Speaker's Club

Speaker's Club

This year is Abigail's first year in Speaker's Club and today was her first speech.  The purpose of today's speech was to introduce herself to the group using the opening, closing, and three body points

Abigail choose to use her namesake, Jon's mom, with a her own sense of humor.  The child cracks me up.  She is only twelve and I'm constantly amazed at how comfortable she is in front of groups of people.  Granny, be sure to have a tissue handy! 

Caleb also gave his first speech of the season, he was assigned a persuasive speech, he was given the topic of Christianity and Vegetarianism.  He was to argue if the 'Thou shalt not kill' applied to the eating of animals using Biblical examples and teaching.  

It will be fun to see what topics the kids get to research and argue this year! 

“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Exodus 4:10-11

Sixth Floor + DISD + Dallas Morning News Partnership

Today the Dallas ISD, the Dallas Morning News and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza announced their partnership for educators, students and families around President John F. Kennedy’s legacy in observance of the 50th anniversary of his assassination. The press event was held at John F. Kennedy Learning Center in Dallas. During the kickoff, The Sixth Floor Museum’s Youth Advisory Committee donated replicas of a Kennedy rocking chair and rug bearing the Great Seal of the United States. These replicas will remain in the school's library where students can use them.  The Youth Advisory Council raised money for the replicas over the past summer.  Caleb used his Facebook and social media to solicit funds. 

 

Tom Huang of The Dallas Morning News, Nicola Longford, executive director for The Sixth Floor Museum and Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles all participated in the ceremonies.  The JFK Learning Center's fourth grade choir even performed a couple of songs to the delight of the moms and dads in the audience!  

 

The DISD superintendent announce that each school in the district will sponsor or participate in at least one event that will allow students to explore Kennedy’s legacy of achievements. In the spring The Sixth Floor Museum will hold a reception for students.

 

Caleb was one of the four youths representing the Youth Advisory Committee at the press conference today.  It was enjoyable watching them being interviewed by the Dallas Morning News and local television affiliates.  The kids got to put on their public speaking / improv hats as they answered such questions by reporters like, "How would you compare Kennedy and Obama's Presidency?"

 

During the presentation today the DISD Superintendent praised the Youth Advisory Committee for the gifts presented today and the hours they spent over the last year painting quotes throughout the school.  He thank the kids for being young adults who looked for what they could do for their country / community.     

We have different gifts,
according to the grace given to each of us.
If your gift is serving,
then serve do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:6-8

Dodge Ball Tournament

Abigail's friend Sarah, from her softball team invited Abigail and the other girls from the team to the Prestonwood's Student Ministry dodge ball tournament.  The girls teams consisted of ten girls.  They all work black, and Sarah made hot pink sequin headbands and brought everyone hot pink and black striped knee socks.  They were too cute. 

 

The first round the twelve year & thirteen year olds were put against a high school girls team, they got pounded, literally.  The team moved to the losers bracket and faired only slightly better in their second game.  When they were eliminated the girls enjoyed the hamburgers, funnel cakes and snow cones. 

 

The girls also ran through the color gauntlet where they were doused with colored powder!

 

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

Psalm 19:5

Museum of Earth History in Dallas

Our first field trip of the school year was to the Museum of Earth History in Dallas.  It is located on the campus of Christ for the Nations and is run in partnership with Creation Truth Foundation.  The museum is an ever expanding educational evidences of creation and Earth history from a Biblical young Earth perspective.  The Creation Truth Foundation out of Oklahoma has a mobile museum that has been on display at the home school book conference in Arlington.

 

Many replicas of the items from the mobile museum are on display at the Museum of Earth History including full-sized dinosaur skeletons.  There is an array of dinosaur skulls, specimens, and artifacts.  The kids participated in the interactive learning stations.  There is an audio tour, but with our large group we had a docent led tour. The museum is still fund raising to add more sections to the museum. 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

Sunday Softball

This afternoon marked the Shockwaves second game of the season.  I included several picks from the girls 45 minute warm up before the game.  Do you see that big smile on Jon's face?  He loves being out there throwing the ball with the kids!

 

Today Abigail felt like a celebrity when the home plate umpire recognized her from another league she's played on.  He was picking on her about being tough as nails.  She got an RBI in today; threw out a girl at second base and a drop third strike out.  I'm sure there were other notable events in the game, but I'm the mom and happy to be hanging out watching the fun with my Sonic drink. 

 

Towards the end of today's game Abigail took a hit to her knee cap from a fast pitch.  It took her out of the game for the last few batters but by the time we made it home she was walking on it and only has a bruise to show for the ordeal. 

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises?

Proverbs 23:29

Saturday Shockwaves Softball Game

Hooray, softball season is back, granted it is Fall Ball and more of a training opportunity than a competitive game, but it is softball.  Abigail loves softball, she likes being hot, sweaty, dirty, grimy, adrenalin running and everything that goes with the game. 

 

Tonight was the first game with her new team the Shockwaves.  She is thrilled there is another home schooled girl on the team.  And under 'it's a God-thing' category, one of her coaches is the son of friends of ours from church.  We didn't even know of the relationship until out friends were at the first game, and we began to connect the dots!

 

The girls had a great game, it was one of the most competitive games she's played in the last two years.  She had one at bat with a hard ground ball towards first. She did an awesome job catching, make me happy to watcher her play her heart out.  Even better was the sound of her big laugh coming out of the dugout as she joked with her new team mates!

 

they help each other
and say to their companions, “Be strong!”
Isaiah 41:6

JFK Living History - Walter Mears

At the on going Living History Series at the Sixth Floor Museum the guest speaker was Walter Mears, the Pulitzer prize-winning American journalist with the Associated Press. Mears was also one of the Boys on the Bus that covered the 1972 presidential election between Richard Nixon and George McGovern. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for his coverage of the 1976 presidential campaign. He has been inducted in the Associated Press Hall-of-Fame.

 

He was covering the White House when President Kennedy was shot and was one of the first to report on newly appointed President Johnson returning to the White House following the Kennedy assassination. 

Mears joined the AP in 1955, one year prior to graduating college. He reported on national politics from 1960 - 2001 and was said to be "the most influential political writer of his time." Throughout his career in journalism, he has covered 11 presidential elections. His stories have appeared in almost every American newspaper. He retired in 2001.

Today Mr. Mears participated in great conversation as directed by the Associate Curator for the Sixth Floor Museum, Stephen Fagin.  Mr. Mears told personable and humorous stories about candidates including Al Gore, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and others.  What an amazing career, and such a delightful story teller!  One of my favorite moments was his telling of being on the late, late shift covering the Cuban Missile Crisis and witnessing the first Russian ships to turn back!  We definitely plan to check out his book The Kennedy Brothers and Deadlines Past.

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Isaiah 55:4

Speaker's Club

Our home school association's Speakers Club has resumed for this school year.  This year Abigail is old enough to participate and she is thrilled.  Of course that came as shock because she is such a shy child.  Oh wait, she's not shy! 

Today was the ice breaker meeting and each student got to introduce themselves to the group and they also played a few rounds where they were given a topic and had to extemporaneously speak for two minutes.  Something I really like is seeing how comfortable some of these kids were this year speaking as compared to the awkwardness of last year's introductions!   Thank you Ms. Kathy for your hard work!

 

Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
Deuteronomy 32:1-3

Wednesday Service

So while Abigail was getting her contacts Caleb was busy at Metro Relief.  Much of his morning was spent unloading deliveries from North Texas Food Bank, and local churches.   Hawaiian Falls brought over two trucks with hamburger patties, hot dogs, brisket, and more.  It was all precooked food they sold in the concession stands and just needed heated up.  There was also a gentleman from Nebraska Furniture Mart who toured the facility today and then returned with a truck full or canned goods, and toiletries. 

 

I love these heart warming stories of local business doing the right thing when no one is looking.  There were no newspapers or fan fare, they simply did what was needed.  I know where I will shop for furniture! 

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

She Can See!

My baby girl got contacts today!  I think she began with glasses three or four years ago, and she loves her glasses.  You know, they're a great accessory, right up until she puts on that catcher's mask and she need to flip it off to catch a foul ball and her glass fly off her face with the mask. 

 

We went with the daily wear contacts because she is new to contacts and given the dusty ball fields, hopefully these will be healthier.  She had no trouble putting them in, the doctor said she was a pro.  When she was getting ready for bed, she got tickled that for the first time she could see in the shower.   I can't wait to see how they work for softball. 

the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
Psalm 146:8