Sincerely Amanda
The Writings Of Amanda Read

Christmas has come and gone once again. Year twenty o’six is nearly over.

We had a splendid Christmas party with family at our Grandparents’ house on the 23rd (little cousins are growing up fast!). Grandmomma gave Rachel and I each a very pretty old-fashioned white nightgown with lace and burgundy velvet trimming. They match exactly and are very lovely. I’m sure the other little Read bloggers want to fill you in on their gifts…

We also had a game of “Dirty Santa”, as tradition holds, and Rachel and I played this time. We managed to find nice gifts; an ivory ceramic potting bowl with narcissus bulbs and an ivory shelf with two picture frames and a clock (which will complement our bedroom walls very nicely).

The feast (you might say that we had three days of feasting ) was delicious. Dad, by the way, tried his hand at cooking some huge cuts of venison in the smoker on the 22nd. It was roughly a 24 hour project total, but the meat was delicious and it was a learning experience.

On Christmas Eve our Grandparents took Rachel and I on a shopping trip. Rachel came up with the idea of five of us children combining our money (a total of $172.00) to buy presents for Mom and Dad. I was skeptical about the idea at first, as I worried that we would not find any suitable presents. We did manage to find a fancy blender and brown blouse and sweater for Mom and a printer/scanner/copier/fax machine for Dad.

That evening we wrapped the gifts at our Grandparents’ house with Grandmomma and Aunt Laurel. After a nice supper, Uncle Dan and Aunt Laurel drove us home (Cousin Samuel was having a great visit with the others at our house, and little cousin Goodwin was already in bed). They stayed for our own little Christmas Eve Advent Service that we have every year.

After they left we completed our other Christmas Eve tradition - watching, “It’s A Wonderful Life”. That is always nostalgic and enjoyable.

Christmas day dawned as a cloudy one, since we had a good deal of rain the night before. We don’t get a ton of gifts like we used to, which actually makes presents a more tolerable experience. We don’t have to deal with hectic amounts of wrapping paper everywhere.

Beth received a puzzle, chim-a-long and Buzz Lightyear toy; David received a light-up flying disk and Woody Toy (he got a Buzz from our grandparents too!); Mary received a toy horse barn with a collection of little horses; Abigail received a digital Kids’ Camera; Joseph received a Playstation 2; Rachel received an assortment of ballet attire and a Roller Coaster Tycoon computer game; and I received nice Levenger Circa Agenda notebooks. Each of us children also received $25 dollars from our Grandparents on the Sayers side of the family.

We had a game of Charades that evening (one of Rachel’s stocking stuffers). Very funny…

Today we visited our Great-Grandparents. Great-Grandmother Mary loves to hold Ben. The rest of us children sat down through the majority of the chilly evening watching the 1938 “Adventures Of Robin Hood” while Dad talked to Papa Joe (Great-Grandfather) about family history. It was another nice visit.

Thus, all is well that ends well. Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

GOD BLESS,

~Amanda~

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Thursday, December 28, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
I like the new picture…you’d go great in a P&P movie!

Stop by soon!

Sincerely yours,

Jocelyn
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Monday, January 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by DancingFeet
Just dropping by to catch up a little bit on your blog! It sounds like you had a nice Christmas and visits with family. Hope your New Year is a blessed one!
Love,
Briana
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Monday, January 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
I’m very glad you a wonderful Christmas.. I bet you learn a lot from papa joe… I love hearing old stories…

I hope you have a WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!

Sincerely
Jocelyn

Now, at this moment, I don’t feel like doing much of anything. Or maybe I just want to do too much at once.

Our Grandfather from Tuscaloosa visited today (my mom’s dad). He brought us some venison (along with some turkey and ham for lunch). He told us a lot of great stories about farming in Illinois years ago. A lot of it was very similar to stories we learned from Laura Ingalls Wilder. Isn’t it amazing how much has changed just since World War II?

Speaking of change, I have started delving back into my World Views of the Western World studies, and am fascinated by the changes that took place from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the Reformation. I wrote about my study of Dante’s writings in an earlier post.

It is really amazing - how the Renaissance, in all of its brilliance, fell so short of the truth. It was an era of enlightenment - yet it shaded the Word of GOD. Everything was suddenly man-centered, and culture struggled to find ways of success, meaning and redemption within their own finiteness.

The Reformation restored the balance and revealed that mankind needs only CHRIST for salvation - not our works, not our genius, not philisophical doctrine and certainly not purgatory. When one honestly returns to the Scriptures and accepts JESUS, they will find the burden of sin lifted. When one applies the Bible to everything in life, the culture is greatly influenced and works and intelligence put back into a righteous perspective.

While doing historical research for my script, I noticed that another sort of “enlightenment” began to take place in the late 19th century. The theory of Evolution, Psychology, Socialism, Communism, Feminism and massive Industrialism all began to rise at the same time. The majority of our culture changes today have their roots in this second Renaissance. Though some improvements in technology and so forth may be fine and good, the emerging of Liberalism has proved to be detrimental. That imbalance has returned and culture now takes on this mockery of justice and morality - and parades man essentially as nothing.

It was expressed by Francis Schaeffer that our culture today needs to experience another Reformation. Someone once said that perhaps a second Reformation can take place through the next generation of Christians - largely due to the homeschooling movement. Those that have been educated in the Biblical World View can have a tremendous influence.

I hope and pray that I may be priviledged enough by CHRIST to take part in another Reformation.

MAY OTHERS PRAY THE SAME,

~Amanda~

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Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OurHomeSweetHomeschool
Stopping by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I pray you have a happy, healthy and safe Christmas.

Blessings,
Theresa
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Thursday, December 21, 2006 - greetings!

Posted by onedaymore
I just wanted to pop in!

Sounds like an interesting topic to discuss. Drop by my place sometime!

onedaymore
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Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - Hello….

Posted by BrielleCostumes
Hello Amanda….
How are you doing? I liked your post.
Just stopping by to say hello……

Sincerely,
Amanda (Brielle)

I am generally not content with a blog post unless it describes every detail which I intend to convey to the utmost of credit.

So - we finally have an updated HomeschoolBlogger.  It seems to have learned a thing or two about detail from HomesteadBlogger.  I believe I am nearly recovered from the utter resounding difference of this set up.  I appreciate it regardless of any slight hinderment whatsoever.  But my precious Palotino Linotype font is gone!   What I have will have to suffice (and I am not ignorant to a few tricks in the book of webdesign as it is).

I will share a little "Gold, Frankincense and Myrhh" we have experienced recently…

As for glittering Gold, Rachel and I have been trying our minds at the Jamestown 400 National Treasure Hunt.  Joseph and Abigail have helped too.  We have found a lot of clues, but the challenge lies in connecting them all.  Once I get passed the hieroglyphic translation entirely, we should be on to something.

This evening we are attending a Christmas party (yes, the entire family!).  It is an event being held by the Sons of the Confederacy (being Southerners, we have Confederate ancestors, of course).  Civil War history is so fascinating.

As for lively Frankincense, Advent celebration has been as lovely as ever this year.  Our Christmas picture for this year was a reasonable success.  We attended our friend, Evan’s performance in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever recently.  It was a cleverly amusing portrayal of fun and flaw that always shows up in a Christmas Pageant - no matter how hard everyone tries.  I’ve been in five little Christmas Pageants myself, mind you ("I’m always Mary" - that’s a running feminine brag line, isn’t it?).

As for bitter Myrhh, Mary’s 8-month old cat, Pearl, died mysteriously today.  This morning I found her in the kennel when I was on my way to feed the chickens.  She seemed nearly paralyzed, her head and neck trembling.  Mitzi, her grandmother, curled up next to her as though she was trying to comfort her.  From the drooling and tremors the cause is assumed to have been poisoning.  Joseph, Abigail, Mary, David and I handled the burying.

Here is our chosen Christmas picture of the year:

"…GLORIOUS NOW BEHOLD HIM ARISE, KING AND GOD AND SACRIFICE…"

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

~Amanda~

Comments

Monday, December 18, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
Amanda
I know what you mean in your comment. It is very scary to know the End Days are coming. I hope I am will be prepared.

As for goats, we have 2 and they are Nubians. One white and the other brown. Like I said, they are easy to care for. The only thing I don’t like is clipping their hooves, it grosses me out.

Love, Ms. Jocelyn
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Hello

Posted by PinkFlamingo
Interesting post, how you tied in the Wise Men’s gifts with the recent events of your life! I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s kitty. My cat died this past October, so I know how she feels.
I hope you have a great day and a wonderful Christmas!

I spent this day in planning my goals for the remainder of this year. I have put the pressure on myself to work harder on my other school subjects by forming a new daily schedule (yes, one of those again).

I really have nothing to complain about or dilly-dally on. I have a lot of work to do - most of which is probably different from the majority of highschool girls in the nation (homeschooled or otherwise) simply because my family has been put in a different situation. GOD gives all of us plenty of time to fulfill HIS will for our lives. We are merely required to be willing and diligent. Oh, and have that other little factor: discipline.

Abigail, my 9 year-old sister, has better discipline at her age than I did, I believe. She works consistently on her subjects just a little bit each day - often times voluntarily on the weekends. Mary, age 7, is developing that nice habit too.

I have always been willing and eager in my attitude towards studying (though math has been my main flaw). I was always considered smart enough to be above average, and I liked to study independently.

But sometimes I struggled with a little piece of foolishness that would spoil my day.

There were days when I lacked the discipline to carry some problems through. I have memories of struggling over a single math problem for at least 20 minutes and then feeling horribly guilty when I got it wrong. At the end of the lesson I would feel burned out but unaccomplished.

That was a ridiculous, perfectionistic hang up of mine, not to mention an abuse of time. I had a hard time acknowledging to simply learn from my mistakes and resolve to move on towards the finish line.

I highly resolve to never be even remotely like that again.

MAY GOD BLESS,

~Amanda~

Post Scriptum - My goal is to have the screenplay ready for production by August 1, 2007 - LORD willing. In between then I might still be able to fit in some Washington, D. C. research!

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Saturday, December 2, 2006 - Hello

Posted by BetsyRoss
Hello Amanda,
You have a beautiful blog. I just created a blog dedicated solely to history. Mainly the Revolutionary and Civil wars. I read some of your other posts and I find them very upliftling.
My main weakness is also math. I would love to hear from!
Betsy Ross
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Monday, December 4, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
Oi! I think I could take your post into consideration. Wew don’t have to many “steadily” students here but we’re trying.

I have to get so many credit for highschool and I only have 2 years left! Yikes, better get movin’!!

Mára mesta,

Edhël ó Loriën

Read my latest post here: Yes, Even A Childless Woman IS To Be At Home - For The Bible Says So

Daughter of JacqueDixon, and sister of SuperAngel, Tigerlily the Hobbit and Young Man in Training
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Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - God bless America

Posted by BetsyRoss
Hello Amanda,
No I’m not Brielle but your very close! Keep guessing.
Betsy Ross
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Saturday, December 9, 2006 - greetings!

Posted by onedaymore
Hello, my name is Grace and I really like your blog.
Be sure to drop by sometime.
Can I add you to my friends list?

onedaymore
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Thursday, December 14, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
Hello! I just thought I would stop by! Thank you for comment… it was very nice and I was happy to read it. It seems we could all follow in your ideas…God bless!

Mára mesta,
Jocelyn

Ps. unfortunately with all this stuff changing on HSB, I can’t link my latest post! Sorry.. stop by soon anyways!!

Once again we have experienced the breaking of the fellowship. 

The Thanksgiving Visit - The Grand Highlight of the year - has been ended.  All the times past of counting down days and preparing the house and the feast with the most satisfying of anticipations have begun to fade away as mere shadows in the light of Eternity.  The selfishness of me!  Of our family!  To want the beloved Clarks and John Y. to ourselves all the year long!  {Is my way with words unnervingly odd?  I do not mean it to be, really - I do not.}

On a more practical method of conveying the joyous simplicity of spending time with friends that are kindred spirits, feel free to watch this little video of Beth (age 2 - wearing the cream colored dress) and Jenny (age 1 1/2) playing with their dolls and bestowing affection upon the charmingly oblivious Ben (5 months).  They had a splendid time.

The visit began with a cookout with the Abbotts and the Maltasses - other great friends of ours.  The Abbotts brought Belle (the cat we gave them this summer) along to have a reunion with her feline family.  She appeared to realize that she doesn’t have many kindred spirits among her own cat relatives.  She would much rather relax in a pleasant house than frolic in the yard fighting for food scraps and scrambling up trees.

Even the youngest children became interested while Dr. Y led a brilliantly thoughtful Bible study this morning.  We were only briefly interrupted (to our appropriate astonishment) by a Jehovah’s Witness knocking on the front door.  

A season of memories, indeed.  I would write more, but I might get carried away in details….and I really need to go through some more photos and videos.  I also need to let my siblings and friends have something to write about.

Farewell…

PRAYERS FOR THE NATION AND THE WORLD,

~Amanda~

Comments

Monday, November 27, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
Hey, I hope you had a great thanksgiving!! and everything is going well with you!!

Please, stop by soon!!

Mára mesta,

Edhël ó Loriën

Read my latest post here: Let’s Have A Spot Of Tea, Shall We?

Daughter of JacqueDixon, and sister of SuperAngel, Tigerlily the Hobbit and Young Man in Training
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Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jocelyndixon
Well, I already commented on this so I’ll just say hi! I hope you are un-broken!! LOL and are all back together.

Thanks for your comments, but no need to thank me, I hope you will stop by soon!

Mára mesta,

Edhël ó Loriën

Read my latest post here: Fourth Of July

Daughter of JacqueDixon, and sister of SuperAngel, Tigerlily the Hobbit and Young Man in Training
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Friday, December 1, 2006 - a note from Rose

Posted by Rose
Hello Amanda,
Thank you so much for the comment! I agree completely with you!
I think that boy needs to realize that maturity isn’t how many dirty jokes you know or watching all the bad tv shows that are on. I love debating! Unfortunately not many people really ask my opnion on things such as politics or the bible or other things worth talking about. Mainly becuase most girls my age don’t care or don’t know anything about stuff like that.
Thanks again for the comment,
Love hearing from you,
Rose