...second week of school...

Our second week of school went well with the exception of the interruption on Thursday with the infestation of seed ticks on one of our dogs. But, Chester's alright and Hershey and Rocky are fine and we're fine and the house is okay and the ticks are dead and gone. ☺

Joelle with her "people of every nation." Well...not every nation...four nations. ☺

Our worms are okay (I think), they didn't squirm around much, so the layers didn't look as mixed up as we thought they would be. We're going to free them tomorrow.

We didn't get to our world cake today due to being a little behind this week (the tick thing). But, we did do some cooking unrelated to school. Last Saturday, we made a cookie pizza and this evening Joelle made Blowfly Banana Muffins from a recipe she found in Chet Gecko's Detective Handbook (and cookbook). She made them almost entirely on her own. BREAKFAST!!

We also took some time this week to watch "Pole to Pole" from the Planet Earth series. It fit right in with our studies in Geography. I love those shows! They are rich with vibrant videography, rare scenes, and discriptive narration. As Joelle watched she wrote down different plants, animals, terrains and climates she saw in the different zones and regions.

Erin works independently for school. The past two weeks she read Julius Caesar and was then assigned to write a play. I was quite impressed with her play and she gave me permission to share it below. I hope you enjoy it! ☺

IN TIME

WRITTEN BY: ERIN HOLLAND

A play based on the events that happened at the "Tower of Babel"

SCENE 1

Somewhere on the Plains of Shinar, a group of people are building an extravagant tower to reach all the way to heaven. A crowd is assembled around the tower, as the workers attempt to get the crowd hype, telling them about the purpose and progress of the tower.

WORKER: (Shouting) we will make it to heaven with this tower…..

[Crowd cheers]

….. No more waiting… No more of this "needing" to have faith and salvation. We will rise to the heavens by ourselves to be with God.

[Crowd continues to cheer as the worker continues to talk]

JACOB: Do you really think they can do that? Is it possible?

CAMERON: (getting excited) I don't know, but if they can, it means less spiritual work for us!

[Crowd yells in agreement with something the worker just said]

DAMIAN: (walking in on the conversation) I think the question you boys should be asking, is... will God allow this to happen?

JACOB & CAMERON: Hm…..

All three men look back up to the worker and continue to listen.

WORKER: … don't you all want that?

[Crowd shouts in agreement]

A couple feet to the left of Jacob, Damian, and Cameron, are Sarah and Abigail.

ABIGAIL: (Overhearing Damian's question) Of course He (God) would!

SARAH: I'm sorry what did you say?

ABAIGAIL: Oh, well one of the elders over there (pointing at the men) asked if God would allow us to do this… build this tower…. And I think, yes He would.

SARAH: Why do you say that?

ABIGAIL: I mean He wants us to be with Him! (Trying to make a point) Why would He make us wait longer when we have a shortcut being made right in front of our eyes?

SARAH: (pondering what Abigail said) Well, I mean… I guess so.

Oh Lillian! Come over here.

LILLIAN: Hello, crazy stuff huh?

SARAH: Yes ma'am. Abigail was saying God is ok with us trying to get to Him with this tower. What are your thoughts on the matter?

LILLIAN: I don't know but there is only one way to find out.

They all three look up to where the tower disappears into the dark black clouds starting to form.

SCENE 2

Up in heaven, God is displeased with His people's actions.

GOD: What makes them think heaven is a layer above their atmosphere? Do they not understand heaven is only obtained by their trust and salvation, that MY judgment is what discerns if the gates to heaven will open for them or not. The progress of this tower shall not continue. They shall be scattered among the land, so they will not come together and think they can do anything without me.

SCENE 3

Back down on earth. Crowd cheering louder and louder.

CROWD: (chanting) Yes we can, yes we can, yes we can!!

WORKER: (agreeing with crowd) Yes! Yes we can! (continues to speak while the cheering dies down and then abruptly stops)

… Don't you think we can do this? Who believes? What… what's going on?

[Crowd begins to panic with confusion]

JACOB: Cosa sta dicendo? (turning to Cameron) lo sai?

{What is he saying? Do you know?}

Damian and Cameron look at Jacob with eyes full of bewilderment.

CAMERON: Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites.

{I don't understand what you're saying}

DAMIAN: 神是无奈之举 (walks away)

{God is upset}

JACOB: Vorrei sapere quello che dicevi! Questo non púo…

{I wish I knew what you were saying! This can't….}

CAMERON: (interrupting) Cela ne peut pas se passer ce qui devrait nous faire?

{This can't be happening. What should we do?}

Men continue to attempt to "talk" in confusion.

LILLIAN: यह था क्या हम इंतज़ार कर रहे थे.भगवान ने दिखाया है वह हमारे कार्यों के साथ असंतोष है.

{This is what we were waiting for. God has shown His discontent with our actions.}

SARAH: Oh Dios, por favor, no castigara todos nosotros.

{Oh God, please don't punish us all}

ABIGAIL: Мы просто пытались добраться до вас Бог! Почему ты оставил нас?

{We were just trying to get to you God! Why have you forsaken us?}

[Crowd begins to get louder with confusion and the

sound of weeping as people try to understand loved ones]

SCENE 4

Back in heaven

God: You will understand… in time! Now disperse!

[People feel pushed to move away and go about the land]

ABIGAIL: (embracing Sarah) Я знаю, вы не понимаете о чем я говорю, но вы были большим другом, и я тебя люблю. безопасное пребывание

{I know you don't know what I'm saying, but you were a great friend and I love you. Stay safe.}

SARAH: (pushing out of Abigail's arms) Nunca me olvidare de ti! Adios (walks away sobbing)

{I will never forget you}

Everyone says their goodbyes and disperses across the land. Leaving the now called "Tower of Babel" in the dust to never be finished and wither away to nothing.

SCENE 5

GOD: My children you will understand this great pain one day. It will be explained in time. As for now just… trust… Me.