FYF Cookie Bowl!

Joseph S. R. Cook designed the above logo. Here are his comments on it:
On the top center of the Logo the "FFF" stands for the sponsor of the game: Family Funded Filming. Below it, ACB stands for "Annual Cookie Bowl" the name of the game. "Frontyard Champs" is another way of saying ACB Champions. The year and city played in are located below that.



The photo above is of Joseph, Daniel and Nehemiah in action!

On Saturday the Front Yard Football Cookie Bowl Championship was held! This game determined the championship team for the year of 2008! The Tomohawks went up against the Gators in this unprecedented game. Unfortunately Tate and Jake Williams (Our neighbours) were unable to come play. However, Kameron Griffis was able to come and play, making it a very even line up. Mrs. Griffis came and got many good shots of the historical game.

The line up was as follows:

Tomohawks:
Team Captain: Daniel R. H. Cook
Team Member: Kameron Griffis
Team Member: Elijah Cook

Gators:
Team Captain: Joseph S. R. Cook
Team Member: Nehemiah Cook
Team Member: Noah Cook

Game assistants:
Referee: Daniel J. Cook
Referee: Russel L. Cook
Photographer: Melinda Griffis
Refreshment Bringer: Anne Cook

Audience/fans:
Judy Cook
Elizabeth Cook
Anna Cook

The photo above is of the Tomohawks in a huddle.


The game lasted for one hour with a break at half-time for cookies and water. Many fantastic plays were executed. However, the top three are listed below.

Number Three:
Nehemiah catches a ball Joseph passed at a respectable distance after a two attempted to block it. Touchdown for the Gators!

Number Two:
Daniel grabs on to Nehemiah's flag and it refuses too come off. Nehemiah continues running in place as Daniel refuses to let go. The referees called it a fair play with Nehemiah being down.

Number One:
A combination of plays. Three touchdowns, two for the Tomohawks and one for the Gators, are completed within a one minute time period!

The game ended with the Tomohawks winning 51 to 48 and taking the title of 2008 Annual Cookie Bowl Champions.

A video of more photos should follow and possibly even videos of portions of the game.

-Daniel R. H. Cook

Disclaimer:
Tomohawks is spelled correctly as chosen by the team captain.

The Duck is Running!!!!!

After a lot of prayer and hard work the Duck is finally running! Today after adjusting and testing the electronics Papa fired it up and it ran with the O2 light on. After I removed the air filter it ran much better. Papa then went out and bought a new air filter and more gas. We then installed the air filter and put in the gas and it ran very well. After dinner Joseph and I took of the rear passenger tire and Papa took us to the BP where we pumped it up. After arriving home we re-installed the tire. We then called Papa over and I got into the driver's seat and we took of on our first drive ever in the Duck. Papa, Joseph, Anne, and Mama all took turns in the order listed after I drove. We then had a prayer of thanks and a celebratory glass of Coca-Cola.

Overall the Duck runs well but probably needs new tires, alignment, new spark plugs and distributor cap, Dry Bones seat covers (like our other Trooper), pineapple (Or some other agreed on scent) air freshener, a latch on the glove box, carpet cleaned, more armor-all, and various other odds and ends. It definitely needs a license plate, base decals, and insurance before I can take it out on a test drive.

My estimate of its running by Christmas was only of by two days. But we still have much to do and more fun and blog posts ahead.

-Daniel R. H. Cook

Water Garden

Once again, the water Garden has been renovated! We repainted the Fire Hydrant with a shiny red coat, removed the bricks and replaced them with natural rocks, and inserted a stone bench. Daniel, Nehemiah and I, decided it would be a good time to do it, since we have the Smoaks coming tonight, and our Grandparents on the 26th.

This year, like most every year, our family is celebrating Chanukkah, a Jewish holiday, which focuses on God's greatness. I obtained the "story of Chanukkah" from www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm

"The story of Chanukkah begins in the reign of Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered Syria, Egypt and Palestine, but allowed the lands under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Under this relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated much of Hellenistic culture, adopting the language, the customs and the dress of the Greeks, in much the same way that Jews in America today blend into the secular American society.

More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. Two groups opposed Antiochus: a basically nationalistic group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, and a religious traditionalist group known as the Chasidim, the forerunners of the Pharisees (no direct connection to the modern movement known as Chasidism). They joined forces in a revolt against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and oppression by the Seleucid Greek government. The revolution succeeded and the Temple was rededicated.

According to tradition as recorded in the Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle. Note that the holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not the military victory: Jews do not glorify war."

We as a family do not have a "festival" but we do light one candle per day in the menorah, and read the Hanukkah story each night.
NOTE: (The menorah in the picture, is not ours!)
-Joseph Cook

Duck Update

Today after draining out the Duck's fuel tank we installed the new fuel pump. Once the fuel pump was intstalled the fuel tank was put back in place and the hoses (One of which we had to replace.) were all put back into their proper place. After dinner we tested the Duck with fresh gas. Unfortunantly the Duck still does not run. We will be troubleshooting it over the next few weeks.

Remember what Thomas Edison said:
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

We too keep finding ways it won't work. Sometime we will find a way it will work. Please keep us and its repair in your prayers.

-Daniel R. H. Cook

Christmas decoration trouble/fun II

Today the manger scene fell forwards again. It has been put back up and braced with bricks. It is generally agreed that the cat jumps onto and off of it making it fall over. Two portions of our light on the roof went out. I was able to fix the two portions with my Leatherman and some electrical tape.

-Daniel R. H. Cook

Christmas decoration trouble/fun

Thursday night the manger scene that we have (See photo above) fell forwards. Mary and Joseph were knocked forwards and trapped underneath the collapsed structure. Today before a trip to Walmart Joseph and I put the structure back up and I added a little bracing.Tonight after getting back from practice for the church cantata practice I noticed the spotlight was out. It turns out the bulb was blown in the collapse. Thankfully we had a spare bulb in stock. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is putting up decorations and fixing them when they break.

- Daniel R. H. Cook

IT IS A GIRL!!!!

Today Mama went to an ultrasound with Papa and learned it is a girl! THe above picture is a picture of Anna when she was a baby. Now she has a younger sister.

JOSEPH WINS LOCAL SPELLING BEE!!!!

On monday, Joseph and Nehemiah competed in the Bradford Middle School Spelling Bee where Joseph took first place his winning word was SUBSTANTIAL and the word he had to spell before that was MOUSSE (He was really glad Anne uses that in her hair =) Otherwise he would not have known how to spell it. ). Afterwords they went to the Arby's in Starke.

One busy weekend

This weekend was quite busy. Saturday morning Papa, Daniel, and Joseph spent some time working on the duck removing the protective cover of the fuel tank. Mama and Anna went to a tea party at church. After cleaning up those everybody went to church to pick Mama and Anna up and then head to Papa's unit party. Before we went to the party Daniel got a chance to drive everybody in the family around for about ten minutes on the roads of Camp Blanding. The party was quite enjoyable with plenty of food, soda, coffee, Yoohoos, and presents for the children of unit members.

Sunday we went to church. After church we had a Christmas party with plenty of good food such as ham, meatballs, and dessert. After the party Anne and Joseph had choir practice and Daniel had fun helping Mr. Jonathan Coleman and Mr. Hector move furniture for Pastor and Mrs. Coleman. Daniel's friend Daniel also helped until he had to leave.

Monday Papa was off. Mr. Redmond came while Nehemiah and Joseph competed in the Bradford Middle School Spelling Bee (A more detailed post about the Bee is in the works.) where Joseph took first place. The afternoon was spent hauling cans and working on the Duck. The Duck update below has all the information on the work we did. Anne and Mama were able to take a trip to Gainesville to shop. They left around 6:00 P. M. and did not get back until around 11:00 P. M.

In summary we have had one busy weekend to be followed by another one soon.

Duck update

Yesterday we were able to take the fuel tank of the duck. We had removed the protective cover of the fuel tank Saturday and had plenty of cribbing on standby to hold it up. Once all the bolts were loose we drained several gallons of fuel before finally taking the tank off. After removing the fuel pump assembly we are quite sure we need to replace it as it looks terrible. We will post pictures of the old and new fuel pump assemblies once we purchase the new one.

Christmas Is Close

Daniel's Dual-enrollment stalled

Due to their agreement with Bradford County, Sante Fe College will not accept Daniel as a dual enrolled student until he turns sixteen. Therefore, he cannot take any courses but he can still CLEP courses. After July he will be able to take courses as a dual enrolled student.

My first drive!!

Today Papa took Elijah and I to Camp Blanding. After completing a unit-related task with Papa I got the chance to drive! I drove around Camp Blanding for Twenty-seven minutes. During that time I took several turns, stopped at several stop signs, and reached a top speed of thirty-seven miles per hour. It was a lot of fun, especially since I passed some places I went to during my Civil Air Patrol Encampment in 2007.

- Daniel R. H. Cook

Duck Work Held Up

Today work on the Duck was cancelled due to light rain. The goal was to drop the fuel tank and take out the fuel pump. The project will be completed at an unknown date.

Daniel is Dual-enrolled

Today Daniel took the CPT and is oficially dual-enrolled into College Algebra at the local college. Anne and Daniel will take College Algebra this spring semester.

Civil Air Patrol Squadron Awards Banquet

Daniel, Papa, and Capt. Beaukleman.

Me and Gregory Smoak
Thursday night was the Gainesville Composite Squadron Awards Banguet. Papa, Anne, Daniel, Nehemiah and I were able to attend. Daniel was promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant! We all had a fun time, talking and eating with our friends. -Joseph

Duck work update

Today we replaced the Duck fuel filter and some of the fuel line. We also worked on the battery and applied armor-all.

- Daniel R. H. Cook

The Duck

Here is the long promised photograph of the Duck. The Duck has been washed three times within the past few weeks. A coat of wax has also been applied. It does not run yet, but a battery has been installed, and many other changes are soon to come. Please check back for more updates!

Thanksgiving in Ft.Myers

Thanksgiving was spent with our Grandparents on Papa's side, and our aunt and uncles on Papa's side. Papa's aunt hosted us as she has for as long as any of us can remember. Papa's aunt has a great collection of high quality wood work that she has made. Anna and Ezra posed very nicely with her Thanksgiving sign.

Christmas Decorating

Today we cleaned up and decorated the house for Christmas. Following yearly tradition, Daniel wired all the extension cords and he and Joseph put up all the exterior lights.

While Joseph and Daniel were doing the lights Papa, Nehemiah, Noah, and Elijah worked on the manger scene.

A Norfolk pine given to us by Aunt Abby when we visited her on Thanksgiving was a nice almost Tropical looking touch that added some life to the manger scene this year.

Mama and Papa picked up a Christmas tree that, once placed on the circle table almost touches the peak of our living room ceiling!

First Thanksgiving(s)

I found this article by David Barton (Wallbuilders.com) about Thanksgivings that have occured in America. I found it very interesting! -Joseph Cook

The tradition introduced by European Americans of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and His blessings dates back well over four centuries in America. For example, such thanksgivings occurred in 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men; 1 in 1564 at St. Augustine, Florida with French Huguenot (Protestant) colonists; 2 in 1598 at El Paso, Texas with Juan de Oñate and his expedition; 3 in 1607 at Cape Henry, Virginia with the landing of the Jamestown settlers; 4 in 1619 at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia; 5 (and many other such celebrations).
But it is primarily from the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 that we derive the current tradition of Thanksgiving Day.

Family Fire Ends

The Family Fire, has ended after 170 hours of burning. That sets the record of over 1 week! The very last night it was burning, Daniel added wood from one side of the fireplace to the other. It was loaded! It blazed for quite a while. We had to let it die out, so that we could clean the fireplace out before Thanksgiving. Hopefully, in December, we can set a record of two weeks!
-Joseph Cook

"The Duck" Update

Our new Trooper (aka. "The Duck") was worked on today after Papa's arrival home after training in Anniston, Alabama. In addition to washing and waxing "The Duck" we greased door hinges and started cleaning the engine up. We also cut a limb that was overhanging where we park the duck so maintenance on it will be slightly easier with less branches, leaves, etc. falling on it. Next we will be "armoralling," vacuuming, installing a new battery, completing the cleaning of the engine, and analyzing and fixing any problems we find.

As a side note, the fire is still running and has passed the 120 hour mark!

- Daniel R. H. Cook

Beautiful Weather and One Long Fire!

We have been having some beautifully cold weather with the temperatures getting down into the high twenties at night. We lit a fire on Sunday Around 1800hrs. (6:00 P.M.) and it is still burning now. That makes a Ninety-three hour fire! The best part is the fire is still going and if the weather reports are correct we might hit the one week mark!

And please check out the voting poll on the right. What do you think the 9th" Cooky" will be, a boy or a girl?

- Daniel R. H. Cook

Today, We bought a 1988 ISUZU Trooper. It is two years newer than the one we already have. It does not run -It is a "Fixer Upper" car- but Daniel and I will use it as a School Project. It is Scuba Yellow, and we have nicknamed it "The Duck"! It is an automatic -which is a answer to prayer, because once it gets running, it can serve as a "small car" that Anne can use to run errands. Daniel and I think we can get it fixed by the end of Spring. -Joseph

Short Ft. Myers trip

This past week God was especially watching over us. Daniel, Papa, Nehemiah and I went down to Ft. Myers. Papa had a class, and us boys were going to visit with the grandparents, cousins, and uncles. On the way their though, the Trooper (now an antique) just stopped as we were going down the exit ramp...Daniel and I pushed it out of the way. We were 100 miles away from Ft. Myers, and the Trooper wouldn't restart. Papa called AAA (our insurance company) and within the next thirty minutes, a towtruck came to pick us up. The friendly driver drove us all the way to Ft. Myers! The next day, as Nehemiah and I visited our cousin, Daniel, Pappy (our grandfather) and a neighbor "Steve", fixed the Trooper, and since then it ran fine! That was defenitely providential.

After the visit, we started on the drive back...we surprised Nehemiah by stopping at SeaWorld! We had lots of fun their-We rode a rollercoaster 4 times, Saw lots of animals, and enjoyed the sunny day. I acquired several (5) new smashed pennies! We rode the Turnpike back, and had a very good dinner of Donuts!! :) We arrived at around 9:00, and were very happy to see the family-and get into bed! -Posted By Joseph Cook

Lunch at Valley Forge

I love windy weather. Except for eating. We had a crazy lunch out at Valley Forge. We had brought a picnic lunch. No problem. The park looked lovely . . . from inside the warm car. Ah, lovely fall leaves on the tall trees. Are trees really taller up north? Look, a PA deer; bigger than our deer in FL! Look the huge mountains! (Honey, those are just hills.) Here's the picnic area. Grab the flat of water bottles. Find a table in the sunshine. Climbing out we were met with a gust of wind . . . no big deal. Walking toward the picnic site, the wind whistled louder. Still ok . . . so far. Then, we tried to put our sandwiches together. Catch the mayonnaise! It's rather windy, wouldn't you say? Hold onto the lettuce. Where's Ezra? Pass the oil! I'm just a bit chilly. There go the buns! It's slightly cold here, I think. Save the mustard! Oh, Anna doesn't have her hat! Where's the water. . .rolling down the hill? It's EXTREMELY chilly-I'm going back to the car!!! Everything was blowing around and it was all we could do to hold it down, much less try to make sandwiches. Mama, Aunt Elaine, Anna, Ezra and I escaped to the car and enjoyed a flat, calm, still lunch while viewing the comical scene down the hill. The wind really had blown Ezra over (which is quite a feat; he is such a cute little chunk)! The boys ended up each standing by a tree, using it as a windbreak while they ate. Even so, I think the wildlife had a feast that day! We were all chilled on that memorable day at Valley Forge!
--Journaled by Anne Cook

Ezra enjoying the stairs at the Visitor's Center.



Joseph using a colorful windbreak.

FireProof Review

Hello,
Elizabeth and I went to see FireProof and it was so good that I took my three oldest childeren and some friends to see it. It was very well done and convicting. Due to the action scenes the big screen is the best way to see it. We highly recommend it.

Our Oven Timer

For a while now, we have been having problems with our oven. We recorded this on October 8th 2008. This is what it looks like when it counts up all by itself at random times.

Fort Jackson; Est. 2008

The Lookout

We boys have been digging a fort in the backyard. One part, a semi-triangular pit we have dug, is about 2.5 feet deep. It is surrounded by a dirt wall, which is about one foot high. The other section, is called "The Lookout". There are two platforms located in a tree. One, about 4 feet off of the ground, was built a few years ago. The other located at 11 feet 4inches above the ground, is the newly installed "Birds Eye View" platform. Papa helped us build it last weekend. It gives us really good views, that we've never gotten before. Daniel also installed spikes in the tree, so he and I could climb up about 5 feet more in the tree! The highest point accessible in the tree is 16 feet above ground level! We'll keep posting updates on our fort, as we change it.
P.S. Come Visit us, there is no admission fee! :)
-Posted By Joseph Cook (13)

The last part, is a small shack, which we built today[9-23-08]. It holds our "ammunition" (Pinecones), which we use to attack the "enemy" (an imaginary enemy of course) Daniel and the Younger Boys (Nehemiah, Noah, and Elijah) Took less than 15 minutes to put it together!

The Fort

Water Garden

Daniel and I have been working on a "Water Garden". Lately we have laid down some black paper to keep off the weeds, and during spring, we'll probably plant a few flowers. Right now, we have three basins, witht the water hose connected to the fire hydrant. Hopefully, we will be able to add another pump and more basins in the future.

Posted by -Joseph Cook

Fort Caroline/Mayport Trip

On Friday, Papa had just arrived back from a course in Oklahoma. We picked him up at the airport, and then went to visit Fort Caroline/Timacuan Preserve. We had been learning about the Timacuan Indians in Papa's history class. We got to see fort Caroline. (Pictured above) We also quickly stopped by to look at the Ribault monument, a replica of the monument once placed there by French Explorer Jean Rebault in 1562. After the park closed, we went by Mayport (A Naval Station) To see the mouth of the St. Johns River. When we walked onto the beach, it was very windy! We even saw what appeared to be part of an old galleon. It was a piece of wood, with manmade markings and large screws. It was half buried in the sand. Soon, we hea ded back to home. (After stopping at Starbucks of Course!)We enjoyed our trip very much, and we hope to visit both places again sometime soon.
-Posted by Joseph Cook

Fireproof the Movie

Hello,
I am very excited about this movie coming out soon, especially since I am a volunteer fire fighter. The Fellowship of Christian Fire Fighters staff has shown it at fire conventions as it has been praised for its realism. Lord willing I am taking my Elizabeth to see it on SEP 27th as soon as I come out of the field from tactical medic training at Camp Blanding. We will preview it before making a decision as to which children beyond my oldest three Anne (17), Daniel (15), and Joseph (13)can see it. Due to it being a movie about adult difficulties and fire fighting hazards, I doubt that I will take any younger children to it. We should all make an effort to see it as close to opening weekend as possible in order to lenghthen and promote theatre runs. I'll post again after we watch it.

Love in Christ,
Dan Cook

The following video is a slideshow of pictures from our trip to Kentucky. Many Cooks, and Tim Stanley, helped take all these pictures. Enjoy!

Skirmish Woods Coming Soon

Our Family, and several others, have been putting together a movie called "Skirmish Woods". It is still in the works, but the producer has passed the script down to the editors, they have approved it, so now the Producer, and film manager, are going to put the finishing touches on it, before they shoot. We will film once all of the props are intact, which should be early or mid 2009. There is a trailer below that I created about our movie. We borrowed the music from Facing the Giants! -Joseph

10,000 square centimeters on our table.

Mama and I built a 10,000 square centimeter sunset picture out of base ten blocks! It was fun to see math in action! -Joseph

This is a slideshow of Daniel's trip to Airforce Space Command Familarization Course. It is about 14 minutes long. Daniel has some comments about his trip:

The Road to the Stars Starts from the Ground
By Cadet Second Lieutenant Daniel Cook

COCOA BEACH, Fla. -- How would you like to meet four astronauts, walk under the space shuttle Endeavour, tour the facilities at Cape Canaveral, and meet the men and women who help our space program run – all in one week? This summer, I did all that and more at a Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Special Activity known as the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course.

I had dreamed of going to this extraordinary course for two years. Once there, reality exceeded all my expectations. Twenty-seven of us, all Civil Air Patrol Cadets from across the United States of America, spent a jam-packed week learning about our country’s space program from two different though complementary points of view: those of the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. While it might seem that the Space Program might be routine, the more we learned about it, the less routine it became.

We were taught about some of the many factors that affect each launch – from weather to hardware problems, each mission has its own unique challenges. Walking underneath the space shuttle Endeavour, we began to realize just how complex the space shuttle really is, as we looked up at hundreds of heat-resistant tiles, each different from the others. We also had the chance to meet the men and women who make each mission possible, from the people who repair the parachutes used on the solid rocket boosters to the Air Force personnel who make sure the sea and sky are clear. During the course we had the honor of meeting four different shuttle astronauts, including John Blaha who was just recently inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.

This was an intense and exciting course, challenging and dynamic, and I could talk for a very long time about all I learned. However, the most important lesson I took away from here was not about the space program, nor did it come from an astronaut but from our guest speaker, United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Rene Rubiella. “The decisions you make now will affect you for the rest of your lives,” he said.

While interacting with other cadets I remembered what my mother told me. “Keep silent and listen. Don’t talk to much.” she said. I learned a lot by doing just that. The less you say the more you listen th more you can learn, and when you do speak people are more apt to listen. The senior NCOs from Patrick Air Force Base reminded me that as an officer I should listen to my NCOs they usually have a better idea than you do. This course taught me more than just what the space program is all about, it taught me lessons that will help me through all of my life.

Cadet Cook is the cadet executive officer of the Gainesville Composite Squadron, Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol. He is 15 years old and is still not sure what career he would like to pursue, though he believes it will have something to do with aerospace, but most importantly wants to raise a family of his own one day.

Stop Action Movies

Daniel and I have been working on stop action movies...we're still in the beginnings of producing, and we aren't able to download to the computer. But, we still make promotional ads for them. -Joseph Cook

Below is the slideshow for Anne's graduation this Saturday.

Anna and Baby Mark

"Baby Mark" is finally no longer being mistaken for Baby Ezra. For a few months we would see Anna carrying the doll and hurry over to "rescue" Ezra! Ezra has finally grown past Mark size.

Above is a picture of Ezra's first time sitting in the grass! He was nine and a half months old.

Above is Elijah, age 7, on Resurrection Sunday 2008.

Upcoming Trip

We are planning a trip to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. We plan to leave in late May.

Evolution Bill in Florida Senate

The Florida Senate passed a bill concerning the teaching of evolution in public schools. Here is
an article about the controversial bill.

Noah's Lemon Bar Recipe

Noah found this recipe in a Better Homes and Gardens cook book. He has made it before.
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ cup sifted powdered sugar
½ cup butter or margined
2 eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon shredded lemon peel
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
powdered sugar

Instructions:

Stir together 1-cup flour and ¼ cup powdered sugar; cut in butter ‘till mixture clings together.
Pat mixture into an un-greased 8X8X2 inch baking pan.
Bake at 350º for 10 to 12 minutes.
In mixing bowl beat eggs; add granulated sugar, lemon peel, and juice.
Beat until slightly thick and smooth, 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir together 2 tablespoons flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture.
Blend just until all is moistened, pour over baked layer.
Bake at 350, for 20 to 25 minutes.
Sift powdered sugar over top.
Cool.
Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Makes 20.

EXPELLED

Last night Dan and I went to see Expelled in Gainesville. It is definitely a movie worth seeing for teens and adults. The audience at our showing varied widely in age. The movie itself was not light fare. The movies purpose was not to push a certanin dogma but simply to allow for open discussion of ideas. Here is review from Answers In Genesis that you might find helpful.

Honorable Mention

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSEPH and NEHEMIAH who received an Honorable Mention in Toshiba's Exploravision Contest. The boys "invented" a SuperEraser and submitted research reports and drawings for the website they designed. They were told that their entry was in the top ten percent of all the entries in the country. We thank the Lord for the ability to teach and learn at home and for all his blessings on us.

5K

On April 5, we all particpated in a 5K benefiting the Equal Access Clinic in Gainesville. Our friend Kelcee Griffis came with us. The race began at 8:30 in the morning. The weather was beautiful for it, very cool and overcast. About 250 people came out for it. Everyone ran except Mama, Ezra, and Anna. At the end, there was plenty of breakfast food for all the runners. There were also free smoothies from Planet Smoothie. Daniel, Noah, and Elijah each earned a trophy. The boys are a bit sore but all looking forward to the next 5K.

Armor of God

Our family is working on memorizing this passage of Scripture. We read it each day aloud and spend about 5 to 10 minutes each day working on reciting it. Several of the boys have already memorized most of it.

The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Joseph's Poem

Heaven Poem

Heaven’s a place that’s unseen yet real,
That shines like the sun with a glorious appeal.
The saints above, worship our King,
Who’s Savior of all, and made everything.
Some leave us below, to worship on high,
But it is okay, even though they did die.
The ones, who remain, must spread the good news,
Through every small village, and cities so huge.
The task will be finished, and we’ll sing on high,
And leave this old earth, to soar to the sky.
We’ll meet all the saints, and those been redeemed,
And worship in heav’n, our Lord, Christ the King

Joseph (12) wrote this poem yesterday. He helped me scan it onto the computer so we could share it.

Elijah's Ice Cream Whir

ICE CREAM WHIR

2 c. ice cream
½ c. milk
handful of candy

Put everything in a blender.
Blend it until smooth.
Enjoy!

Elijah (7) watched BJU HomeSat where this recipe was being demonstrated.
He copied it down the other morning because he thought it would be a good one for the family.

Resurrection Day

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

He is Risen!

Our special “thanks” to Tammie who helped us get started on the blog today!