tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92027191611924291372024-03-13T03:41:48.115-04:00Grace NotesBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-40973689472573250842014-01-22T21:46:00.002-05:002014-01-22T22:41:06.039-05:00How to Stump a Grammar Queen
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s you
and I pray about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My brother
Hugh called me a few days ago with a conundrum. His son Cameron had to diagram
the sentence above for his homeschool homework. It was his first diagramming
experience and they, Cam and his parents, were stumped. I’ve produced a writing
course and have been dubbed “Grammar Queen” of the family. Not a smart move on
my part, as it turns out. I was stumped, too. Even Grammar Queens find sentence
surgery difficult at times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I posted the
sentence on my Facebook page and received enthusiastic responses from high school
teachers, college English professors, homeschooling moms, avid readers and grammar
geeks. Now, more than 24-hours after posting the sentence, I’m still a little
uncertain. Let me share some of my research with you and we’ll see if we reach
the same conclusions. If not, we’ll remain friends, I hope. What’s a split
infinitive or two among friends, right? Remember, by the way, to differentiate
between formal and informal writing. The speech I write for “Grammar Geeks Society
of America” annual awards dinner will be far more precisely written and
delivered than a “Grammarians Just Wanna Have Fun” pep talk at a bon-fire
rally. You bring the marshmallows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, on to
the major hair-splitting purposes of this blog post. (Try diagramming that
non-sentence; no, don’t.) How beautifully fluid the English language is! We can
say what amounts to nonsense and, still, to the practiced ear, it’s completely,
(or nearly so), understandable. Down to business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, we
must do a little research to learn, or in some cases, refresh our memories
concerning parts of speech. Within the innocent looking little sentence we’ve
been assigned, “Let’s you and I pray about it,” lurk many hidden speech-labeling
pitfalls, not the simplest of which to discern is the simple word “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let</i>” simply would not let me label it as
either a helping verb </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_verb"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_verb</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
nor a linking verb </span><a href="http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/linkingverb.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/linkingverb.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
. As it turns out, however, it’s sort of a first cousin. I will explain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you know,
English verbs can be placed in three major separate boxes: <u>Transitive verbs,</u>
which have the strength to pass action on to a receiver, “The boy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">threw</i> the ball.”; <u>intransitive verbs</u>,
which do not transfer the action performed but merely describe it, “The ball <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disappeared</i> under the bleachers.”; and <u>linking
verbs</u> whose job is to connect subject and predicate, creating syntactical
flow, “The ballgame <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is (appears to be,
seems to be, etc.)</i> over.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, intransitive
verbs need not sit in their passivity and pout. They may be propelled into action
through the use of what we call <u>causative verbs</u>. Now we’re making
progress towards our dissecting and labeling goal! Here’s a list of the most
common verbs used as causative verbs. There are only three true causative verbs,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make</i>. These three
causative verbs all require a base verb. The other verbs in our list, and those
like them, require an infinitive verb. (For more on the topic of infinitive
verbs, see the link further down in this post from Tanya Trusler). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a
list of verbs often used as causative verbs which I’ve compiled from various
sources :<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ask, allow, cause, command, compel, convince,
encourage, employ, entice, force, get, <u>have</u>, hire, induce, insist, <u>let</u>,
<u>make</u>, motivate, permit, persuade, require, suggest,</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">urge</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In sentences that use a causative
verb, the subject doesn’t perform the action of the operative verb but causes
someone or something else to do it. And … causative verbs do very well in
enabling intransitive verbs to surmount their handicap of being unable to act
on an object.” </span><a href="http://josecarilloforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1539"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://josecarilloforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=1539</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now
we’re half way to our goal in determining the main verb. Since “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let</i>” is a causative verb, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">i.e.</i>,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
a </i>cousin of the helping verbs that enables the action of the operative intransitive
verb, we must conclude that the operative verb in our sentence is the intransitive
verb “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pray</i>.” This verb falls into the
category “intransitive” because of its designation as such in the definition provided
in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “Pray: (second set of definitions) 1.) To make
a request in a humble manner, 2.) to address God…with adoration, confession,
supplication, or thanks, as in the sentence: “Let us pray.” ” [My note: “Aha!!”]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus,
we must conclude that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pray</i>” is the
main or operative intransitive verb in our sentence, needing “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let</i>,” the causative verb, to promote or
enable the action. A further investigation (I feel my Sherlock modality kicking
in) of causative verbs provides us with this helpful insight from Tanya Trusler
at this site </span><a href="http://www.esl-library.com/blog/2013/10/31/causative-verbs/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.esl-library.com/blog/2013/10/31/causative-verbs/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
. Ms. Trusler says: “English has three true causative verbs: <b>have</b>, <b>let</b>,
and <b>make</b>. This grammar target has a special pattern that often trips
students up because it requires a <i>base verb</i> where normally an
infinitive verb would go. Once students memorize the pattern and see some
examples, they should be able to recall it quite easily. However, it’s also
important to point out the other verbs with a similar meaning that are not, in
fact, causative verbs. Verbs such as <b>get</b>, <b>force</b>, <b>allow</b>,
and <b>cause</b> take an <i>infinitive verb</i>, not a base verb.” It follows
that causative verbs may not take an infinitive verb, not even an “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">understood</i> infinitive” verb such as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to</i> pray.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s
more help from Ms. Trusler:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
verbs <i>have, let,</i> and <i>make</i> follow this irregular pattern when they
have the meaning of causing someone to do something. …</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note that it’s
important to give examples with both singular and plural objects as well as
different tenses so that students truly understand that a <b>base verb </b>is
required, not just a present verb. I find the biggest mistakes textbooks make
is that they only give examples in the present tense. I’ve often had students
tell me that they didn’t “get it” until they saw an example in the past tense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s
a little more good information from Ms. Trusler:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">We know, too, that “make,” “get,” “have,” and “let” can also make
objects do the action of intransitive verbs: “She <i>made</i> the dog jump.”
“She <i>got</i> the dog to jump.” “She <i>had</i> the dog jump.” “She <i>let</i>
the dog jump.” In these three sentences, it’s clear that the “dog” is the
object of the verbs “made,” “got,” and “had,” “she” is the agent causing the
action, and the action of the intransitive “jump” is what this agent causes the
object to perform.<br />
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The verbs “make,” “get,” “have,” and “let” belong to a class of verbs called <i>causatives</i>.
In sentences that use a causative verb, the subject doesn’t perform the action
of the operative verb but causes someone or something else to do it. And as we
have seen above, causative verbs do very well in enabling intransitive verbs to
surmount their handicap of being unable to act on an object.<br />
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We mustn’t think, though, that causative verbs are meant only for intransitive
verbs. They work as well with transitive ones: “The mother <i>made her child
take</i> the medicine.” “The movie director <i>had the leading lady wear</i> a
wig.” The big difference is that transitive verbs—working with causative verbs
or not—always need an object somewhere in the sentence for the latter to make
sense. Drop the objects “medicine” and “wig” from the two sentences given
earlier, for instance, and both sentences will collapse.”</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are
you with me so far? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before
we start diagramming, it would be helpful to determine the subject of our
sentence, “Let’s you and I pray about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here
are my thoughts and conclusions. I’d be happy to hear yours. (Well, maybe not
actually happy, but I’ll try to receive yours in a spirit of true friendship
and camaraderie. Well, maybe I won’t go that far. Actually, I’ll be rather
peeved with you if you strongly disagree since I’ve spent so much time on this
hair-splitting venture. Rather like arguing how many angels can dance on the
head of a pin, isn’t it? I could have re-arranged all the closets in my house
by now. Please, feel free to come over and help me do that. It would be a lot
more rewarding in the eternal scheme of things).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although
at first glance, or even second glance, I assumed the understood “you” to be
the subject of the sentence, I have come to the rather shaky conclusion (which
will not be backed up by research and is, therefore, just as much a subject of
your whim or deeper knowledge as it is mine), that the subject of our overly-scrutinized
sentence is the compound, misplaced words “You and I.” The word “us,” which is
the second word in the contraction, “let’s,” provides us with an appositive for
the main subject, “You and I.” Or vice-versa. Perhaps, since it’s written
first, the plural pronoun, “us,” should be hailed as the subject with a
compound appositive, “you and I,” but this is problematic since "we," not"us," would have to be the subject.
Here’s how my final diagrammed sentence would
look. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since
I don’t have a program on my poor little Toshiba laptop that allows drawing my
example, I’ll draw it and add the photograph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here
are my basic grammatical conclusions (subject to change at the drop of a
convincingly dogmatic argument):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Subject</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You and I</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Appositive</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Us</i> (put in
parentheses beside the subject)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Predicate</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let pray</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let</i> is the causative verb with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pray</i> as the intransitive base verb)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Prepositional phrase acting as direct object</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about it</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i> is the
direct object with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> as the
connecting preposition)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because
I couldn’t find any examples of my conclusions concerning the subject, I may
stand alone here. But I think my conclusions are plausible, given the
colloquial construction of the sentence. Try to recognize idiomatic, colloquial
or simply conversational sentences and realize that diagramming them is next to
impossible without changing the construction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it’s been an education for me. Thanks
for following along. I don’t expect many of you have; so to you, the true
grammar-lovers of the world, my hat is off. Keep diagramming. And, should you
ever have a concern that I should know about, be it grammar, recipes or world
conquest, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s you and I pray
about it!”</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let’s you
and I pray about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-57556913817760133232012-02-01T11:28:00.000-05:002012-02-01T11:28:41.379-05:00Grace Notes: New beginnings, sweet and bittersweet memories...<a href="http://becky-gracenotes.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-beginnings-sweet-and-bittersweet.html?spref=fb">Grace Notes: New beginnings, sweet and bittersweet memories...</a>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-24216693656333095432012-02-01T01:38:00.002-05:002012-02-01T01:55:07.137-05:00New beginnings, sweet and bittersweet memories...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zhS-MK2vQMyJTTXIApl9S1te5Yv7NZjkQWYZMY3QuF_XxT2txfLpC0s_LzpZ-QuV25TwSrmGnCvKI3uCCrcYBtodtb7VE1ITwroEa6t2zbfoVQZi2Pfw9X2zV4kXgb5n5X7irwAJCNOJ/s1600/ship+in+storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zhS-MK2vQMyJTTXIApl9S1te5Yv7NZjkQWYZMY3QuF_XxT2txfLpC0s_LzpZ-QuV25TwSrmGnCvKI3uCCrcYBtodtb7VE1ITwroEa6t2zbfoVQZi2Pfw9X2zV4kXgb5n5X7irwAJCNOJ/s400/ship+in+storm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>"I toss upon the waves, but Thou dost steer, </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Thou Who standest at the helm of all that Thou hast made." --Augustine</em></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today is January 31st, at least for a few more hours here in Canton, GA. It's the last day of the first month of a shiny new year. How many memories are tucked away from 2011! Almost too overwhelming to begin listing them, so I'll just throw out a random scatter of photos from 2011. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm so grateful for my friends, my precious family and my memories. We've had some challenges to face in the past 12 months. But the Lord has blessed us abundantly...we are grateful. And yet, we are keenly aware of the losses and crosses others have borne in the past year far greater than ours. Give us grace, Lord. We need your mercy poured out on us in torrents, more than anything else this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPDValooENM92Lu2xonwmTDC0m9NoPs99bImHz_eWr34ioyAHI0iYmxiymSH2jKXEAoFYMM5Oif63qOPCf3Zv9_ZKw4foUJRJzA0ULO15npyhTx-WBdmJ8L-LO42Ymk93j4fZR9y9gtP/s1600/tornado+destruction+-+Virginia+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPDValooENM92Lu2xonwmTDC0m9NoPs99bImHz_eWr34ioyAHI0iYmxiymSH2jKXEAoFYMM5Oif63qOPCf3Zv9_ZKw4foUJRJzA0ULO15npyhTx-WBdmJ8L-LO42Ymk93j4fZR9y9gtP/s320/tornado+destruction+-+Virginia+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tornadoes swept through the South last year, destroying homes, ancient trees and taking loved ones away from us...Lord, help us to think in terms of eternity more than the moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2011 was a landmark year for my webinars as I held the second one and published accompanying study guides. My deep gratitude to Doug and Beall Phillips, dear friends and traveling companions, warriors for King Jesus and His kingdom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a5HNTNu0o5aOSEL8KCjotyFaRwvJ8u5B3tnHlqf_UiznlPdHH_nZV61PAkPwzSla4KABm3ax6v4dWGDsTQ7lFnHosACaOk6_RrE2UD1N4aw_7gSVkJHkzL48uV59baJ5Hmii1i1x35GK/s1600/Doug+%2526+Beall%252C+Eiffel+Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a5HNTNu0o5aOSEL8KCjotyFaRwvJ8u5B3tnHlqf_UiznlPdHH_nZV61PAkPwzSla4KABm3ax6v4dWGDsTQ7lFnHosACaOk6_RrE2UD1N4aw_7gSVkJHkzL48uV59baJ5Hmii1i1x35GK/s320/Doug+%2526+Beall%252C+Eiffel+Tower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doug and Beall Phillips on the Seine in Paris...they are beautiful, n'est pas?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8gvtnpnQmYmxTn8yuqdcgylgeLy_BssZZjwRTsZmmKiuMkp_8FnmIFaYFB-vRafI6jidEopqCOTm_B9Vhm3YMFujXgCKMvRGpuYlWLE8hbbEiJoO4mYlsI0B2JCKtmci81Zy9LN0UZil/s1600/Mercy%2520%2526%2520her%2520siblings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8gvtnpnQmYmxTn8yuqdcgylgeLy_BssZZjwRTsZmmKiuMkp_8FnmIFaYFB-vRafI6jidEopqCOTm_B9Vhm3YMFujXgCKMvRGpuYlWLE8hbbEiJoO4mYlsI0B2JCKtmci81Zy9LN0UZil/s320/Mercy%2520%2526%2520her%2520siblings.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My children were patient with me during all those webinars....weren't you?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP2-EbFp2gjZz1Lot_FDxPJuDqVxmYJxgHxcmlvDPGGjWzEGczEfTRrhH3TR-TT5q4WSpmIhp6o-KulM7FDGZHIiTXF78zfwDKdwz89CQ_3Wl19xPfXoge3lFvcC-FDuxOLMP1pjnOoQf/s1600/Becky's+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP2-EbFp2gjZz1Lot_FDxPJuDqVxmYJxgHxcmlvDPGGjWzEGczEfTRrhH3TR-TT5q4WSpmIhp6o-KulM7FDGZHIiTXF78zfwDKdwz89CQ_3Wl19xPfXoge3lFvcC-FDuxOLMP1pjnOoQf/s320/Becky's+children.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My darlin's</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The summary of my webinars: Write right, right?</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPPOAoX2K2hVFSynCgfybh0HZcbs8ZIa9CXoW8NAddGSbfyyy_jxBJmbvizttOCEdXaSkdtlBuI2EUH8HcuKds_YMUGNxcrU4Hmg2gUHEDv7vN6rgR3mnyywv7UtM0Pslf9OQNA_lBkX/s1600/becky+writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPPOAoX2K2hVFSynCgfybh0HZcbs8ZIa9CXoW8NAddGSbfyyy_jxBJmbvizttOCEdXaSkdtlBuI2EUH8HcuKds_YMUGNxcrU4Hmg2gUHEDv7vN6rgR3mnyywv7UtM0Pslf9OQNA_lBkX/s320/becky+writing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..writing, proofing, editing...my study guides were finally finished!!<br />
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Mercy took the photos, played the online roles, created the power points and ran the technical side...what a girl.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2va-_i8rTTFkxVs8BdL9orm_nmPuJ1a3XIG-DekPKrqZzRNrw8WisdR7KzLenMFM5k6oNPPkBMW44ACGC9NQYQ9zvRtX978Imw4uuKbDYQxSu07t19F_x9xf40rkimt7Pbhyphenhyphen2_MzKeVX/s1600/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2va-_i8rTTFkxVs8BdL9orm_nmPuJ1a3XIG-DekPKrqZzRNrw8WisdR7KzLenMFM5k6oNPPkBMW44ACGC9NQYQ9zvRtX978Imw4uuKbDYQxSu07t19F_x9xf40rkimt7Pbhyphenhyphen2_MzKeVX/s320/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I love hats! More hats in 2012!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruKY6bJMLQKw-2M2KrTkV4z4qM701iP7KzoTK9atFf22vWuPV3J45WSdr3BxCkT-rgpv7oMgx0-PDyjiEQtbMv9g-8u3L4XVmg5swvLB2CVPX5McvitTUK9XTi6gppyAsuXyivispDFnY/s1600/MJS_3804+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruKY6bJMLQKw-2M2KrTkV4z4qM701iP7KzoTK9atFf22vWuPV3J45WSdr3BxCkT-rgpv7oMgx0-PDyjiEQtbMv9g-8u3L4XVmg5swvLB2CVPX5McvitTUK9XTi6gppyAsuXyivispDFnY/s320/MJS_3804+%252817%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Morecraft's second online writing webinar used the metaphor of food--we enjoyed a "cyber tea party."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6CG9wgS4VeseyiTXkrC-szn7BmHZAKWFzf_zhqMiYnpwR18HNOEHEXUESzvB9i3JmJ-tHxMmctsHa3Qd-NSk5O3Dh5IZHCiLtEMxHh6-xU27jIf3y5A4ZTD9R3H-mRu8Rkd62Nx-E6FV/s1600/IMG_3331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6CG9wgS4VeseyiTXkrC-szn7BmHZAKWFzf_zhqMiYnpwR18HNOEHEXUESzvB9i3JmJ-tHxMmctsHa3Qd-NSk5O3Dh5IZHCiLtEMxHh6-xU27jIf3y5A4ZTD9R3H-mRu8Rkd62Nx-E6FV/s320/IMG_3331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We had a visit or two from dear friends from a faraway land...Texas...sweet!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysktZW23E6baHzwNyp-w3agU_lz0-Xa7eehEVuc9CZoSGqnlOwYAPnwxZrjb-SHELfDHOd04h9njduwlg47_4SGRCgYGlmMthdE-wsfNKg6YgfvaGfat1IgB7_lS4fQ1INu7bQIyHnSJ/s1600/Mercy+and+a+new+friend+in+Kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysktZW23E6baHzwNyp-w3agU_lz0-Xa7eehEVuc9CZoSGqnlOwYAPnwxZrjb-SHELfDHOd04h9njduwlg47_4SGRCgYGlmMthdE-wsfNKg6YgfvaGfat1IgB7_lS4fQ1INu7bQIyHnSJ/s320/Mercy+and+a+new+friend+in+Kenya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy went to Kenya with the Chanceys for two months and on her way home, side-tripped to London and Paris with her sister, Anne. Her passport was stolen in Paris, so they had to stay an extra five days...so hard to be stuck in Paris!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymU6pyV3OIphm3gARxaVg3II_zKc_iIWeVpjbtUc-sQDruWn6WhMGIr13jmcSknjcFYWl6PF0QdOI3DGoctIUyHlPwBwJmg3jPYl4bCyx8f9reka2B5LNBxHHhyphenhyphen2IfItLhKO-_MIIUK6r/s1600/Anne+and+Mercy+at+Notre+Dame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymU6pyV3OIphm3gARxaVg3II_zKc_iIWeVpjbtUc-sQDruWn6WhMGIr13jmcSknjcFYWl6PF0QdOI3DGoctIUyHlPwBwJmg3jPYl4bCyx8f9reka2B5LNBxHHhyphenhyphen2IfItLhKO-_MIIUK6r/s320/Anne+and+Mercy+at+Notre+Dame.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Notre Dame<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx1EJEIqQiJ4rwq8TcY2i-cCRlTG1996YREFkMsXsD1m07viyjQMHjGEy6L7qqdxHfOgQ5Xpx-8zLdJvS4rGo52dqsTVpCaRft1lImOaz8isbHOOG1E9Y-_HvMshjfS6eCZp1Ar_C1ZIH/s1600/Izzy+%2526+Clara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx1EJEIqQiJ4rwq8TcY2i-cCRlTG1996YREFkMsXsD1m07viyjQMHjGEy6L7qqdxHfOgQ5Xpx-8zLdJvS4rGo52dqsTVpCaRft1lImOaz8isbHOOG1E9Y-_HvMshjfS6eCZp1Ar_C1ZIH/s320/Izzy+%2526+Clara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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My two Morecraft granddaughters, Izalou and Clara Hope--nothing quite like sisters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y2Tl8l7hXJfnxmtHjFoa5jOFQZzxT8lAY9sl6ngieixHOQdyM9BUcJTaomiouW1uknVYyZ7VPWrecXU-sZAkDXSjJRCIpj0PQ-LJbGeFqhTuCGy_St8d5VbktgJ-DP86SmBw4dMr9Uwb/s1600/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y2Tl8l7hXJfnxmtHjFoa5jOFQZzxT8lAY9sl6ngieixHOQdyM9BUcJTaomiouW1uknVYyZ7VPWrecXU-sZAkDXSjJRCIpj0PQ-LJbGeFqhTuCGy_St8d5VbktgJ-DP86SmBw4dMr9Uwb/s320/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in May, 2012, Clara will be a big sister!! And Asa will be the big brother! John and Kim will know all about joyful chaos...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjKdQW6IxdLsmGS3-ni8tHlub4qP4vOhkIwoEGI8Xf_dOEH7Cn4I-3w3C3TBu1_ZD600qRr5tFQg3az6J3KKAshBl6mm5-4CmH4A42gqkFCvP3kVliaayV67bykcfJRfVaYltMzxpTEYl/s1600/Asa%252C+beautiful+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjKdQW6IxdLsmGS3-ni8tHlub4qP4vOhkIwoEGI8Xf_dOEH7Cn4I-3w3C3TBu1_ZD600qRr5tFQg3az6J3KKAshBl6mm5-4CmH4A42gqkFCvP3kVliaayV67bykcfJRfVaYltMzxpTEYl/s320/Asa%252C+beautiful+boy.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Sweet Asa<br />
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Sisters!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJdZLVbwk4GBwA6jX1g9RbPj8tkRtqqWHfBz_WTIhd4ru_-HJAI0SA6CIkiZ0BhfYqwq5g3DdfaAgj4vRZ_t5VUGXuYYqB6n3BOIwULleAe5tPZLg9rs3gAqesTveIUJlhdEBtVJCpqrt/s1600/Joe+and+his+sons+at+the+beach+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJdZLVbwk4GBwA6jX1g9RbPj8tkRtqqWHfBz_WTIhd4ru_-HJAI0SA6CIkiZ0BhfYqwq5g3DdfaAgj4vRZ_t5VUGXuYYqB6n3BOIwULleAe5tPZLg9rs3gAqesTveIUJlhdEBtVJCpqrt/s320/Joe+and+his+sons+at+the+beach+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Joe and his boys<br />
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And speaking of sisters, the Scarborough girls had a momentous year with a move from Augusta to Columbus, GA, where their daddy has started a new clinic, MercyMed, ministering medicine and hope through Christ to the needy there.<br />
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More sisters...my sweet Scarborough grandgirls.<br />
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...more sisters<br />
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My sweet son-in-law and his girls (couple of years ago)<br />
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All the lovely Scarboroughs in 2011--Grant, Anne, Jane, Anita, Jessie and Mary Piper<br />
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Grandson Charlie (Joseph Charles Morecraft, V) turned four this month...his baby brother is due any moment!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFM5O0Hr6WcJuO8sWDyWxUoCKMbbcNSK4OQ-rxZkyNoVkjTclcbjzyzr0RAn7WceY77cS2B_A9I3UULBNoS09STz_naR8zR5Slx6dSltzmwnbYLD0IshcYULuVzdQzb4g54z8LH8IevMg/s1600/Greyfrier%2527s+churchyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFM5O0Hr6WcJuO8sWDyWxUoCKMbbcNSK4OQ-rxZkyNoVkjTclcbjzyzr0RAn7WceY77cS2B_A9I3UULBNoS09STz_naR8zR5Slx6dSltzmwnbYLD0IshcYULuVzdQzb4g54z8LH8IevMg/s320/Greyfrier%2527s+churchyard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were in Edinburgh at Greyfriars Kirkyard...again...still amazing. Iona was also incredible...the weather was crisp but sunny for three whole days...we can't wait to go back!<br />
We were also in Normany for the 67th anniversary of D-day, in Paris and London--we saw the 25th anniversary performance of "Phantom of the Opera"...and so much more!! More photos later, I hope.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l2RjfBx2j-kjHRq1XJWLtT_mFDbdnGiTZs5hQe6kXYUBCZeeFX1pLYM5aSVgYI2flmeTlo3aSE45pqkSVh1HpcBukMBTAUwi7UHMM4dTQL0ktIUg19cqPgTjM9o64jg6Xmt5WQCaPB1d/s1600/IMG_3647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l2RjfBx2j-kjHRq1XJWLtT_mFDbdnGiTZs5hQe6kXYUBCZeeFX1pLYM5aSVgYI2flmeTlo3aSE45pqkSVh1HpcBukMBTAUwi7UHMM4dTQL0ktIUg19cqPgTjM9o64jg6Xmt5WQCaPB1d/s320/IMG_3647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was blessed to be with the warriors...the Allens...in early September...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgAGR-VpHJgqU4TX7QHE44VcbH2QBfCiJ48OpWPj3V2g6KBOpNqua5a7Qas5W_UDk7x1f7duN2WJZDx62BCtf4momJm5KEOwVj9P78UWhu1RSb-saz8XqvBpe4yx5oLcQbQSHv-epgQxD/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgAGR-VpHJgqU4TX7QHE44VcbH2QBfCiJ48OpWPj3V2g6KBOpNqua5a7Qas5W_UDk7x1f7duN2WJZDx62BCtf4momJm5KEOwVj9P78UWhu1RSb-saz8XqvBpe4yx5oLcQbQSHv-epgQxD/s320/IMG_3629.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindsay and Brantley got married!</td></tr>
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Things I want to see and do more of in 2012...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqoYeA4oq0FN3Lqx6F6ipS5pNnz4xwtx5Hl4spu35cmobqUoYV1A1wspjmZ5TF6MpXjUcvIDfRT4uhNhc3RlbdKHNgGwe_huLtxDT69rzlH9d9UT83Z-mBdOFGrUNuPOLOyIAIP2hxCok/s1600/IMG_3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqoYeA4oq0FN3Lqx6F6ipS5pNnz4xwtx5Hl4spu35cmobqUoYV1A1wspjmZ5TF6MpXjUcvIDfRT4uhNhc3RlbdKHNgGwe_huLtxDT69rzlH9d9UT83Z-mBdOFGrUNuPOLOyIAIP2hxCok/s320/IMG_3360.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... visits by friends from far-away lands like Texas...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLtXxpo7KtY_UVIQ0EyQOX1wT_9rkWF9nQfJiP9vbu24XxGAYxe_FD_KAHFqvpTPtr_mnnjmcoNBP6FuafSC0b13q29564ciDiyt9Jhqs8xgqlc1BfaNs_pAt_PraSfnS95GnLbFpCN0/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblLtXxpo7KtY_UVIQ0EyQOX1wT_9rkWF9nQfJiP9vbu24XxGAYxe_FD_KAHFqvpTPtr_mnnjmcoNBP6FuafSC0b13q29564ciDiyt9Jhqs8xgqlc1BfaNs_pAt_PraSfnS95GnLbFpCN0/s320/IMG_3352.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sing with my sister Judy ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPZYkNkOs-F5ZItEQrrYaMyGK8aOjndRp0VhSR0x6MK5hnZGWo4Zd8A_vCJ0P3aHJcxj71sGZC909rZmjWfxy6gMn2BvcMo1Lu5hcmtsoipfSrYMpRpC9XA-KrQC1AoTVcOCtlQmjMswE/s1600/summer+and+fall+2011+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPZYkNkOs-F5ZItEQrrYaMyGK8aOjndRp0VhSR0x6MK5hnZGWo4Zd8A_vCJ0P3aHJcxj71sGZC909rZmjWfxy6gMn2BvcMo1Lu5hcmtsoipfSrYMpRpC9XA-KrQC1AoTVcOCtlQmjMswE/s320/summer+and+fall+2011+036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...see more people coming to worship at Chalcedon Presbyterian in Cumming...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6Ufn3XIzeD8l7MVdXD0xofMgSq-cOFt9zuh_kf_FtvvMP0il4RdTxm4XJ5ErYwt2BWZnUmIXHSs9Ewn6c6Idkk4JdXNWtjVCtqO0svfdrWVYtvzn-royXvU0pHr7HM3I_F913QOVYL6k/s1600/summer+and+fall+2011+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6Ufn3XIzeD8l7MVdXD0xofMgSq-cOFt9zuh_kf_FtvvMP0il4RdTxm4XJ5ErYwt2BWZnUmIXHSs9Ewn6c6Idkk4JdXNWtjVCtqO0svfdrWVYtvzn-royXvU0pHr7HM3I_F913QOVYL6k/s320/summer+and+fall+2011+068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spend time with friends I love but see too little of...like Kathy McDonald...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC8aJTdqcdto8yUkOyqzuhigcE_gEDQhsfyde_mqHl_Nu1Hj0NyFm5wSzeQBbK3s1HaLz3u6yJ-fke7OJ1bNrFffRkJtO1MvjVopz-fsn2IdHS76I9vI109qeUAJCUSsNGX5AbDNxL9dg/s1600/morecraftbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC8aJTdqcdto8yUkOyqzuhigcE_gEDQhsfyde_mqHl_Nu1Hj0NyFm5wSzeQBbK3s1HaLz3u6yJ-fke7OJ1bNrFffRkJtO1MvjVopz-fsn2IdHS76I9vI109qeUAJCUSsNGX5AbDNxL9dg/s320/morecraftbeach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go to San Blas again with my children and grandchildren...we missed it last year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxze6DWE0VAuiZAysW2TsDQF8daVoNk_KLg0oixSOFa95s-kFv0XX00y8PLy8saED4aHJwys_D6jfvRAdvmJ3iAefLKoWFdmd4YUPEbhGhucw372cpQ1w5LEi5RFua7kiHFroqCpVgwh7M/s1600/Becky+%2526+Joe%252C+New+Year%2527s+Eve+at+the+Browns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxze6DWE0VAuiZAysW2TsDQF8daVoNk_KLg0oixSOFa95s-kFv0XX00y8PLy8saED4aHJwys_D6jfvRAdvmJ3iAefLKoWFdmd4YUPEbhGhucw372cpQ1w5LEi5RFua7kiHFroqCpVgwh7M/s320/Becky+%2526+Joe%252C+New+Year%2527s+Eve+at+the+Browns.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pray my dear husband's numb hand is healed this year...please pray with me for that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmaE3NnuYe33ZJniSpAWbF67ydWONLxN6PPiyXpcbz1cKicKGrjTjUVoLzvBZ3dFKxBXuun4zfvhMGAP9Meo9zMCazjKt64xCDdzIuulzHBr4K-PG9UImiVTgPpoEtfOc1TBcATYxo93C/s1600/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmaE3NnuYe33ZJniSpAWbF67ydWONLxN6PPiyXpcbz1cKicKGrjTjUVoLzvBZ3dFKxBXuun4zfvhMGAP9Meo9zMCazjKt64xCDdzIuulzHBr4K-PG9UImiVTgPpoEtfOc1TBcATYxo93C/s320/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want to read more to my grandchildren...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CQ_7nJv4cntcu7_JC5l5Q6l_WvblK1HucAFcjgqr4FDW2MpWdyxgAuo5KikL39O2NfEmirVX35kApzC5bSli42uOcxw7RyxJgleWGnORV3GrlYT6ewqVnuQjzTN2cNPysTDyFE1VvNLr/s1600/Becky+%2526+Doug+singing+lustily+and+with+good+courage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CQ_7nJv4cntcu7_JC5l5Q6l_WvblK1HucAFcjgqr4FDW2MpWdyxgAuo5KikL39O2NfEmirVX35kApzC5bSli42uOcxw7RyxJgleWGnORV3GrlYT6ewqVnuQjzTN2cNPysTDyFE1VvNLr/s320/Becky+%2526+Doug+singing+lustily+and+with+good+courage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want to sing! With Doug Phillips, my sister, my church choir, Joseph Bowman, my family and just sing alone to the Lord!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Fl7HLm6YT3JQxkzcl9F4mv5VAVCNAEuzMSa2qA9MDizOhXGSjRBH744QBt2bbqV41tlQ4BsZ8xjKr27zDgc5SnRQdh3DEJUkiZSh_wImjjOoicC-KY8xwkLdZxYBePDpNvEChAUweUkh/s1600/mom+%2526+dad%252C+63+years+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Fl7HLm6YT3JQxkzcl9F4mv5VAVCNAEuzMSa2qA9MDizOhXGSjRBH744QBt2bbqV41tlQ4BsZ8xjKr27zDgc5SnRQdh3DEJUkiZSh_wImjjOoicC-KY8xwkLdZxYBePDpNvEChAUweUkh/s320/mom+%2526+dad%252C+63+years+together.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want to spend more time with my wonderful parents and brothers and their families in Virginia...<br />
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Hugh and Kerry Belcher, my dear brothers<br />
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Well, I've let it slip into February...I was too caught up in the photos to watch the clock! But I'll still say one last time as I intended to in the first month of the year...may God bless each of you with a year full to the brim of joy in trusting Him in all things! Happy New Year!<br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-77257821421357350012011-05-02T16:49:00.001-04:002011-05-02T17:07:44.272-04:00Asking the right questions: Why not me?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPDValooENM92Lu2xonwmTDC0m9NoPs99bImHz_eWr34ioyAHI0iYmxiymSH2jKXEAoFYMM5Oif63qOPCf3Zv9_ZKw4foUJRJzA0ULO15npyhTx-WBdmJ8L-LO42Ymk93j4fZR9y9gtP/s1600/tornado+destruction+-+Virginia+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIPDValooENM92Lu2xonwmTDC0m9NoPs99bImHz_eWr34ioyAHI0iYmxiymSH2jKXEAoFYMM5Oif63qOPCf3Zv9_ZKw4foUJRJzA0ULO15npyhTx-WBdmJ8L-LO42Ymk93j4fZR9y9gtP/s320/tornado+destruction+-+Virginia+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have wept over the losses my friends and total strangers have suffered this past week, some of them gone from this earth forever. One thought came to mind continuously: why them and not me? Why all those beautiful trees swept away and not mine? Why those quaint little towns and homes, churches and businesses worked for sometimes for years and not ours? Why those children, husbands, fathers, mothers and grandmothers and grandfathers taken and not me and mine? I do not have a rational answer to these questions. I would like to think it is because somehow I deserve God's favor, but, with David, "My sin(s) (are) ever before my face." There must be other reasons that I can't comprehend.<br />
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Noah was righteous in the sight of God and God spared him and his family while destroying the rest of the world. I, however, sense my unrighteousness keenly. I love the Lord, but often my priorities become skewed and my conscience seared concerning areas of my life that I should address but tend to ignore. <br />
I am undeserving of God's mercy; and yet last week, He chose to take some of His children home to glory and leave me, a poor, struggling sinner, here for a while. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Deluge," by artist Francis Danby c. 1837</td></tr>
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Here are some thoughts that have come to me from all of this: <br />
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<u>My first thought is this</u>: Like many of the folks who died during these tornadoes I may not have any warning when God takes me from this life. God may choose to take me out of this life with a fraction of a second to cry out to Him or say good-bye to loved ones or I may have no warning at all. Therefore, I must strive with all my being to live like someone who expects to die. Not living with dread and fear of death in some sort of morbid premonition that the sword hanging over my head is about to fall any second; but rather in a way that looks death in the face without fear because of Christ’s salvation, saying with the poet John Donne, "Death, be not proud...for, death, thou shalt die." The only way to live like this is to keep short accounts with sin and with our brothers and sisters, confessing our faults quickly and thoroughly, asking forgiveness sincerely and striving to mend broken relationships. Joe likes to quote someone as saying, "Live in such a way that when you die, that's all you have left to do," living in such a way that you have no regrets at the end of life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HP9G_Fo_-CVNQW7xOY9GQEQhyphenhyphenY19qOcdu6H06aB5YO6Nn233fEUqJEfN_TC-twYUnH-6_rtflbEoVx88MHGcVaqJNEccF5xzKCkpnclmTv63QSD3eKoeRBc6FHdITUGzrnnDlI8LXf7N/s1600/Noah%2527s+ark+Subsiding_Waters_of_Deluge_Thomas_Cole1829_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HP9G_Fo_-CVNQW7xOY9GQEQhyphenhyphenY19qOcdu6H06aB5YO6Nn233fEUqJEfN_TC-twYUnH-6_rtflbEoVx88MHGcVaqJNEccF5xzKCkpnclmTv63QSD3eKoeRBc6FHdITUGzrnnDlI8LXf7N/s200/Noah%2527s+ark+Subsiding_Waters_of_Deluge_Thomas_Cole1829_small.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Subsiding Waters of the Deluge," by Thomas Cole 1829</td></tr>
</tbody></table><u>Secondly</u>, I am faced with the cheerful though challenging thought that God isn't finished with me yet. He has left me here at least for today in order to accomplish something important for His glory. If you are reading this, you are also still alive, but you and I are dying. The newborn infant begins the steady march towards death with his first breath. What a gruesome idea, you may be thinking! What a morbid thought! It is a realistic and a sobering thought, is it not? God make us for Himself and our lives must have a sense of sobriety about them along with all the rejoicing that recognizes we will not abide on this earth in this frail body forever. When the new heavens and new earth are brought into being, then we will live in our re-created, perfect bodies on a perfectly recreated earth forever. Hallelujah! I can hardly wait sometimes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y2Tl8l7hXJfnxmtHjFoa5jOFQZzxT8lAY9sl6ngieixHOQdyM9BUcJTaomiouW1uknVYyZ7VPWrecXU-sZAkDXSjJRCIpj0PQ-LJbGeFqhTuCGy_St8d5VbktgJ-DP86SmBw4dMr9Uwb/s1600/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Y2Tl8l7hXJfnxmtHjFoa5jOFQZzxT8lAY9sl6ngieixHOQdyM9BUcJTaomiouW1uknVYyZ7VPWrecXU-sZAkDXSjJRCIpj0PQ-LJbGeFqhTuCGy_St8d5VbktgJ-DP86SmBw4dMr9Uwb/s200/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my eighth grandbaby sleeping on her mama</td></tr>
</tbody></table> But then at other times, as I look into the faces of those I love or at the beauty of God's creation, I want to exclaim with the poet, "Oh, world! I cannot hold thee close enough." I rejoice in my family and my friends, in my gifts and graces as I employ them to encourage others. It distresses me to look around at the destruction wrought by tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, floods, mudslides, explosions, falling trees, wild animals, sickness and disease, the actions of sinful men and women, and I find myself thinking, "Why? Why does a perfectly good and sovereign God bring such things to pass? Why can't it all be perfect now?" He could make it all good if He would. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS_zvnvr4IscrCz_u64gGXNB5UIviT60gGKP0oh1EzAmWtbLeTlASFIVcMUED3M800PS4ASjnJOItwgdRmtt3Oz-d6wzKWQcyuyvj78xM0wmWJA-HGzUDGwHHnH2TywbuDBdkF4dzvl66/s1600/Scotland+413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS_zvnvr4IscrCz_u64gGXNB5UIviT60gGKP0oh1EzAmWtbLeTlASFIVcMUED3M800PS4ASjnJOItwgdRmtt3Oz-d6wzKWQcyuyvj78xM0wmWJA-HGzUDGwHHnH2TywbuDBdkF4dzvl66/s200/Scotland+413.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe and Honor Phillips at Kilmartin graveyard in Scotland</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Here’s where good theology comes into play. God is the sum of His perfections. He is His attributes. He is not only all-powerful, He is also all-wise, just, holy, good, true and all the rest. I acknowledge that I am a finite creature, created for and by Him for His glory to do His good pleasure. I must rest there and let go of questions that are futile and meaningless in the light of eternity and the vastness of an infinite God Who alone knows the end from the beginning. Isa. 46 <br />
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Questions will come. We are created in the image of God Who is a personal being. Although He does not have a body or parts and emotions like His creatures, we are like Him in that we are personal, relational beings. We love to be loved. We crave interaction with Him and with other men and women. We glory in the work of our hands because God also loved His creation. When people we love or our works are destroyed, we grieve and suffer. The Bible recognizes this reaction as a natural one. We are told to “Rejoice with those who rejoice and grieve with those who grieve.” The Bible is full of many instances of those whose lives were devastated by loss, Job being a primary example. During these hard times, times of crisis, how do we handle the questions that come? When I have doubts and questions, griefs and sorrows, here’s what I ask God to help me do: <br />
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I try to focus my mind on what I know to be true about God, especially during times of crisis. <br />
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What do I know? <br />
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1. I know that the God Who planned and carried out the redemption of His elect through the death and resurrection of His only Son has a perfect plan for my life and the lives of all His creatures. All my days were planned out for me before I was created. Neither I nor any other person can lengthen or shorten my life. I am safe in the hollow of His hand. Psalm 139:16<br />
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2. I know that nothing can thwart God’s plan. No one, not the most sinful man who has ever lived, not even Satan himself, can cause anything to go wrong in God’s universe, for God is in control. He is the one true and living God, sovereign over all His creation, the God of providence Who is able to deliver His people from their enemies. No man can stay His hand from doing all His holy will. Psalm 45:5f<br />
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I can only see the immediate scene, the winds and the waves that cause me to fear. Despite my brave determination, when I start to sink beneath the sea of my sorrow and doubts, Christ Himself comes to me, through His powerful Word and Spirit, and brings me up out of the waves. I cannot walk on water. I cannot calm the storms of this life, but Christ Jesus my Savior can. Psalm 138:7<br />
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Augustine said: “I toss upon the waves; but Thou dost steer – Thou Who standeth at the helm of all things Thou hast made.”<br />
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3. I know that God is working all these things together for our ultimate good and His glory as He said He would. Rom. 8:28<br />
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4. I know that God made me to live faithfully in the light of what I know to be true, trusting Him for each day's strength and looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, to carry me through to the end of life, singing "Amazing Grace," and "Great is Thy Faithfulness," though death is staring me in the face. <br />
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5. I know I can trust Him, even in the dark.<br />
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Knowing all these things, I will not fear but trust the One Who knows the exact number of breaths I will take because He has mapped out my life for me. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> -- in the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, Scotland</td></tr>
</tbody></table> May this be my daily prayer: “I believe, Lord; help Thou my unbelief. I am still alive -- show me what to do today.”<br />
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Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-4916101607111852262011-04-02T15:04:00.005-04:002011-04-03T20:59:53.144-04:00The Spring Writing Contest ... Come and Dine!<div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NUsqPp-imBANh7fWO46Q7rU3jZP1VYWmr3OWEebuUFsLi8flzQKEyQEYXcPNxQ7VNw3FU-RFg1EL0_Jhu74M1uylhbH7kRKhfxi1DcdHauQBH7cxTzNGFn-INlG8clvDofbKM413Q_tT/s1600/mercys+pics+1+296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NUsqPp-imBANh7fWO46Q7rU3jZP1VYWmr3OWEebuUFsLi8flzQKEyQEYXcPNxQ7VNw3FU-RFg1EL0_Jhu74M1uylhbH7kRKhfxi1DcdHauQBH7cxTzNGFn-INlG8clvDofbKM413Q_tT/s320/mercys+pics+1+296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the heart-shaped tomato that changed my life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"The summer I turned 14, just two days before my birthday, Mama sent me out to the garden to gather the ripe tomatoes, bell peppers and yellow crook-necked squash. I didn't mind so much picking those soft, hot tomatoes sagging with juicy goodness from the heavily-laden vines; but when she told me to harvest the okra before it got too big to eat, I frowned. I hate cutting okra. Not only do the prickly spines make my arms and hands itch, the sap that drips from the cut my knife makes coats my fingers with its sticky goo, then the gnats, mosquitoes and flies seem to hover over me just waiting to nip and chew at my arms. Disgusting! I don't even like okra -- not even dipped in egg and cornmeal and fried up in bacon grease. Well, if I was starving I might eat a few cooked like that, but never stewed with onions and tomatoes. <br />
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"I have a confession to make though. Despite my less than perfect attitude, if I had not dutifully gone to gather the ripe tomatoes and other vegetables from the garden that day, life would have continued on its dull course without the amazing series of events that has led to all my happiness since. You see, on that day, I plucked a heart-shaped tomato and my life took a turn that I would never have expected and could never have planned."<br />
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Are you interested in my little story yet? I wanted to illustrate how it's possible to include food in a story without making it entirely about the food itself. Maybe I'll finish the story if enough people beg ;-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwjjat39xvUud9Alx5LiNIUIYNHu5gsifqyH13WZYOxIq0U1by3p7Lc-ZLZpoNVtYM3Z25wMWMkepb33WANtsOBMFZog3nxWtGt85tJszeFTybbofaSg9xevzEeWLlMV2bMUAnVWF8DAT/s1600/mercys+pics+1+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwjjat39xvUud9Alx5LiNIUIYNHu5gsifqyH13WZYOxIq0U1by3p7Lc-ZLZpoNVtYM3Z25wMWMkepb33WANtsOBMFZog3nxWtGt85tJszeFTybbofaSg9xevzEeWLlMV2bMUAnVWF8DAT/s200/mercys+pics+1+293.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Delights</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I wrote this little vignette to lead into our <strong>Writing Contest Rule #1: please write about food</strong>. Food can be at the heart of your story (pun intended since mine is about a heart-shaped tomato), or simply included in some way. You can base your story, poem or article/essay on whatever premise suits you, but food must enter into to it at some point. That should set your brain to ticking right away, I hope!<br />
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1. Food must be included in the story, essay/article or poem in some way.<br />
2. Contestants must have taken "Mrs. Morecraft’s Writing Webinar," either I or II, or both. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5vabc43HqUpo7oQxj86xM08L_NZraEzxyXgU5aMWNLEDRIOnKDKyPt2sbcIb235V213APKCROElL8zxhIbD5dTvdsKU_OtAqfAxXAh1ashpFA93GAPwNGgl38It6QVy1axMNART3VsrV/s1600/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5vabc43HqUpo7oQxj86xM08L_NZraEzxyXgU5aMWNLEDRIOnKDKyPt2sbcIb235V213APKCROElL8zxhIbD5dTvdsKU_OtAqfAxXAh1ashpFA93GAPwNGgl38It6QVy1axMNART3VsrV/s320/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
3. Contestants may enter as many times as they wish, noting that there will be a $10. entry fee for each entry.<br />
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4. The word limit for each entry is 1,200 words.<br />
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5. The contest submission time-frame is from April 15th to June 30th. The deadline for submission will be midnight, EST, June 30th.<br />
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6. Submissions should be made in hard-copy form, printed on plain paper in 12 or larger font, one and one-half inch spacing, and mailed, along with a check made out to Rebecca Morecraft with $10. per submission to: 300 Wrights Mill Way, Canton, GA 30115. Be sure to allow at least five days' time for me to receive it if mailed in the continental US. If you would like, you may also submit your entry to <a href="mailto:mrs.morecraft@gmail.com">mrs.morecraft@gmail.com</a> However, the hard-copy is required for entry in the contest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijONO1eFqZtfLpn4OJe3J6yy0Ekd0pMJcxgPz4wEu3dLVuKL__1HTTGlLJvRt9i2VRB7NtKr-mwRVH1rpbY6NhJboO8HsufSJiUA8WVY5IPkuYNbFq76Hx81O_SNpEIgkLjXYJK4FHpo0i/s1600/Becky+at+J%2527town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijONO1eFqZtfLpn4OJe3J6yy0Ekd0pMJcxgPz4wEu3dLVuKL__1HTTGlLJvRt9i2VRB7NtKr-mwRVH1rpbY6NhJboO8HsufSJiUA8WVY5IPkuYNbFq76Hx81O_SNpEIgkLjXYJK4FHpo0i/s320/Becky+at+J%2527town.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Rebecca Morecraft, the Poet-Laureate of the Vision Forum Quadricentennial Celebration at Jamestown, VA in 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table>7. Winners will be informed in an email of their achievements, so be sure to include an email address where you can be reached.<br />
<br />
8. Prizes will include: editing by Mrs. Morecraft and her panel of judges, our efforts to have your winning entry published, either in a periodical or another venue, and various other books or prizes that will delight and inform, such as:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOOno7IjGQBdIFuH79SRa17UUwZ3_xQh4Ghooo0KQaVOziL_WAgOnam83h1pl1u8zXo4BQ_d3qws8t5reUYF7EklLMA3haCsIOaHdV9D5dD7KHL9-QvIM5XelkrQFB3njsh8NhjaBOEBj/s1600/Webster%2527s+1828+Dictionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOOno7IjGQBdIFuH79SRa17UUwZ3_xQh4Ghooo0KQaVOziL_WAgOnam83h1pl1u8zXo4BQ_d3qws8t5reUYF7EklLMA3haCsIOaHdV9D5dD7KHL9-QvIM5XelkrQFB3njsh8NhjaBOEBj/s320/Webster%2527s+1828+Dictionary.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would make a great first-place prize!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>9. After the winners have been chosen and notified, the winning entries will be posted on my blog with the permission of the authors. <br />
10. Have fun!<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Suggestions for writing a winning entry</strong>: follow my example and Edit, Edit, Edit!!! You are almost never through editing as you rearrange, find better words, correct misspelled words and grammar, check punctuation, critique and accept suggestions, read your work aloud and edit some more!!! I still edit work that has already been published!! Really, I do...<br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPPOAoX2K2hVFSynCgfybh0HZcbs8ZIa9CXoW8NAddGSbfyyy_jxBJmbvizttOCEdXaSkdtlBuI2EUH8HcuKds_YMUGNxcrU4Hmg2gUHEDv7vN6rgR3mnyywv7UtM0Pslf9OQNA_lBkX/s1600/becky+writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrPPOAoX2K2hVFSynCgfybh0HZcbs8ZIa9CXoW8NAddGSbfyyy_jxBJmbvizttOCEdXaSkdtlBuI2EUH8HcuKds_YMUGNxcrU4Hmg2gUHEDv7vN6rgR3mnyywv7UtM0Pslf9OQNA_lBkX/s320/becky+writing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Morecraft continued to edit her Jamestown 400 poem, "Remember & Persevere," even after she read it there!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Judging criteria</span></strong>:</div><br />
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Each entry will be judged by the following criteria:<br />
<br />
1. grammatical accuracy <br />
<br />
2. strong, imaginative imagery that avoids using tired, trite phrases, jargon or slang (unless the dialogue calls for it)<br />
<br />
3. good lead sentences and first paragraphs, where applicable<br />
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4. clearly understood development of the theme or thesis, where applicable<br />
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5. a strong concluding paragraph <br />
<br />
6. good sentence structure with strong nouns, verbs and properly used modifiers<br />
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7. for rhyming poems, strict adherence to the chosen meter <br />
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8. for all poems, whether rhymed or blank verse, strong, palpable imagery appropriate to the subject <br />
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9. in poetry, skillful use of internal rhyme where applicable<br />
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10. themes that capture interest for both poetry and prose <br />
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11. did the writing grab and keep our interest throughout, or was the piece<br />
<br />
too rhetorical (instructional with little to keep interest in a storyline)<br />
<br />
too artificial (either too silly and unbelievable or impossible situations)<br />
<br />
boring<br />
<br />
too ‘wordy’<br />
<br />
12. With articles and essays, did the writer make and prove a point well? Was the thesis sentence stated clearly at the beginning and logically proved throughout? Did the piece have a strong conclusion?<br />
<br />
13. In all types of writing, did the writer strike a chord with us so that we wanted to keep reading and felt satisfied when we finished reading it? We were either entertained, inspired or moved? Or was the piece easy to put down, even before the end? Was it enjoyable?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This final point is often the deciding factor for judges. If your writing moves us in some way that keeps us reading, holds our interest and leaves us wanting more, your submission has more winning potential than a piece that follows all the rules but doesn’t inspire, delight or instruct. Learning to grip your reader's emotions, not through soupy sentimental writing but in a way that strikes a chord in the heart, is more given than learned. Ask God for this ability as you write. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtErqi6WVQbdTQtuTcZJ6_jW7mn0_pONKM0-igEYE4nXiFwUdWDsJJ8e8s5sYGBcLDhX41r0xz3t5Athjc1MzuBb2sldsFCe-K0ZVyqyVh1aznoPOVy_qaYAvHRVM45mgGUNrSB38p1MQ/s1600/Judy+bangs+close+crop-best+edit+on+11-11-08+9-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtErqi6WVQbdTQtuTcZJ6_jW7mn0_pONKM0-igEYE4nXiFwUdWDsJJ8e8s5sYGBcLDhX41r0xz3t5Athjc1MzuBb2sldsFCe-K0ZVyqyVh1aznoPOVy_qaYAvHRVM45mgGUNrSB38p1MQ/s320/Judy+bangs+close+crop-best+edit+on+11-11-08+9-06.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poetess/songwriter sister Judy Rogers<br />
<a href="http://www.judyrogers.com/">http://www.judyrogers.com/</a><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>"And whatever you do -- whether you eat or drink or whatever you do -- </strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>do it all to the glory of God." I Cor. 10:31</strong></em></div><br />
My sister Judy Rogers personifies this admonition. She is and has been for over 30 years an example of godly womanhood to me and all who know her through her music. Judy's songwriting and singing abilities have blessed literally thousands of people around the world as she writes and sings incredible songs, based on Scripture and sung to music that God gives her as she labors over her music and prays. Judy was a terrible piano student. I know because I tried to be her teacher. She doesn't read musical notation. Her music is all in her head, ear and heart and God has blessed it to come out in songs with complex musical scores that could compete well with the music of many schooled musicians. But Judy's writing and singing isn't about acclaim. She writes beautiful poems put to music to honor and glorify King Jesus, as well as in direct submission to her husband who first asked her to put the Shorter Catechism for children to music over 30 years ago. <br />
<br />
Is that why you write? To glorify God? Or do you want people to sit up and take notice of you and say, "Wow, that girl is so intelligent and can write so well!" If you seek to honor yourself, God may decide not to see your goals met. But if you are diligent, as my sister has been and as I try to be, honing the gifts and graces He has given you to the best of your ability to bring Him glory, He sometimes sees fit to give you success. My prayer is that success will be yours in full measure as you write to make a difference in the world for Christ.<br />
<br />
Maybe you won't win a place in this little writing contest. Don't be discouraged. All writing errors can be corrected. All writers can improve. Please don’t be despondent if your name doesn’t show up in the list of honorable mentions or in the winner’s circle. Keep journaling, writing letters and reading good writers as well as continuing with the vocabulary building and writing exercises we’ve brought to your attention. As you apply the suggestions we’ve mentioned in our classes and those you discover through other resources, attempt to apply them to your own writing. Keep reading your poems, essays, articles and papers aloud to your friends and parents and ask for suggestions for improvement. Submit them to various magazines that publish young writers -- learn from any comments they may make concerning your submission.<br />
<br />
As you read great books on a variety of topics from many different eras and perspectives, your base of knowledge will be broadened and your ability to analyze and think expanded. Learn from these proven writers how to construct good sentences, find strong nouns and verbs as the building materials, how to use modifiers accurately, how to use discernment when describing a scene depicting emotions, how to write dialogue and especially how to create tangible, palpable imagery. <br />
<br />
Remember that more is not better. Simple, clean writing is almost always best. Did you say what you mean and mean what you say? Sincerity and simplicity are key ingredients. Do you know your subject matter well enough to write about it? More research may be necessary before a word ever hits the page. Remember the pre-writing skills we studied during this last webinar? Mapping, asking yourself questions and other word-association techniques will boost the possibility of a winning entry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF0UGvbAl41ZxkQROV65-r1VzDZpwPfDGvfH0YXaEwWBR2IC9Zvx_uueldXul8FmxR_ddCr5DIkx7qJHksRbjiEahsAR91QMebq2PCOa0s7b_YKL3DAho2Zuy3NAr7ou4gkfersJFbUfA/s1600/Becky-Xmas+sweater-edited-great+smile-1-05-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF0UGvbAl41ZxkQROV65-r1VzDZpwPfDGvfH0YXaEwWBR2IC9Zvx_uueldXul8FmxR_ddCr5DIkx7qJHksRbjiEahsAR91QMebq2PCOa0s7b_YKL3DAho2Zuy3NAr7ou4gkfersJFbUfA/s320/Becky-Xmas+sweater-edited-great+smile-1-05-07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take time to smile at someone -- every day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Read well-written books and take notes on all these topics -- this is perhaps the best way to improve your own writing. Don’t be too sensitive – don’t be afraid of criticism. In fact, ask for it all the time. <br />
<br />
Ask anyone who will listen to your writing, “Does that make sense to you? What do I need to add? What do I need to take out? How could this be written to convey my point better? Do I need to re-write this or just start over?” <br />
<br />
You will never improve as a runner if you don’t run or as a singer if you don’t sing or a rider if you never get on a horse. You will never become a better writer if you only practice writing skills occasionally. Write every day. Read every day. Ask the Lord to help you improve for His glory and He will.<br />
<br />
<br />
Please pray for me as you think of me. I have a few big writing projects that I’d like to complete this summer. Pray that God will give me the freedom of time and the exact words to complete what I’ve begun for His glory.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissNda0tpN6BEjoG31pKYLItaN92Mxp1nA3CNbZtTK3pxQ67T6Bw4aGsLCYb3U0S5gRZrDsKCxiy6OOgRQMFFzDBMFF81iboWIUHnHMdDBYEKl7oQaaIpLPv7eDO0s01VXWHgyYX6rxQJ9/s1600/Becky+%2526+the+red+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissNda0tpN6BEjoG31pKYLItaN92Mxp1nA3CNbZtTK3pxQ67T6Bw4aGsLCYb3U0S5gRZrDsKCxiy6OOgRQMFFzDBMFF81iboWIUHnHMdDBYEKl7oQaaIpLPv7eDO0s01VXWHgyYX6rxQJ9/s1600/Becky+%2526+the+red+boots.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you know who you really are till you walk around in a pair of red cowgirl boots! Yee-haw!Fun!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-64425598709738578902011-03-29T10:35:00.004-04:002011-03-29T16:36:13.015-04:00Welcome to our Online "Welcome Spring" Tea Party!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbMlZg-P12lR6Tfp2FP6sWWyBEtIAFVrIY_KlTgEPdYEFoHi73bLJX2sWlIVSJSFe3XhwXQBAjOOrQ1H-ltTyf9LnCtGYteqOKtTJv66DCb1iHtjIPXj8zovbCa_grweZ5d0ib47Er8-n/s1600/MJS_3804+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbMlZg-P12lR6Tfp2FP6sWWyBEtIAFVrIY_KlTgEPdYEFoHi73bLJX2sWlIVSJSFe3XhwXQBAjOOrQ1H-ltTyf9LnCtGYteqOKtTJv66DCb1iHtjIPXj8zovbCa_grweZ5d0ib47Er8-n/s320/MJS_3804+%252817%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea party fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
I'm so very excited to welcome Spring this year -- I love the new life bursting forth all around me.<br />
And I'm happy to welcome my lovely daughter Mercy home from a nearly three-month trip to Africa and Europe. She shared a little of her reaction to her adventures with us during the webinar session Thursday evening. We look forward to more stories and photos on her blog once she updates it. <a href="http://www.mmorecraft.blogspot.com/">http://www.mmorecraft.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysktZW23E6baHzwNyp-w3agU_lz0-Xa7eehEVuc9CZoSGqnlOwYAPnwxZrjb-SHELfDHOd04h9njduwlg47_4SGRCgYGlmMthdE-wsfNKg6YgfvaGfat1IgB7_lS4fQ1INu7bQIyHnSJ/s1600/Mercy+and+a+new+friend+in+Kenya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ysktZW23E6baHzwNyp-w3agU_lz0-Xa7eehEVuc9CZoSGqnlOwYAPnwxZrjb-SHELfDHOd04h9njduwlg47_4SGRCgYGlmMthdE-wsfNKg6YgfvaGfat1IgB7_lS4fQ1INu7bQIyHnSJ/s320/Mercy+and+a+new+friend+in+Kenya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy and a new friend in Nairobi, Kenya</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
I promised to post some of the recipes you shared with me -- here are a few:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo1lxWw4LjooGkzbmLM2YUqS4dMJXgk9rHBO8uiNFVlbQc4GDmNzrFgeV32bA3ceJiIXeiDhHmXwEdgKKktharjPOURB80pB0X12cqS6WoAfxWt0q_kGDN87kKYra9DOnITtvR5DJ2dUJ/s1600/McKeller%2527s+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo1lxWw4LjooGkzbmLM2YUqS4dMJXgk9rHBO8uiNFVlbQc4GDmNzrFgeV32bA3ceJiIXeiDhHmXwEdgKKktharjPOURB80pB0X12cqS6WoAfxWt0q_kGDN87kKYra9DOnITtvR5DJ2dUJ/s320/McKeller%2527s+cookies.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iced Sugar Cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<strong>The McKellar Girls' Sugar Cookies</strong> <br />
<strong></strong> <br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong>: <br />
6 cups flour <br />
3 tsp. baking powder <br />
2 cups butter <br />
2 cups sugar <br />
2 eggs <br />
2 tsp. vanilla or almond extract <br />
1 tsp. salt <br />
<br />
<strong>Directions</strong>: <br />
In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. In another bowl, measure out and mix dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture a little at a time until the flour is completely incorporated and the dough comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for two hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough out on a floured counter to a 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake for 8-14 minutes. When cool, decorate with glaze icing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgE3annxbmS8GmTG2aet3MWwmYTpqcTt-uI_7TKXoGHYCemgElIBQqNacQsKIRu8ECWStUOEx6fdx_ElAHegkxP80hWJZj47rhYd60Hf150z7jmj19vY1FqgKRiDI4zFoES5N2HPxbAeO/s1600/MJS_3804+%252892%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgE3annxbmS8GmTG2aet3MWwmYTpqcTt-uI_7TKXoGHYCemgElIBQqNacQsKIRu8ECWStUOEx6fdx_ElAHegkxP80hWJZj47rhYd60Hf150z7jmj19vY1FqgKRiDI4zFoES5N2HPxbAeO/s320/MJS_3804+%252892%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherish, Feliciti and Thea McKellar brought delicious cookies to our tea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here are some recipes for the tea party from Emily Nicholas, one of my students who lives "down under." She says, "I have chosen some traditional Australian recipes." They sound delicious!<br />
<strong>Lamingtons</strong><br />
<br />
(Lamingtons are said to be named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1895 to 1901.)<br />
<br />
The cake is easy to handle if it is a little stale; day old cake is ideal. Sponge or butter cake can be used. Lamingtons can be filled with jam and cream, if desired.<br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong>:<br />
6 eggs<br />
2/3 cup castor sugar (I think you call it superfine sugar.)<br />
1/3 cup cornflour<br />
1/3 cup self-raising flour<br />
2 (180g or 6 oz. )cups desiccated coconut, approximately<br />
<br />
<strong>Icing ingredients:</strong><br />
4 cups icing sugar<br />
1/2 cup cocoa<br />
15g (about 1/2 oz.) butter, melted<br />
2/3 cup milk<br />
<br />
<strong>Method</strong>:<br />
Grease 23cm (9 in.) square slab pan. Beat eggs in medium bowl with electric mixer about 10 minutes, or until thick and creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, dissolving between additions. Fold in triple-sifted flours. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake in a moderate oven about 30 minutes. Turn onto wire rack to cool.<br />
<br />
Cut cake into 16 squares, dip squares into icing, drain off excess icing, toss squares in coconut. Place lamingtons on wire rack to set.<br />
<br />
<strong>Icing</strong>:<br />
Sift icing sugar and cocoa into heatproof bowl, stir in butter and milk. Stir over pan of simmering water until icing is of coating consistency.<br />
<br />
Makes 16<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's another one that sounds so good. I love knowing the history behind the recipes. Thanks, Emily.<br />
<br />
<strong>Anzac Biscuits</strong><br />
(Variations of Scottish oatmeal biscuits were made at home and sent to soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I. However, the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT, suggests that they were not named Anzac Biscuits until after World War I, when they were made and sold as fund-raisers for returned soldiers.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG6eNPaZUvFqZF2pdhXJAAJXClFl0VQPThjA-4WF7Y7Sk88_0IO0V-HH3u4c_MUWJvq9e6KUzBry-kcq4WTuTqfHtQ2JDIhCkGe3ozA-At37MPn8TH2gcJ6tzwA269IKPz0Hn32EhP6Gm/s1600/MJS_3804+%252831%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG6eNPaZUvFqZF2pdhXJAAJXClFl0VQPThjA-4WF7Y7Sk88_0IO0V-HH3u4c_MUWJvq9e6KUzBry-kcq4WTuTqfHtQ2JDIhCkGe3ozA-At37MPn8TH2gcJ6tzwA269IKPz0Hn32EhP6Gm/s320/MJS_3804+%252831%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">child's thistle and violets tea set on faux-painted tea table<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>Ingredients</strong>: 1 cup rolled oats <br />
1 cup plain flour<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
3/4 cup coconut<br />
125g (6 1/2 oz.) butter<br />
40g (1 1/2 oz.) golden syrup (A cheap sugar syrup here in Australia but probably very expensive in the States. You could use molasses or corn syrup, but I think a mixture of both is closer to the consistency, taste, etc. of golden syrup.)<br />
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda<br />
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon boiling water (sounds weird, but your tablespoon is only 15 ml, while ours is 20ml.)<br />
<br />
Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut. Combine butter and golden syrup, stir over gentle heat until melted. Mix bicarbonate of soda with boiling water, add to melted butter mixture, stir into dry ingredients. Take teaspoonfuls of mixture and place on lightly greased oven trays; allow room for spreading. Cook in a slow oven 20 minutes. Loosen while warm, then cool on trays.<br />
<br />
Makes about 35<br />
<br />
(Remember to check the conversions in measurements from the Australian/British to American measurements.) <br />
from Emily Nicholas<br />
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiq8Zg0vtyg8DO3T_locC31gNIVkFE78tYxx-EkveVgIn_aE5aVSd9w6F1jMel4dJCEIoCdfQ0HHQxiDjBlsd48E-Z5_2YAOThkiel0F5kiHDTvQjBmPovj24JvwC2Fqj94hffG5neM1Tm/s1600/MJS_3804+%252885%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiq8Zg0vtyg8DO3T_locC31gNIVkFE78tYxx-EkveVgIn_aE5aVSd9w6F1jMel4dJCEIoCdfQ0HHQxiDjBlsd48E-Z5_2YAOThkiel0F5kiHDTvQjBmPovj24JvwC2Fqj94hffG5neM1Tm/s320/MJS_3804+%252885%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a lovely tea party guest helps herself to another cup</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
This one sounds so simple and really yummy! <br />
<strong>Mini Tea Tarts</strong><br />
from Mikaela Vaughn<br />
<br />
-1 package filo shells<br />
-Several fillings such as vanilla or chocolate pudding, and vanilla or berry yogurt.<br />
-Toppings: Whip cream, chocolate chips, berries, or coconut.<br />
<br />
Fill the tarts and place them on a pretty plate. Then decorate the tops however you like. They are so easy to make, and very delicious. <br />
Thanks to all of you for the recipes -- if you'd like to share your recipes or photos from your own tea party, send them to me at <a href="mailto:mrs.morecraft@gmail.com">mrs.morecraft@gmail.com</a> and we'll try to include them in a future post.<br />
<br />
Here are some more photos from the tea party we held at my house -- thanks to my great photographer, Marissa Schmidt! She's soooo good, isn't she?<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJjphKxpU0z5c18D8dDq09WzPMAN8OaX2QTnRijs6Ze515srAeLV69watsAAETGZM_eUt3NEpVm8zufftTBQcp-c_q-G43F01GFTBRHXSBKG4oOW0spt4Lqny9HvEkp0cfMIcpZqmXQYk/s1600/china+cup+with+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJjphKxpU0z5c18D8dDq09WzPMAN8OaX2QTnRijs6Ze515srAeLV69watsAAETGZM_eUt3NEpVm8zufftTBQcp-c_q-G43F01GFTBRHXSBKG4oOW0spt4Lqny9HvEkp0cfMIcpZqmXQYk/s320/china+cup+with+bird.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my favorite demitasse cup and saucer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzLCW5n1tiXTD6_bkXKtyz7MExKGtGDY2_6Tq5whS2IqcRHfiXHYt9fCapzHoL0TWVv_Suh9PGNgZF6HgERzPD3EA1x2CLH2eZVAO-t1Dxu9MLJTDU4hoJFP54SE87VNfcMtg_R88mwSm/s1600/Bowman%2527s+Italian+wedding+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzLCW5n1tiXTD6_bkXKtyz7MExKGtGDY2_6Tq5whS2IqcRHfiXHYt9fCapzHoL0TWVv_Suh9PGNgZF6HgERzPD3EA1x2CLH2eZVAO-t1Dxu9MLJTDU4hoJFP54SE87VNfcMtg_R88mwSm/s320/Bowman%2527s+Italian+wedding+cookies.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian wedding cookies -- from the Bowman girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjoLS5nkWKvEau22HEtaSea8uKfyGu8zzVLQrvhm9a4GKgsFj1-yy8U_onO9jHKN8EjajTZr3eLD6_BrIaDzdMmB8vNirryY-huXWPvGJf546_aIZTMHE4iGbPTFeWEyoZxPWnbCqOZV4/s1600/MJS_3804+%252841%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjoLS5nkWKvEau22HEtaSea8uKfyGu8zzVLQrvhm9a4GKgsFj1-yy8U_onO9jHKN8EjajTZr3eLD6_BrIaDzdMmB8vNirryY-huXWPvGJf546_aIZTMHE4iGbPTFeWEyoZxPWnbCqOZV4/s320/MJS_3804+%252841%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmmm! chocolate cake -- always a favorite</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyZCYqE5TJH-AcmpYbLBSFfjyN2TFCgRc7IHijcILVt5ipmXtiuE4rV8vj0bGuuYzUmPodC3uW9HC456Oq-FGcFk-rFdkNGAqDH-We6VNVZ5-Ld8E3r_qjjKSE4a_82Xhyphenhyphen557nNxueNRn/s1600/gloved+hand+with+china+teacup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyZCYqE5TJH-AcmpYbLBSFfjyN2TFCgRc7IHijcILVt5ipmXtiuE4rV8vj0bGuuYzUmPodC3uW9HC456Oq-FGcFk-rFdkNGAqDH-We6VNVZ5-Ld8E3r_qjjKSE4a_82Xhyphenhyphen557nNxueNRn/s320/gloved+hand+with+china+teacup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a chintz-flowered china cup in a gloved hand -- lovely</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnA0PeEdZrQzfP1gExB31tvdLpTtLxt-dUOHeJTHuP7Ot9CNywsE9hMn08ZibkNcGv4P2kR_i3V1V0Z5VUfeS28RZ8M54lh_X7xj1bal7SMX1-H_JsUd-lCoayyFFfgmAlHdCQqarwtXx/s1600/MJS_3804+%252866%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnA0PeEdZrQzfP1gExB31tvdLpTtLxt-dUOHeJTHuP7Ot9CNywsE9hMn08ZibkNcGv4P2kR_i3V1V0Z5VUfeS28RZ8M54lh_X7xj1bal7SMX1-H_JsUd-lCoayyFFfgmAlHdCQqarwtXx/s320/MJS_3804+%252866%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feliciti McKellar graced our day with her violin presentation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Check back tomorrow for more photos!!<br />
Here's one more recipe:<br />
<br />
<strong>Pumpkin Spice Drop Scones</strong><br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients:</u><br />
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour<br />
¼ cup firmly-packed light brown sugar<br />
2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
¼ teaspoon baking soda<br />
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon ( I put a little extra in! )<br />
¼ teaspoon ground ginger<br />
¼ teaspoon ground cloves<br />
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />
½ cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into ¼ -inch pieces<br />
1/3 to ½ cup raisins<br />
½ cup canned pumpkin*<br />
1/3 cup milk<br />
1 egg, beaten<br />
3 tablespoons milk ( approximate )<br />
1 cup powdered ( confectioner’s ) sugar<br />
* When purchasing canned pumpkin, make sure there are no spices or sugar added.<br />
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with vegetable-oil cooking spray. ( You can also cover the baking sheet with parchment paper.)<br />
<br />
In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. With pastry blender or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until particles are the size of small peas; stir in raisins. NOTE: When making scones, work the dough quickly and do not over mix.<br />
<br />
In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, 1/3 cup milk, and egg. Fold wet ingredients. Stir just until mixed.<br />
<br />
NOTE: Scones can be cut into any shape you desire. Use a dinking glass to make circles or cut into squares or wedges with a knife. Dip the edges of the cutter in flour to prevent sticking. Do not pat the edges of the scone down, instead leave the cuts as sharp as possible to allow the scones to rise in layers. OR… Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheet, 2 inches apart to allow for spreading, making 10 mounds. ( I ALWAYS get more out than that.)<br />
<br />
Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, frost while still warm. Serve warm or at room temperature.<br />
<br />
While scones are baking, combine 3 tablespoons of milk and powdered sugar until a thin frosting is obtained. You may need to add either more milk or powdered sugar for the correct consistency.<br />
<br />
Yield: 10-15 scones<br />
<br />
from Megan Knudten <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-16673015355935273592011-03-10T12:41:00.001-05:002011-03-10T16:53:00.586-05:00My favorite romantic poem ... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJkN8C8SUgGMupKT3YnHIziFfbSAc9CDOLveInrt1kwjJDIG8-DhqRpJAvzwg5O6QCXt6lv44o50Q2_qWLlxrkOj911qgWaVHxpOXAFYfrpc7O7X8Wt5WvQTHitB5aeKxg9OMd_dN6fJh/s1600/Tintern+Abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJkN8C8SUgGMupKT3YnHIziFfbSAc9CDOLveInrt1kwjJDIG8-DhqRpJAvzwg5O6QCXt6lv44o50Q2_qWLlxrkOj911qgWaVHxpOXAFYfrpc7O7X8Wt5WvQTHitB5aeKxg9OMd_dN6fJh/s640/Tintern+Abbey.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>The Chancel and Crossing of Tintern Abbey, Looking Towards the East Window</em>, by JMW Turner, 1794. Tintern Abbey was a monastery founded in 1131 and rebuilt in the 13th century. Abandoned in 1536, it was left to decay for two centuries. Artist Joseph Mallord William Turner paid two visits to the site, and it inspired him to paint this piece which juxtaposes the smallness of man alongside and wildness of nature, the unstoppable power of which has reclaimed this man-made edifice. The haunting abbey was a popular muse for many Romantics; it also inspired William Wordsworth’s famous poem “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey.”</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(taken from "The Art of Manliness" blog, March 4, 2011)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
The funny thing about this poem is that is was really written for Wordsworth's sister, not his wife! But, nevertheless, my dear husband and I read it as young lovers and so I think of it as romantic! I hope you enjoy it. For an analysis of the poem, go to this web address: <br />
<a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/wordsworth/section1.html">http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/wordsworth/section1.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey</span></strong><br />
<br />
by William Wordsworth<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Five years have passed; five summers with the length<br />
<br />
<br />
Of five long winters! and again I hear<br />
<br />
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs<br />
<br />
With a soft inland murmur.—Once again<br />
<br />
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,<br />
<br />
That on a wild secluded scene impress<br />
<br />
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect<br />
<br />
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.<br />
<br />
The day is come when I again repose<br />
<br />
Here, under this dark sycamore, and view<br />
<br />
These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard tufts,<br />
<br />
Which at this season, with their unripe fruits,<br />
<br />
Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves<br />
<br />
'Mid groves and copses. Once again I see<br />
<br />
These hedge-rows, hardly hedge-rows, little lines<br />
<br />
Of sportive wood run wild: these pastoral farms,<br />
<br />
Green to the very door; and wreaths of smoke<br />
<br />
Sent up, in silence, from among the trees!<br />
<br />
With some uncertain notice, as might seem<br />
<br />
Of vagrant dwellers in the houseless woods,<br />
<br />
Or of some Hermit's cave, where by his fire<br />
<br />
The Hermit sits alone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These beauteous forms,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Through a long absence, have not been to me<br />
<br />
As is a landscape to a blind man's eye:<br />
<br />
But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din<br />
<br />
Of towns and cities, I have owed to them<br />
<br />
In hours of weariness, sensations sweet,<br />
<br />
Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart;<br />
<br />
And passing even into my purer mind,<br />
<br />
With tranquil restoration:—feelings too<br />
<br />
Of unremembered pleasure: such, perhaps,<br />
<br />
As have no slight or trivial influence<br />
<br />
On that best portion of a good man's life,<br />
<br />
His little, nameless, unremembered, acts<br />
<br />
Of kindness and of love. Nor less, I trust,<br />
<br />
To them I may have owed another gift,<br />
<br />
Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood,<br />
<br />
In which the burthen of the mystery,<br />
<br />
In which the heavy and the weary weight<br />
<br />
Of all this unintelligible world,<br />
<br />
Is lightened:—that serene and blessed mood,<br />
<br />
In which the affectations gently lead us on,—<br />
<br />
Until, the breath of this corporeal frame<br />
<br />
And even the motion of our human blood<br />
<br />
Almost suspended, we are laid asleep<br />
<br />
In body, and become a living soul:<br />
<br />
While with an eye made quiet by the power<br />
<br />
Of harmony, and the deep power of joy,<br />
<br />
We see into the life of things.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If this<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Be but a vain belief, yet, oh! how oft—<br />
<br />
In darkness and amid the many shapes<br />
<br />
Of joyless daylight; when the fretful stir<br />
<br />
Unprofitable, and the fever of the world,<br />
<br />
Have hung upon the beatings of my heart—<br />
<br />
How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,<br />
<br />
O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,<br />
<br />
How oft has my spirit turned to thee!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And now, with gleams of half-extinguished thought,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
With many recognitions dim and faint,<br />
<br />
And somewhat of a sad perplexity,<br />
<br />
The picture of the mind revives again:<br />
<br />
While here I stand, not only with the sense<br />
<br />
Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts<br />
<br />
That in this moment there is life and food<br />
<br />
For future years. And so I dare to hope,<br />
<br />
Though changed, no doubt, from what I was when first<br />
<br />
I came among these hills; when like a roe<br />
<br />
I bounded o'er the mountains, by the sides<br />
<br />
Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams,<br />
<br />
Wherever nature led: more like a man<br />
<br />
Flying from something that he dreads, than one<br />
<br />
Who sought the thing he loved. For nature then<br />
<br />
(The coarser pleasures of my boyish days,<br />
<br />
And their glad animal movements all gone by)<br />
<br />
To me was all in all.—I cannot paint<br />
<br />
What then I was. The sounding cataract<br />
<br />
Haunted me like a passion: the tall rock,<br />
<br />
The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,<br />
<br />
Their colours and their forms, were then to me<br />
<br />
An appetite; a feeling and a love,<br />
<br />
That had no need of a remoter charm,<br />
<br />
By thought supplied, nor any interest<br />
<br />
Unborrowed from the eye.—That time is past,<br />
<br />
And all its aching joys are now no more,<br />
<br />
And all its dizzy raptures. Not for this<br />
<br />
Faint I, nor mourn nor murmur, other gifts<br />
<br />
Have followed; for such loss, I would believe,<br />
<br />
Abundant recompense. For I have learned<br />
<br />
To look on nature, not as in the hour<br />
<br />
Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes<br />
<br />
The still, sad music of humanity,<br />
<br />
Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power<br />
<br />
To chasten and subdue. And I have felt<br />
<br />
A presence that disturbs me with the joy<br />
<br />
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime<br />
<br />
Of something far more deeply interfused,<br />
<br />
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,<br />
<br />
And the round ocean and the living air,<br />
<br />
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man;<br />
<br />
A motion and a spirit, that impels<br />
<br />
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,<br />
<br />
And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still<br />
<br />
A lover of the meadows and the woods,<br />
<br />
And mountains; and of all that we behold<br />
<br />
From this green earth; of all the mighty world<br />
<br />
Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create,<br />
<br />
And what perceive; well pleased to recognise<br />
<br />
In nature and the language of the sense,<br />
<br />
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,<br />
<br />
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul<br />
<br />
Of all my moral being.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Nor perchance,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If I were not thus taught, should I the more<br />
<br />
Suffer my genial spirits to decay:<br />
<br />
For thou art with me here upon the banks<br />
<br />
Of this fair river; thou my dearest Friend,<br />
<br />
My dear, dear Friend; and in thy voice I catch<br />
<br />
The language of my former heart, and read<br />
<br />
My former pleasures in the shooting lights<br />
<br />
Of thy wild eyes. Oh! yet a little while<br />
<br />
May I behold in thee what I was once,<br />
<br />
My dear, dear Sister! and this prayer I make,<br />
<br />
Knowing that Nature never did betray<br />
<br />
The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege,<br />
<br />
Through all the years of this our life, to lead<br />
<br />
From joy to joy: for she can so inform<br />
<br />
The mind that is within us, so impress<br />
<br />
With quietness and beauty, and so feed<br />
<br />
With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,<br />
<br />
Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men,<br />
<br />
Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all<br />
<br />
The dreary intercourse of daily life,<br />
<br />
Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb<br />
<br />
Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold<br />
<br />
Is full of blessings. Therefore let the moon<br />
<br />
Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;<br />
<br />
And let the misty mountain-winds be free<br />
<br />
To blow against thee: and, in after years,<br />
<br />
When these wild ecstasies shall be matured<br />
<br />
Into a sober pleasure; when thy mind<br />
<br />
Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,<br />
<br />
Thy memory be as a dwelling-place<br />
<br />
For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then,<br />
<br />
If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,<br />
<br />
Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts<br />
<br />
Of tender joy wilt thou remember me,<br />
<br />
And these my exhortations! Nor, perchance—<br />
<br />
If I should be where I no more can hear<br />
<br />
Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams<br />
<br />
Of past existence—wilt thou then forget<br />
<br />
That on the banks of this delightful stream<br />
<br />
We stood together; and that I, so long<br />
<br />
A worshipper of Nature, hither came<br />
<br />
Unwearied in that service: rather say<br />
<br />
With warmer love—oh! with far deeper zeal<br />
<br />
Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget,<br />
<br />
That after many wanderings, many years<br />
<br />
Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,<br />
<br />
And this green pastoral landscape, were to me<br />
<br />
More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-73432239464347100742011-03-01T12:53:00.001-05:002011-03-01T13:13:43.543-05:00"The Veterans of the Battle of Bunker Hill" by Daniel Webster <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkOugEY3iPdN8by98w5aPy1BL55DnCHsH9lSTwT6WeYCjc0XaZfOcsHTN6DgJBWQ7_ODNBHVzWmkTRzcqhxdcAUtXls-dzay_nQqdcfzQmJjXo7HKvYnakCyw2QqHTXVMgMsWrB5Yrg-k/s1600/The+Death+of+Gen.+Warren+at+the+Battle+of+Bunker%2527s+Hill+by+John+Trumbull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkOugEY3iPdN8by98w5aPy1BL55DnCHsH9lSTwT6WeYCjc0XaZfOcsHTN6DgJBWQ7_ODNBHVzWmkTRzcqhxdcAUtXls-dzay_nQqdcfzQmJjXo7HKvYnakCyw2QqHTXVMgMsWrB5Yrg-k/s400/The+Death+of+Gen.+Warren+at+the+Battle+of+Bunker%2527s+Hill+by+John+Trumbull.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775"<br />
by John Trumbull, 1786</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
"This burst of eloquence is from Daniel Webster's celebrated oration, delivered on the occasion of the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker's Hill monument on June 17, 1825. It was the 50th anniversary of that battle in the presence of a vast multitude of people, among whom were Lafayette and the survivors of the battle." -- paraphrased from <em><strong>Swinton's Fifth Reader and Speaker</strong></em>, (published 1883), p. 321f<br />
<br />
I hope my webinar students will read this speech through several times carefully. The first time, simply read it for the sense of the words. What is Mr. Webster saying? Why do you think he chose the particular words he chose? Are there any long, difficult words in this speech or are most of them short and familiar? Why? <br />
<br />
The second time through, notice the imagery -- take note of metaphors, similes and personification, in particular. Are his word pictures strong? Why?<br />
<br />
The third time you read it, notice the sentence structure. Are the sentences mostly long or short or a combination of both? How is the speech structured? Does he make his main points first or build up to them? See if you can make an outline of the speech.<br />
<br />
The final time through, read the speech aloud, slowly and with emphasis on the words which you think he may have emphasized as he looked out at Lafayette and the other survivors of this momentous battle. Read it in front of a mirror and rate your delivery. How is your posture? Are you looking your 'audience' in the eye? Are there effective pauses in the right places? When you think you've perfected your delivery enough, practice reading it in front of your family and ask them for suggestions. You may be called on to deliver an important speech some day. Here's a chance to develop confidence.<br />
<br />
If you have time, try to commit a portion of this important speech to memory. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Venerable men! You have come down to us from a former generation. Heaven has bounteously lengthened out your lives, that you may behold this joyous day. You are now where you stood fifty years ago, this very hour, with your brothers and your neighbors, shoulder to shoulder, in the strife for your country. Behold, how altered! The same heavens are indeed over your heads; the same ocean rolls at your feet: but all else how changed! You hear now no roar of hostile cannon, you see no mixed volumes of smoke and flame rising from burning Charlestown. The ground strewed with the dead and the dying; the impetuous charge; the steady and successful repulse; the loud call to repeated resistance; a thousand bosoms freely and fearlessly bared in an instant to whatever of terror there may be in war and death--all these you have witnessed, but you witness them no more. All is peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"The heights of yonder metropolis [Boston], its towers, and roofs, which you then saw filled with wives and children and countrymen in distress and terror, and looking with unutterable emotions for the issue of the combat, have presented you today with the sight of its whole happy population, come out to welcome and greet you with a universal jubilee. Yonder proud ships, by a felicity of position appropriately lying at the foot of this mount, and seeming fondly to cling around it, are not means of annoyance to you, but your country's own means of distinction and defense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"All is peace; and God has granted you this sight of your country's happiness, ere you slumber in the grave. He has allowed you to behold and to partake the reward of your patriotic toils; and he has allowed us, your sons and countrymen, to meet you here, and in the name of the present generation, in the name of your country, in the name of liberty, to thank you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"But, alas! You are not all here! Time and the sword have thinned your ranks. Prescott, Putnam, Stark, Brooks, Read, Pomeroy, Bridge [these were all distinguished officers in the battle of Bunker's Hill], our eyes seek for you in vain amid this broken band. You are gathered to your fathers, and live only to your country in her grateful remembrance and your own bright example. But let us not too much grieve that you have met the common fate of men. You lived at least long enough to know that your work had been nobly and successfully accomplished. You lived to see your country's independence established, and to sheathe your swords from war. On the light of liberty you saw arise the light of peace, like 'another morn, risen on mid-noon;' and the sky on which you closed your eyes was cloudless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"But ah! Him! [Warren] The first great martyr in this great cause! Him! The premature [untimely] victim of his own self-devoting heart! Him! The head of our civil councils, and the destined leader of our military bands, whom nothing brought hither but the unquenchable fire of his own spirit! Him! Cut off by Providence in the hour of overwhelming anxiety and thick gloom; falling ere he saw the star of his country rise; pouring out his generous blood like water, before he knew whether it would fertilize a land of freedom or of bondage! How shall I struggle with the emotions that stifle the utterance of thy name! Our poor work may perish, but thine shall endure. This monument may molder away; the solid ground it rest upon may sink down to a level with the sea: but thy memory shall not fail. Wheresoever among men a heart shall be found that beats to the transports of patriotism and liberty, its aspirations shall be to claim kindred with thy spirit."</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzV62oeAVr3xBTNehZxgHn7j_LvEzY58pd1OMAeG6D0h0qv2CYPIyetdJlcoLOnz7GkvH7MMuFL4d9tu-7_FWVtDYOUpTOvyS10SriU53gqNez08IKTfVqC-yTrJCBBTye6IirSxf0a0-/s1600/Daniel+Webster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzV62oeAVr3xBTNehZxgHn7j_LvEzY58pd1OMAeG6D0h0qv2CYPIyetdJlcoLOnz7GkvH7MMuFL4d9tu-7_FWVtDYOUpTOvyS10SriU53gqNez08IKTfVqC-yTrJCBBTye6IirSxf0a0-/s1600/Daniel+Webster.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daniel Webster</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-71910433471897667602011-02-25T17:40:00.005-05:002011-03-01T11:51:02.910-05:00Everyday Language and Salads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx96gfLQq_Bh5LnD_8LZr38MTno2W-Np8EcTsrV2m6bF88B1lqezJtetw12T0U8to50MROtEl9rXysmyaxXeVQ4Fsi38S6J7R3LmDxWo6yHlNilnjTj0JcAPZMS1SeIr1ekTVmQLOsoyKT/s1600/mercys+pics+1+293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx96gfLQq_Bh5LnD_8LZr38MTno2W-Np8EcTsrV2m6bF88B1lqezJtetw12T0U8to50MROtEl9rXysmyaxXeVQ4Fsi38S6J7R3LmDxWo6yHlNilnjTj0JcAPZMS1SeIr1ekTVmQLOsoyKT/s320/mercys+pics+1+293.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
"If your every-day language is not fit for a letter or for print, it is not fit for talk. And if, by any series of joking and fun, at school or at home, you have got into the habit of using slang in talk, which is not fit for print, why, the sooner you get out of it the better." -- Edward Elliott Hale, April 3, 1822 – June 10, 1909<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What's the Christian life all about? Well, first and last, grace...lots of it overflowing, bounteous, free...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After that, sanctification, or growing in grace, putting off and putting on. In a word, (which is one of my favorite terms): refinement. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm all about language these days so I listen carefully to what I read and hear. Television and magazine ads just love sound bites, as they try to say more in concentrated words...short, pithy words. Intellectuals try to impress us with their long words and provocative terminology. We as Christians need to think carefully about the words we use, in everyday conversation, in the words we fill our minds with and in the writing we offer the world. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The term, <em>gravitas</em>, or 'weighty' best describes the kind of words with which we as Christians need to be most familiar--words that convey deep meanings, not words that are reflective of the godless culture around us. Are you infected with the slang of this ungodly culture? I admit, it's extremely difficult to avoid it and in not avoiding it, we are all infected, to one degree or another, by it. I challenge you to cast it off. Make it a goal this year to put off the language of this ungodly culture and put on the 'language of Canaan.'<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Refinement project</strong>: clean up your language. Adopt words with godly 'gravitas.' You and all around you will be glad. And you will most likely honor the Lord as you succeed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, heavy, meaningful words aren't necessarily the long, apparently impressive ones. Sometimes less is more--here's an example from the 19th century. Here's a poem about short words that I read last night during our webinar. The author was Joseph Addison Alexander (1809-1860) who was a student of Charles Hodge at Princeton Seminary in the mid-19th century. He later became a colleague of Dr. Hodge as a professor at the old Princeton. [Sadly, the modern Princeton has become very liberal.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Charles Hodge said of his colleague, "In the death of Joseph Addison Alexander we have lost our great glory and defense. Permit me to express my own individual convictions. I regard Dr. Joseph Addison Alexander as incomparably the greatest man I ever knew--as incomparably the greatest man our church has ever produced. His thorough orthodoxy, his fervent piety, humility, faithfulness in the discharge of his duties, and reverence for the Word of God, consecrated all his other gifts. He glorified the Word of God in the sight of his pupils beyond what any man I ever saw had the power of doing."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Power of Short Words</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">by Joseph Addison Alexander </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Think not that strength lies in the big round word,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or that the brief and plain must needs be weak.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To whom can this be true who once has heard</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The cry for help, the tongue that all men speak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When want or woe or fear is in the throat,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So that each word gasped out is like a shriek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pressed from the sore heart, or a strange, wild note</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sung by some fay or fiend? There is a strength</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which dies if stretched too far or spun too fine,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which has more height than breadth, more depth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Than length.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let but this force of thought and speech be mine,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And he that will may take the sleek fat phrase,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which glows and burns not, though it gleam and shine;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Light, but not heat—a flash, but not a blaze!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nor mere strength is it that the short word boasts:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It serves of more than fight or storm to tell—</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The roars of waves that clash on rock bound coasts,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The crash of tall trees when the wild winds swell,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The roar of guns, the groans of men that die</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On blood stained fields. It has a voice as well</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For them that far off on their sick-beds lie,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For them that weep, for them that mourn the dead;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For them that laugh, and dance, and clap the hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To Joy’s quick step as well as Grief’s slow tread,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sweet, plain words we learn at first keep time;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And though the theme be sad or gay or grand,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With each, with all, these may be made to chime,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In thought or speech or song, in prose or rhyme.</div><br />
Perhaps some of you will remember from our first webinar taught last fall that Anglo-Saxon words are the strongest in the English language. In this poem, of the 289 one-syllable words employed, only 23 are not of Anglo-Saxon origin. [Would you like to know which are not? Here’s the list: <em>round, brief, plain, cry, pressed, strange, note, fay, fine, force, phrase, serves, coasts, voice, dance, joy, grief, theme, gay, grand, chime, prose </em>and <em>rhyme</em>.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
While we're on the subject of chopping and cutting, whittling down our words and phrases to size, maybe we should take a break and chop up a salad. Here's one of my favorites:<br />
<br />
<strong>Mixed Baby Spinach and Arugula Salad</strong><br />
<br />
<u><strong>Ingredients</strong></u>:<br />
<br />
1 box of organic baby spinach and arugula<br />
one of the following (or all three, if you prefer):<br />
<br />
cherry tomatoes<br />
red bell peppers<br />
dried cranberries<br />
<br />
feta or goat cheese crumbles<br />
almond slivers<br />
Asian ginger dressing<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Method</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
Put the mixed greens in a salad bowl and add either cherry tomatoes, sliced red bell peppers or dried cranberries. Sometimes, I add all three. Sprinkle liberally with feta or goat cheese crumbles and almond slivers. Add the ginger dressing and dig in! I could eat this till the cows come home! (Uh-oh, there goes my reputation as an English teacher -- I told my class not to use old worn-out cliches!)<br />
<br />
I promised several things during the class last night--recipes, the poem I read by Joseph Addison Alexander, a spell-binding speech by Daniel Webster at the 50th anniversary of the Bunker Hill battle with Lafayette present. I will deliver all of these; but first, I want to invite you to a very special tea party at my house. During our last webinar session on Thursday evening, March 24th, I will host a 'cyber tea party' and invite you to hold real ones in your own homes that day or evening. Take some pictures and post them with a link so we can enjoy your tea parties, too. Mine will actually be held next Wednesday, replete we hope, with musical offerings by the young ladies who have been invited, dainty tea party finger foods, girls in pastel shades and lace and maybe some hats! We'll read poetry, hear some music and discuss 'polite moments.' <br />
<br />
In connection with this event, I'd love to share some of your favorite tea party finger food recipes on this blog and during the webinar. Please send any you'd like for me to share to this e-mail address: <br />
<a href="mailto:mrs.morecraft@gmail.com">mrs.morecraft@gmail.com</a> <br />
<br />
Daniel Webster's speech tomorrow, Lord willing.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-88494899760756823422011-02-18T09:21:00.000-05:002011-02-18T09:21:44.484-05:00A Rhyming List of Things I Love<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOKLUHTeCwBb4OmMwjreMlx81BSmFdYi6zZbBPgnbXXhW_YvwaIRw_MEKcBdaZ8r9SlE56eW6h1cw9ykduDD6Ug_Knv6DIutwoaVSOxBOSN7-W1sUaa70_QRO8BulSe7D_koueCiqlNWt/s1600/birch+knob+and+becky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOKLUHTeCwBb4OmMwjreMlx81BSmFdYi6zZbBPgnbXXhW_YvwaIRw_MEKcBdaZ8r9SlE56eW6h1cw9ykduDD6Ug_Knv6DIutwoaVSOxBOSN7-W1sUaa70_QRO8BulSe7D_koueCiqlNWt/s320/birch+knob+and+becky.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birch Knob near 'South of the Mountain' in<br />
Dickenson County, Virginia...<br />
my home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Rhyming verse is NOT really poetry! But it's a lot of fun...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Things that I love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Things that I love? Too many to name!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But here’s a listing, just the same:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The silent swoop of owls at night,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hugging you, up close and tight,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Babies’ drooling smiles and coos,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little boys with scuffed-up shoes,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The echo of the thrasher’s call,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crimson and golden leaves in fall,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter’s hush with falling snow,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Springtime’s soft and greening glow,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cliffs and crags on mountain heights,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stunning sunsets that fade to night,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crashing waves with cresting foam,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winding roads all leading home,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Small town folks with friendly faces,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">City lights in far-off places,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beech trees with their clinging leaves,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Those who live what they believe,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Milton, Calvin, Joe and Bach,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends who like to hear me talk,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Family dinners, special dates,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trips to Europe, chocolate cake,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cottage décor, hardwood floors,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ceilings smooth and solid doors,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Country churches with lofty spires,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thundering preachers, cathedral choirs,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas trees, Thanksgiving turkey,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Roibos tea and biltong jerky,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Strong black coffee and the fruit of the vine,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cold iced tea in the summertime,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Black Labradors and calico cats,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leather-bound books and broad-brimmed hats,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sandalwood soap and bay rum cologne,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cuddling up with my honey, alone,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Reading great books that inspire and teach,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">White sand, walking on a wind-swept beach,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Living each day at a leisurely pace</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finding real people behind each face,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Handwritten notes from friends far away,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Quilts and silver and pewter trays,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thrift stores and tea towels and antique laces,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Making the most of my gifts and graces,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Living each day like it was my last,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Forgetting, forgiving hurts long past,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Giving all glory to God above,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Living by this: the greatest is love. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pictures of places I’ve been with friends,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friendships so deep they can never end.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being called ‘Mama’ and ‘Grandmommy,’ too,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Red leather boots and comfortable shoes!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Linen and cotton and cashmere and wool,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Working in flowers with gardening tools,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dark sweet cherries and brown crusty bread,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Freedom in Christ, dispelling dread,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watching the sun come up at dawn,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing that I am my husband’s crown.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seeing the joy in each day’s hours,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watching my grandchildren bud into flowers,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Knowing for certain that Christ is King,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Feeling His power as I pray, speak and sing,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Letting the things of this life grow dim,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finding my all in all in Him. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RBM</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2.26.2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Revised, 2.17.2011</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(unfinished!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2jeGtP1UeDHVXq_I4lfEuhv4ChiTrrOga_606d0d_Wmk_6-M5yoKN6AsXSrvpjdqYdTl_I2kZ3kx66iCrDbz5H9weaXWh1s0uCyFMn-FImvQohiBLAcXZ7M-BM0DdIj8fkJ2TR9XbSo5/s1600/becky+working+on+poem+in+Haysi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2jeGtP1UeDHVXq_I4lfEuhv4ChiTrrOga_606d0d_Wmk_6-M5yoKN6AsXSrvpjdqYdTl_I2kZ3kx66iCrDbz5H9weaXWh1s0uCyFMn-FImvQohiBLAcXZ7M-BM0DdIj8fkJ2TR9XbSo5/s320/becky+working+on+poem+in+Haysi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always revising...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-67688982240469731652011-02-17T22:36:00.000-05:002011-02-17T22:36:52.714-05:00"My dear friends..."How I love words! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6k0oRpgJ97-HBZZy3Uhm57ilcbjLPa2hpBiSLYhZbba3juFtwXJ12ehZNVyroBpcjXGmxdZHwYMm-4A9I1a5FJC_bbfxAB6jFNEBcGQ0-M5XPtp7DL8jpdYQExiBnegF8EguBHF7n0TX/s1600/daffodils+in+snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6k0oRpgJ97-HBZZy3Uhm57ilcbjLPa2hpBiSLYhZbba3juFtwXJ12ehZNVyroBpcjXGmxdZHwYMm-4A9I1a5FJC_bbfxAB6jFNEBcGQ0-M5XPtp7DL8jpdYQExiBnegF8EguBHF7n0TX/s320/daffodils+in+snow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved to be read to -- by my grandfather, my parents, my aunt (who taught me to read). That kind of love just has to be passed on. It was no surprise when all four of my children decided to major in English in their various endeavors for higher education. One almost has his doctorate in American literature! Wow! I'm very impressed. Beyond that, they all just love to read. Not just anything, the popular 'best sellers' of any given month, but books that have eternal significance. <br />
<br />
What's on your reading list? I hope the Bible is number one. After that, you should be reading books that will expand your mind, make you think and impact you in positive ways, not trash. There. I said it. Don't waste your time reading garbage, for lots of reasons. One, you will be dragged down to its level. Two, you will start to think like the rest of the world that hasn't even tasted the grace of the Gospel. Three, your actions will reflect your thinking: "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."<br />
<br />
You can access archived posts on this blog listing books, (just a few of them), that I recommend. I didn't come up with these lists on my own. I accessed lists from various books of lists (Christian ones) and from teachers I trust. I hope you own most, if not all, of these books or at least have borrowed and read them. <br />
<br />
Teach your children to love good literature from their earliest days. They will attain to your high standards or be 'dumbed down' by low ones. If all they know is Disney movies and Barbie stories, you can't expect them to be dominion-oriented adults who want to proclaim and defend the rights of King Jesus over all of life. Please...think about the future NOW!<br />
<br />
My very small grandchildren love great music -- classical and otherwise -- because they began violin (some of them) when they were five years old. My three year-old granson, Asa, knows every verse of many hymns by heart (he can't read and isn't interested in books -- yet) because he LOVES to sing. He doesn't know other songs by heart. He knows hymns and psalms by heart because that is what he's been exposed to by his parents. Please, dear parents, take this seriously. Your actions shape the future for your children and grandchildren. Teach them by example to love things of eternal value.<br />
<br />
I loved teaching tonight's webinar class! I'm so sorry that some of you had trouble accessing the session. Please give the Customer Service Department at Vision Forum a call or send an email if you haven't figured it out. <br />
<br />
Also, use the link you were sent for today's session to access both the power point slides (skillfully and lovingly created by Mercy who is in Kenya, 10,000 miles away -- Mercy, take a bow) as well as the audio portion of the webinar session. Again, if you can't access them, call Vision Forum. They are so helpful with problems. Give tonight's program at least 48 hours to appear. Thank you so much for attending. I love having you 'at my house' on Thursdays.<br />
<br />
I will be visiting my family in Virginia this weekend and may not be able to find a computer with internet access. Please forgive me if I don't answer your questions till next week. Write me at <a href="mailto:mrs.morecraft@gmail.com">mrs.morecraft@gmail.com</a>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-26798487509257667632011-02-10T18:18:00.000-05:002011-02-10T18:18:41.086-05:00Soup's On!Mmmmm...can you smell it? There's nothing as comforting as the fragrance of soup cooking to warm frozen noses and invite you to the kitchen. There's been a lot of chopping going on, you can be assured. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky0o_rzBdM07iVuZ8OaxXai-E71CXFMmHKgXyuKm9JRSr4DWhVkNU5cKCphMvZtSYis7b1AJtsDx2fMlAB8dTXbnRV0nVQ3WMJfcddS5HrpVwxqOI7PSagqsarW-h11FvsSFrvp4DYgEg/s1600/HungaryGoulash%252C+credit+Elke+Dennis%252C+2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky0o_rzBdM07iVuZ8OaxXai-E71CXFMmHKgXyuKm9JRSr4DWhVkNU5cKCphMvZtSYis7b1AJtsDx2fMlAB8dTXbnRV0nVQ3WMJfcddS5HrpVwxqOI7PSagqsarW-h11FvsSFrvp4DYgEg/s320/HungaryGoulash%252C+credit+Elke+Dennis%252C+2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungarian Goulash (photo credit Elke Dennis, 2006)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here's one version of a recipe for this ancient soup:<br />
<br />
<strong>Hungarian Goulash</strong><br />
(This basic recipe is <span style="color: black;">from<em> <strong>Soup</strong></em>, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #452700; font-family: Times; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ明朝 ProN W3"; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;">editor Michael </span><span style="color: #452700; font-family: Times; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ明朝 ProN W3"; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;">Fullalove</span></span><span style="color: #452700; font-family: Times; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ明朝 ProN W3"; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">, Covent Garden Books, American edition by DK Publishing, New York, New York, 2011, p. 308</span><span style="color: black;">. I added the potatoes and carrots!)</span></span><br />
<br />
Serves: 6-8 prep time: 15 mins.<br />
Cook time: 2 hours freezes: up to3 months<br />
<br />
<strong>Utensils</strong>:<br />
Chopping block<br />
Chopping knife<br />
Heavy stew pot<br />
Heavy skillet<br />
Measuring cups & spoons<br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong>:<br />
4 Tbsp. olive oil 1 ½ lbs. onions 3 large potatoes 3 medium carrots<br />
2 cloves garlic 1 ½ lbs. chuck steak, cubed (lamb or pork may be used instead)<br />
Salt and freshly ground pepper 2 Tbsp. paprika<br />
1 tsp. caraway seeds 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)<br />
*(I like to add a teaspoon of cumin)<br />
4 Tbsp. tomato puree 1 qt. beef stock<br />
Sour cream and parsley or chives to garnish<br />
<br />
<strong>Method</strong>:<br />
1. Coarsely chop two large sweet onions. <br />
2. Heat three tablespoons of the olive oil in a large heavy stock pot or stew pot over medium heat. <br />
3. Add the chopped onions and cook, stirring so as not to burn. <br />
4. When the onions are browned, add potatoes that have been washed and chopped into chunks (with or without the skin removed), carrots that have been peeled and cut into chunks. Stir in with the onions to preserve color. [*note: if you plan to freeze this recipe, omit the potatoes and carrots and cook them separately, adding them to the frozen mixture when you reheat it. Potatoes do not freeze well.]<br />
5. Add the garlic, stir for about two minutes and remove from the heat.<br />
6. Put one tablespoon olive oil in a heavy skillet and heat on medium heat.<br />
7. Add the cubed steak and brown it on all sides. <br />
8. Season with salt and add to the onion, garlic mixture in the stockpot.<br />
9. Add the rest of the spices and tomato puree.<br />
10. Return the pot to the heat and cook for five minutes, stirring constantly.<br />
11. Pour in the beef stock. Cover with a lid and simmer gently for 1 ¾ hours.<br />
12. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.<br />
<br />
Serve in bowls and garnish with a dollop of sour cream sprinkled with a dash of either paprika or cayenne pepper for color. (A sprig of parsley or a few chopped chives may also be added for a garnish of color.)<br />
<br />
Serve with hot crusty bread and savor the love...Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-35557951956799233702011-01-27T15:40:00.001-05:002011-01-27T15:53:39.654-05:00Were you read to as a child?<div style="text-align: justify;">Were you read to as I child? I was, early and regularly. My mother, my aunt (who taught me to read at five years old), my grandfather, teachers -- each contributed to my early love of being read to and reading. As this little poem expresses, there is no treasure to compare with having been read to as a child. Make sure you read to your children, not only silly, fun books (which have their place), but books that will ennoble them and stretch and mature them -- books that will give your young men a zeal for godly ventures and your young ladies hearts that long to please God in all their relationships and calling. Read to your children!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uUlf3LeitLNZmPalfoggR9RG7HOdVwlcLc1uA5-X8_431ZYKCCYyrpLsmzyjxO735HBR5U3ravkwEArBYSTrBIqJR8FmQeBRmeBB9WVR8zkuaq5pLA6xS0JhdZiIzxk8XPiHwRXx1zYG/s1600/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uUlf3LeitLNZmPalfoggR9RG7HOdVwlcLc1uA5-X8_431ZYKCCYyrpLsmzyjxO735HBR5U3ravkwEArBYSTrBIqJR8FmQeBRmeBB9WVR8zkuaq5pLA6xS0JhdZiIzxk8XPiHwRXx1zYG/s320/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
"I had a mother who read to me</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saga of pirates who scoured the sea,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cutlassess clenched in their yellow teeth,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Blackbirds' stowed in the hold beneath.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I had a mother who read me lays</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of ancient and gallant and golden days;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which evey boy has a right to know.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I had a mother who read me tales</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">True to his trust till his tragic death,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Faithfulness blent with his final breath.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I had a mother who read me the things</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stories that stir with an upward touch,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, that each mother of boys were such!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You may have tangible wealth untold;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Richer than I you can never be--</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a mother who read to me."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">--Stickland Gillian</div><br />
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<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rroU6bYO4vt6bQo92Fl4oPNr5mf-798dhQxOssQBsTrByTCZTU1Wry8b5Do1z_OHETIxmupe6icMcgFN0r5mREhvi-rpkhcbEXJyAAmfT0fPjxkmaNwkVoOnaeCR6LFh1-Izut25TJi9/s1600/Mother+and+Child+Reading.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rroU6bYO4vt6bQo92Fl4oPNr5mf-798dhQxOssQBsTrByTCZTU1Wry8b5Do1z_OHETIxmupe6icMcgFN0r5mREhvi-rpkhcbEXJyAAmfT0fPjxkmaNwkVoOnaeCR6LFh1-Izut25TJi9/s1600/Mother+and+Child+Reading.bmp" /></a></div><a href="http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Frederick-Warren-Freer/Mother-And-Child-Reading.html">http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Frederick-Warren-Freer/Mother-And-Child-Reading.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-55289243144940074442011-01-14T15:07:00.002-05:002011-01-14T15:46:14.750-05:00Happy New Year! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBOHb-w2UIQq1vRRefxm5l2vo_XHY1Xy_KR7oPSeqW_je5qkxcWG-ZfqKZS51jKtgqYHppHNEZQNXqFkOznoRE4JJZ9LK0-fAebw5ylWaJwvvZoadHBYfV4domkPzQHwkU2HTG7V11x8/s320/Becky+%2526+Joe%252C+New+Year%2527s+Eve+at+the+Browns.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div>Here we are already, floating down the rapidly moving current of 2011 -- the flotsam and jetsam of our lives must not be allowed to deter our purposes this year, or so we determined as we reviewed the previous year -- are we on the same page yet? <br />
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For me, 2010 was a momentous year, a year of highs and lows beyond comparison. The best times were those spent with close family members and friends who are almost family. The worst were selfish moments spent wasting time with anxious thoughts. I really do believe that our loving, sovereign God has everything under His control, working out all His good pleasure for His glory and our ultimate good -- until I decide to worry instead of trust. Then my behavior belies my heart beliefs -- "I believe! Lord, help Thou my unbelief!!"<br />
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Family blessings are the best of all -- we are so grateful for each of our children. Our daughter, Anne, is pictured below at a family wedding. Her husband, Grant, saw a wonderful year of success with his clinic in Augusta, Georgia, Christ Community Health Services. The Lord blessed him and his partner, Robert Campbell, and many others who were deeply committed to the effort to raise enough money to begin reconstruction of the Widow's Home as the permanent location for the clinic. Due to this progress and the addition of other doctors to the staff, Grant was approached by others who asked him to pray about starting a similar clinic that provides health care to those needing it at lower or no costs in Columbus, Georgia, his hometown. It would appear they will be moving there this summer. Joey continues teaching American Literature to the AP classes and is head of the English Department at Fellowship Bible High School in Roswell, Georgia. And John is being blessed abundantly as he works for and mentors others with Northwestern Mutual in Athens, Georgia. Mercy is currently acting as a nanny/assistant in Kenya for two months, as well as photographer, for a dear family who have moved their entire family there for a couple of years to work with a missionary effort.<br />
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I praise God for my married children's wonderful spouses -- they are all great.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQtY-ZG6dYX7_p7Vu-KiesohHC1TVD12mf8JrMb7uH4eMFDhbKAeS33euuLHQDoCk2hnnMD7lhscmYdJbvCxA7h31w0tcnrrRf_I_migHgy68_w6ElrZvb6eLZSrmJb0tbBrucRYl0QGs/s1600/the+Scarborough+dynasty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQtY-ZG6dYX7_p7Vu-KiesohHC1TVD12mf8JrMb7uH4eMFDhbKAeS33euuLHQDoCk2hnnMD7lhscmYdJbvCxA7h31w0tcnrrRf_I_migHgy68_w6ElrZvb6eLZSrmJb0tbBrucRYl0QGs/s320/the+Scarborough+dynasty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our daughter, Anne, with her husband, Dr. Grant Scarborough, their four girls<br />
and Grant's family</td></tr>
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Here are my top 10 'highs' in no particular order:<br />
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1. Joe, Mercy and I were privileged to travel to Europe last April and May for 15 amazing days with our Vision Forum friends...we started out in Rome and travelled through Geneva, Paris, Noyon, London, York, Stirling, Bannockburn and Edinburgh, just to name a few cities of interest. Much of our traveling was on trains this time, and since I'd only ridden on trains once before in my life,this was a thrill for me. I particularly loved the ride through the French and Swiss Alps on the way to Geneva as well as the spectaular ride under the English Channel from Paris to London via the 'chunnel.' We ate incredible food in Rome and Paris especially and saw so many unbelievable historic sites and artifacts that I still haven't had time to process it all! Perhaps one of these days I will get all my photos downloaded into a book so that I can prove that I was there. The time spent developing close relationships was as precious to me, if not more so, than seeing famous places. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even though this marked our third trip to Europe in less than two years, we relished every moment of it (well, maybe not the moment I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to catch my flight home through Amsterdam because of the volcanic activity in Iceland that had lengthened our stay by two days and changed our return flight schedules. I'd barely missed the opportunity to fly back with Joe, but then God intervened...never mind, it's too long to tell right now...we met up in Amsterdam and flew on home together in an amazing way that I'll share with you someday.)</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'My two girls' on the Europe tour, Meredith and Chelsea,<br />
at the Colisium in Rome</td></tr>
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2. Grandbaby #8 was born on June 9th! Miss Clara Hope Morecraft, third child and second daughter of our son John Calvin and his wife, Kim. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big sister, Izalou, with Clara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqjk7dmaOc0aUnU_MoW6nNYWvI4UKNOLIfHHhzjGoDWWUF8KCfwh0t2hMzTCQseLEPeuoD_R09z7v4__W7-7eaa9zoneEFnT7jHi8dpFev2hNCcK8DqfVArwneUDqsmNgT3IWTOFEwiqB/s1600/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqjk7dmaOc0aUnU_MoW6nNYWvI4UKNOLIfHHhzjGoDWWUF8KCfwh0t2hMzTCQseLEPeuoD_R09z7v4__W7-7eaa9zoneEFnT7jHi8dpFev2hNCcK8DqfVArwneUDqsmNgT3IWTOFEwiqB/s320/Clara+sleeping+on+Kim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wonderful daughter-in-law, Kim, with baby Clara</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>3. Joe's 5-volume set of commentaries on the Westminster Larger Catechism was published -- a grand finale of a twenty-year effort on his part and the joint efforts of many others to make this dream come true. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCpA7-e71eW-g_PtzfLuw4qMxLgnaSIbsQqxU1tCMiLyV0fo2bmANzDmQB-kFTHzvMNwBsxqF5ILXywhO7qIbN9eu7K1ZFmNO3Vid4I2ogO5YJ7UH7PBExQTfv9PB6NPU9wj1Qmu6o1qt/s1600/Joe+with+his+first+vol..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCpA7-e71eW-g_PtzfLuw4qMxLgnaSIbsQqxU1tCMiLyV0fo2bmANzDmQB-kFTHzvMNwBsxqF5ILXywhO7qIbN9eu7K1ZFmNO3Vid4I2ogO5YJ7UH7PBExQTfv9PB6NPU9wj1Qmu6o1qt/s200/Joe+with+his+first+vol..jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vol 1 of 5 is published!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.americanvision.com/products/Authentic-Christianity-Series%3A-An-Exposition-of-the-Theology-and-Ethics-of-the-Westminster-Larger-Catechism.html">http://www.americanvision.com/products/Authentic-Christianity-Series%3A-An-Exposition-of-the-Theology-and-Ethics-of-the-Westminster-Larger-Catechism.html</a><br />
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4. My webinar, "Mrs. Morecraft's School of Elocution and Writing," sponsored by Vision Forum, was a tremendous success, thanks to the sweet folks who signed up to hear me rant and rave about writing and related matters for eight weeks.<br />
<a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=45973">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=45973</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzkPoVI2Bu6AMGyBAmRvDKZLbZCLgLikOek8I1MXT1s7y4A5mYfIBJLf5PQGksC3e1Shpz7oGUtfLql-ZxYNS1xE9C68x9BytSeE_IfyyV70hZFepwjyxkBpw75l9HCETOqLsPlgXcA4v/s1600/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzkPoVI2Bu6AMGyBAmRvDKZLbZCLgLikOek8I1MXT1s7y4A5mYfIBJLf5PQGksC3e1Shpz7oGUtfLql-ZxYNS1xE9C68x9BytSeE_IfyyV70hZFepwjyxkBpw75l9HCETOqLsPlgXcA4v/s320/Mrs.+Morecraft%2527s+Writing+Webinar+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great time I had teaching these classes!!</td></tr>
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5. My father turned 86 in July and Joe's dad was 90 on November 27th. On the same day we celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiGgNWIsrxSxkZ9zb5c4K6aNTXNqk_xmweTbNQa155I8l9JTvK5hkU7DsrajY5HkCPOD0B9hYv_Ii4n2NUP3P63tLCGzlxQ3xCh1KUXlfNufV96wjSFlMplo3dGuvxIOPAz4DpPnGVLs4/s1600/Becky%252C+Mom%252C+Dad%252C+Ariane%252C+EC+%2526+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiGgNWIsrxSxkZ9zb5c4K6aNTXNqk_xmweTbNQa155I8l9JTvK5hkU7DsrajY5HkCPOD0B9hYv_Ii4n2NUP3P63tLCGzlxQ3xCh1KUXlfNufV96wjSFlMplo3dGuvxIOPAz4DpPnGVLs4/s320/Becky%252C+Mom%252C+Dad%252C+Ariane%252C+EC+%2526+tomatoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from left to right: my grand-niece, Emma Claire Laughlin, my niece, Ariane Belcher, my mother, Anita Anderson Belcher, me and my dad, Clynard C., "C.C.", Belcher in their garden near Haysi, Virginia -- summer, 2010</td></tr>
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Abingdon and Haysi, Virginia, are marked as special times with my family as I celebrated my father's 86th birthday on the last day of July and mine a few days later in August. I try to visit my family around my birthday for obvious reasons -- I was not disappointed. <br />
6. Mercy turned 20 in November. She was my accomplice/assistant during the often grueling weeks of the webinar while still working hard on completing as many College-Plus courses as possible, honing her photography skills, tutoring, singing in the choir and much, much more ... she got a lipstick-red Kitchen Aid stand mixer for her efforts. Not bad...<br />
(and she received a pasta making attachment for Christmas from her dad -- as did daughter Anne!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xnwfObVwpjIXb51p9oH-sZiQse1otMf4Q2dOLt0K2IRGevfkkApzK-NO5U6fFO28vQX-OamW_POamkHP-w5N-xmJRTx6hpcAnr32vHr_WJJ0kb5LoMtgP4cinddfS3HEUPXSX89t1qd6/s1600/Mercy+--+those+blue+eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xnwfObVwpjIXb51p9oH-sZiQse1otMf4Q2dOLt0K2IRGevfkkApzK-NO5U6fFO28vQX-OamW_POamkHP-w5N-xmJRTx6hpcAnr32vHr_WJJ0kb5LoMtgP4cinddfS3HEUPXSX89t1qd6/s320/Mercy+--+those+blue+eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercy on the beach in November with her niece, Mary Piper</td></tr>
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7. Two favorite quotes from the grandchildren for 2010: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAUYL7-wL0EvvNazGrs5ufiFphWSPxjLLvtrDg6N4rSRvJAExzzK3p_gdmqAXX3PJTqNIpvhw6V1-7Kx0niVoAZX2G5nbk18beo0CYS4KS-ysIU5e4z2ST51oei8zQpZ9sIr1U9e57lIA/s1600/Becky+%2526+grandkids+in+hats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAUYL7-wL0EvvNazGrs5ufiFphWSPxjLLvtrDg6N4rSRvJAExzzK3p_gdmqAXX3PJTqNIpvhw6V1-7Kx0niVoAZX2G5nbk18beo0CYS4KS-ysIU5e4z2ST51oei8zQpZ9sIr1U9e57lIA/s320/Becky+%2526+grandkids+in+hats.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hat people</td></tr>
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# 1, from Charlie, shortly after his 2nd birthday when I held him in my lap and prayed that God would 'make you a great preacher of the gospel like Granddaddy':<br />
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Joey (two weeks after my prayer): "So, Charlie, what do you want to do when you grow up?" <br />
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Charlie: "I'm gonna be a pweacher when I grow up -- wike Granddaddy." <br />
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Joey: "Really...what are you going to preach about?" <br />
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Charlie: "MOSES! (pointing finger) 'No! No! No!'" <br />
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(By the way, now he wants to be a fireman ... much difference? Don't think so...)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbepSkXxEMscGGnbqbEgLPqruQJs3tWy6uuX96IH08_csam4A1_NIPvddgrPkr3lixg_iYVzQ7se9Kk19Ex2btg_DGh8h-hiGsrg5i4MBAYovh4bZ1-j0ZpFo03CbnmTafXE5EB1Z887D/s1600/Joey%252C+Jenn+and+Charlie%252C+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbepSkXxEMscGGnbqbEgLPqruQJs3tWy6uuX96IH08_csam4A1_NIPvddgrPkr3lixg_iYVzQ7se9Kk19Ex2btg_DGh8h-hiGsrg5i4MBAYovh4bZ1-j0ZpFo03CbnmTafXE5EB1Z887D/s320/Joey%252C+Jenn+and+Charlie%252C+09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe, IV (Joey), Joe, V (Charlie) and Jennifer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSeB1aaWZrA039_VDyzUYnZStxp_LBcj6gpclI8eCWPmEeOGuN70Pd8mB8k02OhNoQI3WEpn-sVF5b4vp744MuZ4hsOA8kRFJtPKbQqc53irdWBRdJyYwmXvqz6zHmkqmInOJMepS_-Q9/s1600/Charlie%252C+%2527trainin%2527+%2528playing+with+his+trains%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSeB1aaWZrA039_VDyzUYnZStxp_LBcj6gpclI8eCWPmEeOGuN70Pd8mB8k02OhNoQI3WEpn-sVF5b4vp744MuZ4hsOA8kRFJtPKbQqc53irdWBRdJyYwmXvqz6zHmkqmInOJMepS_-Q9/s320/Charlie%252C+%2527trainin%2527+%2528playing+with+his+trains%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Charlie" (Joseph Charles M., V) 'trainin', as he calls playing with his trains</td></tr>
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# 2: Jenn (just after being with his cousins at our house): "So, Charlie, did you and Asa play much together ?" <br />
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Charlie, thoughtfully: "Umm, no. Asa, he kinda does his own thing..."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP-uqU6O-x-dECaz7JmvBsHi1tx3aFSP8NamS6x3yI1clUFK6zftFwdyvu6Iv2lPbe_Ye6a9liy8Ezr5dcyXD5Yi7AI6pKpKQTx0HUbecIzkSaV3FEClAftV8Qw5AzVQIPJCNJC8-l8wv/s1600/John+%2526+Asa+sleeping+at+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP-uqU6O-x-dECaz7JmvBsHi1tx3aFSP8NamS6x3yI1clUFK6zftFwdyvu6Iv2lPbe_Ye6a9liy8Ezr5dcyXD5Yi7AI6pKpKQTx0HUbecIzkSaV3FEClAftV8Qw5AzVQIPJCNJC8-l8wv/s320/John+%2526+Asa+sleeping+at+the+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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(Asa's mom confirms this evaluation...sigh...like father, like son...) <br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K8L8bAzrJygIEU2syjMu7ydHORp-rzttPF2CBh5rnqsxnAo9mbGvzo2O5D36agbJfh8qip1E0IQy-qeg-BCH6JgFOjbDRh8nVkzMbMwrA79STDzYl7jPb6IoiaS4iZdTx24WhTOe743z/s1600/Asa%252C+beautiful+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K8L8bAzrJygIEU2syjMu7ydHORp-rzttPF2CBh5rnqsxnAo9mbGvzo2O5D36agbJfh8qip1E0IQy-qeg-BCH6JgFOjbDRh8nVkzMbMwrA79STDzYl7jPb6IoiaS4iZdTx24WhTOe743z/s320/Asa%252C+beautiful+boy.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asa Raines Morecraft, age 3</td></tr>
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Still my fav video of all times: Asa and Izalou sing 'The Lord's Prayer' together at ages three and one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke5gBfJ2Q9M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke5gBfJ2Q9M</a><br />
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8. Favorite person in 2010: Guess ... yep, you got it...my hero-husband, Joe. His preaching through the Psalms in the a.m. and Romans in the afternoon on Sundays is my life-breath, my meat, my drink. Thank you, Lord, for my husband. He struggles with physical challenges every day, and yet, every day he devotes his entire being to furthering the kingdom of His Lord on earth. May God be praised for the victory we know is sure in Christ Jesus our Lord. <br />
<br />
Here's a recent sample of the treat we at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church are privileged to enjoy each Lord's Day. This one is based on Psalm 98: "Joy to the World."<br />
<a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12111428209">http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12111428209</a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkVmIPtR8wZBd1Bu75ZfopdCqejZ-XoV6EAp6mrNAIdrB9k8igFBGbHf_5OI9dh-KuFwPsticTuolVF2pypU2MzYZ6X7SJimrPq5YyOubsl3DL5oa-4M7OxZ-Ao1lWoFc9FvEo_sNmCJM/s1600/Joe+on+Sermon+Audio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkVmIPtR8wZBd1Bu75ZfopdCqejZ-XoV6EAp6mrNAIdrB9k8igFBGbHf_5OI9dh-KuFwPsticTuolVF2pypU2MzYZ6X7SJimrPq5YyOubsl3DL5oa-4M7OxZ-Ao1lWoFc9FvEo_sNmCJM/s1600/Joe+on+Sermon+Audio.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JCM,III</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
9. The Phillips and Morecraft families grew even closer this year as we enjoyed conferences, visits in each other's homes and many trips together. Very special friends...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HR2LEVlxyY2eRerG7MJ7DK4JWPy4drtS_XxdtNgRHSGi6tHtyO5eRq3VaEonoKg-xdV7HmN7-5aVQumJN7I6hjHPCVFzVkc97r2tJRn9Eu_UePdeFtI8A3h36jsDPMQvAKsQ-Glm2Fox/s1600/Beall+%2526+Doug+listening+to+Joe%252C+Magdalene+Chapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HR2LEVlxyY2eRerG7MJ7DK4JWPy4drtS_XxdtNgRHSGi6tHtyO5eRq3VaEonoKg-xdV7HmN7-5aVQumJN7I6hjHPCVFzVkc97r2tJRn9Eu_UePdeFtI8A3h36jsDPMQvAKsQ-Glm2Fox/s200/Beall+%2526+Doug+listening+to+Joe%252C+Magdalene+Chapel.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug, Beall, Faith and Honor in Edinburgh, listening to Joe speak</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeSrhYmnVN0plQ5UhC4V_UZcZxIdsw0Ry7bmUizH6KoLSLC1Kvqtia0sNHaY-9WWQZ4IRUb8RFlyqbeUAykwgVtouZi7mGU8pxzfRwQh90zX0MToSRjySj3bBkMtgSrFs1y5xlCvIRmUA/s1600/Becky+%2526+Doug+singing+lustily+and+with+good+courage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeSrhYmnVN0plQ5UhC4V_UZcZxIdsw0Ry7bmUizH6KoLSLC1Kvqtia0sNHaY-9WWQZ4IRUb8RFlyqbeUAykwgVtouZi7mGU8pxzfRwQh90zX0MToSRjySj3bBkMtgSrFs1y5xlCvIRmUA/s200/Becky+%2526+Doug+singing+lustily+and+with+good+courage.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug and Becky singing loudly at The Baby Conference</td></tr>
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<br />
10. Finally, my last 'high' was also mixed with several 'lows' -- losing dear friends to Heaven's glory. Their joy is unspeakable and full of glory. Our loss -- immeasurable. <br />
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My new year's resolve: To pray for others and for Christ's kingdom to 'come on earth as it is in Heaven' more than my own selfish desires in 2011.<br />
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Blessings on all of you in the new year, dear friends. If you get to glory before I do...keep my spot warm.<br />
<br />
One small unfulfilled wish for the year:<br />
<br />
<script charset="utf-8" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/granot0c-20/8001/412dd023-3039-4255-946f-f7d5e24b9ed1" type="text/javascript">
</script><noscript></noscript><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBOHb-w2UIQq1vRRefxm5l2vo_XHY1Xy_KR7oPSeqW_je5qkxcWG-ZfqKZS51jKtgqYHppHNEZQNXqFkOznoRE4JJZ9LK0-fAebw5ylWaJwvvZoadHBYfV4domkPzQHwkU2HTG7V11x8/s1600/Becky+%2526+Joe%252C+New+Year%2527s+Eve+at+the+Browns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A parting shot:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVNnev1c_aL4CNUD4_kLYT5SqC8XHLIoaW2npt4Zp5Up9YDWbyHC0UjyfBq7Gl5g3kro5-JRfBy_7_izKy7kA1QnfOybI1hRd6XcspUedOoMiNBK_K7PUPNEIWErQ0MFxQ7DMfs-fajHw/s1600/Bertha+Jean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVNnev1c_aL4CNUD4_kLYT5SqC8XHLIoaW2npt4Zp5Up9YDWbyHC0UjyfBq7Gl5g3kro5-JRfBy_7_izKy7kA1QnfOybI1hRd6XcspUedOoMiNBK_K7PUPNEIWErQ0MFxQ7DMfs-fajHw/s320/Bertha+Jean.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Bertha Jean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a suggestion for a calendar with grammatical helps:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><script charset="utf-8" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/granot0c-20/8001/d0504968-057e-4494-95f4-09a32ed8842a" type="text/javascript">
</script><noscript></noscript></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-16312033033016221572010-12-08T22:28:00.000-05:002010-12-08T22:28:04.546-05:00Amazing Grace - Mark O'Connor<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aUjfWW9CMfM?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-38755038830149035042010-12-02T10:28:00.005-05:002011-02-11T00:16:59.045-05:00Book Recommendations for the older crowd, Part I<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl92YVVkjPOaWQMoCx0kossgn8-6EDImJKgzHaTQ2UEOaIKsOWnGMEWMBV7YAacHb1Us4Ma2WpFTJqrDU8nmnz70qxBLQfIJtifjKTdO35Yxf5M6BxQ_N2OYQ8E2YlFkWnWGYnw6F36_yG/s1600/John+Calvin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl92YVVkjPOaWQMoCx0kossgn8-6EDImJKgzHaTQ2UEOaIKsOWnGMEWMBV7YAacHb1Us4Ma2WpFTJqrDU8nmnz70qxBLQfIJtifjKTdO35Yxf5M6BxQ_N2OYQ8E2YlFkWnWGYnw6F36_yG/s320/John+Calvin.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Calvin in his study</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I used to trust people who said to me: "Oh, that movie/book is fine -- there's nothing objectionable in it at all." To my dismay, this was often not the case. I have come to realize that, even for Christians, the bars are set in different places for what is allowable and what is objectionable. This moves me to apologize if I have listed a book with which you would disagree in either content or perspective. Please, allow your own discernment to hold sway. As my Granny would say, "Use your sanctified gumption!" <br />
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We are each responsible before God to make intelligent, discerning decisions in all areas of life. I, as well as many of these authors, are still "sinners, saved by grace," struggling against our own ingrained sinful attitudes and perspectives; and, even with my best efforts, I will sometimes err on one side or the other -- either omitting something flawed that is otherwise worthy or including something that falls beneath the biblical standard: "Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute. If there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Phil. 4:8 ASV, paraphrased <br />
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Some of you may wonder why I haven't included books by C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Their writings had a profound influence for good on me as a young reader. I took a mini-semester course called "The Inklings" in college in which we examined the writings of Lewis, Tolkien and Williams, the prominent members of this literary society of friends. I am very aware that many of my readers have problems with reading about wizards, witches and magic which dominate much of the writings of these incredibly gifted authors. Does that mean that I won't read some of their writings? No, I have read and enjoyed many of their books (not all are my favorites but were enjoyable when I read them). I believe I understand their philosophies, having studied their lives and what influenced them and why they wrote as they did. I don't share many of the ideas which they embraced nor would I include the occult in my writing; but I don't believe I am sinning when I read their writings with a critical attitude. I know that sifting what they wrote through the grid of biblical analysis as I read is necessary as I seek the honor the Lord in this area. However, I would not recommend these or any book of this genre to immature readers who have yet to develop the 'grid' necessary to sufficiently discern good from evil. <br />
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Although the biblical standards are clear, in my opinion, these decisions fall in the area of 'Christian liberty' where we must each be responsible before God and apply wisdom. No matter what you are reading -- whether Lewis, Calvin or Morecraft -- you are responsible as a Christian reader to 'rightly divide the word of truth.' You must always wear the 'spectacles' of Biblical discernment. You are responsible, before God, for everything you do -- every minute of time, every thought, every 'idle' word. I believe it is entirely possible to read an imperfect book or story and separate the wheat from the chaff. The problem with doing this, however, especially for the young or immature reader, is that the written word can be even more seductive than the silver screen. Let the reader beware!<br />
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My 'disclaimer' stretches in both directions. I apologize ahead of time for leaving out some of your favorites as well as including some you may not prefer -- let me know what they are and why you like or dislike them. Please don't include the following in your 'like' list:<br />
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*soupy romances that claim to be 'Christian' <br />
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*poorly-written books, stories or any sloppily-written work that claims to be 'Christian' <br />
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*books full of images or language that portrays sin as 'fun' or glorifies evil<br />
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*articles, essays, stories or other writings that are inaccurate in their depictions of real-life characters or events, when real history is involved.<br />
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I realize some books I recommend, including my 'list-maker books,' may not match up to your personal criteria. I hope we can meet on 'middle ground' here and decide for ourselves whether we will read these books. I have attempted to list books that have a basic Christian principle behind or underlying them -- whether the writer was a proponent of Christianity or not -- and that are well-written, to one extent or another. Thank you for understanding my dilemma. As with all things in this fallen world, there are no perfect books since all are written by sinful men and women. I hope you will develop a Christian 'grid' that is based on 'thus saith the Lord' through which you sift and sort all that you read and write.<br />
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With these thoughts in mind, here is my 'cautious' short list of recommended books for older young people and adults (I hope to expand this as time permits):<br />
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<strong><u>Theology</u></strong>:<br />
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<strong><em>Authentic Christianity: Commentaries on the Westminster Larger Catechism</em></strong>, and other titles by Joseph C. Morecraft, III (did you think I wouldn't recommend my husband's greatest works?) These five commentaries are available both from Amercian Vision or Vision Forum. (same price) They are the product of over 20 years of work as he preached through the WCF Larger Catechism. Very practical and scholarly at once, they are useful for a thorough understanding of Scripture as only this catechism gives us. President of American Vision, Gary DeMar says either spend thousands of dollars and many years getting a seminary education or purchase these five volumes and learn as much or more! What a deal!!<br />
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Order from American Vision here: <a href="http://www.americanvision.com/products/Authentic-Christianity-Series%3A-An-Exposition-of-the-Theology-and-Ethics-of-the-Westminster-Larger-Catechism.html">http://www.americanvision.com/products/Authentic-Christianity-Series%3A-An-Exposition-of-the-Theology-and-Ethics-of-the-Westminster-Larger-Catechism.html</a><br />
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<br />
or order from Vision Forum: <br />
<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=48562">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=48562</a><br />
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<strong><em>The Institutes of the Christian Religion</em></strong>, and other titles by John Calvin <br />
<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47220">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47220</a><br />
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<strong><em>The Institutes of Biblical Law</em></strong>, and other titles by R. J. Rushdoony, perhaps the most important theologian of our times.<br />
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<a href="http://chalcedon.edu/store/Biblical+Law/the-institutes-of-biblical-law-volume-i/">http://chalcedon.edu/store/Biblical+Law/the-institutes-of-biblical-law-volume-i/</a><br />
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or order from Vision Forum here:<br />
<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=42281">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=42281</a><br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sovereignty-God-W-pink/dp/1848710496?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Sovereignty of God</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1848710496" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by A. W. Pink. "Who is regulating affairs on this earth today -- God or the devil?" from the introduction.<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Standard-Authority-Gods-Today/dp/0915815842?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">By This Standard</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0915815842" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Greg Bahnsen. Does God's law apply today? <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-J-I-Packer/dp/0830816496?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Knowing God</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0830816496" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by J. I. Packer<br />
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<strong><u>History</u></strong>:<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-Reformation-16th-Century/dp/1161401008?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The History of the Reformation</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1161401008" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Merle D'Aubigne such as, <strong><em></em></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Protector-Jean-Henri-Merle-DAubign%C3%A9/dp/1103519034?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Protector: A Vindication.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1103519034" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Christian-Revolution-Otto-Scott/dp/1879998025?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Great Christian Revolution</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1879998025" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Otto Scott.<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Irish-Saved-Civilization-Hinges-History/dp/0385418493?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">How the Irish Saved Civilization</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0385418493" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0385418493&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>, by Thomas Cahill. (A book about Iona)<br />
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<strong><em>For You They Signed,</em></strong> by Marilyn Boyer, the stories of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47525">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47525</a><br />
<br />
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<strong><em>Providential Battles</em></strong>, by Christian historian, William Potter. Twenty of the greatest battles in the world that altered history.<br />
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<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=35272">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=35272</a><br />
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<strong><u>Classics and just for fun</u></strong>: Tune in next week!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-85895751599644337532010-11-12T14:28:00.002-05:002010-11-15T19:53:17.138-05:00Of books, there is no end...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NlDOp2Cy3M59Kx4nREn4wmXnR43rP2rklS4tpXpedyK211hGoRpGy5GRJt_OMeJ4WuXgF3w6V6NAvu3o7iG6Jfz3AbhbSfl01hqFtj4kOa5PaJPVnIePWIG6eEnINd0h8OLZ8o6L2nZ/s1600/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NlDOp2Cy3M59Kx4nREn4wmXnR43rP2rklS4tpXpedyK211hGoRpGy5GRJt_OMeJ4WuXgF3w6V6NAvu3o7iG6Jfz3AbhbSfl01hqFtj4kOa5PaJPVnIePWIG6eEnINd0h8OLZ8o6L2nZ/s320/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX2SevunuwZFxKebhNSdglsiv_io_5MWZSP1GloE5QyhSXw1mx-UNufDLEa65qUT3Zpo44YXgeD4jPz4aVOronvuPU9W1aNKwycw99hW0cE1gkPLfIwt-mISTl7r-AMJgU0lz_JZFIbFR/s1600/Becky+reading+to+the+grandbabes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0547391005" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a></div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0310242460&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Here's my theory and I'm sticking to it: the family that reads books together -- aloud -- as a part of their weekly fellowship, will always be 'on the same page.' I was read to often as a child and still love the sound of my mother's voice reading some favorite passage from a book, old or new. I am comforted and still inspired by the memory of my grandparent's voices as they read or quoted favorite stories, poems and passages from the Bible aloud. And visits home are never complete without my dear Papa's voice reading Scripture or Spurgeon's <strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Morning-Evening-Classic-Devotional-Standard/dp/158134466X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Morning and Evening</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=158134466X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em></strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1433513609" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=158134466X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />devotional to the gathered family. Nothing makes me happier today than reading some of my favorite books and theirs to my grandchildren. But not just any book will do. I try to read stories to my grandchildren that are beautifully written with an underlying biblical theme, pleasing to the eye and ears. Books will influence us much like jumping into a strong stream that leads to an ocean: we will be carried along in one direction or another. Make sure you are aware of that as you read -- choose the 'ocean' towards which you want to be carried.<br />
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Reading aloud to someone is one of life's pleasures that brings blessings to both the reader and the recipient. And reading when you are alone is a treasured blessing like no other. Books can take you to places you may never visit except in your mind -- you can travel back in history or into the future; visit desert islands, medieval castles or lush forests in the Amazon valley or into hidden vallies in the Swiss Alps. Go wherever the skillful author takes you as you broaden your vocabulary, hone your writing skills and find opportunities to grow spiritually, socially and mentally as the Lord works noble thoughts and spiritual truths into your heart and mind through your reading. <br />
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My husband likes to say, "Those who read lead." And this is true. If you want to be a leader, you must be a reader. We are called as Christians, not only to follow our great Leader, the Lord Jesus, but to imitate Him in all our choices and even our preferences. Work on making wise choices in your reading preferences. <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1591280508&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 219px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 132px;"></iframe>Here are some lists of books I like and some that I love. They are far from complete, so check back occasionally for other recommendations.<br />
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First, I'd advise your purchasing two books that have done much of the work for us in sorting and choosing worthy books. <strong><em> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Childs-Heart-Gladys-Hunt/dp/0310242460?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Honey for a Child's Heart</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0310242460" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em></strong>, by Gladys Hunt was the first book I used to help in book selections when my children were small. Now in its fourth edition, you will find it spiritually uplifting as well as informative. I still have the first edition and cannot tell you about the more recent ones -- you are on your own here! A more recent one, written by friends of mine,<strong><em> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Tree-Christian-Reference-Literature/dp/1591280508?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Book Tree: A Christian Reference for Children's Literature</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1591280508" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />,</em></strong> by Elizabeth McCallum and her daughter Jane Scott, should be in every Christian home. Both of these books set out a Christian philosophy for choosing books as well as commentary on each selection. <br />
I'll list a few books from my longer list in several blog posts. If your favorites aren't here, feel free to comment and ask me or inform me about them. I may not have gotten to your favorites yet, or I just may not know about them. Here goes:<br />
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<strong><u>Pre-school</u></strong>: (age 5 and under)<br />
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<em><strong></strong></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Tales-Winnie-Pooh/dp/0525457232?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Winnie the Pooh </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0525457232" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />and related titles, by A. A. Milne<br />
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<em><strong></strong></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Moon-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0060775858?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Goodnight Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060775858" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Margaret Wise Brown<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Count-Hungry-Caterpillar-World-Carle/dp/0448444208?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Very Hungry Caterpillar</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0448444208" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Eric Carle<br />
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<em><strong></strong></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blueberries-for-Sal/dp/9994568418?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Blueberries for Sal</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9994568418" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Robert McCloskey<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Story-Bible-Catherine-Vos/dp/0802850111?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Child’s Story Bible</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0802850111" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Catherine F. Vos<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guess-How-Much-Love-You/dp/0763641758?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Guess How Much I Love You</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0763641758" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0763641758" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Sam McBratney<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Way-Ducklings-Robert-McCloskey/dp/0670050172?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Make Way for Ducklings</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0670050172" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Robert McCloskey<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Places-Love-Patricia-Maclachlan/dp/0060210982?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All the Places to Love</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060210982" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Patricia MacLachlan<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Boxed-Set-Father/dp/0064441970?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Little Bear</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064441970" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Else H. Minarik<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Owl-Moon-Anniversary-Jane-Yolen/dp/0399247998?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Owl Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0399247998" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Jane Yolen<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-That-Could/dp/0399244670?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Little Engine That Could</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0399244670" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Watty Piper<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sergei-Prokofievs-Peter-Wolf-Fully-Orchestrated/dp/0375824308?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Peter and the Wolf</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0375824308" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0375824308&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> (musical edition), Sergei Prokofiev<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Peter-Rabbit-Potter/dp/0723257930?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Tale of Peter Rabbit</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0723257930" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles, by Beatrix Potter<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adventures-Curious-George-Anniversary/dp/0547391005?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Curious George</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0547391005" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Hans Rey<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Garden-Verses-Robert-Stevenson/dp/0689823827?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Child’s Garden of Verses</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0689823827" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lord-My-Shepherd-Tasha-Tudor/dp/0698117557?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Lord is My Shepherd</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0698117557" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by illustrator Tasha Tudor<br />
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<strong><u>Elementary Fiction</u></strong>: (ages 6-12)<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aesops-Fables-Stories-Young-Children/dp/079451135X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Aesop’s Fables</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=079451135X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Aesop<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Hans-Christian-Andersen/dp/0811802302?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Treasury of Fairy Tales</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0811802302" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Hans Christian Anderson <br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mitten-20th-Anniversary-Jan-Brett/dp/0399252967?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Mitten</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0399252967" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Jan Brett<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caddie-Woodlawn-Carol-Ryrie-Brink/dp/1416940286?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Caddie Woodlawn</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416940286" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Carol Ryrie Brink<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Brownings-Pied-Piper-Hamelin/dp/0810943514?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Pied Piper of Hamelin</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0810943514" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Robert Browning<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riding-Express-Clyde-Robert-Bulla/dp/1887840400?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Riding the Pony Express</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1887840400" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Clyde Robert Bulla<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Garden-Frances-Hodgson-Burnett/dp/0451528832?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Secret Garden</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451528832" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0451528832&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>, by Frances Hodgson Burnett<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Journey-Sheila-Burnford/dp/0440413249?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Incredible Journey</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0440413249" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Shelia Burnford<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Courage-Sarah-Noble-Alice-Dalgliesh/dp/0689715404?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Courage of Sarah Noble</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0689715404" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Alice Dalgliesh<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hans-Brinker-Silver-Skates-Zeaner/dp/B0001I55X8?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates</a> (DVD), <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0001I55X8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brinker-Silver-Skates-Mapes-Dodge/dp/1153625857?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hans Brinker; Or, the Silver Skates</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1153625857" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Mary Maples Dodge<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/William-Tell-Margaret-Early/dp/0810938545?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">William Tell</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0810938545" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Margaret Early<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matchlock-Gun-Walter-D-Edmonds/dp/0698116801?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Matchlock Gun</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0698116801" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Walter D. Edmonds<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yeller-Perennial-Classics-Fred-Gipson/dp/0060935472?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Old Yeller</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060935472" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Fred Gipson <br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005RRG4&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tanglewood-Tales-Illustrated-Yesterdays-Classics/dp/1599150913?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tanglewood Tales</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599150913" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Nathaniel Hawthorne<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saint-George-Dragon-Margaret-Hodges/dp/0316367958?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Saint George and the Dragon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316367958" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Margaret Hodges<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Huguenot-Garden-Douglas-Jones/dp/1885767218?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Huguenot Garden</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1885767218" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Douglas M. Jones, III<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Huguenot-Garden-Douglas-Jones/dp/1885767218?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Jungle Book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1885767218" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Rudyard Kipling<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Toad-Collection-Read-Book/dp/0060580860?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Frog and Toad</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060580860" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Arnold Lobel<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hiawatha-Other-Poems-Worlds-Reading/dp/0895773376?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hiawatha</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0895773376" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Princess-George-MacDonald/dp/0802850707?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Lost Princess</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0802850707" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and most other titles by George MacDonald<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Scouts-Confederacy-Misc-Homeschool/dp/1930092199?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Iron Scouts of the Confederacy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1930092199" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Lee McGiffin<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Scouts-Confederacy-Misc-Homeschool/dp/1930092199?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sarah, Plain and Tall</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1930092199" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Patricia MacLachlan<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Avonlea-Poplars-Rainbow-Ingleside/dp/0553609416?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Anne of Green Gables</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0553609416" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by L. M. Montgomery<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Railway-Children-Picture-Book-Classics/dp/0794520367?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Railway Children</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0794520367" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by E. Nesbit<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Henry-Adventures-American-Revolution/dp/1581345216?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Annie Henry and the Redcoats</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1581345216" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Susan Olasky<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Confederates-Thomas-Nelson-Page/dp/0873771745?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Two Little Confederates</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0873771745" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Thomas Nelson Page<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Treasures-Snow-Patricia-John-Books/dp/0802465757?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Treasures in the Snow</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0802465757" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Patricia St. John<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Starts-Five-Little-Peppers/dp/1402754205?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Five Little Peppers and How They Grew</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402754205" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Margaret Sidney<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bronze-Bow-Elizabeth-George-Speare/dp/0395137195?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Bronze Bow</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0395137195" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Elizabeth Speare<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Johanna-Spyri/dp/1402726015?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Heidi</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402726015" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Johanna Spyri<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Woods-75th-Anniversary/dp/B001O9CB58?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Little House in the Big Wood</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001O9CB58" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Laura Ingalls Wilder<br />
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<strong><u>Middle School Fiction</u></strong>: (ages 12 +)<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Women-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199538115?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Little Women</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0199538115" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Louisa May Alcott<br />
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<strong><em>Coral Island</em></strong>, <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704</a> and other titles by R. M. Ballentyne<br />
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<strong><em>The Pilgrim’s Progress</em></strong>,<a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704</a> <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=29870">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=29870</a><br />
by John Bunyan<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canterbury-Tales-Barbara-Cohen/dp/0688062016?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Canterbury Tales, adapted by Barbara Cohen</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0688062016" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Geoffrey Chaucer<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonstone-Wilkie-Collins/dp/1449536689?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Moonstone</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1449536689" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Wilkie Collins<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/adventures-Robinson-Crusoe-Daniel-defoe/dp/B001NBQCD4?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001NBQCD4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Any book by Charles Dickens except Great Expectations<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adventures-Memoirs-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/0517174960?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0517174960" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Count-Monte-Cristo-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449264?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Count of Monte-Cristo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0140449264" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Alexandre Dumas<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Tremain-Esther-Forbes/dp/0440442508?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Johnny Tremain</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0440442508" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Esther Forbes<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lieutenant-Hornblower-C-S-Forester/dp/0316290637?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Lieutenant Hornblower</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316290637" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by C. S. Forester<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Magi-O-Henry/dp/B002SB8QSC?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Gift of the Magi</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002SB8QSC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by O. Henry<br />
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<strong><em>The Dragon and the Raven</em></strong>, <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297</span></u></a> and other titles by G. A. Henty<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Things-Bright-Beautiful-James-Herriot/dp/0312330863?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All Things Bright and Beautiful</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312330863" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by James Herriott<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hinds-Feet-High-Places-Devotional/dp/0768422787?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hind’s Feet on High Places</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0768422787" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Hannah Hurnard<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Charles-Mary-Lamb/dp/1406814156?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tales From Shakespeare</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1406814156" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Charles and Mary Lamb<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Sled-John-Leeper/dp/1889893013?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Brothers of the Sled</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1889893013" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by John Leeper<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Pimpernel-Forgotten-Books/dp/1606801422?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Scarlet Pimpernel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1606801422" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Limberlost-Gene-Stratton-Porter/dp/1604442468?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Girl of the Limberlost</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1604442468" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000D0YWE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Gene Stratton Porter<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lantern-Her-Hand-Puffin-Classics/dp/0140384286?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Lantern in Her Hand</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0140384286" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Bess Streeter Aldrich<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Dodo-Press-Howard-Pyle/dp/1406564516?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Men of Iron</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1406564516" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Howard Pyle<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0768422787&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 268px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 119px;"></iframe><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Light-Forest-VHS-Fess-Parker/dp/6304400780?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Light in the Forest</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=6304400780" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Light-in-the-Forest/dp/0394814045?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Light in the Forest</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0394814045" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Conrad Richter<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-Warrior-Living-History-Library/dp/1883937035?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Beowulf, the Warrior</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1883937035" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Ian Serraillier, translator<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kidnapped-Scribner-Storybook-Classics-Stevenson/dp/0689865422?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kidnapped</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0689865422" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Yankee-Arthurs-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553211439?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0553211439" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Mark Twain<br />
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<strong><em>The Princess Adelina</em></strong>, by Julie Sutter <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297</a><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47832">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47832</a><br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Around-World-Eighty-Signet-Classics/dp/0451529774?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Around the World in Eighty Days</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451529774" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Jules Verne<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Came-Living-History-Library/dp/1883937213?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Augustine Comes to Kent,</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1883937213" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and other titles by Barbara Willard<br />
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<em><strong></strong></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/HORN-ROLAND-Jay-Williams/dp/B001BNSPSO?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Horn of Roland</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001BNSPSO" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Jay Williams<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swiss-Family-Robinson-Signet-Classics/dp/0451529618?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Swiss Family Robinson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451529618" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Johann R. Wyss<br />
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<strong><u>Elementary and Middle School Biography</u></strong>: (ages 12 +)<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Augustine-Farmers-Boy-Tagaste-Zeeuw/dp/0921100051?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Augustine: The Farmer’s Boy of Tagaste</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0921100051" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by P. de Zeeuw<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/TALKING-WIRE-STORY-ALEXANDER-GRAHAM/dp/B002095S3I?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Talking Wire: The Story of Alexander Graham Bell,</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002095S3I" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by O. J. Stevenson<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Boone-James-Daugherty/dp/B000ZNURRS?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Daniel Boone</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ZNURRS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by James Daugherty<br />
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<strong><em>Carry on, Mr. Bowditch</em></strong>, by Jean Lee Latham <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830</span></u></a><br />
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<strong><em>Alone, Yet Not Alone</em></strong>, by Tracy Leininger <a href="http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830">http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830</a><a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65987">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65987</a><br />
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<strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/John-Bunyan-Author-Pilgrims-Progress/dp/1557488797?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">John Bunyan, Author of Pilgrim’s Progress</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1557488797" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />,</em></strong> by Sam Wellman<br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Columbus-Story-Alice-Dalgliesh/dp/068413179X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Columbus Story</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=068413179X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Alice Dalgliesh<br />
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<strong><em>A Confederate Trilogy</em></strong>, by Mary L. Williamson<br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fulton-Craftsman-Marguerite-Herny/dp/B000P70LMA?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000P70LMA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and other titles by Marguerite Henry<br />
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<strong><em>George Fredric Handel: Composer of Messiah,</em></strong> by Charles Ludwig<br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stonewall-Jean-Fritz/dp/069811552X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Stonewall</a><u><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=069811552X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></u>, by Jean Fritz<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=069811552X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Johannes-Kepler-Giant-Science-Sowers/dp/091513411X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Johannes Kepler: Giant of Faith and Science</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=091513411X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by John Judson Tiner<br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robert-E-Lee-Christian-Gentleman/dp/0915134977?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Robert E. Lee: Christian General and Gentleman,</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0915134977" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Roddy Lee<br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Liddell-Faith-Catherine-Swift/dp/1556611501?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eric Liddell,</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1556611501" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Catherine Swift<br />
<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Biographical-Fiction-Charles-Ludwig/dp/0871236524?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Queen of the Reformation, (Katherine Luther)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0871236524" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, by Charles Ludwig<br />
<br />
Most of the books above are for high school age and above as well. I love some children's books as much as those targeted for adults. The simplicity of style is often refreshing and adult-aimed humor in children's books usually makes me smile. One such book, targeted perhaps for a children's audience but with a deep and abiding message is <strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Wheelocks-Wall-1992-publication/dp/B001M9L2V4?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Matthew Wheelock's Wall - 1992 publication</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001M9L2V4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em></strong> written by Frances Ward Weller and illustrated beautifully by Ted Lewin. You will want to purchase several of these for gifts. The message of the book always brings tears to my eyes -- building for future generations.<br />
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We'll stop there for now...this should give you plenty of reading materials to get you started for your long winter's reading by the fireside or under a cozy quilt. I pray that finding and reading good books will be an adventure for you that will never end! <br />
Happy Reading!!Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-6268344562911751522010-11-11T23:37:00.000-05:002010-11-11T23:37:46.503-05:00Honorable Mentions ... no small victory!Well, some of you may have been disappointed that you didn't place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in our writing contest. Here are some considerations for you that should bring smiles to your faces. First, there were over 320 entries! Think of that! You were competing with some pretty sharp writers, my friend. Secondly, we offered the contest before our instruction was complete, so you had to write from 'old skills' rather than newly acquired ones. And third, in our next webinar contest, you just may be the winning entry -- never give up. I would post some of my earliest writing for you to smile about, but it's too embarrassing. Many of your submissions far outshine my writing at your ages. I've kept at it and gradually improved, by God's grace. You will improve daily if you write daily with the important suggestions I've given you with more to come next time. Here are the criteria we used for judging (there were five judges, by the way, all qualified in more than one area of writing):<br />
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grammatical accuracy <br />
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strong, imaginative imagery that avoided using tired, trite phrases, jargon or slang<br />
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good lead sentences and first paragraphs, where applicable<br />
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clearly understood development of the theme or thesis, where applicable<br />
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a strong concluding paragraph<br />
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good sentence structure with strong nouns, verbs and properly used modifiers<br />
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for rhyming poems, strict adherence to the chosen meter<br />
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for unrhymed poems, strong, palpable imagery appropriate to the subject and additionally,<br />
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skillful use of internal rhyme<br />
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interesting themes for both poetry and prose --<br />
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did the writing grab and keep our interest throughout, or was the piece<br />
<br />
too rhetorical (instructional with little to keep interest in a storyline)<br />
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too artificial (either too silly and unbelievable or impossible situations)<br />
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too boring<br />
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too ‘wordy’?<br />
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With articles and essays, did the writer make and prove a point well?<br />
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If a song, was the meter adhered to throughout? Was the imagery strong? Did the words fit the tune and was the music appropriate to the message?<br />
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In all types of writing, did the writer strike a chord with us so that we wanted to keep reading and felt satisfied when we finished reading it – either entertained, inspired, or in some other way glad we had read it? Or was the piece easy to put down, even before the end? Did we enjoy reading it?<br />
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This final point for each judge, was often the deciding factor. If your writing moved us in some way that kept us reading, kept our interest and left us wanting more, your submission had more winning potential perhaps than a piece that was written more correctly, following all the rules. but didn’t inspire or instruct our hearts or move us to a level of interest in the topic that would cause us to remember it. Learning to move the reader's emotions, not through soupy, affectatious writing, but striking a chord in the heart, is something often more given than learned. Ask God for this ability as you write. <br />
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<strong><u>How to win a place of notice next time</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
All writing errors can be corrected. All writers can improve. Please don’t be discouraged if your name wasn’t in the list of honorable mentions or in the winner’s circle this time. Keep journaling as well as other writing exercises as you apply the suggestions we’ve mentioned in our sessions and others you can learn from the resources we've mentioned. Keep reading your poems, essays, articles and papers to your friends and parents and ask for suggestions for improvement. Keep reading great books and learn from these writers how to construct good sentences, find strong nouns and verbs as the building materials, how to use modifiers accurately, how to use discernment when describing a scene or depicting emotions or writing dialogue, how to create tangible, palpable imagery. Read great books and take notes on all these topics -- this is perhaps the best way to improve your own writing. Don’t be afraid of criticism. In fact, ask for it all the time. Ask anyone who will listen to your writing, “Does that make sense to you? What do I need to add? What do I need to take out? How could this be written to convey my point better? Do I need to re-write or just start over?” You will never improve as a runner if you don’t run or as a singer if you don’t sing. You will never become a better writer if you only practice writing skills occasionally. Write every day. Read every day. Ask the Lord to help you improve for His glory and He will.<br />
<br />
Here are the names selected with care for honorable mention:<br />
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<strong><u>Stories</u></strong> (18 and above age group) <br />
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<strong><em>The Attic Treasure</em></strong>—submitted by the Compton siblings, Lauren, 18, Johanna 12 and Caitlin, 9 <br />
<strong><em>The Letter</em></strong> – Callan Seargent and Lourdes Torres <br />
<strong><em>Beyond Recall</em></strong> – submitted by Laura Raborn <br />
<strong><em>Ode to Preacher Joe or the Mississippi Days</em></strong> -- by Amy Frank <br />
<strong><em>Keep W</em></strong><strong><em>alking in His Steps</em></strong> -- Andrea Allan Fisher <br />
<strong><em>Defending Home</em></strong> – by Koleesa Amundson <br />
<strong><em>Alan’s Farewell</em></strong> – by Rebekah Morris <br />
<strong><em>Samson</em></strong> – Olivia Cornwell <br />
<strong><em>Yellow Bird</em></strong> – Teresa Nuckols <br />
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<strong><u>Articles and Essays</u></strong> (18 and above age group)<br />
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<strong><em>Resurrection Day Surprise</em></strong> – Faith Blum <br />
<strong><em>What is Love?</em></strong> -- Michelle Payne <br />
<strong><em>Hamlet: An Allegory</em></strong> - Tom Morris <br />
<strong><em>Simple Blessings: Saturday Dinner</em></strong> - Jasmin Aprile <br />
<strong><em>Of Pests and Priorities</em></strong> - Sarah Huslander <br />
<strong><em>Upright</em></strong> - Debbie Hogan <br />
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<strong><u>Poems</u></strong> (18 and above) <br />
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<strong><em>The Mountains</em></strong> – Rachelle Jones<br />
<strong><em>Twilight in America: A Visual Poem</em></strong> - Kendra Thomas <br />
<strong><em>Yet Unformed</em></strong> - Sarah Willard <br />
<strong><em>The Call of A Princess</em></strong> - Melinda Pound <br />
<strong><em>The Appeal of a Damsel [once in distress]</em></strong> - Shelby Courtney <br />
<strong><em>The Shepherd</em></strong> - Zach Strother <br />
<strong><em>Bumble-Bee Words</em></strong> - Stephanie Perdue <br />
<strong><em>Judas and the Door</em></strong> - Amanda Neely <br />
<strong><em>Lonely Ascent</em></strong> - Marsha Ashabraner <br />
<strong><em>Crazy</em></strong> - Abby Walker <br />
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<strong><u>Stories</u></strong> (13-17 age group)<br />
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<strong><em>Grandpa’s Story</em></strong> - Patti Childers <br />
<strong><em>The Long Road Home</em></strong> - Amy Jo Underwood <br />
<strong><em>Today I am Battling Restlessness</em></strong>… - Manus Churchill <br />
<strong><em>Sir Valiant and the Will</em></strong> - Allison Hawbaker <br />
<strong><em>Woven Secrets</em></strong> - Jocelyn & Gianna Stanush <br />
<strong><em>The Life of Letters</em></strong> - Rachael Stahr <br />
<strong><em>Christ Provides</em></strong> - Lauren Hall <br />
<strong><em>Peppermint & Christmas Bread </em></strong>- Sarah Hall <br />
<strong><em>The National Bible Bee</em></strong> -- Emily Brigham<br />
<strong><em>My Special Place</em></strong> - Maria Fulton <br />
<strong><em>He Has</em></strong> - Danielle Kent <br />
<strong><em>A Walk in the Woods with God</em></strong> - Rebecca Wall <br />
<em><strong>Chayel</strong></em>- Katelyn Zeiger <br />
<strong><em>Henty de Valor and the Terrible Beastie</em></strong>- Sophia Smithe <br />
<strong><em>Touching Noses</em></strong> - Mckynzie Neilsen <br />
<strong><em>Just like Daddy Did</em></strong> - Hannah Monnington <br />
<strong><em>The Promise</em></strong> - Ginelle Verhoog Tobias, <br />
<strong><em>A True Knight</em></strong> - Rachel Cantrell <br />
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<strong><u>Articles and Essays</u></strong> (13-17 age group)<br />
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<strong><em>The Boston Tea Party</em></strong> - Hannah Scott <br />
<strong><em>Rivers of Living Water</em></strong> - Alina Maira <br />
<strong><em>Run for One</em></strong> - Justin Jantomaso <br />
<strong><em>The Industrial Revolution</em></strong> - Coral Wood <br />
<strong><em>A Reflection of Glory</em></strong> - Tiana Worthy <br />
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<strong><u>Poems</u></strong> (13-17 age group)<br />
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<strong><em>Remembering Him</em></strong> – Nicole Jones<br />
<strong><em>Mommy</em></strong> - Rachel Hubbard <br />
<strong><em>I Am God’s Poem</em></strong> - Anna Henderson <br />
<strong><em>Wild Horses,</em></strong> haiku - Emma Rolf <br />
<strong><em>Gen. Jackson</em></strong> - age 14 twins, James & Lauren Fletcher <br />
<strong><em>America’s Hope</em></strong> - Christina Hommes <br />
<strong><em>More Than Words</em></strong> - Jenna McKenzie <br />
<strong><em>Of Warriors and Christendom</em></strong> - Laura Verret <br />
<strong><em>In My Grandma’s Garden</em></strong> - Rebecca Knauss <br />
<strong><em>Enter Spring</em></strong> - Hayley Fowler <br />
<strong><em>Here I Stand</em></strong> - Schuyler McKonkey <br />
<strong><em>Valiant, the Brave</em></strong> - Jaclyn Hall <br />
<strong><em>The Wind</em></strong> - Dasha Reiss <br />
<strong><em>The Calling</em></strong> - Faith Froemming <br />
<strong><em>The Seedling</em></strong> - Jenna Kyler <br />
<strong><em>A Thunderstorm</em></strong> - Rebekah Barfield <br />
<br />
<strong><u>Stories</u></strong>: (age 12 and under) <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Mercy</em></strong> - Paige Baker <br />
<strong><em>Louisa Payne’s Story</em></strong> - Sierra Campbell <br />
<strong><em>Sleep & Frazzled Me</em></strong> - Karis Churchill <br />
<strong><em>Nurse at Heart</em></strong> - Laura Hubbard <br />
<strong><em>The Mysterious Disappearance of Jon Dixon</em></strong> - Sophia Ellen Jantomaso <br />
<strong><em>Robert E. Lee’s Character</em></strong> - Hannah Knight <br />
<strong><em>Zachary Ward : The Coffee Machine</em></strong> - Angelo Ward <br />
<strong><em>Cowboy Jim and the Horse Thieves</em></strong> - Samson Strother <br />
<strong><em>The First Thanks Given</em></strong> - Charlotte Boyer <br />
<strong><em>The Ride of Paul Revere</em></strong> - Aimee Pelletier <br />
<strong><em>A Letter to God</em></strong>- Natalie Tederoff <br />
<strong><em>Miracle at Premier Gorge</em></strong> - Joseph Anand <br />
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<strong><u>Poems</u></strong>: (age 12 and under) <br />
<strong><em>Sunlight</em></strong> - Hannah Finck <br />
<strong><em>The Wind</em></strong> - Rebecca Riggins <br />
<strong><em>Fall is the Best Season of All</em></strong> - Hannah Walker <br />
<strong><em>Gen. Robert E. Lee</em></strong> - Jacob Ward <br />
<strong><em>Autumn Leaves</em></strong> - Gianna Lonneman <br />
<strong><em>For His Pleasure</em></strong> - Hannah Speer <br />
<strong><em>A War of Trepidation</em></strong> - Hannah Roethle <br />
<strong><em>Dancing with Leaves</em></strong> - Katie Gullett <br />
<strong><em>God’s Wrath</em></strong>- Sarah Carpenter Joy - Analaea Proffitt <br />
<strong><em>The Life of William Tyndale</em></strong> - Matthew Presley <br />
<strong><em>Keep on Christian Pilgrims</em></strong> - Mary Bethany AdamsBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-51198673620179006412010-11-05T00:50:00.000-04:002010-11-05T00:50:27.577-04:00And the winner is...The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived--here is the list of winners for Mrs. Morecraft's First Writing Contest. Each winner is asked to e-mail his or her address to <a href="mailto:mmorecraft@gmail.com">mmorecraft@gmail.com</a> so that we can send your prize to you. We are thrilled with the response and hope you love your gift. Thanks to all who entered. You each possess amazing gifts. We were privileged and honored to be able to read your writing and look forward to even better entries during our next contest, hopefully, to be held early next year. A lonnnnggg list of honorable mentions should be posted at this site early next week.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Age 12 and Younger Division</span></strong><br />
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<strong><u>Stories</u></strong>:<br />
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1st place: "Sunrise Mustangs," by Danielle Dodge, (age 12), also our GRAND PRIZE WINNER!!<br />
2nd place: "The Rescue," by David Hubbard (age 7).<br />
3rd place: It's a tie! "Bonnie's New Year," by Isabella Saffa (age 10), and Gloria Bringe (age 12); <br />
and, "How Americans Fight," by Daniel Hubbard (age 9).<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Poetry</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "Mrs. Morecraft's Musings on Grammar & Composition," by Mary Caroline Whims (age 12)<br />
2nd place: "Stone Clad Domain," by Aurora Hacker (age 12)<br />
3rd place: "God Sees Everything," by Brianna Bower (age 12)<br />
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<strong><u>Song</u></strong>:<br />
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1st place: "I Worship You," by Victoria C. Lipp (age 12)<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Age 13-17 Division</span></strong><br />
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<strong><u>Stories</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "Pain of Death," Jefferey French (age 17)<br />
2nd place: "Titanic's Last Night," by Valerie Braymer (age 13)<br />
3rd place: It's a tie! "Home," by Alexa Myers (age 16); and "The Survivor," by Laura Andrews (age 17).<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Articles and Essays</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "Never Forget," by Hannah Estes (age 17)<br />
2nd place: "We the People," by Sarah Dana (age 15)<br />
3rd place: It's a tie! "Character," by Grace Macias (age 16); and, "Death is Life," by Leah Macias (age 14). Yes, they are sisters!!!<br />
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<strong><u>Poetry</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "Lady Liberty," by Josiah Ortega (age 16)<br />
2nd place: "Harbor Storm," by Kristina Clark (age 13)<br />
3rd place: It's a tie! "Of Authors Great and Gone," by John Horn (age 15); and, "Life is Like Sailing," by Cassidy Clark (age 15).<br />
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<strong><u>Song</u></strong>: <br />
<br />
1st place: "A Sinner's Plea," by Andrea Noah (age 14)<br />
2nd place: "Cleansing Flow," by Kailey Hogan (age 15)<br />
3rd place: "Susanna's Song," by Caroline Beckman (age 13)<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">18 and Older Division</span></strong><br />
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<strong><u>Stories</u>:</strong><br />
<br />
1st place: "Shiny Coin," by Jane Anne Henderson<br />
2nd place: "Homecoming," by Sarah Bryant<br />
3rd place: "The Gentle Prisoner," by Kathryn Yen<br />
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<strong><u>Articles and Essays</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "Life on the Edge," by Donna Mauney<br />
2nd place: "Who are You? You are Life," by Riannen Schlosser<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Poetry</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
1st place: "The Heroine of the Woods," by Tiffany Cadle<br />
2nd place: "The Electrical Storm," by Jill Manteufel<br />
3rd place: "But for a Moment," by Rachel Vogel<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Songs:</u></strong><br />
<br />
1st place: "Woman of Honor," by Nicki O'Donovan<br />
2nd place: "Dreams," by Joy Billigmeier<br />
3rd place: "Streams of Mercy," by Rachel Petersen<br />
<br />
<br />
I'd like to highlight one winning entry tonight -- thanks to Mary Caroline Whims, age 12, for paying attention to my writing classes and taking such good notes that she could turn them into a poem! Congratulations for winning first place in the poetry division for your age group, Mary Caroline!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Mrs. Morecraft's Musings on Grammar and Composition</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Mary Caroline Whims, age 12</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Diagrams, participles,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Past and present tense,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Simple subject, predicate</div><div style="text-align: center;">For building a sentence.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Watch yourself for fragments,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Keep commas all in line.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Correct your punctuation</div><div style="text-align: center;">And you will do just fine!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Create a sense of quiet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Think of our Lord each day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Learn to use good research tools.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Read what the experts say.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Broaden your vocabulary,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fix your spelling, then,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Read aloud and take advice</div><div style="text-align: center;">And write it all again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One more piece of counsel</div><div style="text-align: center;">To help you as you write:</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Thinking God's thoughts after Him,"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is pleasant in His sight.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preferring simple elegance,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Choose carefully each word.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Write with a Christian mindset</div><div style="text-align: center;">As you glorify the Lord!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-43726232099727115242010-10-18T22:30:00.000-04:002010-10-18T22:30:20.036-04:00How to Write Right<span></span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1576361500&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>I hope you love to write and receive personal letters like I do. Yes, I confess to being an e-mail addict -- so many messages to so many friends and so little time! But I receive a little thrill when I see a beautiful envelope addressed to me on the front of an envelope made of special paper in lovely, even script. *Sigh* I know the writer of this epistle, although it may be short and to the point, has spent several valuable minutes of time when they could have been doing something else much more important showing me that they care about me. And, I might add, showing me that they care about the kind of impression they are making on me. That sort of letter always leaves a very good impression, regardless of the length of the message.<br />
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We could all improve our handwriting skills. What better way to do this than in letter-writing. No, you are saying, my handwriting is terrible! I have a workable solution for you. Check out this writing handbook -- it's one of many that are available online.<br />
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Of course, the ultimate handwriting is calligraphy or italic handwriting. Once again, there are many courses available from online sources. I have several of these and have toyed with them. I hope to find time to actually sit down and take the course. Then you can be sure I'll write more letters so I can practice this skillful art.<br />
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<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00439MCS2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
Every beautifully written letter requires two other ingredients besides skillful writing techniques: a nice pen that will easily accomodate your new skills and lovely writing paper. The pen on the left is only one of scores of pens available online, this one from Amazon. I personally use the blackest ink I can find and cream colored paper. I have personalized writing paper which is embossed with my initials. They came with personalized gift card enclosures and note cards as well. I much prefer these to the generic variety that have 'thank you' printed on the front. Although I have received many notes written on generic cards that I treasure. The words, not the materials used always carry the most meaning to your recipient. However, the materials you use as well as the care you take in writing your letter or note reflect your values and care. Just as your choice of clothing, the way you care for your belongings, and many other habits reflect deeper character traits, even so the type of papers and style of writing you use to communicate your thoughts to someone will show something about who you are.<br />
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Next post, I'll talk more about writing papers.<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-22291226764518820142010-10-10T21:55:00.004-04:002010-10-11T14:42:52.112-04:00Books That Help You Communicate Clearly<a class="image" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Noah_Webster.jpg"><img alt="" class="thumbimage" height="261" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Portrait_of_Noah_Webster.jpg/220px-Portrait_of_Noah_Webster.jpg" width="220" /></a><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0020ML726&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Noah Webster was an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. In 1806 he published his first dictionary, <em>A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language</em>. In 1807 Webster began compiling an expanded and fully comprehensive dictionary, <em>An American Dictionary of the English Language</em>; it took twenty-seven years to complete. To evaluate the etymology of words, Webster learned twenty-six languages, including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit. Webster hoped to standardize American speech, since Americans in different parts of the country used different languages. They also spelled, pronounced, and used English words differently.<br />
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Webster completed his dictionary during his year abroad in 1825 in Paris, France, and at the University of Cambridge. His book contained seventy thousand words, of which twelve thousand had never appeared in a published dictionary before. As a spelling reformer, Webster believed that English spelling rules were unnecessary, so his dictionary introduced American English spellings, replacing "colour" with "color", substituting "wagon" for "waggon", and printing "center" instead of "centre." He also added American words, like "skunk" and "squash," that did not appear in British dictionaries. At the age of seventy, Webster published his dictionary in 1828; it sold 2500 copies. In 1840, the second edition was published in two volumes. --source, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Webster">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Webster</a><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=091249803X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 202px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&URL=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&URL=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary</a> Vision Forum sells a reproduction of this dictionary with all it's Christian connotations intact. Since that first publishing, many updates and revisions have taken place with the addition of thousands of newly adopted or created words. <br />
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A reward for sorting through a box of books I haven't missed for the six years I've lived in my current house was the discovery this week of a thrift store copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/International-Websters-Grammar-Dictionary-Language/dp/1888777192?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New International Webster's Pocket Grammar, Speech & Style Dictionary of the English Language</a>. Although missing a few components such as accompanying examples in every area of instruction, nevertheless, every one of the 300+ pages is jam-packed with clear instruction in virtually every area of communication, spoken and written, even including a page of proofreaders' markings and how to interpret them on the last two pages. <br />
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A surprise was the chapter of almost 40 pages of foreign words and phrases common to English usage. Here's an excerpt from the forward to that chapter:<br />
<blockquote>In a language like English, whose vocabulary is at least 80 percent borrowed from other language sources, it is not always easy to judge whether a word or expression should be considered as "foreign" or "naturalized." The chief sources of our foreign words and phrases are French and Latin. Other heavy contributors are Italian (particularly for musical terms), German, Greek, and Spanish. But English is a ready borrower and adapter, and we find in our list contributions from other European languages...from Semitic tongues, ... from languages of Asia, ...from the tongues of the American Indians; ... and even from the languages of the far pacific, notably Hawaiian. --p. 266</blockquote>Following this excellent summation of the word-borrowing tendencies of our language is an easy-to-read explanation of the diacritical markings (pronunciation guides) of the words which follow. If you've ever been stumped at a restaurant featuring foreign words, this guide will be very helpful. Although there are many tools available in various languages that may fit the bill better than this one when travelling, here's a good place to start, especially if you are an "arm-chair" traveller. <br />
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Chapter IV provides helpful information for academic assignments such as research papers, book reports and reviews, science project reports and a section entitled, 'a precis.' If you are unfamiliar with this phrase, here is the description given:<br />
<blockquote>A precis is a concise summary in your own words of the essential points of a longer piece of writing, usually one-fourth to one-third as long as the original. Learning how to do this provides excellent training in reading for comprehension and in mastering the technique of clear, concise, and accurate writing. It is a useful skill, if mastered, and will be a valuable tool both for schoolwork and in the business world. ... A precis, unlike a paraphrase, cuts wordage to the minimum, simplifying and getting to the essential meaning in very few words. It contains no details, examples or illustrations, and it does not allow any comment or interpretation on your part. The French meaning of the word, "exact," describes it accurately. --p. 225</blockquote>Precise instructions for writing 'a precis,' follow this description. What a great idea! Are you rambling on with dependent clauses, semi-colons and wordiness that just won't find a conclusion? Stop and write 'a precis' before you find yourself lost in the maze of your words! What a great idea for students as well. Assign this as a daily or weekly exercise until concise writing, relying on nouns and verbs rather than modifiers, becomes easy.<br />
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Just as valuable if not more valuable are the sections on how to write letters of various types, how to write a resume, non-verbal and verbal communication, commonly misused and misspelled words and much more. I intend to purchase several copies of this valuable resource to keep on hand for gifts and may put one in every room of the house as well. <br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=044024269X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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Roget's Thesaurus is an invaluable tool for any serious writer. Yes, we have availability to dictionaries and various other writing tools on our computers, but you need to learn to love to read your dictionary and thesaurus and become a word addict like me. Your writing skills will advance immeasurably. There are many different versions of the Thesaurus available now, as well as many different types of dictionaries -- dictionaries of synonyms (I think the thesaurus does about the same job here), rhyming dictionaries, Scrabble dictionaries, dictionaries for students ... on and on. Check it out.<br />
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I have a confession to make. When I was a child, I read the dictionary and encyclopedias for fun. We had <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-1940-Edition-Comptons-Encyclopedia/dp/B000F77S80?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia 12vol</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000F77S80" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> which my parents purchased from a traveling book salesman, I believe. I can still close my eyes and see the red bindings and the slick surface of the pages as my eyes slid over the mostly black and white images and words, gorging myself with information like a hungry child who fills his mouth too full. Now these encyclopedias are published by Britannica and are available on CD-Rom <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00003IE8E&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>at a fraction of the price of the hardcover edition which you can still purchase for just under $1,000. I believe. I confess my delight in turning pages, rather than clicking on links. There is something wonderful about touching the paper and smelling the ink or the dusty emanations from old volumes that have been here longer and perhaps been held in the hands of other bibliophiles. 'Boring old books' can come alive if you love them long enough.<br />
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A word of caution, however, as you peruse the contents of the more modern dictionaries, thesaurus listings and encyclopedias. We live in a world that has lost its comprehension of a Christian mindset and world-view. <br />
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Believing that God is the Creator of all things and the Source of all knowledge and wisdom provides the foundation and backdrop for the Christian's belief system. "In Him [Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Colossians 2:3. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," Proverbs 1:7. But the humanists who largely dominate our educational systems today have stolen that heritage from us. <br />
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We read in the newer editions of dictionaries such as the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, definitions such as this one: <br />
<blockquote><u>Christian</u>:one who professes belief in Jesus Christ. </blockquote>Compare that definition to the one given by Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary: <br />
<blockquote><u>Christian</u>: 3. A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the Christian religion, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by real piety.</blockquote>May I encourage you to purchase the original Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary containing definitions of words from a Christian worldview. Vision Forum's link to purchase is: <a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&URL=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&URL=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary</a> <br />
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<a href="http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&url">http://affiliates.visionforum.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=1137&url</a>=<a href="http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary">http://www.visionforum.com/browse/productlist/?search=websters+1828+dictionary</a><br />
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Truth is not negotiable! Choose your words and their definitions wisely.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-78118186362859927792010-10-01T00:02:00.003-04:002010-10-04T18:20:28.201-04:00Wonderful Words...<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001I1SFRA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>I'm so glad you could come to class tonight at my house...Mercy and I had a marvelous time hosting you here. Thanks for not parking on the wet grass. ;-)<br />
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Some of you wanted to order my little book of poems, "Roots & Vines." The books are $10. each, plus $2.00, shipping and handling, for a total of $12.00.<br />
Send us an order with your check to: Becky Morecraft, 302 Pilgrim Mill Rd./ Cumming, GA 30040.<br />
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We've only just begun to consider poetry -- we'll continue to think about great poets, their poems, how to read and write poetry ourselves in the next two sessions. During one of them, I hope to have my sister, songwriter Judy Rogers, as a guest, helping us pursue the subject of writing poems as songs<br />
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Here's a link to some music and books I love. The "Little Lamb" song I sang tonight from William Blake's poem, was recorded by Carly Simon and one of her sisters in the '70's on a recording called, "Sing Songs for Children," which has recently been re-released. Judy and I sing it often to our grandchildren. You will love this recording! I think you'll enjoy all the children's songs on this recording, but I haven't heard the whole thing in a while, so 'disclaimer' if there's something objectionable -- I'm pretty sure It's all good. <br />
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Don't forget to go to my sister's website and listen to some samples from her recordings. The web address is <a href="http://www.judyrogers.com/">http://www.judyrogers.com/</a> Judy's music is impeccably biblical and singable. If you aren't already a fan, you will be after even one listen. You can also hear and download Judy's music at <a href="http://www.bluebehemoth.com/">http://www.bluebehemoth.com/</a> I'm privileged to sing many songs with her on the recordings, the most on "Arise! Shine!" Our children, all grown with children now, (except for Mercy), sing on the earlier recordings. What a blessing to see our children's children now learning and loving Judy's God-honoring music!! <br />
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Two of the women who have most influenced my writing are Suzanne Rhodes and Luci Shaw. Their books are wonderful and easily available. Suzanne's books can be purchased from Canon Press. The link for her student poet's manual -- <em><strong>The Roar From the Other Side</strong></em> -- which I referenced many times tonight is:<br />
<a href="http://www.canonpress.org/shop/search.asp?search=suzanne+rhodes&sortby=name&sfield=custom1">http://www.canonpress.org/shop/search.asp?search=suzanne+rhodes&sortby=name&sfield=custom1</a><br />
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And her newly released book of poetic prose and wonderful poems about her life as a mother, wife and observer of God's grace is entitled, <em><strong>A Welcome Shore</strong></em>. The link: <a href="http://www.canonpress.org/shop/search.asp?search=a+welcome+shore&sortby=name&sfield=name">http://www.canonpress.org/shop/search.asp?search=a+welcome+shore&sortby=name&sfield=name</a><br />
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Luci Shaw is one of America's premiere Christian authors and poets. All of her writing reveals her God-owned heart. I first read, <em>Listen to the Green</em>, when it was given to me as a gift in the late '80's. My thoughts about poetry have been expanded and my writing of both poetry and prose, become more compact ever since. I know you will love <u>this</u> book especially, although I have many of her others as well. Explore and enjoy. <br />
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Here's a little poem I wrote, fresh from the inspiration of her writer's retreat in 1997:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(background: I had just been to South Africa with my husband for a mission trip and saw Zulu and other tribal women sitting outside the Pretoria zoo, making beaded jewelry, belts and trinkets...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Bartering, Pretoria</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">(for Luci Shaw at Kanuga)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All day she beads her bright poems</div><div style="text-align: center;">onto belts and bands,</div><div style="text-align: center;">squat in the dirt,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her baby tethered to her </div><div style="text-align: center;">by a long, red rag.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her nimble fingers fly,</div><div style="text-align: center;">sorting fragments,</div><div style="text-align: center;">chips of hope on thread,</div><div style="text-align: center;">strung together </div><div style="text-align: center;">and sold for silver.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Around my waist I'll wear her bartered skill</div><div style="text-align: center;">to art shows, conferences and concerts</div><div style="text-align: center;">when I choose denim and Africa;</div><div style="text-align: center;">while she in trade</div><div style="text-align: center;">will feed her child tonight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RBM</div><div style="text-align: center;">6/1/'97</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Tonight many of you asked for lists of poetry books I would recommend. Suzanne Rhodes and Luci Shaw have written many of the modern poems I enjoy. Most of their poetry is what is called 'blank verse,' or unrhymed poetry. They are both extremely skillful in this genre. But, I'm certain they could each write rhymed verse that is equally wonderful. In<em> Listen to the Green</em>, Mrs. Shaw's rhymed verse is breath-taking. I'll be reading a selection of some of her work next week, I hope. Rhymed poetry can become trite -- simplistic, soupy and wordy. Paring your words down to the 'exact' words needed to convey your message should be one of your goals as a poet, whether your poetry is rhymed and following exact patterns (we'll talk about those next week) or unrhymed, blank verse. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Who do I love to read? There are many, many poets I love and read as often as possible. I cut my teeth on poets such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Wordsworth, John Milton, <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0385000197&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 383px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Frost, Shakespeare, Robert Service, Eugene Fields, Rudyard Kipling and many others. I came from a family of readers and writers, so I had early and frequent exposure to so many great writers in every genre. One of the greatest encouragements I ever gave my own children was to teach them to read using McGuffey readers. There are many wonderful poems in these readers! My son, John Calvin, recited, "The boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but him had fled...," at about nine years of age...there wasn't a dry eye in the house! Read great poems of every type aloud to your children -- it's important to learn HOW to read poetry, not in a sing-songy voice, but putting the emphasis on verbs and nouns and not at the end of each line. And then have your children read them aloud -- find poems that are appropriate to your children's stage and age and have them memorize portions of poems or whole poems. These lines will stay with them FOREVER! Especially poems that are put to music will stick in the brain...you know what I mean, don't you? <br />
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Purchase a great book -- <em><strong>"Best Loved Poems of the American People</strong></em>." (see link) When our older children were able to read, we would frequently have a poetry reading night, sit around the living room and choose favorite poems to read aloud. What great memories that made! Alongside a collection of poems, I recommend your children memorize poetry. A common practice that has been abandoned in modern times, perhaps because so many children watch television which has brief segments of action, broken up with commercials. Modern children haven't developed the skills required for memorization. I highly recommend a book that I have a link for on this page called, <em><strong>Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization, student workbook. Also, you can purchase a 3-cd set of poems, read aloud by Andrew Pudewa, along with instructional book. Here's the link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Linguistic-Development-Memorization-Learning-Approach/dp/B002LE5RQU?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization, a Mastery Learning Approach , Poems Selected and Read By Andrew Pudewa 3cd's and 1 Dvd in Case</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002LE5RQU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043QTDNM" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0043QTDNM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></strong></em>. This book will guide you and your student through the steps necessary for memorization of poetry and show the additional benefits that will accompany this endeavor. Thanks to the Tully family for telling me about this book.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">In terms of curriculum, I would highly recommend your listening to Victoria Botkin's cd, (available from Vision Forum, I believe ?), on how to choose curriculum. Those Botkins are bright folks and I highly respect their educational advice. <br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000FBUQWQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 249px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 121px;"></iframe>But in terms of teaching writing, my best advice is to do what I did and give your children lists of books to read, appropriate to their stage, and report to you about each one. As they write a short report, you will be able to ascertain if they actually read and understood the content, as well as teach important grammar lessons. Mind you, reading for reading's sake may be valuable on some levels, but it profiteth little. Grasping the content and precepts of books should be your ultimate goal. I am working on an updated list of recommended books for each level; but for now, check out Vision Forum's books -- particularly biographies and historical fiction. I hope this gets you started! I've already recommended some of my favorite books for teaching grammar and writing skills on earlier blog posts. Just go to my archived section and look back ...</div><div align="left">Please thank Mercy some time -- she really worked hard this week and was rewarded with a successful slide presentation as well as great audio. She has to work from my PC instead of her Macbook because of the program we use to record each session. Bless her heart...what a daughter!!</div><div align="left"> God bless you and I look forward to our next class...the man of fire...who was he?</div>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-86598788449565328162010-09-30T13:41:00.002-04:002010-10-14T00:39:27.045-04:00Writing Contest Rules & Prizes...and more!<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mrs. Morecraft's Writing Contest</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em><br />
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please submit entries to mmorecraft@gmail.com <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>You MUST write 'Contest Entry for Oct. 14' in the subject line of the e-mail with your submission attached in order for your entry to be received.</strong></span><br />
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<strong>Rules and guidelines</strong>:<br />
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1.You may submit an original short story, a poem, an article, or song. <br />
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2.Word limit, 1,000 words, (use your computer's word count feature).<br />
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3.The topic may be fictional or based on reality. (Remember to write with a Christian mindset, so guard your heart and words accordingly. Listen to Week I of the webinar for guidelines in this regard). <br />
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4.Please indicate your name and age on your entry. Entries will be loosely divided into three age groups for each category of writing: 12 or younger, 13-17, 18 and older.<br />
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5.Prizes will be awarded to the top three writers in each category and age group. <br />
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6. <strong>Entry deadline is October 14th, 12 o'clock midnight, Eastern Standard Time. </strong><br />
<u>No late entries will be accepted</u>. <br />
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7.One entry per person.<br />
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8.Please send your entry to mmorecraft@gmail.com. <br />
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9.No reply will be sent to acknowledge your entry due to the number of people who may submit entries -- sorry. <br />
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10.Winners will be chosen by a panel of expert judges. If in attendance at the SAICFF (San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival), the winners will be awarded their prize during the festival by Bertha Jean herself! If not in attendance, the winners will receive their prize in the mail. Winning entries will be featured on one of the last two sessions of the webinar as well.<br />
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11. Judging will be unbiased as each entry will be given a number so that the identity of each entrant will be unknown until judging is complete. <br />
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Partial list of prizes to be awarded: <br />
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<strong>The Grand Prize</strong>: Mrs. Morecraft will personally assist you in editing your work and pursuing publication. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a copy of <em><strong>Verses of Virtue</strong></em>, edited by Beall Phillips and <em><strong>Roots & Vines</strong></em>, a poetry book by Rebecca B. Morecraft. <br />
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Other prize-winners will receive one of the following: autographed copies of Mrs. Morecraft's poetry book, autographed copies of <em>Verses of Virtue</em>, Vision Forum's calligraphy box and pens and journals or similar prizes.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-64575082411913526602010-09-24T14:28:00.001-04:002010-09-25T09:34:49.704-04:00Game Night Fun!!<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=granotOc-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=083881493X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />Game night ideas! We play Scrabble or 'Speed Scrabble' -- do you know how that works? <br />
My daughter-in-law, Kim, taught me how to play this several years ago. Don't play with Kim. <br />
You will never win. Or if you do, you will live to regret it! (Just kidding!)<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001RNC1EM&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Speed Scrabble 'rules'</strong><br />
Place the tiles face down on the table, as usual.<br />
Every player takes seven tiles. <br />
Immediately start making words with your tiles all by yourself. You are essentially creating your own crossword puzzle.<br />
When your tiles are all used, you say, <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1932188126&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>"Take one," and you and each player may choose one more tile. This continues until all the tiles are used up. A minute or so is allowed to give each player time to try to use up all their tiles. Add up your score by counting the number value on each tile, just like with real Scrabble. Subtract the number value of any of your unused tiles from your total score. The highest score is the winning player. <br />
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Pretty obviously, if you get a high value letter and can use it twice, in two words that cross, you almost certainly will win. But if you can't use the high-scoring letters, subtracting them from your final score means you almost certainly lose. Sound fun? It is...<br />
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<em><strong>Eats Shoots & Leaves</strong></em> ... hmmm ... where should the comma go? A fun book <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0399244913&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>all about punctuation.<br />
Who says writing has to be boring!!<br />
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Here's a link to a book for young writers. I just received my copy from Amazon and it looks very helpful -- no fluff, just good instruction with lots of examples of 13 categories clearly explained "to help students correct composition problems." <br />
A paperback book, only 67 pages long, plus the index, this is a gem.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Grammar-Through-Writing-Sandra/dp/083881493X?ie=UTF8&tag=granotOc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Learning Grammar Through Writing</a><br />
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And here are a couple more -- let me know what you think after you purchase yours. In fact, if you will send me a review or critique, I'll post it here on my blog.<br />
(Subject to my editing, of course!)<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0205491669&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001TKXI18&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202719161192429137.post-76740119890151907062010-09-24T00:48:00.003-04:002010-10-04T18:18:18.452-04:00Mrs. Morecraft's Writing Contest Rules (and more)We want to glorify God in the study of writing and all else we do. We're excited about what we have coming up next week, the first of two sessions on writing poetry and journaling, along with additional input for our Grammar Sidebar. We're working on having a special guest who will read one of his and our favorite poems during the class! Be sure to tune in for this very special event.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=granotOc-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0205632645&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 193px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<strong>Please do call Vision Forum's costumer service department if you are registered for the webinar and haven't received your link to hear this week's -- or last week's -- recorded session</strong>. <br />
I highly recommend a few books to help you with important areas of writing, such as style, grammar, imagery, word choice and much more. They are listed here on my site. All you have to do is click on the link and you'll be directed to the page on Amazon where you can order the book. I'll be putting a few more up from time to time, so check back.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mrs. Morecraft's Writing Contest</span></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> submit entries to <a href="mailto:mmorecraft@gmail.com">mmorecraft@gmail.com</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>you MUST write 'Contest Entry for Oct. 14' </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>in the subject line of the e-mail with your submission attached</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>in order for your entry to be accepted</strong>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>Rules and guidelines</u>:</span></span></span></span></div><ol><li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You may submit an original short story, a poem, an article, or song. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Word limit, 1,000 words, (use your computer's word count feature).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The topic may be fictional or based on reality. (Remember to write with a Christian mindset, so guard your heart and words accordingly. Listen to Week I of the webinar for guidelines in this regard). </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Please indicate your name and age on your entry. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Prizes will be awarded to the top three writers in each category and age group. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Entry deadline is October 14<sup>th</sup>. No late entries will be accepted. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One entry per person.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Please send your entry to <a href="mailto:mmorecraft@gmail.com">mmorecraft@gmail.com</a></span></span>. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No reply will be sent to acknowledge your entry, due to the number of people who may submit entries -- sorry. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. If in attendance at the SAICFF (San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival), the prizes will be awarded during the festival by Bertha Jean herself! If not in attendance, you will receive your prize in the mail. Winning entries will be featured on one of the last two sessions of the webinar.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Judging will be unbiased as each entry will be given a number so that the identity of each entrant will be unknown until judging is complete. </span></span></li>
</ol>Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17950133979397831058noreply@blogger.com5