Relevant Reverence

Pollination Fun For Everyone

We are studying Botany this year in Science.  I just have to share this fun experiment because, honestly, everyone would like it.  :)

To teach my students how pollination works, I had them pretend they were bees. Bees need nectar that plants produce.  To get to the nectar, the bees shove their faces into the flower and consequently pick up a lot of pollen on their hairy body.  Then they go to the next flower (of the same type...did you know God made bees go to the same type of flower each day?  That's God's way of helping flowers to pollinate.  Hmm....)  In the new flower the pollen from the last flower gets on the carpel and pollinates that flower while at the same time, the bee picks up pollen from the new flower.  And on, and on it goes.  

(Side note: Plants don't need nectar but they know bees will come if they produce it.  Since plants need bees to come pick up pollen, they spend a lot of energy to produce nectar that they don't use.  On the flip side, bees don't use pollen for much, but they do need nectar.  That's a co-dependent relationship.  God is creative!)

Back to the fun experiment.  To help my students fully grasp this transfer of pollen, I had them pretend to be bees.  They had them dig their faces into (er... take a bite out of) a powdered sugar donut...without using hands.  In the process, they got powder all over their faces.  Then they had to dig their faces into (er... take a bite out of) a chocolate donut.  And wouldnt' you know...the chocolate donut ended up with lots of white powdered sugar on it.  That transfer of sugar is how pollination works.

 

My students declared this to be the "best science experiment EVER!"  While I'd love to take credit for it, I actually got the idea from our curriculum...Apologia Botany.  You can't beat Apologia.  It's the best!  

Germination Project

I totally geek-out on science so if you're not into dirt, guts, rocks, and chemicals you may want to skip this post.

Last week, just 7 DAYS AGO, I started a germination project with my science students. We "planted" bean seeds in ziploc bags and put them in three different areas to see which ones grew best. Seeds need water, air, and warmth (not sunlight) in order to germinate (wake up). My little man has been surprised to find that the seed he put in the closet is in fact germinating because it's warm even though it's dark.

Here's a picture of MY seed today. This is one of the best views I have ever seen of germination. I can see all the parts of the seed. The testa (seed coat), radicle (early form of the roots), hypocotyl (early form of the stem), cotyledons (sugar storage...think of the halves of a peanut), and...today, I can see the plumule (the first true leaves)! It's all there in plain view. Beautiful.

I *heart* science. :)

Multnomah Falls

A quick weekend getaway.
Frequent Flier Miles and
A rental car for just one day.

A 600 foot waterfall.
A mist of light rain.
A 6 mile hike that caused a little knee pain.

An afternoon nap.
A Giants game on TV.
Awake to find hot cocoa made just for me.

A French Cafe for brunch.
A stop for more coffee.
A little R&R is good for you and me.

Bye-Bye Diorama

For our study of World War One, Joshua built an elaborate diorama representing trench warfare.  He was rather fond of it (attached may be a better word) so it sat on our kitchen counter for a good month past the project date.  He showed it to any all who entered our humble abode.  But finally, it had to go.  For the good of mankind (especially his parents), it was time to say goodbye.  So, with sadness in his heart, he carefully (lovingly?) walked it to the trash can outside.  On his way out the door I heard him say, "The trashman who finds this is gonna say 'Wow!  Who would throw this out?  It's amazing!'"  I had to cover my mouth so he didn't hear the laugh escape.

Just goes to show that one's man trash is indeed another man's treasure.

This may be a good time to answer a common homeschooling question: What do I do with all the stuff?  My simple answer to that question is this: if it fits in a binder, put it in.  You can always find it later if you need it and if not, you have a nice record of your child's work.  If it doesn't fit in a binder, take a picture of it (preferrably with your child in the picture too), attach it to a plain piece of paper, put a date on the paper and maybe a sentence about the subject of the photo, and pop the paper into the binder.  So, far that system has worked for almost everything.

Space Video

This one is for you geeks and also for our homeschool buddies.  This family decided to send their HD video camera to space.  They put an iphone in the capsule to track the trip via GPS.  It's an amazing little science experiment.

Space Video

It's a Dad Life

This cracks us up!  Some great lyrics and, I just gotta say this, amazing acting!  Where did they find these guys?

Chris has decided that "manscape" is his new favorite word.  It's amazing to me how fast a new word can become commonplace.  We first heard the word "manscape" in a Leatherman Tool ad last month.  Now, here it is again.  How many times can you use it in a conversation this week?

All Pro Dad | Dad Life.

Our Big News

Ok. Here's what all the waiting and angst has been about. Our humble beginnings have been the baby steps to an international adoption. Yep, our little threesome is about to become a foursome. We are in the process of adopting an orphan from Ethiopia. We've set up an adoption blog (see tab up top) and will keep everyone posted on our progress through that blog. It's not much to look at right now but I'm working on it.

Please, when you think of us, pray for us. This has been a decision bathed in prayer for over three years. It has at times seemed an insurmountable proposition. But God has calmed our hearts and reassured us over and over again that this is His will for our family. We move forward in faith. And in fear, if we are honest. But even in fear, we trust.

Screwed

In Forgotten God Francis Chan wrote

"I don't want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn't be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through. That if He doesn't come through, I am screwed."

Yup! More on that later.

Sale on the Prayer Journal

I'm putting the prayer journal on sale....BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE!

Below, is the email I sent to my customers. Get your copies today.

Dearest Customers,

Thank you so much for your past support of the Talking With God prayer journal. Starting now and running through September (or until supplies run out) we are running a BUY ONE, GET ONE SALE. The journal has been a wonderful success. Now we have new goals and need to move this stock out of the closet. So, think ahead to Christmas and birthdays, baptisms and adoptions. Make a list of every little boy and girl (or big boys and girls) in your life who needs to learn how to pray and buy now. Remember, for every journal you buy, you get one FREE!

www.talkingwithgodjournal.com

Humble Beginnings

I read this verse this morning as part of my chronological read through the Bible and it made my day.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin... Zechariah 4:1

Tuck that away for now. Details to follow.