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AWANA Games

Having four kids means "divide and conquer" most of the time. So, this year, on AWANA Parent Night, Jeremy went with Matthew to T&T, I went with Annie to Sparks, and Granny went with Andrew to Cubbies. I took some pictures of Annie playing games - she doesn't have a lot of speed, but she sure smiles the whole time!


 
 
 
 

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More Baby Chicks

 
 
 

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Baby Chicks

Our friends the Hagemiers let us come see their new baby chicks. They kids had so much fun, and didn't want to leave!

 
 
 

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Andrew and the Dreaded New Class

Andrew is so much like his daddy. He HATES transitions. He doesn't like moving from one class to another - once you get things settled, he doesn't understand why you don't stay there FOREVER! Why mess with what works, right?

So, here is Andrew the FIRST WEEK OF Cubbies:

 


Eventually, he does adjust, though (which is good for Mom's sanity). Here is Andrew's SECOND WEEK of Cubbies:

 


Thanks, Gale for taking these pictures!

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FaveCrafts.com

Here is a website I've been visiting for a lot of free patterns lately. FaveCrafts.com is an awesome site with 1000's of free craft projects, home
decor ideas and DIY tips. They add new projects and tips every day. Some
of the free crafts projects that I've enjoyed looking at include Christmas Crafts, Free Crochet Patterns and Crafting with Kids. You can sign up for their free daily e-mail newsletter Quick & Crafty and they have a lot of good free eBooks like "Creative Crafting all Year Round: Crafts to Celebrate the Holidays eBook".

 

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Christmas Crafts, Free Knitting Patterns, Free Crochet Patterns and
More from FaveCrafts.com (Linked to home page, http://www.favecrafts.com)

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Browsing

I'm just browsing the internet today, with not much else to do while the spaghetti cooks. (I know, it's only 10:30. But when you run out of eggs, bread & milk all in the same morning, what else do you do?)

One thing I've realized is that the internet is like cable TV. There's hundreds of "channels" and NOTHING ON!

So, I think I'm going to go play with my kids. See you!

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These are NOT my kids

But it's still awesome, even with that significant drawback. :)

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"Downs Clowns" (Behind the Scenes)

The kids have formed a band, and we're calling them the Downs Clowns (it was between that and "Upside Downs", and the kids out-voted me). I've already posted a video, but I thought you'd like to see what they are REALLY like, when they're not in front of the camera and making major productions. It may surprise you.

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Green Alert

I have no idea where this came from, but the kids have written a song (complete with choreography) and titled it "Green Alert". See if you can sing along by the end of the video...:)

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Matthew & Jacob Playing the Piano

Jacob stayed around while Matthew started up playing, and if you can't tell, he's saying "Cha cha cha" because that's what all the kids say when they finish singing a song.




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Andrew & Jacob playing the piano

My music lovers were putting on a show! The video kind of cuts "around the corner" because I was TRYING to get them without them knowing I was recording them. They're too observant, though, so that didn't work.


Still, I love to listen to them, and my favorite part is Andrew reacting to Jacob. :)


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Videos Coming

YouTube is not being very friendly today, so I'm not sure WHEN the videos will be up - but I'm working on it!

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Giveaway

Check out this link for a contest giving away

The Dressmaker’s Technique Bible
By Lorna Knight

Publisher: Krause Publications
www.MyCreativity.com


Enter for your chance to win!


http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Dressmaker-Book-Giveaway#

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Crochet Update

I posted earlier about the project I'm working on, and here is an update. The back is complete! Now I'm working on the front, and then the sleeves, then we'll put everything together.



I know you're on pins & needles to see how it progresses, so I'll keep you updated. :)

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Enough Said

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Bible Bee

Matthew is participating in the National Bible Bee today. It is a
contest all across the country where children prepare for and are
tested on Bible knowledge and memory. It has been a lot of hard work
for Matthew and many other children for months.

It is kind of strange sitting here thinking about Matthew being tested
on his Bible knowledge. It's kind of like the job all parents do: we
spend time teaching them, working with them, and praying for them, and
there eventually comes a time when they are tested on their knowledge
and what they have learned. But then, the stakes are much higher than
a contest.

It makes me wonder if I am doing enough to preprare them for that
Test. It definitely drives me back to my knees-praying for God to work
in their hearts.


From my iPhone

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Free Calendar

I'm not a big "conservationist", but I do like free stuff, and this Wildlife Calendar for next year (2010) looks really nice! They're sending them out free if you sign up by September 15.

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Rifqa can remain

Please pray for this lady.


ORLANDO, FL - A 17-year-old girl who says she ran away from her Muslim family in Ohio because she feared she could be killed for converting to Christianity can remain in Florida for now.

An Orlando judge signed an order Thursday sealing a police report for at least ten days until lawyers for Rifqa Bary, her parents, and child welfare officials can read it. The report contains the results of a two-week investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into Bary's family and home life.


The attorney for Bary's mother says the report shows that the teen's fears are unfounded.


The case is headed for a trial in which the judge will hear testimony and decide whether Bary should be returned to Ohio. She has been placed with a foster family in Florida and wants to stay with them.


The judge set a pretrial hearing for the end of this month.

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Pregnant Christian Dragged Naked Through Pakistani Police Station

This story is tragic and really leaves me speechless when I consider the extent of what happened to this woman. The Assyrian International News Agency and International Christian Concern are reporting on the story of a pregnant Christian woman who was beaten and dragged naked through the Pakistan police station. The police knew she was pregnant and still treated her this way.
Her crime? She was accused of theft, along with a Muslim woman, by their employer. However, the Muslim woman was not treated harshly in the same manner as the Christian woman, despite there being nothing proven to convict the Christian woman of having stolen from her boss.

The woman, Farzana Bibi, worked as a maid in the house of a wealthy Muslim. During a wedding held at the house, some jewelry was stolen from some of the landlord's female relatives. The police were called, and when they arrived at the scene they arrested two maids: Farzana and a Muslim woman named Rehana. Nazir Masih, Farzana's husband, said, "Police registered a fake theft case against my wife and Rehana without any proof."

Nazir went on to say that the police tortured his wife even though she told them she was pregnant. He told ICC, "Sub-Inspector Zulfiqar and Assistant Sub-Inspector Akhter subjected her to intense torture. They stripped off her clothes and dragged her naked around the compound of Cantonment Area Police Station in Kharian. They humiliated and tortured my wife, but did not do anything to Rehana." Read the full story.

Please pray that God would comfort Farzana and Nazir and that justice would be carried out. Please also call your Pakistani embassy and ask them to defend the rights of Christians.

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Latest Crochet Project

Here's the latest project I'm working on! (Or, one of them, at least.) I'm excited about this one.

 

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[Click the picture to see the pattern]

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Tim Hawkins - The Government Can

Last one!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0


Lindsay Downs
iPhone

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Tim Hawkins-Tech Support

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkLq1j1kOaU


Lindsay Downs
iPhone

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Tim Hawkins - A Homeschool Family

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc


Lindsay Downs
iPhone

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Co-Op and Making Music

Today we started a very informal, low-key homeschool co-op that meets once a month. The kids get a chance to do some "music theater", and give presentations. Today was "show & tell" day.


Matthew got up and spoke about his pet hermit crab "Crazy" (named thus because of the 8 on his back - get it, crazy eights? *that's the way Matthew described it to me*). He enjoyed speaking in front of all of us, and telling about his crab:


Annie told us all about her favorite bear: Goldie. This was a gift given to her by Granny when she got her root canal and teeth pulled, and we NEVER let this bear out of our sights. (You can probably tell that it's seldom washed.)

Andrew was very excited about getting up in front of everyone and speaking. He brought his tiger (whose name is, appropriately, Tiger). When his turn came, he jumped up out of his seat, and ran eagerly to the front of the room, turned around, and promptly burst into tears. I couldn't get him to say another word. This is him just starting to tear up:

It was pitiful, but also kind of funny at the same time. :)

Later that day, the kids put on a "play" for us. Matthew just had his FIRST piano lesson ever, so he was playing the piano, Annie was dancing, Andrew on the guitar, and Jacob....well, you'll see Jacob. Enjoy. :)