Surprise Announcement Number One!
Mood:  happy
Topic: Compassion International

I told you a couple of days ago that I had a couple of surprise announcements to make. I also added a note to my dear mother-in-law that it wasn't anything like a new child on the way. For us, however, it is like a new child.

We have a new Compassion International Child!

We found out about a program called the Correspondence Sponsor program. Periodically, there are businessmen, other individuals, or companies that are able to financially sponsor a child but aren't able to correspond with their child. Since Compassion considers writing just as important as the financial support, they look for sponsors that would be willing to take on the correspondence of those children. 

When we signed up a couple of weeks ago, the Compassion representative said that it would be a few weeks to a couple of months before we heard. I began checking daily anyway, and yesterday when I checked, lo and behold, underneath Marcelo's name was a new name.

Feyber Pena is a 13 year old from Colombia. We have already written a letter to him. He lives in the small town of Monetery which is south of Bogota. We have heard about some horror stories about what they do to poor children that live close to Bogota. Usually they are street children but we are praying for Feyber and his family as well. Please join with us in praying for him and continue to pray for Marcelo. If you wish to know more about Compassion International, please click here.

 

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Men's Monday Meme - Boy Did I make a Big Blunder!
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: Men's Monday Meme

And this blunder is even bigger than the last one! I got an email a little while ago from a blogging friend of mine who is a faithful contributor to the Men's Monday Meme. She asked if I was OK. She said that she hadn't seen a new Men's Monday Meme lately and wondered if something had happened. I thought to myself, I know I've been super busy lately, but I know I posted one recently. Well, I had posted one last week, but failed to do something big. I failed to attach the Men's Monday Meme topic to it. Many times people will click on a topic button to find something specific. I wondered why no one had contributed to the meme this past week and realized it was because they couldn't find it ! How embarrassing! I also failed to advertise it on the couple of forums that I usually promote it on.

So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do one of my week and a half two question meme's. I'm going to add a Hot Topic question and continue to old question until Monday, March 8. If you would like, you can choose one question to answer this week and another to answer next week, or answer both of them in the same week. Just make sure that you sign the Mr. Linky twice if you answer both. When you sign the Mr. Linky just sign with your name and then whatever question you are answering. For example, I would sign "Tim @ Families Again - Question 1" (or Question 2). Now, are you ready for the questions? Here they are.

First the very fitting question for this week:

What is the biggest blunder that you have made in your life?

Now the Hot Topic question:

What are your views on divorce? Is it Biblical? If so, in what circumstances? Or, do you really care if it's Biblical or not?

I'm asking that question because of the problems a relative is going through right now. Sarah has been trying to counsel her on some pretty serious marital problems that they are having. It is so serious that it really has us thinking about the Biblical views on divorce and our own personal views of divorce.

Now for the rule reminders:

1. This is a man's meme, so the answers must be the answers from a man. Either the man can answer on his blog, or a wife can interview her husband for her blog. However, if the wife puts it on her blog, she must stay true to what her husband said.
2. You are encouraged to put one of the Men's Monday Meme buttons found to the left on your blog. Just copy the code below the button of your choice. The more folks who link, the more readers you may have to visit your blog.
3. You may answer the question any time during the week up through Monday, March 8. After you answer the question, add the address to your post to the Mr.Linky below. If you could, please only add the direct link to the post to make it easier for readers to find the entry.
4. My answer along with a new question will be posted next Monday. The new Mr. Linky will be added at midnight Monday night.

And here's the Mr. Linky -

 

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Why do we do what we do? Ministry Update and Thursday's Child
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Ministry

 

I really wish that I could put two topics for this, because it really covers both our ministry, BCM International's ministry and Compassion International's ministry. Why do we do what we do? We do it because it's what God has called us to do. We do it because we want to be a catalyst for good in our community, country and world. What is a catalyst? According to the Merriam Webster online dictionary, it's

 An agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.

That's what Sarah and I want to be. An agent of change for Christ. The following video tells a perfect story of what a catalyst can do. Although it's primarily about Compassion International, it is an excellent example of what Sarah and I strive to do with the folks around us everyday. Have a box of tissues handy for this one.

 

 

 

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All About Spelling's Beehive Reader - I'm Mad!
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Homeschool Product Review

I'm mad, and it's all Joshua's fault! Again! What did he do this time? He lost the new Beehive Reader 1 that we recieved to review from All About Spelling. We have looked and looked for it and can't find it anywhere!

I guess I shouldn't be that mad. I guess I should be rather happy. After all, this was one the first books that Joshua has ever shown an interest in reading on his own. In fact, when our Beehive Reader 1 first arrived, he whisked it away with me barely having a chance to look at it. I think he read most if not all of it. There were a couple of chapters that he read to me before losing it, but the rest was by himself.

I should be glad that he liked the beautiful pictures. Pictures like the following:

I'm sure the very well written stories that go along with the All About Spelling program that we've been using helped him to love The Beehive Reader 1. The stories (at least the ones that I recall before the book was whisked away) were very entertaining and very meaningful. None of this globble-di-gook that you get from some children's books written these days. Although they were written for children in the first grade, these stories had substance. 

And, this was no small book. This phonics based book has 10 stories in its 160 pages. Here is a copy of it's table of contents:

I should be thrilled that when we find the book ~ and I'm sure we will after cleaning his room ~ that our Beehive Reader 1 will be in great condition. After all, it is very well bound, hard cover book with very durable pages. Here is a picture of it's beautiful cover.

I am happy that when I do finally find the book and can write a review about it that I will be able to tell all of you that the Beehive Reader 1 supplements the All About Spelling program and is very reasonably priced. The list price is only $19.95. I am also glad that Marie Rippel, the author of the All About Spelling Program and the Beehive Reader 1 is already in the process of adding more Beehive Reader's to the series.

Oh well, enough of my woes. I have to stop crying over spilled milk and write the Beehive Reader 1 review. Wait a minute...I guess my ramblings above was my review. You see, if you have a positive attitude good things will happen !

Now I can tell you that if you want to find out more about the Beehive Reader 1 you can click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above. And I can mention that you can click here to find out what the other TOS Crew Members think about the Beehive Reader 1. And, finally, I can tell you that since this reader is also perfect for public/private school kids as well as homeschool students, that instead of saying "Happy Homeschooling", I can say "Happy Home Educating".

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free copy of The Beehive Reader 1 in order to use and review on my blog.

 

 

 

 

 

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Memories of a Dear Friend and Coworker.
Mood:  sad
Topic: General

Recently I got word that a dear friend of mine was retiring from the private school that she's worked at for nearly 25 years. We worked together at The Master's Academy in central FL for eleven of those years. I can't express what she meant to me during that time. Ann Hayden was actually my boss. She was the head of the Discovery department that included NILD (National Institute for Learning Differences) and the PAL (Program of Alternative Learning) classes. She also taught the Special Education classes at the college that I graduated from.

We didn't always have a smooth relationship. I can remember getting aggravated when she would leave notes telling me to do this or to do that or fussing at me for something. What I realize now, but didn't realize then, was that she was just pushing a greenhorn therapist to do his best. She was almost like more of a mother to me than a boss. I'm sure that fact made it a doubly difficult job for her. It's hard enough to be just a boss let alone a mother and a boss. Looking back, I understand how much she put up with from me. Even though she had to get onto me quite a bit, she always did it in a very loving and patient manner. I'm also sure there were many times that she defended me when others were ready to give up on me.

She also taught me compassion for those who had a disability. She was a tireless worker for those who had learning disabilities or were physically disabled. Her love for the children that she defended showed in her work and the way that she treated those who are defenseless.

Although she was a task master, working with Ann was not always work. There was plenty of fun as well. Even physical labor could be a blast with Ann. I remember carrying a heavy filing cabinet up steep fire escape steps at the original elementary campus. I think we laughed as much as we toiled. Eating out was always an adventure with Anne as well. There was always a lively discussion about the students we had, or the happenings going on. There was never a dull moment.

I certainly miss those days with Ann Hayden. I miss the love that she taught me to have, and the love that she had for me. Ann will always be more than just a boss to me. She will forever be a good friend. Even though we don't talk much or see each other much anymore, she will always be dear to me and my family.

I know that she will be greatly missed not only at The Master's Academy, but also in the learning disability community of Central Florida and the NILD world as well. I know that she will stay busy in her life of retirement and I wish her well.

Mrs. Hayden, know that I will always be praying for you and please know that the impact and blessing you have been on my life is immeasurable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Tim

This was originally written for a retirement book that The Master's Academy was putting together for Anne's retirement. I thought I would include it on my blog. What I have said here, I've said from the bottom of my heart.

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