tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179109042012-01-23T18:46:28.564-06:00<b>"...Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done....that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children." ~Psalm 78:4-6</b>Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.comBlogger17851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-60628442529421252262011-08-28T14:26:00.000-05:002011-08-28T14:26:00.957-05:00

Friends of Granny's House, Today I am writing my last blog post. For over six years I've pasted my thoughts, big and small, here in this space. Many of you have known me personally during this time and you know that these have been the hardest years of my life, and this blog was one of the things that helped cheer me in some of the darkest hours.  But during the past year, I've begun to long

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-3108880758222223672011-08-21T16:45:00.000-05:002011-08-21T16:45:57.882-05:00

Big doin's around Granny's House...by this time next week we'll have a really full house with the Slaughters, Weltys, and Longenbaughs pouring in for our Fun Family Week, complete with family portraits and the inevitable 9 siblings pics and games and good food and drink and cool weather and lots of laughter and chaos. Bring it on!  This is also the week when we bring on the school year almost

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63583727998000887362011-08-19T16:15:00.000-05:002011-08-19T16:15:29.800-05:00

I'm torn. I'm anxious for the hottest, driest summer in half a century to be over. I can't wait until the first crisp breeze. And yet, where did the time go? There's so much summer stuff I didn't get done! Ah, but I got to spend lots of days and nights with a sweet little granddaughter, so I won't complain about what didn't get done.  I wouldn't mind, though, if someone were to sneak in and

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-36909691914498861992011-08-14T21:54:00.000-05:002011-08-14T21:54:31.033-05:00

Tomorrow begins the 27th straight school year at Granny's House. As I've mentioned before, we have only two high school students left, our two youngest boys. Since we're using a co-op and community college for several courses, my role will be limited to math (geometry, this year) and history. Well, and driving! It's a far cry from the years when I was preparing all summer long to teach five or

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-71285167829070570222011-08-09T17:55:00.000-05:002011-08-09T17:55:29.291-05:00

...oh, wait. It's already been here.  These riots were about race.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-79437832830758365242011-08-09T15:20:00.001-05:002011-08-09T15:40:29.452-05:00

Like many of you, I'm frantically putting the last touches on school plans for the year. Well, okay, this year I'm not exactly frantic since I'm down to two students this year and they'll be taking quite a few courses by co-op and community college. But still, this is the time of year that my academic juices are flowing and I'm trying to formulate the best plan for the coming school year. This

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63400547423333788442011-08-03T15:33:00.000-05:002011-08-03T15:33:15.722-05:00

Just in case this might make an impact on your speaking or writing: Mr. Rewrite never, ever aims to be impactful

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-65846097219487493722011-07-28T16:28:00.000-05:002011-07-28T16:28:02.301-05:00

Oklahoma, my friends, is hotter 'n Texas. Had a wonderful three hour visit with my Mom on Sunday. I loved seeing the surprise on her face when I walked in...I realize it might not be too long before nothing will register when she sees me, but I hope that can be a long time from now. She was calmer and more coherent than she's been in months (at least when I've been around) and it was a joy to

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-19953068503824860902011-07-20T19:59:00.001-05:002011-07-20T20:00:16.779-05:00

Okay, it looks like I haven't been "here" since July 1. You'd think summer would give me the free time to blog, huh? But not in 2011. This summer has held surprises, trips, changes in plans, and a lot of driving involved with all of those. So my blog has languished... In fact, I've considered giving it a quiet expiration party, but I'll wait until fall to decide that :-) I am back in Shawnee,

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-29429627250188961372011-07-01T16:18:00.000-05:002011-07-01T16:18:44.129-05:00

ENGAGED! Nathan J. Warren and Cheyenne Sabo

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63026697481658086402011-07-01T13:09:00.000-05:002011-07-01T13:09:44.382-05:00

Having just spent several weeks as a visitor in a hospital with a less-than-helpful elevator system, I smile at how accurately this hits the nail on the head: How to Speak Elevator

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-16431697096541841792011-06-30T13:06:00.002-05:002011-06-30T13:08:01.351-05:00

"I know it will be called blasphemy by some, but I believe that pi is wrong."That's the opening line of a watershed essay written in 2001 by mathematician Bob Palais of the University of Utah. In "Pi is Wrong!" Palais argued that, for thousands of years, humans have been focusing their attention and adulation on the wrong mathematical constant. Two times pi, not pi itself, is the truly sacred

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-47641274595238852892011-06-30T09:46:00.000-05:002011-06-30T09:46:06.155-05:00

This morning, I encountered the following observation: The completely artificial and faux-pious construct of "biblical" patriarchy continues to wreak havoc on Christian families and is embittering and handicapping a generation of precious young women. We will be reaping the consequences of this humiliation far into the sunset, and apparently we will acknowledge it only when it's too late. Amen

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-73379291910532912672011-06-26T21:21:00.000-05:002011-06-26T21:21:56.597-05:00

Just a reminder to my incandescent friends: On January 1, you'll no longer be able to buy the "old" 100-watt light bulbs. We're stocking up--some would call it hoarding--because we despise the LED alternative that George W. Bush & Co. rammed down our sockets, and so we're doing the math to see if we can manage to store enough for at least our own lifetimes, if not our kids'. The rolling "

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-81327494388461958292011-06-26T15:33:00.001-05:002011-06-26T19:24:57.517-05:00

I've been at the Okla-home for nearly four weeks now. It's been one of the sweetest times of my life, waiting for and then greeting our little preemie granddaughter, Ava June. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was posting her parents' wedding pictures and making sure CJ had all the kitchen stuff she needed? And now they're a family of three...a perfect little family with a perfect little girl

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-90694321938305582642011-06-17T21:41:00.000-05:002011-06-17T21:41:22.429-05:00

The past few weeks have brought some surprises and this hasn't been the start to the summer that I envisioned...but then I suppose it's not summer yet! And when I get thrown curves, blogging is one of the first things to go. So since I have a little bit of time, I'm going to snip some snippets instead of waiting for Sunday, when I may or may not have time for more... It's time for a pedicure

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-31534920154883590772011-06-17T21:08:00.001-05:002011-06-17T21:10:19.360-05:00

On June 5, CJ gave birth to little Ava June, weighing in at 3lbs 4oz at 32 weeks gestation. She has lived her short life so far in the NICU at OU Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. When I knew that CJ was either going to deliver right away or be on bedrest for several weeks, I drove up from San Antonio to move in with them and do whatever I could, and I'm still here. So many of you are and

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-3981312853750190872011-06-09T23:42:00.000-05:002011-06-09T23:42:53.321-05:00

Aside from the fact that it's a very poorly written article, I LOVE this story! Spitting and urinating chimps 'replay Aesop's fable'

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-2436176985737356292011-06-09T22:48:00.001-05:002011-06-09T23:44:14.085-05:00

Many of you know that I'm currently in Oklahoma with CJ and Tony as they spend these first days with their little, and I do mean little, daughter Ava June. CJ came home today, but while she was in the hospital I stayed at her house 40 minutes away. This has given me lots of opportunities to listen to my current audio book, which I want to pause and recommend to you. If you're a homeschooler

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-53802837847979387312011-06-01T11:00:00.001-05:002011-06-01T11:04:50.282-05:00

Here's one of those things that's hard to put your finger on. You've been hearing it for a quarter of a century, and you know it's hogwash, but explaining why isn't so easy. David Brooks tries: Over the past few weeks, America’s colleges have sent another class of graduates off into the world. These graduates possess something of inestimable value. Nearly every sensible middle-aged person would

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-88580262378711611732011-05-26T14:10:00.000-05:002011-05-26T14:10:18.544-05:00

After a sleepless night for most of the twenty or so people in the house, little Donovan Mitchell Slaughter joined our crew at 6 this morning. He was greeted by a roomful of family and (very) close friends, including his five siblings--Molly, Wes, Henry, Carrie, and Liam who is now displaced as the Baby Prince. We are praising God for a safe delivery here at Granny's House, and especially that

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-91458178895641494562011-05-25T00:52:00.000-05:002011-05-25T00:52:08.712-05:00

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-14292277680851499512011-05-24T13:49:00.000-05:002011-05-24T13:49:35.974-05:00

No matter what fancy name you put on it, this stinks: Just so you know, your tax dollars are now paying for a “director of progressive media &  online response” within the White House. Translation: a dedicated enforcer and story squasher that loves the liberal media. “This week, Jesse Lee will move from the new media department into a role in the communications department as Director of

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-6629697237489011092011-05-22T17:36:00.000-05:002011-05-22T17:36:34.527-05:00

Well, the Snippets are back after a two-week hiatus. I had a wonderful vacation in Hawaii with Lyric, and two nights at her house in California on either side of the Hawaii week. While in Hawaii we took a short cruise, read books on the sand, shopped for clothes and jewelry, got a little too much sun, and had unbelievably good evening here. I returned on Monday, refreshed and ready to take on

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-7560517029320928602011-05-19T13:39:00.000-05:002011-05-19T13:39:23.103-05:00

I really, really like you, Alot. hat tip: Janelle B.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-26638391946646151502011-05-17T20:49:00.000-05:002011-05-17T20:49:54.697-05:00

My beef with this has nothing to do with a disbelief that some people "do" it, but that it can now be a disorder you "have". The competition to get your favorite disease recognized in the bible of mental health, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, can be as fierce as the talent contest in the Little Miss St. Paul Contest. The American Psychiatric Association is

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-37507621825063781002011-05-13T19:43:00.000-05:002011-05-13T19:43:57.551-05:00

...to bring you to another liberal western state  :-) Oh, come on. You KNOW you know people like this: hat tip: Jane T.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-75993064612825932572011-05-10T14:47:00.000-05:002011-05-10T14:47:12.601-05:00

What does it mean, in America at least, to be "educated"? The 'Education' Mantra

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-20878333193230768492011-05-01T17:07:00.000-05:002011-05-01T17:07:45.910-05:00

UPDATE: If you're interested in seeing the commercial I blogged about last week, it's here, under "piano".

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-26142104925011056632011-05-01T15:57:00.000-05:002011-05-01T15:57:04.372-05:00

Okay, just let me get this out there. I watched the Royal Wedding. From the pre-game shows until the Royal Kiss. Well, all right, just before the Royal Kiss. I did miss that part after falling asleep right before dawn. But I watched. I watched because I enjoy the Royals way more than I enjoy reality shows and Entertainment Tonight and the red carpet before the Oscars.  But I have a beef. If you

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-8167381842781731072011-04-27T13:39:00.000-05:002011-04-27T13:39:31.506-05:00

Kudos to John Stossel for posting this today, and to Prof. Boudreaux for writing the letter Stossel highlights. I'm all for giving, but I've always wondered about this talk about "giving back," as though you'd taken something that you really weren't entitled to or that belonged to someone else and now needed to make amends. Using this language just bolsters the whole idea that whatever you have

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-8565047139598991082011-04-26T18:32:00.001-05:002011-04-26T19:02:52.386-05:00

May I  share a little insight I just received from a quite unexpected source? I try to be all about gratitude. I believe it's the missing element in a lot of Christians' lives, and I think it's a response to life that can never be overdone or overemphasized. I'd even go out on a limb and say that a lack of gratitude is at the heart of nearly all spiritual problems I've ever seen. Note I didn't

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-55731968129875277262011-04-25T12:54:00.000-05:002011-04-25T12:54:55.554-05:00

I bid you good morning (it is still morning as I write this) after one of the loveliest Easters ever. When it was over last night I had no desire to blog or to do anything but bask in the light of the Resurrection and the joy of being with family and friends. Alas, the snippets went to bed unwritten. One of the joys of the day was my completion of a goal I set right before New Years: memorize

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-79319839148049754502011-04-23T20:01:00.002-05:002011-04-23T20:01:52.936-05:00

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-88197644959990905092011-04-20T16:05:00.001-05:002011-04-20T17:23:24.566-05:00

It was quite nice today to have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon at which there were no unpleasant surprises. So many of my troubles in the past ten years have been completely unexpected results shared at what I thought was to be a routine appointment, so I'm a little spooked now every time I go. With spring and summer vacations coming up I did not want any bad news and was even tempted

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-17233423735337784872011-04-17T21:06:00.000-05:002011-04-17T21:06:25.396-05:00

I've just returned from seeing Atlas Shrugged with Steph K. and we had a great time. The movie was almost exactly what both of us expected, very much like what we'd envisioned as we read the book. So what did I think about the movie? For a film that was made on a meager $10m budget and shot in 26 days, it was remarkable. This is the movie that Hollywood didn't want made and that was rejected at

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-45204679999515731942011-04-15T17:21:00.000-05:002011-04-15T17:21:37.786-05:00

Wait...I thought it was Bush and global warming that was to blame? Who knew? The iPad is taking your job

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-76282932035472793062011-04-11T09:59:00.000-05:002011-04-11T09:59:50.146-05:00

Just about the time you think you've heard everything... Pretty soon, they'll insist on bringing school lunches to the homeschooled kids. Chicago schools ban lunches brought from home

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-24176781451947164772011-04-11T04:00:00.002-05:002011-04-11T04:00:10.048-05:00

A beautiful article on what the misplaced focus on standards of modesty can mean in the lives of girls and women. Note especially the quote from C.S. Lewis. Mixed messages of modesty hat tip: Hillary M.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-35963605426149907622011-04-10T17:20:00.002-05:002011-04-10T17:21:14.871-05:00

So...what snippets do I have this week? Let's see. A lot of folks are going to work tomorrow who wondered for several days if they would. Glad to see that we averted a government shutdown for the sakes of those who would suffer (including, as it turns out, this family). But I can't say I'm jumping up and down at the meager concessions toward spending reductions. As Karl Rove said in the wee hours

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-20973748891292151802011-04-07T21:06:00.000-05:002011-04-07T21:06:49.155-05:00

EIGHT MORE DAYS! Atlas Shrugged, The Movie

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-992114485662341892011-04-06T16:22:00.000-05:002011-04-06T16:22:22.311-05:00

 "Why is there no looting in Japan?” wondered a headline in the Daily Telegraph. So did a lot of other folks.  Earthquake Demographics hat tip: The Papa

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-3398479632640278012011-04-04T12:17:00.001-05:002011-04-04T12:42:23.514-05:00

More than a decade ago I began advising homeschoolers not to worry too much about cursive writing, and a couple of years after that I found myself advising parents to eliminate the teaching of cursive in favor of keyboarding, spending only enough time on cursive that kids could READ it. I was solidly against A Beka's insistence on teaching cursive in Kindergarten, a move that I believed to be not

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-15355549272377349922011-04-04T11:25:00.000-05:002011-04-04T11:25:29.624-05:00

Gather your kids around and watch this live eagle feeding her babies! (And check the links down the side for others.) You have to watch a very short ad first, but then the live feed starts. Eagle Cam hat tip: Annie W.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-5076915843408031652011-04-03T19:41:00.001-05:002011-04-03T19:49:03.242-05:00

It's been a strange week, getting used to the new MacBook Pro while trying to carry on my normal tasks. So far I'm loving most things about it...I don't like the fact that some of my treasured programs won't run on a Mac and so I'm forced to decide between trying to shuttle back and forth between two computers or putting software on the Mac which will run Windows. Neither seems a happy prospect,

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-87453387752777468722011-04-01T17:22:00.001-05:002011-04-01T17:22:21.591-05:00

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-5234757533257923162011-03-28T12:01:00.000-05:002011-03-28T12:01:40.444-05:00

Having just experienced my third computer crash in six months, I have finally taken the plunge into the Mac world...there's going to be a big learning curve and I may have to put off blogging for a while. I'll be back!

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-65286444181606846652011-03-24T19:11:00.000-05:002011-03-24T19:11:11.482-05:00

Here's a reasoned reminder that we can pray for God to protect our children, but our prayers do not obligate or constrain Him. Many of us want to trust God, but we want some sort of guarantee in exchange for the trust.  And that's not trust. An Ultimate Question: Will God Protect My Kids? hat tip: Hillary

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-7573592131414797732011-03-23T20:45:00.000-05:002011-03-23T20:45:32.313-05:00

Our soldier airman son is home! He will now settle into a routine of his one weekend a month, two weeks active duty a year, and look for a full-time job. He also wants to get back in school immediately and get his degree finished, so he's going to be one busy young man!  WELCOME HOME, NATHAN!

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-52513761252148074582011-03-20T15:03:00.000-05:002011-03-20T15:03:02.571-05:00

We're just back from our very pleasant, uneventful spring break in north Texas. I will sum up its loveliness with a comment from Shelley, our 18-year old: "You know why I love spring break? No one judges you for taking multiple naps in one day." Yep. And while much of the country has succumbed to March Madness, we in San Antonio are still consumed with our NBA favorite sons. The Spurs have the

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-67962224169652784742011-03-17T23:03:00.001-05:002011-03-17T23:05:01.152-05:00

Yes, folks, you knew it was going to happen. Now you won't be disappointed.  Chevy Volt: The Car From Atlas Shrugged Motors Patrick Michaels, 03.16.11, 06:00 PM EDT Who is going to buy all these cars?  The Chevrolet Volt is beginning to look like it was manufactured by Atlas Shrugged Motors, where the government mandates everything politically correct, rewards its cronies and produces

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-46859605812966456882011-03-16T00:18:00.000-05:002011-03-16T00:18:26.356-05:00

A trillion-dollar deficit. A million square miles. A billion light-years. One-millionth of an inch. Numbers, when they get big enough, or even small enough, boggle the mind.  In the past few days we've all been bombarded with numbers that seek to quantify a catastrophe: Richter 9.0, 500 aftershocks, 10,000+ dead, half a million in shelters, 30-foot wall of water, 6 on the Nuclear Event Scale. The

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-35062180332118744272011-03-13T21:30:00.000-05:002011-03-13T21:30:50.726-05:00

Take a dozen minutes and watch this very entertaining and thought-provoking animated video on the problems with today's educational philosophy:

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-77733244795419819142011-03-13T17:35:00.002-05:002011-03-13T17:35:45.593-05:00

It's been a pretty sobering weekend, viewing the images of the devastation following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. There just doesn't seem to be anything appropriate to say for those of us on this side of the world, sitting in our warm homes and not having to worry about drinking water and radiation. Oh God, may many hands show Your love at this time... Well, okay, so I really do like

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-68500453476594245502011-03-12T10:48:00.000-06:002011-03-12T10:48:10.355-06:00

If you're not clear about why public sector unions are so dangerous, as opposed to private sector unions, who are only sometimes dangerous, this will help. hat tip: Steph K.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-68345279412238923012011-03-11T23:30:00.000-06:002011-03-11T23:30:45.621-06:00

It's hard to conceive of a geological/weather event so powerful that it will redraw the borders of a country. But that's what scientists say may be happening in Japan right now. The water in many places is not receding and is not expected to...some of the land mass is being reclaimed by the sea and may never be dry land again.  Of course, this pales in importance to the loss of life, but in many

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-30233653895281219352011-03-10T12:28:00.005-06:002011-03-10T13:11:10.011-06:00

I don't always like what's happening to our language. (It's, like, totally bad?) Some change in our language is to be expected, as with any living language. But much of the change in the English language has taken place either by A) default, as in sinking to the level of the least educated folks among us, which are becoming a majority; or B) language inflation, as in the overuse, and thus

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-15190982997078476522011-03-09T14:31:00.000-06:002011-03-09T14:31:59.418-06:00

I may be mourning the passing of winter, but God always gives me a silver lining...tulips. (Oh, and my love of tulips has nothing to do with Calvinism. But it's a nice touch.) thanks to The Papa

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-76800683683003328002011-03-07T09:08:00.000-06:002011-03-07T09:08:13.608-06:00

This one's been around for a while but my daughter FB'd (new verb) it recently and I think it's time to highlight it again. I wish all the otherwise intelligent people I know would recognize themselves here and realize that their friends, children, business associates, etc. do not take them seriously when their speech is full of this. Even the president is annoyingly guilty, though his "you know"

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-49960302867012103992011-03-06T20:14:00.001-06:002011-03-06T21:20:53.948-06:00

The week sped by...last week started with me in Virginia drinking in the time with the Welty's and the new week begins with a glorious day at Covenant of Grace, fellowshiping with friends old and new and hearing the Word preached powerfully. In between, many reasons for giving thanks and praising God, living a life of moment-by-moment gratitude... How to love a liberal (if you really must):

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-28587231263249205992011-03-03T10:44:00.000-06:002011-03-03T10:44:07.229-06:00

There's more than food in your cart. A University of Arizona researcher says you may want to grab one of those disinfectant wipes right before you grab a grocery cart.Professor Charles Gerba, the lead researcher, swabbed the handles of 85 carts in four states for bacterial contamination. Gerba says 72% of the carts had a positive marker for fecal bacteria. When they examined some of the

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-1806918044276468392011-02-28T22:37:00.000-06:002011-02-28T22:37:11.760-06:00

It's becoming clearer and clearer that 90% of what we see labeled "biblical patriarchy" is in reality unbiblical matriarchy. As a recovered promoter of two of the biggest men in the business, and it is truly a business, I urge you to read this all.the.way.through.  Bill Gothard and Patriarchy: Re-routed Feminism? hat tip: Shelley

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63089404862548703442011-02-27T20:04:00.000-06:002011-02-27T20:04:59.435-06:00

It's Sunday again! The week has sped by, and half my time with the Virginia family is gone. I'm appreciating every moment... Haven't watched any news since being here, but my limited time on the 'net tells me that the dominoes are still rocking back and forth in the Middle East. Well, I guess the price of gas is telling me that as well  :-( So far I've resisted watching American Idol, other than

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-31579859563206175932011-02-21T22:56:00.001-06:002011-02-21T23:06:20.195-06:00

Okay, I'm a day late. We had surprise company this weekend--both of our expectant-mommy daughters and lots of grandchildren arrived, and we've been busy! Don't call me tomorrow night. Or look for me on Facebook. The Papa and I are going to see Wicked! Yes we are! On Wednesday I fly away to the east coast for a week to have a nice visit with Annie, Caleb, Erin, Judah, and Savannah. Since they're

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-28136256432578677572011-02-17T17:02:00.000-06:002011-02-17T17:02:39.037-06:00

Yeah, we'll have to have this.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-62509886456778223892011-02-16T15:15:00.000-06:002011-02-16T15:15:39.253-06:00

As one who has spent much of the past decade on narcotics and other drugs prescribed for pain relief, I find this study very interesting. I'd love to see my brain on drugs! Expectations can cancel out benefit of pain drugs

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-47975818057866936052011-02-15T20:24:00.000-06:002011-02-15T20:24:14.218-06:00

I apologize in advance for the photo on the page, but I'm sorry, did no one see this one coming?

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-12135444442072414672011-02-13T19:38:00.000-06:002011-02-13T19:38:49.684-06:00

I've exulted in what will probably be our last frosty-cold week in this oh-so-unusual winter. At least as the temps creep back toward our south Texas spring, I have had more than a normal string of truly winterish weeks. May it happen again next year... All right. This is not fair. I should get to do the potty training years over again...why couldn't they have had THIS when I needed it? There was

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-58148823071666866372011-02-09T12:44:00.000-06:002011-02-09T12:44:55.552-06:00

Hard to even imagine, isn't it? Dozens of breast-feeding women plan to descend on the Hirshhorn Museum on Saturday for a "nurse-in" to highlight their federally protected right to nourish their babies in public. The cause of the grass-roots gathering of lactivists: A Jan. 30 incident involving Noriko Aita, who was nursing her daughter on a bench in the Hirshhorn when she was informed by a

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-24074936856893201752011-02-06T22:05:00.000-06:002011-02-06T22:05:32.286-06:00

It was a strange weekend. San Antonio got hit with a freak 3/4" snowfall on Thursday, which would have been very welcome under normal circumstances (well, there's nothing normal about snow here)...but the precipitation and the icy air ruined all Nathan's BMT graduation activities AND made it impossible for all the north Texas and Oklahoma family to get here to see him before he leaves for

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-60618214915157455032011-02-05T12:56:00.000-06:002011-02-05T12:56:02.086-06:00

In case any of you have been checking back to see what I think of our new writing program, I wanted to give an update. We've been homeschooling for 26 years now, and I have never found a program that's brought us as much benefit as Classical Writing.We've tried Understanding Writing, Writing Strands, the writing component of Tapestry of Grace, and several others whose names I can't recall right

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-69399274092922168602011-02-04T10:30:00.002-06:002011-02-04T11:22:43.511-06:00

I'm sure you've heard it said, as a preface to the utterance of some near impossibility, "It'll be a cold day in hell when [insert severe improbability]." Only slightly less well known is the corollary preface, "It'll be a snowy day in San Antonio when [insert equally unlikely event]." Well, I don't know how hell is feeling about now, but this must be the day for all the unlikelies to be

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-35760325365614559942011-02-02T14:55:00.000-06:002011-02-02T14:55:45.692-06:00

A couple in Laval, Que. has sparked a fierce debate over how far schools should go to teach children about environmental responsibility after their six-year-old son was shut out of a kindergarten draw to win a stuffed animal because he had an environmentally unfriendly sandwich bag in his lunchbox. Marc-André Lanciault said he hadn’t heard of the school’s draw or any environmental policy

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-89048149849110194002011-02-02T08:43:00.000-06:002011-02-02T08:43:25.777-06:00

...your spiral light bulbs and your hybrid cars and your low-flow toilets and shower heads are going to keep you warm in the long run. Just be patient and listen to Al Gore's take: An Answer for Bill, February 1, 2011 : 11:43 AM Last week on his show Bill O’Reilly asked, “Why has southern New York turned into the tundra?” and then said he had a call into me. I appreciate the question. As

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-60523324340932053972011-02-01T13:46:00.000-06:002011-02-01T13:46:13.464-06:00

One of the joys of blogging has been meeting fellow-bloggers in real life, folks I might never have known without this medium. Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting a woman I've only known by email and blogging, setting up a rendezvous at a Panera Bread close to Oklahoma City. I've corresponded with her, prayed for her, hurt for her, and rejoiced with her, and yesterday I got to share a meal

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-14706777767861359752011-02-01T10:46:00.000-06:002011-02-01T10:46:00.550-06:00

And no, this is not from The Onion, even though its absurdity begs that question: Last Thursday, CNN reported that a Florida legislator has proposed a bill that would have public school teachers issuing a grade to parents. Yes, grading the parents. HB 255 provides that “each prekindergarten through grade 3 student report card shall include a section in which the teacher grades the parental

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-35751378438922361442011-01-30T23:34:00.000-06:002011-01-30T23:34:43.308-06:00

Oklahoma is OK! But I felt cheated when I got here and it was 75 degrees. When I drive this far north I wanna get some benefit besides seeing my kids! Well, today I'm fine. It was in the 30s when we went to church, and the day has stayed nice and cool. Tomorrow the high will be 46 and that's kind of on the verge of cold. The best thing is that I'll be getting back to San Antonio in time for

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-28785118809925960702011-01-25T13:51:00.001-06:002011-01-29T09:45:44.383-06:00

This one contains some of my pet peeves. Or maybe most of them. Expecially excape ;-)

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-72815937214856294462011-01-25T13:08:00.000-06:002011-01-25T13:08:38.127-06:00

This is grandson Isaac's (age 9) idea of the perfect peanut butter sandwich. Made it himself. Just the way he likes it.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-35762674909755492872011-01-25T10:25:00.001-06:002011-01-25T10:27:06.042-06:00

I LOVE it! hat tip: Vicki W.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63168516235915226212011-01-23T11:00:00.000-06:002011-01-23T11:00:25.504-06:00

I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning with my feet up, snug in my warm house in this, for south Texas, very cold winter. Difficulty with my leg has kept me in and away from church this morning and I'm missing it, but thankful for a comfy place to sit and for shelter from the cold wind. I've used the time to get started on the week's memory work (see left sidebar) since this is an 8-verse week. I

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-30339819195628741012011-01-22T11:00:00.000-06:002011-01-22T11:00:35.657-06:00

“When you’re tempted to doubt God’s love for you, stand before the cross and look at the wounded, dying, disfigured Savior, and realize why He is there. I believe His Father would whisper to us, ‘Isn’t this sufficient? I haven’t spared My own Son; I deformed and disfigured and crushed Him — for you. What more could I do to persuade you that I love you?’” — C. J. Mahaney Living the Cross

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-63160137423733298172011-01-21T18:13:00.000-06:002011-01-21T18:13:26.647-06:00

So I don't know how I've missed it this long, but maybe age makes you kinda slow. Ever since buying my first iPhone three years ago, I've been enjoying audio books from Audible.com via the iPod function of the phone. But the clunky iPod application has been downright infuriating at times, and just annoying at other times. And of course it forces you to interact with iTunes, which I've always

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-58414285238679647522011-01-19T08:01:00.002-06:002011-01-19T08:20:36.334-06:00

Every once in a while, an article comes along that so accurately captures the landscape of history and the downward slide of the West that I'm compelled to pass it along and urge you to read it. Increasingly, I'm finding these articles are written by Mark Steyn.  It's clear that my precious grandchildren are not going to grow up in the same country I did. It's certainly not the country I wanted

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-26165384750972213852011-01-18T18:51:00.000-06:002011-01-18T18:51:58.512-06:00

It's generally accepted (but increasingly questioned) that a college diploma increases a young person's lifetime earning power. Whether this will remain true or not, what I find a more interesting and disturbing question is whether or not they're really learning much of anything in submitting to this expensive and lengthy drill: A study of more than 2,300 undergraduates found 45 percent of

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-80683635125995996292011-01-18T00:07:00.000-06:002011-01-18T00:07:41.094-06:00

Time for the pet peeve of the month. Okay, so think about it. Your cousin, your bff, your old college roommate, or your co-worker is pregnant. She has the BIG appointment...you know, the one God never intended for us to have? The one that shatters the divine mystery of whether you're having a man-child or a princess? Okay, so that's my opinion and isn't really the pet peeve. That's obviously

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-89208693700321997002011-01-17T08:37:00.000-06:002011-01-17T08:37:27.698-06:00

In order to continue the march forward, African-Americans must now be granted one more important right: Today, as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., signs of King’s legacy are everywhere - in government, business, sports, the arts. The president and his attorney general are black. We have had two highly respected African-American secretaries of State. In Massachusetts,

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-30450902157246344532011-01-17T07:37:00.000-06:002011-01-17T07:37:34.643-06:00

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-19483703142277200302011-01-16T21:11:00.000-06:002011-01-16T21:11:28.302-06:00

It's been the week of winter here. Five days out of the last seven we've had day-long fires in the fireplace, and that's never happened in the nearly ten years we've lived here. Wish I knew what I could do to make it stay... If I were a victim or the relative of a victim of last weekend's shooting in Tucson, I would feel victimized all over again by the way the debate morphed into something it

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-10648038064842710822011-01-15T13:40:00.000-06:002011-01-15T13:40:44.924-06:00

Less than two weeks into her new gig, Schools Chancellor Cathie Black has riled parents and public officials by jokingly suggesting that "birth control" was the solution to school overcrowding.  The off-color quip came in response to concerns by public-school dad Eric Greenleaf, who said at a meeting of parents and officials at state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's downtown office that

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-11316727086818432132011-01-14T13:21:00.001-06:002011-01-14T13:22:29.421-06:00

Thank you, Almighty Nanny State: Bobby and Amanda Herring spent more than a year providing food to homeless people in downtown Houston every day. They fed them, left behind no trash and doled out warm meals peacefully without a single crime being committed, Bobby Herring said. That ended two weeks ago when the city shut down their "Feed a Friend" effort for lack of a permit. And city

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-38327947479849329252011-01-09T22:23:00.000-06:002011-01-09T22:23:21.218-06:00

As I sit by the fire tonight with my glass of Pinot Grigio, I have little energy for writing. It's been a very full week, and the next one promises to be no different...and so I think I'll save some Snippets of time and energy for the week ahead, which starts early tomorrow with me monitoring study hall at our co-op. I'll use the time for some freelance work, getting ready to bring the lesson at

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-43452225208039423122011-01-06T09:16:00.001-06:002011-01-06T09:17:17.727-06:00

I mentioned on Sunday that I have committed to memorize the book of Philippians by Easter. Today, I see that one of my favorite authors/bloggers, Ann Voskamp, has joined in a project to memorize the book of Colossians in a year, using much the same approach that the P2R project is using for Philippians. The materials for the Colossians work are just beautiful and make me wish I'd seen them first!

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-69921940857127266932011-01-02T14:32:00.000-06:002011-01-02T14:32:56.811-06:00

It was wonderful to sing all the verses of "How Firm a Foundation" in worship this morning...what a great beginning to a new year, singing about the foundation laid for us by God in His word. And then The Papa preached a fine sermon on "holding fast the word of life" from Philippians 2. It's a Happy DayAfterNewYear's! And how good it was to have CJ (Tony had to drive back this morning) and

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-66130426329282529942011-01-01T09:35:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:35:58.997-06:00

If you can't govern by the Constitution, just do it by fiat. Really, it works. Especially if you keep it quiet. Very quiet. (Except sooner or later, Charles Krauthammer will go and mess it all up.) Government by regulation. Shhhh.

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-32662411026086381492010-12-31T22:17:00.000-06:002010-12-31T22:17:26.415-06:00

Here's wishing all of my bloggy friends a joyful and blessed 2011! See you 'round the bend  :-)

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-61834653135040588142010-12-30T14:36:00.000-06:002010-12-30T14:36:46.602-06:00

So the pseudo-scientists keep at it, telling us that a cold winter here and there doesn't mean we're not warming to dangerous levels. But, umm, the coldest in a millennium?  WINTER MAY BE COLDEST IN 1000 YEARS

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-65160192342768730552010-12-30T10:19:00.000-06:002010-12-30T10:19:38.213-06:00

In defense of the cookbook. How about you? Cookbooks or Internet?

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-39453848785688165102010-12-30T07:56:00.000-06:002010-12-30T07:56:53.348-06:00

Ever been standing in front of a new TV or an electronic gadget or a new sofa or even a new car and wondered how long it would take you to pay for it? Even if you pay cash, it will take you a certain number of days of working to pay for it, depending on your current earning power. Here's a handy tool that will help you figure it out (and maybe steer you away from some impulse purchases!).

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17910904.post-49293201664363535682010-12-29T23:27:00.000-06:002010-12-29T23:27:55.009-06:00

This is the time of year when I like to peruse the reading lists of men and women I respect and get some ideas for reading in the new year. Of course, doing it this way I'm a year behind, as they're advertising what they read from what was published in 2010, and I'm thinking about what to read in 2011; but in the long run I guess a year makes little difference.  But it's also the time of year

Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15155489905427660732noreply@blogger.com8