The Linking Verb Rap

Over the holidays we had family staying with us, and Nathan and I took a rare opportunity to get away. We usually end up at Barnes and Noble, drinking coffee and perusing books, and this time was no exception. I was very impressed with the amount of material available for homeschoolers, and I am happy to report that I found a few needed workbooks for the kids, which I purchased with a gift certificate from Benjamin - Thanks Ben! As I was flipping through a book on teaching, I found this song, which I am sharing here (as well as recording for my own future reference :-) ). The song was a teacher's last resort effort to engage students whose attention had waned from the subject matter. The students worked together to create the song. So, without further ado, here is the Linking Verb Rap, the creative endeavor from the students of section 72 in Welsh, Roanoke Jr. High School...

Yo! I have a little somethin'
To teach you.
It's the linking verb rap
And it's easy to do!

A linking verb connects
A subject with a noun
And if you've done it right
You can turn it around.

An adjective can be
In the predicate part.
Know what you're doin'
Then you'll be smart!

Look very carefully
And you will see
Most of the verbs
Are forms of "be"

Am, is, are
Was, were
These are the past
And present of the verb

Learn "seem", "appear",
And "become"
Then you will know
That you are done!

I absolutely LOVE using songs and couplets to learn important concepts in school (as well as scripture memory), so I was immediately taken with this one :-)?? If anyone has any good ones please leave them in the comments!

Christmas

In verse...

Josh was up at 6 am
I took him to bed with me
Who stayed up till 1 am
Writing stocking poetry

We gathered round at 9 am
The Word Dad did expound
Then we opened up the socks
And the gifts were passed around

Jonathan at 9 months old
Had just about one present
But boxes and paper strewn about
Made him the most content :-)

Mom happily cooked in the kitchen
For 1/2 hours and four
Then ham and mashed potatoes
Was ours and so much more

Grandma and Dale cleaned up
And 2 hours of nap were given
Then Christmas day was near an end
But it sure felt like Thanksgivin'!

For some reason, I have been eating up poetry lately. I love to read it and write it. Some of it is good, and some of it is lame, but rest assured, I am enjoying myself immensely! I had it in my mind to write a poem for everyone in the family for their Christmas stocking, but I only finished about 2/3 of the poems. I felt that one of them in particular was inspired while I was listening to Pastor Johnny preach the Christmas Eve sermon... the one for my dear mother-in-law. Here it is...

To every thing there is a season,
Every circumstance???a reason.
And so it is with Pamela Jane...
Whether there???s sunshine or whether there???s rain.

She does it all unto the Lord!
And PJ Tippy is never bored.
She???ll shine the floor with zeal and more...
She???ll break down a wall or put in a door.

But when all the mess is cleared afresh
There rises from the dust a loveliness;
With every picture in it???s place;
Every pillow and every vase;

The floors and windows gleam and shine;
Colors pose from walls so fine.
And when it???s all done she???ll walk out the door???
To give away blood and care for the poor;

To work at Goodwill and straighten out the church;
To help out some poor soul in a lurch...

But in her heart there is a special place
For those with wrinkles on their face.
She???ll care for them so tirelessly,
Until their eyes no longer see.

The Lord? He sees, and has a care
For a face that, to Him, couldn???t be more fair???

In thoughtfulness Pam sees a need
And gives a gift or plants a seed
And whether she???s Grandma, Mom, Pam or PJ
These words aren???t enough but that???s all they???ll say.

My Son David

Last night I gently removed The Swiss Family Robinson from under his sleeping head, book marked it and put it on top of his bookshelf. This morning I found him reading it again.

Last night he nearly trampled his sisters in his mad dash to find the next clue in the treasure hunt at Deborah's birthday party. Today he took out the trash, cleaned the microwave, swept and mopped the floor.

Yesterday he longed to be past the day of the princess party. Today he longs to dominate my computer ;-)

This year he has discovered the cartoonist within himself, nearly mastered his multiplication tables, learned to play with his baby brother, once again learned to tie his shoes, lost his shoes, found his shoes, and lost them again. Next year he will be nine years old!

I am so thankful for my son David.

I'm in Love!

I saw him today in the Christmas play. His familiar form walked up to the microphone and I didn't really pay much attention until the beautiful piano music softly entered the sanctuary. I was intrigued. What could he be singing? Then I heard his voice. His full tenor voice, skillfully singing words of tenderness. Worshipping God with a sweetness that caused tears to stream down my face! Longing to know how he fit into God's plan. He was singing Joseph's song. And he wasn't even looking at me. But he stole my heart anew...

In reality, this all transpired during the practice last week, but I am still moved in the center of my being to think that I have the privilege of being married to a man who is tender, and passionate in his heart. And confident enough to show it. I love you Nathan Robert Tippy!

Running Man

I walked into the kitchen, scarcely able to contain myself. Nathan's Christmas album had some pretty jazzy songs and the one playing had just the perfect beat for the Running Man dance. For any who may wonder, the running man is just what it sounds like - a man running (or in my case, a woman). However, instead of really running, you slide your foot back and come down in an exhaggerated step, then slide that foot back and bring down the other foot down - of course you must do it in step to the music. The dance can be very aerobic in nature, especially if the music is fast.

But this music was just perfect. I became The Running Man. The Running Man and I were one. My daughter Rebekah looked up from her activity at the island. I just knew that she was impressed that her 35 year-old mom could dance like that, and I smiled at her. She raised her eyebrows at me and replied... "Mom, when I want to run, I really run. I don't need to run standing still."

Needless to say, I descended. To a walk. But I'm still running in my heart :-).

Thanksgiving

I found this poem in a thanksgiving book and I wanted to share it because it was so meaningful...

At the First Thanksgiving

Plymouth 1621From friendly Squanto, wise in all things wild,
We found out where the fattest codfish flash.
To mingle beans and corn in succotash
We learned. We learned as if we were one child.

Today we feast on maple planks
Before Chief Massasoit and ninety braves
Now out of barrels bound by stout oak staves
We draw a drink to raise in heartfelt thanks

For turkeycock, ripe pumpkin, squash, and gourd,
For stalks that stand all ears in heavy row,
FOr fallow deer that round the woodlands go ----
Praise to thee, Lord!

By winter winds whose edges carve like knives
Our numbers have been pared.
Now we who have been spared
Thank the Good Lord who took but half our lives.

I found this Thanksgiving poem and I wanted to share it because it made me laugh!

The Turkey's Wattle

Said the Turtle to the Turkey

Every time he came to visit,

"There's a funny hunk of wrinkle

Where your chin should be, what is it?"

Said the Turkey to the Turtle,

"Oh, this rubber decoration?

Heavens, no, I wouldn't tell you

'Cause it makes for conversation.

At Thanksgiving during dinner-

It's my relative they're carving!---

Silly People sit around and

Stuff themselves as if they're starving,

And you know the only question

They can think of while they visit?

'Say, that funny hunk of wrinkle

Round a Turkey's chin, what is it!"

J. Patrick Lewis

Ditties

These are the latest ditties around here...

This one is done mainly with Joshua, and his laughter is the most beautiful thing on earth!

I found a little boy

He was standing on his head

I picked him up and lay him down

Right upon his bed

I took him out of bed

And lay him on the floor

And tickled him and tickled him

Until he cried "No More!"

This one came out while David brushed his teeth before bed tonight:

Brush your teeth and brush them well

Then your breath it will not smell

Brush before you go to bed

Then your teeth won't fall out of your head!