Reindeer Shoes

A little boy with angelic, curly hair and reindeer shoes has come to
visit my house this weekend. I've watched him run in the grass with his
little aunties, dance to everything from country western to classical
music (and laugh his head off when everyone else did the same), devour
pancakes and watermelon, push a doll stroller around and around the
house, run in circles with his "popcorn popper", watch out the window
while the "big kids" play, laugh when his grandpa flew him, and help his
grandma unload the dishwasher. The funniest times, however, have been
when he noticed his baby brother and fondly squeezed his arm or "bipped"
his nose. I'm so glad you are visiting, Little Boy! : ) And your shoes
with the happy reindeer faces on them are just the cutest.

The Cookie of the Century

The best thing about these cookies is that they taste so good--almost like a Reese's peanut butter cup. The other best thing about them is that they are versatile. Make it with chocolate chips, and you have the recipe that has become our ultimate favorite cookie. Make it without chocolate, criss-cross it with a fork, sprinkle sugar on top and you have the recipe that kept Dad company during his early years of sermon writing. And another best thing about them is that they are a crowd-pleaser.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

You will need:

Butter, softened                      ½ C                 1 C                  1 ½ C

Peanut butter                          ½ C                 1 C                  1 ½ C

Sugar                                     ½ C                 1 C                  1 ½ C

Brown sugar, packed             ½ C                 1 C                  1 ½ C

Baking soda                           ½ tsp.              1 tsp.               1 ½ tsp.

Baking powder                       ½ tsp.              1 tsp.               1 ½ tsp.

Eggs                                       1                      2                      3

Vanilla                                    ½ tsp.              1 tsp.               1 ½ tsp.

Flour, all purpose                    1 ¼ C              2 ½ C              3 ¾ C

Chocolate chips to taste

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the two sugars, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. (Skip the chocolate chips if you are making plain peanut butter cookies.)

If necessary, cover and chill dough until it is easy to handle. Shape into 1" balls. Place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 7-9 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Enjoy!

Chance for Authors

Wow, this really makes me want to publish something! From Perry Elisabeth's blog...

 

Calling all homeschooled authors!

Would you like to see your books for sale at the Oregon homeschool convention? This year, I am organizing a booth of books by homeschooled authors for the OCEANNetwork Conference (June 20-21, attended by approx. 2,100 adults and their families).

Here's what's in it for you:

-Because I am splitting the booth fee among multiple authors, your books can be in a homeschool convention for the fraction of the normal cost

-Your books will be at a homeschool convention without you needing to travel

-Your promotional materials may be seen by over 2,000 new potential fans

-You may choose to offer a book or books as a giveaway to gather new e-mail newsletter subscriptions

-If your books sell out, I can take backorders upon your guarantee of order fulfillment within 2 weeks of the convention and an offer of free shipping to convention orders

Here's how it works:

-Your portion of the booth cost would be $22 x number of your titles participating.

-You would send me copies of your books--the quantity is up to you. You are responsible for shipping costs. 

-You would send me any promotional materials (bookmarks, business cards, coloring pages, etc.) to include on the booth, as well as one book stand to prop up a "demo" copy of your book.

-I will set up and run the booth (to be titled "Homeschooled Authors") for both days of the convention: June 20-21. I am passionate about homeschooled authors, so I will be a knowledgeable, diligent, and dedicated saleswoman.

-I will oversee any giveaway(s) you may choose to offer.

-After the convention, I will return any remaining inventory to you along with the money from sales of your books minus any associated credit card processing fees. You are responsible for return shipping costs. If your inventory sells out, I will pass on backorders for you to fulfill. You may choose to have me return any unused promotional materials (at your cost) or to have me attempt to place them at local libraries, bookstores, etc.

HURRY! If you would like to participate, please let me know no later than May 17th. Because this is a joint venture, all plans are contingent upon participation. Please note: if, by May 17th, there are not enough participating authors, I will not proceed with the booth purchase. All participating authors will be updated on the status of the booth purchase. (Also note that I reserve the right to deny any title's participation in the booth for any reason and without explanation.)

Please let me know if I can answer any more questions or provide any more details. Contact me here.

I'm looking forward to hearing back from you!

The Ticking Clock

Thanking God for the blessing of a gigantic-ly tall little brother...

A Whirlwind Weekend

Last weekend (and the two weeks leading up to it, might I add) was a whirlwind of preparations, practice, and finally the big day of our performance in the chorale! I thought I would share with you some of the things I am thankful for from the Christian Heritage Conference.

 

I'm thankful for...

Parents who were willing to take the plunge to spend the time, money, and effort on getting us to this great event. They trotted us around to stores so we could find clothes for the chorale, took us to several extra practices, and actually waived the usual school schedule so we could practice our brains out.

All our friends from church and the church universal who practiced with us and shared their unique versions of jokes.

A mom who was willing and able to cook tons of food, put up with 2 3/4 teenage girls asking for clothing advice, and stay up 'til two Thursday night/Friday morning making sure everyone had socks and the like.

The neighbors' cows (with the sheep leading!) being driven down the road in front of our house. That broke up the routine of a very busy day and gave us something to talk about.

A big sister who loaned me one of her denim skirts for the weekend.

A dad who got up at four thirty on Friday morning to drive us there. (For four hours, starting out in the fog to boot!)

A "baby" sister who kept asking her highly intellectual equivalent of "Are we there yet?"

GPS.

Those cool name tags that you just have to snap yourself with every year. (For old time's sake.)

This year's amazing, inspiring speakers--Ken Ham, R.C. Sproul Jr., and Israel Wayne. There were many more, but those are all the ones I heard between being in the chorale and arriving a little late. : ) I enjoyed hearing Mr. Ham's behind-the-scenes on his recent debate with Bill Nye. Mr. Wayne gave a historically interesting and inspiring talk called "What About Socialization?" where I learned that the most important thing in a child's life is that their heart belongs to their parents. (He was mainly talking to the parents but I found some application.) : ) He did a great job considering the fact that he had bronchitis, a sinus infection, an ear infection, and had visited urgent care the night before.

The curriculum hall--especially the Lamplighter booth! Do you think they know that all the beautiful books spread out draw me in? A scratch and dent copy of Comfortable Troubles came home with me. : )

The wonderful performers who blessed us with their music before the sessions and during the Family Night. We were treated to music from bluegrass to classical and even got to witness a skit on homeschooling. I most enjoyed the family with the adorable triplets and the Dunn Mountain Boys. (Not to mention the people I know and was there to cheer for!)

The Fellowship Dinner where we split up by regions and got to meet new people in our general area. Aimee and I gained a new pen-pal, and Paul found that boys universally love computer coding and animal trapping.

Chorale practices!!! (You knew this was coming.) This was our main reason for going, actually, and it was very rewarding. The two directors and the piano player worked together to make sure we sounded amazing. They handled us in a sometimes hilarious and sometimes serious way. I'll never forget having to practice putting the 's' on the end of a word on the next one and repeating "endle--ssbe" over and over. The words of the songs were very beautiful, and they didn't neglect talking about them either. There was even a complete Gospel presentation mixed in with the technical work.

All the little children. The adorable little girl who smiled at us while we tried to listen to a session, the chunky baby boy who greeted us with the universal salute of a finger up his nose, and the curly headed tot who waved goodbye to me as their family's van left the parking lot.

Food, glorious food! Especially the ham sandwiches.

The marvelous friends who decided to finance two hotel rooms for our family on Friday night. (We are thanking God for you! You know who you are.)

The comforts of said hotel room and the family party we had that night. Popcorn, Studio C episodes, and lots of laughter combined to make that night memorable.

Breakfast the next morning with about twenty other homeschoolers in the tiny hotel breakfast room. : ) 'Nuff said.

All the wonderful volunteers, the Craig and Bradrick families, and everyone else who made sure this conference happened.

A gigantic-ly tall "little" brother to escort me places. We did four flights of stairs together.

Elevators and escalators so you don't have to do four flights all day!

A "baby" sister who wore black and white just to match our performance clothes. So sweet!

Comfortable black shoes to wear on those crowded risers. I'm afraid the abundance of sopranos and altos squished the guys so hard that some had to share music. : )

The performance! The members of the audience I talked to later said it was wonderful, but I know the best part was being up there in the midst of the choir singing out God's praises at the tops of their lungs. The words were so beautiful, and when I sang "I could feel God's pleasure."

The funny dynamics of trying to fit 250+ young adults into the hallway behind the stage. I knocked the doorstop loose twice moving around people, so my gigantic-ly tall "little" brother and one other young man had to help we with it since it was a particularly rebellious doorstop. : )

The ending session and the congregational singing afterwards. Gotta' love the universal church!

Goodbyes with our new pen-pal.

Dinner on the long drive home and the awesome discussions about vision, roles, and so on that were held above the sound of the pounding rain.

Sleep. : )

Church the next morning where our favorite 93-year-old man accompanied the song he was leading on the piano. : )

 

Altogether it was an encouraging, exciting weekend, and I'm so grateful that I got the chance to praise God in song with so many other brothers and sisters.

The Gift of Music

This year we oldest three have the privilege of being in the Christian
Heritage Youth Chorale. It's been so much fun to practice our various
parts, and even the younger kids are getting in on it. Betsy Bea plugs
her ears every time the sopranos get way up there and claims that she can
do all the parts like "bass, alto, melody..." The songs chosen for this
year are quite beautiful, and all the work is worth the experience of
standing up there with 300 or so other "youth" praising God in song. I'm
very excited for next weekend and to see how my favorite songs turn out!
We'll be singing arrangements of "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Crown Him with Many
Crowns", "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go", and "Little David, Play On
Your Harp". : )

My Birthday

            I started celebrating my birthday the whole week before by being excited by all the secrets being kept from me, practicing thinking that I was my new age, and smashing Oreos on my birthday eve.

            No, smashing Oreos isn't my yearly tradition (though it should be one), I was actually making homemade ice cream. I made a big and yummy mess, and even had the privilege of snitching some Oreos. : ) This whole time Mom was making a yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and various siblings were shut in a bedroom working on a pet plan.

            It was a very excited me that went to bed that night wondering, and hoping, and praying over being the next age—a big landmark for me. As all nights do, that one came to an end, and it was very fortunately the morning.

            When I got up Dad was making pancakes. They weren't just any pancakes—these were Dad's pancakes. The melt-in-your-mouth-buttery-thin-and-soft kind. Add more butter and some maple syrup and you have the ultimate birthday breakfast.

            This birthday was different from all the others in that it fell on science co-op day. Mom and Dad asked me if I wanted to go through with it, and I'm surely glad I did. It was a beautiful day for going hiking, and the fact that we took good friends along made it even better. On that hike I fell twice, almost fell another half dozen times, indulged in pleasant conversation, and heard more songbirds than I ever have at one time. Two birds in particular seemed to be having a conversation; and it was very interesting to try to pinpoint where their chirps were coming from.

            After lunch and more good conversation, our family celebrated my birthday with cake and ice cream. (Just between you and me—that Oreo ice cream was the best part of the day.)

            Gifts came next. The little girls showered me with pictures and lovely wishes. Betsy Bea even gave me a book she had typed on the computer complete with an author's picture. The cover had a picture she drew of us holding hands with a heart between us. I couldn't read the writing because it was in kindergartener code, but I have my guesses that it was the story of us.

            The eppy-guys (that is the code word for all of us siblings) gifted me with an awesome, really bright flashlight (necessity in this land of power outages) and glycerin soap to melt and mold to my heart's content. The aunts sent me birthday money for books and whatever other happy things I can think of. I have It's Not [That] Complicated and A Man Called Peter coming in the mail!!! I also bought a beautiful red journal to add to my stash, mint green yarn, and a wonderful, wonderful song.

            Dad and Mom absolutely spoiled me with Breezy Brookshire's Family Treasure Coloring Book (It's so well done and adorable!), Large Family Logistics ('bout as interesting as a novel!), and fabric and a pattern for the ultimate denim skirt. This may sound like extremely practical things, but they are very enjoyable all the same. I'm excited about getting to sewing. : )

            After I had torn open all the wonderful packages, Aimee and Anna surprised me with that wonderful surprise they had been preparing all the day before. Aimee handed me a small, adorably wrapped package with a gold number one on it. It was the beginning of a scavenger hunt looking for seventeen-and-one-to-grown-on of these packages. Each one was wrapped so cutely in a Shabby Chic sort of way (Mom dubbed Anna and Aimee "Martha" and "Stewart"), and it was so fun looking for them! The hardest ones to     find were the ones in the most obvious places (like on top of the thermostat at my eye level), and my on-looking siblings were in stitches. (BTW- the contents were Kit-Kats… Mmm…)

            Aimee and I had started watching Fireproof the night before, so we finished it between the party and dinner. I love that movie!!!

            Mommy blessed me with the gift of homemade pizza with fresh tomatoes for dinner. I could tell she was really tired, but she made this yummy dinner for me anyway. Daddy offered his own gift in the form of a prayer that God would bless me and give me a servant's heart.

            Altogether, it was a wonderful birthday filled with blessings and joy. I can't wait to see what God brings me this year!