American Bible Challenge

 

 

 

The Game Show Network has a wholesome family show titled the Great American Bible Challenge, hosted by the well-known Bible scholar, Jeff Foxworthy.  When the show came out last year, we received emails from quite a few friends saying we needed to tryout for the show.  At that time the kids were at Camp Blue Haven.  Today was the casting call in Dallas for Season Two.  

 

Caleb, Jon and I went to tryout.  It was just the best experience, so pleasant.  Really a nice group of people.  Some in costume to compete as the 'Bible Buckaneers' or 'Higher Hair'.  There were lots of matching t-shirts, catchy team cheers.  Of course, silly me, I thought you go, you take the test and if you score high you make the show.  That is not exactly how it works.

 

The test was probably four or five pages of questions, ranging from the simplicity of  write the books of the Bible in order to 'who is the Christian on the Simpson's TV show?'  Following the test there was an interview process and a film screen test.  We were one of the last teams into the interview, they told us we had the highest scores they had seen all day, and that Caleb had the highest score. 

 

It was a really, really, enjoyable experience!  We met other home school families, teams from other churches of Christ.  My advice to anyone who actually wanted to be on the TV show would be to take your own prerecorded audition tape, telling who you are, info about your charity etc.  Make it snazzy and make sure you have a memorable hook.  When you go to tryout, remember it is a TV show, it is for entertainment, come prepared to entertain.  The test is the easiest part.  You can visit the American Bible Challenge Facebook for sample tests and get an idea of what it is like. 

You study the Scriptures diligently
because you think that in them you have eternal life.
These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

John 5:39

Teen Classical Book Club

If your children are home schooled, or have grown up embracing the value of great books then you are probably familiar with Lew Wallace's Ben Hur.  This was the selection for PEACH's Teen Classical Book Club.  For those of you only familiar with the 1959 movie, starring Charlton Heston, suffice it to say, the book is even longer! 

For back ground sake, Caleb has loved this movie since he was about four years old.  At some point he became fascinated with Roman history and he has an operating data bank of all things Roman.  He has a book entitled The Roman Handbook that we purchased at the Dallas Museum of Art's Vesuvius exhibit  that he could probably recite at this point.  In fact in his room a Lego Roman Coliseum still sits.   If you were to need clarification on Roman vs. Greek gods, names, powers, legends etc., please feel free to start up a conversation with my child!

For book club we read all 577 pages.  Yes, we read, not listened to the audio version, not just watched the DVD, we read!  Keep in mind that is 577 pages written in the 'King James Version' vocabulary!   Caleb did make sure when we finished reading that we watched the 6 hour 1959 movie and the following day watched the 90 minute cartoon version.  Please do not tell him their was also a silent film version of the book.   I think what he truly enjoys is Charlton Heston's voice.  He loves the 10 Commandments too and anything else that Mr. Heston has done.  Caleb does a pretty good impersonation of Charlton Heston's Moses, and probably an even better impersonation of Yul Brenner's Pharaoh!  

At book club the children discuss the book and make comparisons to current popular literature, etc.  But if the truth were told, what really brings these kids together is the pizza and games afterwards.  For club this month Abigail and I made a spice cake with dates and figs in the shape of the Coliseum.  Ms. Kathy had several great races for the kids including placing penne noodles in a bowl, using a spaghetti noodle held in their lips.  They also raced to get vanilla wafers in their mouth, that were positioned on their forehead using only their facial muscles! 

 

The kids had great fun with the games, as a parent I saw lessons that were so applicable to the book.  There were teens who  followed the rules with every game and those who did not, rather choosing to 'bend' the rules to ensure victory.  2000 years later from the setting of the book there is still nothing new under the sun. Human nature strives for recognition and the praise of men, but true reward only comes when we humble ourselves and submit to authority. 

The chariot race is the big attention grabber scene in the movie, but the book really focuses on a man living during the time of the Messiah and the change that takes place in his life because of the  interactions with the Messiah.  It is a great read, and Lew Wallace was a former Union General and brought great insight to the civil unrest of the Jews and the Romans. 

(Click HERE to re-visit our theater trip to see Ben Hur in HD)

(Click HERE to view our visit to the DMA's Pompeii Exhibit in 2007)
(Click HERE to see Mount Vesuvius Caleb and Abigail built in 2007)

I know, my God,
that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.
All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent.

I Chronicles 29:17

PEACH Recital

Each year our home school group, PEACH, holds our annual Recital, it is a great venue for kids to display their various talents and an even better time to hang out with friends!  The evening includes a youth dessert bake off.  This year we had 17 entries in the dessert competition.  Since my kiddos did not participate in the baking portion I was invited to assist with the judging portion.  That is code for sample all 17 desserts!   Yum, there we no losers, that's for sure!

 

There was also an art competition, separated by age groups.  So many talented children!  I really enjoy seeing the kids creativity.  Abigail did enter the art competition, I'm not sure how many pieces of art were entered, but their were a lot of great pieces!

 

Entertainment for the evening included the recital portion, there was everything from musical selections, poetry recitations, solos, interps, and I'm sure I am forgetting some.  We had more contestants this year than any previous year, and I'm happy to say, the quality of the performances was also improved!

 

Caleb chose to perform a piece he did for his speakers club and Abigail performed one of her newest piano pieces. 

 

for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD

Exodus 12:14

Head on a Platter

This week in Bible Bowl we reviewed chapters 1-8.  With us being on the heels of Halloween, I kept with the John the Baptist, head on a platter theme.  Our snack was donuts with teeth inserted, fruit roll ups for tounges and 'X' eyes mad out of icing. 

I challeneged the kids to memorize the chapter headings for chapters 1-4.  As a reward as they  came up and said their headings, I gave them goodie bags with Mattew 6:9-12 on the tags.  The bags were filled with gold and silver coins (bubble gum) and gold bar nuggets (chocolate)! 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21

Mother/Son Luncheon at Bass Pro



  

Awesome Day!

What a fun day!  Today was our annual Mother/Son Luncheon at Bass Pro with friends from PEACH, our home schooling group.  We joined about 40 others for a great time of worship, fellowship and encouragement.  This years theme was taken from Joshua 1:9, myself and another mom spoke to encourage the Moms to be courageous in our parenting.  Like last year, Caleb and another young man spoke to the young men.  It really was a booster shot in the arm to step up and be the parents of a Godly generation of young men. 

Public speaking is something that comes a little easier for Caleb, but with speech and debate and Leadership Training for Christ he has definitely had more practice.  As for me, I've had a LOT of practice speaking in front of young people but grown ups can be a intimidating.    But knowing you are in a room filled with people walking the same road makes it much easier.

Our day also included English Country Dancing lessons, way too fun!  The boys were good sports, Caleb called it 'bonnet movie dancing.'  

Lunch for Caleb consisted of Islamorada Portofino, which was blackened tilapia topped with grilled shrimp in a rich, creamy lobster sauce.  I opted for the catfish, both were wonderful.  The best part of the luncheon portion was the amazing turtle cheese cake!  I didn't finish all of my fish, but every bit of the cheese cake was eaten!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Archery Class

My Katniss

My Hawkeye



Our class

 

 

 

Homeschooling affords our family to experience a lot of different things that we couldn't normally do in a traditional 8am 3pm school setting.  Today one of those things was archery lessons.  Both kids loved archery at Camp Blue Haven and today they spent some time with other friends at Texas Archery Academy.  They offer archery 101, 201, & 301 class, plus competitive shooting.  Of course mom likes that they do all these things with like minded, Christian, home schooled children, and I spent the afternoon with like minded, Christian, home schooling moms!  

 

The kids shot from various distances and even played games where everyone had a balloon on their target and were to shoot the balloons off of others targets, the winner was the last person who still had a balloon in tact. 

 

The kids have every intention of going back for more!  I think you get a year family membership for $125 and shoot any time, and use their bows and arrows.  It's a great deal for families!

 

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.

Isaiah 49:2

John the Baptist Cake

Caleb adding Eyelashes

In preparation for the Texas Bible Bowl next spring, I am currently teaching the book of Matthew every Sunday.  This Sunday we spent some time on John the Baptist.  Sundays can be a long day, worship servies are a 8am with Bible class following at 9:30 and then these kids volunteer to sit through an hour and half of intense study in the book of Matthew.  I usually bring a snack of some kind each week. This week I had a little fun and prepared a carrot cake in the shape of John the Baptist head on a platter, of course. 

 

Anything that makes these lessons memorable really helps it stick in the kids brains.  The cake was two sepate bundt cakes put together, and then I filled the tube hole with cupcakes.  I used flat pretzels to build out the ears and the nose and then covered it with icing. 

My Kids!  Love these guys!

 

I covered his hair with chocolate icing and then black licorice for fun.  I found some wax lips and dusted them with powdered sugar.  The beard and eye lashe were made out of chocolate sprinkles!  The kids loved it and had a great time!

 Prompted by her mother, she said,

“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

Matthew 14:8

Francis Marie Day

 

Everyone gets a birthday.  One of the frustrating parts in dealing with the Department of Human Service while Frankie was in foster care was the almost four years it took to complete Frankie's adoption.  During that time Frankie celebrated four birthdays,. . . on the wrong day!  You see DHS had given us Frankie's birthday, a date supplied by a family member at her intake into the foster care system, the same date other foster care parents had celebrated.  It was only at her adoption when her birth records were re-submitted we found her correct birthday. 

 

With all of that said, as a mom, I wanted to make up for the unfairness of Frankie's childhood.  Upon the anniversary of Frankie's adoption we celebrate "Francis Marie Day!"  It is Frankie's special day, it is the date she became our baby!  This means Frankie gets a birthday AND her Francis Marie Day each year!  This year marked eighteen years since her adoption in 1994 when she was nine. 

 

Love my baby girl!

 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27

Dallas Opera: Aida

Tonight kicked off the 2012-2013 Dallas Opera season with Aida   It is set in Ancient Egypt, with a captive Ethiopian princess, Aida,  torn between her love for the Egyptian commander Radames and her loyalty to her own father and country. The lovers must fend off the schemes of a fiercely jealous Egyptian princess and decide whether true love trumps honor and duty.  I think Caleb was hoping for a few more battle scenes, but the girls enjoyed the beautiful costumes.

 

Although I'm certainly not a opera aficionado, I do love live theater and appreciate the skills it takes to perform, the voices, the creativity in the costumes, the beautiful sets and the lovely symphonic orchestra.   Live theater beats any TV or movie screen.  No matter how advanced 3D technology becomes it can't compare to a night at the theater.  I love how there is no instrument that can begin to duplicate what the human voice can do, and the myriad of talents God has placed in people. 

 

But be sure to fear the LORD and serve
him faithfully with all your heart;
consider what great things he has done for you.

I Samuel 12:24

Christopher Paolini at the Dallas Museum of Art



Mr. Paolini signing Caleb's book

 

 

Today the Inheritance Deluxe Hardcover book was released and author Christopher Paolini kick-off a book lecture, Q and A at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Christopher Paolini is the best-selling author of the Inheritance Cycle the popular young adult fantasy series telling the adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon.  Paolini was home schooled and at fifteen began writing this hugely popular book series.  So far he has sold over 33 million books over the last ten years. 



Paolini's Books

 

Caleb has read this series multiple times and loves the imagination and mythical lands of Alagaesia.  Tonight Paolini was at the Dallas Museum of Art for their BooksmART event discussing the final book in this series, Inheritance.  Paolini was charming and engaging, great stories about how he graduated at 15 because his mom didn't let them take summers off from school.  Lot of relateable home school stories, along with his love for the Tolkien-style fantasy books. 

 

Caleb really enjoyed the talk and question and answer session.  Of course when they went off in elf-language and old Norse it might as well have been Middle Earth to me!

 

Caleb did get one of his books signed and judging by the line Mr. Paolini may still be there signing books.  At the end of the day Caleb kissed me good night and said, "thanks Mom for taking me to see Christopher Paolini."  It's all good!

 

 an enormous red dragon with seven heads
and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.
Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

Revelation 12:3-4