Religion in Public Schools

I am sharing this with any reader out there in hopes of encouraging you today.

This week, my son went to his public school and handed out tracts to his friends and a flyer to a church event this week.  I was so proud of him and his excitement was enthusiastic.  Then on the a school happenings facebook page a angry parent posted something about it.  I watched and waited to see what would happen.  Wondered if I would get a call from the school telling me he couldn't pass out his precious tracts.  So far there has been no call.

But it did get me to looking at what was appropriate for children to do and say.  After a little research, I found this article which I find dependable.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/1999/08/02/associations-right-in-schools

what I found was this and I quote it direct from the web-site with the website notated above:
" 3. May a student give out Gospel tracts or religious literature to his classmates?
Yes! Students may distribute religious tracts or literature to their schoolmates in the same manner as they would be permitted to distribute non-religious material. Schools may impose reasonable restrictions on the place and manner for distribution of all printed material, but religious literature may not be singled out for special restrictions or regulations. If the Boy Scouts or community sports team may distribute material promoting out-of-school programs, distribution of similar religious material must also be permitted. First Amendment rights include the right to distribute Gospel tracts or other religious literature during non-instructional times. The standard that must be applied is: Does the activity materially or substantially disrupt school discipline?
The school must prove that such disruption actually occurs. "[U]ndifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome the right to freedom of expression." Tinker at 508. When a student peacefully distributes tracts or other religious literature on school grounds during non-instructional time there is nothing that "might reasonably [lead] school authorities to forecast substantial disruption of or material interference with school activities." Tinker at 514"

So there you have it.  The public school can not make you stop doing it.  They can try and tell you to, but as long as your child is doing this during non-instructional time AND it is not causing a disruption that will harm someone else, they can not tell you what to do.

I find it amazing that people find God's word offensive.

Last night I thought about one thing. Why do people get angry when they are told about Jesus or the Bible is mentioned to them? We all teach our children the fundamental moral values of what is right and wrong: don’t steal, don’t cheat, don’t lie etc. But do some really realize those values come from the Bible itself? So why do people get upset about the Bible when the Bible is God’s guide boo...k to have a successful life and more?

The answer? People want to pick and choose what values they have. It's only natural. They don’t want to be accountable to someone else for the way they live. The only offensive thing the Bible does is show us our sin and people don’t like that revealed. Including myself at times. If you would like to read the tract in question, here it is.  You will have to click on each picture to bring it up and zoom on it to read it, but there is nothing in it that is offensive unless you don't love my Jesus.

Someone once asked me how I came up with my ideas.  Good question.  I like to look at other people's ideas but somehow I could never pull off someone else's idea.  I end up buying things I love and that go together and pull it together with things I have or can re-use.

Saturday I posted this...

After a little spray painting on Saturday afternoon

and a little accessorizing during J's nap today,

I have finally completed what I didn't know I was looking for......

forgive me for having a little tall grass there... 

our mower is not working.

NOW, I am really ready for Fall!

I would like to add a few other things, but I'll do that as I can.

I've always been the type of person who was afraid to try new things.  Yes, I'm the one that orders the same thing over and over and over again when I go out to a restaurant because I know I won't be disappointed.  Over the years I have been a little more adventurous in trying new foods and many of them I found out I love!

My brother-n-law on my husband's side of the family is Hungarian and he is a very good cook.  His family came from Hungary a generation or two ago and he has learned the language but also the knowledge of Hungarian food.  He introduced us a couple years or so ago to a awesome Hungarian Sausage.  It is wonderful and a must have at family gatherings.  One Christmas, he cooked a meal for us that was very good.

I don't remember what that meal was, but I did find a recipe that has Hungarian Roots so I thought I would try it.  We absolutely loved it!  It has dumplings in it, and I have not made those before so the one main bit of advice for this recipe would be for you to make the dumplings very small when cooking them because they get big when you boil them in the water.  Also, you might want to cook it for longer too.  Test one to see if it is done, the first time around.  Then again, if you don't like dumplings, just substitute a thick noodle instead and it will taste just as good!

Chicken Paprikash

Ingredients

• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
•  
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces, with skin {I used boneless skinless chicken breast}
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Gradually stir in 2 1/2 cups of flour to make a stiff batter. Using two spoons, scoop out some batter with one spoon and use the second to scrap off the spoonful of batter into the boiling water. Repeat until several dumplings are cooking. Cook dumplings for 10 minutes or until they float to the top; then lift from the water and drain in a colander or sieve. Rinse with warm water.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and add chicken; cook until lightly browned, turning once. Add onion to skillet and cook 5 to 8 minutes more. Pour in 1 1/2 cups of water, and season with paprika, salt, and pepper; cook 10 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
3. Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into sour cream; then slowly stir into the onion mixture remaining in the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened.
4. To serve, add dumplings to the sour cream/onion mixture, then spoon onto dinner plates adding a piece of chicken.

Porch Planter

I'm trying to get back to doing the things I love doing.  It's not always easy when you have little ones, but honestly, life shouldn't have to stop just because you have kids.  One should be able to enjoy the little pleasures in life.

I have been dreaming about putting something on our front porch for the fall.  I always admire people who have a beautiful porch that says 'welcome' to those who stop by.  So this week I went searching for the perfect set up.  I love Hobby Lobby, but who can pay the price they want.  Plus the quality of those things are not always what I am looking for.  So after a stop there, I decided to go by a flea market to see if I could find something that said, "here I am!"  I don't always get to go browse the antique stores and flea markets, but I did take the time this week.  What I found there was amazing. 

I found a swinging doll bed that was fairly sturdy.  Even though it is not the color I wanted, it was the price I liked, $9.99.  All it will take is a coat of brown paint, and some beautiful flowers from Home Depot and I will have a quaint looking planter for my front porch that is very affordable.

I used to love searching flea markets for good finds to decorate my house.  This has me stoked to find more "deals" even if it does need a little work.

Instant Lemon Bread

I have always enjoyed eating candies that are sweet and sour. 
Makes me think about Lemon Drops. 
A little pop of sweet and a lot of sour. 
Yum.

This week we had to make something for my husband's goody day at work and he pulled this recipe out.  At first I thought, what?  Don't you want to make something else?  But we made it anyway. Then he left me a few pieces.  From the first bite, I remembered very quickly how much I enjoy this recipe!  The other pieces of bread quickly disappeared.  I did however share a few bites with my one year old!

So if you are looking for a recipe that is easy to make, cost effective, etc...  Maybe you just need to take someone a meal but also would like have a dessert for yourself!  You are in luck!  This recipe will make two loaves.  Make one for yourself and one for someone else.  It's easy and quick!  Oh yeah, don't let the poppy seeds scare you.  At first it turned me off, but I actually like them in there!

So for a few dollars, you can have an easy dessert and share part of it with a friend.

Instant Lemon Bread
1 pkg lemon cake mix
1 pkg instant lemon pudding
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
4 eggs
1 tsp poppy seeds

After baking:
1/2 cup sugar
juice of 2 lemons

Beat in eggs one at a time.  Add 1 tsp poppy seeds.  Beat 4-5 minutes.  Bake in two loaf pans at 350F about 40 minutes.  Before removing from pans and while still hot, pour over loaves 1/2 cup sugar mixed with juice of 2 lemons.  (you can also bake in smaller loaf pans and get three  small loaves out of this recipe.)

Enjoy!

The turning of leaves

Cooler weather

Crunchy Leaves

Sneezes

I still wouldn't trade fall

 for any other season.

A Time of Beauty.

It time for harvesting.

A Time of Blessings.

A Time of Reflection.

Where is Waldo?

We have two trees that turn a beautiful orange color in the fall.

This one just happens to be the one that my son can climb.

The other one turns a brillant red orange later then the other trees.

Just when all the other trees are dropping their brown leaves,

the one in front is just getting started!

What is your favorite season?

Mine?

Obviously Autumn.

It rejuvinates me.

My Favorites

I wish I could say I was a talented photographer

and had an awesome program to alter pictures and make them really cool. 

So I'll just enjoy what I can do and be satisfied with that. 

Here are a few photos I took in Setember. 

The car photos are of a 66 Ford Fairlane my husband has had for 5 or 6 years. 

It's been in two weddings and who knows... 

it might be in a 3rd next summer if we don't get it sold.

I love this one.  I drove behind him and took the picture at an angle. 

Thought it turned out pretty good considering the over cast day.

I love this one too!  Went for a walk with my son and let him go!

Thought this one was pretty cool.

Love how the light shines throug the ball and reflects off the sidewalk with it's color.

What do you enoy taking photos of?

What techniques do you use?

Are there any free programs you use to alter your photos?