Slideshow of my baptism

This is a slideshow of the baptism on August 2, 2009 in NC, when I (and 3 others) got baptized.

My trip to North Carolina

Thank you to each one who prayed for me and my trip to North Carolina. I had a very good trip, with several new experiences. It was a first time for me to fly and for me to be without my immediate family for any amount of time. I really enjoyed being with my cousin, Shari's family and meeting lots of their church people. (Shari's husband, Eric, is a pastor.) Eric and Shari took me to the beach one Friday, and I got to go for a boat ride with Eric and Mitch (age 3). We also went to Williamsburg, VA on the Thursday before I left. I was glad to have the opportunity to get baptized while I was visiting there.
I had a fun time playing with Mitch and Mandi and helping care for the twin babies, Michael and Melissa, who became 2 months old while I was there.
I had good flights on my way to NC and back home to CO. I had to change planes once on my way there. On the way home I had three flights without changing planes, but we went to FL and LA before coming to CO.
Everyday was busy, whether we did one of the above mentioned outings, or if we just played toys, changed diapers, and did housework! :)
For those of you who are curious about if I liked NC - a new state for me - I lkiked about everything except the bugs and humidity.
I did get a little homesick a couple of times, but by the time it was time to come home, I felt like NC was a second home.
Since coming home, I have been trying to get back into the "Beth-in-Colorado" normal. I was gone 10 days with my family visiting family in MO and helping with a VBS, had one day home to do laundry and repack, then I had the 25 day trip to NC.
Before my trips to MO and NC I had 3 flute lessons, and was borrowing a flute from the teacher to see if I would like to learn to play flute. After ~2 months and those 3 lessons I have decided not to continue the lessons.
We started home-school again today. I am the oldest student this year, and I'm doing 11th grade.
Enjoy the pictures!

Mandi and Mitch in Williamsburg, VA

L-R: Melissa, me, Michael

Melissa and Eric

Mandi, Shari, and Mitch having lunch in Williamsburg, VA

The beautiful tree we sat under

historic downtown Williamsburg, VA

a small NC highway

Makin' cookies with Mitch and Mandi

Melissa and Michael

Mitch and his clown design

Mandi

Mitch and I after the boat ride

Thanks for stoppin' by.

Life goes on...

For sake of time and truthfulness I will forgo the expected apologies concerning lack of blog posts since March 9th and vain promises of future posts!

First off, the picture below is one that my sister-in-law Brenda took and manipulated of my second nephew, Micah. Isn't he sweet?


In the afternoon of Sunday May 24th, we decided to go for a drive in the foothills before a Bible Study with our friends. We had an enjoyable time, but after a while of driving down from the "mountain" we were feeling just a little strange in our stomachs and decided to stop for a few minutes. Mother rested in the van, while the rest of us walked around a little. It was sprinkling, so I used my umbrella which reads, "Follow the Son".

Such a nice picture methinks.

L-R: Emily, Jeffrey, me, and Jason

After we were "refreshed" we went on down the mountain. We found a restful lake to have supper beside.

L-R: Mother, Jason, Jeffrey, me, and Emily (Dad was behind the camera.)

We went on and had Bible Study at our friends' home.

As some of you know it is a Rowen Albertson family tradition to do window washing and spring cleaning on Memorial Day. There have been a few exceptions, but this year wasn't one of them. So the six of us did it.

Last Friday, Mother and we four kids went to the Historic Parish House Museum, and helped out by pulling weeds. Then in the evening Daddy, Mother, Emily, and I went to a wedding.

Last Saturday was a very busy day with house cleaning, an art class for Jason and Emily, and going to an 100th birthday party for my great-aunt Hazel. You can read about the party on Jason's or my family's blogs.

This week has been pretty busy. Jeff left on Monday for boot-camp and the Touching Lives for Christ trip to Haiti he's going on. Also on Monday we babysat my three munchkin babysitting kids. That was kinda fun, and they wore Jason out with their energetic play.

On Tuesday I had my first ever flute lesson with a home-school girl. She is lending me an extra flute of hers, and doing the lessons for a good price. I am considering learning flute, and hope to decide whether or not to in the course of a couple/few lessons. I have been practicing, but I don't know if I'm doing it right.




Jason and Emily are continuing their cello and violin lessons (respectively) and practice nigh every day.

The last two evenings (Wed. and Thurs.) Dad took Jason, Emily, and I fishing at our beautiful Johnstown Reservoir. On Wednesday it was windy and sprinkling so we didn't stay long at all. As for comments on last nights fishing: the weather was perfect, the lake was pretty, and I am not a good fisher-lady!

Me fishing on Wednesday


Today Jason and I had our eye doctor appointments. Jason is getting new lenses, and I'm getting new glasses.

Tomorrow is Johnstown BBQ Day. Our friend will be participating in some of the activities with us including: attending the parade, visiting booths in the park, having the BBQ dinner at the park, and fireworks. Just for the record I don't like parades, but I guess since two of my babysitting kids are in it this year, and since it's my civil duty, I better watch it.

So, like my title says.. life goes on.

An update

I haven't posted in a while. I feel bad about that. A tiny bit. I really like it when people post on their blogs. I respect people who take the time to tell us about their lives. I like reading blogs. So why don't I post on my blog? Who knows. Maybe it's because life is so daily: school, babysitting, weekly cleaning. Maybe it's because Facebook statuses are quicker and shorter...

My sister thinks I should post more pictures on my blog then I have in the past. Maybe I do, but usually my family's blog is the picture one.

Babysitting has been fun for me recently. The two year old I babysit the most is learning lots about putting thought and words together and understanding stuff. He asks lots of questions, "What's dat?", etc.

Lincoln likes to hear Jason playing his cello, or Emily playing her violin. Before he knew about Em's violin, he heard her playing it in another room, and said, "Jason, cello."

Our home-school group has been having a series of speech classes, four Mondays. We have completed three of them and practiced semi-public speaking. The first assignment was to memorize and present a written work, and the second assignment was to give a speech on something we're interested in. We have completed both of these. We have enjoyed the speech classes.

Yesterday we had a busy day, starting by going to Lakewood, CO to the Sunday School and morning service at the Wesleyan Bible Church. After a good service we went to some friend's home for dinner with 2 other families.

Alex E., Jill B., Jenae E.


The adult table, pic 1.

The adult table pic 2.

After food and fellowship there, we had to go, because we had Bible study in Loveland, CO in the evening with some other friends. We had a good Bible study with the Lord's help. I also enjoyed visiting with a friend on the phone in the afternoon.

Prayer Requests:
My older siblings, Randy and Joy, and Tim and Brenda, went to Bus Convention last week. They have been needing new ideas for their ministry in Joplin, MO. They really need our prayers for their ministry. They are working with children and young people, and need God's touch. Please pray for their health as several of them have been struggling with sickness.

I have enjoyed writing to Heather Dickinson recently and reading her blog. I ask you to pray for her family. They are missionaries in Columbia, S. America and have several burdens right now.

I'm Too Near

On Saturday, March 7, 2009 four young'ns lined up in their living room to sing "I'm Too Near". They are (L-R) Jeff (singing tenor), Beth (soprano), Jason (bass), and Emily (alto).

Preteen Pro-Life Speech

Pictures of Our Babysitting

On Monday afternoon, we had all 3 of the B. kids, instead of just Lincoln because the girls were off school. Jason, Emily, Faith, Hope, and I went to the Letford Elementary School playground, and there we played tag. It was warm, but windy!

L-R: Emily, Hope, and Faith posing


Faith and Emily playing tag -- neither of them was "it" right then


Me on the run playing tag...


Hope touching "base"

Lincoln last Friday

Our Week

We had a pretty busy week this week with school, babysitting, and life.

We had a game-playing afternoon activity with some home schoolers at our house last Monday because it was too cold to have the regular PE time in the park. Also on Monday afternoon, we babysat Lincoln as we also did on Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday morning we had another babysitting girl, Kara, here.

Friday Jeff drove Jason, Emily, himself, and me to a field trip at a sewer plant in Greeley, while Mother stayed home and babysat Lincoln. Friday night our other "babysitting" kids Lily and Sam M. came over. After they left I did a little "Saturday" cleaning.

Saturday we finished cleaning the house and Mother and I worked 1.5 hours cleaning the local Chamber of Commerce. After a relatively quiet afternoon, we had Bible Study with the Hinkle family. We finished our almost 2 year study of the Book of Mark.

After Bible Study we watched a very well-done, evidential documentary named: Unlocking the Mystery of Life. It was a blessing to us. It was fun for Jason and me especially (we are taking biology) to see things we've studied about, (such as: amino acids, proteins, cells, flagellum, etc.) put together in a big picture (literally) and explained. It is exciting how many scientists' eyes are being opened to the truth of Creation and the Creator!

Today we had church with a wonderful message on the sanctity of human life by Dr. Dave Gordeuk. We also enjoyed a walk in the sun-shiny, 60 degree, windy weather we had.

Important Lessons from 1 Timothy

This week, upon having completed a year of catechism from our online church (Hobe Sound Bible Church) we began reading through and discussing 1 Timothy in family devotions and have gotten up to chapter 5. There are some very important lessons/teachings in this book of the Bible.

[from 1 Tim. 2:1-4] In the very first part of chapter 2, Paul urged Timothy and those under his influence to pray for all men everywhere, especially those in authority over them. (Now of course this applies to us today.) It also says (besides prayers, intercessions, and supplications) that THANKSGIVING should be made for rulers. --We find praying for our president and other leaders especially important right during this time.-- But thanksgiving? That's a little harder if you have totally different morals/beliefs then they do. Although there were several wicked leaders in Paul's day, he added this word. That's interesting.

(2:2) "That ...prayers... be made... for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." In other words we need to pray that the laws being made will not make it so we have to disobey the law to serve God. So that we can serve God without going against governing authorities. "...in godliness" - serving God "and reverence," obeying laws.

We are to especially pray that they would get saved. (2:4) So we pray - along with other Christians- for our new president (his soul, his family, his choices, his influence, his cabinet); the representatives, senators, and all the other "rulers" (many of whom have turned their backs on God). We have prayed Proverbs 21:1 for our presidents (past and new) which says: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes" and have prayed that our president would have reverential fear of God in him.

The majority of chapter 3 is [sadly] commonly overlooked when people choose church leaders. Because of this people are led astray and are confused. Some even turn away from the faith because of the black mark people make against God's name and the hypocrisy that is present.

Chapter 3 ends with a wonderfully true and blessed saying. "In this verse Paul reckons up six principal heads of evangelical truth, which are to be asserted and defended by him; ushering them in with this preface, 'Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.' " [from William Burkitt's Notes]

The question of why we pray at meals is answered in chapter 4:4-5. And why is that? [First] to thank the Lord for provision for our needs; [second] to ask Him to protect us from any harm that could come from the food; [third] that He would bless the food to the nourishment of our bodies.

Very important teachings are given in 4:12, 13, 15, and 16. First that those who are "young" should be examples of righteousness (in various ways) despite their youth. [4:13 with my notes in parentheses] " give attention to reading (scripture), to exhortation (encouragement to righteous living - whether by preaching or by testimonies), to doctrine (the truth that the Church is built on)."

Well, that's all for now, since we haven't read the rest of 1 Timothy yet. Thanks for reading.

Sock Snowmen Making Instructions

A few years ago some friends of my family taught us how to make snowmen (and ladies) out of tube-socks. We have made several "batches" of snowmen since then. We have found snowmen-making to be a fun craft. The last time we made snowmen (with Mike D.) on Saturday, December 20th, we took pictures throughout the process and I decided to put instructions on here about how to make them. Maybe one of you will enjoy this hobby also. Please let me know if you do!

Here are pictures of two of the "snowmen families" or "snowmen armies" we've made:

Our first-ever sock snow-person family:

Our most recent sock snow-person family:


When/if you ever decide to make sock snowmen, be sure to use your imagination and be creative!

(All photo captions are in red font.)

Instructions

Gather Supplies:

- 1 brand-new athletic tube sock for each snow-person (It is up to you as to whether or not the sock has stripes or color.)

- a canning funnel

-pretty much any kind of grain or dry beans (we prefer grain to beans.) (See instructions below for an idea of how much you will need.)

Beans

-string or heavy thread

-scissors

-measuring cups

-hot glue gun and sticks of glue (and paper plate or something to avoid a mess)

Decorations:

- 1 sculpy-clay carrot for a nose (instructions on making them are below)

Sculpy-clay carrots for noses

- 4-8 buttons of your choice to decorate snowman

- felt (optional)

- spray-can lid for a top-hat (optional)

Top-hat making "ingredients"

-sticks for hands (optional)

-fabric for a scarf

-rick-rack and/or ribbon (optional)

-crochet thread to decorate stocking-cap hat (optional)

(This is what the snowlady looks like when we crocheted on the hat, and the different cute arrangements that can be made.)

Make:

The first thing you need to do is to make sculpy-clay carrot noses. (We bought regular orange sculpy clay from Hobby Lobby, but you could get it at any craft store.) Make carrot shapes approximately 1 1/4 inches long. Use a toothpick or something like that to draw lines on the carrot. Bake according to directions on the sculpy clay package. Store baked carrots in a baggy. Note: one package will make more "carrots" than you'd think!

You need to choose how many body segments you want your snowman to have: 2, 3, or 4. "Normal" sock snowmen have three, but ones with two or four are cute too. I am going to write the remaining instructions as if you were going to make a snowmen with three segments. The amount of grain or beans you'll need will depend on your sock and how many segments you want. The snowmen we most recently made (the ones with 3 segments) had 2 cups of beans on the lowest segments, 1 1/2 cups on the second segment, and 3/4 cup on the top segment. Please make adjustments as necessary. Usually the difference between one segment and the other is about 1/2 or 1/4 cup of grain.

Before you begin filling your snow-person sock you may want to turn your sock inside-out to have the fuzzy side out (so as to look more like snow).

Use the funnel and measuring cups to put some of the grain or beans into the bottom level of the snowperson. Tie with a string (7 inches long) securely. Cut thread. (I usually tie it three times on one side and two times on the other side.)

Add more grain and tie securely. Cut thread. (This is your 2nd segment.) Add more grain and tie securely. Cut thread. (This is your 3rd segment.) Are you pleased with the sizes of the segments and the overall look? If not, you may want to undo the ties and experiment with more or less grain in the segments. Once you're satisfied, arrange the cuff or the sock to look like a stocking-cap or some other kind of hat.

Before decorating, decide which your snowperson will be, a snow-man or a snow-lady.

Use a hot glue gun to glue the decorations on. Careful!

The basic decorations are: button eyes, carrot nose, as many buttons down his front as you want, and a scarf around his neck.

Additional ideas that we have come up with are:

-using rickrack or ribbon to decorate the hat or body of the snow person. (I have just a caution on this idea, as I have done it twice: there is a possibility of the ribbon slacking when the grain moves. I don't know what to advise, but just be aware that this could be a frustration.)

-using crochet thread to crochet around the edge of the stocking cap

-using felt and a spray-can lid to make a top-hat instead of a snow cap (instructions below)
-adding buttons for ears

-using felt and buttons to make ear-muffs

-using some kind of decoration to make a mouth

-making arms/hands with popcicle sticks or twigs

-adding a walking stick or skis

-making glasses (made of pipe-cleaners or something like that)

Instructions on one way to make a top-hat:
Get a black spray-can lid and felt. Make a circle of black felt 3/4 inch bigger around than the lid. Make a 3/4-1 in. hole in the middle. Pull the sock cuff through the felt hole, fold down the sock, and place the spray-can lid on top.

Pulling the sock cuff through the felt circle.

Securing the felt at the base of the cuff.

Placing the spray-can lid on top of the felt.

As far as anything else, use your imagination and have fun!