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Families Again
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Mom Passed Away Last Evening
Mood:  down
Topic: Family
My mom passed away last evening. Thank you all so much for your prayers. We still have the flu in our household. I will post more details later, but there will probably not be any memorial services at this time but there will be a graveside service in Indiana sometime in the spring after the ground has thawed. Please pray also for my sister, Carol. As I said, I will post more later.

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Posted by tink38570 at 10:16 PM CST
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Monday, 14 February 2011
30-Day Marriage Makeover - A First Wild Card Blog Tour Book
Mood:  hug me

We are all still sick at our house, so there will not be much of a comment this time on this book. Unfortunately, because of sickness and my mother's condition, Sarah and I have not been able to work through the book the way that we would like. We are looking forward to completing it in the very near future and I will give you more details then.

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


30-Day Marriage Makeover

Siloam (February 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva | Publicity Coordinator, Book Group | Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





Douglas Weiss, PhD, is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The author of Intimacy, The Seven Love Agreements, and Sex, Men, and God, he is a regular guest on national television (both secular and Christian) as well as radio.



Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Based on principles from his best-selling book Intimacy, Dr. Doug Weiss offers thirty daily teachings for married Christian couples that will help them discover what true intimacy looks like, learn how to overcome the five main roadblocks to intimacy, and help them fall in love all over again.


Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Siloam (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161638140X
ISBN-13: 978-1616381400

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask

for, it will be done for you by my "ather in heaven. "or where

two or three come together in my name, there am ! with them.

—Matthew 18:19–20


Throughout my years of counseling, I have discovered that many marriages lack structures to encourage intimacy. We grow up believing that one day we will get married and live happily ever after. We enter marriage ill equipped for intimacy and are disappointed when our husband or wife doesn’t possess the secret code to intimacy either.


At first marriage is fun as you begin to learn about your spouse, go to work or school, get your first apartment, pick out furniture, go to church, and are physically intimate together without guilt. The sheer complexities of your new life together, along with the many new decisions you must make, can keep you talking and sharing regularly. Slowly and subtly it happens. No one really knows when or where it happens, but something changes within the relationship. You don’t seem to talk as much.


Decisions are not met with the same excitement as when you were first married; instead, they are delegated, then discussed. Purchases become fewer, and sex and life take on a routine. You don’t feel as close but seem just to be living together. What happened? Where did the passion for one another go? Americans believe that people are either passionate or they are not. But this kind of thinking is incorrect. Passion is a dividend of consistent investments made into a relationship. Let’s reflect back a minute to when you were dating. You were selling your spouse on the idea that being married to you was a great idea. Remember the passion you had for your future spouse? Of course you remember the passion, but what you may have forgotten is the foundation of that passion, the priority of the relationship. Do you remember how you “made” time to be together? You planned your days and weeks around each other’s work schedule, including your days off. Those of you who were attending school in another city away from your future spouse, as I was, had the phone bills to prove your passion and priority. In my case, those phone bills took a giant bite out of the little income I made just so I could tell her about my day. If you were a Christian at the time, do you remember how spiritual you were? You prayed together as often as you could and perhaps even read the Bible together. You desired to know God’s will, and you wanted God to help you stay pure and still express your love to one another. Do you remember the gratitude you had for the smallest things your spouse did for you? ,is was especially true for me when Lisa cooked for me. I was so grateful! I 5lled her life with a constant stream of praise. Do you remember when you thought she was so smart and attractive and had so much potential? You believed in her and regularly encouraged her.


Understand that passion is a result of setting priorities. Too many people attempt to get back the passion instead of getting back their priorities. Once you get the priorities back, the passion follows and grows

naturally. What priorities? I will discuss priorities shortly, but before I do, I want to share an analogy I often use in counseling sessions. Many couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to 5xing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. When you go to the doctor or emergency room. The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast. The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen. The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your

marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of

the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.” I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.


These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies. They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments. When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.


I love her and really like her as well. This passion is the fruit of discipline that is born out of a heart of love.


THE THREE DAILIES

1. Prayer

Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.” Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage.


Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance

of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees—it says when two agree. Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,

but as a couple as well. Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well. Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular

position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential. As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a

check by which of the following statements you agree with.


* We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.


* We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy. The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day. Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular activities, church, and fellowshipping with family and friends.


Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.


Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.

Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.


In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire. Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her. Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can

nourish.


I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage. couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to fixing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. Then you go to the doctor or emergency room.


The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast.


The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen.


The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.”


I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of

the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.


These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies.


They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a

level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments.


When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.


I love her and really like her as well. ,is passion is the fruit of discipline that is born out of a heart of love.


THE THREE DAILIES


1. Prayer

Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.”


Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your

marriage.


Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance

of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees— it says when two agree.


Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,

but as a couple as well.


Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our

intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well.


Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential.


As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a check by which of the following statements you agree with.


We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.


We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy.


The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day.


Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular

activities, church, and fellowshipping with family and friends.


Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.


Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.


Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.


In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire.


Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her.

Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can nourish.


I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage.






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Posted by tink38570 at 8:46 PM CST
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Sunday, 13 February 2011
Thank You for all of your Prayers!
Mood:  down
Topic: Family
There is still no change in my mom. We hope to travel to New Jersey sometime next week if we can. There are now three of us that have the flu. Joshua was the first and is now on the mend. Jacob has been running a low grade fever but we have been able to keep it down with medication. Hopefully tomorrow we will call the doctor and he can prescribe something for him. I've been doctoring myself with over the counter meds. Please pray that we will all get over this and that John Allen and Sarah will not get it. We DO appreciate all of your prayers!

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Posted by tink38570 at 10:10 PM CST
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Saturday, 12 February 2011
Psalm 139
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: General

I've been lying around all day today. It seems that I have caught the same flu bug that Joshua caught. Not much to do but sleep and read. I've been reading a great biography of Iris Blue called Iris: Trophy of Grace. It's a book that I received from the First Wild Card book tour folks. The official review isn't due until early March and, believe me, I will be saying a lot about this fantastic book. In the meantime, here is a bit of scripture that was included in one of the chapters. I won't go into detail about why it was there or what the chapter is about, I'm just going to share it as is. It spoke to me again today as it has on many an occasion before.

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 1 You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.

 


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Posted by tink38570 at 10:16 PM CST
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Friday, 11 February 2011
The Curiosity Files - Zombie Fire Ants - Perfect for
Mood:  spacey
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

Let me give you all one quick caveat to this review. First, Joshua, the main one using this study, had the flu. Next, my sister called and said that my mom's health is failing quickly. Nothing to be unexpected, she is 88 years old (I think Smile) and has been in failing health for a couple of years. Still, it is not fun news. So, my brain is mush, however, I don't want to get behind on reviews, and, as you will read, I know enough about The Curiosity Files to be able to write an informed review. Besides, it keeps my mind busy. I will write an update, though, when Joshua gets feeling better and we can complete the study. Now for the review.

Photobucket

A few months ago a request went out to all of the TOS Homeschool Crew First Mates for proofreaders for a new type of Unit Study that TOS was putting together called The Curiosity Files. The name caught my attention and I'm always looking for things for my kids to use, so I decided to give my proofreading skills a try and sign up. One of the first responses that I got after signing up was something like "Oh good. Your boys will love them. These studies are really gross type studies perfect for gross loving boys!" However, I think that girls will love them as well. Just get ready for some gross stuff!

So far I've had the great pleasure of proofreading Cicada-Killing Wasps ~ yes there are some gross parts ~ and Platypus ~ not really gross but certainly curious ~ so you see, there really is something for everyone, even if you don't like the word "gross". Zombie Fire Ants is actually the first published, on the market, Curiosity Files study that I have been able to look at and use.

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From the time I first began proofreading the Curiosity Files studies, I knew that they were something unique. The author of these great science unit studies is "Professor Ana Lyze". She has a "research team" that helps her and they specialize in science oddities. And, yes, Zombie Fire Ants are definitely some science oddities.

Originally from South America, Fire Ants hitched a ride on some ships importing products to the U.S. The only problem is, Fire Ants are not native to the United States. All of their natural predators are in South America, so they have been left to multiply freely and wreak havoc on the U.S. population. Scientists decided to experiment with bringing some of the Fire Ants natural enemies from South America to see if they would help control the U.S. Fire Ant population. South American phorid flies were imported and released near some Fire Ant colonies and soon thereafter Zombie Fire Ants were created. What are Zombie Fire Ants? You'll have to buy the study to find out!

I love The Curiosity Files science studies. Professor Ana Lyze seems to talk to you through the study and has a knack of knowing exactly what questions or comments might be crossing your mind. Take this little snippet of conversation from Zombie Fire Ants:

I get it—the ants are called zombies because they are just wandering aimlessly, unable to really think or do anything.

That’s the idea. A fire ant slowly morphs from a hard-working part of an industrious colony to a mindless, wandering creature who signals to the rest of the ants that something isn’t right. They really are zombies.

The zombie part is gross, but it seems a lot better than spraying chemicals on the mounds.

The phorid fly life cycle takes longer to see results but is very effective.

I don't think I revealed too much of the study in that little exert and you can see what an easy flow there is to the information given. It's like you are not really studying at all. That's the kind of Science study I have been longing for at our house.


But that's not all.As parents aren't we always looking for "teachable moments"? You know, those moments where something happens and it is a perfect time to weave a life application into it. Well, that's exactly what The Curiosity Files do! After the initial information and a short "Let's see how much you've learned" section, there is a section that weaves what you have learned right into a Christian application! Remember, TOS (The Old Schoolhouse) is unashamedly a Christian company and you can trust that their materials will not be compromised by evolution or non-Christian thoughts. I love their Christian application section. It really ties science and what you are learning into why God created or allowed that particular thing and what it has to do with you. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! The main attraction of a good unit study is the extra "hands on" things that are included. Well, let me tell you, there are plenty of hands on things in Zombie Fire Ants.How would you like to do one of the following?
  • Work on your math skills while studying Fire Ant Flight or having a Fire Ant Week?
  • Hone your writing skills by doing Zombie Writing?
  • Do puzzles to work on your Fire Ant spelling and vocabulary words?
  • Practice handwriting with special copy-work pages using special ant verses from the Bible.
  • Create and study an Ant Farm complete with a Fire Ant Journal?
  • Eat "Ants on a Log" or "Ants on the Sand"? Yes I said "EAT THEM"!
  • Create an "Egg Carton Ant" or learn how to draw an ant?
  • Those are just some of the dozens (yes I said dozens - I counted!) of activities that you will find in The Curiosity Files - Zombie Fire Ants. There is even a section where you can make your own Fire Ant mini book, an ant music section, a section where you can find books and websites about ants if you want to study more AND...get this...a special "Hands On Learning" section for special needs learners.We have loved this study so far, but as I mentioned above, we haven't been able to complete it all yet. As a matter of fact, by the looks of all of the things that I mentioned above, it may take weeks before we complete everything. Of course TOS has included so many things so that you can pick and choose what you feel would work best for your child. Many of the sections are conveniently divided into younger and older student sections.

    Photobucket

    This is all packed into a 91 page downloadable ebook that you can purchase from the TOS Store by clicking here or on any one of the hi-lighted sections above. The prices of the individual units vary so you would have to check the TOS Store website to find those. I can tell you, though, that there are nine studies currently available and you can buy a CD of all nine studies for $49 or a downloadable version of all nine studies for $46. If you would like to know about some of the other studies, many of my fellow TOS Crew members reviewed other Curiosity Files and you can check out what they had to say by clicking here. Happy Home Educating!

    As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free copy of The Curiosity Files unit study Zombie Fire Ants in order to try out and review on my blog.

     


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    Posted by tink38570 at 8:08 PM CST
    Updated: Friday, 11 February 2011 10:46 PM CST
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