Thursday, October 31, 2019

I'm Watching You!!

   

      "I think we're being watched or am I just being paranoid?" I uttered to my brother suspiciously. Have you had an experience where you felt that there is a creepy looking eye following you? How did you feel? Scared probably, right?
      In our bedroom, back in our home, I have this portrait of Super Mario Bros. with Donkey Kong in it hanged beside my bed. This portrait would somehow give me and my brother some eerie feelings every time we would look at it. In some occasions that I am inside my room, it seems that Donkey Kong was staring at me all along. It looked like his eyes were moving every time I move. Donkey Kong's eyes were like talking and telling me "I'm watching you!!!"
       This spooky story of mine is not a prelude to a Halloween story, rather is a reminder for me that somebody is really watching over me. Donkey Kong's eyes were like an example of how God's eyes work. He always watches over us, but not in a creepy way. He watches us because He wants to make sure that we are safe, and out of trouble. He assures us that He is just there hanging out with us. Today, I am no longer afraid of the Donkey Kong portrait in my room because He reminds me that God is watching me always. “God’s watching you!!!”


Prayer
Lord,
      Thank you for protecting me every time I felt unsafe. Thank you for assuring me that you will be always with me and that you are always watching over me. Thank you Lord for being a protective and loving father. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.


"The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121:8 

-by Tim-

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Idiom of the Day: The Bird Has Flown

Meaning:
      The expression "the bird has flown" means if someone goes to a place to find or catch a person and finds out that the person that he/she is looking for has escaped or left the place. 


Example:
      When the soldiers came into the building, they realized that the bird has flown.










Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Reader's Corner: An Adventure Story that will Definitely Whip Your Mind



         Want a thrill of adventure? This Newbery medal-winning children's book "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman will actually give you plenty of it! The story revolves around an obnoxious, ill-mannered, and self-entitled prince named Prince Brat who is very fond of doing pranks to all the people around him. Until one day, he made a major prank which got him into deep water that led him to run away with a boy named Jemmy. The duo both go into a breathtaking adventure!
      I find the story amazing! The thrilling adventures of a bratty prince and an intellectual boy certainly took my breath away! The main characters are totally opposite personalities. Jemmy, whom I find very clever, was my favorite character. While Prince Brat was a pain to everyone he meets, especially Jemmy. Prince Brat’s pranks were the reason that Jemmy and him were in this adventure! But just like any other stories, there are also villains in it. The villains who will make their lives more challenging.
           I highly recommend this story for children ages 8 to 11 year olds. The book will not make kids bored to tears because of its short pages and, detailed account of the adventures that Prince Brat and Jemmy get into, as well as the troublesome antics that the boys also cause. This story will astonish you and your friends! Have fun reading!



by Sid Fleischman

Monday, October 28, 2019

Harry and Fuzzy

      When I was young, I've always wanted to take care of a pet. I kept asking my father and mother if I can have one. After many times of asking them, my father bought me and my brother two rabbits. We named them Harry and Fuzzy. Aren't they cute in the picture? Harry is a mix of Flemish Giant and New Zealand breed rabbit. He has brown and white fur with black, round eyes and a chubby-built body. While, Fuzzy is a New Zealand rabbit. She has purely white fur with red, round eyes and a slender body. We liked playing and spending time with the rabbits. But we didn't know, aside from playing with them, that we were supposed to take care of the rabbits like feeding them two times a day, giving them water, washing their cage, and cleaning out their poop every day. It is really a hard work for me and my brother. We realized that we were not yet ready to have pets, even though it looks fun to have them around. 
      This experience of mine taught me that I have to be responsible with the things I receive, like pets that my dad gave me. To be responsible is to know how to take care of every thing properly. Just like the gifts we receive from God like our life or our talents, we also have to be responsible in it. It pleases God when we treat His gifts with value. So next time, if we want a pet or something else from our parents, we need to be sure we are responsible enough to take care of it.

Prayer
Lord
      Thank you for giving me these wonderful gifts, like my body and your Word. Help me use these gifts wisely and use them to let other people know You and Your son, Jesus. Help me Lord to become a responsible owner of everything that you will entrust me, in Jesus name, I pray, Amen.



"Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow."

James 1:17

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Proverbs to Pronder : History Repeats Itself

Meaning:
     The proverb "history repeats itself" means that an event might happen over and over again.


Example:
     Whenever I go mountain-biking, I feel that history repeats itself when I fall from the bike.


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Thursday, October 24, 2019

Strengths of Each Kind

     I have a twin brother, his name is Tim. Most people who will see us for the first time will often say we look exactly the same. Indeed, we both look and think the same most of the time, but we are still different in a lot of ways. 
     There's this time while we are eating our dinner, I was trying to tell a joke to the whole family, and unfortunately, they did not understand what the joke was all about. Making or telling jokes were not my cup of tea. It would be more of my brother’s forte. At least, I was trying on my part to learn the art of telling jokes.
      This story of mine shows us that we are all unique, even for those who are born twins like us. Don't feel bad if a friend or even a sibling of yours is good at something that you aren't good at. God has wonderfully made us to be unique from each other. He has gifted us with different strengths and abilities. Being created uniquely by God would help us to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In our weaknesses, we learn to seek God’s help to strengthen us.
     When we pray, let’s thank God for our strengths and all the abilities he gave us. And as for our weaknesses, we ask help from others, especially from the one who created us, our Heavenly Father. Who knows? God might make a weakness of ours into strength.


Prayer
Lord
      Thank you for granting me amazing talents and strengths. Help me use them and improve them to please you. Help me improve my weaknesses and know that You will be my strength. In Jesus Name, I pray Amen.



"I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb."
Jeremiah 1:4-5 




-by Jerry

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Idiom of the Day: At All Costs


Meaning:
      The expression "at all costs" means that to get something done or to prevent something, someone or something must do necessarily everything in order to do or prevent it.

Example:
      We must keep our tree house protected at all costs from bullies.



Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Reader's Corner: From the Author of the "Reluctant Dragon," Another Sensational Children's Novel

                Have you ever liked a story with talking animals in it? Does it fascinate you imagining animals acting like humans? Kenneth Grahame’s children novel “The Wind in the Willows” is the right pick for you! In this novel, the main characters of the story have their own separate adventures to take on. Toad, being one of the main characters, is an arrogant and foolish toad who finds himself embroiled into different dilemmas. Where would his troublesome attitude lead him and the rest of the characters?
                One favorite part of mine in the story was when the Water Rat (one of the main characters) was looking for his friend; the Mole (another main character), who tried his best to find him no matter what. This part taught me of the true meaning of friendship through thick and thin. Friendship, humility, discipline, self-control and unselfish are just some of the morals you can learn from reading this story.
                Boy and girls would definitely enjoy reading this book because it would bring out different emotions in them. It would further enrich their imaginations in each adventures that the characters would lead them to. I would recommend this book to children of ages 8 to 10 and to those who like adventure stories.



by Kenneth Grahame


-by Jerry

Monday, October 21, 2019

I am not Alone by Kari Jobe


I AM NOT ALONE
by Kari Jobe




      Have you ever been in a situation wherein you are surrounded by a lot of people but still felt like you were alone? Or did you experience having a problem and thought that you alone can solve it? When I had my first piano recital, I remember entering the performing theatre. There were a room full of people, including my mom and dad, in the building's seats waiting for the performance to begin. Upon seeing the crowd, fear slowly crept inside me. Doubts and worries started to cloud my mind. I felt alone and helpless. Then I remember my parents would always remind me to pray to God if am scared or feeling weak. I prayed to God to help me face my fear and perform my piano songs nicely. Indeed, God gave me the courage to face my fear, accomplish my piano recital and lastly He made me feel that “I am not alone”.

     In this song that I played in piano, He assures we will not be alone. He will fight our battles together with us, He will be our strength when we are weak, He will defend, He will never leave us and He will go before us. I hope you will like the song “I am not Alone” by Kari Jobe.


The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;
 He will never leave you nor forsake you. 
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8


-by Jerry



"I Am Not Alone"

by Kari Jobe

When I walk through deep waters
I know that You will be with me
When I'm standing in the fire
I will not be overcome
Through the valley of the shadow
I will not fear
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
In the midst of deep sorrow
I see Your light is breaking through
The dark of night will not overtake me
I am pressing into You
Lord, You fight my every battle
Oh, and I will not fear
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
You amaze me
Redeem me
You call me as Your own
You amaze me
Redeem me
You call me as Your own

You're my strength
You're my defender
You're my refuge in the storm
Through these trials
You've always been faithful
You bring healing to my soul
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
I am not alone (no)
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me
I am not alone
I am not alone
You will go before me
You will never leave me


Saturday, October 19, 2019

Proverbs to Ponder: A Bad Workman Blames his Tools

Meaning:
     The proverb "a bad workman blames his tools" means that your tools are responsible for your doing a piece of work badly is a sign that you are bad at your job.

Example:
      Don't say that the wrench is broken Kate, a bad workman blames his tools.

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Blessings by Laura Story


BLESSINGS 
by Laura Story



       Have you ever prayed hard to God for something? However, when God's answer to your prayer came it is totally the opposite of what you were asking for? Have you had any experience wherein you don't understand the reason of His answer to your prayer? I remember the time when my mom would pray to God not to make my grandfather’s sicknesses worse. But what happened next was the opposite of my mom was praying for, my grandfather had a heart attack and soon passed away. This was one of the saddest moment, I saw my mom had. I was wondering why God had to let this happen, then I thought that God must have really granted my mom's prayer and healed my grandfather, but not as what my mother would have hoped and prayed for.
       I realized that God healed my grandfather spiritually and not the physical healing that my mom was praying for. God wanted my grandfather to be healed completely, that's why he gave him the true healing he needs. A healing where my grandfather would have no more pain and sickness in himself, no more loneliness and live happily with Him. This healing may have brought tears in my mom and our family, but it gave a relief for us knowing my grandfather will no longer be in pain. This taught me that most of the time God's answer to our prayer is different from what we were waiting for. This is because God knows what is best for us. And that is what He wants us to have only the "best".
         I hope you would enjoy the song "Blessings by Laura Story"! The song somehow describes how God's blessings works.



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” 
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways    
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55: 8-9



-by Tim
"Blessings"
by Laura Story 

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not
This is not our home

It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life-
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise



Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Idiom of the Day: Like Getting Blood Out of a Stone

Meaning:
      "Like getting blood out of a stone" means that getting money or information from someone will be hard or impossible.


Example:
      To ask donations from Mr. Williams is like getting blood out of a stone


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Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reading Corner: What Happens when a Gorilla meets an Elephant?


     Katherine Applegate’s Newberry Medal children’s novel “The One and Only Ivan” reveals to you the eyes of a city gorilla named Ivan who's life is trapped inside a cage in the mall. Being used to being alone for a long time, an infant elephant named Ruby suddenly changes his life. Ivan who once had no direction in life now finds himself a purpose in life again. He wants nothing in this world except to help a little elephant named Ruby have a home for herself. The only problem is how will Ivan help her? And how will he keep her from having the same fate like his friend, Stella?
     I appreciate that the author manages to create an uplifting story through the friendship that evolves between a gorilla and an elephant.  Through this story, it made me realize that through unselfish acts, you are able to bring change on someone else’s life.  Like what Ivan did to the little elephant Ruby. In Ivan’s quest to help Ruby, it led him in doing a lot of witty things to try to give Ruby a home she has been dreaming off. This heart-warming story is also based on a true story about a gorilla named Ivan, who also lived in a cage inside a mall, but then he was sent to the Zoo Atlanta to live.
     The book might look very thick; however it is worth reading as it takes the reader to a roller coaster of emotions. I would recommend this book for children ages 9 to 12 years old as well as for those animal lovers like me. It will surely melt your hearts out!


by Katherine Applegate

-by Tim

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Real Superhero

      I am a superhero fanatic. I  have a pretty long list of favorite superheroes like Spider-man, War-machine, Scarlet Spider and many many more. Being a superhero fanatic, I am very familiar of each superheroes' weapons and powers like supernatural strength, power absorption, technopathy, fire manipulation and so on and so forth. I even created my own superhero character! However, we all know one thing: all the superheroes I mentioned earlier aren't real! 
     But there's a good news for all of us! Do you know that in the Bible, there were super heroes too? Like Samson, the strongest man in the world ever to have lived. How about David? A small and skinny boy who managed to kill a giant named Goliath. But there's  this one superhero whom I know who is real, alive, and will never die. His powers are no matched with Superman, Thor or any the other fictional superheroes we know. He can calm a raging storm by just uttering some words. He can turn water into a very delicious wine. He could heal the sick and even bring dead people to life. He has telepathy (the power to read minds). He knows also what the future holds for someone and a whole lot more power that even us humans cannot imagine. And this superhero, his name is "Jesus". As a young kid, it's fine to be amazed with all the super heroes around us but we should always remember our real and living super hero in our life and that is "Jesus". 

Prayer
Lord      
     Thank you Lord for watching over us and for helping us in our lives. You are more than Spider-man, Superman, and Hulk in my life.Thank that You loved us very much that you even sacrificed yourself for us. Thank you Lord for your kindness and generosity, in Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

 "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

2 Timothy 4:17-18


-by Jerry

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Idiom of the Day: Be all Ears

Meaning;
      If someone says that they are "all ears", they mean that they are eager to hear what someone is going to say and are listening carefully.

Example:
      When John told me about his adventure in China, I was all ears.



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Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Lights, Camera, Action! (Seize to Learn Where the Action is)

      My life in home school is just like a movie being created. In creating a movie, a lot of different elements play an important role. There are actors, directors, producers, scriptwriter, the crew, there is a set or location, and of course the audience!
      In this movie of ours that we are making right now, guess who are the actors? My brother and I are the main actors! My dad, mom and my teachers in my tutorials play the role of the director. They are the one who guides the actors like me and my brother, teaches how to act, and motivates us in every scene that we are doing. Crewmen are the people whom we are meeting in our everyday lives that make every scene realistic. And most importantly, there will be no movie without its producer and scriptwriter. This huge role is portrayed by our Heavenly God. He is the one who provided us with the resources for us to create the movie. He is also our scriptwriter who makes the scenes possible and makes changes in the script should there be trouble or mistakes that the actor would make.
      Throughout the time that we are shooting our home school movie, a lot of the places where I went were the setting of the movie and situations that I’ve seen in the movie. So hold on tight while I give you a glimpse of the behind the scenes of my Home school life Movie! And let me take you to a journey of my learning in every scene!

Scene 1
     Its 6:45 pm in the evening, a message would be heard on my mom’s phone. Messages say “Dad: Please fetch me now.  Thanks!”  I would text dad back “Tim: Okay dad, I will fetch you.”

Lights Camera Action: Seize to learn where the action is...
                #1           I learned the responsibility of fetching my own father. It is my way of giving my service to my him.
                #2           I learned that we need to work hard for us to earn money. That is why I need to be wise in spending our money.

Scene 2
     It is a cloudy Friday afternoon, “Mang Dok” our mailman, drops our water bill into our mailbox. Our mom gets the bill. She asks me and my brother to compute how much money should be paid. After receiving the money, we get in our bikes and we go straight to pay the bill to Ms. Toffee at the admin office of our village.

Lights Camera Action: Seize to learn where the action is...
                #1           I learned the importance of paying our bills on time. If I don’t pay it, then one of my utilities will become unavailable. Procrastinating is wrong.
                #2           I learned how to compute my monthly consumption and what should be paid in the bill.

Scene 3
    My mom, my brother and I are in our neighborhood bank. My mom gives me my bank booklet and some money and I give the booklet plus the money to the bank teller.

Lights Camera Action: Seize to learn where the action is...
                #1           I learned how to save my money in bank.
                #2           I learned the term deposit and withdraw.
                #3           I learned how to interact and talk with various people. I gain friends as well as learn important skills from them.
                #4           Lastly, I learned that an Automated Teller Machine is not a magical box that just gives me money whenever I want.

      Did you enjoy those scenes? Well the movie is still far from over! And it’s not coming as a sequel! My movie is an ongoing project that will go on for a long time! I do hope that when my home school movie ends and I will move on to shoot a new movie , I was able to please my Producer, our Heavenly Father. And that the movie itself will help a lot of people understand and experience the fun of being home schooled. Oh, I hear my director calling me now! Time to shoot for my next scene! Lights! Camera! Action!


“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”
Proverbs 19: 21


-by Tim

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Reader's Corner: The Rare Discovery of Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith

                
               Have you wondered what happens to somebody if they eat too much chocolate? This deliciously fun book "Chocolate Fever" from the award winning novelist Robert Kimmel Smith tells a story about a boy named Henry who has a whopping appetite for chocolate. The only problem with Henry is that he eats chocolate every day! From morning, to evening, he can’t get enough of it! Until one day, he develops a rare type of sickness called Chocolate Fever. Will he ever get better?
                I really like the story because of the trouble that Henry gets into after having an unusual disease called "Chocolate Fever". He was even kidnapped by thieves! It brings out the adventurous side of me while reading this book. The character also depicts what happens to somebody when they eat too much chocolate fictionally. Most importantly, the story also expresses a moral that too much of something is bad.
                I would recommend this book for children ages 8 to 10 years old and all those chocolate lovers out there. This hard back will surely make your mouth water for more! Enjoy!


by Robert Kimmel Smith

-by Tim-

Monday, October 7, 2019

The Temple of Temper


     Everyday my brother and I would have our usual basketball training/shooting as part of our Physical Education subject. During one of our shooting practice, I learned the hard way of why letting our anger control us is bad. 
     In that particular night, I was aiming to finish my practice early however, I was not having a good shooting night. I kept missing shots no matter how I tried my best, and it seems that I will be the last to finish again. Out of frustration, I got mad and threw the ball hard to the ground. What happened next was not what I expected. Instead of the ball going in the air, it hit me straight in the face! And to make things worse, it also broke the glasses I am wearing! What a night for me to remember!
      In the verse Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away anger.", I learned that it is not only about having gentle answers when we are angry, but we should also be gentle in our actions. When we get angry, try to calm ourselves down, because we might hurt someone or we'll be the ones who will be hurt. I learned from that experience that when you get angry, the anger tries to manipulate you to do things that is bad. It also could make things difficult for you. So, always remember that if we get mad, ask God to help us to control our anger. And let's not allow anger to control us!


Prayer
Lord
      Help me be more patient so I won't hurt others as well as myself. Help me to be gentle in my words and actions. Thank you for being patient to us Lord and for helping us, even though we always make mistakes. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.



"A gentle answer turns away anger."
Proverbs 15:1


-by Jerry-


Getting Up

     Do you have an experience that you fell down on the floor or tripped? I had. Me, my brother, and my mom were going to fetch our dad...