This Is It!!

Voice of the Martyrs highlighted their ministry to the Guerillas in Colombia in their most recent magazine (April 2006). Most of you will remember my earlier post about Colombia. The Colombian Guerillas (FARC) hate Christians because they will not have anything to do with the growth or distribution of cocaine (their biggest finance), give them money, or help them in their war against the government (4). Many Christians are harassed or killed, churches are closed, and many pastors work under a death penalty.

There are many, many children being trained in the Guerilla camps. Some are kidnapped, others are recruited, and still others join of their own volition in hopes of a more exciting life. Click HERE to view a story and picture of young girl guerillas.

VOM is ministering directly to the Guerillas (and other factions) to bring an end to the violence. They distribute Bibles, radios, and other literature to the Guerillas and the regular Colombian army. They usually walk, or go by boat. They have approved the use of only one airplane, since airplanes have been shot down in the past (Ya hear that africaflyboy? Shot Down!).

I cannot go to Colombia myself right now, but this is my opportunity to help those children I wept about two years ago! I am, in the next week or so, sending New Testaments (71 cents each), and maybe one of the radios ($18.25 each) to aid VOM workers in reaching those children. I think it would be awesome if anyone else is interested and wants to help me. Let me know if you are, and I can send your money with mine.

Food of the Future

Okay, here is an exciting technicolor article about food of the future. It may reveal why, even though there is much interest in alternative food, it hasn't quite "lifted off". I found it interesting that Tang (the powdered drink) grew in popularity because of the synthetic food craze. I loved Tang as a kid. I would eat it dry. There is also research being done on patches that can be worn by soldiers to feed themselves through their skin. That would be great for people who hate taking pills, or getting shots! Enjoy: Space Food

Food Freedom!

When I was a little girl, I would get so mad at my mom for calling me in for lunch when I had been happily playing outside. I saw lunch as an interruption to much more important things. I used to dream about making a food pill that I could just quickly eat and be immediately full and nourished. I still think this would be a great idea.

Can you imagine the time that would be saved if we never needed to eat? For one thing we wouldn’t have to waste all that time preparing food. Then, we wouldn’t have to sit down and eat, or multitask while we eat – such as drive, surf the web, or talk on the phone. Also, the arduous hassle of grocery shopping would be completely done away with. The overall advantages of this would be hours more of free time in our day!

Of course we would always have the option of eating if we wanted to. Let’s face it, some food is just good! There is also something to be said about sitting down with friends and family over good food. Food enhances those moments oddly enough.

My idea has been attempted by scientific people, but strangely it hasn’t gone over very well. People would just rather depend on scavenging around every few hours to stave off hunger pains than take a pill or a shot once or twice a day. However, we do see the effects of the scientific attempts in power bars, energy drinks, and even vitamins. The problem though is that with power bars you actually have to take the time to chew the whole thing up and they usually taste bad, energy drinks aren’t much better, and vitamins don’t make you feel full.

My hope is that in the near future I can be part of some human experiment with food pills to prove their success for humankind.

Kidnapped!

At 11 am on Saturday I was “kidnapped”. Fortunately, I had been forewarned that such an event would befall me, and was therefore prepared. The conspirators happened to be close, personal friends of mine also, which eased any apprehension of what was about to happen to me. I was first taken to GR to the Coldstone creamery for some ice cream, after which I was blind-folded and forced to eat my ice cream in darkness for the remainder of the ride. I guess they figured it would pacify me. It worked.

As the car came to a stop and the blindfold was removed, it became apparent to me the extent my friends had gone to plan a relaxing day for me. We were at the Oasis Hot Tubs! I was in for a luxurious hour in a tropical hot tub next to a trickling water fall! One of the perpetrators had gone to my house, went into my room, stole my bathing suit, and packed me a getaway bag without my ever knowing it! We were given a free extra half hour too. It was like cutting up a slice of the day and savoring it long and slow! By the time we left, even my mind was relaxed. It didn’t end there though.

We drove back toward home and to one of my favorite restaurants: Famous Dave’s, where I ate till I was completely satisfied.

Everyone should have friends like mine. They knew without my ever saying a word that I needed something like that. They also, through their actions, reminded me of God’s love for me. They will probably never know how much it meant to me, what it spoke to me.

Thank you Anna, Colleen, and Leslie, you are the best friends anyone could ask for.

Revolting

The gap between poor and rich schools in the United States is perpetuated through government sanctioned inequality, and defended by the rich to protect their claim to their rightful liberty, or what Kozol calls in his book Savage Inequalities, “…the extra edge their children…enjoy" (171). This “extra edge” is thousands of dollars more per child, current textbooks, smaller class sizes, technology, safe and modern buildings with working facilities, qualified teachers, and enrichment classes like art and music. While redistribution of funds has been fought for to give children in poorer districts the same edge (i.e. toilet paper, textbooks, working sewage, academic resources etc.), it is rebutted bitterly by those in wealthier districts. Kozol reports from his research, “The fulfillment of the dream of equity for the poor districts, says the New York Times, is seen by richer districts as a ‘nightmare’” (171). The richer districts fear that redistributing the resources would make all schools mediocre rather than excellent. In this case, the happiness of the few rests upon the misery of the many. The government sides with the rich.

It is logical since the government is the rich. The government allocates the funds and all too often turns a blind eye to the gross inequality between school districts. The government demands that children attend school, which, unless they are wealthy enough to enjoy private education, is the school in their district. Kozol makes the implications of attending a poor school district clear when he states, “Thus the state, by requiring attendance but refusing to require equity, effectively requires inequality. Compulsory inequity, perpetuated by state law, too frequently condemns our children to unequal lives” (56). Their “unequal lives” stretch far beyond the school yard, if there even is a school yard. Woefully under prepared for college as a result of the watered down curriculum and barren environment, they are offered classes on how to work at McDonalds. The overcrowding in poor schools leaves them without academic advising, and many, to the relief of their teachers, drop out for lack of direction. Why should they care about their lives? No one else does.

Thus, many of these children with their unequal lives end up as a drain on society. One lost child will cost the government tens of thousands of dollars to house him in a prison cell. The government that protested equity of finances for his education is now paying twice that to clean up the “problem” they created. Unfortunately, they herald him as an example of how useless it is to throw money away on people like him: Children in poor school districts.
Unless there is equity, there can be no liberty. They cannot exist apart.

Kozol, Jonathan. Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools. Crown Publisher Inc., New York, NY. 1991.

COE

I had my orientation with the College of Education today. I had to sign another "declaration of intent" stating that I really do plan on teacher assisting this fall. I also had to watch a 12 min video on blood borne pathogens. The acting was hysterical! Very nice comic relief to the 3 hours of repetitive information. I received my permit for the classes I will need, and I signed up for them right away at the registrar (we are not allowed to sign up online for these classes and the permit must be presented). Happily, I got two classes in Muskegon so I won't have the extra wear and tear, not to mention gas mileage, on my car!!

I will have morning assisting five days a week with a monday afternoon seminar. I will have three classes: Reading, management, and 4 1/2 days during the semester for another Education seminar-like thing. I also have to get another permit for an English class.

I should receive my placement later this spring and meet my cooperating teacher for an interview. This all makes it so real! I am finally there after years of hard work. And from what I hear that was the easy part. Things are about to get very, very hectic! I am so glad I will get the spring and summer off.

In other news: LOST was NOT a rerun tonight! Although I missed half of it 'cause my class goes 'till 8:50 and then I have the half hour drive home. :(

Mrs. Dunwoody's Household Tips

For a little old fashioned advice around the house, I thought I would bring out Mrs. Dunwoody from the 1800's. Simple, resourceful, and best of all - cheap!

*To make your own waterproof matches, dip just the tips into melted wax. Apply a thin coating and allow to dry on a piece of waxed paper. Store in a tin or other waterproof container.

*For a sink that drips and keeps you awake at night: Tie a piece of string to the faucet, placing the end down the drain. When the water drips, it will flow down the length of the string, which will absorb enough to silence the maddening drip.

*Plain old cold tea will clean woodwork.

*Stuff wet shoes with newspaper to speed up the drying process.

*Put sugar cubes in your empty suitcase to absorb odors.

*Use a dry bar of soap on creaky doors or stuck drawers.

Spring Cleaning: Mrs. Dunwoody recommends the following mixture simmering on the stove to create a pleasant air freshener during spring cleaning:
Add Lemon, apple and/or orange peelings with sprinkles of cinnamon or cloves to a large pot of water.

Selected from Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Insructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken.

Legend Has It...

We hear a lot of stories around, and sometimes it's really hard to tell what is truth, fiction, or a little of both. Snopes.com is dedicated to either verifying, or discrediting many of these tales and photographs passed around. It's also very entertaining!

Snow Fairies

I managed to salvage a few pictures from snowboarding this season. I wish I had more to share with you. This is only a small sample.







This is my awesome board which I have become very attached to. I got an incredible deal on my board and bindings. I really was blessed by God.








My cousin Rebekah and I are standing at the top of a hill at Cannonsburg in GR. I think this is the first time we went, so we are about ready to launch ourselves kamikaze-style down the hill. We are all smiles here, but the next day we were not smiling.







The cousins...and Marcus. At Cannonsburg again, me, Justin, Alexis, Bekah, and Marcus. We had so much fun that day!








I must say that I absolutely love snowboarding. It has become a new passion for me over the past several months. I love the intense rush followed by the settling peace that creates a satisfying inner balance. Yes, there is balance in snowboarding, and it's not just the balance required to stay up on the board.

Back to the Grind

I moved out during spring break last week. My friend, Sadie, went on vacation and let me live at her house while she was gone. It was very relaxing. So relaxing, in fact, that I gained 3 ½ pounds! It was quite easy to do. I just ate out at restaurants 3 or 4 times over the week, ate things like frozen pizzas and ice cream Snickers bars, ate late night snacks, watched a sinful amount of television and movies, and didn’t exercise a lick, except for the day I went snowboarding.

Wednesday I headed out to Cannonsburg to ride. It was really quite perfect. It felt like spring, but I got to enjoy the snow. I think I greatly improved my skills that day. Unfortunately, the next day I came down with a cold which I have been fighting ever since.

My mom and I went to the fifth annual Oak-Crest Ladies retreat over the weekend. For the first time, I had absolutely no responsibility and got to be a regular lady! I enjoyed this immensely. We stayed at the Shoreline Inn, and ate at Rafferty’s on the lake. Our room was fabulous, the hot tubs were great, and the conference part of the retreat was inspiring.

Tomorrow I start back to classes. I didn’t really do any homework over the week although I started with good intensions. Oh, well. This time being irresponsible was worth it, not to mention much needed. It’ll all get done eventually.

I have been accepted to the School of Education and will attend an orientation in a couple weeks!

Winter Blahs

The dry, cold expanse of winter seems as endless as the steel grey sky above our heads some days. In between the 17 sunny days Michigan gets each winter we must do something to relieve our existence in this frigid desert: Get pampered in a Spa!

Unfortunately it will be the last personal expense of the season for you. So I offer you an alternative: Pamper yourself at home! (Note to all my male readers: While you will probably not wish to try these recipes yourself, your wives, sisters, girlfriends, and mothers will love them. I promise. Pass them along. You’ll get points.)


Lavender Body Oil
This first Pamper recipe is simple and luxurious, one of my personal favorites. Your skin will feel incredibly silky all day long.

Base Oil: I like to use Grapeseed oil which is very light, hardly has any odor, and can be used on all skin types. You can find base oils at any health store. I like Health Hut.

Lavender Essential Oil: Essential oils are also found in health stores. You can substitute any essential oil that you like, and even blend your oils.

While Lavender essential oil can be added to your base oil in any amount, many essential oils follow a dilution rate: 7-8 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of base/carrier oil.

Mayonnaise Hair Pack
Sounds weird, but when you consider that mayonnaise has eggs and vinegar in it you’ll understand. This is a recipe for homemade mayo. It is great for hair and skin. It does, however, smell!

1 ¼ Cups vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
1 egg
½ Cup apple cider vinegar

In a blender, mix ¼ cup of oil, salt and egg. While the blender is on, slowly, in a thin stream, pour in another ¼ cup of oil. Next, with the blender still going, slowly pour in half of the vinegar. Pour in another ¼ cup of oil, followed by the rest of the vinegar. Continue blending. Slowly add the rest of the oil. You should have thick, white mayonnaise.

Store in a jar in the refrigerator.

(Mayo recipe taken from Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox)

I hope you have fun with these, and feel great too. If you want more recipes try visiting the Spa At Home link in the links list.