Things Arielle Learned at her SAT Test

Found online - not taken at the testing site!

Arielle prepared for this test. She has written almost daily essays which were critiqued by Michael.

She has worked through a giant book.

She has taken practice tests.

Friday we drove by the high school in Yuba City to be sure we knew where she needed to go.

This morning she got up bright and early and showed up to test.

And she was a bit surprised.

"Please write the following statement on the back of your test in cursive and sign it."

Dead silence in the group.

Then one raised his hand, "I don't know how to write in cursive."

"Make it up."

Really? These are college bound young adults.

She overheard several talking about how they didn't know they were taking the test and their moms woke them up and said, "Go take the SAT."

She also learned that sitting in a small windowless room with fluorescent lighting for hours on end would make her crazy. Thank you sweetie - we saw ahead and took care of this problem. LOL

And she learned there was nothing "unexpected" on the SAT....she finished in good time....and now we'll see.

She still isn't sure which route she wants to go for next year. Her goal - being a missionary - remains the same. The many paths to reach that goal are a bit tangled. She "may" attend New Hope Christian College. She "may" travel with us back to Japan (because we are sure we will go back to Japan one way or another) and take online classes for a year or two and then go to an on-site campus. She "may" move into an apartment in OR and attend community college for a year or two and get the basics out of the way before attending New Hope....lots of paths to consider. And she's considering well. We trust she recognizes the prompting of the Holy Spirit and will end up on the perfect path.

What we aren't hearing any longer is plans to attend beauty school - which I need to ask her about - because she won me over with her reasoning for that path. 

Josiah Goes Viral

Yesterday the photo below was posted on the Chick Fil A's Facebook page at 0946.  I was out and about and didn't see the photo. It was a great surprise to see it on my timeline when I got home.

Photo by Samantha Blankenship

"I'm visiting the Sunset Mall Chick-Fil-A in San Angelo, TX and this lady walked in after giving plasma. She was very shakey and lethargic looking and the team here has just been so generous and taking care of her. The store director, Josiah G, has been so caring and attentive to her needs. He called her loved ones and gave her food items to help her get her strength back. He's being extremely genuine and taking the time to get to know her. This is a good man, and I've never met him. We need more people like this in our world!"

I feel it's o.k. to share the photo without permission as I know for certain no permission was asked or given to share Josiah's photo or name around the internet. ::grin::

Josiah doesn't remember anyone taking a photo and was just taking care of a customer -  it's what he does, and he IS good at it. But wow. This thing is now at 20,276 20, 294   20,409  21,518 likes and 294  318 comments on the Chick Fil A page....and it's been shared in numerous other spots. 

The moral of the story - it pays to be on your best behavior at all times in the 21st century. There is no telling when someone will observe you, snap a photo and post it online with your name. That same photo and your name can quickly go VIRAL, it pays to be sure you are caught being good.  I've told the younger ones  someone could do the same if they weren't happy with you. {I've been rethinking all my dancing escapades at Walmart today. ::snort::} I guess the warnings to be sure to, "Wear clean underwear when you leave  home," needs to change to, "Be sure you are acting with integrity  - always."

This was really fun timing for Josiah. He will soon be leaving Chick Fil A for a new job and life in a new city. It's a great way to leave a job he's had for 7 or 8 years.

And yes, we think it's awfully cool that Samantha and others noted what we've known about Josiah for years, "This is a good man."

Hair Cutting Adventure

The day was full with school, friends, care-giving and family.

Poor Michael had more pain again today - but he did get the email approving his convalescent leave - only took me visits to eight different spots to get it approved. ::snort::

 These photos are the result of letting Stacia use my camera...evidently the model and photographer need a bit of parental input.

Zander and Arielle cut a deal for Arielle to cut his hair. I didn't expect this.  It's not my hair - so it's their deal. There were many jokes about her not shaving  a heart into the back of HIS head.....Not bad....needs to be evened up. Zander hates hair cuts. He doesn't like the buzzing sound either....but he usually buzzes it to nothing so he can go a long time in between hair cuts. ::snort:: This is a compromise the two of them worked out.

 

Smile?

Lunch of Champions

This is not a lunch I will try - but it's one of Stacia's favorites.  It makes me happy that it IS so healthy.

Those Tupperware plates have been around since our 29 year old was 1.

Michael and I laugh that this baby has never known our family to eat the SAD. We were eating clean when she was born - re Rex Russell What the Bible Says about Healthy Living.  And when she was six three or four of us transitioned to the Nutritarian lifestyle...some presenting as vegans.  Fun to see how that impacts what she considers good. {Though I'm still researching the Daniel Cure and the Daniel Plan seem to be closely align with the concept of Nutritarian.}

We had a conversation spurred on by one of her friends which cracked me up. "Just imagine I'm 9 years old and I don't know what bacon tastes like." Horrors. I agreed she should taste this food of the gods. I used to LOVE bacon - put it on almost everything.  She ordered some at a restaurant and told me it's not very good.  She never choose the bacon option at restaurants. LOL

Chili sans Carne (Vegan)

This is another of Lindsay Nixon's recipes from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook. Arielle and I have been craving chili, but no one makes it without meat. Arielle said the seasonings are "perfect" in this one.

Ingredients1 small onion, diced
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes with juices
2 T chili powder, or to taste
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp granulated garlic powder
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed*
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed*
1 C frozen yellow corn
1 T ketchup
1 T prepared yellow mustard
1 tsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp mild curry powder
1 T vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 C TVP or TSP**
2 C no-beef broth (or broth)
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
cayenne powder, to taste
hot sauce, to taste

*I used a combination of 4 cups of pre-cooked dried beans
**I think you could skip this - I had some morning glory TVP meal starters and used that

Directions

I threw it all in my instant pot on the "slow cook" mode and let it cook all day.

Line a medium pot with a thin layer of water.

Add onion and cook over med heat until translucent - about 3 minutes

Add tomatoes with their juices, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes, until the liquid has reduced slightly.

Add beans, corn, ketchup, mustard, maple syrup, curry and Worcestershire Sauce, stirring to combine.

Cover and turn off heat, but leave on the warm stove.

Prepare broth.  Combine TVP with broth, add to chili, stirring to combine.

Set aside uncovered for 10 minutes.

Give it a good stir, then add salt and pepper.

Add cayenne powder or hot sauce if desired, then serve.

These directions seem a bit involved - but maybe it would make this yummy chili taste even better if I did it this way. I like the crock pot. LOL  This was great over baked tortilla chips with nutritional yeast on top.

Scrabble Debut

They day began well - time with Jesus and a bit of Bible study prep. 

I didn't get a workout in - because I lost track of time during said time with Jesus.

Arielle and I dropped off  Michael to have the forgotten staple removed and drove across town to drop the van off to have the bumper fixed. We picked up Michael, stopped at Rite Aide and came home.

I cooked a hot lunch for Michael and me.

I did couch school with Zander and Stacia. Nolan surprised us with a great comparison paper on Two of William Blake's poems. We discovered the new Zeta book has gone missing again. I think I'm the only homeschooler who buys the same text over and over and over again.

The older two had Japanese. I folded laundry and talked to my Mom on the phone.

I cooked dinner. Stacia made "lemonade" with what we took to be lemons from the Hispanic produce market....but they couldn't have been. Oddest tasting fruit I've seen since Durian.

Arielle spent the night sewing on her "babysitting bag." The rest of us played a game of Scrabble.

Michael and I used to play this alot when we were first married. Until I got mad at always losing. He LOVES this game and so for Christmas I bought the deluxe board and determined to be a better loser. This was the boys first game and they did well.  In fact Zander finished only four behind Michael.

I got the "Jamin award." ::wink:: I was 4th winner. BUT I know HOW to enjoy Scrabble....and all the earthy words were MINE - all mine. ::snort::

I tried to sell Michael on house rules....whoever gets all their tiles out there in a pretty design first wins - doesn't matter what words they may or may not make. No dice.

Michael had a rough afternoon with pain management. I'm sure it had to do with being out this morning. If nothing else this was confirmation he's  not ready to be back at work - or driving.  It's actually turned out wonderful to have the van in the shop and Michael at  home this week. Arielle and I can juggle our schedules and the one car. LOL

Still Life - Christa Parrish

Still Life, by Christa Parrish is an EXCELLENT book.  A plane crash, photography, glimpses into a religious cult, clear distinctions between an angry and a just/loving God, hurting families ensnared in their choices....very good read. I laughed, I ranted, I cringed, I cried, I thought deeply. This book moved me.

 I want a sequel! I want to know what happens with Adah. I want to see Ethan mature in his faith and profession.

This is a story of loss, hope, renewal, restoration and the providence of God. It is also a story of community....families, friends, church body.

I will look for more books from this author.

Their Blurb: A tragic plane crash. One woman who lost her husband. Another who gave up her seat for him.

Adah spent her first twenty-five years with her family as part of a fringe religious sect. Her only contact with the outside world was through customers at their farm store. Then she met Julian, a photojournalist who'd come to document their lifestyle. They eloped mere days later and Adah was thrust into a completely new life as a wife, city-dweller, and an individual allowed to make her own decisions. But she has no idea who she is.

On her twenty-sixth birthday, Julian plans to fly home from an assignment to give her her first-ever birthday present. He's thrilled when Katherine Cramer gives up her seat so he can make the flight. But the plane crashes and everyone on board is killed, including Julian.

Adah is completely at a loss, with no friends and no marketable skills. When Julian's last photographs are published, her life erupts into chaos. She begins travelling-with Julian's camera for a companion-searching for answers to who she is and what she really wants.

Meanwhile, Katherine must live with the knowledge of why she gave up her seat-to extend her affair one more night. She recognizes her survival as a second chance to save her marriage. But is it too late?

When Adah's and Katherine's paths cross, they discover that there's still life ahead for both of them.

Author Bio: Christa Parrish is the author of five novels, including the 2009 ECPA Book of the Year Watch Over Me and the Christy Award-winning Stones for Bread. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, writer and pastor Chris Coppernoll. They have four children in their blended family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review; I am disclosing this in accordance with the FederalTrade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."