This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Mary Ann

Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine
Company C, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor


"How can I say to my sons, stand up for something, fight for what you think is right, if I don't do anything myself?"

The Jeffrey Jamaleldine that you speak to today is a complete 180 from the Jeffrey Jamaleldine that you would have spoke to in the past. In 1991, Jamaleldin was living in Germany when joined in anti-American protests on Berlin's Kurfürstendamm boulevard during Operation Desert Storm. "That was the way it was back then," he says. He was 15 and "America was simply the enemy." And today, Jeffery Jamaleldine is a wounded veteran of the U.S. Army. On June 6, 2005, after the terror bombing in Madrid, Spain, in the middle of the Iraq war, he showed up at the U.S. Army recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas, to enlist. His father, Bashir, told him at the time: "Son, this won't be a picnic."

On June 30, Jamaleldine was on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. The patrol ahead of him had been ambushed by at least 70 combatants and were now under fire. During the fight, Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine was hit in the face by a bullet. In the end, the battle lasted into the next morning and the soldiers were able to stop the enemy from returning to Ramadi.

The article on Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine is five pages long, and I simply can not condense it down to only a few paragraphs. You can read the entire story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Labels: Military, Wednesday Heroes

Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

A Fruitful Vine, how many women today are seen as being a fruitful vine? How many women today would want to see themselves that way? How many women today find themselves within their house? Many are out earning a monetary check. It is a blessing of the Lord when a man has his wife within his home and if she is a fruitful vine. This fruitful vine refers to childbearing, having children spring forth and growing to maturity.

The olive tree reproduces by sending up shoots from its roots. If not trimmed they surround the trunk, just like the psalmist's blessing of many children around your table. Olive trees were a symbol of blessing to the Israelites. When they saw the new olive shoots coming up around their olive trees, they knew they were blessed. (Deuteronomy 6:11; 8:8).

If allowed to grow, these shoots become new trees that also bear fruit. It is not unusual for an olive tree to live for hundreds of years. And if healthy, the olive tree will continue to produce fruit for hundreds of years. This is generational thinking, are we raising our children to impact only their lives or are we raising them with the generations to come in mind? Our children are eternal souls who will live forever. Mothering is an eternal career. It is not a waste of time. It lasts into eternity.

Mothering is a career and not an easy one at that. We must depend upon the wisdom of the Most High God to teach, train, and discipline them. Olive plants have to be cultivated or they will deteriorate and grow wild. Our children also have to be cultivated if they are going to grow up in wisdom and stature bearing the image of Christ.

Also, olive oil was used to fuel the Temple lamp stand(Menorah) and for anointing. The Olive tree tends to be used as a picture of Israel, in its function of giving light to the world; as in the two olive trees giving golden oil to the Menorah in the vision of Zechariah. We are to let our light shine before men that they may see our Father in heaven.

Psalm 128:4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.








(this is an older post, re-written a bit and re-published)

Labels: Christianity, Quiverfull

In April of last year, Wednesday Hero profiled SSgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin who had went missing in Iraq in April of 2004. Sad news. SSg. Maupin's remains have been found.

"My heart sinks, but I know they can't hurt him anymore," Keith Maupin said after receiving word about the remains of his son, who went by Matt.

The Army didn't say how or where in Iraq his son's remains were discovered, only that the identification was made with DNA testing, Maupin said. A shirt similar to the one his son was wearing at the time of his disappearance was also found.

Thanks to Lt. Schneider

Labels: Military, Wednesday Heroes

Springtime is a time when we are reminded of new life. We have just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, another reminder of new life, life eternal. Each of us has a soul that will endure forever whether that be in eternal life or in eternal death. Much is at stake. Will those of us who have eternal life take the message of the saving gospel to those who are as of yet eternally dead? As parents are we raising our children up in the training and admonition of the Lord? Are our lives a reflection of Christ and the new life he has bestowed upon us? Are we a pleasing aroma before the throne of grace? As we see the beginnings of spring and all of the new life that is budding and sprouting forth may it be a reminder to us to share the new life given us by Precious Lamb of God!

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

John 3: 16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Labels: Christianity

This week's photo theme is high so I am posting a photo my daughter took out the airplane window! They were up very high! Click here for more Photo Hunt.

Labels: PhotoHunt

John 20:31
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Words: Fanny Crosby (1873)

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Saturday Psalm and Praise

Several years ago, I attended a ladies function. The theme was "Be the Salsa of the Earth." This was taken from the salt reference in Matthew chapter 5. Everything was decorated with a fiesta theme and some delicious Mexican food was served. All was very festive and everyone had a lot of fun. I had some reservations back then about the twist in the theme and over the years a nagging concern has lingered.

In this day and age we tend to try and make everything pleasing, fun, and relevant. This often waters down the Word of God. You may be thinking that I am over reacting but I have learned in recent years that words really do mean a lot. I am not the most articulate person in the world but I attempt to use words accurately. I fully admit that I do often fail.

Is there really a problem in using the fun and the idea of salsa instead of salt? I would venture to say yes! God uses the words he does for a reason. Salsa is a fun theme. It is festive, fun, colorful and adds spice to life. As Christians are we to be festive, fun, colorful and add spice to life? Yes, but salt gives a much fuller and important meaning and message than salsa.

Salt may not be much to look at, it may not be festive, fun, or colorful. It does however still add spice to life. In fact salt is essential to life. Salt may seem plain but I know that those who have helped me through tough times and caused me to learn and to grow up in the Lord have not been the ones always looking for fun. They have often been plain, studious, and committed to our Sovereign Lord. They have never felt that the Word needed any more flare than God gave it. Those who often seek fun and entertainment tend to grow lean when a brother or sister in Christ is in need. It is not fun to weep with those who weep. It is good to have others to rejoice with but a "salty" person will remain and weep with those who weep.

Often (not always) striving for fun, festive, colorful, and entertaining comes at a cost. The Word is watered down. God has always used the minority, not the crowd. Do we seek to fit in with the masses who lean toward the culture? Unfortunately, this is a common trend in many churches today. Or are we living lives that are distinctly different from the world? Do others see the difference God makes in our lives? Does the cultural Christian see the difference? The life committed to being salt and light is prised and valued by God.

Salt is a preservative. Salsa will mold and rot but salt preserves things. Christ has called us to be world changers. He has invested in us purpose and value. We are to be an element in this world that slows and prevents the rotting and decaying that results from sin.

Salt is valuable. In the Roman Empire it was how the soldiers were paid. When they didn't get enough of their salt ration, they rioted. It was their income, their salary - "salt money". This is where the saying, "He isn't worth his salt," originated.

Jesus invested value in those disciples with this statement calling them the salt of the earth. Humanity has the seed of rotting and decay. Modern science has tried to fix it through economics and genetic engineering. God's remedy is you and me, Christians sharing His Gospel and truth.

Here are a few more references and uses for salt.

Lev 2:13 - Sign of the binding of a contract.
2 Kings 2:20 - Healing agent with a cleansing effect.
Mark 9:50(15) - Promotes peace.
Colossians 4:6 - Evidence of grace.
Job 6:6 - Stimulates the appetite.
Luke 14:34 - Stimulates our testimony.

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."

Labels: Christianity

I have been honored to be selected to display the Fruit of the Spirit graphic on my blog and I will strive to continue to live up to what it represents.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit ~ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit graphic was developed in an effort to recognize bloggers whose writings and postings in the blogosphere give us a glimpse of this fruit in their lives.

There are many blogger and non-bloggers alike who have agreed to partner together in recognizing and honoring those whose writings, postings and lives exemplify how God works in and through His people. When we recognize Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit resides within us. It is the Holy Spirit who produces fruit in our lives ~ but He has also given us the honor and the duty of recognizing the fruit in other believers.

I welcome your help in spreading this "blessing" thoughout the blogosphere. If there's a particular blog you believe reflects the fruit of the Spirit, please email Trish containing a link to that blog. Also, please include a sentence or two regarding your thoughts as to why/how that particular blog reflects the fruit of the Spirit.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Labels: Awards, Encouragement, Fruit of the Spirit

1. You take up a whole pew at church.
2. When you laugh and shake your head at so called "family-sized" products.
3. Cheaper by the Dozen is one of your favorite movies.
4. You buy milk 5 gallons at a time.
5. You need a minimum of 2 carts in the grocery store.
6. The children are lonely when there are only 4 of them home.
7. People ask "are they all yours?"
8. You leave half of the children home when you shop, and people still ask if they're all yours.
9. You own at least three sets of bunkbeds.
10. Your grocery budget resembles your house payment.
11. You just really wish people would not think they were clever for saying, "Don't you know what causes that?"
12. You have forgotten how many times you have been asked, "Are you Mormon or Catholic?"
13. When you see photos of castles and grand mansions, all you can think is how many bedrooms it has (YES!), and how much space all those other rooms provide for the kids to mess up (NO WAY!).

Labels: children, Laughter, Quiverfull, Thursday Thirteen

Labels: Family, Wordless Wednesday

NATHHAN National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network
Christian Families Homeschooling Special Needs Children

What is ADHD . . . of the Christian Kind?

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education - ideal for dyslexia.

AVKO Educational Resource....ideal for learning disabilities.

Labels: Curriculum, Homeschooling, Learning Disabilities, Weblink Wednesday

As you all know I am a momma to many children. I consider each one a blessing and a gift from the Lord. They are great gifts which are a great responsibility. This is a responsibility my husband and I take very seriously. Several of my regular readers have read about how my husband and I view children and the Lord God's sovereignty in this area of our lives. If you have not read our testimony, please take a moment to read about our journey. After you read it, please come back and comment here.....

Announcing #9........
Three in a row and a positive blood test too!

Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Malachi 2:15a
Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring.

Praise be to God! Thank you Lord!

Labels: Family, Quiverfull

Wow, has it been a busy week! Some of you may have noticed I have been a bit behind in my posting lately. My mother came for a visit, we ended up with a flu bug, and celebrated Resurrection Sunday. Today is our number 5 child's birthday. She turns 10 years old today. This comes with many perks. She hits the double digits, gets her military id card, and a later bedtime! We celebrated by taking her to see Phantom of the Opera at the opera house. She loved it and was just beaming!! We all had a great time. Happy birthday sweetheart; we love you!

Labels: children, journal

Labels: Christianity, Conviction, Resurrection Sunday

This week, in preparation fro Resurrection Sunday I would like to share a few scriptures from our Good Friday service.

Jeremiah 25:15,28
Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

“And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: You must drink!

Matthew 26:39
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Labels: Christianity, Resurrection Sunday, Saturday Psalm and Praise

This week's theme for PhotoHunt is metal. Here is a metal fence between my girls and a beautiful horse.

More PhotoHunters

Labels: Nature, PhotoHunt, Washington State

Making Resurrection Cookies is a tangible way to teach your young children about the Resurrection of Christ. I received a basic recipe for this but have expounded upon it. I hope that this can be a blessing to your family as you celebrate the Resurrection of Christ Jesus!

These are to be made the evening before Resurrection Sunday.

ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar

you will also need:
ziplock bags
wooden spoon
masking tape
Bible

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.

1. Explain how we are all sinners and are in need of a Savior.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Jesus has come to be the Savior of sinners.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

2. Place pecans in a ziplock bag and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Jesus was beaten and bruised for us, for our sins.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

John 19: 1-3 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

John 19: 16-18 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

3. Let each child smell and taste the vinegar. Place 1 tsp. vinegar into the mixing bowl. When Jesus hung upon the cross and was thirsty He was given vinegar or sour wine to drink.

John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Jesus gave His life to give those who believe eternal life.

John 10: 10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste the salt and then brush the rest into the bowl. Jesus' followers wept salty tears as they mourned His death.

Luke 23:27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.

This also can represent the bitterness of our own sin for which He died.

Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. We can now add the cup of sugar. There is a sweet part of this story. The sweetness is the love, grace, and mercy of God. He willingly gave His life for those who believe.

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

John 3: 16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

7. Beat on high with a mixer for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. The white color of the peaks represents the purity of Christ's righteousness through which God sees those who believe and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

1 John 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is purifies himself as he is pure.

8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Matthew 27:57-60 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door closed.

Matthew 27:65-66 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

10. Jesus' followers were in despair as the tomb was sealed.

John 16: 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

John 16: 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Go to bed and leave the cookies in the taped oven.

11. On the morning of Resurrection Sunday, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow. Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Matthew 28:1-9 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Labels: Christianity, Forgiveness, recipes, Resurrection Sunday

Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.
This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.

To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs (highlight, then hit Ctrl C to copy) and post it in (or as) your next blog post (hit Ctrl V to paste) -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!

Labels: Curriculum, Giveaways

My hubby took this beautiful photo while standing on the deck outside our bedroom when we lived in Washington State. I just love it! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Labels: Nature, Washington State, Wordless Wednesday

I didn't participate last week but am making up for it this week. Here is a link you will definitely want to check out! Just click on the graphic to visit Teacher Tube and for more great links visit Valerie's Weblink Wednesday!

Labels: Weblink Wednesday