Swimming Fun

We've tried to have a swimming day with our little Tapley buddies one day a week this summer....some weeks were successful and some weeks life, illnesses, travel, etc. got in the way.  This was our last Monday before they start back to school since we will be away the next 2 weeks.  We celebrated our last day with pizza & ice cream sundaes.

Go Ragen~  jumping with no floaties!

Sara & Ragen in action!

I guess Sara got too tired to swim & Will is helping

sweet little friends

Thanks to Angel for Pizza!  It was yummy!

Lauren is perfectly happy playing with all the squirty toys & play kitchen stuff in the pool...till we haul her in!

Angel & Amy didn't swim this day ~ Amy took all the pictures ~ Angel fetched the pizza.  Will and I swam and played.  And their big brother Alston decided to go fishing with his dad instead of swim day with us ~ oh, I am trying to get over the disappointment.  haha

I hope they have an awesome school year filled with learning, adventures, new friends, and fun!

I love you ~ Alston, Sara, Ragen & Lauren!

Down Sizing

There is a new show on TV called "Tiny House Nation" ~ we've watched a couple of episodes.

While I can really understand downsizing, I do not understand this "movement".  These folks are going from  1500 - 3000 square foot houses to 175 - 350 square foot houses.  These spaces are tiny. 

One thing the host of the show has the families do is go through their belongings and toss what they no longer want or need ~ sounds easy.  The catch is, the stuff they get to keep has to all fit in a plastic tote.  At least each person gets their own tote!  But good grief ~ that's just clothes & shoes.  What about books? craft items? the kitchenaid mixer? picture albums/scrapbooks? school supplies? tools? computer equipment? pets? canning supplies? furniture? childrens toys?

While I fully realize we all have lots of stuff, and in many cases too much stuff (I am guilty) ~ this just seems really extreme to me.  I could whittle out a bunch of stuff ~ and do for the church mission garage sale every year ~ I don't want to get rid of everything.  There should be a happy medium somewhere ~ McMansion to closet is crazy.

But then, there wouldn't be a new tv show.

Propecy Fulfilled part 3 & Bible History

Prophecy                                    Fulfilled                             Subject 

Psalm 35:19                               Mark 14:57-58                   hated without reason
Isaiah 53:5                                 Romans 5:6-8                    vicarious strife
Isaiah 52:12                               Mark 15:27-28                  crucified with sinners
Zechariah 12:10                         John 20:27                        pierced hands and feet
Psalm 22:7-8                             Luke 23:35                        sneered and mocked
Psalm 69:9                                Romans 15:3                     was reproached
Psalm 109:4                               Luke 23:34                       prayer for His enemies
Psalm 22:17-18                         Matthew 27:35-36            gambled for His clothing
Psalm 22:1                                Matthew 27:46                  forsaken by God
Psalm 34:20                              John 19:32-33;36              no bones broken
Zechariah 12:10                        John 19:34                         His side pierced
Isaiah 53:9                                 Matthew 27:57-60            buried with the rich
Psalm 16:10, 49:15                   Mark 16:6-7                       to be resurrected
Psalm 68:18                              Mark 16:19                         ascends to God's right hand
                                                  1 Corinthians 15:4
                                                  Ephesians 4:8

Over and over it was prophesied of the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The New Testment verses are validation of those Old Testament Prophecies.  There are also many historical texts that give witness to the validity & truth of the Bible.  Ancient authors write about these events in the context of 'history' as opposed to religion.

*The Bible was one of the first major books ever translated from Hebrew to Greek ~ around 250 BC.
*It has now been translated into more than 2.200 languages
*The Old Testament has 39 books written approximately 1500-400 BC.
*The New Testament has 27 books written 45-100 AD.
*About 40% of the Bible is prophecy.
*Approximately 300 of the prophecies were fulfilled through the person of Jesus Christ.

The Bible was written by more than 40 authors from every walk of life ~ kings, military leaders, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, tent makers, poets, musicians, statesmen, scholars, and shepherds.

The Bible was written in different places ~ wilderness, dungeon, hillside, inside prison walls, while traveling, exiled on an island & on 3 continents ~ Asia, Africa & Europe.

The Bible was written in 3 languages ~ Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

The Bible never contradicts itself but in fact over the 1500 years it was written ~ it validates itself through the different writers, most of which never knew each other.

The Bible is Gods words of instruction, encouragement, discipleship, correction, love, prophecy, admonishment, guide for daily living, and so much more. 

If you would like a copy of the Bible & a CD about salvation ~ please leave me a note in the comments section with your name and address and I will be glad to mail these to you.

Old Testament Prophecy part 2

Here is the 2nd installment to the OT prophecies and the NT fulfillment ~

Prophecy                       Fulfilled                                    Subject

Malachi 3:1                Luke 7:24-27                              preceded by a forerunner
Malachi 4:5-6             Matthew 11:13-14                      preceded by Elijah
Psalm 2:7                    Matthew 3:17                             declared the Son of God
Isaiah 9:1-2                Matthew 4:13-16                        Galilean ministry
Psalm 78:2-4              Matthew 13:34-35                      speaks in parables
Deuteronomy 18:15   Acts 3:20-22                               a prophet
Isaiah 61:1-2              Luke 4:18-19                              binds up brokenhearted
Isaiah 53:3                 John 1:11, Luke 28:18                rejected by other Jews
Psalm 110:4               Hebrews 5:5-6                            Priest like Melchizedek
Zechariah 9:9             Mark 11:7-11                              triumphal entry
Psalm 8:2                   Matthew 21:15                            adored by infants
Isaiah 53:1                 John 12:37-38                             not believed
Psalm 41:19               Luke 22:47-48                            betrayed by close friend
Zechariah 11:12         Matthew 26:14-15                      betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Psalm 35:11               Mark 14:57-58                           accused by false witnesses
Isaiah 53:7                 Mark 15:4-5                               silent to accusers
Isaiah 50:6                 Matthew 26:57                           spat on and struck

Old Testament Prophecy part 1

Our Sunday School class is doing a study of the Bible ~ as in, how it came into being ~ what went into the making of our Bible ~ why some ancient manuscripts were part of the scripture & some were not.

Sunday we did a study on Old Testament Prophecy that was fulfilled in the New Testament.  The OT prophets did not see the fulfillment of the prophecy they shared with the people from the Lord.  Most of the time, they relayed the message the Lord spoke to them & didn't know what the meaning of the prophecy was.

Here is the beginning part of the study ~ I am going to break it up over several days!

Prophecy                                    Fulfilled                              Subject
Genesis 3:15                              Galatians 4:4                       seed of a woman
Genesis 12:3                               Matthew 1:1                       descendant of Abraham
Genesis 17:19                             Luke 3:34                           descendant of Isaac
Numbers 24:17                           Matthew 1:2                       descendant of Jacob
Genesis 49:10                             Luke 3:33                           from the tribe of Judah
Isaiah 9:7                                    Luke 1:32-33                      heir to David's throne
Psalms 45:6-7, 102:25-27          Hebrews 1:8-12                  anointed and eternal
Micah 5:2                                   Luke 2:4-7                          born in Behtlehem
Daniel 9:25                                Luke 2:1-2                          time of His birth
Isaiah 7:14                                 Luke 1:27-31                      Virgin Birth
Jeremiah 31:15                          Matthew 2:16-18                Children slaughtered
Hosea 11:1                                Matthew 2:14-15                 Flight to Egypt
Isaiah 40:3-5                              Luke 3:3-6                          the Way prepared

I am thankful for Truth that comes from the scriptures and for the OT & NT comparisons that show the Lords perfect plan for His Son from the beginning of time.

Busy Days

Life is taking a turn for the busy ~

Last week while Amy was at Street Reach ~ Greg and I went to the coast overnight and enjoyed spending time together.  We ate some yummy seafood for lunch and dinner, swam in the hotel pool, and toured Beauvoir (Beautiful View) which was Jefferson Davis' home.  For those that may be wondering who in the world is Jefferson Davis ~ he was the President of the Confederacy in the War of Northern Aggression! 

Work at the shop continues ~ we are still sorting molds and I swear they multiply overnight.  With the temps being in the 90's most days ~ working in a warehouse is a hot,sweaty, messy deal.  Some days we work from 10-1 or 2 and then take a 2 hour break...at the shop to eat lunch and work on our ceramics projects.  Then we go back to work till 6 or so.  Greg is coming in the afternoons after work to lift heavy stuff and pour molds.

I learned how to pour the molds a couple of weeks ago and how to clean them up after drying for 24 hours.  It is messy & fun.  I love this part of the job!  But, there will be things I can't lift and neither can the shop owner, and that's where Gregs part time job comes in.  He loves this creative part too and is counting this as his workout everyday ~ or most days.  Amy learned how to pour this week and really likes it too! 

I am so ready for the molds to be completely sorted.  Through the sorting process we have found some treasures that go straight to the pouring table, because we want them.  The owner has sets of items ordered ~ nativity sets & canister sets ~ so we are pouring those as we find them.  Its exciting to get whole sets put together but its a long process.  The stack of molds is slowly diminishing but I am really ready for the mold Fairy to come a couple of nights and get 'er done.  She could also type and update the mold inventory.  Thus far, she hasn't shown up but I can still hope!

Its odd to be working away from home after all these years ~ but nice to make some money.  The first 3 or 4 weeks, I worked for store credit ~ so all my projects are "free".  Plus all my supplies.  Then I switched to earning a check...Money plus the previous store credit is a good thing!

Proud to Be An American!

Girlie Gifts for Shoeboxes

Its fun to find small girlie items for your shoeboxes ~ a good thing to think about is "what does your daughter like".  Amy has always liked girlie, glittery, shiny items.  Bright colors and lots of pink!

Our girl boxes have ~

*a lovey of some sort ~ little doll or stuffed animal ~ look after holidays at the sales
*hair scrunchies, barrettes, hair bands, etc.
*a small purse or tote bag ~ frequently we make the placemat purses for the boxes, easy and they fold flat
*craft kits ~ beads & plastic lacing, cross stitch kit (found these at Michaels last year for .25 on clearance), crochet hook and yarn, stickers & art pads
*Jewelry ~ small necklaces or bracelets.  We've found cheap, cute stuff on the clearance tables at Claires.  Or make your own with beads & supplies from a craft store.  Or package it up so they can make their own.
*a top & skirt or pillowcase dress ~ this should be easy & "free" for people with fabric stashes/collections/etc
*plus the stuff that goes in every box ~ school supplies, personal hygiene, candy, etc.

*Last year we did sewing boxes for the older girls ~ include needles, thread, scissors (allowed in the 10-14 age group boxes), buttons, a zipper or two, elastic, and fabric (either yardage or fat quarters).  This type box can be pricier than others, but if you look all year you can find fantastic bargains at 1/2 off sales or clearance bins. 

*I saw an idea on Pinterest last week for baking, cooking kits for older girls ~ 6 cup muffin tin, wooden spoons, plastic small bowl, measuring cup, measuring spoons, kitchen towel, potholder, etc ~ ALL of this can be found at Dollar Tree or the dollar bins at Walmart & Target.

It is so much fun to buy the stuff for the little ones 2-4 & 5-9.  But its boxes for the older girls & boys that they run short of every year.  I guess they aren't as much "fun" but they are needed & appreciated.  Our sewing boxes were lots of fun to pack and arrange & we will do them again this year!

sample box ~ picture from pinterest

could be made for any age ~ boy or girl

awesome idea!