Weather Unit Study

What a fun day of experiments at preschool today!  We are working this week on studying weather.  At the end of the day we had some fun with several experiments.  The kids love this time together and it's definitely one of my favorites when they can actually visualize the science behind what we're learning. 

We created clouds using shaving cream and blue water droppings.  Next, we created snow in a jar using baby oil, white paint, water, glitter, and Alka Seltzer.  The Alka Seltzer bubbles and propels the white glittery paint to the surface and then falls like snow! 

We also made thunder clouds using paper bags and simulated a rainbow using Skittles and water.  I love seeing the kids wonder and excitement as we play and learn! 

When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure, When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.  Job 28:25-27

Bible Bowl Buddies

For Bible Bowl this year I have quite a few high school boys.  The boys have been taking turns teaching the Bible lessons and doing a fabulous job!  With Caleb in town this weekend he taught from the book of John.  

One of my sweet preschoolers asked to hang out with us in class because her older sister is in the class.  She helped me get a few pictures of our class.  She was intrigued with Jon's beard and took several pictures of him!  At the end of class she wanted a selfie with Caleb, so sweet! 

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. I Timothy 5:1-2

Roomies

The girl has made her college selection, Oklahoma Christian University!  I'm very excited because OC is where my dad, my uncle, my brother and I attended!  She'll make a fabulous Eagle! 

She's so excited to have her college decision made, plus she has a sweet friend from Camp Blue Haven that she will be rooming with, Ms. Audrey! Can't wait to hear about all their adventures! 

May he grant you your heart's desire

    and fulfill all your plans!

Psalm 20:4

Happy Thanksgiving

The boy got in from Lubbock yesterday, and while we waited for his arrival the girls and I got busy baking.  With it just being the five of us we were able to keep it simple but delicious.  

I know the days of having all three 'babies' home are numbered but I'm so happy to have our little family together.  For family and friends who stop by our little blog, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Blessings to all! 

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

    for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul,  and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

Kirkwood Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest is all gathered in

And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain.

So open wide the doorway-

Thanksgiving comes again!  

when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,  “For he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever,”

2 Chronicles 5:13

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this is about our 12th year to have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with our McDermott home schooling families!  

It's a great afternoon with a lot of great food, Charlie Brown style.  You know, buttered toast, jellybeans, pretzel sticks, popcorn, sandwiches and desserts.  The kids usually watch the Thanksgiving special while they eat lunch and then head outside after wards to play. 

This year we were at Ms. Julie's beautiful home and enjoyed marvelous conversation while the kids had their fill of Nerf wars and trampoline time. 

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15

Oklahoma Christian University's Honors Program

Abigail has been looking at all her options for college.  She's weighed playing college softball versus academics.  Her top school is Oklahoma Christian University.  

OC has the Honor's college that accepts about 5% of the incoming freshman class.  The Honors Political Science program is very solid, in fact 100% of their students have past the LSAT for the last six years! 

Our trip to OC today was for Abigail to interview with the head of the Honors department, Dr. Baird for the program.  She's made it past the application and phone interview and today is her one on one interview!  If it goes well, she should receive her acceptance letter into the program by Christmas! Of course it shouldn't hurt that her letter of recommendation was from General Tommy Franks! 

Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.   Psalm 34:14

My Happy Place

Last week I got word from our friends at NTX Community Food Pantry, formerly Metro Relief, that they were low on baby formula.  

If I mom is on WIC they can get most of the necessary baby food and supplies.  But many of the families we see at the pantry aren't on WIC for various reasons.  Many of those families look the the pantry to help out.  

I made a few phone calls to several of our church friends who work at pediatrician offices and collected donations for the pantry.  The girls and I were able to deliver forty-six cases of formula to our friends!  We are beyond blessed with the generous servant hearts of our friends! 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Luke 6:38

Preschool Science

In preschool we are currently learning about fruits and vegetables. In my art center we did stamp painting with corn, bell peppers and onions. 

For the science portion I thought it would be fun to try an experiment to make kernels of corn dance. 

Supplies:
a clear glass container
popping corn
2 1/2 – 3 cups of water
2 Tbsp. of baking soda
6 Tbsp. of white vinegar
food coloring (optional)

Simply fill your jar with water and add a couple drops of food coloring.  Add your baking soda and stir well until it is all dissolved.  Add a small handful of popping corn kernels, I used yellow and red kernels.   Add the vinegar and watch the corn start to hop up and down!  

After I conducted the experiment I then had stations set up for each of the kids to pair up and try their hand at following directions and making the corn dance.  Some were successful, others didn't let their baking soda completely dissolve.  So, afterwards we sat down and talked about what went wrong and what worked! 

You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 18:4

My Distinguished Delegate

Abigail returned from her  trip to Washington, DC.  She had a great time at the nation Model U.N. conference.  I'm blown away that she was accepted into Collin College’s Model U.N. program even though she’s still in high school and homeschooled at that! 

The delegation from Collin College represented the Member State of Cameroon. There were 151 Member States represented at the conference including universities from Texas Tech, Figi National University, Reitaku in Japan, WSC Italy, just to name a few. As a group the delegation from Collin won the Distinguished Delegation Award for their honorable conduct. 

Abigail and her partner Ian were awarded a Position Paper Award. My little home schooled, softball catching, piano playing, Bible Bowling little girl has been invited back to Model U.N. in New York in the Spring!  

While in Washington the students were able to visit the capital, the Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian.  She came home with so many wonderful stories.  I'm so grateful she had this opportunity and that she is able to articulate what she believes and use her words to persuade others, that is a talent required for all believers. 

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

Passing the Torch

One of the great things about teaching Bible Bowl for so many years is I get to see these young people grow up into adult; into Christians serving in the Lord's body.  Today was one of those wonderful moments.  Matthew has been actively involved in my Bible Bowl classes since he was in third grade and today he took on the role as teacher.  

Matthew taught a class full of his peers over John chapter six. It is one of the longer chapters in the book of John and Matthew did a great job of capturing everyone's attention as he took us through the feeding of the 5,000  and Christ being the bread of life.  

I'm so proud of Matthew and the other young men in my class who have taken on carrying the torch of the Lord's Word for the next generation! 

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. John 6:47

Sawyer Brown Concert

With the girl in D.C., the boy in Lubbock, and the oldest with a friend, that means Jon and I have a date night!  I've been looking forward to the for months!  Sawyer Brown in concert in our town!  Sawyer Brown was one of the first concert Jon and I went to.  Back in 1995 Sawyer Brown was the headliner with Rick Trevino and Toby Keith as the opening acts in Tulsa.  

Later we saw Sawyer Brown in 2005 at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth!  They are absolutely my favorite!  Their songs are high energy, generally appropriate for all ages and just happy!  

Tonight they played with Restless Heart as their opening act at the Veterans Celebration.  So many great songs and fun memories. I won passes for us to go back stage and meet both Restless Heart and Sawyer Brown.  My inner high school self was beyond ecstatic!  At the end of the concert the local VFW set off a beautiful fireworks display.  Best date night ever! 

"Well I ain't first class

But I ain't white trash

I'm wild and a little crazy too

Some girls don't like boys like me

Aw but some girls do" 

Model U.N.: Abigail Goes to Washington Edition

Abigail is taking political science at Collin College.  The professor offers all of her students the opportunity to try out for Collin's Model United Nations and to compete in Washington, D.C.  Abigail tried out and was accepted into the program. 

The group of twelve college students have been meeting every Friday afternoon putting together their delegations.  Collin will represent the Republic of Cameroon in Africa. Today the group and their professor took off to Washington D.C. to compete against colleges and universities around the world!  Crazy, right! 

Can't wait to post more over her adventures soon! 

Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;

    set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

Isaiah 43:26

Election Day

This post might best be captioned with, 'you might be a home schooler if . . ." your mom signs you up to work a polling place on election day! Abigail and I showed up at our polling location at 5:30 this morning to help set up.  We worked until it was time to close down.  

Denton county had huge increases in voter turn out!  On the first day of early voting Denton county had more voters than in the entirety of the previous presidential election!   The lines stayed about a thirty minute wait all day and a little longer after five o'clock.  It's a great experience for my sweet political science major! 

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  I Timothy 2:1-2

HSAA Hit a Thon

Tonight was the Hit-A-Thon fundraiser for the HSAA baseball and softball teams.  The junior high and high school teams took to the fields at Craig Ranch.  Each of the players were responsible for getting sponsors for their hits.  The money raised goes to offset the cost for the teams to rent fields, pay tournament fees, uniforms, and coaches equipment.  

Each player took five pitches and then the longest hit was recorded for sponsors.  Baseball fields are larger than softball fields.  On a softball field 200 feet is 'out of the park.'  Abigail's longest hit was 210 feet! 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 
Acts 20:35