As we prepare for this weekend I can not help but think on what took place today in history. This is the most important history lesson that could ever be taught in life because this is singly the most important event that changes our destiny FOREVER. WOW that sends chills down your spine don't it? TO think that all those years ago my spot in eternity was carved out with such care that it was made in such a way that only I could fit in it. We each have our own way of how we relate and serve JESUS... The most important thing I think to remember is that we do it with all and everything we are and have. Yes it is a humbling thought to think that despite all sins and mistakes we make if we want it... FORGIVENESS is right there waiting.. Here is the REALLY amazing part.. IT DOES NT STOP THERE.... We can walk and grow deeper and have the Spirit dwelling in our life on a daily basis... ALLL because of that day all those years ago HE was willing to suffer and die... Kinda puts things into perspective eh?? I mean we all have things we wish we could forget and things that make this life so hard and sometimes seem down right impossible.. But one thing that still stands in this ever changing world and that is... JESUS NEVER CHANGES... I have learned that people do and their interpretation of HIM does but HE NEVER DOES... THAT alone in itself is what helps me through the day. That alone is the single one and ONLY thing left in this world that we can truly count on to NEVER let us down or disappoint us.... This Easter season let's try to recapture what this gift TRULY means and not look at it as just another day to CELEBRATE... Doesn't matter if you have new dresses to show off at church or where u got it or how much it cost... It's about remembering what took place and the freedom that was bought and paid for that you could NEVER afford.. not even with ur gold platinum card!!!!!!!!
So I hope that you spend time with those you love celebrating this day and have a BLESSED EASTER WEEKEND!!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Gang chillaxin
This is almost the whole gang(minus kaity she had got hurt) up on what match called*the potato mountain* this is the red rock mountain behind the phx zoo. They climbed up after we had walked the zoo. I did not go either I stayed behind with kaity but have been up there before and it is a sight to behold. Very pretty views from the top. I will be posting more pics from the field trip later on. We had a blast :):) Thanks again Tammy for the invite :):)Monday, March 17, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
WHOO OHOOOOOOOOO
I am so excited. FINALLLY it has happend.. One of my MOST favorite stores has come to the valley of the sun!!!!!
CATO'S
South Point Plaza
2700 W. Baseline RoadTempe, AZ 85282
602-437-6082
Dresses at this location
Now Open!
I LOVEEEEEEEE shopping at this store and when we traveled ALOT the last 2 years I shopped there OFTEN. I think they are VERY reasonably priced and have GREAT selections if your on a budget.... So to you who have been asking me where my girls and I have got our AWESOME clothes from..... THIS is the place 85% of them came from... WHOO HOOO this is just my week.. hehehe.. SO T & R get ready because I feel a shopping spree comming on(with a stop at starbucks of course) YIPEEE!!!!!
CATO'S
South Point Plaza
2700 W. Baseline RoadTempe, AZ 85282
602-437-6082
Dresses at this location
Now Open!
I LOVEEEEEEEE shopping at this store and when we traveled ALOT the last 2 years I shopped there OFTEN. I think they are VERY reasonably priced and have GREAT selections if your on a budget.... So to you who have been asking me where my girls and I have got our AWESOME clothes from..... THIS is the place 85% of them came from... WHOO HOOO this is just my week.. hehehe.. SO T & R get ready because I feel a shopping spree comming on(with a stop at starbucks of course) YIPEEE!!!!!
Article about what is going on in California
I received this on the KOF group I belong to. I thought it was really good and very informative. In one way it does scare me that one day my rights as a parent to homeschool my child will be taken away(but I know it wont) because of some parent out there is USING homeschooling as a means of just being LAZY and makes the rest of us look bad. I admit I once was the parent that was against homeschooling because of watching such said parents ruin their childrnes lives..... it only took 1 run in with what public education is all about where we live and I said ENOUGH.. It is our responsability to make sure our children are educated either at home or in a school that is of our beliefe system. I hope you join me in making this a matter of prayer for all of us who could be affected by this in one way or another. I have friends who live and homeschool in California and this scares me for them. Lets hold each other up. I love belonging to a HUGE family such as the homeschool community. Sure is a nice soft place to land in this mean cold world. Doesnt matter if you have ever met face to face or not. If you share this common bond you have a friend ;)
Dear Friends,
>> As most of you probably know, there was a huge decision handed down in > California recently. My husband wrote the following article yesterday and > I hope all of you will take time to read it and then act upon it:>> CALIFORNIA CALL-TO-ACTION> (written by my husband and attorney, Jesse Paine)>> Much ink has been spilled over the last few days over the California Court > of Appeal's recent decision over homeschooling. Some of it has been hype, > some measured warning. In light of all the attention and potential broad > affects of the ruling, I decided to read it for myself and present my own > call to action.>> The Decision> On February 28, 2008, the California Court of Appeals handed down a ruling > effectively turning back the clock on home education for thousands of > parents in California. The case was part of a complex series of appeals to > the Court of Appeals from the juvenile court in Los Angeles County.>> In the underlying case, a complaint had been brought against a family of > eight, where it was alleged that the father was physically and emotionally > mistreating the eldest child. In the course of investigating this > complaint, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family > Services discovered that all eight of the family's children were being > educated at home by the mother and were not being sent to a brick and > mortar school.>> During proceedings in the juvenile court, attorneys representing the > children asked the court to order that the children not be educated at > home and instead be enrolled in a public or private school. The lower > court, however, declined to make such an order, and instead observed that > the parents had a constitutional right to homeschool the children, despite > the fact that the education they had been receiving at home was, in his > words, "lousy," "meager," and "bad." He further observed that, as a matter > of policy, children should attend brick and mortar schools because of > socialization concerns, opportunities for professional counseling, and > exposure to various forms of diversity.>> The case was appealed to the Court of Appeals based on the sole question: > Is it legal to homeschool in the State of California?>> The court determined that it was not legal to operate a home school under > the compulsory attendance laws of the state. Under California's education > milieu, a minor child must attend a public full-time day school, unless > the child is tutored by a properly credentialed teacher for the grade > being taught.>> The court reasoned that a mother teaching a child at home is not a > properly credentialed teacher under the law and that attendance at any > form of school other than a brick and mortar school was insufficient under > the statute.>> The court also noted that, although the family was a member of an > independent study program (ISP), California law only recognizes ISP's as a > tool of the public education establishment for directed learning, and not > as a vehicle for conducting home education, especially because it failed > the traditional "brick and mortar" test for a "school" under the law. As > such, the ISP was acting in conjunction with the family to skirt the > compulsory attendance law and was illegitimate.>> Additionally, the court completely disregarded the family's federal > constitutional argument that they were educating their children at home > because of a sincerely held religious belief. This in and of itself was > the most disturbing part of the case for me, due to the light treatment it > received by the court.>> The Effect> This decision is a blow to home educators across the State of California > and the rest of the country. In California, the case could in theory > expose families to truancy prosecutions punishable by fines, according to > the decision. But reality does not always follow theory.>> If the decision does stand, criminal prosecutions and civil contempt > penalties (for failure to obey court orders) will probably be relatively > few and far between. Last I checked, California had other criminal > problems more pressing than homeschool parents. Because it is a published > opinion (more on this below), this decision could have devastating effect > in those states were homeschooling is protected only by a mutual > understanding of all parties not to enforce truancy laws against > homeschoolers because of their good-faith efforts at actually educating > their children.>> While this case is a California case and may only be binding in California > state courts, it may nevertheless (as long as it remains published) be > cited by edu-crats and the education establishment as "persuasive > authority" to adopt similar standards in other states. Basically, they > would be saying, "Look, California has gone the way of the caveman, and > this why and how, and we should adopt California's reasoning and methods > and go the way of the caveman ourselves.">> The Call-to-Action> This brings us to the call to action. With all that has happened, what can > we do? What should we do?>> 1. First, and foremost, you can and should PRAY. Pray for the family > involved in this litigation. Pray for the attorneys involved (for wisdom > for the attorneys appealing to the California Supreme Court and for > confusion for the state's attorneys). Pray for the judges hearing the > case. Remember, God is still sovereign and on the throne. He holds the > heart of the judges in His hand and can change it on a moment's notice.>> Finally, pray for peace amongst the homeschooling community. I have seen a > lot of hand-wringing over this case in recent days and a real need for the > peace of God that passes all understanding. We need to keep our eyes > focused on Him and trust Him for the result. As I said before, this did > not catch God by surprise--He is in control.>> 2. If you haven't done so already, sign the petition from HSLDA. Do > something--even if it's a small thing. Go here to sign the petition:> https://www2.hslda.org/Registrations/DepublishingCaliforniaCourtDecision/>> 3. Write to your local paper or online in support of home education. One > of the striking parts of this decision is that it totally ignores any > result-based method of looking at what constitutes a quality education. I > guess in California, you can only get a quality education if you sit in a > classroom with four walls with 20 other children your own age for 6 hours > a day. Let your community see otherwise; let them see the positive > opportunities and experiences that are everywhere in home education!>> 4. Do not lose heart! Remember the brave families that faced real threats > and prosecutions in the 1980's so we can stand where we do today. To them, > decisions like this were the norm. It is because of their strength and > fortitude that we can stand today and decry this opinion as an aberration. > Be strong and of good courage. Do not give in to the education > establishment. It is your parental right and your parental duty to provide > what is best for your children. And contrary to the California Court of > Appeals, the State does NOT know best.>> 5. If you are in California, contact your state legislators and ask them > to support Assemble Concurrent Resolution 115, a resolution introduced by > Assemblyman Joel Anderson condemning the Court of Appeals decision. While > this is in no way binding nor a change in the law, it nevertheless could > be used to send a strong message of solidarity to other members of the > legislature that homeschoolers are in it for the long fight and will not > stand by to see their liberties trampled upon.>> 6. VOTE. In many jurisdictions, judges are elected by popular vote. > Educate yourself on the issues surrounding judicial elections and judicial > appointments and vote them out of office or vote to not retain them (if on > a retention basis) if they have not been faithful in upholding the rule of > law in their particular jurisdiction.>> Finally, help support the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of > their children in this country. This decision in California may only be > the tip of the iceberg if the November elections give liberal Democrats a > 2/3 majority in the U.S. Senate. I say this because of the looming United > Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by President Clinton > and never acted upon by the Senate. If approved, this treaty will be the > law of the land, on equal footing with the Constitution, and will greatly > undermine the rights of parents in training and discipling their children.>> There is a movement toward introducing a federal constitutional amendment > protecting such rights from encroachment by over-zealous state government > officers, like those in California, as well as international demigods in > the U.N. If you want more information, go to > http://www.parentalrights.org./> ------------ ---->> ***A NOTE FROM CRYSTAL***> I am thankful for my husband taking the time to read through the court > decision and wade through much legal analysis to write the above article. > The call-to-action has been given--we cannot sit idly by and let the > government slowly take away our God-given rights as parents.>> What are YOU going to do about it? Click here to join families across the > country as we stand together to protect our God-given parental rights:> http://www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/2008/03/california-call-to-action-campaign.html>>> For liberty,>> Crystal Paine, for Jesse, Kathrynne, and Kaitlynn> http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/>
Dear Friends,
>> As most of you probably know, there was a huge decision handed down in > California recently. My husband wrote the following article yesterday and > I hope all of you will take time to read it and then act upon it:>> CALIFORNIA CALL-TO-ACTION> (written by my husband and attorney, Jesse Paine)>> Much ink has been spilled over the last few days over the California Court > of Appeal's recent decision over homeschooling. Some of it has been hype, > some measured warning. In light of all the attention and potential broad > affects of the ruling, I decided to read it for myself and present my own > call to action.>> The Decision> On February 28, 2008, the California Court of Appeals handed down a ruling > effectively turning back the clock on home education for thousands of > parents in California. The case was part of a complex series of appeals to > the Court of Appeals from the juvenile court in Los Angeles County.>> In the underlying case, a complaint had been brought against a family of > eight, where it was alleged that the father was physically and emotionally > mistreating the eldest child. In the course of investigating this > complaint, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family > Services discovered that all eight of the family's children were being > educated at home by the mother and were not being sent to a brick and > mortar school.>> During proceedings in the juvenile court, attorneys representing the > children asked the court to order that the children not be educated at > home and instead be enrolled in a public or private school. The lower > court, however, declined to make such an order, and instead observed that > the parents had a constitutional right to homeschool the children, despite > the fact that the education they had been receiving at home was, in his > words, "lousy," "meager," and "bad." He further observed that, as a matter > of policy, children should attend brick and mortar schools because of > socialization concerns, opportunities for professional counseling, and > exposure to various forms of diversity.>> The case was appealed to the Court of Appeals based on the sole question: > Is it legal to homeschool in the State of California?>> The court determined that it was not legal to operate a home school under > the compulsory attendance laws of the state. Under California's education > milieu, a minor child must attend a public full-time day school, unless > the child is tutored by a properly credentialed teacher for the grade > being taught.>> The court reasoned that a mother teaching a child at home is not a > properly credentialed teacher under the law and that attendance at any > form of school other than a brick and mortar school was insufficient under > the statute.>> The court also noted that, although the family was a member of an > independent study program (ISP), California law only recognizes ISP's as a > tool of the public education establishment for directed learning, and not > as a vehicle for conducting home education, especially because it failed > the traditional "brick and mortar" test for a "school" under the law. As > such, the ISP was acting in conjunction with the family to skirt the > compulsory attendance law and was illegitimate.>> Additionally, the court completely disregarded the family's federal > constitutional argument that they were educating their children at home > because of a sincerely held religious belief. This in and of itself was > the most disturbing part of the case for me, due to the light treatment it > received by the court.>> The Effect> This decision is a blow to home educators across the State of California > and the rest of the country. In California, the case could in theory > expose families to truancy prosecutions punishable by fines, according to > the decision. But reality does not always follow theory.>> If the decision does stand, criminal prosecutions and civil contempt > penalties (for failure to obey court orders) will probably be relatively > few and far between. Last I checked, California had other criminal > problems more pressing than homeschool parents. Because it is a published > opinion (more on this below), this decision could have devastating effect > in those states were homeschooling is protected only by a mutual > understanding of all parties not to enforce truancy laws against > homeschoolers because of their good-faith efforts at actually educating > their children.>> While this case is a California case and may only be binding in California > state courts, it may nevertheless (as long as it remains published) be > cited by edu-crats and the education establishment as "persuasive > authority" to adopt similar standards in other states. Basically, they > would be saying, "Look, California has gone the way of the caveman, and > this why and how, and we should adopt California's reasoning and methods > and go the way of the caveman ourselves.">> The Call-to-Action> This brings us to the call to action. With all that has happened, what can > we do? What should we do?>> 1. First, and foremost, you can and should PRAY. Pray for the family > involved in this litigation. Pray for the attorneys involved (for wisdom > for the attorneys appealing to the California Supreme Court and for > confusion for the state's attorneys). Pray for the judges hearing the > case. Remember, God is still sovereign and on the throne. He holds the > heart of the judges in His hand and can change it on a moment's notice.>> Finally, pray for peace amongst the homeschooling community. I have seen a > lot of hand-wringing over this case in recent days and a real need for the > peace of God that passes all understanding. We need to keep our eyes > focused on Him and trust Him for the result. As I said before, this did > not catch God by surprise--He is in control.>> 2. If you haven't done so already, sign the petition from HSLDA. Do > something--even if it's a small thing. Go here to sign the petition:> https://www2.hslda.org/Registrations/DepublishingCaliforniaCourtDecision/>> 3. Write to your local paper or online in support of home education. One > of the striking parts of this decision is that it totally ignores any > result-based method of looking at what constitutes a quality education. I > guess in California, you can only get a quality education if you sit in a > classroom with four walls with 20 other children your own age for 6 hours > a day. Let your community see otherwise; let them see the positive > opportunities and experiences that are everywhere in home education!>> 4. Do not lose heart! Remember the brave families that faced real threats > and prosecutions in the 1980's so we can stand where we do today. To them, > decisions like this were the norm. It is because of their strength and > fortitude that we can stand today and decry this opinion as an aberration. > Be strong and of good courage. Do not give in to the education > establishment. It is your parental right and your parental duty to provide > what is best for your children. And contrary to the California Court of > Appeals, the State does NOT know best.>> 5. If you are in California, contact your state legislators and ask them > to support Assemble Concurrent Resolution 115, a resolution introduced by > Assemblyman Joel Anderson condemning the Court of Appeals decision. While > this is in no way binding nor a change in the law, it nevertheless could > be used to send a strong message of solidarity to other members of the > legislature that homeschoolers are in it for the long fight and will not > stand by to see their liberties trampled upon.>> 6. VOTE. In many jurisdictions, judges are elected by popular vote. > Educate yourself on the issues surrounding judicial elections and judicial > appointments and vote them out of office or vote to not retain them (if on > a retention basis) if they have not been faithful in upholding the rule of > law in their particular jurisdiction.>> Finally, help support the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of > their children in this country. This decision in California may only be > the tip of the iceberg if the November elections give liberal Democrats a > 2/3 majority in the U.S. Senate. I say this because of the looming United > Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by President Clinton > and never acted upon by the Senate. If approved, this treaty will be the > law of the land, on equal footing with the Constitution, and will greatly > undermine the rights of parents in training and discipling their children.>> There is a movement toward introducing a federal constitutional amendment > protecting such rights from encroachment by over-zealous state government > officers, like those in California, as well as international demigods in > the U.N. If you want more information, go to > http://www.parentalrights.org./> ------------ ---->> ***A NOTE FROM CRYSTAL***> I am thankful for my husband taking the time to read through the court > decision and wade through much legal analysis to write the above article. > The call-to-action has been given--we cannot sit idly by and let the > government slowly take away our God-given rights as parents.>> What are YOU going to do about it? Click here to join families across the > country as we stand together to protect our God-given parental rights:> http://www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/2008/03/california-call-to-action-campaign.html>>> For liberty,>> Crystal Paine, for Jesse, Kathrynne, and Kaitlynn> http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/>
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
YIPEEEEE FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS!!
I am so excited.. I got all my goodies today.. whoo hooo.. lol feel like a kid in a candy shop:):) I signed up to be a consultant under TW for Creative memories( web info soon comming) man it came with a BOAT LOAD Of stuff. I am totally loving it.. and as shocking as this may sound( me being the uber puter geek I am) I have not even touched the Digi stuff. I am all about the new paper and books and toys and bags and totes and and and* shew deep breaths* rofl.. I so wanted to go PLAY at my friends house tonight with my new stuff but couldnt get there :( hope we can do it friday night.. YAAAAAAAAAAAA.. So I am already planning my first get together and have 2 possible *leads* and want 4 more before the end of the month.. SO ALL YOU SCRAP FREAKS out there I can give u da hooook upppppp... rofl ..
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER!!
Well tech yesterday(10th) was michelle's birthday.. but we are going to celebrate with her tonight( her kids and hubby are throwing her a party) because she worked on her birthday :( wus up with that? anyway so yes sister dear you are one year older.. ACKKKK that means I am going to be one more year older this year to eh???? hehehe.. Well I hope you have a good day off today and I know we will have TONS of fun tonight partying it up.. yea yea.. Just want ya to know I love ya and am glad you are my sister and friend :)
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