Articles written by Joilene Rasmussen

What is Helium

About me - Joilene Rasmussen

Freedom is at the core of everything I do, and I believe people were not created to conform to anything but Christ's image.

My husband, Scott, is 19 years my senior, and we work together in sheet metal construction, with our children, Cody (6), and Tyra Marie

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Education > Homeschooling The benefits of homeschooling: 1 of 42
Home Schooling Boot Camp I loaded my self-contained bookcase, two plastic tubs full of belongings, and my saddle into my '69 Ford Galaxy, then nursed the quirky engine to life. I was college bound. Would I be able to handle the expectations, the standards, the social pressures? What kinds of jobs would I be able to obtain? I ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Inspired by books and movies: 1 of 27
I wrote this after pouring myself into a local church, teaching various ages of Sunday school, for six years...only to have it proved to me that I was too bold, too independent, too much a thinker, to ever fit in there. Yet, my kids and I will never forget each other.The analogies are based on events from Richard Adam's novel... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Conservation How to take an eco-friendly shower: 6 of 38
A Green Birthday SuitHow big a bite out of your time does your daily bathroom routine take? How big a bite out of the environment, including that of your home? With a little forethought, and perhaps a change in attitude, you can be well on your way to a greener, healthier you.First off, how does the water reach you? While you... More..
Food & Drink > Bread & Baking Recipes Recipes: Homemade pizza dough: 7 of 32
The nearest pizza delivery option is an hour from my home. The local supermarket isn't much help, either, for a family with my necessarily low budget, so I often rely on this recipe to satisfy my family. Even after a long, chilly, outdoors workday, it is possible to put a couple of medium-sized pizzas together without much fu... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Construction: 2 of 9
Grain Bin WorkWheat, smelling sour with the heat -A man could suffocate in minutes between the bin roof and grain.My husband emerges from it, dusty, sweating.He hands me his impact gun,And with a fistful of wrenches, I climb down.He follows, trailing a rope to salvage him with lest he stick in the binLike pulling a cat from b... More..
Food & Drink > Bread & Baking Recipes Recipes: Easy banana bread: 7 of 31
A locally renowned cook, my mother-in-law handed down this recipe to me. I lowered the sugar content, to make it a suitable snack for my sweetener-sensitive children, but have never yet had anyone turn down a second piece.3 medium sized, over-ripe bananas to cup sugar (a blend of white and brown is best)2 cups flour (half sto... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) What's the best defense against burglars in your home: Alarm system or dog?: 10 of 42
Dog Takes A Bite Out of Crime: A Story From My Husband's ExperienceWhat's wrong with my dog! Where did all that blood come from?A moment before, I had parked my motorcycle in the garage, like always, and come through my unlocked front door. But I stopped short inside my living room, and stared at the blood. Red dominated the ... More..
Health & Fitness > Herbal & Natural Remedies Creative ways to fend off the flu: 1 of 4
On Guard: How to Send the Flu FleeingYou don't have to forfeit your time and health to the flu this year. Here are three areas of your life you can take charge of, to stop illness in its tracks.First, consider your hygiene and habits. Preventing an illness is certainly easier than curing it, so be aware of handling objects or... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Night: 9 of 30
Traveling Moon: Walking at Night on the Colorado PlainsThe milk from the goddess' breast pours out over the sky - a bite from a vicious child turned to something beatiful. The droplets have hardened into stars, arching like a gateway to some long-lost ambition. I walk and I walk, yet the entrance stays as far off as ever. Wha... More..
Education > Homeschooling Why some parents choose homeschooling: 10 of 33
Garden School: Growing My Children's Souls My three-year-old, Cody, comes running across our yard with a squashed fistful of bindweed blooms, wild sunflowers, and purple bells with roots attached. "Mama, a vase!" he says, and through my laughter, my second child, yet in my womb, kicks hard. Is this one a girl, or will I have ... More..