Birds of Prey

We were able to go to the Birds of Prey sanctuary last Friday for a field trip with our local homeschool group. Dd had a great time and took lots of great pictures. I, unfortunately, spent the entire time lying on a picnic bench in the shade as I got sick within 30 minutes of our arrival. We learned that the sanctuary opened in 1991 and they ministered to 8 birds that year. This past year, they ministered to around 360!

Look at that wingspan!

I believe this is a kestral. They are pretty small compared to the other birds shown.

Kingfisher environmental

This past Thursday we got the opportunity to go to the Isle of Palms beach for a field trip. We learned about erosion, all sorts of neat sea creatures, and sand dunes. We had a picnic lunch on the beach afterwards. Dd fell asleep in the car on the way home. Playing at the beach really wears you out!

Learning about erosion.

Shells that we brought up in the seining net.

Seining in the surf.

A small flounder. All living creatures were released back into the sea.

Fathers, Help Your Kids Stand Tall

Taken from 30 Days to Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs by Bruce Wilkinson. This excerpt was taken from Steve Farrar.

1. Be a leader yourself - "There is as much risk in doing nothing as in doing something." "Are you standing tall or just standing around?"

2. Be a spiritual submarine under the surface of your children's lives - "A man who has put on the full armor of God is a force to be reckoned with. The prayers of a man who has put on the full armor of God are lethal."

3. Expect your children to be leaders

4. Encourage your children to be leaders - Encouragement-to put courage in

5. Remind your children that they are leaders

6. Support them in their leadership - be there with large ears and a large heart

7. Reward them for demonstrating leadership - "acknowledge their achievement or accomplishment verbally"

Wisdom

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18

Weekly Recap

Last weekend I was able to spend time fellowshipping with other moms while we watched Sense and Sensibility and then Monday night was Bunco. This past Saturday I spoke at our local homeschool mini-conference on using Tapestry of Grace to simplify homeschooling. I also attended a workshop about reluctant writers and learned a ton.

Dd got to enjoy playing and chatting at the park on Tuesday while I again got to fellowship with other moms. She also had riding twice last week, so she was pretty busy.

I have started reading Les Miserables, but am only 1/3 of the way through. I don't get too much time for free reading so it will take me awhile. Dd and I are reading Black Storm Comin' for our read-aloud.

I made a yummy banana roll, similar to a pumpkin roll. It was delicious. Today I made a three-layer raspberry chocolate cake. Dh will be thrilled.

For my quiet-time, I am reading 30 Days to Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs by Bruce Wilkinson and Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman by Elizabeth George.

I am still having problems with daily headaches. I am on a new medication and had 2 days last week of no headaches, but other than that, it has been headaches every day.

Yard Work Part 2

Our poor, uninteresting tree in the front yard. Again, this was taken last spring.
This is a view of the whole front yard with the new flower bed in all its glory.
We are very pleased with how this one turned out as well. The flowers are starting to take off and getting fuller.

Yard Work Part 1

This is off our front porch and was taken last spring. We hated these bushes as they were so sparse and blah.
This is our new and much improved flower bed. We are very pleased with the way it turned out. We also had gutters installed to keep the rain from 'waterfalling' into that area.
Here is a view of the front porch as a whole. The hanging basket has fake flowers in it this year because last year we had a mama bird make a nest in my freshly planted real flowers. She came back this year and is currently residing in her nice, comfy home with her two babies. Our cat loves to sit in the window right there and watch all the goings-on.