Who am I?

I figured I'd try blogging again... So as a way of re-introducing myself, I thought I'd post this fun little tidbit found at Now please note that I'm not into psychological personality tests and all that, but this was kinda' fun... and I think fairly accurate. I'll have to ask my hubby. ;o) Here are the results:

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

No wonder most people don't understand me. I'm only part of a small 11.6% of the population!

Now it does add the disclaimer to: "Keep in mind, your results are dependent on the accurate truth of your responses. The more you take this test and get the same result, the more likely that is your type. Finally, your scores and type, over the long term, will change as you do."

So I could possibly go back in two weeks when I'm in a different mood and get different results. LOL.

But where can I find a rock solid accurate test of who I am? In God's Word, and in Christ. ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1)

He says that I'm forgiven and cleansed from ALL unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
He says that I'm chosen, and that I've obtained an inheritance. (Eph. 1)
He says that I'm a new creature in Christ, and the old things are passed away. (2 Cor. 5:17)
He says that I'm his little child. (1 John 2)
He says that I belong to HIM, and that I'm a gift from the Father. (John 17)
He says that as His disciple and by abiding in Him, I can (and will) bear fruit. (John 15)
He says that I am one of His sheep, and that He knows me and protects me. (John 10)

There's a whole lot more where that came from, but I'm so very thankful for the faithfulness and lovingkindness of the One True God, my Father, and my Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him I am nothing, for "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)

This week at our house

This week as we attempted to get back on track with schoolwork and straightening the house after 2-3 weeks of the flu, we also got to enjoy our little friend "E" for three half-days. She's 15 months old and what a sweetheart she is! She's at such a cute age... babbling and finding her way around our house, smiling and giggling, "talking" to our pets... and she loves being pushed around in the stroller, even without a destination.

Then there's the feline member of the family, who will spend the day away on Monday and come home a "new woman". LOL! Yes, she's going to the vet for spaying. Ah, but this crazy cat likes being pushed around in the stroller, too. Go figure! Whether she's mad or happy, if you put her in the stroller and push her around, she's one happy feline and won't even TRY to get out of the stroller! (Will have to post a picture of that... And no, I do not do this! Honeybee does.)

As you know, last Sunday was Easter (the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the first day of Spring), but it didn't *feel* springlike. The weather here has been mostly gray and 45-50'ish in temperature with one or two spikes into the 60's. Blah. I'm so anxious to be able to leave the windows open and air out the house! Oh, but our Lord told us NOT to be anxious, didn't He? In Phil. 4:4-9, He told us through the Apostle Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (ESV)

Easier said than done in most things, I admit.

Sunshine has decided she wants to learn about photography, and photography of nature scenes and animals in particular. She's begun studying on her own about photography, cameras, animals, and especially birds. This is a great way for her to utilize her artistic talents for either ministry or income someday. I'm very proud of her initiative, but this one reason I'm reading Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola. I want to get a better grip on how to implement nature study more consistently, as there is much to be learned from God's creation. Proverbs 6:1-11 says,

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
2if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
3then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
5save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
8she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

And there's much more... Take a look through the Proverbs sometime, especially if you haven't done so recently. There is much wisdom to be found in God's Word.

Snowdrop (formerly Songbird), meanwhile, still says that her favorite subject is "playing". LOL. Gotta' work on that... but I must mention that she also enjoys Math quite a bit and has been happy with every math curriculum I've tried with her. (We've settled on Singapore Math.) And she asked again this week when she'll be able to start taking violin lessons. That is one form of playing that we really would like to get her going in.

And Honeybee read her first words this week! She was able to blend and read several 3-letter words like "cat" and "hat". We were so proud of her! Of course this is just the beginning and it's going to take a lot of practice, as she loses her coding skills rather quickly (due to the Apraxia), but it sure is fun trying. She shows a great deal of enthusiasm... almost more than I can handle some days! Ha Ha! Now math, well, we barely have to teach math to her. Like her 9yo sister, she picks up on this rather quickly.

I had an eye exam yesterday and the girls were with me. We received several compliments on their good behavior, which always makes a mommy's heart glad. The tech who did the first part of my exam gave them candy, and one elderly man sitting near us laughingly commented that that was pure Age Discrimination, grounds for a case! LOL! Lord bless the elderly! Anyway, at the end of my exam, the optometrist offered to check Snowdrop's eyes real quick while we were there, and thankfully she does NOT need glasses. Her vision is pretty near 20/20 (certainly good enough not to need glasses), although Sunshine was able to read farther down the chart than Snowdrop. This pretty much confirms the screening that they did in the ped's office back in November. I'm thankful no glasses are needed at this time. I guess I just need to have Snowdrop practice keeping her tongue at pace with her brain while reading. ;o)

Well, I'm off to clean up the school room and prepare lessons for the coming week. And maybe I'll work on posting some pictures later today. I need hubby's loving assistance for that. ;o)

Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow!

The Good Ol' Days

Take me back to the days of letter writing (snail mail, before we had to call it snail mail to distinguish from e-mail), telephone calling (pick up the phone off the wall and dial), and sending good ol' 35mm photos through the mail. Of course, life has gotten so hectic -- and expensive -- that I'm no good at that anymore, either. But I'm having the most awful time trying to get pictures posted on this blog!

And yes, I still write paper checks whenever I can. It aggravates me when they run 'em through as e-checks. There's no privacy anymore, and why does everything have to be so RUSHED?

He is Risen!

Matt. 28:1-9 (ESV)

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.

Isaiah 53:11

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge my righteous Servant shall justify many. For He shall bear their iniquities.

Sunshine's dream

I just have to tell about 12yo Sunshine's dream last night. Wow.

She said that we (our family) was standing amongst a large group of people, and Jesus was there talking to everyone. There was a pool of water nearby with the bodies of the disciples in it. Some of them were beheaded (like John the Baptist), some were scarred up from beatings and such. But Jesus was alive. He showed a ring to everyone (which Sunshine described in detail) and said that anyone who has a ring like this to come forward and show it to Him. Our 5yo Honeybee walked up to Him with a ring and talked to Him just like it was one of us or her grandma, not afraid or shy at all. She said, "We have a ring like that, wanna see?" He told her okay, to get her family and go over there to that tunnel. So we did, and we put the ring on a string for Honeybee to wear around her neck so that she wouldn't lose it.

We entered some sort of tunnel. There was a pool of water, above which were some kind of bars that we had to hold onto to cross over the pool of water until we had enough faith to let go and walk on water. At some point we did, and walked on the water to the other side. We continued through tunnels until we saw an exit. At the door of this exit were two angels, both were holding two flaming swords and blocking the exit. Jesus had put some kind hidden mark on some people, which only He and the angels could see. Those who had this mark from Jesus could pass by the angels to the other side. Those without the mark could not. Our whole family had the mark and were allowed to pass. On the other side was a beautiful garden, "like the Garden of Eden or Heaven or something." And there the dream ended.

Good Friday

What does this mean, "Good" Friday? What's good about it?

Well, it's good because it's the day my Saviour died on the cross for me. It's the day He had preparing for over 2,000 years... forever, really, because God is eternal.

Two movies I highly recommend: "The Robe" and "Ben-Hur"

And from the Scripture:

John 19 (ESV)

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

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. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.

He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

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. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

"They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots."

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

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.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness— his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth— that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."

Jesus Is Buried

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

At the Cross by Isaac Watts

Alas! and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovreign die?
Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died For man, the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face While Calvary's cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away; 'Tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

First Day of Spring

Is it true? Is winter really over? I can wake up now! Woo Hoo!