Monthly Archives: June 2010

Teddy’s Button is the type of read-aloud book that encourages lots of discussion.  My boys loved it and especially enjoyed the character Teddy. This sweet story is about a boy who’s Dad was a soldier who died in the war.  He cherished the button that came from his Fathers jacket.  He so admired his Dad and wanted to one day be a soldier just like him. Through many trials and tribulations  Teddy eventually  learns how to live the Christian life and put away self in order to be a good soldier for Christ.  He also discovers  the spiritual battle of fighting his worst enemy….SELF!  He learns that   pride, selfishness and stubbornness are difficult enemies to overcome  without God’s help.

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If I had accomplished my goals since 1963, I would have run a marathon, got a degree in music,  bought my home in the country and much more!!  I have not completed my list yet but unfortunately  the Communists have.. unbelievable.

1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
9. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If it’s charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces.
10. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
11. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts forsocialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
12. Gain control of all student newspapers.
13. Use student riots to ferment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
14. Infiltrate the Press.
15. Gain control of key positions in radio, T.V., and motion pictures.
16. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.
17. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.
18. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.
19. Break down culture standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and T.V.
20. Present homosexuality, degeneracy, and promiscuity, as “normal, natural, healthy.”
21. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”
22. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”
23. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
24. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”
25. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the cultural education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
26. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrist can understand or treat.
27. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
28. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

I found this quote from Chief Justice Earl Warren and it reminded me of the quote from our current President,  Barack Obama ; “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are, uh, bound by a set of values.” I thought the contrast was quite striking.

“I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good  Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses….Whether we look to the the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or the the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present….a Christian land governed by Christian principles.  I believe that the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: Freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people.  I like to believe we are living today in  the spirit of the Christian religion.  I also like to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”

We sang this hymn today in church and my heart soared.  God’s amazing love is ecstasy to me.  It overwhelms me and there are no words to really express my joy and gratitude my Lord….my advocate……my King!! I hope you will listen the lyrics of this song and be blessed as well.  ~Anne

This is one of my favorite family read-aloud books.  This story set in the Swiss Alps, will teach you about forgiveness, anger, and reconciliation.  The main character Annette,  learns about such things as she raises her little brother after her mother dies.  We will read this book again because the lessons learned have such eternal value.  The salvation message also comes shining through in this wonderful story.

We’ve also enjoyed the movie…not nearly as good but still a great family film for movie night. ~Anne

My boys and I truly enjoyed reading Little Britches this school year.  Little Britches is the story of 8 year old Ralph Moody growing up in 1906  on a Colorado Ranch. This story includes many adventures that young cowboys would love to read about. Ralph and his family encounter tornadoes, irrigation wars, and  poverty as well as family picnics, round up days and harvest times.  As a parent I treasure the mentoring relationship that is explored between Ralph and his Father as they live through every day life on the ranch.  I also came to admire   Ralph’s Mom who was so very regular and “down- to- earth”,  but who had such high ideals and morals. This book had one swearword (damn) that is used several times by some of the cowboys and other rough characters.  It was easy for me to change this word in order to read this to my children.  The lessons gained in this story made up for the expletives.  This is one of those stories that you do not want to finish because the characters are so endearing and you begin to really care about them.  If you are a cry-baby homeschool mom like me, make sure have your box of tissues for the last chapter.  ~Anne

Whenever I make this bread my children cheer, my husband enjoys, my nephew wants to come over…it is that good.  It is moist and very flavorful.  It’s not a low fat, low sugar recipe,  but is so very delicious that it is worth the treat once in a while.  It also freezes well.  The riper the bananas the better for this one!  This recipe is doubled so you can freeze  or share.

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

4 eggs

2 -3 cups of very ripe mashed bananas

(this is about 3-6 bananas, I use a zip lock bag and smash them inside the

bag…kids love to do this)

2 1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 t. baking soda

1 teas. salt

You can also add chocolate chips (highly recommended) or nuts

Bake @ 350  ’til golden brown.  You can use mini bread pans, muffin tins, or regular sized bread pans.  Check with a toothpick or fork to make sure cooked all the way through.

Sesame Chicken & Rice Salad

3/4 c Rice
1 1/2 c Water
2 c Pea pods
2 c Diced cooked Chicken
1 11-ounce can mandarin orange sections, well drained
1/2 c Sliced water chestnuts, halved
1/4 c Red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 tb Sesame oil
1 tb Salad oil
Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste
3/16 ts Garlic powder

Run cold water over rice in a strainer for about 1 minute, lifting rice to rinse well.

In a medium saucepan bring rice and water to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 40 to 50 minutes or until done. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Drain again.

In a mixing bowl toss together the rice, pea pods, chicken, orange sections, and water chestnuts. Cover; chill rice mixture for 6 hours or overnight.

In a screw-top jar combine vinegar, sesame and salad oils, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cover; chill at least 6 hours or overnight.

Transport the vinegar and oil mixture and the rice mixture separately in an insulated cooler with an ice pack.

Before serving at the picnic, shake vinegar and oil mixture well. Pour over rice mixture; toss.

Holiday Coleslaw
1 head cabbage, shredded
1 onion, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

In a deep bowl, toss cabbage, onion, and peppers. In a bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Stir mayonnaise mixture into vegetables. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Roasted Red Pepper Macaroni Salad

1 ea red bell pepper
1 x medium shell macaroni
3 ts olive oil
3 ts red wine vinegar
1 ts lemon juice
1 ts dijon mustard
1 ea carrots, chopped
1/2 c diced mozzarella cheese
1/4 c frozen peas

Broil the red pepper, turning several times, until blackened on all sides. Remove from the oven and place in a paper bag to cool.

Cook enough macaroni to make about 4 cups.

While the macaroni is cooking, whisk together the oil, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard.

Add the carrots, mozzarella, and peas.

Rinse the macaroni in cold water and drain thoroughly. Add to the dressing and vegetable mixture. Stir thoroughly.

Peel, seed, and dice the red pepper. Stir into the salad.

Dilled Cucumbers
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

In a small bowl, toss cucumbers with salt. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all remaining ingredients. Drain cucumbers and combine with sour cream mixture. Chill until ready to serve. Makes 6 servings.