Thank God for Independence

On July 4, 1776, a delegation of rebels to the British crown, calling themselves "Americans" and "Patriots", gathered to sign a document that changed the course of American history-the Declaration of Independence. Through this document and the one that followed it, the U.S. Constitution, ensure you and your future generations that you enjoy the freedoms that Britain wouldn't give the colonists. They risked their lives, fortunes, and reputations when they signed the Declaration.

So today as you watch fireworks, eat barbeque, and wave American flags, thank God for the men that risked everything to give you that freedom. And thank God for the men who continue to die to preserve that freedom.

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

Hats for Bobby-Week 5

Toddler Sunhat

I have a terribly adorable one-year-old little sister and my mom loves to put her in hats. I was originally making this hat for my two-year-old sister, but about half way in I knew it would never fit her head. This one was a little easy to make after you figure out how to do a front post double crochet (simpler than it sounds, promise). I did have to add somewhere around five or six extra rounds on the hat to make it long enough (and she has a little head) so maybe I went wrong somewhere. Who knows? The clip was taken from her older sister's collection of hair bows.

35 days down, 365 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 4

"May Flowers Hat"

"So proud of my soldier"
Betty and Bobby

This one was a lot more time consuming than the others have been. It probably took me at least two days between making the actual hat, then the flowers and leaves and then sewing it all together. But it was completely worth it in the end seeing as how it had a pattern for a large head. I would highly recommend it for anyone with a lot of time on their hands (which I currently have). End of 28 days for Bobby!

P.S. Please include him, his parents, and all the other soldiers and their families currently deployed in your prayers. They need it, alot!

Hats for Bobby-Honoring an American Soldier

There is a lovely lady I know named Betty. I've known her for years and even adopted her as my grandma (since I don't have any). Betty has three children-two daughters and a son. On May 25, her son, Bobby, shipped out for 400 days of deployment overseas. They originally thought it was only 365 when he shipped out, but then they found out otherwise. Betty said she is working on an afghan for him everyday that she's gone to pass the time (only one afghan, not 400, please don't get confused). So I decided I would do something similiar to support this woman I love so much. For every week that he's gone, I'm crocheting a hat. I did the math and that makes 57 hats. I'm not keeping that many (I don't even know how I'm going to get yarn for that many!) and will probably donate some to The James 2 Project and probably make some and give them to my baby sisters (my mom loves putting hats on them). But either way it turns out, I'm going to try my best to support my "grandma" and her son.

Week 1
"Woods, Elle" Hat

I had recently watched "Legally Blonde" and found that I loved a purple crochet hat that she wore in several scenes. So I looked up a crochet pattern on line, and, sure enough, there was a pattern for (link included in title). Due to the fact that I have a rather large head, I had to alter the pattern slightly to make it fit my head.

Week 2
"Renaissance Rose Cap" (Designed by Melissa Mall)

I've always loved the medival/renaissance period (not the part about the beautiful ladies in their elegant gowns, at least not until later in life; as a child I was always interested in the swashbuckling knights and their adventures) so this one was an instant hit with me and most of my sisters. It's fairly easy to make (unfortunately I don't have the link) and looks great when it's done.

Week 3
"Victorian Pinkie"

Now, this one obviously isn't pink. The yarn was actually leftovers from a hat that I made for a friend for Christmas one year. This one is a little more difficult to master and has vague directions but there are three or four different ways to wear it. And, Bobby is now through 24 days!

Thank God for Homeschooling

This post won't apply to everyone who reads it. But, to a lot of kids like me, it will. Please bear with our bias.

Homeschool is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "to teach one's children at home." Before there were schools in America, all children were taught at home by their parents. Today, it's a choice parents make for the benefit of their children.

Homeschooling gives a parent the opportunity to teach a child the way they want, not the way the government wants. It gives them a chance to teach their children godliness, the Bible, faith-all things that have been stripped out of the public school systems. It always keeps the children away from the bad influences of other children. And, contrary to popular belief, it makes the chlidren better able to communicate with people of all ages, not just their age group.

It's a gift and one we should be highly grateful for. Eduacation in and of itself is a great gift and to be homeschooled is an even greater one. We can learn the way we want and we can have a greater opportunity to learn about God and to serve him. If you are homeschooled, thank your parents for making the decision to homeschool you and, above all, thank God for allowing you to be homeschooled. Maybe, someday, your name could appear among the greats of homeschooling.

Famous Homeschoolers

•  John Adams                                                
• James Garfield
• Abraham Lincoln
• Franklin Delanor Roosevelt
• George Washington
• Woodrow Wilson
• Henry Clay
• Benjamin Franklin
• Daniel Webster
• Patrick Henry
• Pierre du Pont
• Stonewall Jackson
• George Patton
• Robert E. Lee
• John Jay
• Albert Einstein
• Booker T. Washington
• Claude Mone
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Joan of Arc
• Jonathan Edwards
• D. L. Moody
• Hudson Taylor
• John & Charles Wesley
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Thomas Edison
• Eli Whitney
• Wilbur & Orville Wright
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Hans Christen Anderson
• Robert Frost
• C. S. Lewis
• Christopher Paolini
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• LeAnne Rimes
• Jonas Brothers
• Andrew Carnegie
• Clara Barton
• Susan B. Anthony
• Davy Crockett
• Jason Taylor
• ...and many, many more!

Gotta Love Homeschooling

So, as part of their Bible, my sisters were supposed to write a summary of the life of the prophet Daniel, based off of the book of Daniel that I think they had just finished reading. This is two of theirs, ages 11 and 12, non-edited.

Danil in the lion's Den (The 12-year-old's)
Some men wanted to kill David so they made a law with the king's seal that you could not worisp any Gods but the king. So any body who did not worishp the king would be thron in to a dem of lion's. After they caut David praying to God. So the told the king. After that he fasted for a whole night and did not slpeep. Then the next day the king put him in the Deon of lion's and sealed it with his seal. the next day David was alive because god preted him from the loin's. thenthe king toke him out and put the men that made the law into the Den with there wives and children and the lion's at them up.

DAnieL 605-530 BC (the 11-year-old's)
The king made DanieL the leader over everything and these guys got jelius. They made a law where whoevever doesnt worship the king gets throne into a den of lions. Well DanieL worshiped god 3 times a day. Then one day those people saw DanieL and threw him into a den of lions. the King was sad and couldent eat or sleep. The next day the King went to the den and moved the stone that sealed the opening. Then he saw that DanieL dident have a single scrach. He was so happy that he took away the law. and the King threw the Peaple who talked him into making that law into the lions den with there wives and children.

End of Soccer Season

This was actually around three weeks ago, but I thought I'd share my good news. Our soccer team, after coming off a hard year of a completely new team, an unexperienced goalie, and new players alongside seasoned ones, took third place in our league. The story below was written by Mike McColley, our assistant coach.

News Article - Lady Lions defeat Chestertown in Consolation Game - May 6, 2011

Photo by April McColley

The CCA Lady Lions traveled to Fairwinds Christian School in Bear, Delaware on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 to play in the Delaware Valley Christian Athletic Confernce championship consolation game. The Lady Lions lost a tough playoff game the previous day to Salem County Christian School, palying them at their home field at Carney's Point. CCA had very little practice over the past few weeks due to Spring Break. After losing to Salem, the Lady Lions were set to face Chestertown Chrsitian in a game for third place in the league. The Lady Lions were looking forward to the match, as they had a record of 1-1 with the team during regular season play.

The day couldn't have been better for a soccer match; sunny and 80 degrees. CCA had all of their players available for play except one player out for illness and one for an injury. They were looking forward to the match because their loss to Chestertown during the regular season came after being short handed, having several players injured or unable to play. They were now at full force and ready to rumble.

The game started out with both teams playing agressively for control of the ball. The Lady Lions were able to strike first when Sarah Eckels nailed one in on the Chestertown keeper from the right side of the field. Chestertown tried several times to get a shot in on CCA, but the Lady Lions defense was in top form on this day, and were able to keep Chestertown at bay. About midway through the first half, CCA had an inadvertent hand ball in the penalty box, giving Chestertown a one-on-one penalty kick against the Lady Lion keeper. Miri Rose Goldsberry was able to make contact with the shot, but it still got by her an into the goal. The Lady Lions kept their heads up and took control of the ball, keeping it in Chestertown's end of the field for a significant amount of time. Briana Love was able to make a break up the right side of the field and sink one in from outside the 18, putting CCA up 2-1. The half ended with the Lady Lions leading the game.

The Lady Lions discussed how they could improve ball control during halftime, and went back onto the field fired up and ready to make a statement. Shayna Cole had been having a good day at controlling the ball in the middle of the field, and was fiannl able to get through Chestertown's defense and score goal number 3 for CCA. The battle continued with the possesion of the ball changing frequently. Chestertown was able to score a second goal, setting the score at 3-2 in favor of CCA. This really got the Lady Lions fired up, and they went down the field with a vengance. Shayna was able to continue her control of the middle of the field, and the Lady Lions forwards and midfielders were able to make exceptional passes, taking several shots on the Chestertown keeper. Shayna was able to take advantage of a free kick on a Chestertown penalty, laying the ball in behind the keeper to set the score at 4-2 Lady Lions. As the game was nearing the end, Shayna was able to complete the hat trick, scoring her third goal in the second half of the game, putting CCA up 5-2. As the game ended, a Chestertown player had a leg cramp and had to be assisted off the field. Soon after the game resumed, the referees blew the whistle, signaling the end of the match and a win by the Lady Lions. CCA had had their best performance of the year, and it came at the most opportune time. They had beaten Chestertown Christian for a second time during the season, a school that CCA had never beaten in the school's womens soccer history. Paula Beiler, Yessie Martinez, Sarah Eckels, Lillie Bailey and Brooke Marble were key in the forward line for CCA. The midfield was controlled incredibly by Shayna Cole, Briana Love and Lindsey Staniszewski. The Lady Lion defense was anchored by Emily Bosco, Madison Robinson, Bethany McColley and Hannah Slater. Miri Rose Goldsberry was credited with 12 saves during the match. All Lady Lions that played in the game were a key ingredient in the win, as the team was able to keep fresh players in the game. Great job Lady Lions !!!

The team was presented the D.V.C.A.C. third place trophy after the match, and were able to celebrate on the sideline.

The coaching staff would like to congratulate the girls on a successful season in which they improved their skills and team work. The team will not graduate any players this year, and should start next season with a very strong team.