The X Files and Critical Thinking

I am slowly and nitpickingly making my way through The X Files, which is on Netflix right now.  (I don't watch every episode; my favorites are the ones with monsters in them.  I'm a sucker for a good Loch Ness creature or Sasquatch.  ::grin::  I know, I'm hopeless.)

Can you believe that I never watched them when they were "in season"?  I saw a bit of one once when I was younger, and the antagonists of the episode scared me so much that I never wanted to see more.  It's very funny to watch them now, because they are so excessively campy and dramatic. 

Sometimes it makes me think though.  I have a tendency to extrapolate and overthink things, but it sometimes seems to me that the believer/skeptic dialog between Mulder and Scully could sometimes be taken as a metaphor for the dynamics between Christian/nonbeliever schools of thought.

Sometimes there are snippets that make me think of the way the government seems to view its citizens nowadays, like this exchange between the Cigarette Smoking Man and an alien dude who's decided not to help the cabal take over the world, or whatever.  ::shrug::  I don't follow it that closely!

CSM:   “Who are you to give them hope?!”

 

 

alien dude:  “What do you give them?”

 

 

CSM:   “I give them happiness; they give us authority.”

 

alien dude:  “Yes, in order to give them freedom under the guise of democracy.”

 

CSM:   “Men can never be free, because they are weak, corrupt, worthless, and restless.  People believe in authority.  They’ve grown tired of waiting on miracle and mystery.    Science is their religion.  No greater explanation exists for them.  They must never believe any differently…”

Doesn't that last paragraph kind of encapsulate what society is like, for the most part?  A bunch of sheep, keeping in line, doing what they're told.  Believing what the "experts" tell them with no pause to evaluate it for themselves.  Depending on the "benevolent" powers-that-be to protect, educate, provide for them.  Offering up their freedoms right and left for the most transient "benefits".

I think sometimes that Satan is probably rolling on the floor laughing at how mindlessly we go through life, and how easily we are deceived.  I'm speaking in generalities, of course, but sometimes it amazes me how little effort people expend to THINK for themselves. 

I'll step down off my soapbox now.  :)  Before I get a bunch of comments along the lines of "who are you to judge," let me say that I realize I am as guilty of this as the next person; we're all human, and flawed.  But at least I'm trying!

 

A Miscellany/Menu Post, in which we learn that I ramble really well :D

What would be a good post for a Monday?  Probably a Miscellany or Menu post.

Or maybe both rolled up into one?

:)

Monday
bf - probably cake and donuts for the kids (What?!  We had a birthday over the weekend, and it has to be eaten before it goes stale.)

lunch - leftovers

supper - spaghetti, green beans, peas


Tuesday
bf - probably taters and eggs (made with French fries leftover from the weekend)

(Actually, bf may end up being pb&j they can make themselves, because I intend to be out late Monday night at a Mom's Night Out at our Co-op.  :)  This is the point where, if I were telling you this face-to-face, I'd probably break out into a chorus of "Everything is awesome!"  from the Lego Movie.  'Cause I'm a geek like that.)

Where was I?  Ah, yes, lunch - probably leftovers again, with mac & cheese to fill out the meal.  And I'll probably throw in whatever leftover veggies are lurking in the fridge, because everyone knows that you can't taste veggies if they are covered in cheese.  Right?

supper - something chicken, maybe with mashed potatoes? and gravy?


Wednesday
supper - Salisbury steak (or meatloaf), green beans, broccoli/cauliflower w/cheese


Thursday
supper - chicken with ... I'm not sure yet, but I'll have it figured out by then.  It's only Monday, people!  Chill.


Friday
This is a big grocery shopping day for us.  Maybe I'll even get around to explaining that, what with my newfound (or rediscovered?) passion for blogging.  Anyway, bf will be quick, lunch will be at Wendy's, and supper will be burgers (of the frozen variety) and some veggies.


Well, as you can see, I'm very decisive and uber-prepared in the area of cooking.  Not.  Actually, our menus are on a rotation, and I've been doing it long enough that I pretty much know what I have available and what is next up on the list.  That makes it easy to not have to devote so much time to it.  And thought, because some days, it feels like there are only so many little grey cells on the job, and they really should be employed in some important pursuit, like making sure the kids get taught that day.  And that I brush my teeth.  And stuff like that.

(Am I the only mom who forgets to brush her teeth more often than she'd like to admit?  I hope not.  But oh, well.  The truth hurts.)

And if you know what literary character I'm referencing in that next-to-last paragraph, you get brownie points! 

MM : Starting the new year with a bang...

...or at least a little deception.

I know, I know - I'm so bad.

My apologies.

It turns out that January 1 is NOT my birthday.

Who knew?

(Actually, I had a couple relatives question the occasion last year.

Those Kocher ladies are sharp!)

In my defense, I don't want any more personal info floating around in cyberspace

than already is.  I figure, any little thing I can do, right?

I realize that being a blogger and being very protective of the details of my life

is a big, fat, ugly oxymoronic situation.

Oh, well.

If you sent me very nice birthday wishes on Facebook yesterday,

I apologize again.  I'm not trying to make you feel foolish.

Thanks for the good wishes.

I really do appreciate them.

Here's hoping a great week is underway for you!

linking up with carissa

Miscellany Monday : What is today?

Ahh, Miscellany Monday.

I love you, because Monday is Maintenance Day around here.

For at least one evening, everyone will have clean socks.

The living room will be dusted.  And vacuumed.

The kitchen will look more than moderately presentable.

Today we started the Jesse Tree Advent Devotional,

from Ann at A Holy Experience.

Yes, we were supposed to start on November 29th,

and no, I don't care.  We're doing it anyway.

I've been intending to do it for a couple years now,

and we always get busy with other stuff.

Tonight, I get to go to writing class.  Yay!

(And, no, I'm not sucking up,

just in case my instructor is visiting The Home Front today!)

But, it's the last one.  BOOO!

I can't believe it went by so fast.

We put up stockings today.

That's always a good thing!

All four boys picked out the one they wanted,

with not much fighting or pouting.

That's also a good thing.

*grin*

I haven't been blogging as much lately, because I'm

working on a new story.

And a poetry collection.

And lesson plans.

And a school schedule, to implement after the holidays.

And cleaning the house.

And trying to remember the real reason for Christmas

is not the decorations, the gifts, or the food.

It's the Baby.

Hope your Monday is going well!

Miscellany Monday : Grrr!

Hi, my name is Tori.

And I'm a Bears fan.

I wasn't always a Bears fan;

it's something I acquired by marriage.

My husband and I are raising four football-crazy, rough and tumble boys,

and they're Bears fans too.

We loved the game yesterday -

a game we thought we weren't going to be able to see in our area

{blackouts - GRRR!}

until right before gametime.

Can I just say it?

BEARS WIN!!!

There are few things more fun than rooting for your favorite team

with your family on a chilly Sunday afternoon,

with everyone stuffed to the gills with {really, really good} chili,

and looking forward to a dinner of

pancakes and jelly, sausage, and

biscuits and gravy.

Oh. My. Goodness.

But back to the game...

I have a newfound appreciation for Jay Cutler,

aka "Spork"

{by me, anyway}

(cutler = cutlery = spork)

He's been taking some hard hits,

including a knee to the back of the head yesterday!

And he shook it off

and threw a beautiful touchdown pass.

He scrambled for a first down,

and didn't slide once he got there.

He stayed on his feet and kept running.

He's even been throwing blocks to stop crucial plays.

Does your favorite quarterback sacrifice himself

for the good of the team?

Mine does.

Unfortunately, it looks like he may have a broken thumb.

On his throwing hand.

And maybe, possibly, might be able to play

when we get to the playoffs.

(Yeah, I'm lookin' at you, Green Bay!)

I have a feeling this may be our year.

Hope springs eternal in the heart of a Bears fan!

{Speedy recovery to you, Spork!}

{And good luck next week, Hanie!}

linked up with Carissa @ lowercase letters

MM : Speechless?

Wow, it’s been so long since I wrote a blog post that I don’t remember how to begin!  Me – at a loss for words? 

Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of word-working.  Just started attending a creative writing class once a week at the local community college.  (Just started – meaning, it began in August.) 

It’s been very good for me.  And a lot of fun.  But also it’s very strange to have homework to do every week.  *grin*

It’s difficult sometimes to find the time to fit everything in.  I’m still giving my best efforts toward running the house smoothly:  the cooking and cleaning and keeping the kids fed and educated properly.

But I’m also making time everyday to write.  That’s what I feel I’ve been called and gifted to do.  But, you don’t become a body-builder by reading books on lifting weights, right?  So, I’ve been regularly exercising my writing muscles.

(You think I jest?  I finished 3 poems and wrote 1000 words of an essay over the weekend, and got a few nonsense ideas for more verse typed up last night.  Whew!  Makes me tired just thinking about it.)

I have such big dreams for the future…but I won’t get there if I don’t put forth the effort.  (Although, if God has a big, fat book contract sitting around that He wants to get rid of … just kidding!)

What does this have to do with The Home Front?

Good question.  I’m going to try to develop a regular posting schedule.  Ask my kids – if a job isn’t posted in plain sight (preferably in several different spots, with multiple colors of sticky notes) I’ll forget, and it won’t get done.  Hopefully, with a planned posting method, I’ll be able to keep you all in the loop. 

So, here’s to big dreams, lots of prayer, juggling moms, and enjoying the journey!

PS - Happy Blogaversary to me!

PS (again!) - Linking up with Carissa at lowercase letters for miscellany monday...even though it's Tuesday...and not very miscellaneous...oh, well!

MM : Robert Ridgway Grasslands Nature Preserve

I know, I know…another nature walk?

It was just too nice to stay indoors today.

And now that I have a blog

{and somewhat of a captive audience…hehehe}

I feel compelled to take pictures and post them.

{Even though I will never argue that I have any skill

for taking good pictures.

Holding the camera just makes me feel…

professional.

And bossy.}

Today we went with Grandma and Grandpa

to the Robert Ridgway Grasslands Nature Preserve.

{You’ve heard of Robert Ridgway, right?}

The last time we were here, it was summer,

and everything was in bloom.

This time,

everything is drying out.

Fall is on the way.

The pond is much smaller than before,

due to the lack of rain in the last two months.

But it was by far the greenest place on our walk,

and there were still frogs on the bank.

And tracks, of course,

from thirsty raccoons.

We also spotted this track through the grass.

Can you see the break in the stems, just to the left

of the sign post?

We think it might have been made

by a turtle – giant snapping or box,

we’re not sure which.

{Thankfully} we didn’t see any of those today.

We saw lots of milkweed…

in the pod…

bursting from the pod…

and covered in little orange bugs.

In fact, there were a lot of tiny creatures

and specimens to examine.

Cocoons…

strange little berries/seeds the size of my fingertip…

{or, as my 4yo insisted, “pumpkins”}

tiny milkweed-pod-bug…

{why, yes, that is the scientific name for this critter!}

and thistle…beautiful…

and prickly.

But mostly just beautiful.

Since I’m really really not good at taking pictures,

you can’t get a sense of the incredible

life

of all the rustling grasses, reaching in all directions

as far as the eye can see,

bending and waving in the wind…

or the sky,

filled with clouds

and slanting sunshine

and blue peeking through

like your favorite little boys’ eyes…

or these amazing little treasures,

like miniature roses,

nestled in among ferns and big blue stem

and Indian grass…

seemingly dried out and hard,

but so delicate that this one nearly

crumbled in my fingers.

And isn’t that an interesting picture of us?

Walking the path we’ve decided is best

for ourselves, ignoring the beauty around us

through our tunnel vision,

ignoring the Creator who put it there,

and who put us where we are,

right now,

until we’re dry and shriveled up

and worn out

with trying to be tough enough

and ready to fall to pieces

at the merest touch.

But just remember…

there is a way home.

And He is waiting for you,

and there is new life,

eternal life,

that is yours for the asking.

Linking up with Carissa at lowercase letters for

Miscellany Monday

MM: The Good, the Bad, & the UGLY

 

 

Good:  got up to go walk early this morning & got a mile in before the kiddos were up

 

Bad:  forgot to put more minutes on the cell phone

 

Good:  the minutes (although late) seemed to show up in good time, so my procrastination (seemingly) didn’t cost me

 

Bad:  minutes good, deactivation bad (That flushing sound you hear is my money going down the drain…)

 

Bad:  customer service is ludicrously less than helpful

 

Worse:  my attitude is embarassingly not very patient.  or kind.  or forgiving.  (or accepting of blame…see procrastination above)

 

Worst:  the sermon yesterday was on patience.  I was going to be a model of forebearance today.  I think there’s a better chance that I gave others an excuse to practice it toward me.

 

Good:  in the end, after worrying, ranting, complaining, simmering, pouting, and dwelling on this problem (of my own making), the phone turns out to still work

 

UGLY:  didn’t exactly set a great example for the kids today.  or the people I scowled at without thinking of it at Wal-Mart.  or my family who had to listen to me complain.  or the customer service folks who tried to the best of their ability to help me.

 

Good:  even when I’m more than a little unpleasant and my attitude isn’t right, my Lord doesn’t reject me

 

Better:  when I ask Him to help me to overcome my weaknesses and sins, He will

 

Best:  tomorrow is a new day

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

“Summer School”

We don’t actually “do school” in the summer.  Honestly, though, do you ever stop learning?  My cousin (Hi, Cally!) graduated with her teaching degree last month; is her head filled with all the knowledge she’ll ever need?  Of course not.
We all learn continuously throughout our lives.  So when my kids have teachable moments, I grab that opportunity and utilize it.  Even if it’s summer time.  (And even if they don’t actually realize that they’re learning.) 
Also—I document the undercover lesson to add to next year’s portfolios.  *grin*
So, thanks to the public library’s summer reading program, they spent some time planning and constructing castles.  (This year’s theme is “A Midsummer Knight’s Read,” and they have many Middle Ages themed activities planned.  Coincidentally, guess what my little boys are studying in history this fall?  Sweet!)

Here’s my 4-year-old’s vision of Bowser’s Castle, from a video game. (With some LOTS of help from his 14-year-old brother!)

This one is titled “Mozzarella” (a take-off from Cinderella) by my 10-year-old.  The blue mouse is fleeing the Mouse Ball and has lost a slipper; the red mouse is in pursuit of his rodent fair.

This one is Castle Grayskull, by my 8-year-old.  He was going to include an action-hero He-Man toy, but three-dimensional He-Man was twice as tall as our drawbridge opening.  So he used two-dimensional He-Man instead.  (Many thanks to Dad for printing that up!)

____________________

But we’ve been up to more than just medieval architecture.

I put these place-mats charts of the Presidents and the states and capitals on the cork board next to the kitchen table.  You would not believe the memorization that’s been going on, just because they see it so frequently!  The older boys have even taught the 4yo the first few presidents.  Since I have 4 boys, everything they do becomes a contest, and it’s not unusual to hear, “Quiz me!” while waiting for dinner to be served.

____________________

And now we pause for one of those moments that make me so thankful that we homeschool.

My 4yo was drawing this morning.  Here’s his picture of Grandma’s barn.

He wanted to know how to spell barn, so I told him.  The he looked at the word for a minute, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.  He sounded out the letters, and his face lit up as he connected the sounds with the letters, and the letters with the word, and the word with his picture and the actual building at Grandma’s house.
And he wanted to know more.

Silly me couldn’t think of anything else that rhymed with “barn” off the top of my head, so we did “farm” and “warm" before switching to the much easier “dog.”  (And of course, he had to write his name multiple times for good measure.)
Ahhhh, I love an impromptu phonics lesson masquerading as fun on the dry erase board before lunch!  But I have to run—we’re building bald pirate mother potato head people this afternoon!  When is naptime, again?


linking up to Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

Listening to Lately…

Who You Are

by Tenth Avenue North

……….

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

……….

These are not the entire lyrics for this song; it’s just the bridge and the chorus.  The kids and I saw Tenth Avenue North perform this on the 2011 Dove Awards broadcast, and I’ve had these lines stuck in my head for days.  (Thank you to my wonderful husband for downloading the CD for me!)

Anyway – isn’t that the truth?  I’m a new creature in Christ.

I don’t have to worry about the mess I was in when He found me.

Or the enormous messes I end up in, which are entirely of my own making.

Or how unworthy I feel the majority of the time. 

I am remade!

Linking up to lowercase letters for Miscellany Monday

MM : Dratted Rhymes!

 

I wonder…can I make a Miscellany Monday post…in rhyme…off the top of my head…at nearly 10 o’clock in the evening?  Let’s see!

 

It’s late and I have two  three many loads of laundry to fold.

Can you believe just a few days ago we were all cold?

Today was so beautiful, with the thermometer a-climb,

That I sent the kids outside for a long, long time.

They came in muddy to the knees – thank you, Spring!

I’m so glad you’re here; please don’t change a thing.

Attended a baby shower for my cousin yesterday;

What fun!  Reminded me how the days slip away.

It seems my boys were tiny just a short time ago.

Today the littlest one dropped a weight on his toe.

Fortunately, God has built him like a tank.

Lord – You are so good to me, I must THANK

YOU,

Father – for another week well begun.

Blessings to all of you – from the Home Front!

 

Okay – rather cheesy, I know.  I really hate rhyming.  Like, with a passion.  How’d I do?

 

Linking up to Miscellany Monday at Lowercase Letters

Miscellany Monday

1.  I recently got a straightening iron…or flat iron…whatever you want to call it.  Love, love, love the new ‘do.  I’ve never been much of a makeup-and-perfume type girl, but I have a feeling this little miracle-working appliance is taking up permanent residence in the bathroom.
2.  Is it spring yet?  I mean, how can I have a mountain of muddy clothes to wash and a backyard swamp behind the house and it not be spring yet?
3.  Just did a walking workout DVD by Leslie Sansone.  A lot of fun, and really got my heart rate up there.  Personal prediction : many miles of fun in the foreseeable future.
4.  My son put up the newest addition to the schooling area (otherwise known as the kitchen table) in our house.  A wall-mounted white board and bulletin board.

How cool is that!?!  (Triple punctuation is allowed in instances of extreme nerdy ecstasy.)  We are studying (among other things) the presidents and state capitals.  And we always have the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance up.  (Good job, son!)
5.  Here’s my feet.  Very interesting, no?  I include them only because I am thankful for them.  They carried me 2 miles this evening.  Way to go, toes!  Can you tell I’m tired?  ROFLOLSCOMM…not really.  I don’t have any soda in the house right now, and I’m way too tired to clean up the ensuing mess if I was actually doing that.  Good night!

LOVE (What else?)

 

 

So, I’m grabbing a few minutes online after the kids are in bed, and I realize that it’s Monday.  So, I’m linking up to Miscellany Monday.  And while I’m really, really beat (explanations forthcoming), I also realize that I have something to say about…

LOVE

Valentine’s Day is almost a non-event at our house this year.  We’re coming off a week of at least one kid being sick every day for the last week.  Some slightly sick – just enough to make them cranky and uncomfortable.  Some really sick – like, I-wish-we-had-more-buckets sick.

And today, I realized that it’s Valentine’s Day, and I didn’t have a card for my wonderful husband.  In fact, I didn’t even mention it till after lunch because my mind has been on the kiddos.

And he didn’t care.  He didn’t feel neglected.  Even though I really have been neglecting a lot this last week.  And it hit me…

THIS IS LOVE.

Love that waits until this weekend to go out to a movie.

Love that tends to the upchucking kids in the middle of the night (because I slept right through it).

Love that hugs me when I really, really needed a hug, and cheers me up when I felt really awful.

Love that took time out of his busy work day to send me texts that made my day.

Looking forward to spending some time with you this weekend, hon!  I love you!

MM : Joy, Anticipation, and the Agony of Defeat

1.  Wow – it was hard to leave the title with lowercase letters!  I’m a little OCD on the spelling / capitalization front.  Not to the point that I carry a marker and correct signs that are wrong when I’m out and about, but pretty close to it.  I’m also a bit OCD with packing the grocery sacks at Wal-Mart.  The self-checkout is a wonderful thing, because I can put exactly the right number of canned vegetables in each bag, and all the boxes go together, and everything gets put in the cart in order, so I can load into the van in order, and I maximize space and minimize broken sacks!  Ahhh, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.  In a good way.  Where was I?


2.  Oh, yes - I’m so excited!  I just figured out how to switch to italics as I type, instead of finishing the post and hunting for all the little things I wanted to italicize.  Come to think of it, italicize is a very cool word.  Say it with me…italicize…okay – I think I’m alright now.  Just about slipped over the edge there.  Whew!

 

3.  Here’s a bookmark I found in the book I picked up for the first time in probably years, made by one of my kiddos.  Why do I include this, you ask?  ‘Cause it makes me happy!

 

And the back.

(I know that he would want me to point out at this point that he does, indeed, know how to spell quilt.  It was made when he was probably like, 6, or something…you know, like practically an infant.)

5. Two key words I’ve been pondering a lot lately:

BALANCE          &          INTENTIONALITY

6. Let’s see…what’s on tap for this week at The Home Front?  Glad you asked!  Another entry in the 5000 Year Leap series - who’s feeling patriotic? 

And I’m finished with Love on a Diet, by Wendy Jeub.  I’ll be sharing some things I’ve been inspired to implement in my own life.



7.  Hopefully, we’ll be planning a Super Bowl party at my house in a couple weeks, to watch the Bears win! Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please!

7.  What I mean to say is -- the Bears lose…again.  It came right down to the wire…again.  Why can this team make me believe – really believe – that we might have a chance at pulling out a win?  Even facing a historically insurmountable points deficit…and a third-string quarterback taking the snaps?
Sometimes it hurts to be a Bears fan.  My throat is sore from yelling at the TV, and (if I may be permitted a very unmanly moment of reflection) my heart is sore for the Bears.  Especially Hanie.  Good try, dude.  Nice work.


Linking up to miscellany monday at lowercase letters.