On the Cookie Counter

Macaroni and Cheese

2011-11-18T20:25:00.003-05:00

This recipe was pretty popular with those of us who were still awake when I made it.

Macaroni and Cheese (no baking)

7 oz. macaroni (about 1 ½ cups)

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons flour

¼ teaspoon dry mustard

salt/pepper

1 cup milk

5 oz. Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Boil noodles according to package directions.

Mix flour, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small measuring cup.

Melt butter on medium heat.

Stir in flour all at once.

Add milk slowly stirring to keep smooth.

Slowly add in shredded cheese.

Drain noodles and toss into cheese suace.

Serve hot!

Serves about 5 people who've already had dinner or two people who haven't.

Joseph's view of Journalism

2011-11-17T20:20:00.001-05:00

Joseph was instructed to post a few thoughts on Journalism, for his FLVS course:

When I first started taking Journalism from FLVS, I understood a Journalist to be someone who reported the news—whether through a news agency, or as an individual. I knew that the purpose of Journalism was to disseminate accurate, unbiased information regarding current events, in an ethical manner. (Opinion writing is fine, as long as it is clearly labeled as “Opinion”)

“Ethical manner”, of course, means providing information in a way which will ultimately honor God.

Now that I’m nearly completed the Journalism course, my view of Journalism has slightly changed. The biggest things the course has done for me, is to help me differentiate between when “fact” and “opinion” are being presented. Often, I note that large news sources (Such as Fox, CNN, and Politico) are biased either for or against something (the Occupy movement, for example) simply because of the adjective they use. Adjectives must be carefully, picked.

(By the way, this is an opinion piece!)

As for my future career, I am sure it will involve Journalism in some way. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and often have contemplated pursuing a career as a news/sports anchor. I believe the career field for aspiring Journalists grows larger with the advent of new technology. Though departments change, the need for unbiased reporters with integrity is still vitally important.

A good Journalist

2011-11-17T20:08:00.002-05:00

For Journalism, Joseph was asked to write about a Journalist he admired:

The man I admire as a competent Journalist, is Mr. Marvin Olasky. Shortly after his college career, Marvin Olasky wrote several books. Soon afterwards, (and in the midst of writing his books) he became a journalism professor at the University of Texas and a senior fellow of Acton Institute. Besides his work at the University of Texas and Action Institute, Mr. Olasky has been very active at the World Magazine. In 1990 he joined World Magazine, and four years later he became editor. In 2001, he became Editor in Chief. An Editor in Chief reviews content prior to publication. This covers language, grammar, punctuation, pictures, photo captions, and (possibly) budgetary matters. The integrity and eye for detail required for a job such as this is immense. Evidently, Mr. Olasky has both. Mr. Olasky has a great amount of experience, and is at the top of his career. Through his studies at Acton, King's, and the University of Texas, he has amassed a good deal of knowledge. This is evident through the many insightful books he has written. His decades of service at World Magazine reflect his reliability.

Sources:

Worldmag.com
University of Texas

Thoughts on Writing

2011-09-09T11:36:00.000-04:00

For Joseph's Journalism course, he was required to post his thoughts on writing:

Writing has existed for many millennium. Writing is used to document history, recordcurrent events, and many other things. The written word is vital to me as a Christian. Having the Bible (God's words) lets me learnmany things about God, and about history which I may not have otherwise beenable to know. Without the Bible, I wouldknow so much less about God, and his work in history.

To me, writing is an essential part of life. Though I enjoy writing, I also see writing asan opportunity. Just like speaking—writingcan let others know what you think, whether it is a novel, an editorial piece,or a persuasive essay. Being able tocoherently describe why I believe what I believe, is important to me as aChristian.

While writing, I have often come across the question:"Is it possible to write impartially?". I believe that it is very hard—but possible. Most credible news organizations pridethemselves in impartiality. Though theirreporting is often biased, they at least recognize the importance of an "opinion-less"report. When one wants to report withoutbias, it is important to examine adjectives (which often show partiality) andword choice. Reporters who considerthemselves "unbiased" often fail to be so because of poor wording choices.

Journalism: Advertisement effects

2011-08-21T13:27:00.001-04:00

My Journalism course instructed me (Joseph) to observe ways in which I was influenced through media messages. As is their nature, advertisements tend to appeal to the feelings of prospective customers. Although I rarely buy things which I had not previously (and meticulously) considered purchasing, I noticed there is one way in which I am severely affected by advertisements.

While at Texas Roadhouse, I was looking over the menu, and I noticed some scrawled wording under the beverage section which read “Slow brewed Sweet Tea”. On the end of the word “Slow”, a cowboy hat was perched. I was leaning towards purchasing sweet tea instead of the considerably less-pricey glass of water.

I naturally like sweet tea and the words “Slow-Brewed” implied that extreme care and effort were put into the creating of the said sweet tea. “Slow-brewed” is much more appealing to me than “Instant”. “Slow-brewed” implies discretion and timing were considered important while this tea was created. The second thing which appealed to me, was the Cowboy hat, located on the scrawled wording. It (along with the theme of Texas Roadhouse) appealed to the inner “southerner” which is engrained in me. Believe me—if that hat had been a flat-brimmed skateboarder’s hat with a NY Yankees logo on it, I would not have bought that sweet tea.

The sweet tea advertisement, though it contained no catchphrases, effectively persuaded me to nearly purchase their product. It did so because it caught my attention through its marketing of sweet tea is distinctly southern, and through creating the impression that time and care were invested in its creation.

Through the observation of this fact, I now know that I am susceptible to advertising which markets itself as something which is “southern”. From now on, I will definitely use discretion when buying things marketed as such.

By the way, the Slow Brewed Sweet Tea tasted great!

Elijah's Poem

2011-08-17T18:21:00.004-04:00

Elijah wrote this poem for a reading assignment:

The Place

I went to a place
Where the zebras do race,
But it wasn't a zoo;
It had elephants too,

When I tried to feed one
It was hard to get done.
For what did that silly elephant do?
Instead of the carrot, it sucked on my shoe!

Ethics

2011-08-07T20:02:00.002-04:00

Once again, we bring you a post which is part of Joseph's FLVS Journalism class requirements. This post pertains to the question, "What does it mean to be ethical?"

Being ethical, as described by the Webster’s New International Dictionary is anything, “Of or relating to moral action, motive, or character.” That, understandably, is hard to understand unless we define what morals are. Morals, as defined by the same dictionary are “Characterized by practical excellence, or springing from, or pertaining to, man’s natural sense of what is right and proper.”

An ethical and morally upright person will make the right choices. What the “right choice” is, however, is impossible to define apart from the Bible. God’s word defines sin as “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). God’s word is the absolute authority which is “the law”. Thus, an ethical and morally upright person will follow the laws of the Bible.

In the case of the situation described in the lesson—where I observe a friend of mine sharing personal information with a stranger online— any decision made would be handled with care. As a Christian, I would handle this situation prayerfully, and I would seek the advice of my parents before making a decision. However, the steps I might take could be the following.

I would first approach my friend, and tell him that their choice to share personal information was a dangerous one and must be resolved. I would then suggest that they approach their parents regarding how to resolve the issue. If they are defiant, I would come back with another friend who could provide more insight on why it is important to talk to our parents. If this approach did not change their opinion—I would go to my parents and explain the situation. They would be able to carefully handle the situation in an appropriate manner.

The harder a decision may seem, the more important it is to successfully resolve that said issue. Insight from parents is almost always the best choice, when something may be hard to determine. For adults, parents—or respected older men and women can provide insight on life issues.

Ethics apply to everywhere in our lives. In Journalism, acting ethically can be harder than most may think. The temptation to print sensational news, pull from other stories, and act dishonestly is constantly a factor in the workplace. Doing the right thing—obeying the Bible—may be hard, but is always beneficial.

Sources:

The Holy Bible

Webster’s New International Dictionary

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-05T22:00:00.001-04:00

Abigail, Ezra, Elijah and Anna celebrating shortly after swimming.

This Independence Day in Keystone Heights was just as busy (and fun) as usual. For a few of us, it started as early as 7:00, when Papa, Daniel, Joseph, and Nehemiah helped prepare the fire trucks at KHVFD for the parade.

After the parade, most of us ended up at the Volunteer Fire Station, which always holds an open house and serves as the unofficial "end" of the parade. For Daniel and Joseph, as Fire Explorers, the 4th of July still had its best part in store...Fireworks: up close!

Daniel, and Joseph were able to be on Volunteer Brush Trucks, very close by the firework launching site. As usual, this provided a spectacular view of the Keystone Heights Firework show. Joseph, in fact, viewed an up-close mishap. In Joseph's words:

I was laying on my bunker gear, which I had spread out on the grass, when I realized that the latest firework had exploded a little lower than normal. I sat up to look at the launching station--which was about 200 feet in front of us, when suddenly a firework exploded at ground level! All the pyrotechnics at the site dove to the ground as cardboard shrapnel and large embers flew in every direction. Mr. Curtis, the volunteer who was manning Brush 10, grabbed a shovel and headed off towards a spot fire (a fire started by floating embers) which was about 3 feet in diameter. Woods 10 soon doused a small tree which had caught fire, and proceeded to hose down grass which had begun to smolder. We talked to the pyrotechnics who, though shaken, managed to finish up the show with a (slightly shortened) grand finale.

Our Independence day celebrations were just as enjoyable as ever. Just as with all celebrations, we mustn't fail to remember the servicemen who, for generations past, have given the greatest sacrifice in defense of our nation.

Though our nation often strays far off the path which our founding fathers intended it to be on, we must remember that despite it all--the freedom which we experience in America is something to be treasured, and defended for it is increasingly uncommon throughout the world.

2011-07-05T21:39:00.004-04:00

Below is another article by Joseph, written for his FLVS Journalism course.

For an FLVS Journalism, I watched almost an hour of local news, put forth by News4Jax. Some of the things I was supposed to look out for were: expressions of opinion (a big no-no in reporting) the effectiveness of informing the viewer, and things done correctly or incorrectly.

I started watching the news at about 5:30, and finished shortly before 6:30. News4Jax, just like every other station at that time, was running headlines about the recent verdict of the Casey Anthony case, among a few other topics. News4Jax effectively presented both sides of the story, by showing clips of citizens who voiced both support and opposition to the outcome of the trial. The reporters themselves did not express their opinion, but merely prodded those whom they interviewed, to give detailed responses as to why the felt as they did.

Besides the Casey Anthony case, News4Jax covered topics such as beach cleanup after Independence day celebrations, questions concerning Governor Scott’s policies, and others. As I said before, News4Jax did a splendid job of keeping their opinion from conflicting with the facts.

Only in one instance, did I see opinion expressed, and it can easily be excused. John Gaughan (in my opinion—the best weatherman ever) discussed the upcoming weather using terms such as “I think”, “most likely” and “probably”. Though this is an expression of opinion, it can be excused because the subject of weather is an art of prediction—and consequently a knowledge opinion.

In conclusion, News4Jax was effective in informing me about topics regarding both local and national news. It was presented in a professional light, and the viewer was given the straight facts regarding the issues. I cannot think of any particular way in which News4Jax could have presented the news, as they did so extremely well.

Sources:

News4Jax.com

How newspapers make money

2011-07-01T13:47:00.002-04:00

Another update by Joseph about Journalism! This post focuses on how Newspapers make money. You can expect an update about the family shortly after the Fourth of July!

In today’s day and age, many newspapers are struggling to stay afloat. Nonetheless, many manage to do so successfully. An important part of running a business, is making money! How do you think newspapers make money?

The first way newspapers make money is through subscription services, when people buy an online or hard-copy. Subscriptions usually entail consumers paying a monthly (or yearly) fee, in exchange for the delivery of the newspaper (either through hard-copy or an “e-version”).

The second (and most likely primary) way newspapers make money is through advertisements. In the Wall Street Journal, a full page black and white ad can cost up to $164,300! A color ad usually costs about $210,300! As you can see, for large newspapers, the majority of profit is made through those who want to advertise in a newspaper. As technology advances, many newspapers also provide online articles. Advertisement space on large newspaper websites is in nearly as large demand as broadsheet advertisements.

In conclusion, newspapers make money in two simple ways: Subscription services, and advertisements. Both are effective, and both are adapting to technological advancements.

My sources were:

http://www.gaebler.com/Newspaper-Advertising-Costs.htm

http://online.wsj.com/home-page

http://www.simplyzesty.com/news/social-media-save-newspapers/

American Journalism

2011-07-01T13:09:00.003-04:00

Once more, this is a post written by Joseph regarding Journalism. As mentioned in a previous post, this is a requirement of his FLVS course. Please leave comments, as he appreciates any feedback regarding his writing!

Journalism in the Western Hemisphere, particularly the new land of “America” can trace its roots to Captain John Smith (founder of Jamestown) who published a newsletter entitled “Newes from Virginia”. Others periodically found their way into the growing English colonies. Eventually though, “American” journalism officially began when the “colonies across the sea” sought independence from an increasingly immoral and irresponsible government.

Samuel Adams and the “Sons of Liberty” spread word of British movements through the “Journal of Occurrences” which appeared in several colonial newspapers. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was disseminated through newspapers as well—describing that the only way for revolution (return to the norm) was through war. Over 20 newspapers carried the Declaration of Independence—spreading the word through the colonies about the now self-declared nation of America. The advent of the printing press was vital to the spread of news throughout the colonies. Men were able to debate for or against the Revolutionary war in an open forum, where others could observe and learn from their debates. Many ministers preached the importance of separating from England through their pulpits! Considering that most preachers of the day pre-wrote and read their sermons, this can be considered a form of Journalism.

After the Revolutionary war, when America was recognized as an independent nation, they set about creating a stable government. When the Constitution was created, it took many years for it to be accepted by all the states. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, were disseminated throughout newspapers in all the states. The Federalist Papers described, in detail, the logic behind the Constitution, and the importance of accepting it. Soon after its acceptance by the states, ten amendments (The Bill of Rights) were added to guarantee certain core freedoms.

The Bill of Rights guaranteed basic freedoms—freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to “bear arms”, etc. By distinctly marking these rights of citizens, the Founding Fathers made it clear that the government could never intrude into the basic human rights of Americans. Since the time of the Revolutionary War, the Government has, in part, disregarded many of these core freedoms. The restrictions on publishing books, the PATRIOT act, and “gun control”, are a few examples of the ever-growing power of the Government. If freedom of the press were not guaranteed, we would have no forum to express our opinions on any subject.

If we don’t use our freedom of speech to verbally fight against the overreaching powers of the federal government, we will see our rights continually limited. Our nation reflects only in part what the founding fathers envisioned for it, because the moral standards which they held are either not believed, or not verbalized publicly.

It may not be too long, before the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights become disregarded in growing folds of a strong central government. If we do not speak out, America may pass into the annals of history one more example of something that once was great.

Journalism Topics

2011-06-29T15:31:00.002-04:00

I (Joseph Cook) am the occasional updater of our family blog. Hopefully, I can manage my time and become a frequent updater instead!
Over the next few months, I will be posting several topics regarding in part to Journalism. I am taking a Journalism course with FLVS (Florida Virtual School) and one of the requirements is that I post some material I have written. The first is titled: "What is News?"

Before you read it--can you define "news"? Don't hesitate to comment on the article, as criticism is an essential part of feedback. Thanks for your input!

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines news as: “a report of recent events”. News can be found in various forms, especially in our technology-prone generation. All types of news can generally be classified in three parts: Broadcast, Internet, and Hard Copy.

Broadcast journalism is any form of delivering the news which involves television broadcasting. It usually involves a camera crew reporting on current events, both from a news station or live at an event. Radio is also an example of broadcast journalism, as it can involve news being broadcasted (or transmitted) through airwaves.

Internet news, is news that is disseminated online. The overwhelming majority of internet news is articles in writing. Examples of writing online could be articles posted to news sites, opinion blogs, or twitter news feeds. Though “streaming live” has become a new part of the Internet news field, live news online has not yet become a fixture in the news community.

Hard-Copy news, is news that is disseminated in physical form. Examples of Hard-Copy news would be magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and other forms of news which is in hard form.

In conclusion, “news” is the chronicle of recent events, disseminated to the public through various forms, including broadcast, internet, and hard-copy.

Skirmish Woods

2011-04-04T10:45:00.013-04:00

Today, April 4th 2011 is the Release date for GMPU's second film: Skirmish Woods. This long awaited movie has gone through over three years of production, and three months of post-production. I (Joseph) thought up the movie many years ago, which we have recently been able to make a reality. Hopefully, we will be able to make more movies in the years to come.

Below are two videos. The first is The Skirmish Woods Film. The second is a Web-special which has Missed Takes, Unused Scenes, and Cast Interviews. Enjoy!

DuckTape Swords

2011-03-08T20:00:00.003-05:00

Recently, Nehemiah has started a group called "Order of Alfred" . The club is designed for members to be able to practice sword skills, with DuckTape weapons. Below, you can see Nehemiah wielding his rendition of an English battle sword.

Shown below this, is Joseph holding the DuckTape "Wallop" sword, named collectively after William Wallace's namesake sword, and its power in battle.

DuckTape has proved to be very fun to use! Nehemiah has made quite a few things which can be seen on his blog at: OrderofAlfred.blogspot.com He is so skilled at making things with DuckTape we have dubbed him a "Tape-smith"!

Olustee Battlefield Re-enactment

2011-02-21T07:38:00.008-05:00

On Friday February 18th, through Sunday the 20th, I (Joseph) was able to participate in the Olustee Battlefield re-enactment with our friend Greg Smoak. Daniel participated Saturday night through Sunday evening.

The Olustee Re-enactment took place where the battle was fought 147 years ago, and the surrounding area. Friday was an inactive day where we re-enactors made sure we had everything needed for the activities on Saturday and Sunday. Greg, Daniel and were participating with the "3rd Florida/35th Massachusetts Infantry re-enactors".

On Saturday, we woke up while it was still dark, and many had coffee around the campfire. As the sun began to rise, and reveille was played we gathered our accoutrements (Canteen, haversack) and gear. (belt, cartridge bag, cap box). After roll call we marched to "Colors"--the posting of both the American and Confederate flags. The band played a rousing rendition of "Dixie" to the cheers of all Confederate re-enactors present. Following the posting of the colors, our unit (3rd Florida) and many others loaded into buses headed for Lake City. After breakfast on the grounds of a local church, we marched in a Civil War themed parade through Lake City. I'm not sure how far it was--but it must have been at least a mile and a half. After the bus ride back to Olustee, we were able to relax for a few hours.

Soon we were on the march again. This time, we acted as Union troops for the first battle which represented the initial skirmish won by the Union. After a lengthy march down a dirt path, our unit (and many others) attempted to advance in a straight line through a pine grove with palmettos everywhere. Unfortunately it is very hard to keep a group of soldiers, each carrying 10 lb. rifles, in a straight line while marching through uneven terrain heading into battle. After emerging from the stand of pines, we charged onto the battlefield, managed to arrange ourselves in a straight line and prepared to slowly advance on the Confederate lines. After that, it was kind of a blur--we followed orders to load and fire, did that for a few minutes--and then advanced some more. After about 30 minutes, the Confederate lines began to falter and we began to push them off the field. Being it was my first time on the battlefield, I wasn't quite sure what to do--but I learned fast. Behind us, one of the officers was calling out for "more casualties". What that means is to follow what happened in the battle--we need more people to "die". It looks quite unrealistic if our lines would simply fire at each other all day. So--when they asked for casualties, I acted as though I was hit, and went down. Soon thereafter the battle commenced and the order to "resurrect" and re-form was issued. The rest of the day was free--most of it was spent in camp, but Greg and I did look around at the Sutler tents some.

Sunday is always the big day at Olustee. Up until about 1:30 (excluding colors) we were free, but when afternoon hit we were once again gearing up for a march. We got to be Confederates, so we were pretty excited! After marching into position off of the battlefield, we waited for orders to march on-field. Greg, Daniel and I were new at re-enacting--and all the "fresh-fish" have an initiation. We were supposed to take water and gunpowder and rub it into our faces. That way everyone could tell we were fresh-fish--so they could watch out for us.
We got plenty of action on the field--driving the Union completely off the field after a good hour of fighting.

I was able to get over 36 rounds off during the battle! At the end all the soldiers filed into position in front of the crowd and fired a salute. Now that the battle was we marched back into camp (we march everywhere) and proceeded to break camp.

Re-enacting is a lot of fun. I was able to participate in the re-enacting of our past which was truly a unique experience. I also saw battle both as a Confederate and a Union soldier. Experiences like the Olustee Battlefield re-enactment give us a glimpse into what our country was like in the past, and what our forefathers stood for.

Two Tails Ranch

2011-02-15T21:08:00.003-05:00

This Sunday, many of our family traveled to Williston, for a special surprise for Elijah's birthday. Only a few of the older ones knew where we were going--so a lot of the time was spent by the younger ones, trying to decide where it might be. In the end, we arrived at a place called "Two Tails Ranch". As we waited in line for the gate to open the younger children continued to guess (in vain) where we were at.

Finally--as we unloaded from the car, Elijah spotted.....an Elephant! Two Tails ranch has a program called "All about Elephants", which we were participating in! It is an educational program designed to teach people about Elephants (for a small cost) in an up close and personal way.

Elijah, Anna, and Nehemiah were able to feed an elephant carrots--and pet it! They were friendly creatures. This particular elephant (after eating the carrot) "licked" Elijah's shoe!

Anna also fed a carrot to the friendly elephant. When asked about her experience she said in a matter-of-fact tone: "My heart was beating very fast."

There were many other creatures at Two Tails Ranch, including a Zebra. This was Joseph's favorite animal that we saw. Though we didn't have a chance to pet them, this younger Zebra was very inquisitive about visitors!

Above, is Catherine. (the Ostrich) Ostriches have a brain about the size of a pea, which consequently accounts for their very short attention span, and general . This creature with it's snakelike neck and avian body, was very interesting to watch! (it even tried to peck Nehemiah's shoe!)

Luke was a male Asian elephant who performed for the awed crowd. He moved giant logs, and even painted a picture! Even though he is a large creature, he is not yet fully developed! His tusks are unmarred-since he has not needed to use them in fights.

The trip to Two Tails Ranch for the "All about Elephants" tour was very interesting, and contained more than just information about elephants. Animals covered were turtles, tortoises, parrots, an emu, and and ostrich!
We enjoyed the trip very much, and hope to go back again sometime. For more information about the program, visit: All About Elephants.

Pictures taken by: Joseph Cook, Age 15

Catfish

2011-02-08T08:47:00.004-05:00

Yesterday Noah, Elijah and our neighbor Tate were fishing at the lake. Above, Noah is holding one of three catfish he caught! Elijah caught a catfish, and Tate caught two brim and one catfish. About twice every month some of the boys go down to Bedford Lake and fish. Usually they catch small bass--this is the first time Tate or Noah have caught catfish while fishing at our lake.

It's a girl!

2011-02-01T20:14:00.003-05:00

On January 31st, at 7:13 a.m. Apphia Ruth Cook was born at the Orange Park Hospital!
She weighs 6 pounds and 2 ounces. She currently has dark hair, and a sweet temperament.
The name Apphia comes from the opening verses of Philemon where Paul writes:

" ¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: ³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Though nothing else is known about her, we do know that she was a Christian--and a friend of Paul. The name Apphia means "Increasing Blessing"! (She is the tenth baby)

Today all us children visited Mama and Apphia at the hospital. Here are a few pictures of us with her!

The sisters: Anna, Anne, Abigail, and Apphia

Ezra, Elijah, and Apphia

Joseph and Apphia

Baseball: The first season

2010-11-28T21:04:00.006-05:00

This year Nehemiah and Noah were blessed with the opportunity to join the Keystone Recreation Association's youth baseball team. The team did well, and closed the season with a .500 average . Nehemiah primarily played center field and left, but was able to pitch for a few innings. Noah played right-field, left-field and spent some time at shortstop. Both boys were selected to be lead-off batters in different games. Nehemiah's first base hit was an 2 RBI triple to right-field. Noah had several hard hits as well. Both were able make catches in the outfield.

Noah is shown (middle) on the home-field bench, while waiting for their turn to field. Since the team had more than 9 players, some spent time on the bench.
Nehemiah is shown above waiting outside the batting cages. Nehemiah's best catch came during an away game at Middleburg. Keystone was leading 7-6, and it was the bottom of the last inning. There were two outs, and a man on second. The Middleburg batter hit a deep fly to center field, and most everyone thought it would be a base hit. If the ball got past the fielder, both runs would likely score, and the game would be lost. Nehemiah (center fielder) saw the ball coming, and backed up as fast as he could. Leaping into the air, he managed to snag the ball for the last out! Needless to say, we were all proud of him, especially considering his catch won the game! It was the first game, and one of the best.

We were all able to enjoy Nehemiah and Noah's games, as we all made friends and learned much from the coaches. Baseball has been an exciting part of this year!

Note: A big thanks goes to Mr. and Mrs. G for providing the excellent pictures!

Reformation Day 2010

2010-10-29T12:34:00.004-04:00

A view of Martin Luther's Study room in Wartburg Germany.
*Above picture taken from Sacred-Destinations.com

This year, we are once again celebrating Reformation Day, on Sunday October 31st. We will meet at Friendship Bible Church at 6:00. A brief lecture by Dan Cook, on various Reformers, will be followed by refreshments, games, and crafts in the fellowship hall. We hope to see you there for a great time of fellowship and learning!

Medieval Fair

2010-09-26T20:35:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we had a great turnout for the Medieval fair. Over 50 people were on hand! We had a great time fencing, jousting, practicing archery, running footraces, and various other games and just enjoying each others company. Below are a few pictures we have received from Mrs. Smoak. I will be sure to post more when I receive them, and put them up on Snapfish.

One of two Merry men, "Daniel O'Dale"

Anne teaching some children Croquet

Ezra and Knight Elijah

Thanks for reading. We'll be sure to post more pictures as soon as possible!

Cocoa Beach Trip

2010-09-20T18:02:00.004-04:00

Last weekend, (18-19) we were able to visit Papa in Cocoa Beach. He is currently doing several courses, over a four week span. The weekend we visited him, preceded his last week in Cocoa. We were able to swim in the pool, and at the beach, and spend a lot of time together.

I was preparing to take a picture of the rest of the family (right before we left) when some men from Papa's work (who were also taking a class) pulled into the parking lot, and offered to take a group photo. It was great timing!

This is just part of the view of the beach we enjoyed from Papa's room. He had a large window!

Abigail enjoyed looking out the hotel window for cars.

Sunsets in Cocoa are beautiful--especially from our vantage point on the 6th story of the Hilton. Sunsets like this one remind me of how great God is.

Mummified Apples

2010-09-13T15:40:00.003-04:00

Last week, we unburied our mummified apple out of the baking-soda/salt mixture. Our camera was not working at the time, so I sketched pictures of what the apples looked like. When we dumped out the mixture, our mummified apple had to be "excavated"! The inner baking-soda and salt had hardened to form a shell around the apple, and when tapped with a butter knife, fell apart. It was colored a dull yellow inside. When we compared the two apples, this is what we found.

The "mummified" apple was considerably shrunken--about the same size as our control apple. (The apple that just sat out) However, the marked difference was that the mummy-apple was dry, firm, and light-colored. It had a dry section of peel still intact around it's stem.

The control apple was bruised, smelly, and darkly colored. It also had a small section of peel around the stem, but it was wet and floppy.

Somehow, the baking soda and salt preserved the apple and kept it dryer, although it shrunk. The other apple would have eventually wasted into nothing, while attracting lots of bugs. This experiment from our Anatomy book showed us that certain mixtures of chemicals can preserve things. (Like the Egyptians did to corpses)

CFHS Medieval Fair

2010-09-12T20:34:00.003-04:00

On September 25th, we will be hosting the CFHS* 2nd Annual Medieval Fair. Located at our house, it is a time of fun where we get together with family and friends, and enjoy doing various medieval style activities including: fencing, jousting, archery, croquet, foot races, bocce ball and more! The festivities begin at 1:00 pm. Medieval costumes are optional but welcome. We look forward to seeing you!
*Cook Family Homeschool

LEGO Narnia Comic

2010-09-11T13:10:00.006-04:00

This is the first LEGO Narnia comic I have made to be released on the internet. The following comics will be kept as close to the original Narnia series by C.S. Lewis as possible. Please keep posted for more. -NehemiahC

Sunday Softball

2010-08-30T20:45:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday, Daniel, Nehemiah, and I [Joseph] went to Little Rain Lake Park to play Softball with a few people from Church, and their friends. We had a good 20+ people arrive--more than enough for two teams. It was a lot of fun playing! Mrs. Griffis kindly gave us these pictures of the game.
This is me watching the ball to make sure it wasn't caught. I made it to second, and came around to score 1 batter later. Mr. Warren (in the Pujols shirt) is pictured in the background.

Daniel is pictured here in one of his many at bats. Daniel made it to base safely (over 4 times) either by hitting or walking. Daniel and I were on the same team, and hit back to back--which made for a good combination considering we both almost always made it on base each at bat!

Nehemiah is pictured here after a foul bunt. Nehemiah had a few hits, and an excellent display of defense. (Several well timed grabs).
Softball, baseball and the like are always a lot of fun, especially when played with friends. In fact, we boys often play baseball (with a tennis ball) on the front lawn. It's been America's favorite past-time, and it will always be ours too!

"First" day of School

2010-08-30T20:02:00.009-04:00

Today is the "first" day of school. The reason that is in quotation marks is because at our house, school is not confined to dates. Nonetheless, we have begun school full force today. We have a schedule which loosely defines what we're doing at a given point in the day.
We will be continually changing it over the course of the year, and despite activities (doctors appointments etc.) it works quite well for helping us keep on pace during the day.
We each have quite a lot of subjects to cover. Above is a sample--a stack of Noah's schoolbooks this year. Subjects are not limited to books however. Drawing, Physical Excercise (i.e. Baseball) and leisure reading are just a few.
I [Joseph] am teaching Anatomy to Noah and Elijah. Today we learned about how the Egyptians knew a good deal about human anatomy--especially regarding the preservation of a corpse. The experiment we had today involved "mummifying" an apple! We put it in a mix of baking soda and salt and are supposed to let it sit for a week. We'll find out what happens next Monday--but I'm assuming it will be mummified in some way!
For a while I've been saving up for a bicycle--I got it online from Walmart.com, and it shipped in last week from Sacramento CA. Mama had some packages that needed to be delivered, so Daniel and I biked to the post office in town, and took a leisurely ride home through Immokalee, and down Bedford Lake Rd. It is a lot of fun riding--especially now that the weather is starting to cool off some.
We will keep you posted on events that happen and we hope you enjoy reading our blog!

Champion Reader

2010-08-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

As a family, we recently participated in the Putnam County reading program. Lasting from June 12th-July 30th, the goal was to see who could read the most books. Over 5 libraries participated, including Melrose, which we often visit. All of us read books, (including Abigail) but Noah definitely read the most. He read the most books not only in the Melrose Library, but in all of Putnam county. He read a total of 334 books! Noah received a trophy and a "Key of Knowledge" award.

Late Night Trip

2010-08-18T13:36:00.002-04:00

Saturday night (the 14th) the whole family was in Jacksonville/Orange Park to run errands, and pick up Papa when his airplane arrived from Virginia. We had already gone by Wal-Mart, Jo-Ann's, Starbucks, and Texas Roadhouse when we found out Papa's plane was delayed, and would not arrive until around midnight. Thus, we found something fun to do---mini golf! We had coupons from the library, and decided it would be a great time to use them.

One of the many animal statues around the course, Elijah is next to this unique "sharp-toothed" hippo.

Noah, Nehemiah, and I [Joseph] next to the waterfall. The family split into two teams on two courses. We did the "Paradise Lost" course, and each got a hole-in-one! All of us made our shots in three or less for the majority of the course.

After mini-golfing we arrived at the airport but still had time to burn. Thankfully Nehemiah had brought a glove and baseball, so we played catch in next to the parking lot. Later that night (I'm not sure when) Papa's airplane arrived and we picked him up. We arrived home around 2:00! Papa headed off to another course this week, but will be back on the weekend.

It was great being together as family, and we can always have fun--no matter what time it is!

Camp Good News

2010-08-13T18:53:00.004-04:00

Photo courtesy of Camp Good News

This week (Aug 8-14) marked the 4th week I (Joseph) have served at Camp Good News. Located in picturesque Hawthorne FL, Camp Good News is a ministry of CEF. (Child Evangelism Fellowship) Dozens of children show up on weekdays during the Summer (occasionally a few weeks in the winter and spring). Both Anne and I had the opportunity to serve this year. The normal day lasts from 9:00-5:00, and is filled with activities. Just a few of them include: playground, activity field, Reptile Round-up (a place to keep caught lizards/snakes) South Twin Lake, the water slide, and much more.

I often work with children, (especially at home!) but I had never worked in a camp environment before. The weeks I spent at CGN were important to me in many ways.

The first, is the chance I had to grow closer to Christ through devotions by myself and with the children--plus every night I was able to worship with the other counselors . The relatively secluded environment of Camp allowed for much thought and study in The Word.

The second, is that I had the chance to befriend and work with many children. They all come from different home situations, and are all varied ages and it has been a joy learning about God alongside them, whether in Bible time, or just talking one-on-one. They regularly test my patience to the limit--but God uses them to teach me how to improve.

The third reason CGN has been such a good experience, is the fellowship I have experienced. Thursday night is usually "counselor night" where we have a BBQ dinner, a swim in the lake, and worship time. I have met new friends, and had the chance to work with those I knew. Being with other counselors was one of the most exciting things of CGN.

Camp Good News has proved a friendly, Christ-filled experience where I grew in Christ, made friends, and ministered to others. Though extremely trying at times, it strengthened me, and taught me things I probably wouldn't have learned elsewhere.

Noah's Catch

2010-08-07T16:45:00.008-04:00

Recently, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah, and the neighbor boys were fishing at the lake, when Noah reeled in this big bass. It's approximately 15 inches long, and although we never weighed it, it was probably a few pounds. This is by far the largest bass anyone of us has caught--and the fillets are big enough to feed a couple of us Fishing in the Summer is always reel fun!

A few pictures from Daniel's trip

2010-08-07T16:41:00.003-04:00

This picture of me was taken outside the Rhea County Courthouse. During Summit John Stonestreet gave us alumni a tour of the courthouse. During the tour we toured the museum and sat in the courtroom and talked about the events leading up to the trial.

This picture has me (In my newly earned Blue Beret) next to a P-51 C Mustang painted in the colors of the Tuskegee Airmen.

This is a picture I took during National Blue Beret while on duty, at sunset, in the Warbirds section of AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. The USAF labeled airplane is a C-47.

Daniel is Home

2010-08-05T00:08:00.002-04:00

I am finally home after two weeks of Summit and two weeks of Civil Air Patrol's National Blue Beret. I want to thank everyone who prayed for me. God was very good to me this summer. If you would like the complete story I have it in an email. You can email me at inordertokeepit@gmail.com and I will send it to you. It is two thousand two hundred plus words.

- Daniel Cook

Philadelphia Trip: Condensed

2010-06-10T15:52:00.029-04:00

Our second trip to Pennsylvania in two years, was successful in many ways. It occurred during May, and I have just recently compiled the photos, and taken the time to write about it. We were able to visit many historic sites including (but not limited to) Fort McHenry, Tybee Island Lighthouse, Fort Scriven, Manassas Battlefield (Bull Run), Brandywine Battlefield, and a few others. We also visited the Franklin Institute. Our main goal, however, was to visit Grammy. (Mama's mother). Here is a brief description of our trip, in pictures.

The first major stop was at Manassas Battlefield, also called Bull Run. This is where Thomas Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" when he repelled the Union forces and turned the tide in the battle, earning a Confederate Victory. We were able to look at the larger-than-life statue of Jackson, and walked on the huge, grassy fields.

We also looked at the landmark simply known as the "Stone Bridge". The Union forces retreated over this same bridge centuries ago. It was nice to hear the "run" (small offshoot of a river) flow past as wind stirred the large trees. All of us children were able to complete our Junior Ranger programs, earning patches and badges.

Immediately following our visit to Manassas VA, we drove to Maryland to visit Fort McHenry. It was a relatively small fort, but very pretty. We enjoyed doing Jr. Ranger books, especially with the beautiful breeze coming off the Chesapeake Bay. Abigail enjoyed walking inside the visitor center, looking at some of the displays.

Anna and Ezra enjoyed looking at the cannons, especially considering they could almost walk under it!

When we visited the fort, they had the second-largest flag of theirs flying. (When winds are above 12 MPH, the flagpole cannot support the largest one) Nevertheless, it was quite a majestic sight as it rippled above the fort. In the visitor center, after watching a video about the history of Ft. McHenry, a curtain rolled back to expose a view of the fort, with the flag flying over it. It was a moving experience as we sung the national anthem, knowing full well what that the fort and flag were more than just objects--they symbolized all those who had given their lives for God and country.

While visiting at Grammy's house, we had the chance to visit the Franklin Institute. I [Joseph] was able to climb in a fighter jet the had on display. That alone was just one of many interactive exhibits. There were exhibits about Weather, Gears, Flight, and much more.

One of the favorite exhibits involved testing pulleys. In this picture, Papa is helping Elijah pull his "chair" up the wall.
In Pennsylvania, we visited the site of a Grist Mill. The mill was powered in the basement of a large house, by an underwater stream. Near the surface of the stream, there was a beautiful waterfall!
Brandywine Battlefield was the largest engagement of troops during the Revolutionary War. It happened on September 11, 1777, and was a fight between the Continental Army led by General George Washington and the British forces headed by General William Howe. We visited the Brandywine Battlefield visitor center and battle grounds. Ezra enjoyed finding the dandelions and exploring the battlefield with us.

While at Brandywine, we saw a very old tree, which was alive at the signing of the Constitution! (That makes this tree over 223 years old!) It took All of us from Anne, to Anna, to stretch hands around it!
After visiting with Grammy for a few days, we headed back home at night, because the A/C was out in the van. Papa and Anne took turns driving from Philly, all the way to Savannah Georgia! Upon arrival (and breakfast) we visited the Tybee Island Lighthouse, and Fort Scrivens. Above I [Joseph] am next to a large anti-ship gun based at Ft. Scrivens during WWII.

Upon arrival in Keystone, we saw these clouds as we crossed over Lake Brooklyn. A display of God's beautiful handiwork was a fitting end to our wonderful trip!

Written By Joseph Cook

Ezra 3rd Birthday

2010-06-06T16:08:00.006-04:00

Yesterday Ezra celebrated his third birthday. The birthday party marked more than just a celebratory occasion however. While reading a book last year, I learned that Jewish families have a custom of letting little boys' hair grow out, until the age of three when they have a "hair-cutting party". We enjoyed Ezra's beautiful golden hair, but by the age of three, we too had decided to give him a trim. Consequently, we invited some friends over to help, and enjoy the party.

Ezra during his hair-cut

Ezra after the cut, enjoying a present.Ezra, Nehemiah, and the 3-d train cake which Anne made.

Frog Foto

2010-04-26T11:39:00.002-04:00

I couldn't resist sharing this cute photo. This "smiling" frog was in our Water Garden a few days ago. Our Water Garden has become a haven for toads and frogs, which live under the bottom basin. We don't mind them, because I'm pretty sure they keep the mosquito population at a lower level. Plus, they're pretty cute!

Busch Gardens 2010

2010-04-26T09:08:00.005-04:00

Last Wednesday, Papa, Mama, Nehemiah, Anna and I [Joseph] went to Busch Gardens for our annual trip. When we first arrived, we waited in line for a few minutes, but managed to get our tickets fairly quickly. I had typed up a document which listed all the rides we wanted to go on, plus it had information about the animals we were going to see. We spent the whole day enjoying the sunshine, rides, and amazing animals located all throughout the park.

Nehemiah and I rode several roller coasters, as did Mama and Papa.The rides were a lot of fun, but I enjoyed seeing the animals the most. One of the most interesting animals there, was called the "Gharial". I couldn't get a picture because he was very sneaky, and wouldn't pose! The Gharial (also called the Tomistoma) is a crocodile-like creature, with a long skinny snout. We also saw Meerkats, Lions, Tigers, and lots of gorillas/monkeys/chimps! Here are a few photos from our trip.

This is me, next to a large sculpted monkey!

Anna really enjoyed the carousel!

Anna took the motorcycle ride seriously, keeping her eyes on the road!

Papa, riding a warhorse on the Carousel

Mr. Mallard was one of the non-official residents of Busch Gardens.

Anna requested that her picture be taken with this chimp statue!

The hippos were amazingly agile underwater, and purposefully passed by the glass to seemingly "show off"!
Nehemiah and Anna posed next to a huge tiger sculpture.

The majestic lion reminded me of Revelation 5:5 where Jesus is called "The Lion of Judah"

Thank you for reading. Keep "posted" for more updates on the Cooks!

Anna and Ezra videos

2010-04-11T19:22:00.006-04:00

Here is a video of Anna and Ezra singing. Anna and Ezra (playing in the boat) are singing a song they saw in one of the Karyn Henley videos. During the video when Ezra points towards the road and says something, he's saying "There's Anne!" (because Anne drove by in a car.)

Photo-op

2010-03-21T20:06:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago when I was going out the front door, I saw a lizard on our fire hydrant! (The fire hydrant is part of the water garden) I dashed inside and grabbed the digital camera, and hurried back out. Thankfully, the lizard didn't look like he was moving anytime soon, and I snapped a few pictures of him. Here's the best one:

Cook Boys Campout

2010-03-21T19:55:00.006-04:00

Below: The boys inside a sandbag "fort" at Camp Blanding Museum.

A picture of a heron, during sunset on the lake.

Last Friday, Papa, Daniel, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah and I (Joseph) were able to go on a camping trip at Camp Blanding. Our site was located right on Kingsley lake, right near a fishing dock. We spent Friday night and Saturday morning enjoying the beautiful weather, fishing, and exploring the military equipment outside of the museum. We had two tents, and 6 people! Thankfully, one of them fit 4, and the other (barely) fit 2. We had plenty of charcoal grilled food, and lots of Shmores!
Below: Noah with his tackle box, on the dock near in the camping grounds.

Ernie Haase Concert

2010-03-13T21:38:00.003-05:00

Today some of the family (Anne and Joseph)and quite a few friends went to an Ernie Haase/Signature Sound concert in Middleburg. The concert was two hours long, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound sing Southern Gospel songs. They featured some songs from their latest project in production, which is made in honor of the Cathedrals. Joseph was able to buy a CD and have it signed by the members of the quartet, and the musicians. Anne and Joseph were also able to have their pictures taken with Ernie Haase. We highly recommend that everyone find the time to see this wonderful singing group! The Tour Schedule can be found here.

Fire Weather

2010-03-06T16:49:00.003-05:00

Today there was a Fire Weather Warning/Watch due to how dry and cold it is. Daniel, Papa, and I were in the house when we heard the page for a woods fire. We got to the station as quick as possible! The fire was on Silver Springs road off of 214. Someone's backyard fire had apparently gotten out of control and begun to spread into the surrounding woods. Papa, I, and some others came arrived on scene in Attack 10, and Daniel rode with a volunteer on Tender 109. I stood by the truck watching the firefighters battle the flames. The fire was constantly shifting due to the mild winds in the area, so it took a while to settle it down. Once it was "out" I got to help with mop-up. Mop-up is the stage where everything is smoking, but there's little to no flames. I was able to ride on the walkway of one of the Brush Trucks, and "mop-up" the hot-spots with my hose. I also shoveled sand onto some of the smaller hot spots that couldn't be reached by the Brush Trucks. By the time we were finished and had got back to the Station, 3 hours had elapsed! I was surprised that it took so long--time had flown by quickly!
Being a Fire-Explorer is a lot of fun, especially when you get to participate in Fire Calls. And everyone knows that right after a call, a firefighter is hungry... so Daniel, Papa, and I headed home to help finish making homemade burgers!

Wings of Dreams Airshow

2010-02-28T22:17:00.003-05:00

Daniel, Joseph, and Nehemiah were able to go to the Wings of Dreams Airshow in Keystone, with the Civil Air Patrol. Joseph took quite a few pictures, and he also wrote this article about the airshow:

As the sun peeked over the top of the Florida pines, it shone down upon Cadets and Senior Members of the Gainesville Composite Squadron who were grouping together at the Keystone Heights Airport. As if a glimpse into the distant past, a B-17 and a B-24 sat idly on the tarmac as the sunshine glinted off their windows. As the sun rose higher into the clear winter sky, people began streaming through the gates to attend the 2010 Wings of Dreams Airshow.
Gainesville Composite Squadron was present on both days of the Airshow. They were able to successfully create perimeters around moving aircraft such as WWII Aircraft, and even an A-10 Warthog! Cadets also kept a vigil for any FOD on the tarmac, and were instructed to make sure no-one was smoking within the airport. When they weren’t patrolling, Cadets were able to climb through the B-24 and B-17, and visit with WWII Veterans, including Women Air Service Pilots. Other exhibits included live-firing (with blanks) of WWII vintage weapons, and a large collection of WWII vehicles such as Jeeps, Motorcycles, and a small Nazi tank. Cadets specifically listed the Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon static display, and the A-10 Live Demonstration as their favorite events of the weekend.
The Squadron had a large tent directly next to the entrance, where they conducted a bake-sale/popcorn fundraiser, and recruited potential Cadets. Both Saturday and Sunday were filled to with things to do, as the Cadets stayed at the airport from 800 to 1730.
The Airshow was a large success not only in the sense that it raised money for the Wings of Dreams Museum, but because it brought history to life for hundreds of people.

Here are some pictures from the airshow:
Nehemiah was allowed to climb up through the cockpit, and look out of the hatch on top!
Both Nehemiah and Joseph were able to climb into the B-24's cockpit, and sit in the pilots seat.
One of the most popular planes at the airshow was the A-10 Warthog!
Most of the family made it out to see the airshow.

Wet Weather

2010-01-21T20:02:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, we received over an 1.5 inches of rain. (most likely over 2 inches) The weather was a welcome change from the freezing temperatures we've had recently. Here are a few pictures from after the storm:

About an inch of water covered most of the front yard!

The walk next to the water garden was flooded also.

My Lego diver was equally amazed with the amount of water covering the yard!

A Recipe from Elijah!
Our family has enjoyed an abundance of fruit from friends and neighbors. We have been given several bags--enough to make several pitchers of juice. Elijah recently made "Fruit Soda" from a recipe he found:

Fruit Soda (a.k.a Citrus Punch)

Ingredients:
1/3 Gallon pitcher
1 and 1/2 c. sugar
1 pouch lemon-lime flavored unsweetened soft-drink powder. (Unsweetened Kool-aid)
23 and 1/3 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 Liter ginger-ale

Instructions:

In a gallon sized (or larger) pitcher, stir together sugar and water until dissolved. Mix in drink powder and pineapple juice. Store in freezer until it becomes partially frozen. (Like a slushy) Enjoy!

Quite Cold in Keystone

2010-01-13T21:06:00.005-05:00

Keystone Has gotten quite cold recently!

A few days ago, the temperature dropped below 20 degrees for a short while (at night) It was ideal weather for creating more icicles! I set out the sprinkler in the water garden at 9:00 and it ran all night. The next morning, the amount of ice/icicles was amazing! My personal favorite "ice-sculpture" was the pine needle that happened to be standing up, and got encased in ice!

The large bush near the front walk was filled to the core with large icicles, some of which were over 5 inches long. The amazing thing about them, is that it took two days before all of them melted off!

The basins in the water garden glazed over, but the water continued to run over the top of the ice. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy the cold weather, especially with ice!
Some friends of ours gave us stone to put around the water garden, and ice glazed all over that as well--some areas up to an inch thick.

May you have a blessed winter season this year!

-Written By Joseph [for the Cook Family] Jan 13, 2010.

A Cookhouse Christmas

2009-12-25T19:50:00.003-05:00

This Christmas was delightfully festive and busy. Abigail has been very sweet, and especially enjoyed opening her Christmas presents. It was evident that she liked the shiny wrapping paper just as much as the presents themselves! Ezra had never built a gingerbread house before, and did not understand that we were supposed to eat the house after we built it--not while we built it. As soon as he had finished making a gingerbread man to go near the house, he promptly sat down in his highchair and started to pray for his food! Anne gently explained that we "save the house", and gave him some candy to eat instead. Anna enjoys playing with her new toy food, and looks forwards to sharing her toys with her friends. She and Ezra currently take trips to the "store" (Nehemiah's room) to buy food for her "children"(her many dolls) Daniel, Nehemiah, Noah and I have immensely enjoyed reading the many books we got for Christmas, and have received enough books to do so for a while. We enjoy every minute we spend in a book, but we treasure more the time we spend with our siblings. We all pray that you have a Merry Christmas this year, and that the spirit of Christmas will stay in your hearts year round.

-Joseph Cook, on behalf of the rest of the Cook Family.

2009 CAP Awards Banquet

2009-12-13T13:25:00.003-05:00

(above) Daniel, Nehemiah, and Joseph at the Civil Air Patrol Awards Banquet.

Though the air outside was crisp and cold, the atmosphere inside the building was one of warmth and cheer. As the many families which make up Gainesville Composite Squadron gradually assembled at the various tables in the large hall, the 2009 GCS Awards Banquet began.

The guest speaker was Maj. Craig Heitzler, USAF. He spoke to the cadets about his varied experiences with ROTC, and about what it means to succeed. He earnestly stressed the importance of having a career objective, and working towards that goal with the fullest of strength. In his closing statements, he reminded everyone that we must remember the veterans who have preserved America’s freedoms, because without them, we would not be here.

There were distinguished guests at the banquet, which included Col. Phil Newman, and Col. Ramon Waldrop, who were both US Army Air Corps Ret. WWII bomber pilots. Both men gladly shared their stories with the many cadets who met them, and helped present a few awards.

A small table, set for one, with an empty seat sat prominently in the front of the room. It was set with many symbolic items—but its purpose was to remind us that many soldiers never returned from battle. Numerous soldiers are listed as Missing in Action, or Prisoners of War. They must be remembered for the bravery they showed, honored for their sacrifices, and their legacy forever enshrined in the memory of every American who enjoys the simple, yet extremely significant freedoms in the USA.

There were many awards for deserving cadets and senior members. One of the most significant awards was the 100% attendance award, presented to C/Maj. Timothy Lhota, and his father 1LT Rich Lhota. They have attended 100% of meetings and special activities for 2009, and have both received this award for the past three years! The night was filled with promotions and awards. Six Cadet Airmen/NCOs and one Cadet Officer were promoted that night. (See list below for promotions/awards)

Gainesville Composite Squadron is like none other. The siblings, friends, family, and cadets make a squadron one that will never be forgotten, because of the leaders that are made, and the memories created. Every year is a new opportunity, and with an effort of teamwork, our squadron will once again succeed in reaching new heights.

Both Daniel and Joseph were promoted at the banquet. Daniel was promoted to Cadet Major, and Joseph was promoted to Cadet Master Sergeant. Joseph also received the “Squadron NCO of the year”. (NCO means: “non commissioned officer”) Our whole family was able to attend!

How old is Abigail?

2009-12-07T15:19:00.001-05:00

Many of you have voted on how old you think Abigail is. She is currently 7 months, and 2 days old! 42% of you were correct, and the rest of you were close! A post regarding the upcoming Civil Air Patrol Squadron Banquet (on Thursday) will be posted Friday or Saturday night.
-Joseph

Sandhill Cranes

2009-12-01T19:55:00.002-05:00

Sand-Hill Cranes

Earlier this morning, around 10 a.m, I was pulling Anna and Ezra in a wagon around the yard. Suddenly I heard a sound overhead. It reminded me of a dinosaur sound from the movies. Above me, were two large birds, flying south. I thought they might be herons, but I wasn’t quite sure. After bringing Anna and Ezra inside, I decided to research the birds I saw. Here is what I learned.

What I had seen, was a Sandhill crane. Sand hill cranes are fascinating birds. They are the most common of the world’s cranes. Sandhill Cranes are huge birds with wingspan of 5 to 6 feet! They live in wetlands of North America, and Siberia, where they feast on plants, grains, mice, snakes, insects and even worms. Because they enjoy plants the most, they often come into conflict with farmers. Every winter when the cold winds begin to sweep the marshes, large groups of cranes take to the air, to begin their arduously long migratory journey to Florida, Texas, Utah, California, and as far away as Mexico!
When Sandhill Cranes choose a mate, they are remain with the mate for their entire life. Two chicks are raised at a time, and parents take turns incubating the eggs. When the eggs hatch, the mother tends to the nest, while the father keeps away menacing creatures such as foxes, or humans. One interesting expression of harmony expressed by cranes, is the “unison call”. This call, is produced by birds near each other, and is a sycronished duet, which reinforces the bonds between a male and female crane. That “unison call” is the sound we heard when the Sandhill Cranes flew over our yard.
Sandhill Cranes are unique birds. Their example of commitment should be a reminder to us, and their uniqueness points us to a brilliant and loving Creator. I was privileged to be able to see such fascinating birds!

Sources:
This is where I found information on the sandhill crane:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/sandhill-crane.html

You can listen to the sandhill crane call, here: http://www.bakersanctuary.org/media/SandhillUnisonCall.mp3

Christmas Lights (2)

2009-11-28T20:02:00.003-05:00

Today was the final day of outside Christmas decorating. Hammering and sawing filled the air as Papa and some of the boys busily constructed the new manger scene. From a vantage point up on the roof, I could see them below. I was helping Daniel carefully string the Christmas lights, along the last few places we had missed. In a short time, we had finished the lights, and Papa and the boys had finished the Manger scene. Daniel did a few last-minute tweaks, and the lights were up! All we had to do, was wait for darkness to arrive. Shortly after we finished watching the Gator game, we went outside to turn on the Christmas lights. When the whole family had assembled on the lawn, Daniel turned them on.

It was a beautiful sight! From the road, our home looked like a Gingerbread house! Mama and Papa had purchased a Christmas Tree at Ace Hardware Center. We put it up, and it almost touched the roof! We loaded down the tree with ornaments, while the a cheerful blaze issuing forth from the fireplace, warmed us all. Afterwards, everyone (even Ezra and Anna) enjoyed a small cup of eggnog. We are thankful to all be able to enjoy this Christmas Season together as a healthy, happy family.
-Joseph

Christmas Lights (1)

2009-11-27T21:23:00.003-05:00

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. It is the day when we always put up Christmas lights, and decorate the house. We always exert a team effort, and work together to get things done. Daniel and I were on the roof putting up the lights, and the boys were busy working on building a manger scene. Daniel and I were able to put up several strands, using Duck Tape and Bricks! We are working on outlining the house with the colorful lights. When we finish, it looks like a Gingerbread house! Tomorrow we will finish the rest of the lights, and I will post a picture of the house at night.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-27T21:13:00.002-05:00

On Thanksgiving day we woke up early to begin our "Thanksgiving Pilgrimage". Every Thanksgiving Day for as long as I can remember, we travel from Keystone all the way down to Fort Myers. Papa's family lives down there, and every year we meet at our Grand-Aunt's house. (Papa's, Mother's, Aunt) We left our house at 6:30, and arrived at sometime around 11:45. The meal was better than expected! There was a plump turkey, warm cornbread, buttered rolls, and much more scrumptious food! Afterwards the adults stayed inside, and most of the children went out to play the traditional game of Hide-and-seek, in Aunt Abby's backyard. The rest of the evening was spent both indoors and out, playing games with cousins and relatives. Every Thanksgiving Day is a memorable experience. It seems almost like a step back in time, because everything is almost the same as last year! We headed home that evening playing Christmas Music (since Thanksgiving was technically over) and arrived home around 10:30. We enjoyed every minute of the day, which was spent with a mixture of friends and relatives. In the Cook house, Thanksgiving is a day that we always look forward to, and enjoy immensely.

Fall work-day

2009-11-21T18:37:00.005-05:00

Early this morning, not long after KP was finished, we began working outdoors. I [Joseph] Started cleaning Anna's "playhouse" with a bucket of bleach and a scrub rush. The playhouse had collected a good assortment of bugs, and dirt over the summer! Nehemiah, Noah, and Elijah raked large piles of leaves out front. Daniel burned the leaves in the burn barrel. He and I also burned a lot of sticks, woods, and logs. We also burned an old chair. It was engulfed in the roaring inferno, and was barely distinguishable as a chair! Daniel called it the "Hot seat"!

Mrs. Stanley called over, and requested some of our pine needles for her garden, (to act as mulch) so the boys and I got on the job quickly. With permission of the neighbors, we raked much of their yard free of pine needles. We managed to create such a huge pile, that Noah and I decided to create a face out of the massive pile of needles. We nicknamed him, the "Gum-drop" man!

Needless to say, many people looked at it as they drove by! Later, some of the Stanleys came by to pick up the "Gum-drop man", and we disassembled him. The funny thing is--our neighbors never came outside and saw the "Gum-drop Man"! That is why I took pictures. Though the day was long, it seemed to pass quickly with all the work we did. We were able to rake a good portion of the yard, and burn a good amount of sticks and branches. The most fun thing though, was being able to work with my brothers in the cool fall weather.

Seaworld Trip '09

2009-11-17T11:06:00.003-05:00

Yesterday (September 16th) Anne, Papa, Elijah and I [Noah] went to Sea World in Orlando. We stopped at a Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Elijah and I got kids meals, and Papa and Anne got sandwiches. After lunch we went to Sea World. When we got there we got our tickets and went straight to "Manta" the new roller coaster. Papa, Anne, and I rode one it. Sometimes Papa would stay down below with Elijah, and sometimes Anne would. I rode on manta five times (with Papa twice, and with Anne three times.) Before we left, Joseph gavbe us a scavenger hunt to do there. We were supposed to find [quite a few things]. We had a lot of fun doing the scavenger hunt. It got us moving a lot! At dolphin cove we touched a dolphin. He felt like a rubbery ball. We went to the alligator place, where we saw two alligators. RIght next to it was the Mannatees. Anne, Papa, and I went on Kraken. Papa nad Anne went together in the front row, while Elijah and I got smashed pennies. We also went to shark encounter, where we went in a glass tunnel with sharks swimming all around. "Stingray Lagoon" was really fun, because you could feed Stingrays. We had fun on a roller coaster rcalled "Shamu Express". The fun playground was called "Shamu's happy harbor". WHen we got ready to leave, we rode Manta two last times. Papa took our picture [with his camera phone] at the light house and the penguin wall. We got in the car, and drove to Bass Pro SHops and looked around. THen we went to Burger King, and then we got gas. As we went home I thought about the days events. It was so fun to go to Sea World with Papa, Anne and Elijah.

-Written By Noah Cook
-Posted online by Joseph Cook

A Pilgrim Thanksgiving

2009-11-11T14:42:00.007-05:00

Pictured here is the entire Cook Family along with 3 other homeschooling familes.
Baby Abigail is being held by Mama in the back row. Ezra is standing in front of Noah. Anna is in the front in the dark green dress. Elijah is holding the bow and arrow in the front row. Nehemiah is standing behind Noah and Elijah. Joseph is in the back row in the gray wide-brimmed hat. Daniel is in the back row with the blue tam. Papa is standing in front of Mama, in the dark blue jacket. And I am standing beside Joseph in the back row. Last weekend, we and a few other homeschool families gathered together to celebrate Thanksgiving, in our period costumes. Anne finished the costumes just in time! (The night before) Everyone gathered outside to eat both normal, and old-fashioned food. Aafterwards, the girls enjoyed making corn-husk dolls, while the men and boys target practiced shooting both clay pigeons, and stationary targets. Everyone had a great time, and looks forward to doing it again next year.
Daniel and Papa were among the many (including myself) who enjoyed using the shotgun.
Our friends (L to R) Mr. Stanley, Mr. Evan, and Ms. Katie, tend to the fire, over which vensison stew was cooked!
By the end of the day, even the littlest "Pilgrims" were tired--but they day was well spent. Days such as this one, live on as cherised memories.

We're back onto our normal schedule of posting! There should be at least one new post (or more) around the middle of the week.

Medieval Fair

2009-09-20T21:11:00.004-04:00

On September 19, 2009, we hosted the 1st Annual Medieval Fair. Activities included: "Fencing", Archery, "Jousting", and Croquet. There was plenty of fun (and food) for everyone. It was a huge success, with over 5 families represented. Below are pictures from the event.

Indian Teepees

2009-09-16T08:32:00.005-04:00

Recently, Elijah has been learning about Indians in his history book. One of the required activities, was to make a teepee. He also wrote a paper titled "The Indians", shown below.
The indians, which were on the move most of the time, lived on the plains of North America. They followed the buffalo herds. The teepees which were made out of buffalo skins were sewn by women. They draped the hides carefully over poles.

Fire Station Training: 9.15.09

2009-09-16T08:23:00.005-04:00

(Pictured above is Engine 10, with the sun setting in the background)
Last night Daniel, Papa, and I, went to KHVFD (Keystone Heights Volunteer Fire Department) for the Volunteer training meeting. Mr. Chip had planned a hose drill out near McCrae. Upon arrival at the site (We Explorers rode in the Big Van) We were able to observe the Volunteers laying down hose all over a field, in order to turbodraft. Turbodrafting, is when they take water out of a lake to put it onto a fire--but it is much more complicated than it sounds!

(Pictured above, is Papa, getting the Turbodraft off the top of 101.)
After they had finished laying everything down, We Explorers climbed on top of 101, and were able to use the water cannon! Lastly, and most importantly, we packed all of the hoses up! There were quite a few lines layed out, but with all the help from both Volunteers and Explorers, it didn't take that long--and everyone was ready to head back to the station, where Ms. Joanie and some others, had cooked up a great meal!
(one of the Explorers using the water cannon)

2009-09-14T20:39:00.008-04:00

I woke up at 6:30, so I would have time to eat. Mr. Geiger arrived at around 8:00, to take us out to the Church Tennis court, where there was a minor sinkhole. The cour sunk in, because it was built on top of a former burn pile, which was buried. When the pile of burnt wood started rotting, the weight of the court pushed down on the void, and sunk in. When the fill- dirt first arrived, we realized that there would be a lot left over. After putting less than half in the hole, Mr. Tim had to start filling up the trailer. We had to help by shoveling dirt into the diggers bucket. When we dropped the dirt off by the baseball field, none of it would slide out, despite the fact that the trailer bed lifted up to a 45 degree angle--so we shoeveled it. The second time through, we put the dirt in the dumptruck--and that worked quite well! (no extra shoveling) After pulling up some more asphalt on the side of the court, where there were imperfections, we took a load of it to one of the Geiger properties. Earlier, we had taken some over to the Burkhardts. After a hard day of work, the sinkhole was filled in, with fill-dirt, and awaiting the flowable-fill/asphalt--and, if I may say so myself, looked quite professionaly done! -JosephC

2009-09-08T09:19:00.006-04:00

August was very busy! We were given free tickets to a Suns Baseball Game in Jacksonville. We had a very exciting time during the game, and especially enjoyed the fireworks after the game. Anna and Ezra have stayed busy around the house too--doing everything from raiding Jelly jars to "playing" the piano. The family also began schoolwork. Above is a "recap" of August, in a few pictures. -JosephC

Allies vs. Cherokees #2

2009-08-16T14:27:00.004-04:00

On Saturday evening, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah, Papa, Ezra, and a handful of friends, gathered in the front yard to play a 3-inning softball game. Despite the dark clouds that loomed above, the game began. In the first inning, the Allies scored four runs, and the Cherokees scored three. In the second inning, it began to pour rain, but the players kept on going! The Allies scored three points on a homer by CJ, and the Cherokees scored one. In the third and final inning, the Allies scored two, while the Cherokees scored one. Therefore, the game ended 9-5. Most of the players enjoyed the game--as it was very close, and competetive. This was the second official "Simply Softball" game. The Allies and Cherokees have both won one. The one with the most of five games, will win the season title. We are looking for players in our next game sometime next month, so feel free to drop us a call if you are interested! -JosephC

Above is the Allies' logo, Designed by Joseph Cook. The Allies team was created in the Summer of '09.

Daniel's New Toolbox and Screwdrivers

2009-08-07T22:59:00.002-04:00

This is a picture of the Craftsman toolbox and screwdriver set Daniel got with the money he got for his birthday.

2009-08-07T15:40:00.001-04:00

Here's a few more pictures from our trip to Cocoa. -Joseph

Hello from Cocoa!

2009-07-30T13:47:00.003-04:00

Hello from Cocoa Beach! We traveled down here on Wedensday, to visit Papa, who is here on business.

We've been hanging out in the hotel room, a lot. Abigail enjoys herself very much! While Papa is in his class during the day, we go down to the pool or beach. At the beach, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah, and I (Joseph) got to Boogie Board on the waves--it was fun! I will try and post more photos soon.

2009-06-18T12:53:00.004-04:00

Last Monday, at 9:00 in the morning, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah, Papa, and Pappy, were outside, ready to play a softball game. Tate, Jake, and Billy (our neighbors) also came over. The game was a lot of fun--we had 3 innings...this is a short video of a few pictures we took.

Nehemiah runs Front yard Football and Daniel runs Simply Softball. The teams were called the Cherokees and the Allies. The Cherokees were Daniel, Nehemiah, Noah, and Billy. The Allies were Joseph, Elijah, Tate and Jake. Pappy threw out the opening pitch, which was also the Simply Softball inaugural pitch, and the Simply Softball 2009 Season opener pitch. Daniel and Joseph (The team captains) agreed to a coin flip to determine who had home-field advantage. The Allies won the coin flip. The following is a inning by inning summary.

1st Inning:

The Allies really put on a show. They held the Cherokees at one run and made four runs.

2nd Inning:
Both teams played real hard resulting in the offensive and defensive plays of the game. For the Offensive play of the game Billy hit a Grand Slam racking up four runs for the team. For the Defensive play of the game Tate caught one of Daniel's fouls. The Cherokees made eleven runs and the Allies made seven runs. This brought the score to Cherokees 12 Allies 11.

3rd Inning:
The Cherokees made twelve runs. Then the Allies came and made six runs. This brought the score to Cherokees 24 Allies 17.

It was a close game and there has been much talk about it between the players. All the players are practicing and both team captains are working on their strategy for next game.

Simply Softball does not allow intentional strike outs or intentional walks. The goal is to get the outs through fielding the ball.

Coffee Weather

2009-06-18T12:45:00.003-04:00

Today around lunchtime, we had a thunderstorm. It rained a lot! I went outside and took a picture--water was running around the base of our tree, and the watergarden was overflowing. Whenever it rains a lot, Mama calls it "Coffee-Weather" and we always turn on the Coffee Maker!

Rain, Lightning and Hail!!

2009-06-13T19:56:00.004-04:00

This evening, Papa, Daniel, Noah, and I, went to Goldhead State Park to help the firefighters pack up after a Motorcycle Trip/Picnic. When we were nearing the Park Entrance, the rain started pouring down--we could barely see the road, because our windshield wipers do not work! We slowly pulled into the entrance, and the Ranger waved us through--probably because she didn't want to get wet! As kept driving, we suddenly heard "pinging" sounds on the roof! Papa said "It's hailing!" We pulled over with our hazards on, because the rain and hail were pouring down in sheets. When the rain seemed to have subsided slightly, I hopped out of the car real quick, and grabbed a piece of hail. It was about the size of a marble. For a few more minutes (about 5) Once the rain had thorougly subsided, Papa drove to the pavilion where all the Motorcycle/Firefighter people were waiting. While we pulled in we saw lightning, and immediately after it a loud peal of thunder. Papa noticed an orange glow as he was looking through the windshield. Once we got into the pavilion, they told us that they saw lightning strike the big van! They said when it hit the car, sparks flew everywhere! We didn't notice it that much when we were in the car though. (Except for Papa) No damage was done to the car, and after we helped pack up, we traveled home uneventfully!

Abigail and Friends

2009-06-10T22:05:00.001-04:00

Anna had all her babies out on the bed, and Abigail was in the middle of them, sleeping!

New Door for the Garoom

2009-06-10T21:31:00.003-04:00

Recently, Mr. Gordon installed a new Door for the Garoom. (Daniel and my room, named so because it was a former Garage, now turned room) The first step was to rip out the old door...that was done quite easily! There was indication of termites near the bottom frame, but when the FL Pest Control Men showed up, they confirmed that it was not active.

Then, Mr. Gordon (and Daniel) spent the next two hours installing the door. It was a little harder than usual, because it did not fit exactly, so some customization had to happen.

The final product looks great, and it is air/water tight!

SCUBA Diving Class

2009-06-07T17:32:00.004-04:00

Last Week, I (Joseph) went to a SCUBA dive class at a friend's house. we took a 9-Chapter video course, where we learned the basics of diving. After finding gear that fit us, we practiced diving in the pool. After we had the essentials down, we went to Manatee Springs for our first real dive. It was really pretty! Fish, Frogs, Snakes, and Turtles, were a few animals we saw while underwater. We dove to about 30 feet, for 20 minutes. The next day, we dove in Catfish Sink. We went all the way down to 42 feet! It was really pretty, because there were rock walls going up on all sides. After about 30 minutes or so, we exited the water, and our dive teacher dropped me off at Red Lobster, where I met up with Mama, and the rest of the family. The course was a lot of fun, and now that I know how to dive, Papa and I will dive together sometime.

Who's on top?

2009-06-06T17:21:00.004-04:00

Today I (Daniel) built a complicated wooden train track set-up. Beneath are a few photographs of it. I have entitled it "Who's on top?" It was built for Anna and Ezra to play with. If you look you will notice that every raised bridge has a track going under it. The entire track only has one dead end! If you were an engineer of a wooden train on theis track a map, gps, and anti-collision technology would all be VERY USEFULL.

"Who's on top?" aerial image version I.

"Who's on top?" aerial image version II.

Encyclopedia junction with three levels of track!

Looking through the bottom tunnel of encyclopedia junction.

The older you get the more complicated the tracks will become!

Free Books (by Anne Cook)

2009-05-22T19:18:00.007-04:00

Paperbackswap is a wonderful website for everyone! I use it constantly! You can earn "credits" for your books, and use those "credits" like money, to purchase other books from the website. Audio books, VHS tapes, storybooks, textbooks, devotional books, journals, and much more is available from Paperbackswap!
And, when you first join, you get Two free credits!!! All you have to pay in order to earn a free book is the shipping costs for one of the books someone requests from you. Paperbackswap is a valuable resource for homeschoolers, book collectors, and everyone who enjoys reading.

Join today with my referral by clicking the large button to the right, or selecting a link in this post.

Feel free to email me with any questions at: cook01.fl@comcast.net
~Anne

Rainy Day

2009-05-18T10:53:00.002-04:00

On Wedensday, we went out on the front porch to look at the rain. Anna and Ezra went out into it, in their raincoats. Ezras was a bit oversized, but he definetly enjoyed himself. We thank God for all the rain we've been getting these past few days--it is most certainly a blessing! -JosephC

Dessert Night for Mothers

2009-05-18T10:40:00.002-04:00

The Alliance Men's Group, from our Church, Friendship Bible, planned a dessert night for Mothers, Sunday night, following the Evening service. The Dessert went well---Several mothers attended, and everyone, (including the Alliance Men and Alliance Kids) Got enough to eat.

2009-05-15T16:56:00.003-04:00

Pictures of Abigail at the hospital and at home. Abigail is now over 1 week old, and doing fine!

Abigail Lillian Cook!

2009-05-05T10:28:00.004-04:00

Our newest little sister, Abigail Lillian Cook, arrived today on May 5th, 2009 around 5pm! She weighs 8.6 lb! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! Mother and baby are healthy and well.

Church Workday

2009-05-02T17:25:00.002-04:00

Today was the Alliance Men's Church Workday. Papa, Daniel, Nehemiah, Noah, Elijah, and I attended. Several other men from church were there. We laid carpet, cleaned walls,etc. It was a lot of work--but it was worth it. Below is a succession of photos, showing the carpet being laid in the lobby. -Joseph

2009-04-27T11:46:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, Daniel and I went over to a friend's house to fix "The Duck" (our yellow Isuzu) Last week, it had died on Anne, while she was driving home from the Watson Center. She was able to pull it into the Church parking lot, and get a ride home. On Sunday, we found out that there was no Transmission fluid in it at all! We added two quarts, but it dumped it out as soon as we turned the car on. Our friend towed it to his house, where we raised it up, and assesed the problem, and it wasn't hard to find, either.

A tube, through which the transmission fluid flows, had popped out of it's connecter. We were able to replace the tube, and get the Duck running again. We also fixed a few smaller problems using Ductape!

Garden

2009-04-24T14:23:00.002-04:00

Yesterday a friend from church, came over to help us till a place for our second garden. (We have had one in the past, but the is the first one on a close to large scale production) We tilled and leveled, and later in the day, we added fertilizer and tilled it again! The place we were tilling, was a former burn site (for the burn-barrell) and gun range. We found 4 small toy soldiers, one giant toy soldier, a toy alligator, at least 5 soda cans, and lots of roots! Some roots were so thick, that we had to chop them with an axe! We finally finished, and later that evening, while Anne, Daniel, Anna, and I were at AWANA, Papa and the younger boys planted a few varites of squash, tomatoes and peppers! We hope to plant some more things once we go to Ace and buy seeds.

Noah's Sword

2009-04-24T14:23:00.001-04:00

Noah recently bought a "English Adventurers" Sword from Vision Forum. He was able to purchase the Sword with birthday money. He has had fun playing with it, and looks forward to fencing, when Nehemiah gets his.

Piano(s) on the move

2009-04-21T08:00:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, we finally moved our big, wooden, 100 year old piano. Mr. Hector came over with his moving truck, and using some of his equipment and a lot of effort, we got it in the truck. Our neighbor across the street, was more than happy to take the piano off of our hands. Mr. Hector let Noah and I ride in his truck! Getting the piano out of the moving-truck was a little bit harder, but with the help of Papa, Daniel, our neighbor, and Mr. Hector, it was rolled down the ramp, and into the house safely. Our new piano, which we purchased from Lipham Music in Gainesville, is a lot of fun. It is digital, so it has headphones, which allows us to practice any time of the day. It has a full keyboard, and weighted keys, so it still feels like the old piano. It is also a lot smaller which allows more light into the room.
-Posted By Joseph Cook

Stove Clock Malfunctioning 3-20-2009

2009-03-20T11:45:00.004-04:00

Fighting more fire!

2009-03-02T11:05:00.005-05:00

Today Caleb Eades had come over to go with us to the Keystone Heights Volunteer Fire Department business meeting to give a talk on the fire explorer conference we went to. Just as we were finishing dinner a call for a woods fire came through! Caleb, Papa, and I ran on out to the white Isuzu Trooper (literally) and headed for the station. Once there Caleb and I were given the chance to respond in Tender 109 (The biggest truck that holds all the water). We drove through town on our way to the fire. We passed Mrs. Eades with big smiles on our faces. Once on scene we were told to stay and wait in the tender. During our almost hour long wait Mrs. Eades came by and took some photographs. After almost an hour Papa, who had responded in Brush 10, came by and picked Caleb and I up. Before we left we refilled Brush 10 and then packed in and drove into the Lake Geneva lake bed. By the time we got down to the fire the Division of Forestry was plowed a fire line around the area that was on fire. We drove to the area that was already burnt and sat there in the truck oohing and ahhing at the flames and enjoying breathing in and smelling the smoke. We backed up a little and watched as the firefighters took drip torches and set fire to the rest of the brush inside of the fire area. After it burned out (Which was quite spectacular) we drove around while Mr. Chris Seymour started mop up. Just when we were about to help mop up we ran out of water. We went back and refilled. Once in the lake bed again Caleb and I sat down on the water tank of the truck and Mr Seymour passed us the hose. Caleb and I enjoyed taking turns at the hose and driving around the burned out area. Once out of water we went back and refilled. Mr. Seymour then had us roll up the hose and we climbed back into the truck and went back to the station. On the way back to the station we got a lesson in refilling the tender, which was quite educational and enjoyable. WE then rolled up the hose, walked to the station, and helped wash Woods 10. Shortly thereafter (About two and a half hours after first responding) we went into the station for the business meeting. Our briefing to the volunteers was postponed and instead Papa gave a short summary of the events at the conference and competition. We all enjoyed the call and had a whole lot of fun riding on the back of the brush truck. The most impressive part was watching the flames in the darkness of night.

Ezra's First Sentence

2009-03-02T11:05:00.003-05:00

The answer to the poll: "Which of the following do you think was Ezra's first "real" Sentence?": 1. Thank you Papa,(41%) 2.Please eat (29%) 3. No thank you,(29%) 4. "Please, Mama" (0%) The correct answer is: "Thank you Papa" He learned this sentence on our "up North" Cross Country trip. (Every time we pull into a resteraunt we say "Thank you Papa!" so Ezra caught on easily! -Joseph

Angel's Diner

2009-03-01T21:14:00.006-05:00

On Friday, February 27, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell treated Nehemiah, Joseph, and Anne to dinner at Angel's diner in Palatka Florida.
Founded in 1932, this small silver capsule looking place, contains a narrow walkway, small kitchenette, and tables and chairs on either side.
The menu had a variety of tempting choices.

Mr. & Mrs. Campbell ordered the classic American hamburgers. Nehemiah and Anne both ordered a cheeseburger platter, which came with fries, a drink, and onion rings. We ordered a "Pusalow" to share, a special milkshake type drink made of crushed ice, malted milk, ice cream, and chocolate. It had a curious taste, and was enjoyed by all.
Joseph ordered a ONE POUND hamburger! It hardly fit on the plate!

It was a very special memorable day for all of us.

Finally fighting fire!!!

2009-02-23T19:20:00.004-05:00

After a year and a half of waiting it finally happened! I have been an Explorer for one and a half years and I was really looking forwards to a brush fire I could help mop up. Explorers are not allowed to fight and active fire but we are allowed to help mop up after a fire. Today when the brush fire came through I was sitting down doing my Algebra and Papa was outside working on his motorcycle. I immediately jumped up when I heard the magic words "Station 10 Volunteers" and "Brush fire." When we got to the station most of the trucks were missing. However in a few minutes another volunteer, Mr. Chris Seymour, and his father showed up. Mr. Seymour chose to roll in the 4x4 pumper known as Attack 10. Soon we were charging through the light in town and down the road with LIGHTS, SIREN, AND HORN. We drove on down some residential paved roads and then on to some bumpy residential dirt roads. Once on scene we saw the smoke and a line of three or four inch tall flames. Papa was all suited up so he engaged the fire while I suited up. Once the flames were out I was allowed to help drag hose for Papa in the mop-up. Then Papa gave me the hose and I got to mop up under his direction! We ran out of water and were sent back to the station to refill. By this time the fire was out and the brush trucks that were there could handle it. At the station I was given a hands on lesson on filling up Attack 10's water tank. Then another call came through. This time we passed our house on the way to the fire. Mr. Seymour sounded a long horn blast for the boys. We were cancelled before we got to the fire and returned to the station. This great series of events made for quite a memorable time that will always remain as my first fire call where I got to help mop-up the fire.

-Daniel R. H. Cook

Explorer Conference

2009-02-16T20:27:00.007-05:00

This weekend Papa, Daniel, and Anne went down to an Explorer/Fire Cadet conference/competition in Coral Springs Florida at the Coral Springs FIre Academy. They left Friday in The Keystone Heights Volunteer Fire Department's Squad 10 accompanied by Caleb Eades and his mother Laura Eades. After the long drive down they slept the night in a classroom at the fire academy. Saturday after breakfast they completed the conference registration and were of to the days events which included vehichel extrication, hose drills, technical rescue, rapelling, and a class on SWAT medics and dive rescue.

Daniel and Caleb agreed that they liked extrication best of all. After all, how often do you get to puncture tires, smash windshiels and rear windows, and cut up cars in the name of training! (Daniel is on the left of the photo Caleb is in the center of the photo and an explorer form another post is on the right of the photo holding the cutters.)

The ground based monitor was fun to control!

The technical rescue included lifting Caleb up high in a stokes basket!

After Technical rescue Daniel, Caleb, and Anne all rapelled from the fire tower. After the conference and cleanup the fun began. Blow up toys including a velcro wall, bungee run, and clibming wall were brought in. The activity Daniel enjoyed most was the blow up obstacle course. He and Caleb did it many times and were definentely sore from doing it at full speed a couple dozen times!

Anne and Papa competed in the bungee run!

After the raffle in which Caleb won a t-shirt and acquired a CD carrying case, they watched Fireproof in the room Papa, Daniel, and Caleb were sleeping in. On Sunday they observed the competition before heading for home. Once back at the station Caleb and Daniel washed and vacaumed the Squad.

Authors note:
This is a highly abbreviated account of the action packed weekend and only touches on a few major points.

Homemade Icicles

2009-02-05T06:52:00.010-05:00

Last night, we left a sprinkler on to try and make some icicles...It worked! The bush was partly covered in icicles over an inch long. The bench had a few little tiny ones. The water garden was frozen over (we turned it off last night) and most of the ground had Ice all over it! THe rocks were also covered in ice, not to mention the short bushes too. Here a few pictures:

Bookcases Part 2

2009-02-04T07:45:00.006-05:00

Yesterday,Daniel and I went to Mr. Gordon's again. The day before, we had "conditioned" over 40 bookshelves and resanded them down. "Condition" is a pres-stain applicant, which helps the stain apply evenly once put on. Today we conditioned and stained two bookcases, while Mr. Gordon stained shelves. We also were able to work on our AWANA cars. So far we have spent a total of around 15 hours working on the bookscases/shelves! Below this, is a little video that the Garoom Media Corporation put out (The GMC is run by Daniel and I) called "Swenson's Would Werk". In this episode, he shows how to stain a bookshelf:

-Written by Joseph

Doodle 4 Google Contest

2009-02-04T07:30:00.002-05:00

Google has put out a drawing contest in which normal schools and homeschools may enter. The goal is to draw a logo for the Google website (using the Google symbol) that explains "what you wish for the world". The google website says: "If you're a teacher at a homeschool, you can submit up to two entries for your students." I will defenitely be entering, along with one other sibling.
There are several age groups:

Kindergarten - Grade 3
Grade 4 - Grade 6
Grade 7 - Grade 9
Grade 10 - Grade 12

More information can be found at ://www.google.com/doodle4google/info.html
To register visit: http://doodle4google.appspot.com/register
Prize information is here: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/judging_prizes.html

-Written by Joseph

Bookshelves Part 1

2009-02-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Daniel and I went over to Mr. Gordon Swenson's house, to work on the family bookshelves. All of the bookcases have been assembled and five have been sanded -so Daniel and I have been sanding the bookshelves down. The first day I went over, I sanded One bookcase. The next day, Daniel and I sanded a total of four bookcases. (Two each) Yesterday, we sanded down about 22 shelves (not bookcases-shelves). We still have about 20 left to go! Today we should be going over to sand some more.

-Joseph
Edited By Daniel

Ornament Count/Garoom Update

2009-01-06T11:02:00.001-05:00

Ornament Count

Last night, Daniel, Anne, Nehemiah, and I, counted up the ornaments on the tree, as we took them down. There is a grand total of Approx. 245!!! So on the voting count, 66% of you were right, 14% partially correct, and 19% wrong.
-Joseph Cook

Garoom Update

The "Mr. Pollard shelf" a giant wooden bookshelf, has been removed from the Garoom, and is now by the road with a "free" sign on it. Other furniture will be removed such as the Blue Cubbys, the Little Shelf, and the Rolly Thing. Soon, we will paint the far left wall khaki too. Pictures will follow
-Joseph Cook

The Garoom's Makeover

2009-01-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

This past week, the Garoom has been re-arranged, to prepare for several major changes:

#1: All the walls will be painted a light Khaki, with Olive Drab Trim. (so far, one wall has been painted)
#2: The Garage door will be taken down. (This Saturday, the Stanley family should be coming to remove it)
#3: A floor to ceiling wall will be made to seperate the Garoom, from the current pantry area. (This is more of a long term goal set for Fall)
#4: All the Cook boys will be relocated in the Garoom. (We will be putting in bunk beds, etc. Sometime in the fall hopefully)
#5: The Double doors will be removed, and replaced with a bay window. (Also a long term goal.)

We are well on our way towards finishing up the Garoom, but most of the changes will take place in late summer or early fall. Updates will follow
-Joseph Cook

FYF Cookie Bowl!

2008-12-27T22:01:00.000-05:00

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!!!!!

2008-12-27T18:12:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-24T15:23:00.000-05:00

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.

2008-12-23T09:06:00.001-05:00

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

2008-12-20T19:06:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

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

2008-12-19T21:08:00.000-05:00

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