer something to help....but I HAVE the ARTIC books that show which books to read for which sounds etc. I have several of the Speech Therapy books that our therapist recommend the state of AK buy for us...so really...if he can make the sounds...and they have nothing to offer but read.....maybe it is time to see about terminating therapy......but I don't want to do that if they have tools to help him further....See the quandry?
He's always LOVED speech - for the 2 years he's gone in AK. He is visibly upset now when he knows it's a speech day. He's tense, uptight and has even teared up when walking into the building. This is not normal. After I talked with the therapist yesterday about her method of teaching, I heard her with her supervisor. The supervisor was telling her she needs to make eye contact etc....and she was saying "but he won't look me in the eye"...this is so not like him.
My talk with her had nothing to do with him not wanting to come. She's brand new. I know that she is learning that "patient/client manner" that is so important for new docs and such to learn.
Yesterday, she told me that he CAN make all the sounds now but speaks to fast. She's teaching him to read. I told her I was doing that. She showed me the book she is having him "read". I told her that is way beyond his reading ability. She showed me that she tells him to trace the word, memorize its shape and then they close their eyes and say the word etc. and that he is learning to read. I explained that we are teaching him to read via phonics and that I didn't want her to be teaching him to "read" via the whatever this method is way. She said the only thing to help him artic is to learn to read this way. I told her that if the only thing they have to offer is to teach him to read then this is a waste of the school district's money because WE are teaching him to read and can read to him and slow him down at HOME.
In AK our speech therapist was giving him exercises to strengthen his jaw and mouth muscles...he has weak muscle tone. She was giving us things to do at home, she insisted he needed a thorough hearing exam by an audiologist...which we didn't get due to the move.....
Here they send nothing home, do no exercises, haven't said a word about the hearing test (though I requested it in November) and all she tells me each week is "we read a book". On top of this he now is visibly worried about attending speech.
Please pray with us as I try to figure out what to do and where to go from here. I certainly don't want to pull him out if they can still offer something to help....but I HAVE the ARTIC books that show which books to read for which sounds etc. I have several of the Speech Therapy books that our therapist recommend the state of AK buy for us...so really...if he can make the sounds...and they have nothing to offer but read.....maybe it is time to see about terminating therapy......but I don't want to do that if they have tools to help him further....See the quandry?
1305 hits
... in one month...I wonder who is reading this....feel free to comment....I write this thinking what would parents and dear friends who are away from us want to know and see.... I know we don't have over 300 friends and family checking each week....so welcome whoever you are...I'm a bit perplexed as to what is worth spending time reading here...but you are certainly welcome and feel free to "be known" at any time.....or continue to read and hopefully pray for the requests we mention.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
RE: Fasting
I will be getting my notes compiled and posting more on fasting...It is apparent that there are more questions that I expected on this discipline. I love the emails I'm receiving.
I would suggest, if you have questions, that you do a topical study on fasting while you wait for me to compile my notes (which exist in the margins of my Bible - it may be easier to scan my Bible in {G}). You can go here; click on phrase search and type in the word fasting. You'll have the start of a topical study. Jot down the verses that look appropriate, look them up, read them in CONTEXT, and note what each has to say about fasting. Make a list of the things you learn. Ask God how He would have you apply the things you learn. I tried to get the free web tool for the blog from blueletter Bible but I'm not quite sure what html code I need. {G}
I'll try to answer the most often asked questions that I'm receiving here....
I would suggest, if you have questions, that you do a topical study on fasting while you wait for me to compile my notes (which exist in the margins of my Bible - it may be easier to scan my Bible in {G}). You can go here; click on phrase search and type in the word fasting. You'll have the start of a topical study. Jot down the verses that look appropriate, look them up, read them in CONTEXT, and note what each has to say about fasting. Make a list of the things you learn. Ask God how He would have you apply the things you learn. I tried to get the free web tool for the blog from blueletter Bible but I'm not quite sure what html code I need. {G}
I'll try to answer the most often asked questions that I'm receiving here....
Our Anniversary
I should be writing something profound and meaningful, but I didn't get it done before this a.m. The kids are raring for the day to begin, Stacia is up and wanting attention....but I don't want to let the day go by without saying:
I've been incredibly blessed to be married to this man for 22 years today!
Yes the picture is a bit funky...but it was very late at night during a month of very late work nights. Don't ya wish you could dress in such a fancy suit for work? OK - this is a mess dress and is only for formal affairs....when we were new into the military I delighted Mike's peers and supervisiors by saying we'd be going to the ball and yes...."Mike bought a new mess kit to wear". A mess kit is camping like plate, fork and cup....
OK what was I saying? Twenty-two years and I STILL feel incredibly lucky to have this man in my life. I think the biggest compliment I could give him is that I pray almost daily that God brings a man "just like Dad" to each of my daughters.
I've been incredibly blessed to be married to this man for 22 years today!
Yes the picture is a bit funky...but it was very late at night during a month of very late work nights. Don't ya wish you could dress in such a fancy suit for work? OK - this is a mess dress and is only for formal affairs....when we were new into the military I delighted Mike's peers and supervisiors by saying we'd be going to the ball and yes...."Mike bought a new mess kit to wear". A mess kit is camping like plate, fork and cup....
OK what was I saying? Twenty-two years and I STILL feel incredibly lucky to have this man in my life. I think the biggest compliment I could give him is that I pray almost daily that God brings a man "just like Dad" to each of my daughters.
Fasting
Lady Friends,
I've been clearly hearing the Lord say "do this" and I've been arguing. I've asked several "what will others think of my motives", how does this fit with Matthew's teaching to "wash your face when you fast - do it in secret"? Really it boils down to being obedient. I've prayed about this and get no sense of God allowing me to shrug this off. This has been sitting on my desktop for nearly two weeks as I “double-checked” again with God.
By way of background:
For the past year and a half God has graciously led me as I've explored "spiritual disciplines". Not in any legalistic sense but as a way to draw closer in intimacy with Him. Any who know me know that I’m very allergic to legalism. I was wary as I began to follow this path. I've not shared a lot about my journey...because I believe that there is a discipline of "secrecy" as well as the more public disciplines of the faith. A good place to start if you want to read up on spiritual disciplines would be the book Intimate Faith by Jan Winebrenner. Note that this is a primer…I would personally recommend that you branch out into some classics of the faith and do topical studies from the Word on the various spiritual disciplines.
One discipline that I’ve been led to add back into my life is fasting. I’ve done this regularly for quite some time now. I was led to fast for my family – specifically my children, my husband and their mother and wife – on a regular basis. This has led to some marvelous changes in ME. {g} An invitation to join with a group of friends from Hardin, MT in a fast for our children a couple of months ago was another joyful confirmation that God is leading me to fast for my children/family.
The Call:
God has been speaking in my heart to call women to a day of fasting for marriages. This is SO IMPORTANT. I see such an attack on Christian marriages today. I see a generation being raised to think that the marriage relationship has no value! Romance is given great value while commitment, loyalty and obedience are seen as old-fashioned. I see women unhappy, miserable and feeling alone; who in turn nag and tear apart their own husbands. Cleary many of us imitate the woman in Proverbs 14:1 – the foolish woman who tears her house apart WITH HER OWN HANDS! I see husbands caught in sin, wives caught in sin, children being torn apart as Christian parents turn the safe-haven of home into a battlefield. Ladies, we need to take a stand. We need to humbly repent and seek forgiveness from our Lord and our spouses. We need to pray that our husbands would hear GOD’S voice loudly, which often means we need to BE QUIET so they CAN hear God’s voice above ours. There are many thoughts zinging through my mind. I’d like to have developed this more definitely before I shared…but I hear God saying “Now…call your sisters to fast for their marriages and on behalf of the marriages of their Sisters”. So I am. Your marriage may be perfectly solid but God may be calling you to lovingly pray for the marriages of others in your life.
I am asking the women I know to PRAYERFULLY consider if God is asking them to join me in a fast on behalf of marriage. I am asking for a commitment to fast on either Sunday or Monday (the 26th or 27th of February). Please do not join because it’s the “thing to do”. Please ask God if He is asking you to join. I believe that we will see strongholds broken (in our lives, our husband’s lives and our marriages) and relationships restored. BUT I believe that NO ONE should fast if God is not tugging at their hearts to join.
In the next weeks I will be compiling a list of those who are committed to fast on the 26th or 27th. If you are one of those, please email me at Mike_De’Etta@verizon.net I will be sending out one reminder and some sort of a prayer guide as the 26th approaches. I will only send this to those who respond at the above email address.
If you have specific requests you would like us to remember as we pray and fast – send them. I’ll compile a list. Please note that I am sending this call to women in my email address book, posting it on SHS (a homeschool email list I co-own) and on my blog….in other words I’m believing for a mighty army of Godly women to rise up and fast….For this reason, your requests will be sent out “anonymously” to those who respond. I will only share your name if you specifically ask for that to be done. I will send all correspondence “blind copy” so that your email address will not be seen by others. I will not send specific requests to any email list or blog – the list will only go to those who ask to have their name added as one who is committed to fast.
If there are questions on fasting, I may well post a few entries on our blog about that. I will not be sending another reminder of this to SHS or to the women in my address book. I trust that if you are called to participate God will prompt you to respond.
Dear friends, I thank you for reading through this and for prayerfully considering your response. I regret that my confusion over “motives” has caused me to wait so long…but I am hearing a clear “NOW” and so will humbly obey…now.
I believe for some mighty victories in relationships!
De’Etta
PS Feel free to share this with others….
I've been clearly hearing the Lord say "do this" and I've been arguing. I've asked several "what will others think of my motives", how does this fit with Matthew's teaching to "wash your face when you fast - do it in secret"? Really it boils down to being obedient. I've prayed about this and get no sense of God allowing me to shrug this off. This has been sitting on my desktop for nearly two weeks as I “double-checked” again with God.
By way of background:
For the past year and a half God has graciously led me as I've explored "spiritual disciplines". Not in any legalistic sense but as a way to draw closer in intimacy with Him. Any who know me know that I’m very allergic to legalism. I was wary as I began to follow this path. I've not shared a lot about my journey...because I believe that there is a discipline of "secrecy" as well as the more public disciplines of the faith. A good place to start if you want to read up on spiritual disciplines would be the book Intimate Faith by Jan Winebrenner. Note that this is a primer…I would personally recommend that you branch out into some classics of the faith and do topical studies from the Word on the various spiritual disciplines.
One discipline that I’ve been led to add back into my life is fasting. I’ve done this regularly for quite some time now. I was led to fast for my family – specifically my children, my husband and their mother and wife – on a regular basis. This has led to some marvelous changes in ME. {g} An invitation to join with a group of friends from Hardin, MT in a fast for our children a couple of months ago was another joyful confirmation that God is leading me to fast for my children/family.
The Call:
God has been speaking in my heart to call women to a day of fasting for marriages. This is SO IMPORTANT. I see such an attack on Christian marriages today. I see a generation being raised to think that the marriage relationship has no value! Romance is given great value while commitment, loyalty and obedience are seen as old-fashioned. I see women unhappy, miserable and feeling alone; who in turn nag and tear apart their own husbands. Cleary many of us imitate the woman in Proverbs 14:1 – the foolish woman who tears her house apart WITH HER OWN HANDS! I see husbands caught in sin, wives caught in sin, children being torn apart as Christian parents turn the safe-haven of home into a battlefield. Ladies, we need to take a stand. We need to humbly repent and seek forgiveness from our Lord and our spouses. We need to pray that our husbands would hear GOD’S voice loudly, which often means we need to BE QUIET so they CAN hear God’s voice above ours. There are many thoughts zinging through my mind. I’d like to have developed this more definitely before I shared…but I hear God saying “Now…call your sisters to fast for their marriages and on behalf of the marriages of their Sisters”. So I am. Your marriage may be perfectly solid but God may be calling you to lovingly pray for the marriages of others in your life.
I am asking the women I know to PRAYERFULLY consider if God is asking them to join me in a fast on behalf of marriage. I am asking for a commitment to fast on either Sunday or Monday (the 26th or 27th of February). Please do not join because it’s the “thing to do”. Please ask God if He is asking you to join. I believe that we will see strongholds broken (in our lives, our husband’s lives and our marriages) and relationships restored. BUT I believe that NO ONE should fast if God is not tugging at their hearts to join.
In the next weeks I will be compiling a list of those who are committed to fast on the 26th or 27th. If you are one of those, please email me at Mike_De’Etta@verizon.net I will be sending out one reminder and some sort of a prayer guide as the 26th approaches. I will only send this to those who respond at the above email address.
If you have specific requests you would like us to remember as we pray and fast – send them. I’ll compile a list. Please note that I am sending this call to women in my email address book, posting it on SHS (a homeschool email list I co-own) and on my blog….in other words I’m believing for a mighty army of Godly women to rise up and fast….For this reason, your requests will be sent out “anonymously” to those who respond. I will only share your name if you specifically ask for that to be done. I will send all correspondence “blind copy” so that your email address will not be seen by others. I will not send specific requests to any email list or blog – the list will only go to those who ask to have their name added as one who is committed to fast.
If there are questions on fasting, I may well post a few entries on our blog about that. I will not be sending another reminder of this to SHS or to the women in my address book. I trust that if you are called to participate God will prompt you to respond.
Dear friends, I thank you for reading through this and for prayerfully considering your response. I regret that my confusion over “motives” has caused me to wait so long…but I am hearing a clear “NOW” and so will humbly obey…now.
I believe for some mighty victories in relationships!
De’Etta
PS Feel free to share this with others….
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