DAILY BLESSINGS

COME HERE AND VISIT MY KIDS OFTEN! Here is where you will find their wisdom, ideas, poems, musings, and other random thoughts!

Laura and Jake have been studying the pre-Civil War Era, with a special focus upon slavery,

the abolitionists, and the southern secession. As a homeschooling mother, I always try to 

encourage "further research, learning, and activities". It is a THRILL to see when a student takes it upon himself to supplement his own studies using his own passion and creativity!

 Jacob is our resident chef...therefore he loves to roll out dough! Today he took some dough

and made this sculpture to show  you the "line of secession" when the south broke away

from the north in the United States of America in the year 1860. PRETTY CREATIVE KID, HUH?

Mary Clare:   THE CRANBERRY SAUCE!

Sarah Peanut:  I like the turkey and I like to play with my sisters and brothers!

JOEY: My favorite part is playing with my nieces and coloring our turkey pictures!

Mary Helen: Cranberry Sauce and family time!

Gracie: My favorite part is having dinner with my family!

 LAURA:  Getting together with family and friends, and...FOOD!

JAKE:  Family and pie and pie and PIE...and maybe, some PIE!

 THEY MAKE DOLL HOUSES!!!

This afternoon,  I ( Laura, age: 14 ), made a little toy doll house using a cardboard box and crayons for my mom!

So now my two little sisters, Mary Clare ( age 5 ) and Sarah ( almost 4 ), have something new to play with and we didn't need to go to the store and spend a lot of money!

They are really enjoying it so far and we hope that this idea will give you some as well!

Laura Dudich

THEY MAKE CASTLES!!!!!!

 WITH CANONS

 AND TOWERS

And of course...DRAWBRIDGES!!!

“The Holy Death”

Written By: Laura M. Dudich

03/29/09

I was there when they crucified my Lord,

I watched Him flinch when they crowned His head with thorns,

I saw Him cry, when they cursed Him and spat on His Holy face,

And when He gazed at me I felt His ever forgiving grace,

I saw Him fall while carrying that heavy tree,

The times He dripped with blood while they all laughed with glee,

I followed Him, and saw the women weep and cry,

HE STOPPED TO COMFORT them before soldiers  pushed Him by,

I looked at Him and watched a HUMBLE woman wipe His head,

Then He, upon her simple veil, his image did embed

I watched Him trudge along that dry and rocky path,

He then beheld his mother and His trembling hand she grasped,

I saw Him glance into her eyes and then continue on,

to that nearby dismal hill, which He then stepped upon,

I watched them shove His weakened body on to that splintered cross,

And as they nailed his hands and feet He did not pull or toss,

I saw Him let them raise that tree so that he would die

they taunted, “If you are the Christ,  why not take off and fly?”

I listened to his silence as he hung in agony,

But THEN HE cried out, “Father! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?!”

The soldiers played then for the robes which they had stripPed from Him,

While the women fell aT the foot of the cross aND the MENACING sky grew dim,

A CRIMINAL being crucified along-side of the Lord,

speaking evil things, Yelled out and cursed and swore,

But another thief THEN STRUGGLED TO LIFT HIS HEAD AND SEE

AND Cried “I deserve to die Lord!” remember and pray for me!”

CHRIST THEN SHOWED MUCH GREAT mercy, AND

these words FROM HIM DID COME:

“Truly, I SAY TO YOU THIS DAY, you will enter MY Kingdom!”

I saw my Jesus dying, oh! To free Him was my wish!

But while drawing his last breath He said

simply , “It’s FINISHED”.

I watched the soldier pierce His side with a long and jagged spear,

That He would still remain alive is what they all  had  feared,

I followed His Disciples as they carried Him to the tomb,

And that Holy Woman who had brought Him from her womb,

I stayed at a distance and saw them close the cave,

THEN WALK away IN SADNESS from The Savior’s Holy grave,

This man had borne the punishment for the sins of you and me

So that one day we might live with Him

for all eternity!

A Tree on the Battle Grounds

A personification written by: Laura

I was on a hill, drinking in from my roots the crisp, clear water which the heavens had poured down the day before. All of the sudden, I heard a very odd and frightening sound coming from over the hills. I stopped drinking and listened, while a cool breeze traveled through my branches. Then, I heard it again, and again, and again, but on the last blow, I started to hear something else, softer now, yet clear. I then realized what it was … Man! I saw them at that moment coming across the valleys, shooting fire and thunder out of the horrible rods they were carrying. One by one they fell, but strangely, did not get up once more. They came by the hundreds, or even thousands, from over that hill, screaming and shouting words that I could not understand. And then it happened…they started to invade my home, taking refuge under anything they could find …I, myself was shelter for one of them. They all kept shooting that terrible fire out of their rods, and then, one of the spouts of fire hit me ! It tore off my bark like moss on the damp forest floor beneath. Something from that fire stayed inside of me. It was like a rock; only hot and smooth. All the while, very large and round balls were flying through the air, and then crashing down onto the wet surface of my wonderful home. The man under my branches seemed terrified! Something like water was coming through his skin. It was as red as the sun at daybreak, and it looked as if it were causing him pain. He had a small golden hoop around one of his fingers. I do not know what it was, but it was for one thing, very shiny and beautiful! Then he fell, and did not rise back off the ground. What was the matter with these creatures?! Why were they acting like this?! I may never know, but something inside me said that what they were doing was out of anger toward one another. Mankind acts so strangely at times …and all I can do is watch. To this day, that smooth rock is still in my bark. Though not hot any more, that part of my trunk is lifeless; like the bodies of the men that fell on that day which I shall never forget; the day man showed the most anger that I have ever seen them let out of their confused, ignorant minds; the day that I was but for one moment in time, shelter… for a man of WAR.

(The following is a "prompt" poem to introduce children to the joy of writing poetry...the first words of each line are "prompted"...the poet then adds his/her thoughts in order to complete the stanzas...the first line is repeated at the close of each stanza...GIVE IT A TRY!!! Visit MORE FUN IDEAS on my home page and find a template for you to copy and print FREE!)

I am a boy...who likes to cook~~
I wonder...what the next order will be~~
I hear... the birds in the morning~~
I see...the wonders of GOD~~
I want...to help~~
I am a boy...who likes to cook~~
I pretend...I am perfect~~
I feel...things~~
I touch...the love of GOD~~
I worry...for the world~~
I cry...for the lost souls~~
I am a boy...who likes to cook~~
I understand...that I can only do my best`~~
I say...things I do not mean~~
I dream...of the past~~
I try...to do good~~
I hope...tomorrow will be better~~
I am a boy...who likes to cook

 I hear a wind, soft and steady like what an unborn baby hears inside its mother’s womb. It is not an ordinary wind… it is puzzling, but pleasing to the ears. It must be the Holy Spirit!

I see a light glowing in the dark, when all other lights are out. It is not any known color, just a beautiful glow. It is bright but difficult to see, it must be the Holy

Spirit!

I smell a scent, so lovely and warm. It is not the smell of any food, it is not the smell of rain, and it is not the smell of any season. It can not be traced by a Bloodhound. It can not be found anywhere. It must be the Holy

Spirit!

I touch something, yet I can not see it. It is not soft, nor is it hard. It has no shape, no size; it is not a liquid, nor is it a solid, what can it be?.............. It must be the Holy

Spirit!

 I like my house and its clear open land

the thick dark woods

where the tall trees stand

I like the neighborhood

nice people and things

and so many animals

are interesting

I like my good pets

that run and play

we have lots of fun

every day

My house is something

I'll always remember

it reminds me of JOY

and lots of laughter

                                                   MARY HELEN

                                      HELPFUL, GOOFY

                           PLAYING, PRAYING, TRYING

                         LOVES TO PLAY BOARD GAMES

                                               DUDICH

I Love

Written by: Laura

 I love when the sun rises at daybreak

I love when it sets at night,

I love to see it when I awake,

It is a truly wonderful sight!

I love my God,

I love my faith,

I love the truth,

I feel so safe,

In the presents of my wondrous King,

I shall sing my praise, my voice will ring!

I love the world’s peace,

Though I despise its hate,

For its violence and war will be our fate

I love my home,

In it I feel secure,

 I love my family,

Their affection I gladly endure!

I love to imagine,

I see things no one else sees,

When I play I feel bumps on my skin,

Like I’m being stung by a thousand bees!

I love to write,

I love to read,

My pen takes flight,

My fingers bleed,

As I turn the pages one by one,

My grand adventure has begun!

Though I am young I want to do,

Great things when I’m older wouldn’t you?

I want to be an artist, or share great things I have discovered,

Drawing lovely landscapes or finding dinosaurs to uncover!

I love to help,

It makes me feel,

Like I have a great purpose,

And am doing God’s will

I love school,

The learning,

The answers,

It’s so cool,

I have a yearning,

For papers,

To write down my thoughts and book reports too,

And then I can share it,

With someone like you!

Jake, Laura, and Mary Helen recently presented us with these lovely bird houses which they made at our 4-H group.

We LOVE to watch the great variety of birds that visit our yard...now perhaps some of them will stay for good!