Leaves

by Elsie N. Brady

How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow.

Fall, leaves, fall
By Emily Brontë
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

World hunger bothers me.  It has for many years.  I believe the world has the capacity to feed all the people and animals using sustainable, organic agriculture.  Over the years it seems that the distribution of food has been inhibited by various factors like wars, bureaucracy and politics, and disease.  The experiment of genetically engineered food to feed the world is proving that soils are being harmed, more water is needed to feed GE plants, and more pesticides are needed as weeds and animals become resistant to current pesticides.  Organic farming is the answer to these problems and it begins at home.  We have planted our Fall/Winter raised beds with spinach, red leaf and romaine lettuces, carrots, herbs, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage.  We have been harvesting lettuce for two weeks now.  In my opinion, there is nothing better than home-grown food produced healthily.  In other beds not pictured, we are growing more carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, onions, and butternut squash.  We have a navel orange tree full of oranges.  We share our produce with our neighbors.  Healing the soil is the beginning to a productive garden.  A simple drip irrigation system uses water efficiently.   Yes, the world can be fed…one organic farm at a time.

Budding Cauliflower

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Cabbage

Shapely Broccoli

Luscious Romaine Lettuce

After 8 years of soliciting funding for an expedition west, having been turned away by King Henry VII of England and King John II of Portugal, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain invited him to court in 1491 to consider Columbus’s plans.  The “last crusade” had ended, the Moors had surrendered their last foothold in Spain and the 700 years war was over.  Floating carved driftwood had been found west of the Azores; Columbus had the ambition and navigational skills to explore west for a shorter trade route to Asia.  With crosses on the sails, the King and Queen gave Columbus 3 caravels to go west.  On October 12, 1492 the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria arrived in the modern day Bahamas after sailing more than 30 days from the Canary Islands.  The “innocent, trusting, and peaceful” natives would soon be deceived by self seekers.  The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “What do you want?  Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”  Instead of receiving the liberty of Christ, gentleness, and love, the natives would receive a rod of selfish ambition that would include kidnapping, slavery, and many kinds of cruelty.  Gold was seen on some of the jewelry of the natives.  The covetous desire for more of the “fortune” would dominate future explorations.   After returning to Spain with fabricated stories, Governor Columbus would return on a second voyage with colonists to settle what is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  Conflicting reports caused King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to send a third expedition with a new Governor and supplies to the young colony to investigate the rumors of chaos.  Columbus would be arrested and sent back to Spain for his crimes.  After some time, Columbus was given an opportunity to explore more of the Caribbean on a fourth expedition, but was not permitted to return to the Spanish colony. Columbus would discover Central America-Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and the source of gold.  Spain would later send the conquistadors, Cortez and Pizarro to further expand the Spanish Empire.  Columbus was a heroic seaman, but had a lot to learn about being a “Christ bearer”.  He was corrupt and cruel to the naive natives that he supposedly came to serve.  “Love suffers long and is kind…love does not parade itself…does not seek its own.”1 Corinthians 13:4-5

The kit is simple, yet educational.  There are 3 rock samples, an informative book about volcanic structures and types, and some history.  The plastic model is a good replica for recreating an at home eruption.  This kit can be used as a facilitator for more in depth learning activities like using current events, writing more detailed reports, and checking a globe to learn about geographic locations.  We purchased the kit through Scholastic for $10.00 at http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/more-reading-resources/scholastic-reading-club

ISBN 13: 9780545706841

American citizens may not be aware that there exists a biblical worldview of war.  It is called a just war policy.  Most Americans are fed an unbiblical poisonous idea of war.  To find the answer we need to guide us when contemplating whether to wage war or not, let us search the Scriptures and read the writings of theologians we respect.  Biblically speaking, men have permission to kill for self defense, crimes against fellow citizens, and when fighting against their enemies.  The well respected theologian Saint Augustine of Hippo states in his popular book The City of God, that when at war with their enemies, “…the wise man will wage just wars.”  Thomas Aquinas said that war must occur for a good and just purpose rather than for self-gain.  He also said that peace must be a priority. These men and other theologians believe that a biblical just war must not be fought solely for recapturing things or punishing people.  Force may be used only after all peaceful alternatives have been sincerely tried.  War should only be used for self-defense.  John Quincy Adams warned the citizens of the United States when speaking on the Fourth of July, 1821: “… she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy,” and if she did, “ she might become the dictatress of the world; she would no longer be the ruler of her own heart.”

The other day a student at a public school told their teacher they were hungry.  They chose to skip the government provided breakfast.  You can throw money at a problem, but it doesn’t mean it will get fixed.  School kids are skipping meals and/or throwing their food into the trash.  Americans waste 40% of their food every year.  Globally, over 1 billion tons of food is wasted!  Visit any school campus at lunch and take a look in the trash can.  It will be filled with pears, apples, pizzas, fruit cups, carrots, salads, etc.  It is truly an appalling sight.  While I was teaching in the public school classroom, First Lady Laura Bush said, “Parents are their child’s first teacher.”  Parents model to their children eating habits, educational habits, and life habits.  If the parents don’t model healthy eating, then most likely, the child won’t either. As a popular idiom states,  “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”  The hard working citizens of America buy the food in those trash cans.  Instead, parents can prepare and pack a more nutritive lunch for their child that tastes good.  Their day can begin with a home made breakfast smoothie or an egg on toast with some cheese.  Back in my day, we brought our lunches to school in a trendy metal box with our favorite characters on the front.  In addition to the food waste, how nutrient dense is a school provided lunch?  It is mostly processed and nutrient depleted food.  No wonder it gets tossed into the trash can.

You get to choose your learning material and your child works at their own pace.  Within this framework, your student will receive personalized attention and get an education molded to their personality and gifts.  They will have the freedom to express their unique creativity and to research further into subject matter that is interesting to them.  Your child gets to experience real life while assisting in the kitchen, garden, grocery store, home science experiments, observing nature, building, recycling, painting…Perhaps, best of all, parents get to spend more time with their child and vice-versa.  There is flexibility in scheduling and no bells to interrupt an interesting lesson.  Families benefit because they work together and function as a unit with everyone as an important contributor.  Home education is beneficial for the entire family as parents will learn with the child instilling a love for life long learning.

The school was in chaos.  A new principal with a holistic philosophy toward education facilitated the radical turn around in the school’s environment.  Anthony Elementary in Leavenworth, Kansas was a failing school where bullies ruled during recess and lunch.  Test scores were low and the staff turnover was high.  Once failing and miserable, the students’ lives made a 180 degree turn with a few simple changes.  The new philosophy brought order, discipline, and respect.  Children began to learn.  Students would bring their own water bottles, nutrition and exercise programs were incorporated.  The program motto was, “eat, exercise, and excel”.  It worked!  Test scores rose from 56% to 84% in reading and 46% to 82% in math.  Everyone is happier.  To see the six minute video, click on the link below.

A few summers ago, all of the ingredients in our salsa were home grown.  This year, we have had a slow cilantro crop and difficulty with our onions, so we had to purchase a few items.  This is a delicious and easy recipe that can be prepared in minutes.

• 4 medium size tomatoes diced
• 4 green onions diced
• 1-2 jalapeno peppers seeded and minced
• 1-2 tsp. lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt

Delicious!  Even the kids will like this one!