Science Project Time!

I'm sorry I can't give out details. Not to hold back, but I'm not the Science expert in the house. Dad is! Our youngest is diligently working on her project about "How light effects leaves." (I think) They tenderly wrapped the beautiful leaves in different colors of cellophane. They will wait and see what changes occur over the next week. Hey, I'm learning as we go as well. What I did learn, while looking over my pictures, was that my little one has a rogue bandaid, (can you see it?), that I still need to pick up the bills on the table behind her, and I am very thankful to have a husband who loves science. (whew!) They had some great bonding time together. I should have taken more photos, but I was cleaning the kitchen..

 

Battling an Extra Alarm Fire in Chicago tonight.

Fire near UIC displaces students

May 31, 2009 7:28 PM | 8 Comments | UPDATED STORY

Fire officials were investigating the cause of a fire that engulfed four apartment buildings and a garage near the University of Illinois at Chicago campus.
About 150 firefighters were involved in battling the extra-alarm blaze which began about 3 p.m. on the 700 block of South Aberdeen and was under control by 4:58 p.m., said Dep. Fire Cmdr. Michael Callahan.
One firefighter was treated at the scene for shortness of breath, he said.

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze on the 700 block of South Aberdeen Street. (Tribune / José M. Osorio)


The fire erupted on the rear porch of a building at 716 S. Aberdeen and spread to three other buildings and a garage. He said by the time fire fighters arrived, "flames were already shooting over the roof.''

He said heavy wind caused the fire to quickly spread to the other buildings.
The three-story brick apartment buildings, which were near the end of a dead end of South Aberdeen, housed about six apartments each. Officials said the residents of the buildings had evacuated themselves before firefighters could make it to the scene.
Callahan said three of the four buildings sustained significant damage and the fourth building had minor damage.
  ~ more ~

Chicago Weather Today!

The wind blew up to 60mph all night long! There were severe storm watches, tornado warnings and supposedly the biggest storm the Midwest has seen in years. I had a little one at my side about 4:00a.m. Luckily for her, the couch in our room was open and beckoning. I woke up to beautiful clouds. Some as dark as night, some that looked like a bright, summer day. I think I just want to take pictures of the sky every day. I love it! I will have to take my camera with me a little more often. Here 's a little peek at our homeschooling view today.

In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. - Hebrews 1:10

10:00a.m.

10:30a.m.

 11:30a.m.

 1:30p.m.

Happy Fall!

Today was great!  Lots of family time, carving pumpkins, lighting candles, and getting into the crisp, autumn mood! Part of the fun is digging out all that goop and seeds. I should have probably cared a little more what my house looked like as I was taking photos. I think the laundry shall sit and wait until tomorrow. Today is just family day! I guess this is just part of "keeping it real." This is us!

Hungry For Love tour!

I checked my email the other day, and found a Congratulations from KLove Radio. I opened it and was shocked to find out I had won 2 VIP Gold Tickets to see Sanctus Real! Remember? I had blogged about them a while back! This was great, the family we had been praying for, I was going to meet! The tour was called Hungry For Love also with the groups, The Afters and  Leeland.
My husband and I got a date night. Much appreciated, KLove! We had a great night of worship with all 3 of the bands. They were full of stories and experiences with countries and children needing help. And, what a little bit of our money does for one kid! Needless to say, we walked away with 2 sponsor kids from Bangladesh! Our kids were thrilled when we came home (at midnight). They posted them up on the fridge immediately. They were bouncing ideas off of each other about how they would write them, and maybe one day we could meet them. That may be another blog.. another day, but hmm... maybe we could meet them...

Sactus Real! Great photo - only, the person taking the picture cut off the lead singer, Matt Hammitt! :(

Sanctus Real! Okay, in all fairness.. I wasn't ready! I'm pretty sure the guy in the plaid (Pete Prevost) wasn't either. ;) There he is! Lead singer, Matt Hammitt, on far right.

Left: The Afters, Middle: Leeland, Right: Sanctus Real

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Q-R4esGf4 Light up the Sky
Lead singer, Josh Havens, The Afters. He shared a miraculous story of their car accident with 3 kids in the back. Someone pulled out in front of their family and they wound up hitting him at 60 mph. The impact made them roll over. As they were upside down, thinking it was all over, he heard his wife talking, and each child start crying. He said it was as beautiful as the day they were born to hear they were all ok.The officer said this was the worst wreck he had ever seen with no fatalities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ajIFfSaEzE Follow You
Leeland is the lead singer of Leeland. :) He and his brother started the band. He looks like Shaun White! This band has a beautiful heart for the Lord that shines through as the night goes on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZg-HrclQPY Lead Me, Sanctus Real - not the best picture, but at least I got one.

Chilean Miners Being Rescued!

I was on the edge of my seat watching the news tonight. This is such a historical, miraculous event. I am glued to the faces, trying to soak up every emotion they are going through.. love seeing the live footage above and below inside the mine. And, last but not least, the miners (of course)!

My favorite quote is and will be - “There are actually 34 of us,” the nineteen-year-old miner wrote in a letter sent up from the mine on Tuesday, "because God has never left us down here." - Jimmy Sanchez

God bless them all.. here is a beautiful picture to leave you with...

 

First pair of 33 men rescued from Chilean mine

AP

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera embraces Florencio Antonio Avalos Silva, the first miner to be rescued. More photos »

 

By MICHAEL WARREN, Associated Press Writer Michael Warren, Associated Press Writer – 1 min ago

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile – The first two of 33 men trapped in a collapsed mine were rescued early Wednesday after 69 days underground, pulled to fresh air and freedom at last in a missile-like escape capsule to the cheers of family and countrymen.
Rescued first was Florencio Avalos, who wore a helmet and sunglasses to protect him from the glare of bright lights. He smiled broadly as he emerged and hugged his sobbing 7-year-old son, Bairon, and wife, then bearhugged Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and rescuers.
A second miner, Mario Sepulveda Espina, was pulled to the surface about an hour later. After hugging his wife, he jubilantly handed souvenir rocks to laughing rescuers.
After the first capsule came out of the manhole-sized opening, Avalos emerged as bystanders cheered, clapped and broke into a chant of "Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le!" — the country's name.

- continue reading here - 

I'm an official Girl's Get Away Cruise Blogger!!!

A few weeks ago, I applied to be an official blogger for the 2012 Girl's Get Away Cruise! Last night the email came that I was one of 10 selected. I'm so excited! 

You will have to keep checking back, because there will be...

prizes to be won...

a cruise to book...

friendships to deepen...

family bonds to tighten...

and best of all, increase your faith with sisters in Christ! 

I have always wanted to take my daughters on a special girl's trip. Now that my oldest is at the perfect age, I would love to take her with me. I can't believe she is now only 2 years from graduation. This will be the perfect get away for her and I. I'd also love for my friends to come. Come with your daughters, friends, sisters.. Won't this be great? 

Stay tuned... more details from Premier Christian Cruises to come very soon! I will have a link from my blog for you to get everything you need to know. But for now sit back, put on your flip flops, and dream of the warm breezes in your hair. Then mark your calendars for setting sail January 12-16, 2012!

Reclaiming a Generation

Today I stayed home with my son as he and I were sick. My husband took the girls to church, so we looked online for something to watch. We came across Willow Creek Chicago  website and some of their featured videos of sermons and special events. We clicked on the May 2010 button and saw their youth pastor, Shane Farmer, speaking on "Reclaiming a Generation." Wow! I encourage you to watch this. He was right on as he explained how this generation is growing up on soil that is rocky and shallow.
(to view his message, click the Willow Creek link, go to May 2010, click on Reclaiming a Generation)

Matthew 13:3-9 - "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

It reminded me of this powerful video. I am drawn to tears every time I see it. I love the way they show these powers of darkness that so subtly wedge into our every day lives.

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Psalm 130:1-5 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.