School Is IN!!!

We've been back into our normal school routine now for three weeks. I can still hardly believe that this is our 4th year of homeschooling. And not one year has been anything like the previous. Every year we find new and exciting things to work with, and every year we develop a new schedule that fits into our lives for that moment! Alas, the beauty of homeschooling! :-)

Lily is using the Sonlight program I used with Zora when she was four. She loves doing schoolwork! She is doing so great and I'm so proud of her! She is working very hard on her penmanship. She feels so big doing school work like her big sissy! Our biggest goal this year is learning to read. She can already read small words, but she doesn't really have the DESIRE to want to do more. We're working on that! Hopefully before the year is over she'll be reading with no hesitation.

Zora is doing great as well. We are continuing with our much loved programs that we've used before in phonics/reading, handwriting, math, and history. But this year we are trying a new science program. That is still that only subject that I have yet to find one that I "love" and want to stick with for the long haul. Who knows, maybe I never will and we'll continue to try everything out there! As always, she continues to amaze me in her reading ability. Reading is definitely her strength. She also loves history. It is by far her favorite subject. She BEGS for it! Math is still her least favorite subject (which is so sad for this former-public-school-math-teacher-mommy), but she is greatly improving not only in her mathematic abilities, but also in her attitude toward it. Who knew that she would LOVE doing flashcards??? She actually enjoys doing them and I can tell a major improvement in her work.

We also had a fun meeting with our C.U.E. (formerly T.I.E) group.

We made totes out of chips bags and duct tape...

Zora's is zebra print

and Lily's is flames!

... and we also made a butterfly to send to Mexico. It is a project in which a group of students from the US creates a butterfly to mail to Mexico, and then in the spring the students from Mexico will send us one back. The project is neat because it teaches the students in both countries about the migration of butterflies, and it also helps them to be aware of other people in the world. Kind of like a modern-day pen pal! How fun is that?

We have also started up with gymnastics again.

This year we are trying out the homeschool class which is on Wednesday mornings. So far it is awesome! The gymnasium is much less crowded and it makes our evenings free to spend with Daddy when he gets home from work! And, the girls can be in class at the same time which is a big PLUS for me because I don't have to sit through two hours of class - just one :-)

My First Sewing Project!

My mom is SUPER TALENTED. If it is creative and crafty - you name it - she can do it.

Unfortunately, I AM NOT. And unfortunately I never took the time when I was younger to ask her to teach me all those wonderful things, especially sewing.

Well, recently I acquired my late Granny Bea's sewing table/machine. I am honored to have it sitting in my house, but I really wanted to put some use to it, so I asked my mom to teach me. She gave me my first simple lesson - a pillow. And it is complete!


It now sits on Zora's bed. The next project will be throw pillows for Lily's bed. Then maybe I'll get brave enough to tackle a project besides just pillows!

The only bad thing is that I'm quickly running out of time to have more sewing lessons. My teacher - a.k.a. my mom - is MOVING TO ARIZONA.

I am NOT happy about it. But I'm happy for her and for my step-dad. I will miss them terribly and so will my kids. That's all I can post now about it or I will start crying.

Until next time...

Blast From The Past

Joel built us a new shed because our former one was P-I-T-I-F-U-L! We cleaned out the old one and transferred everything to the new one that we wanted to keep. It was a long, all day ordeal, but the job is complete! Now all we have to do is figure out how to knock over that massive old shed and get it all hauled off :-)

Anyhow, while we were going through all the things in the shed we came across so many things from our past. Boxes full of our childhood memories, of our dating years, and our wedding. I loved reminiscing! However the funny part was when I came to the box of my old toys... I actually remember putting that box in there when we first got married and thinking, "I'll save these and maybe someday I'll have kids who will want to play with these." Well, it is now eleven-and-a-half years later and I can't believe I'm just now getting them out for my girls to play with!!!

My girls absolutely LOVE playing with baby dolls. They love to dress them up, play house, teach them... they are little mommies in the making :-) So they were ecstatic when I found the box FULL of all my original Cabbage Patch Kids - 9 dolls in all with all their original birth certificates, clothes, and accessories! The only downfall was that somehow four of them had mildew which we could not get off, so we were only able to save 5 of the dolls.

Here they are in their original outfits! How fun is that?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


In the same box was this little doll that a family friend made for me when I was a little girl.


She is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I remember giving her "shots" when I was little and sneaking into my mom's bathroom so I could get band-aids for her sore legs :-) When I pulled her out of the box, she actually still had a small round band-aid stuck to the back of her leg where I used to give her shots! The girls have named her Aamina after their soon-to-be-cousin who is still in Ethiopia and who we cannot wait to meet! (For more of my cousin's adoption story click here and if you'd like to help out click here)

Reliving your childhood with your own children is so much fun!

From Rags To Riches

God is Good.

After that last post - which came at a very difficult and sad time for me - God gave me a precious picture of His love for His children. In the womens' Bible study that I am a part of, we are studying Zechariah. The week that I was going through a tough time my lesson to study was Zechariah 3. It was perfect timing for me to read that lesson and be reminded of how good God is... and I don't believe in coincidences. I know that God planned that because He knew I would need that message that week. I'd like to share with you this precious picture that is painted in the Scripture...

Zechariah 3:1-5 (NIV)

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?' Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.' Then I said, 'Put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.'"

Isn't that a beautiful picture? Even the high priest was covered in filthy rags because he was human... not perfect... none of us are... we are all in filthy rags. Then we see Satan standing right beside him ready to accuse. But I love this next part... the LORD rebukes Satan - the accuser - and from then on Satan is silent. Instead of condemning Joshua for his sin, God has him redressed. He exchanges his filthy clothes for "rich garments". And that's not the best part... He forgives him of his sin!

If you've never experienced that I hope you will humble yourself before the LORD and accept His precious gifts of forgiveness, grace, mercy & love. It's a gift... free... all you have to do is be willing to surrender your life to Him and follow His will. Make Him Lord and Savior today!

Praise Him In The Storm

When it rains it pours.

Have you ever heard that expression? Well, it was definitely true for me today. Satan tried to drag me down today. While I may have shed some tears and had my heart fall into my stomach, I steadfastly hold on to the promise that God is in control. Not only is He in control, but He is also good. After an agonizing day He gave me this sweet reminder in the gift of song. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The storm may be raging, but I will continue to praise Him!

Birthday SURPRISE!!!

Joel got me a few things a couple of weeks ago for my birthday, so I told him NOT to do anything on my actual birthday - and I really meant it. I was planning on just taking it easy at home, enjoying time with family, and getting ready for our first week of our new school schedule.

He didn't listen. He had his own ideas.

After church he sent the girls away with his parents to spend the night and told me to get in the car and we were on our way. He took me to Arkansas to a very secluded, peaceful, romantic, and beautiful cabin on Beaver Lake. This lake has significance to us because it is where he brought me over 12 years ago to propose to me!

Beaver Lakefront Cabins are absolutely wonderful and I'm sure we'll be back when we can spend more than one night. Each cabin is beautiful and spacious with a huge king size bed, double jacuzzi, oversized shower with multiple massaging heads, full kitchen, fireplace, 42" HDTV with surround sound, enclosed porch, and a large deck overlooking the lake.

Cabin's Private Entrance

Screened Porch

Deck overlooking lake

Lake View

Kitchen

Fireplace, TV & Lounging Chairs

Jacuzzi

Rustic Log Bed

Bathroom complete with robes and slippers for both of us!

I recommend this place to anyone needing a couple's getaway. It is perfectly peaceful and beautiful.

Thanks, Honey, for pampering me for my birthday! What a treat!

I Love YOU!

Baptism

Zora was baptized Sunday night at church. This was already a very special event, but it became even more special because she was baptized by her Papa Donnie who is ordained. It was his first baptism to perform and he got to experience that with his own granddaughter. What a blessing for our family!

Zora had many people come to our church to share this special time with her...

Papa Doug & Nana Betty
Papa Joe, Jennifer & Jake
Papa Donnie & Mamma Dee
Ryan, Shoulaunda, Keno & London
Gina, Nathan & Alli
Jamie
John & Betty
Nancy "Griggs"
Kristy
Joe & Kari
Jeremy

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to share that special moment with Zora. It's a moment we will never forget!

Video of baptism