The End?

Life is pretty hectic right now--the blog team just might take a few months off on break...


Thank you so much, God, for truly blessing me--fill me over with the Joy of Your Salvation!

Hope you have enjoyed reading!
In Christ,
Anna
*If you'd like to keep up with me, I'll be (probably frequently) posting my artwork here, my thoughts here, and hopefully our moving adventure here. Blessings!

Royal Wedding: Prince William and Catherine

Sarah reminded me that today was the Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding.
I was eager to see what Kate Middleton's bridal gown would look like and found myself pulled into the Royal Wedding vacuum. It was so beautiful to watch--the dresses, the ceremony, the exchange of vows, and the priestly blessing were all so elegant and perfect.
Watch the Royal Wedding Live!
The Royal Wedding Page
William and Catherine become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Earl and Countess of Strathearn, and Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus
'First Kiss' on Balcony of Buckingham Palace
Royal Wedding Hats
Duchess Catherine's Dress:

"Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean."

It was a Fairy Tale Wedding...like stepping between the pages of the Cinderella in the Brother's Grimm.
But it made me so excited...
For the wonderful gift of salvation He has given me:

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."~61:10

I also thought it interesting that Kate Middleton is not nobility, yet she married Prince William and can be Queen Catherine the Sixth.
It reminded me that, although I am not of royal blood, the Son has chosen me for his Bride and His Father has adopted me as an heir to his eternal blessings.
What a blessing it is to be called an heir and child of God:

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."~Galatians 4:4-7

Maria's Comfort

In the September of 1774, a young Alexander Hamilton rushed to where the two year old daughter of his friend and benefactor, Elias Boudinot, lay ill. Long sleepless nights of waiting and watching followed. After her death, a much affected Hamilton penned the following words.

For the sweet babe, my doting heart
Did all a mother's fondness feel;
Careful to act each tender part
And guard from every threatening ill.

But what alas! availed my care?
The unrelenting hand of death,
Regardless of a parent's prayer
Has stopped my lovely infant's breath.

Thou'st gone, forever gone-yet where,
Ah! pleasing thought, to endless bliss.
Then, why indulge the rising tear?
Canst thou, fond heart, lament for this?

Let reason silence nature's strife,
And weep Maria's fate no more;
She's safe from all the storms of life,
And wafted to a peaceful shore.

When I originally read this poem, I was very moved. Then I began to think of what little Anna Maria might have said in response to his grief. And so I wrote this poem, and entitled it 'Maria's Comfort'.

I look down from Heaven above,
And mourn the loss my parents bear;
For them I always greatly love,
And know this parting their hearts tears.

But with sweet love the Father's hand
Rescu'd me from all worldly cares;
And now with him I safely stand,
In Answer to my parent's prayrs.

I have gone from this earth, indeed.
Gone to heaven, to endless Bliss,
Safe in glory, with never need.
Canst thou, fond heart, lament for this?

Let reason silence nature's strife,
And weep my wondrous fate no more;
I'm safe from all the storms of life
And landed on a peacefull Shore.

(And yes, the apparent misspellings are on purpose; I was attempting to copy the style of the times. :) )

Blessings,
Rachel

If I could not hold a pen I would write of You on my heart instead You have bought me with Your blood And I am painted red by Your love

Until You found me,
I was all alone;
My soul was black and cold,
But You loved my heart of stone.

Now Sonshine showers me

From Your storehouse above...
And You wash my heart red
With Your raindrops of Love.

poem/pictures: "Sonshine and Lovedrops" by me
post title: JJ Heller, "Painted Red"

Gossip

This post by Melody Green is somewhat long, but definitely worth the read. I was both convicted and encouraged by her straightforward approach to the all-too-frequent problem of gossiping. Even if you think that you are not a gossiper, please read this article.

God bless you all!
Rachel

Who the Son Sets Free is Free Indeed!

I was going through my notes in my iPod and I found these notes from last year at the Paul Tripp conference I attended with my parents. It was very powerful and Mr. Tripp is such a good speaker. So I thought I'd share the notes (stuff he really said, only I'm not fast enough to get all of it):

The Battle Against Sin

"We're putting our trust in things that will fail us. God is in the middle of my troubles. Through every circumstance God is working to change me. He needs to be the thing that makes your life worth living just because you've come to know him. Our lives are shaped by a war between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of self. The DNA of sin is selfishness. It makes life all about me. I'm not in the battle by myself. The purpose of the cross is to liberate me from myself. My greatest danger in life is myself. You live in little moments. God's power in us should live in the little moments."

The Power of Words

"What's the quest behind your words? What do you really want your words to accomplish? Let no corrupting or unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only that which benefits other persons with the grace of God. God wants us to be an instrument of grace to others. What a radically different way to talk when we talk to say what God wants us to say instead of what we want to say. Some people say 'I didn't mean that.' But, if it's not in your heart, it won't come out of your mouth. Consider the need of the person you are talking to. Are the people in your life actually graced by your words? If you're living for the bigger kingdom it will change the way you talk."

Worldly or Heavenly Treasure

"Everyone lives for some kind of treasure. The thing that is your treasure will control your heart. What controls your heart will control your behavior. Life will never be found in the assemblage of worldly treasures. Earthly things or beings do not have the capacity to satisfy the desire of your heart. It's wrong to by ruled by the things of the earth. We are living way beyond our means. We try to squeeze the kingdom of God into the extra spaces in our schedules that are driven by the treasures of the earth. We try to squeeze hundred dollar conversations into dying moments. Be willing to live on smaller portions so that you can live for God. What value system is driving your schedule?"

Thoughts that have been tumbling about in my mind:
We owe so much to God. And we can't repay any of it. But we are obligated to commit our lives to doing good in Christ's name. We have no excuse not to--we have been freed from the laws of sin and death and this world has no hold on us. We are now slaves to righteousness and therefore should serve God with everything He has given us.

I hope these notes will help you grow in your relationship with God and serve Him even better.

Something Quick

Last week I did not post and so I ended up breaking my end of the deal. I came across this article that I want to share with you.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE ON TRUSTING IN GOD AND SERVING HIM ALONE

Next week, I'll return to sharing my thoughts I promised to share before.

See you then!

Spring in Virginia

cherryblossoms

It's not yet Spring here in Colorado. We're still catching up on the cold weather and snow-showers that December forgot to have. But in Virginia, everything is starting to bud and bloom.

bridalwreath

We had a wonderful week there--visiting relatives, having a birthday party, taking graduation pictures, and just relaxing from the stress life brings.

our neighbor's flock had three newborns this spring--they were so sweet!

waiting in the Detroit Airport--it's ginormous and the intercom blared out in English, Chinese, and another Asian language

Our five year old cousin loves to draw and color. She drew a few pictures for Sarah and me.

the forsithia was in bloom--it was gorgeous!

my Aunt made these cute cupcakes and a beautiful cake for my birthday

blue blooms at my grandmother's house

An old blue bike one of my great uncles left leaning against Pawpaw's old shop.

Mr. and Mrs. White Duck and their brown friend (not pictured ;) were the only ones out and about on the pond at Emory & Henry (where I hope to finish college after Highlands Community College)

I'm already missing the cabin...but we'll be living there soon.
I hope I can enjoy the rest of my time here with all contentment, like Paul says in Philippians 4:11,

"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."

Have a relaxed, blessed weekend!

Trust

Do you trust God?

Think on that for a moment.

Do you really trust God?

Or in the words of Del Tackett: "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?"

I've had ongoing health problems since I was 10. Sometimes things are worse. Sometimes they're better. Last week they were worse.

One evening, I went to my bedroom, sat on the floor in the dark, and just cried. I was so tired. Tired of feeling sick. Tired of pain. Tired of not being able to do the things I wanted, even normal everyday things. I cried for a long time. I also prayed.

During the height of my sobbing, I heard a voice. (To clarify: I did not hear an actual audible voice; it was more like a feeling in my mind.) "Do you trust me?"

That brought me up short. I thought for a minute.

"Do you trust me?"

And I realized that I didn't. I certainly would have said that I did. I thought that I was trusting God. And I realized that there was my problem in a nutshell. I didn't trust God.

Immediately I prayed. I confessed that I hadn't trusted him, and I realized that trust was a choice, not a feeling. I resolved to trust him in the future. At once I felt "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 3:7) And I knew that God would take care of me. That doesn't necessarily mean that he will heal me...but he will take care of me.

Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him"

So I ask again, Do you trust God?

Blessings,
Rachel

Project: Read

This week rather than posting, I want to prepare you for next week's post. Go check out James 1 and Psalm 27.

Read them several times. Look at texts that stick out to you.

I'm looking forward to next week!

Waiting

I don't really know what to post this week. I am sick in body, and anguished in heart. I have no words of wisdom or insight. I'm not even sure I have any words.

I wish that I could pretend I had it all together, and that I was still rejoicing in the middle of everything. But I don't have it all together. I'm tired; I'm frustrated; I'm hurt.

And I guess what it comes down to is this: "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12 My desire is the Lord's return. That will put an end to all problems. My poor health, my doubts, my fears, the divisions that I see among believers and which cause me such pain. Those will all disappear. How I long for that day!

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." ~1 Corinthians 15:52



"But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." ~1 Corinthians 15:57

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
May God bless you all this week.
Rachel

Time Goes On

With each passing day, you are as young as you'll ever be again and as old as you've ever been before. This is not an original thought of mine, but something my mom read and shared with me a few months ago. Even so, let it sink in. Today, you are as young as you'll ever be again and as old as you've ever been before.

What will you do with today?

What did you do with yesterday that made today better? What did you do with yesterday that made today worse?

Verse like 1 Corinthians 10:31 have a lot to say: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God!"

Make use of today. Good use. Use it to worship God, to help those around you worship God. Do this by cultivating a spirit of godliness in yourself as well as those around you.

As Woodrow Kroll always says at the end of his program, "Have a good and godly day. For of what lasting value is a good day if it's not also a godly day?"

A week of time away...

Last year this time, life was a lot different. We were heading out for Spring Break in Tucson and had a lovely time there.
I was so thrilled about the Butterfly Garden we visited--butterflies are my favorite flying creature.
We're leaving tomorrow for Virginia. I'm so excited, I know I won't get any sleep tonight. We're taking a plane to South Carolina and then driving the rest of the way...home.
We're moving to Virginia in June and I'm really happy to be living so close to relatives. Both my mom and dad are from the same town (the one Daddy's retiring in) and all except a small few of my extended relations live there. It will be quite a change for me--going from City Girl to Country Girl, Military Brat to Civilian. I think I'll like it, though. My mom's concerned that I'll be disappointed with Country life and long for groups of friends and large shopping centers. And I probably will...
But God knows best. He's so good to me. He planned, even before Grandaddy's birth in 1910, to have my Great-Grandfather live for 91 years and die two days ago. And have the funeral coincide with our Spring Break trip.
My Dad grew up on Grandaddy's Milk Farm and was very close to both his Grandmother (who passed away last year) and Grandaddy. Both of my parents always remarked how delicious Grandmother's apple pie was. Daddy did a lot with his Grandpa and says he can still remember going to see his first movie with him. I'm so thankful my Jesus kept my Great-Grandparents alive so long. I have wonderful memories about them and feel so lucky to have known them. I will miss going to Grandmother and Grandaddy's house after it is sold.
But God knows best.
It's so wonderful to have an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God.
Have a lovely break, if you are taking one.
Hopefully I'll have plenty of pictures of Springtime in the Country to share next week when I return.

Tea and Scones

I love drinking tea. It not only tastes good, but it has so many health benefits. Black, white, and green teas all contain antioxidants, which are extremely important for protecting your body from cancer, among other benefits. They also contain some caffeine, which is a good booster in the late afternoon. :)

I love herbal teas too. I drink chamomile when I'm nervous, peppermint for pain or if I have an upset stomach, raspberry leaf for general health, ginger for dizziness...the list could go on and on.

And what goes better with a good black tea than scones? After trying many different recipes, and deciding what we liked best, my sister and I made this recipe. I won't make any claims that it's the best scone recipe in the world...but it is good. ;)
Note: this recipe was made for high altitude! You lowlanders, make changes accordingly.

Basic Scones á la Barton

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
heaped 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
scant 1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons butter, cubed
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and place a baking sheet in it. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spices, and salt. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the sugar. Mix together milk and sour cream in a measuring cup. Add to bowl and mix to form a soft dough. With floured hands, turn dough out onto floured work surface and use your hands to shape it into a thick 7-inch round. Cut the round into eight wedges. Using oven mitts, carefully take the heated baking sheet out of the oven. With a spatula, transfer the scones to the baking sheet. Bake in the upper part of the oven until browned and well-risen, 10-12 minutes. Cool the scones on a wire rack. Serve with butter, clotted cream, or strawberry jam.

I have not made this yet, so I don't know if it actually works, but here is a recipe for making clotted cream (since everyone seems to agree that you can't buy good clotted cream at the store).

"Don't start with milk or your yield will be too small. Start with cream. Raw, unpasteurised cream gives the best results. I can't give you a recommendation for raw cream in your area but in California Claravale's raw cream is the best contender for the job that I have found. Organic Pastures version works too. You can even make an ok version with pasteurised cream (I tried Straus Organic), but raw is definitely the best thing to use.

Set aside several hours, this is a long project. Pour a pint of cream into your largest, non reactive, clean frying-pan. I use a large All-Clad fry pan, you need the largest surface area you can get. Put over your lowest heat setting, I use 'warm' on my ancient electric stove. If you use gas, I am guessing you will need a diffuser. After about an hour, a crust will have formed on the surface. Scrape it off with a non-slotted spoon into a bowl, keeping the crust facing upwards. Repeat 3 or 4 times until most of the cream has thickened and been scraped into the bowl. Refrigerate over night. The next morning you should have a thick, gloopy, knobbly-surfaced cream which you can spread onto a freshly baked scone." Recipe from this blog The comments on the original post also give some good advice.

Enjoy! And let me know if you like the recipes. :)
May God bless you all richly this week,
Rachel

Sacrificing...

Yes, we ate pancakes (waffles, actually) on Shrove Tuesday.
No, I didn't wear the ashes of remembrance. But I did see a boy at school with the black print of coal on his forehead.

And I prayed and prayed about what I was going to do for Lent (if I am doing it, that is) and I decided that yes, I might be doing it...or not.
Either way, you'll never know.
And it won't matter because I'm working out my salvation through fear and trembling just as you are working yours.
And though we're all working in different ways, most of us are working toward that same goal of holiness.

I hope you enjoy reading these two posts as much as I did:

• A Sojourner Rests: Forty days and forty nights
• Russell Moore: On Mardi Gras

Last of all, I have a question for you:
Paul says in Romans 9:3, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

(Since Lent is about giving something up) Would you give your salvation up so that someone else could be saved?

I thought about this last night, telling God I was so sorry—sorry that not everyone is or will be saved…sorry that I am so selfish and wouldn’t be willing to do so.

Can you even imagine what life would be life without God? I can’t—I can’t remember a time when He wasn’t there for me. One moment without Him would be Hell. That’s what Hell is—life without God.

So, think about it. Really think about what Paul said.

Would you wish yourself cut off from the life-giver, from the reason for the world, from your every breath, for the sake of your brothers?

‘til next week, friends,

Anna

Please remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast who are preparing for and suffering the evils of a tsunami.

Weariness

I think that I could copy Victoria's last post, word for word, and it would explain how I also feel this week. I'm sure that I probably do have many things to say, but I don't have the time or heart to put them into words right now. So in lieu of me rambling on and on, here is a Psalm I read this morning that I found encouraging.

Psalm 18
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

May God bless you this week,
Rachel

A Link

I don't have much to say this week...I've been having A LOT on my mind. I've been wrestling with A LOT of stuff. I'm sure there is much I could say, but I just don't feel up to it right now.

So, I'm going to send you over to a post that has meant something to me recently.

Check out what Thabiti Anyabwile has to say about prayer.

When Jesus Is All You Have...

Is Jesus all you have? Of course He is.
He even once said to us,

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." ~Matthew 24:35

Have you heard the story of Corrie Ten Boom? If you haven't, read it here.


She once said, "You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have." How true!
Please take 3 or 4 minutes to hear Joni Eareckson Tada speak about what these words mean to her and what they can mean for you. Click here to listen.


Why ask for anything else, but that one thing?

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple."~Psalm 27:4

I'm glad He's all I have...because He's all I need.

Honest Answer

Last week, I posted a rather serious post. It came with grace and love and truth. I would guess that it probably had quite a sting that came along with it.

If you felt that sting, I am very glad. That is the Holy Spirit working within you. Listen to that sting. But, do more than listen. Let that sting and others like it lead you to seek God. In your seeking let obedience be a manifestation of His grace.

It's time for an honest answer. I don't have to share it with you, but I want to.

That post I made last week is basically a glimpse into what I live for. I know that truth. It is deep within my soul. It is on my mind daily. And yet, it is the thing that helps me see my sin the clearest.

I do not live, I have not been living my life in a way that cultivates a spirit of dependence on and joy in God in my own life as well as in the lives of those around me.

Okay, I said it.

I live in a state of pride and arrogance. I have a soul that is easily disturbed. I am prone to serious attitudes of gloom.

YET, God. God is at work. God has saved me and He has labored much and often in my soul. He is making me more like Jesus with every passing season. That is where the joy that usually comes through me comes from. That is where the part of me that people like and enjoy and admire comes from.

That is where my hope lies. Knowing all of that, I labor, I press on, I seek Him all that much more that His work may not be hindered.

Oh, how far short I fall. But, oh how sufficient His grace is!

If you answered last week's question with a no, do not be discouraged. Let it be a reminder of your desperate need for Jesus Christ. Let it be a reminder of the grace you have received, the grace that has made you new. Let it be a reminder of the work that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do.

With your mind fully set on God and fully guarded by His peace, the answer will soon be yes.

All there...

Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there."
So, where are you?
Are you all there? Are you only/entirely/wholly there?
It's easy to give an appearance of being all in a situation without really giving up anything. i.e. being in a relationship with God and still having other idols alongside Him. I find that I often set up pedestals and raise them next to God without even realizing it. (I only recognize them when God takes them away.)
So, again, are you all there? In that situation where you feel like you want to run away? Or in that moment when you could be ministering and don't feel like it?
I know I'm not...
I read a great post at "A Sojourner Rests" yesterday and wanted to share it with you,

"When we first moved to the desert I was amazed at so many things I had never seen before. As a homeschool family we did unit studies on the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and the Great Basin deserts of North America.... and my amazement grew.
I am not sure the children enjoyed all of our field trips and studies but we learned names of cacti, trees and animal life that we had never encountered before.
It was all new to us and we got excited the first time we saw mirages, saguaro cactus, a scorpion or a road runner and marveled at how anything could live in the hot, dry, arid climate.

Then we began to learn other things that weren't so fun and interesting."
click here to read the rest

So, how are you going to be all there this day? This hour? This minute?