Freshwater

Located in the wilds of Wyoming, the name Freshwater was chosen as a Western analogy to Christ. Just as He is the Living Water, and we must have Him to have eternal life, any desert dweller knows the importance of fresh water to life, both for self, and the nourishment of crops or livestock. By taking nourishment in God and His word, we strengthen our own relationship with Him, our faith, and the quality and abundance of our fruitfulness.

Our keystone verse is from Jeremiah, Chapter 17, Verse 8: "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see whenSave heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

The fruit that we speak of is mentioned in Galatians 5:22
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

And the heat could be anything we experience that might test our faith in God; trials and tribulations, relationships, anything that focuses our love and attention anywhere but on Him...

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Attention:  Used_Homeschooling_Curriculum-owner@yahoogroups.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I noticed this message in my digest (1284) email today (it was #4):

FS: Learning Adventures - A World of Adventure Unit Study

Posted by: (Taken out for privacy)

Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:37 pm (PDT)

 

I am selling a brand new Book 1 in the Learning Adventures Series by Dorian Holt. It is titled "A World of Adventure - A Unit Study Based on World History for grades 4-8". It does not come with a binder; however, it is 3-hole punched. It is designed for a one year study (180 days). I am selling it for $70 ppd. I accept Paypal and will ship USPS Media Mail with tracking information. If interested, please email me at dccheeser@comcast. net.

Thanks,

J

 

Learning Adventures is a small, home-based family business, and they have requested that their materials not be resold. 

It is posted directly on their website before you even purchase the products. 

For this reason, I find "J's" post extremely offensive and believe that Used Homeschooling Curriculum should not allow the reselling of this item on this site.

-Sincerely,
Sonja Brow

http://learning-adventures.org/F_A_Q_/f_a_q_.html#8

Can I buy the Learning Adventures volumes used?

Probably - but we really wish you wouldn't! Here's why - when you purchase your materials directly from us, you are investing in our work - AND you are investing in your child's future education. You are helping to ensure that future materials will be written for your family to use. Learning Adventures is a small, home-based family business. We are dedicated to providing the best quality curriculum at an affordable price for you! We could charge twice what we do for our products, but we are committed to keeping them affordable, so we ask for your commitment in return. Our ability to do any of these things really does depend upon your support by purchasing materials directly from us. When people increasingly purchase used materials from each other, we are forced to work elsewhere to make a living, which means that we are unable to write future materials because there is no time to do so! You can help the Learning Adventures series to continue by supporting our work in the direct purchase of your materials from Learning Adventures.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Here are a few pics of us preparing the garden space next door.  We'll share some more of projects we're working on as we go!  Share yours too please :).  
We ordered a whole bunch of seeds from Gurney's, and my husband found a great deal on a ton of seed potatoes, so we're looking forward to all of this!






































Saturday, April 21, 2012

Check Your Altitude!

Title:  Check your altitude!
Theme:  God has called us for His purpose.
Purpose:   To be bold with God’s purpose.
         
The text for this sermon comes from 2 Timothy, Chapter 1, verses seven through nine.   7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
A pilot has to file a flight plan before he can take off.  The flight plan tells where the plane is going, the path it will take to get there, even the expected speed and altitude while it is in the air.  God’s word is our flight plan. He’s filed the destination, the path we need to take to get there, and what we need to do along the way.  As the pilot, He’s always in charge. As the navigator, He knows where we need to go and how to get there.  We must trust in God to take us where we need to be.
God tells us that we do not need to fear in 2 Timothy 1:7, 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  He’s also let us know that is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9), and that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).
Just knowing that God is always there for us is only part of the picture.  He’s also got a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11).  A plan that we need to follow boldly, without being ashamed of what He has given us to do (2 Timothy 1:8).  We should not be conformed by the world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, proving the will of God.
God also has a specific purpose for each of us to fulfill, an assignment if you will (Ephesians 1:11).  He has called us to that purpose (Romans 8:28), and we can trust Him to help us fulfill that purpose with His strength and grace (2 Timothy 1:9).
God assigned us each a specific purpose, but He knew that we would not be able to do it alone, so He equipped us with His strength and grace so that we could go forward and fulfill that purpose (2 Timothy 1:9).  He gave us a spirit of power, of love, and told us to be strong and of good courage (2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9).
God has equipped us with strength and purpose.  Purpose is defined as the reason for which something exists or is done, made,used, etc.;
an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.; and determination; resoluteness.  Not only do we need to go into the
world and fulfill the purpose that God has given us, but we need to
do it boldly, with determination and resoluteness. 
                Are you following God’s flight plan for your life?  Are you climbing to the speed and altitude He’s got planned for you, or are you just cruising?


Monday, April 16, 2012

Topical Outline from Class

Topic: The Word of God
Text:  2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  The NIV states “…a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 
Theme:  Handling the Word of God
Purpose:  Teaching People how to Handle the Word of God correctly.
          I.  The Word of God is important for teaching:  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
          *For teaching each other (Colossians 3:16) - Let the word of Christ           dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one           another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
*Teaching and impressing upon our children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7,      11:18-19) - 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.            - 11:18-19 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in         your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall        teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up
          II.  The word of God is Alive and at work within us.
*For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
*For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
          III.  The word of God is a tool and a weapon.
                   *Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee                    (Psalm 119:11).
                   *And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which                              is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
          IV.  There are precautions and warnings.
                   *Do NOT add to the word of God.
                             -Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be                              found a liar (Proverbs 30:6).
                   *Do NOT take away from the word of God
                             -Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither                                       shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the                                                           commandments of the LORD your God which I command you                              (Deuteronomy 4:2).
                             -What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt                                       not add thereto, nor diminish from it (Deuteronomy 12:32).
                   *There will be consequences if you do add to or take away from the                              word of God.
                             -For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the                                               prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,                                    God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this                                 book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the                                       book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the                                book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which                                     are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).


The Mediator

Title:  The Mediator
Big Idea:  Jesus is the ONLY way to God.
Purpose:  We must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to come to God and Heaven.
Introduction:  My dad grew up in Colorado, in the middle of the Arkansas River Canyon.  His folks ran a little restaurant called The Frontier, on the highway side of the river.  There was a bridge that went across from the town of Howard, which allowed those residents access to the highway and to the towns outside of the canyon.  This bridge was the only way across for quite a few miles.   Now, my papa’s best friend was the County Commissioner at this time, and one day, my papa called his office, wanting to know when they were going to fix the hole in the bridge.  He was quite worked up, especially when Denzel said “What hole? How did it get there?”  Papa’s response was “I don’t know how, it’s just there!  Folks are having to drive all the way down to Cotopaxi to go around!”  Denzel said he’d be right there and hung up the phone.  Papa turned around, grabbed his jacket, and told the waitress “When Denzel gets here, tell him April Fool’s.  I’m going fishing.” 
            (Unlike those people, who could still get to the other side of the river, even though they’d had to drive twelve miles, there’s only one way for us to get to the other side.  Jesus Christ is our bridge, and we can’t cross alone.  We’ve got to let Him repair the holes.)
            I.  There is only one God.
                        A. He is our Creator.  (Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the                                                
                              heaven and the earth.)                                                  
                        B.  He is God alone.  (Isaiah 37:16 - O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that                       
                             dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou                    
                             alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and  
                             earth.
(However, it’s not just enough to know about God.  We actually need to KNOW Him.)
            II.  We all need a relationship with God.
A.     Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).  (talking to Nicodemus)                                                                   *To be born again means a spiritual rebirth, to be like a new person with your sins forgiven, starting again – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1), quicken meaning “brought to life”.
                        B.  17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things  
                              are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all 
                              things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 
                              and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians  
                              5:17).
(Reconciliation basically means to bring opposing sides back together.) 
            III.  We became separated from God because of sin.      
                        A.  Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of                                          
                              God;
                        B.  Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is                                            
                             eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.                                                      
            III.  The only way for us to approach God is through a mediator, Jesus Christ.                          
                       A.  A mediator is “someone who mediates”, which means, a go-                            
                              between.                                                                                                                                                      *Someone who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement, or a RECONCILIATION (Miriam-Webster).             
                       B.  Jesus is an effective mediator because that is exactly what God sent                    Him to be.  He is the God, He is the Son of God, but he is also the only                         perfect man. 
(You and I cannot be mediators because we are not without sin.  We are not God.  I am definitely not perfect.)
            IV.  You must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to come to God.                                                                             
                     A.  Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,                               
                           while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.                                                                   
                      B.  John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his                                              
                           only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should                                        
                           not perish, but have everlasting life.
(You cannot earn your way into God’s Kingdom, you cannot patch that bridge on your own.  The only way to bring about that reconciliation, and that relationship with God, is to KNOW Jesus Christ).



Conclusion:  There is only one way to become a child of God, and to enter Heaven.  And that way is through the mediator, Jesus Christ.  Let me take you back to our key verse in First Timothy. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus.”  Paul lays it right out there for you, and it’s pretty clear cut that Jesus is IT.  In fact, Jesus said that Himself in John 14:6, where He stated “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father but by me.”  What does your bridge look like?

                        

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Influenza Strikes!

Some of you have seen posts recently where I've mentioned that my entire family has not been feeling well.  I went to the doctor Friday because we were afraid I'd contract pneumonia again if I didn't get in, but since I'd gotten a flu vaccine, they didn't do an influenza culture.  I came home with my antibiotics, and my 8 year old started getting really sick.  She was running a fever of 104 last night, and after medicine and a cool bath was only down to 103.  Of course, by the time I'd driven the hour to the emergency room with her her fever was down to 99, but she was coughing hard and you could tell she wasn't feeling well.
The ER doc spent some time talking with her and asking us both questions, then ordered a chest xray, blood work, a throat swab, and a nasal swab.  We walked in the door, were through registration and triage in 10 minutes, and had seen the doctor, had her xray, her swabs and her bloodwork taken inside of half an hour.  I couldn't believe how quickly it was moving at 9 o'clock on a Saturday night!  And I apparently jinxed myself because then we sat there for the next 3 hours.  To be fair, they had to be really busy, because the doctor was called out for 3 emergencies after he finally made it back to talk to us.  All of the personnel were very nice.  
Long story short, her bloodwork and chest xray were good, strep was negative, and she was positive for influenza.  Which really surprised me since the girls and I all got vaccinated back in November!   Since it is so contagious, the protocol is to treat not only the patient, but everyone in the household.  There are no 24 hour pharmacies there, so we had to drive home, then my husband thankfully volunteered to go fill all seven of the prescriptions when the pharmacy opened this morning.  He headed back into town about ten. Our youngest and I are just exhausted from arriving home at 3 o'clock this morning! 
Here are some flu tips to help you know what to watch for!  Not only did we not know we had it, we didn't know we were carrying it, so we could have infected all kinds of people!  Thankfully there was no food bank last week!
Stay healthy!
-Sonja

Influenza (Flu) Fact Sheet

Last Reviewed: October 2011

What Everyone Should Know About Flu and the Flu Vaccine

What is the flu?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Every year in the United States:
  • ~ 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
  • on average more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
  • over 23,600 people die from flu (with a range of 3,349-48,614 people); about 90% of such deaths occur in persons aged 65 years and older.
The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

The flu usually starts suddenly and may include these symptoms:
  • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (tiredness)
  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
* It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever

Are some people at higher risk for complications than others from getting the flu?

Yes. People at higher risk for serious flu complications include older people, young children, and people of any age with certain health conditions.

What are the complications associated with the flu?

Some of the complications caused by flu include pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.

How is the flu spread?

The flu is spread in droplets released by coughing and sneezing. It usually spreads from person to person, though occasionally people may be infected by touching something with virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

When and for how long is a person able to spread the flu?

People with flu are contagious (able to infect others) beginning one day before getting symptoms. Adults remain contagious up to seven days after getting sick and children can remain contagious for even longer. That means that you can give someone the flu before you know you're sick as well as when you are sick.

Cold Versus Flu

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Most people who have flu symptoms will not be tested, and do not need to be tested, because test results usually do not change how a patient is treated. Treatment, if decided upon by the health care provider, will usually be based on severity of symptoms and how likely a person is to have complications of flu – not on the basis of a test result.

What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds tend to develop gradually, while the flu tends to start very suddenly. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Preventing the Flu

What can I do to protect myself against the flu?

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. There are two types of vaccines:
  • The "flu shot" is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. It can be given in the muscle or just under the skin. The flu shot that is given in the muscle is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions. The flu shot that is given below the skin is for those 18-64 years of age.
  • The nasal-spray flu vaccine is a vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for "Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine") made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Talk to your provider to find out which vaccine is right for you and your family.
Because the 2011-12 flu vaccine is unchanged from the 2010-11 season, children 6 months to 8 years who received at least 1 dose of the 2010-11 flu vaccine will require only 1 dose of the 2011-12 vaccine. Children in this age group who did not receive (or if parents are unsure if they received) at least 1 dose of the 2010-11 flu vaccine, should receive 2 doses of the 2011-12 seasonal influenza vaccine.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection for the entire year. Flu vaccines will not protect against illnesses caused by other viruses, such as the common cold.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu. Vaccination should begin as soon as the 2011-2012 season vaccine is available.
Those people at greatest risk for complications of the flu and those most likely to get or spread the flu should be vaccinated with the flu vaccine as soon as it is available. The list below includes the groups of people more likely to get flu-related complications if they get sick from influenza:
People at High Risk for Developing Flu-Related Complications
  • Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Pregnant women
  • Also, American Indians and Alaskan Natives seem to be at higher risk of flu complications
People who have medical conditions including:
  • Asthma
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].
  • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
  • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
  • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
  • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
  • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
  • People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI, of 40 or greater)

Who should NOT be vaccinated?

There are some people who should not be vaccinated. They include:
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past;
  • People who developed Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously;
  • Children less than 6 months of age.
Some people should wait to get vaccinated until they talk with their provider. They include:
  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs;
  • People who are sick with a fever. (These people can get vaccinated once their symptoms lessen. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.)

Can the flu be treated?

Yes. There are influenza antiviral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness. While NYSDOH recommends influenza vaccination as the first and most important step in preventing flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense against the flu. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider. Your health care provider can help decide whether you should take an antiviral drug and, if so, which one you should take.