A Little Woman

We brought the iron, wax paper, crayons, a pencil sharpener, and string when we visited Grandma K and made this fun and easy project.
You just peel the crayons and sharpen them letting the shavings fall onto a piece of wax paper. Keep sharpening until the crayon gets too small.
When the wax paper is not quite covered, put another piece of wax paper on top and iron. You will want to have something you don't mind ruining underneath when you iron, because the crayon will come through the wax paper and turn it pink. Then trace and cut out hearts. We used sewing thread to hang them.
I would also make sure to clean the iron off before using or you will get little bits of crayon on whatever you iron next (and they don't wash out=).

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

-Psalm 51

After the earthquake in Haiti, I know many people are wondering what they can do to help. I have found a few ways to do this, including an outlet for handmade items.
Craft Hope is selling handmade items on etsy to benefit doctors without borders and Hunter is selling Hearts for Haiti to raise money for Samaritan's Purse.
I hope this is helpful.

I recentally read Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. My family also attended the Do Hard Things video conference at Millard Alliance Church this weekend.
Alex and Brett Harris wrote the book for Christian teenagers (though any teenager could benefit from it). It encourages teenagers to use the teen years as the "launching pad of life." It gives practical advice and encouragement "to do hard things" for the glory of God.
I definitely recommend the book to any teenager, even one that thinks they are already doing hard things. It is a very motivating book.

Daddy made me this night stand out of cardboard.

You probably all noticed my mention of adoption in a recent post, so I thought I would post some more of the story.
On January 1 (a year ago) we were talking over New Year's plans, and Mama and Daddy told us they wanted to adopt. The only problem was finances. There were a few other ideas that we were praying about, but we started to feel lead more to adoption. Then Daddy got a raise. We used the money to apply to Adoption Links Worldwide's domestic infant program.
We sent in the homestudy paper work along with a (large) check. Then we left for the afternoon. When we got back, there was a card in the mail box with $700 cash. It was from "brothers and sisters in Christ." That was almost as much money as we had just sent in!
Now we are waiting for the agencey to asign us a social worker. It should be 2-12 months from the time we turn in ALL the paper work and finish the homestudy to the time we get a baby.

Craft Hope has posted project 6!

It is making scarves for teens that are leaving the foster care system and starting college. The scarves can be any unisex color and no fuz or mohair, knit or crochet approximately 60 inches long and 5-8 inches wide.
They need to arive by Valentines Day Feb. 14.
For more details click here.

She is a Coyote.

Oligarchy
n. G.
A form of government in which the supreme power is place in a few hands; a species of aristocracy.

Tyranny
n. Fr.
Cruel government or discipline; as the tyranny of a master.

Monarchy
n. Gr.
A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a single person.

[Communism began in the 1840s so Websters 1828 Dictionary does not have a definition]

Democracy
n. G.
Government by the people; a form of government, in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the people colectively, or in which the people exercise the powers of legislation. Such was the government of Athens.

Republic
n. L.
A common wealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in represenatives elected by the people.

Think about it.
Is America a Democracy or a Republic?

Here are a few of the things are family has done this last year.

JANUARY:
Mama and Daddy tell us they would like to adopt, took clay pot snowmen to the residents at Waterford Retirement center with craft club, set up our tent and camped in the living room…

FEBRUARY:
…went to the Nebraska state capitol and met our senator, did a field trip to Millard Lumber…

MARCH:
…were in the St. Patrick day parade with the Hal Daub for Mayor Group, started a parenting study with friends…

APRIL:
…hosted a scavenger hunt for Spencer’s birthday, Hanna got a blue ribbon and Spencer got 2 red ribbons at the Trinity art show, Discovery Group talent show…

MAY:
…cousin Alexa Faith born, Spencer and I had a piano recital, craft club made dolls for craft hope, Daddy painted the house, Daddy took Spencer fishing they caught 8 trout, we watched a robin nest out Mama’s bedroom window, ran in the Memorial Day run with grandma Kathie and her friend Nancy…

JUNE:
…rode the sky fari at the zoo, Hanna’s fairy party, Celebrate grandma K’s 90th birthday, camping with Discovery Group and Discovery family picnic, baking party at Hunter’s, Tuesday morning bible study, picking mulberries…

JULY :
…4th of July party, visit Carol Iowa, took swim lessons, Sarpy County fair, Hanna caught a duck in the animal scramble, more Tuesday moring bible study, took a baby sittig/CPR class at the Red Cross with Hunter, painted my room…

AUGUST:
…county fair, raising Monarch caterpillars, my birthday, I got a sewing machine…

SEPTEMBER:
…spent a week in Colorado and hiked 10 miles, Daddy did the roof, Uncle Jared’s graduation party, start school, grandma K turns 90…

OCTOBER:
…meet David Barton in Des Moines, atum harvest soup supper with friends, start babysitting Levi and Alexa on Mondays, Spencer starts Tae Kwon Do, I invite a group of younger girls to craft club…

NOVEMBER:
…mama and I go to Minnesota with Thayers, shoe box party, volunteer to pack shoe boxes at Westwood church, buy a live Christmas tree, start the adoption proses…

DECEMBER:
…Spencer gets a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, celebrate Hanukkah, childrens perfomance of the Nutcracker, walk through bethlehem we celebrate Christmas with three sets of grandparents and Hanna’s birthday, buy a Mandolin and learn to play…