A Thirsty Crow

*Jael was given a reading assignment to write from the Crow's point of view, in a popular children's folk tale about a crow who was thirsty and dropped rocks into a pitcher to get the water to rise so she could drink. Here is her perspective on the crow.

A Thirsty Crow

by Jael Abdelaziz

I am so thirsty! I have had no water to drink for a long time. If I do not find some water soon, I shall die.

There is a pitcher, perhaps I can get some water. I will now fly to the pitcher sitting on the windowsill. From here it looks very full. Good-bye, perfect birdy friends.

I am now at the windowsill and I am thirstier than ever. The water is low. I can’t reach the water!

I will try to break it open with great force. My beak is very strong. Bang, bang, bang. O no, the woman inside is coming with a broom. Swish, swish, shoo. Flap, flap, flap. Whoo, that was close.

Now, I will try to tip it over. I hope this is easier. Ugh, ugh, ugh! I must tip it over. O dear, hear comes the boy with his strong toy airplane. Flap, flap, flap! Clang! The window broke.

I have one more chance. I have gathered many rocks. Drop 1, drop 2, drop 3.….so many rocks….drop 4, drop 5, drop 6. I must stop counting.

The water us up! Gulp, gulp, gulp. Refreshing! Bye-bye, woman and boy, bye-bye.

                                                                                                             ~December 2011
 
 

Angels We Have Heard On High

EARLY Sunday morning performance

Getting ready

8:30 Service

Waiting for the 10:30 service

Radiant Dancer

Fresh Blackberry Muffins

Fresh Blueberry Muffins

1 1/2 cups of fresh blueberries
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspooon salt
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk

1. Preheat over to 375F. Spray the muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Put the blue berries into a colander and rinse them off.
3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a small bowl, combine the oil, beaten eggs, and milk.
5. Add the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until they are just blended. Do not overmix.
6. Fold the blue betties into the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan so each cup is about 2/3 full.
8. Bake 18-20 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned and cooked throughout.
9. You can serve the muffins fresh from the oven.  After they have cooled, cover them with waxed paper to keep them fresh.


Jael made breakfast this morning; she got a cookbook for her birthday.  She has been so anxious to go through the whole thing and make everything. Her brothers were willing to wait the extra hour while she cooked. Yeah, we gotta work a bit on speed and clean-up. BUT since Jael is not even the cleanest eater, I am sure it will take some time.  She learned one of the the first rules of cooking....substitution. Mommy didn't have blueberries, but she had blackberries.  I pretty much left her on her own in the kitchen, because I tend to want things perfect. I interfere too much, and I want her to realize she can do it on her own.  The ONLY thing I measured was the oil.  So, this was ALL her!!  AND she is prepared for the reviews......

P.S. I appreciate the comments on my last blog post. As soon as I get some more time I will be answering all of the questions. I REALLY am glad for the ideas.

Dear Tooth Fairy

How Deep Are Your Pockets?

This was the letter Jael left for the tooth fairy. Josh thinks she learned how to be so grateful from me; I guess I will take that as a compliment. Part of the reason for the extra kindness was because the last tooth she put under her pillow did not have a letter, because I wouldn't let her leave a letter to the tooth fairy that sounded demanding. Needless to say she only got a dollar. The big problem is that the tooth fairy left dollar coins, which are getting a bit harder to acquire.

Well, the letter worked......she got her three dollar coins. She is saving her money for a Princess alarm clock, so that she can learn how to sleep in. Yes, sleep in!! She has 12 dollars saved, and the alarm clock costs about $35.00. She has a ways to go, but she is doing a good job saving her allowance every week. AND even though it cost the tooth fairy $3.00 for that tooth....it's nicer that she got it because Mommy and Daddy were going to have to pay the dentist $5.00.

Hey, maybe Ezekiel should have gotten the extra $2.00??? He is the reason the tooth is finally out........

The Psychology of Fashion

Attachments to clothing is something I deal with constantly, not because I have an issue with it......but because my 6 year old daughter deals with it. Do they ever tell you in the parenting books the torture you feel you are inflicting on your child when you get rid of their favorite clothes? The bigger problem is, that with Jael, it's not just ONE article of clothing it's almost ALL of her clothing.

I finally had to go through her clothes a few days ago, because she is growing like a weed. Josh suggested we put her in a box, not because she wouldn't grow there.....but no one would see her jeans creeping to the top of her knees.

It seems like overnight she was outgrowing clothes. Most of the time, because of attachment disorders, I would just slip the outgrown clothes in our Goodwill bag. The problem this time was the amount of clothing that she has outgrown. We actually took some intervals during the cleanout session, JUST to make sure we were not going to burst into tears.

Our project left her with very few clothes that fit. In fact, I actually had to leave some in there, just to make sure she had some clothing to wear.

Yesterday I went to buy some clothes for her, and we have already started the attachment phase. She has REASONS for liking ever shirt she owns. The one she is wearing today reminds her of Papa, because it has a butterfly on it. Yesterdays shirt reminded her of Titi, because it's pink?? I have no idea where this comes from, because when it came to getting rid of shoes.......she was perfectly fine with those??

The torture is over............for NOW!! Until the next growth spurt, and I feel like a horrible mother for getting rid of the shirt that always makes her think of Papa.

Lentil Stew

Jael made lunch today. The boys were so cute, complimenting her at every chance they got. They want her to make it again tomorrow!! Now, if I made Lentil Stew they would have taken an hour or MORE to eat it. But..........sister made it!

We were learning about Jacob and Esau, and Esau sold his birthright for this type of stew. It was a great object lesson, and it was cute to see the boys reactions.

Awanas Grand Prix

I asked Jael if she thought she would win! "Of course, Mom!" Now, who's daughter is she? How am I supposed to teach her how to be a good sport when she never loses? I guess a lesson for another day!! AND maybe a lesson she will learn by having a heart after God.

Josh and Jael both did a great job on making a great car, a fast one. There were 100 clubbers in the race, but Jael only had to race against 40 of them.

We expected to be there for about 3o minutes, just enough to participate! We were there for 2 1/2 hours!!!! Jael raced over 10 times; her car had no malfunctions. The design was her idea, and the wood work was done by Josh.

It was, of course, a family affair. Everyone wanted a piece of the action. The car had to weigh no more than 5 oz. I got my kitchen scale out, so that we could get as much weight as possible. Maybe I get points for my contribution.

We were very proud of her accomplishment. Jael also managed to win a raffle prize: a huge bar of Hershey's chocolate and a special-edition Coca-Cola. (which Daddy drank)

And when I say that our church makes a fun time of their events, I mean it. They had a concession stand and everything. Brownies were only 25 cents! The boys got some little yogurt bites. Jael was way too excited; she had a small taste of her chocolate, that was it for her.

As time went on things got a little anxious for all of us. Josh and I were very excited at how well she was doing. As she progressed to the semi-finals and then to the finals, we text messaged all of the family. Jael's police car ranked in 2nd and 3rd place for every race. The last and final race was the most exciting, because she came in 6th place!!! Her car crashed, but they had a "do-over!!!!!" The digital finish line did not get the readings. We knew on the next race, that she had to get in second place or she may not win. The didn't give the results, but we could see it was close!!! The intensity!!

THE FINAL RACE!!

LOOK HOW CLOSE!!!

If only you could have seen the joy and excitement on her face, when they gave her a ribbon for participation. She got her ribbon and proceeded to retrieve her car. She knew, as we all did, that if she couldn't find her car on the table............THEN SHE WAS A WINNER!!! She was extremely excited at not finding her car. You would have laughed if you could have seen those long legs jump up, and almost trip her!!! She WON!!!!! Jael was the 2nd place winner!! She got her first trophy, and she has been waiting anxiously for me to write and tell you ALL about it.

Definitely a fun day!!

What is Abortion?

Today I asked Jael if she knew what abortion was; she said, “No!”

So, I decided to tell her, but I didn’t go into any detail or try to sway her opinion.

This was our conversation:

“Abortion is when a mommy goes into the doctor to tell him she doesn’t want the baby in her tummy any more.”

You should have HEARD the air sucked out of my car.

I never told her what I believed. She immediately said that "God would be so sad at that"; Abishai said that "God would cry."

Now, keep in mind they are 6 and 4, I didn’t tell them anything about death or what happens to those innocent lives. They just KNEW within themselves that to say--you didn’t want a baby in your tummy, MUST make God VERY sad.

At this point I really just agreed with them, but I still added nothing; Jael talked about how adoption would make God happy. That he doesn’t want babies to die!!!!

Now, WHERE DID SHE GET DEATH?????

The INNOCENCE of a child is SO TELLING.

As a child of God when we feel something is wrong, there is a tug in our spirits. Will we listen?

Guest Blogger~Jael

Fall Tree

Fall trees hav culorful leevs. But it allso has no leevs.

I like fall bicus the leevs are culorful and prity.

But school is the best part uv all .

This is the end.