World Wind Weekend

We have been all around this weekend. As you can tell from the pictures we hit a wedding, Oklahoma City Memorial, The Roman Coliseum, Big Ben and a little dissecting before taking off.

We left out on Thursday for Kansas City for our niece's wedding this past Saturday. We had to get school completed before heading out. Lesson 3 of Apologia Botany calls for the students to dissect a flower. I can't remember ever doing that in school but it was totally AMAZING!!! Amanda dissected it and found all of it's parts, labeled and put it in her notebook. If you ever get the chance to use Apologia Elementary Science, do it!!

As soon as Michael got home from school we took off on our journey. We arrived in Kansas City on Friday and didn't stop! Wedding rehearsal and dinner that evening, staying up late, getting up early the next morning to decorate and do flowers. Needless to say, we were exhausted!!

On our way back we stopped by the Murrah Federal Building. Or at least where it use to be. It's mind blowing to think that people want to do others harm. Especially people who are your own people!! I showed Amanda the before and after pictures of what happened on that block. Probably the most touching and heart wrenching picture is that of Bailey and the Fireman. I can't even imagine!!

In southern Oklahoma, you might even see the Coliseum and Big Ben!! LOL!! Ok, not really, it's a casino. I couldn't resist!!

Updates from the homefront

Has anyone watched DWTS the past two nights??? I couldn't believe Kellie Osborn! WOW! She did great!! I was so dissappointed in Michael Irvin. I guess I was expecting Emmitt. But it's just the beginning of the season so maybe he'll get with it. So C'mon all you Cowboy Fans out there!!

Anyway, Amanda has begun soccer. It's been years since she's played and she's on an U14 team. She's the smallest on the team with the least experience. Last Saturday was the first of 9 games to be played. Bless her heart, she was completely unprepared for the postitions she had to play. Needless to say, Daddy started coaching from the sidelines and brother sat on the bench with her explaining all of the postitions to her.

It was a very stressful situation! LOL!!! Just as long as she has fun and learns the game, we'll be alright.

Ok, let me preface this with: I don't like vegetables. I never have. If it's green, it's probably not going to pass these lips!! I actually held broccoli for the first time on Sunday. I mean actually picked up the little tree type plant and washed it. The reason for the green little trees was a baby shower food tray. You know, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower along with the ranch dressing!! I just wanted people to know that I did indeed brought the rest home and steamed them. The carrots and cauliflower were delicious!!!

This year in Co Op we are going thru Apologia Botany. This week we are reading about flowers. Luckily, we had some hibicus blooming and were able to dissect one. Going thru step by step and seeing each part of the flower was amazing!! Somehow I don't remember this type of stuff from school. I know I've learned so much from the Apologia books, I just hope Amanda remembers it all!!!

I've been ignoring my blog...

WHEW!!! I'm sitting down, watching GH and finally blogging! It seems like we've been blowing and going for the past couple of weeks and I haven't had time to give my attention to this here blog!!

Let's see, Homecoming is tonight. The parade is tomorrow. Then there's Amanda's soccer game. Mike's Birthday is tomorrow so we'll be heading out for dinner. Went to the store early this morning, piano lessons, spelling test and church on Sunday. Wow! I'm exhausted already!

Not to mention, I think I'm a Facebook addict. I thoroughly enjoy looking at everyone's pictures!

On Mondays, we've started meeting for Co Op. It's the second year that we've done this. We've been going through the Apologia Science for Elementary students. I'm telling ya, I've learned so much! I truly hope the kids have too! We've split the entire year up between Science and Spanish. It's strange having it on Mondays. Though it seems to work well for all the families involved. Here at Cooper Academy, we still try to take off of Fridays.

I've also been reading. I finished the one on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. The one I'm reading now is Practical Theology for Women. Someone asked, "Soooo...is theology for women different than theology for men? just wondering..." How funny!!!

No it isn't but this book puts it all in terms I can related to. I don't need to attend Seminary to understand it. In fact, no one does.
For instance, there's a few quotes in the book that really blew me away.

Many Christians in today's churches seem much more convinced of the reality of their problems than the reality of their God.

Isn't that so true??? We tend to make everything else bigger than God. Anyway...

Dancing with the Stars begins Monday!!! Wooo Hooo!! So far school is going good for Amanda. I pray that she'll continue to learn and comprehend all of the material we go over. I fear that at times. I'm just saying...

Now it's off to finish laundry and do something with this hair!!!

Have a great weekend!

Always remember...

First Week back

Our first week back hasn't been so bad. Did you know that it's still kind of dark at 6:30 am?? Anyway, here's Amanda doing her art lesson. I ordered it from Rod & Staff. It seems like she doesn't do much in that area so I'm making a conscience effect to have her do some.
Lunch time is a favorite during the school day. She looks so excited, doesn't she???
Look, she ACTUALLY using the desk!! I'm trying to get her to the point to where she will be doing lessons on her own and not expecting me to sit right beside her at all times!

For the past couple of weeks, I've been reading Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
I have never heard the term "evangelical feminism" before until I read this book. You never realize how misconstrued things get until you begin studying them from the beginning. Most women when they hear the word "submission" they cringe. Most men hear the word and begin making jokes or laughing tell their wives they should wear head coverings.

I have a friend who shall remain nameless... who had a few questions on the whole submission subject. It seems that many women have trouble with it as she found out thru work and FB postings.

Below is what I posted on her FB page. Now remember, this is just my take on what the Bible and the book I've been reading says.

This all stems back to the questions we were having on Saturday...remember that??? I'm just trying to do my job, "older women, teach the younger" whole thing. Even though I'm not THAT much older!!! It really bothered me that some think, christian women are not allowed to have opinions or their own convictions. That all we are ALLOWED to do is say "Yes and No". Are my opinions or convictions the same as Mike's? NO. Am I allowed to have them even if they are different? YES. Mike and I are spiritually equal due to both of us being created in the image of God. He has been given the role of "male headship" not "male dominator". HUGE difference! He doesn't dominate me in any way. He's suppose to guide me in a God glorifying way not put he's thumb on me and command me to do his bidding. Because in the end it's not his bidding I'm suppose to be doing.
Are we suppose to discuss things? Absolutely. Can I express my opinions to my husband? You Bet. In the end though, he should be the one who's make the final decision because God created a chain of command. Now do I run to Mike and ask "permission" for all that I do??? No way. That would completely drive him NUTS! BUT, if that gave him a sense of being/feeling "needed", why not do it. We all need to feel that and be secure.It's the same way that a woman might like to have their hand held or touched. Do I give him the heads up as to what I'm doing? Yes. That's just being courteous.
He is told to love me. I'm told to "submit". Which one is really harder to do??? We submit to all sorts of rules and regulations every day! We make them up for our children and expect them to abide by them. But do we always truly love???? That might be the harder thing to do.As far as the whole "head covering", should we wear them? NO. It was a cultural thing. If they didn't wear one it showed the congregation that a woman was rejecting the authority of male leadership.
Head coverings..play NO PART in our culture. Men have their role, women have theirs. We are their "help mate" we compliment them. I can live with that. Mike works hard, takes care of us, makes sure we want for NOTHING. When funds permit, we might have extra. I know that John does this for you and the kids too. So the trade off is this: His Respect for my love, security and a special place in his heart, just for letting him have his God given place in the pecking order? I think I'm getting the better deal.

So, to the maybe two people that read this blog...What is your take on the whole submission thing? Does it still play a role in today's society?