Write31Challenge

Define Join

October 9, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Today, as I join with 50+ members of the write 31 days challenge group, I think on this word join and realize my thoughts could go in many different directions.

Merriam Webster gives me these definition of join.

As Transitive Verb:

to bring or put together in order to form a unit
to connect by a line
to put or bring into close association or relationship
to come into the company of
to associate oneself with
to enter into or engage in

Or as an intransitive verb

To come into close association or relationship
To become a member of a group
To take part in a collective activity
To Form an alliance
To come together so as to be connected
To form an alliance

Join can also be used as a noun but honestly that definition made no sense to me. 🙂

Defining Join, Go

Warning, as I write this poem I have a tune running through my head. So I”m working with it to get rid of it as an ear worm.

Join, join, join
Join, join, join, join
What can we do with the word join?

We can consider what join means
Defining it now, just as we please.

Today I chose to join a group of youth.
With six rabbits in tow, I joined then.
I helped them see,
To really look
Define what a rabbit is.

Wafer was mobbed by several kids
Parents joined in
To keep her safe.
“She’s a big girl”, the comments were.
Smiling I just set her loose.

The children followed this flemish cross
Joining in a game of tag.
Wafer hopped, and hopped some more.
She connected well, with the floor.

Eventually I saw her face
She saw the doors,
A chance to escape.
Quickly moving, I blocked her way.
Hands joining to lift away.

Once again her travel cage
Lid joined to the base again.
Sad childrens’ faces
As Wafer left
To go back home to
some peace and rest.

Stop, Join Defined

Gather Resources for High School Science

October 8, 2019 By Annette1 6 Comments

We’ve talked Elementary School science and middle school science, how about today we tackle resources for high school science? Might as well eh? It only makes sense to finish the series! Today I thought I would Gather Resources for High School Science.

Gather Resources for High School Science

What we are doing

Some of you may know that one of my jobs is marking papers for Tree of Life. It’s a great organization to work for. Over the past couple of years I’ve grown to appreciate the Exploring Creation with Biology textbook. I picked up the student workbook for him and that’s what he is doing for Grade Nine Science this year.

If we didn’t have this resource on hand, I would have looked more closely at some of the resources I will share with you today.

Physical Resources

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention G.L.O. In real life, group classes for highschool kids. Located in the nearby big city. I keep wanting to teach a class with them as I’ve got the know-how. They teach a variety of classes, depending on the teachers they get in.

Textbooks can be picked up from a variety of sources. Locally we have The Learning House which provides textbooks for homeschoolers. I could also order from different companies and have them shipped out. Just a matter of doing your research and finding companies to work with. Companies such as: Bob Jones, Apologia, Pearson, Glencoe, or Steck-Vaughn. What others would you suggest?

On-Line Sources

In interactive unit studies I introduced to you Kristen Moon Science. She makes some great science based unit studies. You should check them out.

Cross-wired Science (reviewed them this past year) does a good science program. Currently they have a free program called Mighty Feathers so you can get a good taste of how they do their program. If you decide you like it and want to purchase Sound & Fluid Dynamics you can use the discount code (intime29) to takes $5 off.

MIT has open courseware. Search for the program you want, and then run through list. From what I can tell the courses are free but you may need to buy the textbook from Amazon.

If you want to supplement what your students are learning Exploratorium has a number of videos, activities and experiments to delight the learner.

There are some interesting science lessons at Science Net Links. It would be easy to just set a student loose to learn what they’d like here.

Learning about the weather? Sci Jinks has you covered. Videos and well-written essays.

Khan Academy has science and engineering classes for highschool.

If you are learning about the periodic table you might find this site helpful.

ACLS has an educational page on human body systems.

In highschool, most any course you might want to take as an adult a highschool student could potentially take as well (depending on interest and ability). Check out this post on wanting to learn anything for some excellent on-line resources.

What resources would you gather for high school science?

Today’s Free Write word is Gather. See all the write 31 days posts.

The Other

October 5, 2019 By Annette1 3 Comments

Currently I’m listening to a story where a dad has to make a choice. Fulfill the treaty as he AUGHT to with his oldest, obedient daughter, or send off his youngster, a girl who was prone to cause no end of trouble. I haven’t reached the point in the story where he makes that choice, but I’m tending to think (given the nature of the book and the author) that he’ll send off his troublesome one. That he will strongly consider giving “the other”.

The story is causing me to pause in my thoughts.

Understanding The Other

Lately I’ve been reading the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Chambers challenges us to think about what it means to give our utmost for the Lord. It’s not always as easy a decision as we think it is.

Today’s reading gave me this challenge “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.”

When I get something that is a blessing to me… a card from my hubby, a compliment from my son, a monetary gift from someone, my inclination is two-fold.

1. to thank them and
2. to keep it my own.

Oswald though says “Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. take time to meditate before God and offering the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.”

Deliberate. Giving back. Doing the OTHER.
So not just saying Thanks God that was awesome and then hoarding it in.

But taking the time to genuinely praise and worship him and offering it back. Therefore if God blesses me with plentiful rain and an abundant harvest I need to THANK him for it. Not take it for granted. I need to take that abundant harvest and allow him to use it. If he blesses me with good health, then I need to use that good health as a praise offering to him. Not just merely going about my business without giving him a thought.

It’s a deliberate act on my part. To consider those blessings given, praise him for it, and offer them back to him as worship.

It’s an outside focus. A focus that is non-worldly, not self-centered

It’s The Other.

This post is part of the Write 31 days Challenge.

Listen well

October 4, 2019 By Annette1 3 Comments

Sometimes I think we have lost this ability to listen to those around us, to deeply hear the spoken and non-spoken words around us. At times, it feels like we spend too much talking past each other. When will we listen well to what is being said?

Go

“Can you let me finish?”
I questioned my lad.
“Allow to me say everything before you answer.
Listen to what I am actually saying.”
I’ve learned the importance
of having my lad STOP and actually hear me.

Giving him that “you have to stop” moment
Seems to give him permission to not rush ahead
To ponder my words and
not worry about my gaps as I collect all my thoughts.

I’ve also needed to learn to
Stop, and as I listen to consider
the words beyond what he is physically saying.
To ask questions of clarification.
My lad often assumes that I know
what he hasn’t told me.

And so, as we pause in our communications
we discover something interesting.
We are enabled to listen well to
each other.
And in practicing that skill,
we are surprised to discover the depth
of knowledge and insight that each other has.

Conversations are wonderful
when you take the time to listen well to each other.
To catch glimpses of a heart.
To consider ideas that previously
weren’t there.
and so we learn as we listen well.

Stop

This post is part of the Write 31 days Challenge. Find a list of the rest of my posts here.

Gift

October 2, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Today’s word in the 31 days challenge is Gift. Just what is a gift? According to merriam-webster as a noun gift means

1: a notable capacity, talent, or endowment

2: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

3: the act, right, or power of giving

But gift as a verb, or more precisely as a transitive verb means

1: to endow with some power, quality, or attribute. For instance: She’s been gifted with a beautiful voice.

2a: to make a gift of. For instance: It makes an excellent choice whether you’re gifting one bottle for the honeymoon or a case to be savored for years, or even decades, to come.— Robert Taylor

b: to present. For instance: gifted her with flowers.

Keeping those definitions in mind, where would this four letter word take us?

Go: Gift

A fine gift of oratory my husband has.
And he loves it as well.
This gifting he has of
Presenting God’s word to others.
Temporarily laid aside in his working career
Now his fine abilities to pay attention to the details
Is being exercised.
Can he safely make feed?

His original love remains.
But positions are few and far to be seen.
So on a temporary basis he finds himself
Stepping into a role
Much loved.

I miss this.
Listening to him preach.
Being glad when opportunities arise.

A small church in Westfeld
Calls him in summer months.
Once, sometimes twice a month.
Gifts used. One in preaching.
Another in a church member
Making a meal to feed 10.

Then comes Goderich, Guelph.
London and Clinton too.
Occasionally farther away
Stevensville, Kingsville
“Can you come? A pastor is needed”.
And so, my hard-working husband
Goes again.

Preaching, sharing, using a talent
A skill in him that I adore.
A gift that fills his heart.

I wonder if, those calling churches,
Realize the gift they give to him?
Not only the pay cheque
but more importantly, the filling a need
That floods his soul.
To articulate, to speak out,
the truths of who God is.

Stop: gift

Miss Kate is running this 31 day challenge, to find a list of all the words used, check back to this post. 🙂

Why write 31 days?

October 1, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Off and on for the past few years I have taken part in the write 31 days challenge. Why write 31 days? Because. I know, not a good answer eh? But seriously, one of biggest joys each week is taking the time to let one word marinate through me and see what comes out of it. Sometimes I’m quick off the mark, and other times I need to let the word marinate for a while. It’s a lovely challenge, and taking the time to meet is excellent.

If you want to take part you can, but I think at this point it’s too late to officially joy. BUT if you do join in, share your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and visit you.

We’ve been given a list of 31 days which we are free to follow OR we can do our own thing. I’m hoping to use the words provided but I might on occasion deviate.

Today’s word is WHY. So here goes five minutes. 🙂

Go… why

Why…
It’s a question I’ve asked a lot lately.

Why…
Does a simple gardening job
Take me all the blooming day to finish?

And Why…
Do I have a lad who
Gets caught up on word meanings
And gaps in conversation.
That sometimes he forgets to reason it through.

Why…
Do I have a man who loves me full well?
When I so often feel like a horrible wife.

Why….
Did God send his son to die for me?
Me, a horrible excuse for a believer.
One who persists with doubts and wonderings.

So Why…
Does love seem so hard to understand?
It often makes no sense
With what one person deems as a loving act
To another it’s just something you do

Why…
Do I love writing poetry?
Why does it speak to my heart?
Why do I want to write 31 days?

Then Why…
Do baby bunnies sometimes fail?
Is is something genetically wrong?
Or is a sign of a hidden illness,
A immune system reaction that dumbs a baby down?

Why…
Are goats so very cute
and Chickens so adorable?
When I don’t have room to raise either?

Why…
Does the cat persist in believing
That I am the one who feeds him?
When consistently it’s my lad who does so?

Why…
Do I have to run out of time
even when I’m a fast typist?

GAH.
WHY?

Stop: why write 31 days?

So these are the free writes we’ll be handling this month

See the list of other challenge accepters here.

Let Yourself Be Refined

October 30, 2017 By Annette1 2 Comments

Refine, to be changed, to have the impurities removed, to improve something.

Refiner’s Fire

My hearts One Desire

Is to be …holy

Set apart for you my master

Ready to do your will.

What are you doing?
Are you being refined?
Have you been put through any crucibles lately? Finding some of your rough edges smoothed down, or just plain removed?
It’s fun how hard times clean us up…like being in the fire changes the glass or metal put into it. All the gick being removed.
It’s a good thing in the aftermath, but the process isn’t always so pleasant you know?

When God looks at us, you know what he sees right?
He doesn’t see the gick being removed… he looks at the product being made. He sees what he is aiming to make, and works it and heats it til it comes out right.

So take won’t you? Take the refining process and let it change you. Let it remove those impurities, that GICK from you. Let it do it’s job.
Be what God sees… work to be that final product.

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