Tuesday, November 28, 2017

The Best Gift We Can Give This Christmas


"God will give you a place to inhabit, which means you get to become attentive to what is there where you are. This means that to dwell knowledgeably and hospitably in and toward the place God gives you is to glorify Him. God will give you a few things that he intends for you to do in your inhabited place and with those people. To do what God gives you to do is to strengthen the common good and to glorify him."  Zach Eswine


Several months ago, I was in the car with my Mom and sister and we were talking about Christmas.  We talked about how much fun it would be to have our family, friends and community all come together for a tree lighting and to sing some Christmas carols.  You know, like we see in all the Hallmark movies?   Thus, Country Creek Christmas was born.

This Friday night, our family will be opening up our farm (working farm mind you, not an "event location") to share a little bit of what Christmas really means to us.  We will start - where it all started - with a live nativity in the barn.  Then we will light a huge tree cut from the farm.  Following the tree lighting, we will have live music in the backyard and Santa in the front yard.  Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided in hopes that everyone will stick around for awhile for some fellowship! 

So why are we doing this?  First of all, just to be able to share some time with our family and friends.  It has already been a huge blessing just in preparing it and seeing everyone come together.  I have been amazed at the people that have shown interest and volunteered to help.  Secondly, we hope it will be a reminder to everyone to slow down this Christmas and be attentive to what-or better yet, who- is right in front of you. 

That's what Christmas is really about - the presence, not the presents.  It's about first being in the presence of Christ so that He can fill us up with exactly what we need.  Then taking that and letting it overflow into those that are right around us.

I've often wondered on that night over 2,000 years ago, how many people rushed right by that stable without even knowing the long awaited Messiah was there?  How many had spent years in the tabernacles hearing the prophesies, yet they were so wrapped up in their own agendas, they missed the Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes?  They missed the most important Christmas and the best gift ever given.

I don't want that to be me this Christmas!  I want to put down my phone and my shopping lists and look up.  Really see those that are right around me.  God has given us all a place.  It may be in our own home.  It may be as we go to the grocery store or work today.  It may be in another country.  Wherever we are, He has intentionally placed certain people in our lives.  Let's be attentive.  Be with them.  Build relationships.  Most of all give them the best present we can give this Christmas-our presence!

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A Book Review: Daring to Hope

http://amzn.to/2yFmL2D


(This post contains affiliate links which means when you order from these link I will receive a percent of the profit.  I am also a part of the Daring to Hope Launch team and was given a copy of the book to review.  In full disclosure, I had already preordered the book because I knew it would be that good!)

About 6 years ago, I ran across the book Kisses from Katie, I had just quit my full time job teaching to stay at home with our baby girl.  I almost didn't read the book.  I thought, "How can I, a 31 year old mom who is at home 90% of the time, relate to a girl out of high school that gave up everything to move around the world to be a missionary?"  But - I read it anyway.  It broke me, challenged me, and encouraged me in a way no other book, outside of the Bible, ever has.  It wasn't just a story of  a missionary, but of a girl that completely surrendered her life to Christ.  It was exactly what I needed at that point in my life.
 
Fast forward, to the present...and I see her second book coming out, Daring to Hope.  It's a continuation of Katie's story in Uganda.  How she has overcame so much and been able to have a deeper relationship with God through it all.  Again, I think "I can't really relate to that.  I'm not seeing devastation, starvation, and death all around me like Katie is."  However, because the first one was just SO good, I went ahead and preordered it.  A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to join the launch team for an early preview of the book.  Little did I know that about the time the book would arrive, I'd be facing some serious spiritual issues.  Things that made me question everything in which I believed.  God always has a way with perfect timing.  As  I read the book, I too, like Katie, wrestled with God through some things.  To be honest, I'm still wrestling through some things, but here are some truths that Katie reminded me of in her book:
 
God is still God even when I don't get MY ending.

We've all been there.  That time in our life when we think we know better than God does.   When it seems that our way is the only way for "all things to work for good."  When we're praying and praying, but God just keeps right on leading in a different direction.  Katie was there too.  She had to surrender a foster child back to the natural mother and she is so open and honest about it.  She says: 
God kept reminding me that I wasn't the writer of this story, and that when I tried to write all the endings, wrapping them up in a neat little package, I was diminishing who He was and all He could do.  He was asking me to trust Him, to believe that He would bring about His own glory even when I couldn't see it.
Maybe we don't always see the big picture, but God does.  Sometimes the big picture may include uncomfortable, challenging moments to us but that doesn't make Him any less good.  He will love us right through it and we will be able to look back and see how He used it for His glory. 

God shows me SO much through the eyes of being a mom.
 
Maybe we are literally a world away; however, Katie and I face some of the same struggles as a mom.  Grant it she has 8 more kids than me in a 3rd world country, but we are still trying to raise our children in a way God would be pleased.  Often that means giving up control to Him even in our own homes.  It means realizing we can't do it without Him; in fact He never meant for us to.  When it comes to being a mom, He has a way of humbling me and deepening my relationship as His daughter.
 
 
I'm just barely scratching the surface on this one - but Katie really speaks to my mom heart.

Our mission field is all around us.
 
For Katie, it's Uganda.  For me, it's my own home, it's my neighborhood, it's my church, it's wherever we may be that day.   We both have our own issues to get past - for Katie it's disease, uncleanliness, lack of food and supplies; for me, it's modern day culture, the constant race against time,  and having so much we don't even realize what we really need.  She lives in a world that is so hungry for natural and spiritual food.  I live in a world that is so overfed, we often choose complacency and self-centered desires, over what is best for us.  In both places, there are needs all around us. 

Katie speaks of practicing the art of being interrupted.   I begin my day with my own agenda and instead of taking advantages of what God places in front of me as a ministry, I often just consider it an interruption.  I've been able to go on a couple of mission trips and when I came back from the second one, I remember thinking one of the best parts was just being focused on Christ and that communities needs for the week.  Katie reminds me that , "Life was certainly intended to be lived as ongoing ministry, not separate from ministry."
 
 
 
There is always hope, there is always a cause.
 
It's easy to look around at the world and think, it's just not worth it.  We're already too far gone.  I don't want to risk hurting myself or hurting my family.  Guess what?  Christ went through death, hell and the grave for us and because of that we have hope!  There's our own children, neighbors' children and future generations that need Christ, so we have a cause.  Katie shares how she had to learn how to put herself out there and trust God even at a time He was asking her to take care of someone very similar to a friend that had just passed away.  It may hurt us for a season, but if it brings glory to God isn't it worth it in the end?  Sometimes the only way to know God better is by coming to know His children better.   
 
 
 
  
And perhaps the biggest reminder of all throughout the entire book - Through our trials we come to know God in a deeper way as He shapes us into the person He wants us to be.
 
We all have trials - God rains on the just and the unjust.  However, there's a difference between someone seeking Christ through a trial and someone just wallowing their way through it.  When we seek Him through the trial, he shapes us and molds us into what He wants us to be.  We are drawn closer to Him and He reveals more of Himself to us.  Our trials can have purpose.  They can strengthen us in ways we wouldn't have otherwise been strengthened.  They can help us depend and know God in ways we otherwise wouldn't have.   Katie has certainly not lead a life without disappointments or trials, yet she has learned to surrender to His will and praise Him through the storm.
The woman with the issue of blood never would have reached for Jesus so desperately had she not been bleeding.  Certainly, twelve year of sickness and being completely ostracized is not desirable, but to have Jesus himself look into her eyes- was it worth it?  Though we would rather be delivered from our suffering and our trials, or never encounter them at all, I have come to long for the tender care of Jesus that fees most tangible in places of pain and desperation.

 
 I actually wrote down 5 other points, but I'm not going to share them all, because I want you to read the book!  Scriptures came to life in ways that I hadn't seen them before.  Did I mention that in a 200 page book, I had over 50 post it notes from quotes I wanted to remember?  Or that I was in tears by page 3?  On my knees by the second chapter?  Amen-ing through the entire book?  Rejoicing alongside Katie towards the end?  It's that good, y'all!!
 
God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.  In this book, Katie shares how God has proven His presence in her life, especially in the most difficult times.  She reminds me that if God was there for Abraham, Jacob, Mary, and her, then He will be there for me.  She also reminds me that God's purpose is to take the broken and make it beautiful.  That's exactly what He can do, when I surrender my life to Him. 

Through her testimony and the places in her own life she has marked, "God will provide" she inspires me to step out on faith to try Him even more.  She encourages me to draw close to Christ and help meet those needs around me.  She dares me to hope.



Daring to Hope will be released on October 3.  However, if you preorder it between now and October 3 you will also receive a free gift.  Simply go here and order the book.  Then go to https://amazima.org/daringtohope to enter your information for your free gift. 

Anyone want to win a copy????  When I was chosen to be on the launch team, I had already preordered my copy of the book, so I thought I'd just pay if forward!  If you'd like to win a copy, simply share this blog post on Facebook and then comment on the blog.  U.S. residents only.  I will contact the winner on October 3.
 
 

Saturday, April 29, 2017

A Reflection on God's Faithfulness...


Southern Psalms - location of the Calling All Women's Conference


"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

This time last week, I was battling Satan.  I was scheduled to be one of the speaker's at a Women's Conference and Satan was telling me it was impossible.  He has ways of keeping us quiet and at first he was doing pretty good with me.  Telling me I was too quiet and shy to speak in front of people.  Which is partly true - I am more of a quiet person.  Even my own husband said he'd never heard me speak a solid 15-20 minutes!  Yet, the part he was leaving out was that while I couldn't- God could!  I knew it was something God wanted me to do.  At first, I tried to be like Moses and pray for an Aaron but that didn't work either!  God said I had to do it. 

So, the way I saw it, I could either believe Satan's lies and live defeated or I could step out on faith and trust God to use me as a willing vessel for Him. 

So, I had spent the last few weeks - months really- in a spiritual war with Satan.  I had been trying to guard my mind and come back at him with scriptures such as Philippians 4:6-8, 13; 2 Timothy 1:7; and James 4:6-8.  And there I was at the moment of truth, I was the next speaker and I literally felt nauseated.  My legs were shaking, I even wondered if I'd make it up to that podium without falling.  But I did!  And when I did, a peace
that passeth all understanding took over.  God was faithful once again!  There was no way to explain it, except it was a God thing!



I was able to share a little about the importance of being a wife and mom and what God has done for our family, including providing a way for me to be a stay at home mom.  Also, what He has revealed to me during this time on living out my priorities and being more intentional with my time.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to be a part of this Women's Conference.  No doubt, throughout the process, it was me that grew the most.  First of all, in just reflecting and seeing how real He had been over the past seven years.  I could now look back and see that even in my times of uncertainty how He was working all things out for the good of me and my family.   Secondly, as God continued to stretch me and make me step outside my comfort zone, He drew me closer to Him and revealed once again that when I need Him the most - He's always there and will never fail me. 

The conference was on Saturday, then on Sunday we wrapped up another year of Classical Conversations with our end of the year celebration.  Once more, I just sat back and reflected on God's goodness.  So many questions I had when we began this homeschooling journey- to be honest, so many questions I still have- but as I looked over the last two years, I could once again see God's presence woven throughout! 

First of all, I can see His presence in our Classical Conversations group.  I was probably one of the biggest skeptics of all as I went to my first CC info meeting.  I, who had been working with preschoolers for several years, thought it was absolutely ludicrous to try and teach my preschooler a song that lasted almost 20 minutes and covered the entire history of the world-and that was just scratching the surface of their memory work!  However, they sucked me in with their motto "To Know God and to Make Him Known" and the idea of community as I wanted my children to still be involved with other kids.  As I looked around Sunday and saw the community God had given us to help raise our children, I was so thankful for the wonderful families that truly lived out His will for their lives.  

Not only were we teaching our children facts, but  more importantly, we were teaching them what a community truly should look like. On a weekly basis my children were seeing families, that truly valued children and others over material things-which to be quiet honest is so rare in today's society. 
We look so very different within each family:  some with foster children, some with adopted children, some with children from other countries, some with many children, some with one, some seriously struggling with health issues within their families, some with financial issues, and I could go on and on. 
Yet, here we all were encouraging each other, lending a helping hand and trying to teach our children more than anything else - to know God and to make Him known! 
Because really, is there any other reason we should be educating our children? And you know what else - I love that timeline song!  




Secondly, God's presence has been evident through our time at home together "schooling".  In case you didn't know school comes from the Greek word "schole" which means "leisure".   The Greeks considered it a pleasure to be done working and to sit around and read and discuss ideas.  That's how some of the greatest philosophers  and ideas came.  Looking back, it's been in those moments we've slowed down that we've learned the most about each other, the world around us and most importantly, God.  While the future still holds many uncertainties, I'm so thankful for these years at home to give my children a God centered worldview and a strong foundation to build upon. 

I know this has probably been one of my most scattered post ever written; however, after last weekend, it's where my mind has been this week:  Rejoicing over God's goodness and faithfulness throughout our journey so far! 


In closing, I encourage you to not let Satan fill your mind and life with his lies.  Don't live defeated.  Instead, guard your mind and life by knowing and trusting in God's word.  Speaking at the women's conference and homeschooling are only two instances where I've stepped out on faith and witnessed His faithfulness.  Had I of believed Satan's lies or just went with what today's society said I would've missed these two HUGE blessings!   It doesn't always make sense to us, but that's because we only see a few of the pieces of the puzzle at a time.  God has a plan for your life that is "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" - step out on faith and live it!  Then you too will be reflecting on His faithfulness...



 

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

A Look Inside Our Homeschool Week

One of the questions I often get asked is "What does a homeschool day look like?"  That's really a tough question to answer because it's different for everyone and even our days often look different from each other; that's one of the beauties of homeschooling!  However, as we wind down this year-I wanted a reminder of what some of our weeks looked like so here's what last week looked like for us:

Monday
was an actual "class" day - as in we were in the "classroom" in our basement.  We start earlier on Monday mornings (8:00 am) to be done by 10:30 and head to piano. We begin our mornings with our CC memory work, followed by "carpet time" (calendar, pledge, weather, etc). Then I do reading/language with Miss Priss (Abeka) while the other two do seatwork and tray time (Confessions of a Homeschooler, 1+1+1=1).  Then I swap and Miss Priss does her seat work while I work with the other two. Then I swap back and do math with Miss Priss while the other two do more seatwork and puzzles or another center. One last swap and I do math with the other two (Math U See) while
Miss Priss does her math seat work.  Totally confused yet?   
 
We then head to piano and run errands!  When we get back after lunch, we usually have read aloud time.  This week we read James and the Giant Peach in preparation for our field trip to see the play on Thursday. 
 
 

Tuesday is our Classical Conversations community day. We meet and the children learn their new memory work, do art/music, science and a presentation.  This week we spent some time reviewing and preparing for our end of the year celebration.  Then we tested straw bridges and egg crates that we had built in previous weeks.  It was so fun watching the kids' faces as we tested their projects!
 

This week for presentation it was just a show and tell. Miss Priss wanted to take her Bible for her presentation.  Ladybug took a new purse she had bought while we were on vacation.

 


Wednesday was a "traveling school day" as I've come to call them. Since the weather has been sooo nice lately, we've been putting our school work, some snacks and a blanket into a wagon and taking school on the go!  We walk until we find a comfy place to sit - usually by the creek or a pond.   This day it was by the pond!

 
On our walk back, I had a few extra "students"!
 
 
 
 
Thursday was a field trip to see James and the Giant Peach with our CC group.  It's always fun seeing a play or watching a movie after reading the book!
 
 
 
Friday was supposed to be back in the classroom.  However, my Mom called and decided she wanted to go to Vintage Market Days and wanted to know if we wanted to go with her.  Had it of been the beginning of the school year, I wouldn't have.  I would have totally stuck to my schedule. However, what teacher doesn't get a little lax toward the end of the school year?  So, we loaded all of our worksheets onto clipboards for the car and went along with her!
 
 
We were glad we did because other than scoring an awesome bread bowl centerpiece for my kitchen table, we also met an author's husband and discovered a new set of books.  It was interesting listening to him tell about how his wife had taken her childhood experiences on a farm and written a series.  Each book includes original recipes, songs, and a character lesson.  Miss Priss chose the first two in the series and I can't wait to read them!
 


Down on Friendly Farm



We made it back home a little after lunch and managed to get in some classroom time finishing up James and the Giant Peach and doing a few assignments on it. 
 
We wrapped up our school week with a family movie night.  Any guesses what we watched?  You bet!  James and the Giant Peach.  We had gummy worms, peach rings, and peach soda with popcorn.  Not surprisingly, out of the movie, play and book - the book was my favorite :)
So there you have it - a crazy week of homeschooling! 
 

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Valentine's Day/100 Day of School


This week we celebrated both Valentine's Day and 100 Days of School!  We kicked off the week with Valentine's Day.  We'd actually did a few activities and trays last week. 



Ladybug and Taz did a tray where they sorted candy hearts by colors and then counted them.  We discussed which color had the least, most, etc.  With Miss Priss we worked on poetry and she wrote her first little poem.  She also graphed candy hearts.  I have to admit Valentine's Day seems to fall a little short when it comes to great books but we read several, including my favorite:  The Biggest Valentine Ever

So come Tuesday, Valentine's Day, we just kept it pretty simple.  (Of course!)  As I've mentioned before, we like to create a special meal on Valentine's Day.   We started the day by making a Valentine Trifle for our Valentine meal.  It's easy, basically just layering so great to do with kids.
Taz adding in a layer of whipped cream.


Look Mom, we're pretending like it's snow!
That is unless you leave the cool whip container out and they decide to play in the "snow".  (Side Note: We were studying snow the week before and had a sensory bin of shaving cream and baking soda which looked very similar to cool whip and I had been allowing them to play in it.)

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without cards, so we made those next.  I found this
Polka Dot heart card from A Thrifty Mom.  The first couple went well but then they decided to venture off and just do their own thing and that was alright too! 


About half way through making our cards, Taz started to say he wanted me because his head was hurting.  He proceeded to just lay it down on the table and sit very still which is SO not him!  Sure enough, he had a fever.  When he's sick he just wants to be held.  (Is it terrible, that I sometimes like it when he's a little sick, so I get extra cuddle time and less cleaning up messes????) 

That kind of put a damper on anything else I had planned.  Instead, I went upstairs and watched Paw Patrol with him while the girls finished up their cards.  He fell asleep after about 30 minutes and I knew we just had a little time to finish preparing for our Valentine Day!   The day before after piano lesson, I had let the girls go in Dollar Tree and pick up a few decorations.  So for a grand total of $7 we were ready to decorate!  They decided they wanted the meal to be in their playhouse.  Since we hadn't been out there much this winter, it first had to be cleaned up a little.  So the girls started cleaning while I started pulling out the decorations we were going to use.  Then we all set the table together, added some candles in the windows, an electric fireplace, and we finished just a few minutes to spare before Taz woke back up! 

About an hour before Daddy got home, the girls started getting ready as they wanted to wear their princess dresses and make up.  I had planned on dressing up a little too, a shower at least would have been awesome!  But with Taz not feeling well - that didn't happen!  That's ok though!  Dinner was just as good in a t-shirt with juice spilled down it!


Fortunately by Friday everyone felt well for our 100th Day of School celebration and we even invited GiGi over for the fun.  She was a little offended and wondering if the kids thought she was 100, but joined right in with us!  Here's a few pictures from the day:

100th Day Breakfast







 


 




      

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Redeemed: HIStory for my Life Wrap-Up



Here we are at the end of another study!  I hope you find yourself with a deeper meaning of being redeemed and a clearer vision for your part in God's story of redemption.  As a wrap up, I wanted to go back to some of the questions I asked in the first blog post and answer them.



What does it mean to be redeemed?

It means we belong to Christ.  He has bought us with His precious blood.  In doing so, we have been freed from sin.  Christ is constantly working on us, perfecting us until that final day of redemption. 

Why is redemption necessary?

Adam and Eve sold us out to sin.  (Genesis 3) We were condemned to a life of sin and death.  It's easy to blame them, but truth be told, if not them, then it would have been us.  We are all sinful by nature.  (Rom. 3:23)   Sin separated us from God.  Sacrifices of goats and calves were made but they only put the sin off temporarily.  Eternal redemption could only be obtained by the perfect blood of Christ.  (Hebrews 9:12)   

What does a redeemed life look like?

It looks like the children of Israel standing at the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them and dry ground ahead, choosing to move forward in faith rather than return to a life of complacency. 

It looks like a young boy without fear, slaying a giant with just a slingshot.  Then a man who had an affair with another man's wife, but then came to sorrowful repentance.   

It looks like a child being afraid to sleep at night for fear of dying, and God saving her soul and giving her sweet sleep.  It looks like a teenager questioning God and God showing her without a doubt He's real.  It looks like a young married couple leaving everything behind and trusting their jobs, home and future to God and God providing.  It looks like a Mom with a messy bun, pajama pants, and a cup of coffee pouring her soul out once more so God can fill her up with what she needs for the day.   


The children of Israel were never without, even in the wilderness.  David had some heartache over his sin, but ended as being known as one of Israel's greatest kings, part of Christ's bloodline and a man after God's own heart.  And that child, young girl, wife, and mom - I can personally tell you out of those instances came some of her biggest blessings!  A redeemed life looks like a surrendered life.  

What is hindering us from being free to live the life God has called us to live?   

I think perhaps the more accurate question is as Paul phrased it to the church:  "...who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)

The who is ourselves; the what is anything we are putting between us and God.  Christ has already freed us from all sin, so if we are holding onto it; it's not because Christ is wanting us to; it's because we are choosing to.  It may seem like the safe thing to do; but in reality it is the crippling thing to do.  It's stealing our joy, our peace, our freedom and the wonderful life God has for us. 

What is God's plan for the redeemed now and in the future?

His plan for the redeemed is to keep molding and perfecting us until the final day of redemption when He will return and we shall live with Him forever.  I think Paul does a great job in Titus 2 summing up God's plan of redemption:  past, present and future.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee.

Friend, I hope you've seen throughout this study the redeemed life is a good life, the best life!  It's not about being perfect.  It's about understanding that He has already conquered and freed us from sin.  It's not anything about our goodness, but it's about His.  God has a plan for us, but we have to get ourselves out of the way.  We have to realize that apart from Him we are nothing; with Him we have everything.  Being redeemed, is about being His.  Allowing Him to use our good, bad and ugly for His glory.  For one day our lives will be nothing but history.  Then once we do, we will experience the incredible journey He has for us - HIStory for our life!

I would love to hear what God has shown you through this study!

“There are cracks in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

P is for Penguins

We wrapped up our unit on penguins.  I've been teaching for ten years now and I don't know why this was my first time to do a unit on penguins.  They are so much fun!  We kicked off our unit by watching March of the Penguins.  I admit I didn't make it all the way through the movie, but then I rarely do now a days.  One thing I did realize though is that compared to penguins, parenting my little humans is a breeze! 

We spent the next week researching penguins - especially emperor penguins.  We labeled a penguin and recorded what we learned on these sheets.  We also explored the National Geographic Kids website for penguin information and some fun videos!
 
 


For our reading, we read a few non-fiction books we had checked out from the library.  Our two favorite fiction books were One Cool Friend and Mr. Popper's Penguins.  After reading Mr. Popper's Penguins we discussed what it would be like to have a pet penguin of our own.  Using the writing process, "Miss Priss" also wrote an opinion piece


We combined fine motor skills, colors, shapes and art together to create these awesome penguin pictures.  I loved how unique these all turned out!
 
 
 
We wrapped up our penguin unit with a family fun night!  We watched Mr. Popper's Penguins (which the kids and I were disappointed to learn that it was nothing like the book other than there is a Mr. Popper and he has penguins).  We also made some penguin cupcakes and had a relay race.  For the relay race we had to balance a ball between our feet and pass it off to our partner, much like the mom and dad penguins do.  We couldn't let it "hit the ice" or it would break and we lost! 
 
 
 

 
 
During our two week penguin study, we also did the letter "M" with my two youngest.  The highlight being playing in the mud and making mudpies!  We also made monkey puppets and had muffins and milk with Mom one morning! 
 
 
 
 


Fun times!  Now on to our snow unit!