Joke & Riddle Corner #4 - Tongue Twisters

Special Edition ~ Tongue Twisters

Try out these fun (and silly) tongue twisters on your friends and family...

Dick the Duck ducked on the dock.

Dig, Doug the Dog, Dig!

Carl can't quite keep quiet.

Give Bubba the Bug a HUG.

Puck and Chuck are bucks in a truck.

Rose knows NO prose.

And just for the fun of it....

A joke from the editor's sister, Shiloh, age 5...

Q: What did the roasted rooster say to the hen?
A: You're lucky, and I'm not!

Short Story: The Duck that Was a Kitten

On a very special April morning, at a farm in Springfield, Illinois, there were twelve ducklings born. Next to the pond, in the barn, there was also a kitten born. The kitten's mother moved to another farm soon after its birth, leaving the mother duck to take care of the young kitten. Soon the cute, little kitten did everything the ducks did.

One day she tried to eat some corn. It was very strange to the kitten, and it was too hard to crack. Instead of hard corn she drank warm milk the kind farmer offered her. The funny, little thing tried to share it with the ducks, but they did not care for milk, much to the kitten's disappointment. So she pushed her share of the corn to the hungry ducklings, who appreciated this very much.


When the ducks had finished eating, they followed their proud mother into the pond. Seeing the ducklings splash into the pond, the curious kitten thought that looked like fun. So she pattered away on her dainty four paws to the pond. When she put her little paw in the mucky water, she quickly drew it out again. The water was freezing cold! After dipping her paw in time and time again, thinking it might get a little bit warmer, she saw the ducks getting out on the other side. She leaped up to follow them. They all went into the barn to play. They played tag, and enjoyed it very much.

Soon the kitten got very tired and fell into a deep sleep. She woke up with a start and felt herself being carried! Then she saw it was only the kind farmer who had been looking for her for quite some time. He carried her to her bed and gave her some warm milk. Then she crawled over to where the ducks were sleeping and slept next to them.

In the morning she woke before the ducks, and saw something run across the barn. She followed it out the door and she saw that it was a mouse. She crept up to it very quietly. Then she pounced, but it squealed and got away. This woke the ducks. They ran after it, but got very frightened and ran back to their scolding mother.

The kitten caught the mouse and laid it at the mother duck's feet. They all looked at it for a long time. Then the mother put it in a faraway corner. The kitten lived with the ducks for a long time before she realized she was not a duck. Some of the ducks were sold, but most of them stayed at the farm. The farmer kept the kitten, that was now a full grown cat, in the house with him. Sometimes she had kittens, and whenever ducklings were born she was the first to see them.

Thanks to the editor's (former) kitten Chessie, who was the model for the picture :)

Honey Lemonade, Anyone?

Written by Miss Jocelyn, 17

Who doesn’t just love a cold glass of lemonade? Oh I do! I love it. It’s an easy refreshment and very inexpensive. We don’t ever buy lemonade mixes because, well that’s not really lemonade. Instead we use freshly squeezed lemon juice or lemon juice you can buy in bottles. I went to make some today and we didn’t have any sugar, so I decided I would see how lemonade tasted made with honey.

Let me tell you it tasted excellent. The honey and the lemon juice mixed together gave it a rather tangy taste, instead of just sweetening it. At first it was a little different but it definitely tastes better and is healthier for you in regards to having to use sugar.

I saw one time on a cooking show where a lady used honey to make lemonade. She heated up the water and honey in a pan so the honey would dissolve better. Then she let it cool, added the lemon juice and ice before serving. Sounded weird to me at first, but it’s not.

We try to use honey in placement of sugar in everything we make and so far everything has turned out just fine. I’d encourage you to start using honey in recipes than sugar. Not only is it healthier but it does taste better.

Here’s our lemonade mix we concocted:

3/4 to 1 cup of honey
1 cup of lemon juice
5 1/2 cups of water
1 cup of ice

Just pour the lemon juice in a pitcher with the honey and stir until the honey has dissolved. It didn’t glop up too much and was fine after I had stirred it enough. Then add the water and ice afterwards. Enjoy!

Put anything extra in your lemonade? I once heard of putting vanilla and cinnamon in it, heating it up with the water and honey.

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Check out Miss Jocelyn's blog...

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In Watching the Storm

~Journal entry from April 25, 2008~

I stayed up and watched a storm roll in this evening. When I stepped outside, I immediately was caught up in the expectant thrill that trembled in the sweltering air. Lightning lit up the sky to the North, illuminating the night with its flash. Thunder rumbled in the distance; far away it seemed, yet every moment it grew nearer. Like a symphony, the thunderstorm was gathering power, approaching the climax. Wind whipped through the trees, tangling their branches and wrenching them apart once more. The first few drops of rain were hurled upon the earth at the mercy of the ruthless wind. Soon they grew in size and number, and the lightning flashed forebodingly nearer, while the thunder was increased to a drumroll. Loath to go inside, I stayed until the wind threatened to pound the rain mercilessly into my face, though I stood under the eaves. Indoors, the volume was less, but still exciting. As the storm broke in its full force, releasing the storehouses of the clouds and filling the sky with brightness, I thought of the word 'awesome'. Awesome surely best describes this wonder of God's nature, yet how we abuse this word in our culture! Watching this storm gave me a sense of the true meaning, and I was filled with awe at the omnipotence of its Creator.

Turning back to the storm, I fixed my eyes on the heavens and anticipated the delightful shiver brought by each lightning flash. It illuminated a blue, mystical world, hazy and shadowed, with the rain falling in sheets and obscuring familiar landmarks. Hail was mingled with the rain, and added further to the magnificent volume. The thunder continued to rumble, seldom releasing its full potential, but threatening all the same. When it did crack, everything else, wind, rain, and hail, seemed to hush for a moment, intimidated, and then resume louder than before.

Now there is a quiet lull, yet it is just as beautiful. It is as if it was a movement in a symphony, written for effect. Don't we wish our human composers could dream up something even close to being as wonderful! But nothing can equal God as a Master Musician, God as an artist, God as an author. We try and we fail. But, ever gracious, He is always there, revealing His glorious works of art just when we need to see them. And in seeing them, we see Him. For He is ever present in creation, in history, in our lives.

This made me think of some amazing verses from Job. I love that book, it is so encouraging and it makes me feel very small and insignificant. (Which I need sometimes!)

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"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?"

"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunder bolt, to bring rain on the land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?"

"Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen."

"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood may cover you?
Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, 'Here we are'?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick together?"

"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."

Excerpts from Job 38.

Amazing, isn't it? That the God who is the Lord of the storm, of the heavens, of the earth, of all creation, all that is seen and all that is invisible; that He should stoop to raise me up with His right hand! That He should consent, should invite me to serve Him, to be His forever! I will never understand. It is altogether beyond my power to comprehend. I can only worship Him with my whole heart, and offer up to Him the only thing which I have to give: myself.

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Check out Grace's blog...

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The Country Life - Special Interview

I would like to introduce Jocelyn, age 17, and Rachel, age 14 -- two homesteading girls whom I am featuring in this special interview. So get ready as we briefly take a peek into these special young ladies' lives.


KOF: How long have you been living in the country?


Jocelyn: We've been living in the country for almost 9years now. Previously we were living in a very small two-bedroom apartment with four kids, and right before my sister, Hannah, was born we moved into a 92year-old three-bedroom farmhouse. I was thrilled! We had lots of places to run around and weren't crammed into a little apartment anymore. We had two-a-half wonderful acres to roam on. Not to mention the intriguing barn, outhouse, and leanto. Across the road there are train-tracks, which we were all very fascinated by when we got here. The four of us would all run down the front of the yard and make the train honk their horn. They usually did, which always made us smile.



Rachel: Well, for about 9 years now. I have always wanted to live on a farm, gather eggs from our chickens, have a milk cow to make cheese, and ride horses around our pasture. My dream is to have a farm when I grow up.


KOF: How many animals do you have?



Jocelyn: I have seven Nubian goats... five does: Chloe, Heidi, Keci (Ketch-ie), Bella, and Emane. Then there are the two bucks: Cowboy, and Ellis. We also have 60-some chickens running around the proptery all day. Not all the hens have names but there are a few: Anglewings (completely white), Henny-Penny, Golde, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.The roosters' names are: Mr. Bennett, Paint, Khaza-dum, Dr. Spock, and Dr. Spock 2. We also have two dogs: Pemberely and Blonde.

Rachel: ...Blondie stays in and is my pet and I have a Himalayan rabbit named Daisy. We recently sold our two horses. I miss them.

^^ Keci the Goat

KOF: What are some of the daily chores you do?

Jocelyn: We do barn-chores in the morning and at night. Barn chores consist of feeding the chickens, goats, and dogs. Collecting eggs. Filling waterers and locking up the chickens at night.We also have housework.... some main ones are doing dishes (we handwash them all), laundry, cleaning up rooms and bedrooms.

Rachel: Well, I gather eggs, feed the goats and chickens and the dogs. Plus I must take care of my rabbit, and take Blondie out to play. Sometimes I have to clean out the chicken stall. That is not a pleasant job. Then we have the lawn to mow, and the house to clean. I make dinner and lunch a lot. I am kept pretty busy around here.


KOF: What are some interesting or difficult experiences you've had on your homestead?


The Chickens >>

Jocelyn: Hmmm... I don't know. Everything is always interesting! I really like living in the country. One of our difficulities living out here is we don't have fencing, which means we can't let the goats out. We do have a barnyard but they've eaten all the grass. I'd really like to be able to let them out to roam and graze. Last year we had an awful time hooking them on leashes to graze. Not doing that this year!

Rachel: The time that the horses broke out of the fence and ran across our garden and into the corn fields, then headed for the road. Having a couple of chickens get hit on the road. Finding our first eggs! I was excited about that. I love taking the goats out to the big field and watching them while they graze. The first year we did our garden and got lots of food from it was pretty neat. :)


KOF: Do you enjoy living in the country?

Jocelyn: Yes, very much so. I like the fact that you have your own space. You don't have to worry about neighbors, especially since we homeschool. You are able to learn by everyday moments and tasks


Rachel: You bet. I wouldn't trade any city home for this house. I love it. Our house is about 100 years old. Our barn is probably older than that. I would not trade my beautiful old home for the newest, best house in the world!

You are able to learn by everyday moments and tasks.

KOF: What are some benefits about living in the country?
(pictured below) Rachel

Rachel: You can grow a garden. You can live outside a city, but not too close to it. We live about 3 1/2 miles from town. You can have animals. You can live the way you want, and not have bunch of people telling you how live.

Jocelyn: There are so many. I think living in the country just gives you a sense of peace and quietness. It gives you a sense of simplicity that people living in the city might not be able to experience. There are no noises from factories, businesses, or cars. There is only the noise of the kids
playing in the backyard or the crickets at night. Living in the country is also less toxic. The air isn't so polluted.




KOF: What are some downsides about living in the country?



Jocelyn: Well, here in Indiana we have horrible mosquitoes. I think because we do live in the country where there is tall grass, rives, and woods the mosquitoes are worse that in the city. However, I wouldn't trade the mosquitoes to live in the city because they spray pesiscides and a lot of people living there want to have the "ideal" lawn and spray too.


Rachel: If you live by fields where they plant corn or beans, you get the pesticides they spray. Not a good thing.


KOF: What one thing about country living would you change if you could?


Jocelyn: Haha, I'd have a super-center right around the corner so we didn't have to drive into town if we needed something. Oh and maybe a Wendy's.

Jocelyn >>

Rachel: I think the only thing would be that there were tons of flowers everywhere. And that the grass would grow to the length you want it and not have mow it. Oh wait. If you have goats or horses, that happens! :)





KOF: How has your current lifestyle affected your relationship with God, family, and friends?




Jocelyn: Hmmm... yes, I suppose they have. Like I said we've been able to be more "free" out in the country than we would have been living in the city. In regards to living, homeschooling, and being around people who aren't of the Bibilical-mindset. Not having those negative influences around us has been very healthy for our spiritual growth.

Rachel: It has drawn me closer to Him. It has taught me to appreciate what He has given me. I hope to grow more and learn more about Him through living on a homestead. Mom once said that gardening was the closest thing to God. I must agree. One must grow something and know that God created a tiny seed to make it grow to understand that.



KOF: What is one of your favorite scriptures that you'd like to share?

The Barn >>




Rachel: Well. Now that's a hard one.
I have so many! Here are a few:
John 3:16, The Book Of Revelation, The Book of Psalm
Galations, Ephisians, the Timothys. Did you expect me to name them all?! :D

Jocelyn: My favourite Scripture is probably Isaiah 64: 4, which says "Since the beginning of time, no one has heard, no one has perceived, no eye has seen a God like you who acts on behalf of those who wait on Him." This really speak volumes to me. Our God is so great and since the beginning of time, whether you believe it or not, no one has seen, perceived, or heard a God like our God. He is AWESOME.

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Read more about Jocelyn & Rachel by visiting their blogs:

Jocelyn:


Rachel:

You can also read about their experiences on their homestead at their other blogs:

Jocelyn's - Amusing Reflections of a Country Girl
Rachel's - Rachel's Reasonings

Story of the Month: Unbroken Love

“That’s not possible.” Samuel looked up at his mother. This couldn’t be happening.

Elana was dying.

Samuel’s adored big sister was only seventeen. Out of the seven kids in the family, he and Elana were closest in age, only two years apart. The other kids were brats. His mom and Elana probably wouldn’t agree, but he couldn’t stand them. Collectively, Nina, Mia, Leslie and Izzy-belle were the four meanest people he could think of. Only he and Paul and Elana were the normal kids of the family. Technically, Paul and Elana weren’t normal, but they were nice. Even when Paul was being disassociative (which wasn’t a word unless you were Paul) or Elana got into one of her “Mother Theresa” moods, they were never mean.

“It’s possible.” Samuel’s mother drew him back into the present. “Elana is sick. She’s going to die.”

“Does she know that?” Samuel jumped out of the hospital chair, slamming his palm down onto the plastic table. “Did you tell her she’s dying?”

“Of course she knows!” His mother’s voice also escalated in volume, but not in anger.

“What did she say?”

“She wanted to pray about it.”

“Pray about whether or not she is going to die?” What was Elana thinking? You didn’t pray about something like that. You prayed about solutions. You asked for help. At least, that was how Samuel thought of it.

Maybe Samuel just didn’t understand God well enough.

~~~

Samuel refused to wait one second longer. He charged down the hall to Elana’s hospital room.
She sat on the bed, her peridot eyes focused on something Samuel couldn’t see, searchingly.

“Elana?”

She turned toward him. Her face was thinner than he remembered.

“Samuel! How did you know I wanted to see you?”

“Paul.” Samuel sunk heavily into a folding chair. “Paul always knows what people need.”

“Paul’s special that way. I was much like him when I was five.” Drawn into her memories, she continued in a dreamy voice, “You are special too. I think you have yet to discover your talent.”

“I don’t have one. I’m not ‘special’ like you or Paul, and I can’t do anything cool like the sisters. What’s my talent?”

She hesitated. “It wouldn’t be fair to God if I told you.”

“How can someone be unfair to God? Aren’t you always telling me that he’s in control of everything?”

“Of course.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

“I’m sorry. I just see that you have a lot to learn.” She paused, but before she could continue, the rest of the family came in.

Elana exclaimed, “How did you know I wanted to see you all?”

“I don’t know.” Paul said. “I just thought you would.” His cornflower blue eyes shone.

“Just ‘cause you saw Samuel go in, Bug-Brain.” Leslie said.

Samuel ignored Elana’s sympathetic look. “Shut up, Leslie!”

Elana’s face fell. Why did it bother her when he wasn’t the perfect big brother?

She whipped the curtain shut. “I’m tired. I’m glad I got to see you before I go to sleep. Can someone come by to see me tomorrow? Samuel and Paul don’t have anything to do.”

Samuel’s mother hesitated. “Maybe.”

As the family exited, Elana caught Samuel and whispered in his ear, “God’s ready for you. Are you ready for him?” He started to ignore her, but she continued. “Show me how much you love Mama and those little ones. See you in the morning.”

~~~

Samuel flopped into a chair beside the hospital bed. It was not quite 3 am. He and Paul were up in the middle of the night, Samuel with questions, Paul with answers.

Paul had tried to explain what he called “sovereignty” to Samuel, but try as he might, it still didn’t make sense. All Samuel could think of to say was, “If God is a loving God, he wouldn’t do this. I need Elana.”

After Samuel had said this about three times, Paul gave up on him. “You know, if I’m the next best thing to Elana when it comes to explaining stuff to you, I’ve got a lot to learn. This is going right over your head. Let’s go see Elana.”

Samuel had protested, though that was really what he wanted. If Paul thought it was a good idea to visit her, he was probably right.

Elana looked over the edge of the bed at Samuel. “I thought you might visit tonight. Samuel needed someone to talk to. I’m glad you were awake, Paul.”

“I do a pretty miserable job at explaining to Samuel.”

“You’ll learn. What did you want to ask me?”

Samuel had a thousand questions before. Now only one came to mind. “Why is God doing this?”

Elana’s forehead creased. “Don’t know. Maybe my work’s done here and God’s ready for me to come home. Maybe it’s for Paul’s sake, so that he has a chance to use his gift without me getting in the way. Maybe it’s for you. Your faith and love, they’ve never really been real to you. This trial is going to make or break you. Do you understand?”

Samuel understood all too well. Faith and love were everything. He didn’t have either. Elana and Paul did, and you could see it in everything they did. The girls didn’t have that love either, and that was why they were so mean.

“Samuel,” Paul said, “Don’t cry on me. There’s a lot more than just that. Take my Bible for a second.” He handed a black book to Samuel from his coat pocket. “Look up 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 and verse 13.”

“Love always protects, always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

“So, even if I do die, my love lives on. It never fails. Three things remain, Samuel. Faith, hope and love. Faith is your trust in God. Hope is the expectancy that things will get better than this. And love is the greatest thing in the world. And that’s what binds me to you, Samuel. And nothing can ever break that. Nothing in the world. And, if I do die, you’re going to be big brother to all these kids. Your love needs to spill over to them. Can you do that?” Elana gazed down at him.

Paul crawled up on the chair behind him. “I’m always there for you too. I’m only five, I’ve got a lot to learn, but, I’m always there to pray for you.”

“I can do that.”

~~~

It had been a week since Samuel learned the power of love. Elana was still going to die, but somehow it was better.

Love never fails.

That was what was getting him through.

He still wasn’t completely at peace with Elana’s impending death, but he knew God would get him through it. Love would prevail.

He sat down on the sofa. The cushion Samuel was on dipped. Paul crawled up behind, and wrapped an arm around Samuel’s shoulder.

And in that moment, Samuel felt love pouring down on him. A voice whispered, “I love you, Samuel. Nothing can separate us.”

He smiled. “Nothing in the world.”

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THE END
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Check out Catey's blog: Sparks of Illumination

Apples & Apple Dip - Dippin' With Some Fun

We use this recipe a lot whenever Dad brings home some big juicy apples. It's great if you are going to have a cookout, or having a get-together, or if just want to enjoy a little sweet, but healthy treat with your family. It takes hardly anything to make, and it so good, you'll want to make it again!

The Dippin' Dip

3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese
1/4 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts work best in this)
about a tablespoon of vanilla

Now, if you have let the cream cheese sit out, you can do this with your hand, but if not, you can put it in the electric mixer and do it.

Put the cream cheese in a bowl, and start mashing it with the fork. Or if you are using a mixer, do it on low speed. Next pour the sugar in, one at a time, mixing it well before adding the next. Next you mix the vanilla in. That way it's a little bit softer. Now the last thing is to put the nuts in. Now mix all that up really good, making sure the sugars have not clumped anywhere. There's your apple dip.

I want to let you know something - if you are having a get-together and want this to be a part of the food, and you are making it ahead of time, do not cut the apples too. They will turn brown. It won't hurt if you do, but if you don't have to, make sure they are freshly cut.

Now, time to cut the apples. My favourite way to cut them is with a sharp knife. But if you do this, ask an adult to help you with this. If not, and you have an apple-corer on hand, use that. It will be quick to use it.

Once, you have done this, you are finished! Now, you can place the bowls of apples and apple dip on the table and set out some plates for people to come and get their own. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do. When we make, it doesn't last very long once you get the Littles started!

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Check out Rachel's blogs...
A City on a Hill
The Milk and Honey TeaRoom
Rachel's Reasoning

The Shed

The Shed

By Eliza, age 14 - Featuring artwork by her sister, Kate, age 18

There it stood

Unnoticed by passerbys

Ignored by humankind

A haven from this world

There she stood

A pencil in her hand

A searcher of beauty

Hand aching for grace

There she found it

In that small, neglected shed

A grace like no other

A charm never before

There she waited

Contemplating

Fingers fiddling the pencil in her hand

Oh, how to capture it!

There she sat

One moment sketching

The next unmoving

Always creating

There she stood

A smile on her face

Grace, charm

She had done it

There it stood

Unnoticed by passerbys

Ignored by humankind

A haven from this world

- THE END -