the Computer Geek (Professor) through the years

Happy 15th Birthday, Daniel Louis!

August 1996

He was born Wednesday, August 7, 1996, in Wisconsin ~ our first home birth!

Well, I was going to add a few more old photos here, but the scanner just decided to take a vacation from working...  : -\

(note the book in hand also)

2005 ~ with the Cattleman in Grandma F's yard

2006 ~ riding the train at Boone Scenic Valley

2007 ~ singing in the Christmas program

2008 ~ with the short-lived eye glasses 

(piano recital and Henry Dorlas Zoo)

2009 ~ July 4th fun...

Yes, he really likes cucumbers!

...climbing a Harvestore...

...mixing and pouring a pad for the outdoor wood stove...

2010 ~ enjoying Nick's old snowmobile for an afternoon in February

...helping move furniture with his strong back (???)

...Okay, here he is obviously putting those muscles to work!

Happy 14th Birthday!

~2011~

Happy 15th Birthday!

 

      

this week's read

For Girls Only: A Loving Appeal for Modesty in an Immodest World by Sheila Stewart Doom from Revival Literature of Asheville, NC

If you are a King’s daughter . . . if you have been created to bring glory, not to yourself, but to Him . . . if you have been purchased by His precious blood at great cost and now are His and His alone . . . if your whole goal in life is to please Him with a desire to do what He says . . . THEN you are ready to look into the Word of God to see His will for you in the area of your clothing. 

~Sheila Stewart Doom

PRAHA

Click here to view this photo book larger

daybook 8/1/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, August 1, 2011

 

Soon to be Tuesday, August 2… 

maybe we should call this a NIGHTbook?

 

  

 

Outside my window... 
 
it’s very dark
there are sure to be many, many flying insects
the cattle are probably sleeping ~ It’s past my bedtime too!

 
I am thinking…

about how soon it will be midnight, and Kate’s FREE photo book from Shutterfly will expire if she doesn’t move a bit faster…

 
I am thankful to God …
 

for air conditioning.  Oh yes!  And thankful He will provide the $$$ to pay for it.

for permission to apply for a Discover Card… that gave us 3600 swag bucks!  That will equal $40 from Amazon.  For Free.  I ♥ swag bucks!  (and I like ordering books from Amazon for free!  I suppose they sell chocolate too?)

I am praying for...
 
… Amber & her family ~ her dad passed away recently after his battle with cancer.  Makes me weep again just to think of her as I type. 
… Hiromi in Japan (near the Fukushima nuclear plant) lost her beloved boyfriend last week.  He died in his sleep.  Thankfully he is with his Savior.  Praying his family will see their own need of Jesus Christ.
… Angie's niece 1yo Kaylee had surgery last week, putting in a life line port and a dialysis port.  Yesterday’s report: she was not doing well.  Kidneys were still not functioning…
… same Angie’s aunt Bea has been moved to hospice.  So sad.  She had hip surgery last week followed by complications and went downhill very fast.
… Heather's mom is recovering well from surgery
… Ethan and his twin sister.  See Sara’s blog.  Such a sweet testimony of God’s goodness, and such a need for His provision of health.
… the K family ~ Mr. K passed away last week
… Mrs. Freyermuth's husband Virgil passed away  ~ So thankful for these two dear saints who began the Joy Club children's ministry many years ago.
… Angela & Jared and family ~ one of their newborn twins was called to heaven on July 2.  Such heartache, but God is faithful.  The family has known much of God’s grace amidst their tears.   Read more here.
… 6mo Ruby (friends of friends in Wisc) ~ suffered a very serious head injury in June. 
... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ on furlough for a few more weeks ~ It was a joy to be with them for a Sunday!  :-)
… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home ~ woot woot, someone looked at it recently!  Please let them have it, Lord!
… Grant S.
… people who live and work in Japan
… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is HOME from Afghanistan, her Marine son is IN Afghanistan!
… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer
… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel
… folks in Joplin, MO, and along the Missouri River ~ so hard hit with tornadoes and flooding this year
… the A Family, on furlough from their field of ministry ~ such a blessing to see them again!
… Gina’s family ~ in their loss of Jason as he rescued his own children from drowning
… Lea’s dad ~ in the midst of a serious health crisis
… Kari’s dad ~ had triple by-pass surgery in June 
 
… Laura
 

… and especially marriages ~ meant to last a lifetime 

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 

Lest you think that I spend all day on my knees in intercession, I’m telling you here that I don’t!  At some point I guess I’ve learned to pray “on the hoof” ~ so as God brings to mind any of these people during the day or night, I usually ask Him to provide their need… But I am not a Prayer Warrior.  Those are a special group of people that I am incredibly thankful for and in awe of their faithfulness! 

 
From the learning rooms...
 
I still need to finish with Ancient Rome, so we are ready to move on to the next era. 
Whittling, whittling away at the remains of last year… still.
Looking forward to a Civil War lesson in a couple weeks.  I’ll be the one sitting inside the van with the engine running the cool air…  : o

 

From the kitchen...

I had the oven on entirely too much today.  My poor air conditioner.  My poor husband when he gets the electric bill!
The Popper wanted to make bread for Vickie.  And I had a pile of chicken in the fridge that needed to be cooked.  Oh, and we were out of Cookie Mama Cookies!  And when I decided to bake them, it wasn’t even 80F outside.  That quickly changed of course.  But they are too entirely delicious! 
So, guess what?  Supper was roasted chicken (Can you say 10 pounds of hind quarters for $3.90?  You wouldn’t have said no either.)  And I have a bowl of cooked white meat for chicken salad or enchiladas or egg rolls (if I can ever remember to buy skins ~ and am willing to cook in hot oil). A little cooked bacon leftover from last night’s BLT’s.  And a few grilled marinated turkey tenderloins.  Tomorrow’s menu says Haystack.
And all the fruit I bought last Friday needs to be eaten…now! (okay, at breakfast in a few hours.)  Or it will have to go in a smoothie.

 
I am creating... 
 

a strong desire for a crisp fall day.  After the tomatoes ripen so we can make salsa!

 
I am going...
 
to bed soon.  I told my dd that we weren’t staying up until midnight.  Yeah, right.

 
I am reading... 
 
for a summer Sunday school class ~ Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
                                         
 

I recently started Bruchko by Bruce Olson

  

But I didn’t get very far.  Driver’s Ed is done.  No more sitting in the van for a couple hours every day.  They passed with flying colors by the skin of their teeth, by the way!  : )

And I got sidetracked with those Grandma’s Attic books  ;-)

We are almost done with the book of Acts.  And Proverbs is always a good read!

 

I am hoping...
 
we are not staying up this late only to miss out on her free photo book.  I should double check the time, but I’m not sure how since it’s not a code for everyone…

 
I am hearing...
 
the fridge, the air conditioner … still!  
 
 

Around the house...
 
lots of “opportunities” …still

most people are sleeping!

One of my favorite things... 

a good night’s sleep…

Do you sense a theme??

Pondering these words...

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.  ~ Peter Marshall (borrowed from Mrs. Santos ~ Thank you!)

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. ~ George Patton

I guess I’m still thinking on these, so there they are again!  : )

I would like to give you a great quote or ten from Mr. Stonestreet (Summit Ministries), but I don’t have anything written down.  He has some really interesting thoughts to share though!  So remind me if I forget to share…  Wish I could send you the CDs!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  

Today ~  We’ve been to the chiropractor for the Popper, Fareway to reclaim my lost bag of groceries (I guess I should have bought more brats to go with the replaced kraut?), and Wally world for chocolate and a few other items  : )

Wednesday ~ Back to the chiro… and then lots of shopping.  I can hardly wait [sarcasm]  Although I do have a bookstore on my list  : )

Friday-Saturday ~ Tax-free holiday, so I’ll be stocking up on jeans for my boys hopefully.  The Computer Geek’s birthday is Sunday.  15 years ago it was really hot, and I had nothing to offer my friends/midwife but room temp water...  I think I have a post already in the works ~ I’d better work on it some more, or it’ll post without me… Don’t hold your breath tho’!

OH yes, I’m cleaning, organizing, sewing, grinding that beef I’ve forgotten about in the freezer…. ha ha ha ha ha ha

Well, you get the picture…  and remember what time of day night it is here!  I’m a bit bleary in the brain. 

 

Here is a picture for thought...  

  

pizza ~ Brazilian style

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 

 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

Ack! ~ Shutterfly does run on Pacific Time.  It’s only 10:30pm there…  So Kate is reviewing her book and editing a bit more……

……………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……………….

But it’s definitely Tuesday in Iowa.  I’m ready to expire.

-----------------------------------

Tuesday morning [as in DAYLIGHT] edit... I went to bed and remembered Rachel ~ Please pray for her too, and follow her blog ~ Finding Joy.  The name says it well.  But she's in major pain right now with an aggravated shoulder injury or something ~ docs are still determining how to help her.

And I guess I should be praying earnestly for an end to this heat.  My hubby is plumb worn out!  He continues to work and work and work ...  And we plan to go to even-hotter So.MO for our little vaca??  Are we nuts?  Yep, espec when it comes to history.

prayer requests

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:1, 18, 27

Wow, I cannot believe how many people have such major trials in their lives right now.  I have a long list of prayer needs in my daybook, but please add these ~

• Hiromi in Japan (near the Fukushima nuclear plant) lost her beloved boyfriend just this week.  He died in his sleep I guess.  Thankfully he is with his Savior.
• Angie's niece 1yo Kaylee is having surgery this morning, putting in a life line port and a dialysis port.
• Heather's mom is having a mastectomy today. 
• Mrs. Freyermuth's husband Virgil passed away last Thursday ~ So thankful for these two dear saints who began the Joy Club children's ministry many years ago.

 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 

Psalm 119:25-32

daybook 7/25/2011

 

FOR TODAY  

Monday, July 25, 2011

 

Outside my window...

Sorta sunny, sorta cloudy.  I guess I should be baking?

I don’t think we have a heat advisory today/this week ~ Thank you, Lord!

 

I am thinking…

Why do I save so many school papers??  Just so I can abuse my finger nails trying to load them into paper folders?  I’m telling you, those prongs are getting shorter ~ I can’t get nearly as much into one folder as I used to do.

 

I am thankful to God …

for this big, beautiful, dirty, disorganized house.  Finished or not, I will choose to be thankful now.

 

I am praying for...

… Angela & Jared and family ~ one of their newborn twins was called to heaven earlier this month.  Such heartache, but God is faithful.  The family has known much of God’s grace amidst their tears.

… 6mo Ruby (friends of friends in Wisc) ~ suffered a very serious head injury last month

... the Rettigs and the church in Prague ~ on furlough for a few more weeks ~ It was a joy to be with them last Sunday!  :-)

… the sale of my mother-in-law’s home

… Amber’s dad ~ hospice

… Grant S.

… people who live and work in Japan

… Cinnamon ~ her Army hubby is HOME from Afghanistan, her Marine son is headed for Afghanistan!

… Amy W., a young wife/mom with cancer

… Sarita & Jeff need visas for their return to Israel

… Michelle B., recovering still from her gall bladder surgery  :-\   ~ in France this week  :-)

… folks in Joplin, MO, and along the Missouri River ~ so hard hit with tornadoes and flooding this year

… the A Family, on furlough from their field of ministry ~ such a blessing to see them again!

… Gina’s family ~ in their loss of Jason as he rescued his own children from drowning

… Lea’s dad ~ in the midst of a serious health crisis

… Kari’s dad ~ had triple by-pass surgery in June 

 

… Laura

 

… and especially marriages ~ meant to last a lifetime

 

From the learning rooms...

I need to finish with Ancient Rome, so we are ready to move on to the next era.  I did read to them this morning at breakfast!  Yay me!

The Cattleman is charging into ‘next year’ without the rest of us.  Go!

The olders are still whittling away at the remains of last year’s work.

 

From the kitchen... 

I have cooked chicken to make something with.  Something without salsa, so I’m at a loss… but thinking rice, veggies, soy sauce (Bragg’s)

Miss Music Box insisted on serving us some Brazilian-style pizza last night ~ not bad, but I’ll pass on green olives any and every day.

 

I am creating...

a clean (as in, stuff put away)  school room.  While I sit here.  Am I amazing, or what?!  Ha

 

I am going...

to get up and resume my school room project.  soon.  I need a recipe inspiration for supper first.  Hopefully allrecipes.com won’t disappoint me.

 

I am reading...

for a summer Sunday school class ~ Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

                                         

 

I recently started Bruchko by Bruce Olson

  

Last night I read a Grandma’s Attic book after sitting by the Cowgirl in the van…

 

I am hoping...

we can get a little family vacation in August.  Tim is still rather captivated by the re-enactment at Wilson’s Creek, Conny ~  But I don’t think we’ll be sleeping in tents for $250 each.

 

I am hearing...

Miss Music Box doing her thing at the piano

 

Around the house...

lots of “opportunities”

 

One of my favorite things...

berries fresh from the Berry Patch

 

Pondering these words...

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.  ~ Peter Marshall (borrowed from Mrs. Santos ~ Thank you!)

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. ~ George Patton

 

A few plans for the rest of the week: 

Today ~ Girls have drive time with Mr. B. while the Popper goes to the chiropractor, more errands

Tuesday ~ Playtime for the Youngers while a friend has a doctor appt.

Wednesday ~ Repeat Monday plus midweek service at church

End of the month accounting duties and more exciting tales of adventure coming your way…

 

Here is a picture for thought...   

 

a moment from last summer’s moving adventure

 

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17

  ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

~ Find more Daybooks at Peggy's ~

You must listen to or read this!

Ron Paul to Congress: If Debt Is the Problem, Why Do You Want More of It?

Transcript

Ron Paul: Mr. Speaker, the Congress is concerned about the debt, the people are concerned about the debt, the markets are concerned about the debt, the world is concerned about the debt and what we’re doing here today, because we live with a world fiat dollar standard and so the whole world is engulfed in this very serious problem.
I do not understand, though, that if the debt is the problem – and I agree, the debt is the problem – that for us to come here and raise the debt by 2.4 trillion dollars is the solution. That just baffles me. I think it’s a distraction, because when a country gets indebted to the degree that we’re indebted, the country always defaults. This is historic, especially if the country is a significant country. On occasion, a small country will quit sending the checks and they’ll go bankrupt; we’re not going to do that, but we will default because the debt is unsustainable.
This year it is said that we have a debt increase of 1.6 trillion dollars, but that’s not true. If you count what we borrow from the pension funds, the Social Security and highway funds, it’s 2 trillion dollars. But if you include the increase in the entitlement obligation, it’s 5 trillion dollars. So this is a huge, huge problem.
But the argument here is, how do you default. And it is said that if we don’t raise the debt limit, we’re going to default and not send out the checks. I don’t believe that for a minute, somehow or another the checks are going to go out.
But if you really wanted to live within the technicalities of law, there’s a very simple thing you could do. We owe the Federal Reserve 1.6 trillion dollars. Well, that’s not a real debt – they bought those treasury bills with money out of thin air. We could just write that off or quit paying the interest, tide ourselves over and get down to serious business to cut back and live within our means. And that would be a solution. But to increase the national debt will only encourage another type of default, and that’s what we’re going through. We’re engaged in the most difficult and a very bad way of defaulting; and that is through the destruction of the currency. Today we have an inflation rate of 9%, and that is defaulting. So if a government can default and print money, and if they can get a 50% inflation rate over a period of time, they’ve cut that debt in half. That is the goal, that is what’s happening, and that is very, very serious.
Just in these last 3 years in dealing with this crisis, the dollar has been devalued 50% against gold, and gold, of course, is the best measurement of the value of a currency and it’s been that way for thousands of years and it cannot be denied because it’s economic law. So we are defaulting, and when the American people go out and start buying goods and services, like they are now, they’re recognizing it costs a lot of money. So right now, we’re in the early stages of rampant inflation, which means we’re going to be hit with higher prices and higher interest rates. That is going to be a tax. So I see the only solution, and that is to cut spending.
Now the reason we don’t cut spending is one side loves entitlements, and the other side loves war. And even this token attempt of a 100 billion dollars of cuts when we have this huge, huge deficit… But there’s no mention of cutting military spending. I don’t want to cut defense spending. This military spending doesn’t defend us, it makes things worse.
Our problem in this country doesn’t come only from the Congress, it comes from the people! The people still have a strong appetite for big government programs. They’re not willing to cut, they think government can take care of us from cradle to grave, and that we can be the policeman of the world. So someday, we as a country, we as a people, and we as a Congress, will have to say, “What should the role of government be?” The founders had a pretty strong suggestion, they wrote a constitution that said the government should be very limited, and the government should be protecting our liberties and providing national defense and a sound currency. We don’t do any of that. We’ve embarked on a course that was destined to end badly and this is where we are today.
So if we don’t understand this, this default will not be because we don’t send out the checks – we will send out the checks – it will be defaulted on because people will get their money back, or they will get their Social Security checks, and it won’t buy anything.
That is much, much worse than facing the fact that we not raise the debt limit and work our way out of this. That is devastating economically, and it’s devastating politically, because if we just saw a taste of what happens, how the anger is built when you see other countries in Europe now defaulting and can’t pay their bills. So this is more significant than ever, because we provide the reserve currency of the world.