This is a video of Cheyenne singing a song called "Selfishly" she wrote when my Mom (her grandma) passed away. She says this song was a gift because it came to her completely written. It is a beautiful song. This performance is totally a capella and she is at the Roxy Theater in Muskogee Oklahoma.
The other video available on the same page is Cheyenne singing another song she wrote called "Not Afraid of Love" at the same show.
This material is copyright protected. Please do not use without permission from the owner.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32807218

This just cracked me up! This is a quote from Sandy Wiseheart, editor of the Knitting Daily newsletter:

"The ONE exception to the Animal Fibers Are Candidates For Felting rule is silk. Silk comes from silkworms, and I would argue that worms are not animals, they are worms, thus: bugs. Silk is not worm hair. Silk is extruded from the worm; silk starts out as a liquid. (Ahem. Use your brains, here, folks: "extruded" plus "liquid" equals...oh yes. That's what silk is. Hardened Bug Extrusion. Very pretty and wonderful hardened bug extrusion, it is, too.)"

Now, I LOVE silk but somehow, I don't think I'll think of it quite the same now that I fully realize that it is basically... wormsh*+. Doh!

I got this in an email forward from a good friend. I found this more than just a little disturbing. I love Oprah's good works and her love for others but she has such a widespread influence that can also do much damage. Use of bold and italics are my own. Those are the most "are you kidding me" moments.

Oprah on Religion: Check out 'A Course in Miracles' in Wikipedia.

Oprah Winfrey, beginning January 1, 2008, on her daily radio program will offer a year-long course on the New Age Christ , in a lesson a day and completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles 'Workbook.'Listeners will be encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course, and an audio version, recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas will be available on compact disc. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset-a New Age worldview that include the beliefs that there is no sin, no evil, no devil. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life, and, bluntly states: 'This is a course in mind training' and is dedicated to 'thought reversal.'

The Course in Miracles -in reality- is the truth of the Bible turned upside down.Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book, A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book to the top of the New York Times bestseller list .

A Course in Miracles is allegedly a 'new revelation' from 'Jesus' to help humanity work through these troubled times. This 'Jesus'-who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ-began delivering channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology, Helen Schucman.One day Schucman heard an 'inner voice' stating, 'This is a course in miracles. Please take notes.' For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this voice that described himself as 'Jesus.'Here are some quotes from the 'Jesus' voice of A Course in Miracles :
'There is no sin . . . '
A slain Christ has no meaning.
''The journey to the cross should be the last ' useless journey.''
Do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.''
'The Name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol... It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.'
'The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself.'
'The Atonement is the final lesson he [man] need learn, for it teaches him that, never having sinned, he has no need of salvation.'

Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the brilliant writing' of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world.The Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, 'Rethink Conference' at his Crystal Cathedral.

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (KJV) reads as follows:"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good," 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

"It's not surprising at all that Oprah Winfrey is supporting Barak Obama!!! Christians.....MUST Take heed!!And PLEASE pass this one on......if you never forward anything else!

Love of Christ and humble awe of his sacrifice are the underlying foundation of ALL my beliefs as a Christian. When someone denies Christ or the atonement, it just completely breaks my heart.

I can't believe Ryley is 7 months old - almost 8!! How did that happen?

This is Cheyenne and Ryley in the new rocking chair that was handmade by Great Uncle Hubert. I need to get a picture of just the chair too because it is just beautiful but mainly, Rob wanted to give Hubert a pic of Cheyenne rocking the baby in it.
Oh and you can't see them really well but those boots Ryley is wearing are John Deere boots that Aunt Bonni got her for Christmas8O)

Puppies, puppies, puppies! Princess last litter (ever, I assure you - my girl is getting too old for this and so am I;o) was a beautiful bunch of pups. There were 10 of them plus 1 stillborn. Everyone who has ever met Princess wants a Princess puppy so finding homes for them was no problem at all. Harmoni (in stripes) and Gini (in orange) named the males for King Arthurs knights of the Round Table and the females for midieval/fantasy princesses: Galahad, Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Bors and Dagonet for the males and Guinevere, Arwyn, Eowyn and Aria for the females. Ten points for whoever can tell me the source of all the female names8O)

A quick note to all my charity knitting minded friends. An epal has decided to send "Yellow Ribbon Hats", roll brim baby hats with a little top knot, to as many of our troops babies as she can. Gives a whole new meaning to the "til they come home" yellow ribbons. Just think of those mommies and daddies overseas seeing all their little ones (and maybe some spouses and siblings wearing their yellow "ribbons". I think it is a terrific idea so I've pulled out my yellow yarn and my needles and I'm stitching along. Want to join in? She has details (and a pattern if you need one on her blog. Here's a link:
http://yellowribbonhats.blogspot.com/
Or, if you are on Ravelry, she has formed a group called (wait for it...) Yellow Ribbon Hats;o)

SOCIALIZATION AGAIN... AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND....

When I first began homeschooling in 1992, people often expressed doubt about my sanity. Can you really teach your own child? But you didn't finish your degree! Boy, I'd go crazy if my kids were all home all the time!!! I was made to feel like there was something wrong with the fact that I loved being with my children and that I was arrogant to think I could handle the education of my (then) 8 year old son. Well, I figured I managed third grade just fine so it was worth a try;o) Actually, that is a whole, long 'nother story. Nowadays there are few who really question whether or not homeschooling can turn out well educated people; it has been proven time and again that it can and does. My topic today is socialization.I doubt there is a homeschooler on the planet who hasn't been asked, "Aren't you worried about socialization?" Frequently it is asked in a genuinely concerned tone while at other times it is more of an accusation. It took years for me to get through that question without flinching.I went through phases. At first, I would be intimidated. I would fumble around talking about how hard I was going to work at making sure Cameron was exposed to lots of activities with other kids. Then came the defensive/annoyed phase. Oh for pete's sake; you don't really think that kids are gaining anything valuable inthat area in public school do you? Puhlease! Lately, though, I think I have evolved. By golly, I may get all mature and stuff yet;o) Actually, what I got was educated on the subject.Hmmm, educated; yes, I learned something. I read and studied the writings of many different people on different sides of the education question. I studied the roots of American public education and its goals. And I didn't take a class to do it; I did it on my own because I had a desire to understand the subject. But I digress;o) Nowadays when I am asked about socialization, I ask a question of my own. What, exactly, do you mean by socialization? I ask this question in all sincerity; I'm not being sarcastic or snotty. The definition of socializationis thus:socializationA noun1 socialization, socialisation, acculturation, enculturation; the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture[from WordReference.com]May I also submit the definition of socialism:socialismA noun1 socialism: a political theory advocating state ownership of industryNow, the American education system was based on the Prussian system which was unabashedly formed to create good little socialist citizens. Noone pretended that independent thought or individuality was of any importance whatsoever. True academics were discouraged except for an elite few - about 8% of the children. Might socialization viewed in this light be seen as advocating the "state ownership" of our children? When we also consider the atmosphere and "behavior patterns" found in most public schools today, if I am asked if I wish my children to be encultured to the behavior patterns of the average public school, I answer no without apology.The thing I've come to realize is that most people mean something entirely different. And if they ask the question sincerely, I am happy to discuss it with them. What most people are concerned about is that kids who don't go to public school will never learn a) how to get along with their peers and b) to deal with adversity. I'll deal with these one at a time.First, we have getting along with peers. Well, I suppose we have to define peers first.peern 1: a person who is of equal standing with another in a group[syn: equal, match, compeer][from dict.die.net]Okey-dokey. Next, we must ask ourselves who are our child's peers? As far as their age-mates in the public schools, suffice it to say that my children are, thankfully, not of equal standing with them. They really feel very little in common or comradeship with many of those kids. Is that bad? Nope. Thank you Jesus. If there are age-mates around who share their values and morals, they are more likely to find them at church or at interest based activities such as leadership clubs, 4-H, scouting, rodeos, drama and improv troupes and singing groups among many others, not to mention the many sports and interest groups formed especially for homeschoolers.But are peers necessarily age-mates? Again, nope! I love being around homeschooled kids. When they are young, they are quite likely to be very exuberant and energetic. In other words, they would probably drive a classroom teacher crazy. But they are so much closer to what children really should be. Children are built to learn by doing and while on the move. But, again, that is another subject.As they get a little older, homeschoolers are just as likely to identify with elderly neighbor who teaches them to tie flies as they are the skateboarder on the next block. I've sat in quilting bees with grandmothers, young mothers and homeschooled kids. They chatted and had a blast. Do you think the public schoolers would consider this cool? Probably not. But who is better "socialized" in terms of society and the world?There is a misconception that young homeschoolers are never exposed to anyone other than the people in their parents' church. I find this to be very rarely true. We are devout Christians but we are friends with people who are Muslim, Pagan, Jewish etc. There are many different "peer groups" out there. I think the tragedy is that the average public school student is given such a narrow view of what his should be. Most public schooled kids are into their own little clicks of kids who are their same age, race, religion, economic background, etc. Who is better"socialized" in terms of a country commonly referred to as a melting pot?The second concern out there is that homeschooled children will not learn to deal with adversity. This is the one that leads to such brilliant observations as, "Kids will never learn to say no to drugs if they don't go to school where the drug dealers are" and "he'll never learn to stand up for himself if he never deals with the bullies in school." Alrighty then. I firmly believe that if I raise my child to love and respect his fellowman and to expect the same and to know that he deserves the same - as any child of God does - then when he is confronted with adversity, he will deal with it in a mature and responsible way. Period.We put these kids out there on their own for so many hours of their day from such a young age (and getting younger every year - 3 year old kindergarten anyone? Oh wait, that is called Head Start) that many of them become beaten down and confused before they ever reach an age or maturity level sufficient to stand for their convictions. By the time they go to school, do their homework, eat their supper and bathe, their parents don't have any time with them. So how are they to instill all the confidence, hope, faith and trust that they need to deal with those issues? We are, in essence, turning our children over to the teachers. There are many wonderful people in the teaching profession but conservative or individualistic values are given no quarter in public schools so parents who hold those values dear are fighting an uphill battle to pass them on. So the kids are left with confusing, conflicting views at a very young and impressionable age. Trial by fire is not a great philosophy when dealing with young children's lives.I saw a woman on Oprah one day who had seen the devastating effects of the public school attitude toward peer relations and bullying. Her son had been bullied for years, very badly at times. The school just seemed to think that the boy needed to learn to deal with it. The woman came in one day and found her son dead at his own hand. He had blown his face off with a gun. She said, "his outside finally matched the way he had been feeling on the inside all those years." How horrifying. But I will never forget what she said when Oprah asked her if there was anything she wished she had done differently. She said she wished she had taken him out of the school. She didn't really realize that she even had that right.So is socialization a problem that homeschoolers need to address? No, socialization is an issue that every parent had best give some serious time and thought to if they want their children to be "encultured to adopt the behavior patterns" of the kind of people they want their children to be. And you might want to take a long hard look at the culture that exists in their school. It is a whole different world than it was even ten years ago. Is it a culture that you wish your child to become encultured to? If not, do you really want them spending a minimum of 40 hours per week immersed in it?

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS...

...or is it? I am open to discussion on this one. A Catholic School in Detroit has banned MySpace for their students. Sounds good to me! I really don't think that any sort of blogs or "social spaces" have any place at school. But here is the kicker: the students will be suspended if they are caught using MySpace at school or at home! My initial reaction to that is that it is patently absurd. And wrong. And dangerous precedent. My ONLY hesitation is because it is a Catholic School.I can't stand the idea of schools, or any other public institution trying to dictate the way that parents raise their children. I am NOT a subscriber to Hilary Clinton's "Village" raising my child. Thanks, but... umm NOT!!! Most of the "village" nowadays is.... let's just say, not what I want for my kids. And guess what, I still have the right to choose what I want my children to be exposed to in this country, thank you very much. My child is not the property of the state or the republic or any other institution. I do have the right (and the responsibility) to raise my child to the best of my ability with my world view. I personally believe that a really good, thinking parent will, as the child becomes able to assimilate it, present the alternatives and encourage the child to make his own responsible, informed choices. But I don't have the right to force every parent to do so. Amish can teach their children that being Amish is the only right way. The Catholics can do the same. We LDS can also teach that ours is the truly right way. The kids can then grow up and use the thinking skills and spirit that their maker gave them to decide that their parents are full of it. After they turn 18;o) I am not, of course, addressing so-called parents who abuse or neglect their children in a criminal way. Different subject altogether. I am under the working assumption that we are talking about responsible parents with different opinions and world views.How does all this apply to a MySpace ban? My kids are not allowed to use MySpace while they are underaged. I have the right as a parent to ban it. But I just don't see that it is ANYONE ELSE's right or privilege or responsibility to allow or disallow it. My quandry is that I do believe that private institutions such as private schools, churches, the boy scouts or what have you should have the right to have standards of behavior that are required to participate in them.So, I guess that my bottom line is that I believe that this school is misguided and is addressing a valid problem in an invalid, ineffective way but I guess they have the right to do it. And, were I a parent at that school, I would have to seriously consider the school's mission and methods.

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS

Exactly 110 years ago, 8-year-old Virginia Hanlon wrote to the (old)New York Sun to settle a question about whether Santa Claus exists.Many of her friends told Virginia that the answer to that question is,"no."Times have changed and newspapers, such as that version of the Sun,have come and gone. But the answer, published in 1897 by Sun editorialwriter Francis P. Church, is timeless:

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else as real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Every blade of grass and twig completely encased in solid ice.

This is where the electric meter used to be and the meter where it landed. Plus the actual power line that used to be attached to the meter now lying in the middle of the yard. OG&E turned the power back on to our neighborhood a few days later leaving us with a live power line lying in our back yard. Good thing that Bonni knows an electrician or we'd have been quite a bit more than 8 days without power.

Scenes from an ice storm - December 2007 - Bristow Oklahoma

Hey, Scrooge McNat here. I did get one little boost to my holiday spirits yesterday morning. I got up and Cheyenne was here, dancing around the living room with little Ryley, singing Christmas songs to her while Ryley gazed up adoringly at her with her bright blue eyes. It was a really sweet moment. I have missed hearing her beautiful voice. Even if she had a cold and was just singing softly to the baby, it did my heart good.

Have you ever had one of those weeks... um months... and months.... when you feel like you are in a never ending cycle of crisis and chaos? You don't dare say, "what next" for fear you'll find out? You are beginning to think there really is something to that whole "Law of Attraction" crap and you are on the wrong side of it? Yeah.

Here I am again just before Christmas, sitting here alternately crying and just wanting to, thinking, "Damn, I really didn't pull it out. I'm not going to be able to give my loved ones anything for Christmas unless I just flat refuse to pay the rent and buy groceries. What? You say I bring this on myself? I've been married to this man for over 20 years and hoping each year that he won't withdraw into a little incommunicative shell of wounded little passive/aggressive boychild by November 30th is getting sillier and sillier each year? If I just accepted that he is going to be unsupportive and ... just a huge pain every December, and just start planning for Christmas from around March then I wouldn't be in this fix? Is that what you think? I should count my blessings that nowadays it is just December that he goes over the edge instead of from early October on? Well... just... shut up.

Here is a little teaser from Harmoni's book. I have left her spelling and usage errors in since we haven't "edited" this section yet. I use her mistakes to teach grammar, spelling, etc.


ch 18 THE DUEL

As they disapeared Katie felt a pang of sadness and regret. As she turned to find Bobby she ran into jennifer. "Jennifer, have you seen Bobby?"she asked.

"Yes he's in the practice ring." Jennifer replied.

"Thank you".

She ran down the hall, she ran until she came to a dead end. "What...what is happening?" she asked herself.

"It is simple,"came familiar voice.

"Mike"she whispered.

"yes, thats right katie, I did this."

"why?"

So we could have a private fight."

"Alright, we will,"

"Good, get her a sword."

Clank. She turned around and there he was, just standing there wearing the false kings symbol. She took a deep breath and picked up the sword. You can do this Katie, you can.

Now, this is an 11 year old who didn't learn to read on her own until she was 8 1/2. She loved being read to, still does, but she just didn't care about reading. She was much more interested in numbers and music so I left her alone. Just when Dad and I were beginning to feel our commitment to following her natural learning rhythms, she decided she was ready to read on her own. Within a year, she was reading everything in sight up through junior high level. I really think her primary motivation for wanting to read was because she had all these amazing stories in her head and she wanted to be able to get them written down. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't write like an adult. But she sure writes like a pretty darn clever and imaginative 11 year old8o)

And while we are on the subject of Harmoni, the kid is growing like Jack's beanstalk!! She is now 5'7" and is outgrowing her size 12 shoes! I'm so sick of her having to wear ugly old mens' socks that I've decided to knit her some pretty socks. Socks are not my favorite thing to knit but by golly my little girl is going to have some socks that look like little girl socks once in a while!