STATE TOURNAMENT pics

by Robin

I'm not sure I've fully recovered enough to write the stories that go along with these photos. We had an amazing time. It was so much fun. My only complaints were that I would have magically ordered up cushioned lazy-boys for everyone who had to sit in those stands for hours. And I thought everyone deserved a 4 ft high trophy for their enormous hard work at this level of competition. Our kids hearts were on the line. I didn't see any tears but I know how much I wanted to cry when we were bumped to 4th place in performance. There's no trophy for "close". But........ I digress.

The kids are my heroes and they worked their tails off to be in the call-backs for the top 8 teams of performance & technical categories. There are over 300 teams in the state of Florida this 2008-2009 year. Our kids made me so proud I could cry as I type this. They have grown so much individually and as a team.

And not only do I think the world of our coaches, but I hope to continue calling them friends for many years to come. God has given Simon Peter two awesome mentors and gentle teachers through this experience.

Anyhow, enough of my parental gushing......... here are the pics.

FL Institute of Technology - gymnasium. Two competition stations, 4 tables, 2 jumbo screens which were very helpful. This is it empty. Now close your eyes and imagine it packed with body odor. LOL.


"The Pit" area where the teams kept their displays and robot equipment.


Our display and candy machine game which was a big hit. Always had a line!


Last minute competition. Everybody got a polar bear and had to decorate it. Ours was Steven Spielbear, in the back, director of Extra-Bearrestial and Paws.


This photo came from the local newspaper. Simon Peter is on the left. Our coaches' son in the other position. Me and another mom in the background screaming with bricks on our heads. These two did the first run and the run-off with the top 8 teams.


Other teams, also from the newspaper gallery.


There were a couple mascots. This was a panther but the gopher got "most spirited". Our team had a Lego man.


Here is a close-up of another team's robot.


Here is our team with their 2nd run.


Here's our mascot, more members and one of our coaches.


Here is my favorite Thunderbrick. Goodness, he looks old here to me. When did that happen?


I have many, many more pictures but these are the ones I have ready to go and it seems to be a decent selection of our day.

Hope you enjoyed the pics.

AGE

by Robin

The 40's are the old age of young years.

The 50's are the youth of the older years.

Pictures & stories forthcoming over the week/end. Lots to update you on!!

STATE TOURNAMENT

by Robin


...... is tomorrow.

Their hats are red lego bricks.


We'll load up the car and take the entire family down to Melbourne for the Florida State Lego League (Robotics) Tournament. Simon Peter and four other boys make up the team Thunderbricks. They happen to be one of the top teams that will be competing tomorrow.



I can't wait to report back here and let you all know how they did. We're going to bring all our noise-makers and the kids made Lego brick hats & costumes to show team spirit. I'll wear my blue sweater (team color).

I have something else to be very excited about. My parents are coming in the evening and will be staying the week with us. Posting will be sporatic but I'll do my best to show off our seafood dinners over on Robin's Reports. My Mom and I both love to watch Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis' cooking shows. We're going to have fun cooking. I'm sure Jack will be fighting for his position at the stove too and Dad at the grill. He makes a fabulous steak that melts in your mouth like cotton candy.

Now.... if we only had somebody who loved to do dishes coming join us............


Have a blessed Sunday

Likeable Quote

John Holtzmann quoting somebody else:

Today, I'd like to address a second objection my friend raised: that the study of evolution/creation is not and cannot be science--"after all, you can't engage in replicable experiments; you can't follow the scientific method. ....Creation (or evolution) was a singular event, therefore, by definition, unreproducible."

Indeed, "If we're going to let science impinge on our Scriptural understanding of creation, then, logically, we have to permit it to adjust our understanding of the Virgin Birth as well, aren't we? It's a short step from having 'science' redefine our view of creation to having 'science' throw out all the miracles of the Bible."

John is the founder of Sonlight Curriculum and blogs at John's Corner of the World. John, that is quite some post(s) you've been writing this week.

Acts 2: 37-47

by Robin

When I went to do my Bible Study, I played around with different Bible versions and The MESSAGE stood out so much to me. It applies to many around me who are hurting, suffering and are looking for answers. Verse 40 took me aback. Wow.

All I can say is Wow.

It is so much more powerful when put in our vernacular.

37 Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"

38-39 Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."

40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"

41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.

46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

GARDEN REPORT - seedlings

by Robin

I had this ready to go for Sat but instead of being inside, I decided to spent approx 7 hrs outside doing yard work. A lot of frost-affected plants needed trimming & dead leaves removed. I also worked on my currently 50% dead butterfly garden and hopefully we'll have lots of bees & butterflies attracted to help pollinate my cucumbers this year. My 3rd (hot pepper) garden had gone totally neglected and now it has seeds planted. I'll bring you pics of that next month as stuff pops up. Today is mostly pictures of Gardens 1 & 2. Enjoy!




Close-up














Moving left to center garden....

Non-poisonous black racer - garden resident.






Okra bloom


Moving to right side of Garden 1





Many of these tomato seedlings already have their 2nd leaves out but these pics are almost a week old already.









Some lettuce was harvested as some was beginning to bolt upon further examinatin. It will eventually be replaced with some cucumbers to experiment with better water, soil, light and pollination.

Garden #2 - literally a hundred peppers



Close-up of peppers, recovering from the hard-freeze.


Garden 2 and a half (little wall space)



Wait until you see the changes over the months of this butterfly garden. It is now bordered with white stone, dead things removed and 2 seed packets of zinnias put it for summer cuttings. (Thank you Aunt Chrissy for our seeds.)



Oh, I also put some zinnias in the big garden to attract bees over to that area.

Garden #3 still has some hot peppers, a couple okra plants (to experiment w/ sun & soil), San Marzano tomatoes (canning & paste), small row of cucumbers, small row of bush beans to use the last of the seeds.

My 2 main goals this year (year 2 for me) was to improve watering through the drought season ('til Apr) and make better use of space in order to increase harvest production. I would like to gift a few families through the year with food when they are out of jobs. I also have a resolution to fertilize every 2 weeks, if I can remember.

Have a blessed day!

TAXES - MATTHEW 22: 17-22

by Robin

Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.


I got my taxes filed!!! (Thank you Turbo Tax.) Not only did I give to Caesar (Uncle Sam) what was due to him and got a refund for being overtaxed to death. AND, when you give to God what is God's --afterall, money is a gift from Him-- He takes care of you. It really boosts your charitable contributions up enough to give you a bigger refund from Caesar. It is a win-win situation in my opinion. Plus, I would rather give it for God's glory than for the government's wasteful spending. (Don't even get me started on the stimulus package!)

Have a blessed day everyone!

LEGO PARABLES

by Robin

Ok, these are too funny. Great for children to see & understand the Bible in a modern way.

Parable of Talents (1 min 44 sec)



Parable of the Good Samaritan (1 min 40 sec - You'll love Jesus)



David & Goliath (5 min)

AIM LOWER, THINK SMALLER

by Robin

The boys wanted me to share this with you all today. They also have another cute one ready for tomorrow, involving Legos.

Btw, my song went off well on Sunday morning. Yeah!! Sun afternoon, we fixed the car. Monday - fished off the beach. Tues - school & Simon Peter's first orthodontist consultation. Yikes, braces are in our near future.




Have a blessed day! My boys are memorizing AWANAS scripture at an alarming rate! Watch out world.

A NEW START(ER)

by Robin








Me holding the light or something minimal. I don't do much.



The new starter is in the top right quadrant. Jack's hand.

Psalm 100:2

Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.


Tomorrow is my big day of singing my little solo (turning into 3-part harmony chord change) up at church. It's been over 18 mo since I did this. I'm a wee bit nervous. I'm glad I'm really singing for an audience of one. It may help ease the nerves.

Have a blessed Sunday.
Robin