Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Melinda, happy birthday to me.
I know.... It's "self-glorification," but honestly, I'm happy. I haven't been "happy" in awhile, so I'm going to take it when I can get it.
So, as my present to you, I want to share a video with you. The voices in this group are just amazing.......
Hugs,
Melinda
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Everything's coming up roses.....
I thought you might like to see the beautiful gift that God has given me. Before we moved into this house, before we had even signed the papers, we came by really late at night. I noticed that there was a rose bush. We trimmed it way back in the late fall.
This is what I get to look at now.
This is the actual bush. I think I counted right around 30 flowers this morning. That's not including the four I cut two nights ago.
This is what I get to look at now.
This is the actual bush. I think I counted right around 30 flowers this morning. That's not including the four I cut two nights ago. They are beautiful, aren't they? God is so good, so gracious to allow me to share these beautiful creations. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much I am enjoying the real thing.
Hugs,
Melinda
Seed update
I thought you might be interested in an update on our seeds. We planted them in the flower bed. This is the one that had all the "necessities." See how tall it's growing? :D
Here's a wide shot. The one on the left is the one with no dirt, and the one on the far right is the one with no water. :D
Here's a wide shot. The one on the left is the one with no dirt, and the one on the far right is the one with no water. :D
I am having so much fun with this. :D
Hugs,
Melinda
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Potter
I recently had the priviledge of travelling to Eureka Springs, AR with my mother in law. She took a group of Senior Saints, and I was the "chaperone." While we were there, we attended The Great Passion Play.
At 7:00, before the show starts, there is a little talk off the main buildings called Parables of the Potter. In this talk, the potter, Joe Smith, throws a pot. While doing so, he is talking about it. He talks about how he is placing the foot of the vessel on the rock to center it. He talks about forming the heart of the vessel and placing his fingerprints on it. He talks about the lip of the vessel and how what is in the heart comes out of the lip. He talks about going through the kiln and the firey trials to come out harder, stronger and more pure.
He compares our earthly vessels that God has given us to these simple clay vessels he makes. He uses more scripture than I can even think of.
Oh Lord, I have run dry, and now I understand why. I have not filled myself with your living waters. I beg of you to form me and shape me into a vessel worthy of serving you. I ask you to fill my heart with your words and your fingerprints. Please set my foot upon the Rock of Ages, and center me until I am one with you. Thank you Lord, for loving me enough to show me that I am dry. In Jesus's holy name, Amen
At 7:00, before the show starts, there is a little talk off the main buildings called Parables of the Potter. In this talk, the potter, Joe Smith, throws a pot. While doing so, he is talking about it. He talks about how he is placing the foot of the vessel on the rock to center it. He talks about forming the heart of the vessel and placing his fingerprints on it. He talks about the lip of the vessel and how what is in the heart comes out of the lip. He talks about going through the kiln and the firey trials to come out harder, stronger and more pure.
He compares our earthly vessels that God has given us to these simple clay vessels he makes. He uses more scripture than I can even think of.
Oh Lord, I have run dry, and now I understand why. I have not filled myself with your living waters. I beg of you to form me and shape me into a vessel worthy of serving you. I ask you to fill my heart with your words and your fingerprints. Please set my foot upon the Rock of Ages, and center me until I am one with you. Thank you Lord, for loving me enough to show me that I am dry. In Jesus's holy name, Amen
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Seed Experiment
***warning: this post is heavy with pictures***
So, we decided to homeschool next year. I'm beginning to understand that it's not so much "follow this textbook, this cirriculum, these rules" as much as it is teaching your kids how to learn, and taking advantage of learning opportunities as they present themselves.
One Sunday, Little Bit and I were outside on our porch, playing with the maple seeds. I was showing her how the helicopters fly and just sort of segued into seeds, and how there are all sorts of seeds. We talked about maple seeds, and dandelion seeds, and came inside and ate an apple after seeing apple seeds.
We talked about how to make a plant grow, you need a seed, dirt, water, and light. There was even a real cute little video story that we watched, that I would provide a link to.... if I had bookmarked it.
Then we planted some greenbean seeds. 4 to be exact. We planted one with a seed, dirt, water, and light. Then one we wrapped in a damp paper towel, but it didn't have dirt. One didn't get water, and one didn't get light.
First, we had to move our rainbow maker out of the window sill. This makes beautiful rainbows around 9:30 in the morning.
You should have seen the excitement when we realized the seeds were poking up. This is the seed that had dirt, water, light, and of course a seed. This is about 8:30 or so that morning.
Little better picture of the same seed. At one point, I came into the kitchen to cook, and found dirt in the sink. I had to laugh just a bit, because this plant was making a mess! ;)
I feel really sorry for this one. It didn't get any light. And I may have over watered it. It just looks sad.
But imagine my surprise when I realized the one that didn't get water had a root showing? You can see it to the right of the pink sticky note label, near the bottom of the glass. I didn't get a picture, but it wound itself all around the bottom of the glass.
This is the one that didn't get "dirt." We wrapped it in a damp towel and kept it moist.
Can you see it poking up through the towel there?
This picture isn't too clear, but those are the roots of the "no dirt" seed poking out.
So, this is our first plant at about 10 pm that same night. OH MY WORD, it's growing and growing fast!
Here's the one in the towel that same night. It grew too!
And the next morning, we had LEAVES! (And more dirt in the sink, but I digress.)
This guy even managed to poke his head up.
All in all, I think this experiment was a rousing success. Although I'm a bit hard pressed to tell you who was more excited by the growing seeds: me or the kids.
So, we decided to homeschool next year. I'm beginning to understand that it's not so much "follow this textbook, this cirriculum, these rules" as much as it is teaching your kids how to learn, and taking advantage of learning opportunities as they present themselves.
One Sunday, Little Bit and I were outside on our porch, playing with the maple seeds. I was showing her how the helicopters fly and just sort of segued into seeds, and how there are all sorts of seeds. We talked about maple seeds, and dandelion seeds, and came inside and ate an apple after seeing apple seeds.
We talked about how to make a plant grow, you need a seed, dirt, water, and light. There was even a real cute little video story that we watched, that I would provide a link to.... if I had bookmarked it.
Then we planted some greenbean seeds. 4 to be exact. We planted one with a seed, dirt, water, and light. Then one we wrapped in a damp paper towel, but it didn't have dirt. One didn't get water, and one didn't get light.
First, we had to move our rainbow maker out of the window sill. This makes beautiful rainbows around 9:30 in the morning.
You should have seen the excitement when we realized the seeds were poking up. This is the seed that had dirt, water, light, and of course a seed. This is about 8:30 or so that morning.
Little better picture of the same seed. At one point, I came into the kitchen to cook, and found dirt in the sink. I had to laugh just a bit, because this plant was making a mess! ;)
I feel really sorry for this one. It didn't get any light. And I may have over watered it. It just looks sad.
But imagine my surprise when I realized the one that didn't get water had a root showing? You can see it to the right of the pink sticky note label, near the bottom of the glass. I didn't get a picture, but it wound itself all around the bottom of the glass.
This is the one that didn't get "dirt." We wrapped it in a damp towel and kept it moist.
Can you see it poking up through the towel there?
This picture isn't too clear, but those are the roots of the "no dirt" seed poking out.
So, this is our first plant at about 10 pm that same night. OH MY WORD, it's growing and growing fast!
Here's the one in the towel that same night. It grew too!
And the next morning, we had LEAVES! (And more dirt in the sink, but I digress.)
This guy even managed to poke his head up.
All in all, I think this experiment was a rousing success. Although I'm a bit hard pressed to tell you who was more excited by the growing seeds: me or the kids.
The next thing we did was to take the seed in the paper towel and open it up and talk about the parts of plants: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Then we planted them all outside. Hopefully soon, I'll have some pictures of greenbean plants to show you. :D
Oh, and a lady in my guild gave me two baby baby tomato plants that we're "growing." Hopefully, Little Bit will be excited about these, too.
Hugs,
Melinda