Life with Me and My 5

I Am Still Here

2011-08-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a while. I have thought about blogging many times over the past few months. There has been so much happening in our lives, much of it causing stress, that I have thought it would be a good idea just to write. I thought maybe unleashing it all would help me de-stress. And, I think maybe it would. But, then there is the whole thing that this is all public. I was not very motivated to sensor myself. Therefore, I chose not to write. The truth is I have been grumpy. My husband is having health problems which have caused him to not be able to work as much as normal. However, with his job, there is still always a lot to do. So, he has stayed busy. But, someone has had to pick up the other work. That is where I come in. I have been working for him and in many ways taking on the full load of caring for the kids because he cannot communicate with them. The older kids are fine. They can read his notes and understand his crazy motions. The little guys not so much. Yes, they learned very quickly to take full advantage of the situation. I am tired. The truth is that I am not even "mad" at the situation. I love my husband very much. I would do anything to help and keep things running. Do you know what I am "mad" at? I lost my summer...I know. I know. How incredibly selfish of me. This was to be the first summer in years that I did not work almost full-time. I had so many plans for my time with the kids. I was going to plan the best school year yet. The reality is I have hardly spent any "fun" time with the kids because I have had to teach mine and his summer classes and I have not even had time to put away last year's books, much less order next year's yet. We also had a trip planned to see our dear friends in the fall. We have had to put this trip off for years. We are all so excited!! That has had to put on hold. What fluent Spanish speaker wants to go to Mexico if he can't talk to anyone? (And my son and I really want to be with this friend and her sister in Canada right now.)

So, now I have whined and complained and showed my immature side. I will be fine now. I promise.

P.S. Do not worry about us. We are really fine. We know that we serve a gracious and loving God. There was this little problem with sin entering the world one day long ago. Because of that, we all have our crosses to carry. I am truly thankful that mine is not as bad as it could be. Many do have it much, much worse. God has given has wonderful friends through this process and incredibly mature older kids who have stepped up to the plate to help out. I love them so much. I am just tired and hate the thought of starting the school year already burnt out. Hey, maybe I can just sneak that trip in to Mexico and not tell anyone. Do you think they would notice?

Where is the Line?

2011-03-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

So, after stating that I had no time to blog, I do have something that has been rolling around in my head for sometime that I just need to get out and see what the rest of you all doing with your 21st century teenagers.

When I was young and at home with my parents, and a male called to speak to me, it was a huge deal. It was not a casual thing and my parents wanted to know all about it. I respect that and believe my parents handled it well. However, I am seeing something in today's kid culture that concerns me a little. With things like SKYPE, email, Buzz, texting, and 100 other avenues, our kids are talking on a personal level with the opposite sex often. I may be a bit off here, but it makes me nervous. On one hand, I think it is the modem day equivalent to hanging out in the cafeteria. On the other hand, it is a ton more PRIVATE than the cafeteria. We have the following rules in our home:

1. You will not have any account to anything that we do not have your password. It does not mean that we are snooping, however, if you give me cause to snoop, I will. And, yes, we will have your computer scanned, or whatever it is called, by professionals to be sure you do not have accounts we are unaware of. (Again, if you give me reason to.)

2. Whatever time we determine as lights out is when all laptops, and any other devices used to communicate, come to the kitchen table.

3. Parents may enter your room at ALL times. Bedroom doors are never to be locked.

You may call me paranoid. Maybe I am. But, let me tell you why.

My husband and I have worked with teenagers for 17 years. If I have learned one thing it is, PARENTS ARE NAIVE. Because of the virtual nature of our job, we spend a lot of time counseling with parents whose kids have become addicted to the "online" world. We actually search for this sometimes because it is such a concerning thing. We are shocked many times by what we find.

Another reason we know this to be true is that many of my friend's children, and the parents who would (and maybe have) call me paranoid, are "friends" with my son on all of these networks. He is sometimes concerned about things he sees, so he will bring it to me.

Finally, because we are so involved with kids, they invite us to be their "friends" on these networks. Then, they forget...These are kids with NO warning signs and yet their posts would be appalling and concerning to their parents. We have had to on occasion alert a parent or two because we thought there was actual danger. The parent's response has always been, "Well, he/she never gave us a reason to not trust him/her. We thought it was all innocent."

When it comes to my parenting, I just want to be wise. I do not want to be paranoid. But, I also do not want to be naive. I think we see a lot and it makes us nervous. We are just at the beginning of all of this with our kids. Am I being overbearing?

To Blog or Not to Blog

2011-03-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

As I am sure you have noticed, I have been rather absent. The reason behind this absence has been two fold. First, we are just busy. I know, I know. Isn't everyone? I somehow, in my inability to say no, have committed myself to so many things (Things which have to do with my children's education, but extra on top of their schooling.), that it is basically equivalent to working a full-time job on top of homeschooling and raising 5 wonderful children. And, yes I do have a teaching job as well. We have seen the way one thing leads to another and then you find yourself over-committed. And, yes, come June, things will change and we will chalk this year up to the year mom lost her mind and forgot the word "no" existed.

The second reason I have not been blogging is that I have struggled with my blogging identity. When I started this years ago it was simply to have a journal of the day to day life of my children. But, then they start to get older and they do not want you blogging about them. Added to that are all of the beautiful blogs out there, and I am just not a gifted writer. You see, God did not bless me with the ability to sugar coat things. I am more likely to just say what I am thinking and move on. Yes, my mouth gets me into much trouble. :)

I am praying about what to do here. The fact is that even if people never read this, I like to blog and get my thoughts out. But, then I have to answer for them because this is public. So, the question remains: To blog, or not to blog?

To Be Like Paul

2011-01-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have enjoyed getting to know a few others from our church by participating in a weekly Bible study with just a few people. We do not actually meet until 8:30 at night. Most weeks I am so tired and I drag myself there. However, once we begin, I love the study and discussion which follows. We are going through Paul's epistles. We decided to go in the order which they were written. We simply read the passages discuss/make observations verse by verse. In the past, I have always thought I could not study the Bible without some sort of study guide. However, I am loving this approach. I still think when I do things alone, I want my guide. But, with this group of people to bounce around ideas and share struggles, I feel I am really growing. Last night someone noted that for the most part, Paul is so good to start out with encouragement before heading to rebuke. Of course there is Galatians. He just gets to the point there. But, if you consider the offense, it is quite appropriate to just move into the rebuke. I likened this to my parenting. First, I far too often just jump to rebuking my children. I fear sometimes they may not see me as very encouraging. As a teacher, I know that you never criticize before telling a student where they need to work harder. But, that mentality does not follow through to my children. Then I think about the fact that Paul does seem to deem it appropriate at times to just cut to the chase and tell them where they are wrong. As I think about my children, I am first thinking that I need to be more encouraging and not so negative. Second, I am thinking through when is it appropriate to just say, "Look, you messed up. Let's fix this." I wish I had the wisdom God blessed Paul with.

It's Harder Than I Remember

2011-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

I just want to say that I do not remember like I used to. I am finding it quite difficult to memorize the Verses for the Philippians project. However, I am not giving up. I will keep plugging along. How are the rest of you doing?

Different Stages

2011-01-04T04:41:00.000-08:00

When our oldest was 10, we adopted a newborn. I did not think much of the age difference. We are now headed into teenage years with a toddler and pre-schooler tagging along.( We also have a 7 & 9 year old.) I never thought about the difficulty in that. The little guys exhaust me everyday. And, I feel bad for the oldest because of the events I cannot be involved in with him because of his little brothers. When I see parents volunteering at youth group, or other teenage events, I always think I should be there. But, then what do I do with the boys? I think this really hits me hard because I realize what little time I have left with Isaac. We adopted him 10 years ago. We have far less time than that left with him. I worry because I all of the sudden have this feeling there is no more time to mess up. When the kids are little, I tend to think we have time to figure things out. That is not so true as they get older. I have really been praying that God would give me a peace about this. I have asked that he would give me the emotional and physical strength to be a godly mother to all 3 or 4 stages that my 5 children are in right now. The more I pray about this, it becomes clearer to me that these children are God's children. I do have responsibilities. The age difference of our children just simply means that I will be tired. But, God has not forsaken them or me. At this very second, when I do not know if I can stay awake through this day, I am so, so thankful for that.

2010 in Review

2011-01-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a good year for us. No contested adoptions, no hospital stays for children, nothing extremely dramatic. For my own personal pleasure I like to look at the past year. So, here goes:

January: Bruce and I traveled to Vermont to lead a weekend long seminar on homeschooling to a Classical Conversations group. We have come to love that group and enjoy the relationship we built with them.

February: Isaac performed in his first musical production. He was policeman in Pirates of Penzance. It was truly life changing for him. He developed a bit of confidence and it was a turning point in his schooling. He went from mom and dad make me homeschool, to this is not quite so bad. (It is a homeschool theater group.)

March/April/May: We finished our school year strong. The End of the Year Gathering for our online school is always the highlight of my children's year. We look forward to visiting with friends and meeting those whom we have heard over the computer all year. We were blessed to be able to do more speaking and counseling on curriculum.

June/July/August: Most people would think the summer slows down for two teachers. Well, not here. That is actually our busiest time of year. This is one of the times during the year when the administrative side of running a school kicks into full gear. Bruce spent his summer training teachers, counseling with administrators about curriculum and such, hiring last minute teachers and putting out daily fires. I spent mine answering phones at Veritas Press part-time and consulting families as they sign students up for our diploma program. I guess it is much like being a guidance counselor. We were able to join a pool this summer so we spent many late afternoons and weekends there. And, Isaac and Sarah were able to perform in Seussical.

September: The school year started with a bang. Sarah began almost full time in our online program. She LOVES it! Isaac takes a few classes and goes to someone local for a few more. I teach him Math, Grammar and Vocabulary. He is in my Histoy class online. Zach started 1st grade and Jack and Micah spend their days making messes and doing some preschool projects here and there. We started a classical Co-op here 2 years ago. It grew in September and Bruce began teaching a Cults and World Religions class to the older students. I started a new class for Veritas Press. It started as 1 and grew into 4 full classes. This would be why you do not see me blogging as much this year. (Yes, we are hiring a teacher to take some of these classes next year. I admit insanity at taking 4, but I do know how to gracefully back out when appropriate.) Isaac, Sarah and Zach began the school year with a new music teacher. They were already in her choir. We just switched everything music related over to her. We could not be any more happy.

October/November: Bruce and I began a Bible study with 3 other families from church. We are loving this. We look forward to Wednesday nights. The discussion is wonderful and the relationships are proving to be a huge blessing to us. We spent Thanksgiving with friends from our online school. They live in Charleston, SC. We had a WONDEFUL time. They gifted Bruce and I with a night in a lovely inn right in the middle of historic Charleston. That week ranks as one of our top vacations. Who said you can't build community in an online environment? :-)

December: Sarah and Isaac performed in the musical A Christmas Carol. They had a blast. I feel like we had no Advent fun.:) They had a lot of rehearsals that took up the majority of our advent season. However, you know how it goes. You see them up on stage and your heart melts. We spent the week before Christmas traveling to see family and spent two nights in Williamsburg, VA at Great Wolf Lodge. As I write this, my kids are eating doughnuts with friends who spent the night for New Year's.(That whole healthy eating thing will start after their friends leave.:-)) We ended the year with one swinging party.:-)

We did have a quiet year for our little family. It does not mean their was no heartache. My life was rocked this year with things going on in my family. My parents marriage has seen ups and downs this year. I guess downs would be more accurate. Whoever said marriage problems do not effect the children, were just ignorant. Even as an adult mother of 5 in a healthy marriage and daily growing in my walk with Christ, my world feels turned upside down. There is anger, depression, and despair. Added to all of this is the fact that my mother is handicapped and needs just about full-time care. So, this has been very stressful for my sisters who live there. I spend most of my days wallowing in guilt because I am not there to offer more help. God has been good though. More than ever I am thankful for the godly man I am married to. I am also more determine than ever to raise my children in a home where they are taught correct doctrine and understand the relationship they have with the God whom they serve.

So, this, in a very quick nutshell, has been my year. My husband informed me this morning that he has already memorized the first 3 verses of this project. So, I am off to go meditate on Philippians.

Resolutions

2010-12-31T07:22:00.000-08:00

I do not make resolutions. I always disappoint myself. However, this year my husband has asked me to do a few things with him. They are not really what I would call resolutions. They are just things that need to happen, and the last few months of the year are too busy to try and incorporate new things in our routine. This would actually be the first time ever that my husband has set a few goals and asked me to participate with him. He actually suggested these things a month or so ago, but I knew with all of the festivities and activities surrounding Christmas, we would never make our goals. So, the partying is over, and the work begins. We will be working on these things around our home over the next few months:

-We are working on Scripture memory together. We are starting with this project.

-Between heath & behavioral issues of several members of our family, we are changing our eating habits around here. It will be a slow process, but I hope within a few months time we will be a much healthier and happier family.

- As parents we have not done a good job at delegating responsibilities around the house to our children. (Especially, our older 3.) Therefore, I have basically been the maid to 6 people. I am loosing my mind! So, my husband has decided they will be taking over chores on a daily basis and not just when I get frustrated enough to enforce it. I know, I know! The 12 and 9 year old should have been doing this a long time ago. But, the procrastinator that I am as had a hard time enforcing this. It is just faster to do it yourself, right? I actually think this will be the hardest change for me to stick to, because I do tend to do things myself than to wait on my children to work through the process. Just as people who work on projects with me. I am a terrible delegator.

So, now that I have blogged on these things, I have to do them. Right?

Favorite Things

2010-12-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

I pray you all had a Christmas full of spending time with loved ones and worshipping our Savior. We were able to have time with extended family, friends and our church family. I spent the weekend feeling very blessed.

After Christmas, everyone always asks about favorite gifts. I have a confession to make. I truly get just as giddy as my children when I watch them open their gifts. I plan and look forward to this the entire year. I will also admit that I may be one of those parents who go overboard a little simply because I get such joy out of watching them. So, when people ask about my favorite gift, I always think back to my children and husband.

I believe my favorite this year was divided between a few different things:

1. I have watched my husband walk into Barnes & Noble for months now drooling over the Nook. He knew he wanted that one over the Kindle because he has heard over and over that for the true literature lover (AKA Version/Translation Nazi) the Nook has more selection and you are more likely to find the version/translation you desire. He also likes the thought of being able to walk into Barnes & Noble and use his Nook to look at ANY book he may want before downloading it. (Which he spent 2 hours doing yesterday.:-)) However, he would NEVER spend the money and buy the thing. So, I waited until Christmas Eve, so he would not see the purchase on the bank statement, and fought the crowds to buy one. He was truly surprised and has it in his hand almost constantly.

2. We decided a couple of years ago that our children had too much "stuff". Our house is small and we quite often feel cluttered. Therefore, we began trying to think of experiences to give instead of just things. Bruce's parents typically send money in November, and ask me to shop for our family for them. This year we took that money and booked 2 nights at Great Wolf Lodge. That was money well spent. Also, Bruce just left to take Isaac and Zach to a Harlem Globetrotter's Game in Baltimore. That was their big gift. It was so much fun to see Zach hop out of bed and get immediately dressed. He was so excited.

3. Loved, Loved, Loved hearing Micah say "Mommy. Daddy, THANK YOU MUCH!! over and over again.

4. Sarah asked for an easel and "real" art supplies. I will cherish her first drawing from Christmas morning always.

5. The hours Jack and Micah have spent playing with their new magna tiles does my heart good.

So, yes, I did get gifts. My favorite would probably be the Kichen Aid mixer. I asked for money and gift cards so I could buy the one I wanted. However, my joy was truly complete while watching my family.

Christmas Menu

2010-12-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

I love seeing other's menus. Here is ours for the next few days:

Tonight- Because we are having a day full of wonderful rich food tomorrow, I decided to keep tonight's menu light and maybe a little different.

-Chicken Tortilla Soup topped with Avocado,Sour Cream, Cheese, Tortilla Chips
- Before bed we will snack on hot cocoa, fudge and other goodies while dad reads a fun story about the night of the birth of Christ. We then finish the night with the kids opening a gift. It is always a new book so they have something to read while trying to fall asleep while being so excited.

Christmas Breakfast
-Breakfast Pizza
-Cinnamon Rolls

Snacks throughout the day:
-Crab dip
-Assorted Cheeses
-Cream Cheese and peppered jelly w/ crackers

Christmas Dinner
- Prime Rib
- Brussel Sprouts and pancetta
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Broccoli Casserole
- Rolls and Honey Butter

Dessert with Friends:
- Chocolate Pie
-Christmas Cookies
- Fudge
- Whatever they have fixed

What are you having?

More Merry Making

2010-12-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

So, yes, I have been MIA again... But, this time it is because we are doing a little pre-Christmas traveling. We spent several days with both families and then headed off for a little R &R at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. As I type this Bruce is splashing around in the water park with the older kids, and I am relaxing in the room while Micah crashes from the loads of excitement he has had. I do want to share how the rest of our Advent celebrating has played out. So, here it is:

Day 10: Homeschool Group Christmas Medieval Feast
Day 11: Isaac and Sarah perform in the Musical A Christmas Carol
Day 12: Two more performances
Day 13: Help mom wrap presents
Day 14: Late night drive to see Christmas lights
Day 15: More Christmas shopping for sibling gifts
Day 16: Christmas treats for dessert/Give mom suggestions for the Christmas menu
Day 17: Leave for Christmas weekend with grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins
Day 18: Visit to Santa/Wii tournament with cousins whom we rarely see
Day 19: Attend Christmas church service with grandparents/Leave to go and visit other grandparents
Day 20: Christmas Feast with grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins
Day 21: Begin a mini surprise Christmas vacation to Great Wolf Lodge
Day 22: Spend the day having fun in the water park
Day 23: More water park fun/Head home to be ready for Christmas celebrations at our house
Day 24: Finish last minute preparations for Christmas/Christmas Eve service at church
Day: 25: Celebrate the Incarnation of our Savior beginning with the reading of the Christmas story then to gift giving, a special breakfast, special devotion/blessing from Dad, mid-day feast, and finally dessert with friends.

Advent Celebrations

2010-12-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

I promise I am really trying hard to be more consistent here...

We are celebrating the Advent in our home. We have found ourselves a little busier than normal this year, and that has made our celebrating difficult. We have entered the stage of "kids being 10 places at one time" parenting. We try to keep their activities to a minimum, but when you have 5 kids someone always has to be somewhere. Isaac and Sarah have the wonderful opportunity to participate in A Christmas Carol musical with CLCHM. But this means a lot of rehearsals. However, I think I have kept up with Advent celebrating everyday.

Day 1- Begin using the Christmas dishes
Day 2- Enjoying hot chocolate while Dad reads the Advent story of the day
Day 3- Load up all of the Ipods with everyone's favorite Christmas music
Day 4- Shop for food to give to a needy family
Day 5- Everyone takes turns helping mom wrap presents
Day 6- Christmas Cakes for dessert
Day 7- Candy canes everywhere
Day 8- Everyone buys a toy for a needy child from the church Angel tree
Day 9- Develop our Christmas Treat list (We bake one special Christmas treat for everyone in the family. So, I ask their favorite cookie or candy, and that will be my holiday baking for the season.)

I will try to post on the Advent story/devotional we have been going through this year tomorrow.

The Incarnation of Our Lord

2010-12-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

I had planned on writing a post on the importance of understanding the incarnation of our Lord. My good friend, Becky, beat me to it. She has done a lovely job. So, please visit her here to read it.

The Advent Season Begins

2010-11-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

I love the Advent season. When I hear others complaining about the busyness of it all, I never understand. I thrive on that busyness. While some see it as taking away from the birth of our Savior, I actually see it as centering around His birth. When I think about all of the preparation and celebrating that goes into the birthdays of friends and family, I have to think, why would we want to make the birth of Christ less special? My children spend the entire year discussing plans for their birthday. We plan special gifts, days, and meals for each one. When I think of preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, it does not frustrate me. I become excited. I try to make the whole month of December special. Starting Dec. 1 we will have some special treat everyday until Christmas. It may be something fun to eat or make, taking gifts to our neighbors, or making deliveries to the homeless shelter. I just want my children to know that we should put no less effort in celebrating the birth of Christ than we do our own birthdays.

What do you do to make this season special?

A Full Night's Sleep

2010-11-29T04:11:00.000-08:00

Today will be a good day..I just know it. You see, Micah went to sleep at a normal time (9:00), and stayed in his bed the entire night. I do not remember the last time I went to sleep and did not wake up until morning. I love that little boy to pieces, but he has really aged me these past 2 1/2 years. Do you think I can reverse that if he starts to actually sleep now?

I am Back

2010-11-28T06:49:00.000-08:00

It has been some time since I was last here. The past few months have been a struggle for me. I have had more on my plate than ever before, and I have spent a lot of time pondering over what should take priority in my life. Obviously, the blog was not one of those things. I have also wrestled with how much of myself to "put out there". However, I have missed the blog world. So many of my closest friends do not live in close proximity to me. Social networking is in part the way we can remain so close. With all of this in mind, I am back. I look forward to catching up with all of you whom I have missed the past few months.

Why All the Confusion?

2010-07-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

Nancy Wilson over at Femina has been posting on appropriate beachwear. I have been a little surprised to see some opposition to her opinion. It has never been much of a conversation piece in our home. Our 1 daughter has always known she is not to wear a bikini. A family member gave her one when she was younger. For the sake of not offending anyone I was going to let her wear it. My husband said no and I argued a little saying that no one was looking at a little girl that way. His response to me was " No one but the perverted men walking around, and there are more perverted men walking around than you even want to know." That stopped me in my tracks.

I guess it also surprises me that there is so much controversy about what is modest or immodest. That anyone would think that wearing something that sometimes cover less than your underwear, would be modest, just confuses me. Scripture is clear about this in so many ways. It speaks of being modest, of not being a stumbling block to others, of bringing honor to God in all things, etc.I do not think there should be any confusion here.

I also appreciate Nancy's post about taking your son to the local pool or beach. She says you should educate your boys about this and they should feel awkward around girls dressed this way. I have noticed my 12 year old embarrassed around friends or anyone he is talking to when they are dressed extremely immodest. I have also seen him become more and more aware and protective of the way his sister dresses. It does not come up very often, as she is just turning 9 and quite conservative in her opinions, but he will speak up quickly if he thinks she needs to cover more skin. I have not thought alot about this, but after reading Nancy's post I am happy about this awkwardness he feels and I believe we should keep communicating with him so he does not become too comfortable in this area.

If you or your children struggle with knowing how much skin is too much, I would encourage you to read Nancy's posts.

Oh, To Be Like Paul

2010-07-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

"Paul had sustained the loss of everything in which he had trusted, but he had no regrets. He did not keep harking back to the past, secretly longing for the things he had lost."

Peter T. O'Brien

Why Are They Falling Away?

2010-07-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

My husband and I spend a great deal of time discussing the different aspects of what makes a healthy church. We probably think about it a little too much. We have been involved in working with families of teenagers for the past 17 years. It is extremely disheartening to us to observe time and time again the pattern of young adults falling away from church. We are on the verge of beginning that stage of life with our own children. I believe it is a myth that all teenagers have to go through their "wild" years and that there is always tension in the home while you have them there. However we cannot ignore the fact that so many young adults are choosing to leave the church. My question recently has been, "Does the church really play that much of a role in this?" We have seen Godly children grow into Godly young adults from many different denominations and styles of church. We have seen children and young adults fall away from many different denominations and styles of church. When it happens I think people want to blame a particular church. "They were so stiff and reformed that there was no heart to their message." "They were so laid back that you never really grasped the magnificence of who God really is." "They were so shallow that your faith is never allowed to grow." I am beginning to think that we put too much weight on the church's role here. Do not get me wrong. I believe God calls us to worship together, to study and learn His Word with others, and to have fellowship with other believers. Attending church is a very important part of our faith. It goes without saying that I am not speaking of churches who are teaching heretical doctrine. They obviously need to be avoided. But, the responsibility of helping your children grow in faith is primarily on the parents. Part of that may be the choice Dad makes about where you attend. But, are you praying daily with and for your children? Are you teaching them to seek God's Word when they are lonely and not the friendship of non-believers? Are you studying His Word daily as a family and individually? Are you teaching your children, through example, about hospitality and encouraging and seeking encouragement from other believers? Are you seeking out ways to share the Gospel with your community in a way that shows your children that this is not really all about them, but their Savior? The weight of our role as parents in this weighs heavy on me. I know that I fail to some degree everyday. But, through God's grace I get to start over again every morning. When you fail in this area confess this sin to God and your family and move on. There is no better way to encourage a teenager who is struggling than to admit your mistake, ask forgiveness, and move on. I want to encourage you to pray for your children's hearts daily and ask for God's wisdom on what role you play in strengthening their faith.

May He Rest in Peace

2010-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

My daughter begged us a few months ago to get a fish. He has been a good pet for her. She has even taken the responsibility well. I have not had to do much of anything to maintain this fish. Well, her little brother dumped the entire jar of fish food in his bowl the other day. Sarah decides to put the fish in a jar of water to clean the bowl. In the mean time, someone dumped the glass of water out. Needless to say, the fish is gone. As I cautiously approached my daughter with this news, she says, "I have been waiting for that fish to die! It is so much work. I have to feed him, clean his bowl, make sure Micah leaves him alone. It is just too much!" So, much for a sensitive little girl who cannot experience pain I guess.:)

Today I am Thankful

2010-06-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a long time. I could use the excuse that I have been busy. But, who isn't? So, maybe it has been laziness. But, once again I am attempting to blog.

Today marks a special day in our home. Isaac has now lived with us for 10 years. My heart is full of gratitude. I am thankful for all of these wonderful things:

The fact that God sent us a wonderful son in a way that we never thought would happen.
That God saw fit to speak to a birth mother and show her that her son needed Christian parents.
There are adoption agencies who seek to guide mothers to make the choice of life.
The beautiful smile my son gave me when I first met him, and has continued to give me.
That Isaac called me Mommy the first time he met me.
There are women who choose life when all signs point them to death.

On days like today I am reminded of how easy it is for women to choose death over life for their unborn babies. So, today my prayer will be that as Christians we support the pregnant women who are alone and feel helpless. I pray the church will remember them and offer them love instead of shunning them. That we will guide/help/support them through a difficult time so they know they do have an option to choose life.

I am thankful that Isaac's mother chose life.

My Prayer For Today

2010-04-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

God of my end, it is my greatest, noblest pleasure to be acquainted with Thee and with my rational, immortal soul; it is sweet and entertaining to look into my being when all my powers and passions are united and engaged in pursuit of Thee, when my soul longs and passionately breathes after conformity to Thee and the full enjoyment of Thee; no hours pass away with so much pleasure as those spent in communion with Thee and with my heart.

O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life is a spirit of holy watchfulness and godly jealousy over myself when my soul is afraid of nothing except grieving and offending Thee, the blessed God, my Father and friend, whom I then love and long to please, rather than be happy in myself! Knowing, as I do, that this is the pious temper, worthy of the highest ambition, and closest pursuit of intelligent creatures and holy Christians, may my joy derive from glorifying and delighting Thee. I long to fill all my time for Thee, whether at home or in the way; to place all my concerns in Thy hands; to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own. Help me to live to Thee for ever, to make Thee my last and only end, so that I may never more in one instance love my sinful self.

Just Because

2010-04-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

I realize no one else will crack up like we do over this video, but I had to post it. My son cracks me up.:)

http://vimeo.com/10907994

He is Risen!

2010-04-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

He is risen indeed!

We just returned from a beautiful Easter service at church. Our pastor reminded us to remember Easter always.

"If Easter only happens on Easter, then you have missed Easter."

"Jesus said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

Enjoy your day as you remember the resurrection of our Savior and I pray you remember this gift and its implications always. Happy Easter!!

The Best Words

2010-04-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

This week is always one of those weeks when we have such big plans, but they always seem a little hard to accomplish. We are usually feeling Spring fever and have a huge list of projects which need to be accomplished. But, when the time comes we are just tired and we end up spending time catching up with each other. The projects are put off and we just enjoy our days as a family. (Except last year when Bruce and I were visiting we our wonderful friends in Hawaii. I will not tell how depressing it was to remember where we were a year ago!:)) We have so enjoy taking it easy this week. The thing that I never forget, but always underestimate, is the fact that this is Holy Week. We always plan on stressing the events of this week so many years ago. We spend a lot of time in prayer with the children and discussing the implications of the week and the weekend to come. We will go to the Maundy Thursday communion service at church tonight, and some of us will go to the Good Friday service tomorrow. It is in the middle of the day and Micah has been sick. I think it will be too much for him to be up late tonight and go to church during nap time tomorrow. On Saturday we will dye eggs. On Sunday we will go to a breakfast at church and then feast with friends who have become like family after church. As you can see we have a full few days of festivities ahead of us. We are excited. But, the thing that excites me the most are the words my precious daughter said to me last night. After our family worship, where we spending a little time discussing the events of this week, she comes to me and says, "I know I am a Christian, but I wanted to tell Jesus that I will serve him. Will you help me pray?" For a parent, I think those are the best words we can ever hear. Those words from my daughter have caused me to savor this week even more.

What He Said

2010-03-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am trying to be very good and not ramble on about the state of our government. So, thank goodness Scott Brown said it for me.:)

"Let me get this straight. The new health care plan will be written by a committee whose Chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress which hasn't read it, signed by a President who smokes, funded by a Treasury Secretary who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese, and financed...... by a country that is nearly broke. What could possibly go wrong?"

-- Senator Scott Brown

Crazy Tired

2010-03-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

I really do have plans to be a frequent blogger. If for no other reason, as I have stated before, I like to have a journal of the day to day life with my children. But, these children keep me busy, thus I do not have the time I would like to blog on a daily basis. The last couple of weeks have been hard, and I need prayer. We have been passing around this nasty cold that knocks you off of your feet for a few days, our computers have been also passing around viruses (This is bad when you teach online and your son takes a few of his classes online.), and we are in a school funk. All of this would be frustrating, but okay if I could just take a few days off to revamp and start over. But, Micah has decided he does not require any sleep. He is sleeping from 10 or 11 until 2 am. He will go back to sleep at about 5:30 and is up again by 7. Oh yeah, he will not take a nap either. We think he has been doing this for a while undetected, but since he can climb out of his crib now, well if Micah doesn't sleep, ain't nobody sleeping. This is wearing me thin. When he is awake, he is very intense. He does not seem to have a mellow mode. Therefore, even at 2 in the morning he is running around laughing, yelling, and trying to wake anyone he can to play with him. Yes, we have tried discipline, ignoring him, etc., but there are other issues which make it more complicated. So, that is what we have been up to. Thanks for listening to the ramblings of a very tired and frustrated mother.

Makes the Bathroom Feel Better

2010-03-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Jack came out of the bathroom today spraying Lysol. He just looked at me and said, " This makes the bathroom feel better when it does not smell very well."

I guess that is one way to look at it.

And yes, that is the best post I can come up with because we are having some pretty tough days around here.

Another Fun Giveaway

2010-03-09T03:37:00.000-08:00

The Classical Experience is hosting a fun giveaway. You should check it out.

It is Almost Over

2010-03-04T04:40:00.000-08:00

What a crazy few weeks. We have had a lot going on and I wish I had the time to blog about each thing. But, here is a little run down of the highlights...

- Isaac performed in the musical Pirates of Penzance this past weekend. They did a fantastic job. My husband was not surprised. He went to see this group do a production last year, and knew he wanted our kids involved in some way with this teacher. We signed our kids up for her choir, and, Sarah, for the orchestra. Isaac, of course, auditioned for the musical. Counting the open dress rehearsal, there were 5 shows. This was the first time Isaac has ever been on stage. I heard the sold over 1,100 tickets. (This does not include the 250 at the dress rehearsal.) I was so proud of him for getting up there and performing his part really well. Our children have grown in talent and maturity under Mrs. L. Needless to say, we are pleased with this choice.

-Micah celebrated his 2nd birthday on Sunday. I cannot believe it! It really does not seem like two years that I was in Hawaii preparing to bring him home. On Sunday, someone said something about potty training. I said Micah did not know what going potty meant. Well, he heard that, went to the bathroom and took his diaper off. I put him on the potty and he went. I guess I don't have a baby anymore. I get a little sad that that time is over, but I am definitely ready for the next stage of our lives.

-Isaac celebrated his 9th adoption day with us on Monday. I cannot imagine our life without him. He will soon be 12, going on 15. He thinks he is ready for a little more independence. We are entering this stage with fear, but faith in God to lead us. We are so thankful for Isaac!

-The last basketball games for the season are on Saturday. The kids have done great. Zach continues to lead his team with points, and Isaac and Sarah have matured into more aggressive players. They are very happy when they have fouls called on them.:)

I am looking forward to this portion of our year being over this weekend. It has been fun, but I am tired!

Another Amish Funny

2010-02-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

From time to time we will hire an Amish girl to help us out. We have recently hired a young 17 year old. She is so sweet and we really enjoy her company, and help.:) We were talking about the cold weather and how both of us were very tired of it. She told me that her grandmother goes to Florida for the winter and she hoped she could do that when she was older. So, I was a little shocked by this news. I don't know why, really. Amish have the right to enjoy warm weather just like I do. But, I asked her if this was common. She said yes, that many elderly go South for the winter. She said there is a pretty large winter community of Amish in Sarasota. I just found that interesting.

Menu Monday

2010-02-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

As I type this we are getting more snow and I am shivering. Therefore, we have another week of heavy meals to warm our bodies.

• Sunday- Chicken Parmesan/Salad/Bread w/Dipping oils/Chocolate Fondue (This was a Valentine/Sabbath Dinner that my daughter and I prepared for the boys.)

• Monday-Broccoli and Cheese Soup/Salad/ Bread (We did not get to eat it last week.)

• Tuesday-Beef Stroganoff over noodles/Green Beans

• Wednesday- Crock Pot Kalua Pig/Salad (Hawaiian luau pork)

• Thursday- New England Haddock Chowder/Bread

Friday- Shepherd’s Pie/Applesauce

What is on your menu this week?

Sunday Quotes

2010-02-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

I was so blessed to be in church today. I realized how many wonderful things I hear on any given Sunday morning, and I just forget them. I would like to meditate upon them more. Sometimes they are great reminders, other times they are the wake up call that I need.

- There is nothing our rebellion does, but harm ourselves. (Sunday School)

- "No man knows how bad he is, until he tries to do good." C.S. Lewis

- We were not created to fulfill our petty little dreams or goals; rather we were solely created to glorify God. (Pastor) Great reminder.

- "Church isn't boring because we're not showing enough film clips, or because we play an organ instead of guitar. It's boring because we neuter it of its importance. Too often we treat our spiritual lives like the round of golf used to open George Barna's Revolution. At the end of my life, I want my friends and family to remember me as someone who battled for the Gospel, who tried to mortify sin in my life, who found hard for life, and who contended earnestly for the faith. Not just a nice guy who occasionally noticed the splendor of the mountains God created, while otherwise just trying to enjoy myself, manage my schedule, and work on my short game." Ted Kluck Why We Love the Church

7 Quick Takes Friday

2010-02-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

I truly have not meant to be so absent in the blog world. Often, I find myself desiring to log on and spill my heart. However, time, or lack there of, has been the thorn in my side recently. You may be thinking, "Well, isn't your part of the nation buried in snow? Aren't you all cuddled up together with nothing but time on your hands?" The sad fact is that I previously loved snow storms for this very reason. Unfortunately, homeschooling families, or at least this one, had to keep going after the first storm. As I look at my friends with children in schools, I am a little jealous of all of the down time they have been gifted. But, they have also had Spring Break taken away and I have heard stories of some schools not letting out until mid to late June. I am relishing in the thought that we will get a full summer break. I am tired and that gift sounds refreshing.

I enjoy blogging because it gives me a journal to meditate upon. When I forget about the goodness of my wonderful Savior, I enjoy going back to see the answered prayers, the funny little stories about my kids, and the sometimes, not so answered prayers (at least not answered in the way I wanted.) that caused us to grow and mature. So, for the sake of giving you a little peek into the last few weeks of our lives, and to give me something to read, here are 7 quick takes of things that have been going on recently:

1. Yes, we are buried in snow. It is too deep for Jack to walk in and Micah is scared of it. The older kids have had fun sledding, digging tunnels, and throwing snow balls. And I have mopped the floor until my back hurts to clean up the mess every time they come in.

2. Registration started for Veritas Press Scholars Academy for the '10-'11. This means Bruce and I are spending a lot of time (Or, most of our time.:)) on the phone and email talking families through which classes best fits their children. Isaac and Sarah are all registered for classes. It was a bit overwhelming for me to see the level at which they are working. It is so hard to believe they are old enough to take the classes and understand the material. I do not like for my babies to grow up!

3. The light bulb has clicked and Kindergarten is almost too easy for Zach. I LOVE teaching my kids to read!

4. We have shoveled and moved snow and driven on way too snow covered roads way more than I like. Sarah, Bruce, and I have decided that God was laughing when he moved us north of the Mason Dixon line. My body literally hurts in this weather. With Bruce's bad knees and my bad back, we are thinking a tropical climate sounds better and better all the time.:) (Don't worry. We have no plans on the horizon. We just like to dream.)

5. Micah is talking so much. He has decided he likes "Beagle Bites" (AKA Bagel Bites) and apples. He literally asks for them all the time.

6. Speaking of Micah. He seems to be developing a sense of taste. This is a big deal. With his seizures, crazy high pain tolerance, and lack of taste, they tend to think he has an immature nervous system. Hopefully it will strengthen and catch up. I never though I would be so happy to see him spit out a piece of lettuce with a very disgusted look on his face.

7. We are having dog/human confusion around here. Zach used the dog shampoo last night and Sarah spent about 5 minutes fighting with Micah to come with her to the door. It was not until I intervened that she realized she was supposed to be putting the dog out, not Micah.

So, there is a little of our life over the last week.

Menu Monday

2010-02-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

This week’s menu will be full of hot stick to your bones meals as we are buried in snow with more headed our way. Spring cannot get here fast enough for our family!

Sunday- Margarita Marinated Fajitas (These were soooo good. I made up my recipe and did not measure anything. However, I found a recipe that was similar. I used steak and chicken and lime juice instead of lemon juice. I also cooked the vegetables in a little of the marinade.)

Monday-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes/Steamed Broccoli

Tuesday- Read Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage/ Salad

Wednesday- Chili with all the toppings

Thursday- Loaded Baked Potatoes/ Salad

Friday- Broccoli and Cheese Soup/Salad/Crusty Bread

Who is Being Intolerent Now?

2010-02-04T05:02:00.000-08:00

Please read this article. It is written by someone with the opposite veiw as me, but very well said.

I'm In Trouble

2010-02-03T17:41:00.000-08:00

So, my 8 year old just told me that if she were me, she would tidy up my desk a little before bed. I guess that would be the down side to having a neat-freak for a child. She calls me out on my unneat-freakedness.

On the table this week:

Monday- Lasagna and salad
Tuesday- Roasted Chicken and Tomatoes over pasta
Wednesday- Apricot & Teriyaki glazed pork chops/ Couscous and Broccoli
Thursday- Sweet and Sour Meatloaf/ Brown Buttered Noodles/ Cabbage
Friday- Chicken Tortilla Soup/Salad

What is on your table this week?

Yes, I Do Work

2010-01-31T05:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to run into the grocery store on the way to the kids violin recital. It was so busy, I told Bruce to just drop me off. The kids wanted to know why it was so busy. I told them Saturday was the busiest day of the week, because everyone who works all day during the week has to do their shopping on Sat. Sarah and Zachary both responded with a,"But you work really hard and you go during the week!" Yes, I do work hard and I am glad they realize it!

Just Step Back

2010-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this post by Nancy Wilson. About 9 or so years ago, our marriage was at a turning point. We could either continue down the path of each kind of doing our own thing (which is what we both grew up in), or truly becoming one with my husband leading. He was certainly ready and able to fulfill his role, but well, I was having a little trouble with trust. I remember reading The Fruit of Her Hands and having this epiphany thought of "If I will just be quiet and stop trying to have a back up plan in case he is wrong, then he will lead." I realized if I did not lead, then he was forced to lead and seek wisdom from God, not me, when there was need for a back up plan. I cannot even describe the weight that was lifted when I made a choice to just trust God, through my husband. You should really read her article and book, if you have not already done so.

It is that time again. Here is our menu for the week.

Monday- Stuffed Peppers
Tuesday- Etouffee
Wednesday- Crock pot Ribs
Thursday- Ham and Bean Soup
Friday- Date night!!
Saturday- Sabbath Dinner-Marinated Pork Tenderloin with caramelized mushrooms/ Roasted Potatoes/Zucchini/Rolls and Honey Butter/Dessert???
Sunday-Lunch-Leftovers Dinner- You are on your own-Clean out the Fridge

What is on your menu this week?

My Wheels are Turning

2010-01-20T06:49:00.000-08:00

I attended a meeting last night at the local Bethany office. They are looking for volunteers and even some board members. It is funny how quickly the wheels in my mind start turning whenever I walk into that place. It was different this time, though. Usually, I walk in and hear all of the stories and start thinking about taking in more kids. My son even joked as I left last night for me to remember that adopting another child was a family decision. He said I should not make any commitments on the spot. He knows me too well. But, last night my thinking took a different turn. As he was talking about the different venues to volunteering, I asked if they had any way to set up families to support birth mothers. So many birth mothers are alone without any Christian support. He said they had not had that, but were about to start a birth mother support group and maybe some sort of ministry could grow from that. I am not sure what my role will be, or if it is even the time for me. My plate is quite full. But, it was fun and inspiring to have different thoughts and goals this time. There are so many ways to support adoption, which in turn supports pro life choices. I think I feel another post coming on.

New Blog

2010-01-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

Check out this new blog my friend and I have started. Neither of us can claim to be wonderful homeschool moms or know all of the ins and outs of Classical Education, but we wanted to have a place where like minded people could come together and share in their triumphs and failures while seeking advice from many who are walking in their shoes. We would love to have guest posters. Look in the sidebar to see how to submit a post. Also, it is a work in progress.

Menu For the Week

2010-01-18T10:47:00.000-08:00

Bruce and are leaving Friday to speak at a seminar this weekend. Therefore, it is clean out the fridge and freezer week.

Monday- Pot Roast, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans, carrots in a honey sauce
Tuesday- Ham Steak with pineapple glaze, Mac n' Cheese, Green Peas
Wednesday- Vegetable Beef Soup
Thursday- Leftovers, clean out the fridge, sandwiches

Where is Your Identity

2010-01-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

We have had one of those days. We woke up to find out Bruce's identity has been stolen. Thankfully, we caught it pretty quickly, but we spent the day at the bank, police department, and on the phone with 19 different online companies who falsely have us registered as costumers. Bruce had a pretty disappointing work day, we found a leak in our ceiling and we cannot figure out where it is coming from. Oh yeah, we finished the afternoon with a memorial service for some friends of ours who lost their baby. I do not tell you all of this to cry and complain about our day, but as I stood outside in the freezing cold at this service, I could not stop thinking about how foolish I was to get in a funk over our trivial problems. My dear friends are grieving the loss of a child and my heart aches for them. They, thankfully, believe in and serve a sovereign God. They have hope. I can tell you that when I walked back into my home after this service, the leak did not matter so much, the bad work day was forgotten, and when I think of the identity theft, well they cannot get our true identity because it is in Christ and I go to bed tonight so incredibly grateful for that.

Here's to Being Quiet

2010-01-10T12:03:00.001-08:00

If you know me, you know I love to talk. I like to be with people and talk about just about anything. I guess you would call me an extrovert. The problem with that is that I do not listen enough. I often spend time with people and leave to only have the thought, "Wow, I should have shut up and listened a little more!" So, that is my goal for this year. There are two reasons I want to do this. First, I so desire to show the love of Christ to others. Everyday I want to know I ministered to others in the way God would desire of me. I want to be more aware of the needs of those who are around me. I want to listen more closely. Second, I want to learn and mature. Bruce and I have always sought out mentoring relationships. We haven't had one in a few years and I dreadfully miss it. For most of our married life, our closest friends have been older than us (or at least me, since my husband is 6 years older than me). Before moving here, we had a couple that we met with every week. They were a little older, more experienced parents, and just mature people. We studied the Bible and family books and talked about anything you can imagine. We have probably spent hours in prayer with and for them. There were many tears and even more laughs. We only had two little ones at the time. We would put them to bed at their house and stay until the wee hours of the morning. We miss them. We miss that kind of friendship. It does not come very often. But, I am thinking that if I stop talking long enough to hear, I can learn from others again. So, that is what I guess you can call my New Year's resolution.

Blogs to Check Out

2010-01-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

I finally sat down for a few minutes and added my blog roll in the side bar. You may want to check out a few of these blogs.

Saying Yes Will Mean a Mess

2010-01-08T05:28:00.000-08:00

I am struggling lately to keep up. I am busy.(Who isn't?) I feel like the house is never clean enough, and the kids do not help enough, and I am just plain grumpy. It seems as though I spend my day watching the children make messes and then fussing with the older children to help out more. I do not like this. We started this week back to school on our strict schedule. We do not always follow it, but it gives us a guide when things are failing. But, all week I just felt like I was saying no constantly, because I did not want to get off of the schedule to clean up the mess. So, after some prayer and reading this, I am going to re-work our schedule to add a little more time for clean up and I am going to try really hard to let my kids be kids. If you are struggling with grumpiness and saying no to your kids being kids, I would encourage you to read the blog post mentioned above.

Amish and Their Cell Phones

2010-01-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

So, I was at the grocery store today and I was loading my groceries into the backseat. I noticed there was someone in the car beside me waiting to get out. I quickly stopped, shut my door, and told her she could get out. I noticed she was Amish. I said, "I am sorry ma'am, I did not realize you were waiting to get out." She says, "Oh, it's okay. I wasn't waiting the whole time. I was looking for my cell phone most of that time." Weird!

I know I am not very consistent, but posting my weekly menu is helpful to me. It also gives me ideas when you post yours.:)

Monday: Breakfast for dinner
Tuesday: Chicken over Black Bean Salsa
Wednesday: Cubed Beef with Tomatoes, Onions, and Peppers
Thursday: Chicken Tortilla Soup/Salad
Friday: Cranberry Glazed Pork Chops
Saturday/Sabbath Dinner: Stuffed Shells/ Salad/ Bread with Dipping oil and Spices/Dessert ? (This meal may be moved to Sunday. I just remembered Isaac has musical practice every Sat. night for the next 2 months.)

What is on your menu this week?

Prayer of My Heart

2010-01-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

This is the Puritan prayer that it is on my heart today. I thought I would share it.

God of my end, it is my greatest, noblest pleasure to be acquainted with Thee and with my rational, immortal soul; it is sweet and entertaining to look into my being when all my powers and passions are united and engaged in pursuit of Thee, when my soul longs and passionately breathes after conformity to Thee and the full enjoyment of Thee; no hours pass away with so much pleasure as those spent in communion with Thee and with my heart.

O how desirable, how profitable to the Christian life is a spirit of holy watchfulness and godly jealousy over myself when my soul is afraid of nothing except grieving and offending Thee, the blessed God, my Father and friend, whom I then love and long to please, rather than be happy in myself! Knowing, as I do, that this is the pious temper, worthy of the highest ambition, and closest pursuit of intelligent creatures and holy Christians, may my joy derive from glorifying and delighting Thee. I long to fill all my time for Thee, whether at home or in the way; to place all my concerns in Thy hands; to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own. Help me to live to Thee for ever, to make Thee my last and only end, so that I may never more in one instance love my sinful self.

Blessings of the Year

2010-01-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

(Excuse the pictures. I cannot get them in the correct places, and I need to move away from the computer.)

If truth be told, I am ready to shove 2009 out the door. It has been a difficult year. So many things on so many levels have happened. But, I hate to just put it behind me and only think negative thoughts as I do it. There have been many blessings and I want to remember them.

-We were able to have many celebrations this year to take our minds off of "other things."

- We finalized an adoption!!

-Bruce and I enjoyed a beautiful trip to Hawaii. God has given us a love for the people of this island. It is humbling when we realize our son's story is identical to a large percentage of other children there and God chose to remove him from it. We pray daily for the people of this outwardly beautiful "paradise." It is a blessing to think his and his mothers lives were spared. Now we just pray about how we can do more.

- The summer was difficult for a lot of personal family related issues. Vacations and family outings were out on hold. We were happy to start school because it was a great distraction. BUT, the fall brought a wonderful vacation for our family. It was one of the best we have had and a much need time of rest and reconnection.

-We had great fun with cousins!

- While our Christmas was full of sickness and hospital/doctor visits, it was a quiet time for just us. We usually do a lot of travelling. We missed our extended family, but enjoyed our time of quietness.(I do not have pictures uploaded yet.)

-God has taught us a lot this year. I believe we fight a never ending battle to put complete faith in Him. But, every year we have strived and succeeded a little more (I hope) than the year before. He has taught us to love one another and hold tight to those we love. This year has brought many challenges for different relationships, but God has been faithful to reveal Himself and point Bruce and I to one another. For that, I am grateful. I pray this next year is one with a little less chaos. But, if not, we are ready for it. We know the God we serve and that He gives a peace like no other.

Where is the Community

2009-12-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

There has been talk recently in the blog world about distance education. Obviously, I have an opinion on this. There are many arguments being given as to why distance learning is not a good thing. I am only going to take on one in this post. It is said that distance learning does not promote community. I have a real problem with this argument. My question is this, when did the church cease to be the community? At what point did the school become the community? It has become a problem in the church today that if you do not attend the church school, or the school which the church supports, you loose fellowship. If you spend a few minutes reading home-schooling blogs, you will find this is happening frequently. The story goes something like this, “We started home-schooling and now we do not have any friends.” Or, "We do not have children to send to the school, so we feel left out." I can easily see how this happens. I do not believe it is intentional. But, because the school has become the hub, if you are not part of it, then you are left out in many cases. My own family has been guilty of this. Being involved in a school takes a lot of time and work. You spend so much time with all of the school activities, homework, volunteering, sports games, etc. that there is nothing left to then be a part of another community. If we could turn this around and go back to a time when the church was the hub, I believe we would have a different take on distance education and home-schooling in general.

Early in our marriage my husband decided to go to seminary. We packed up and left our community to do this full-time. Very quickly he was going to school full-time, working nights and Saturdays, and studying whenever he could. I was working full-time as well. We literally only saw one another on Sundays. I was in bed when he came home at midnight and he was in bed when I left at 6:30 the next morning. We were lonely and dirt poor. We ran out of money after about 2 years and things were just not good. We had to leave and go back to our community. Fast forward a few years. He really wanted to get this degree from seminary. He found there was a reputable school which offered distance education. He was able to get recordings of what the school considered their best, stay in our COMMUNITY, and keep his job to support the family. I guess when I look at our story (and our story is very common) I have a hard time understanding how leaving your church community and putting emotional and financial stress on your family is better than doing it the other way just because it is “distance education”.

I do feel the need to make a disclaimer here. There are churches that do this well. They understand the church is the community and they work hard at it. Also, physically going to a school is a good thing. It is just not always practical and writing it off just because it does not give you “community” well, is just silly.

I think I will have to make this into a series. I have so much more to say.

I Will Be Back

2009-12-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to check in for the 1 or 2 people who may actually still check this blog. I will be back to blogging soon. In the midst of all of our Advent and Christmas celebrating we have had sickness, a hospital stay for Micah, and now a diagnosis of mono. We are praying that does not now go through all of the kids. So, while a take a breath and try to protect myself from mono, I am taking a bit of a blogging break. I will hopefully be back in a week or so.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year!

Advent Surprise

2009-12-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

WE have yet to do our Advent surprise today. Yes, it has been one of those days. But, if we ever get to it, we will be reading a book... The Story of St. Nicholas.

Advent Celebrations

2009-12-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Our Advent celebrations have not stopped. We have just had a busy few days and I have had no time to post. In the last few days we have eaten Christmas candy, sang Christmas carols, had gingerbread men for snack, and watched Christmas movies.

Our family devotions have been centered around the fact that God did not have to send His Son into this wicked and evil world. We have been stressing to our children that we should live every second in humble gratitude for the great gift which has been bestowed upon us...eternal life.

Day 4 Advent

2009-12-04T10:27:00.001-08:00

Eat a Nickelodeon themed candy cane.

Advent Day 3

2009-12-03T07:31:00.001-08:00

Read the book Clopper the Christmas Donkey and watch a Christmas movie before bed. (We will watch many Christmas movies this season.)

Advent Day 2

2009-12-02T08:31:00.001-08:00

Perform in a Christmas concert at a local nursing home and Christmas tree Peeps for dessert.

Advent Day 1

2009-12-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

The note says:

We will begin eating on our Christmas dinnerware tonight. There will be a gift at your seat.

The gift will be a Christmas placemat. Hopefully it will protect my Christmas tablecloth. I do not want to have to wash it everyday!!

So It All Begins

2009-11-30T07:40:00.001-08:00

I love this time of year. I love the hustle and bustle. I love the decorations. I just love everything about Christmas. A few years ago I started to feel like we just did not celebrate it enough. I started to think that in a reaction to the American commercialism we kind of down played the celebration of the incarnation of our Savior. We have always stressed the real meaning of Christmas to our children, but it was almost like if we participated too much in Christmassy things, then we were falling into the trap. After reading a few of Nancy Wilson's posts on celebrating the Advent Season, we have come to believe that this Season should be celebrated with gusto. Our Sabbath dinners are a little more special. At each dinner we light our Advent candle for that week and the weeks before, we eat on our Christmas dinnerware, and the kids get a small gift. The gift will be something to help them celebrate the season. It may be a Christmas movie or book or something else like that. Starting on December 1, they open the door to whichever day we are on in our Advent box. They will find a note which tells them they are going to do something to celebrate that day. It may be as simple as color a Christmas picture or going to the movies to see whatever Christmas movie is out. During this whole month (from Thanksgiving to Christmas) our family devotions will center around Christ's birth and our gratitude to the wonderful sovereign God that we serve. So, that is what our Advent Season looks like. What special traditions does your family have?

I Need to Vent

2009-11-18T05:03:00.000-08:00

I love him. I really do. He makes me want to scream and run to hide! But, I love him. Who is this child? It would be Jackson. Let's see, yesterday he colored all over the picture window with crayon. (He was assisted by Micah.) He went on to take a Sharpie to the back door. (Thankfully my perfect daughter saw it and cleaned it before it dried.) When I asked what his dad was going to say he responded, " Well, maybe he just shouldn't look at the window." Today he "forgot" he did not have a diaper on and relieved himself all over a pile of papers on the floor in Sarah's room. Mind you, he has been potted trained and has not worn a diaper for about 6 months. Okay, now I have vented and I REALLY do love him!

She is Growing Up

2009-11-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

I have been spending a lot of time in prayer lately seeking wisdom on my relationship with my wonderful daughter. Our relationship is not suffering, but she is maturing. This little girl who we thought we would never have is getting older and every bit of my being hates it. She is often right by my side ready to help in any way. She has been keeping my kitchen spotless because "It gets on hers nerves to see anything on the counters." Her violin playing has changed from the squeaks of a young player to smooth sound of a beautiful song. I took her to an open rehearsal at the symphony last week. She sat memorized at watching their fingers and could not believe that the conductor was telling them to do it again because he did not think they did very well. She came home that night and practiced for over an hour. I love her work ethic. Nothing is too difficult to give it a try. And she will do anything her parents ask of her without complaining. I know I am making her sound perfect, but some days in the midst of my boys being boys, she seems that way. She does have her days and her faults. The frustration of all of the testosterone brings her to tears sometimes. I think back to the years of infertility and miscarriages, the doctor's appointment that was meant to schedule the D&C for the baby who had not survived, the Christian doctor who said, "let's do one more sonogram to make sure." I will never forget the tears in his eyes when he said, "I see a heartbeat this time!" I love my daughter and I hate that it looks as is there will not be a sister for her. I hate that she is growing. But, I love the beautiful person God has created her to be and I also love that she has a deep love for Him and unusual understanding of Him. And, I love that she loves me!

Life With Micah

2009-11-09T07:09:00.001-08:00

It is so hard to believe that just a few short months ago we were wondering if we were going to get to keep Micah. From the time we adopted Isaac, we knew we wanted to adopt again. We did not mean to wait so long, but it was just never the right time. We always thought we would hold out for a girl. With the boy gene being so prevalent and all, we suspected that was the only way Sarah would get a sister. This adoption just kind of happened. When we agreed to what we believed was a no brainer adoption we had no clue what we were in for. It is a good thing we cannot see the future, we would have probably never done it! God keeps us blissfully ignorant for a reason. He needed someone to fight for this child. I was blessed to be able to be in Hawaii for his birth and even spent a lot of time in the hospital with him. The laws that forced us to stay in Hawaii for 2 weeks(Not that I had to be forced in the middle of the winter!)were such a blessing. It allowed us to spend a lot of unexpected time with the birth mother and we bonded in a way that no one expected. Micah was the perfect baby. Keep his belly full and his bottom clean, and he is happy. He has a very high pain tolerance. He rarely cries when he is hurt. This is good and bad. He has been banged up pretty bad, but we never knew what happened because he did not cry. He has a great smile. He is almost always smiling. Well, except when he is screaming to the top of lungs because he is mad at his siblings or the dog. He is staring to talk and loves to give kisses. If anyone ever questions the attachment of adopted children, look no further. He is so attached. He trembles sometimes when he thinks I am going to leave him or a stranger walks into our home. He is a fun kid. We love him so much. I cannot even think about what would have happened if we had had to turn him over to the state. People question the way we did this. Some say we were crazy to do a private adoption. Maybe so. But, maybe it takes crazy people to fight for these little guys who don't have a voice.

Life With Isaac

2009-11-06T04:23:00.000-08:00

November is national adoption month. I honor of that I would like to write a little about my two beautiful adopted boys.

I do not even remember what it was like before Isaac came to live with us. It seems like life for us started the day we walked into Bethany Christian Services to meet this little 1 yr old, about to turn 2. He was beautiful and his smile was contagious. It still is. He had no clue who we were or how his life was about to change. In a months time he had gone from his mother and through 2 foster homes. We played with him in what would be their small "lobby" I guess. We were with social workers and his foster mother and her children. One of us would play while the other went back to be interviewed. Within a few days we went to visit at the foster home. And then we took him for the day the next Saturday. The foster mother had been training him to call me Mommy Julie to transition since he already had a "Mommy." He called me Mommy the whole day and screamed and kicked and cried when we had to leave him that day. It was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. He was MY child, but it was not legal yet so, we could not keep him over night. I had to leave him knowing he needed me. It was great that he was already bonding, but awful to leave him. The agency pushed everything through to not prolong this for him and he was in our home a week later. He was full of energy. He was like one big ball of impulsiveness just waiting to get into the next thing. He has continued with that impulsiveness. While that makes his life difficult, it is also the thing that brings us laughter and makes life exciting. He is a sensitive young man. I believe this sensitivity makes him hurt more, but it also makes him love more.(Well, except for maybe his brother.:)) I was talking with a friend recently. She made the comment that we really do not make differences between our adopted and biological children. She spends A LOT of time with us. She would know.:) I told her as crazy as it sounds, I forget he is adopted. He is just our child. We just love him!

This has become so long. I will share about Micah tomorrow.

He is Reading

2009-11-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

Zachary has been reading a few words for a bit now. But, yesterday we came to the page in the curriculum that presents the child a certificate for the words they can read. Bruce was taking a 5 minute break from teaching, so the entire family gathered around for him to read the words. He was so excited, grinning from ear to ear. I wish I had taken a picture. Bruce proceeded to take him downstairs and read the certificate to his class of students waiting for him to start teaching. When I start to get overwhelmed sometimes, it is always such a joy to have days like this. I really would not have wanted anyone else to take that moment away from me and share it with my son. I love being the one to see the light bulb go off and experience these exciting times with my children.

The time change and the crisp fall air always put me in the mood for two things. My electric blanket and heavier, warmer meals/soups. Here is our menu for the week.

Monday-Shephard's Pie
Tuesday-Vegetable Beef Soup and Bread
Wednesday-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes with Asparagus
Thursday- Leftovers and Loaded Baked Potatoes
Friday-Dinner with friends
Saturday-Sabbath Dinner-London Broil and something else

What is on your menu?

Great Reminder

2009-11-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Bruce is sick and decided not to go to church today. I was very tempted not to go as well. Our kids will finally let us sleep in a little and that sounded heavenly this morning. Well, my oldest had other plans for me. He comes running into the room,"We are going to be late for church, Mom!" Thus started the little devil and angel debate in my head. To go or not to go... The angel won out and we went. Isaac has not always loved church, and I am thrilled to get this reaction from him. So, off we went. Our Sunday School class has been going through TIm Keller's book The Reason for God. We were reminded that when God calls us, through His Word, to do things which are culturally difficult to do, it is to strengthen our relationship with Him. When He tells me to submit to my husband, it really has nothing to do with my husband, but everything to do with my relationship with God, and in turn my relationship with my husband. I am struggling with a few things lately that I just cannot let go of. This was a great reminder for me this morning. I know what to do. It may not make sense to me, but it does to God.

What are You Up To?

2009-10-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

So, we are finishing our first quarter. It seems like we have not done much, but when I sit down to remember it all, well, I guess we have been busy.

We are fully into the swing of homeschooling now. I think I finally have a system for Isaac. HE is working into being more independent. He takes four online classes. HE LOVES them. The teachers are great. They definitely offer him more than I could with all of the little ones running around.They teach him, he gets a homework list, I work through that with him if he needs me to, I check his work, and he then turns in what is due. He has had to write 2 papers and is working on his 3rd for his writing class. He has created a travel brochure enticing families the New Switzerland for Literature class and he has reconstructed the Matthew for History. I tend to put projects off for the older ones because of all I have to do with the little ones. Thankfully, has to turn things in for a grade, by a certain time. He is taking piano lessons and in a choir class. The choir teacher puts on an incredible musical every year. This year it is Pirates of Penzance. Isaac is going to be a policeman. My goal for Isaac over the next few weeks is to help him become more organized.

Sarah, is my self learner. I work with her and teach her everyday, but most of the time she has it figured out before I am done. She LOVES to read and could read all day. We have done a few Literature projects and she helped her brother with his ship since they are studying the same history. She spends a lot of her time writing a book and designing clothes. She is actually pretty good, if I may say so myself.She is very into the violin. She takes private lessons and this year has been blessed with the opportunity to be in an orchestra class. She is loving it. Her goal when she picked up the violin a few years ago was to play in a symphony. She has not lost that dream. So, she loves the orchestra class. She takes the same choir class as Isaac. My goal for Sarah over this next quarter is to beef up her projects.

Zachary is loving Kindergarten. We are working on a pumpkin lap book right now. I found this great company that sells everything you need all put together in a kit. I do not have to do anything. They even make your copies and and fold your folder for you. They are a bit costly, but I saw them at a homeschool convention and they had boxes of clearance kits for 50 to 75% off. He is learning to read quickly and his favorite subject is math. He also loves the fun co-op we go to. He takes violin, but sports continue to be his thing. In his free time you will most likely find him skateboarding or shooting hoops. My goals for him are to do more hands on activities.

As a family we have done a few local field trips and read fun books and made some fun and educational meals. We are spending a few days Thanksgiving week at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. We will tour Jamestown as well. They just studied Jamestown so that should be fun. Also, the co-op we are in does a feast for each time period represented. The families who are studying the time plan the feast, but everyone brings food. Since we are studying Explorers to 1815, we are planning a traditional Thanksgiving Feast. It should be fun. The kids will bring projects that they have done to present to the group and they can also take a minute to recite anything they are working on.

That is a quick glance at our first quarter. What have you guys been up to?

Convicted Once Again

2009-10-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Okay not convicted that way! We are doing a couples study at church. Once again I was reminded of my legacy. I forget from time to time that a legacy can be good or bad. It was pointed out to me that everyone has a legacy. It may be good or even bad, but there is one left. I have been told this many times, but a reminder is always nice.

What a Week

2009-10-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! I need a week to recover from this past week. We had decided to take the week off and only work on projects. That was great because we had company through Tuesday. This allowed the kids to be more relaxed with their schooling while the guests were here. What we did not count on was me getting sick. Last Sunday I woke up with a killer headache, chills and hives on my head and face. By Monday my face was swollen and the hives moved to my torso. Sarah told me I looked like I had the opposite of beauty sleep! When I said I was going to the doctor, Isaac was beyond humiliated that I would go out in public. Anyway, the hives and fever worked their way through my body and now I am well. But, after spending those days in bed, well, you know what happens when mom gets sick. Therefore, we could not start projects until yesterday. One is going great, the other...let's just say we have to think of another project. Now we are headed out of town. Oh yeah and we had church pictures yesterday! I will not even attempt to tell how that went. I am just glad it will not happen again for a very long time!

Wow!!

2009-10-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

So, the value of the Nobel Peace Prize was knocked down a few notches today. Do not get me wrong. There have been plenty of people who have received the award that I thought,"huh?" But, for the most part you could always see that there was some thought put into the process. After today, I am not so sure. When I discovered he would have had to of been nominated only 11 days into his presidency to get the award, I went from scratching my head to just plain shaking it in horror, awe, and maybe even a little fear.

Another Reason I Love Homeschooling

2009-10-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

I am constantly asked how do I classically home school so many kids. First, I feel like I fail everyday, Second, it's hard. Third, we have long days. But, there are a few things I have found that make things easier. I realized very quickly that I could not get it all in without short cuts. My favorite short cut is having the mindset of killing two birds with one stone. One of the things I do along those lines is buy children picture books which coincide with what the older kids are learning. I am going to read to the little ones, right? Why not read quality books that also break it down a little more for the ones who are reading the real thing. So, I was thrilled this morning when I heard Jack(3) say, "Hey Isaac, did you know Beowulf killed Grendel. He took his arm off. But, then the dragon killed Beowulf. That is sad. Bad Dragon!!" Then a whole Beowulf conversation began amongst the children and of course it was followed by a reenactment which quickly spiraled out of control. I will pretend that did not happen and save you the details.:)As I am typing this I hear him saying, "Sarah I HAVE to tell you about Grendel. He is a very bad boy." Anyway, when these things happen, for just a minute, I stop feeling like a failure and believe that we are accomplishing something.

Week's Menu

2009-10-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

I trying to get back into bogging. I realize I may have little to no readers any longer and what I write may be incredibly boring, but I enjoy going back and reading about our life. I forget how much fun my kids are and the things God has delivered us from. I have found the blog to be very uplifting that way. So, in the name of getting back into the swing of blogging, I am going to start with posting our weekly menus again. Here goes:

Monday- Ham Loaf, Buttered Noodles, Creamed Peas (Very Lancastrian of us, I know)
Tuesday- Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Gravy, Rice, Left Over Creamed Peas
Wednesday- Sweet and Sour Pot Roast, Potatoes, Asparagus
Thursday- Beef Burritos, Spanish Rice, Corn, Salad
Friday- Date Night-Left overs for the kids

Making TIme for Fun

2009-10-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

5 weeks into school and I am feeling blah. The older my kids get, the harder it is to be fun. Isaac's work is serious stuff and it takes us all day to get it done. In between working with him there is Sarah. She can be done by 1 or so. Then there is Zachary. He is LOVING Kindergarten, but I am feeling bad for him. With helping the older ones and getting them to their activities, I feel like their is no time for "fun" with Zach. So, I am taking my own advice and revamping. Yesterday at church, a friend told me that she was feeling the same thing. A couple of weeks ago she did nothing but Math and fun stuff with her kids. So, I am making a new goal. Actually 2 new goals, 1. Do at least 1 fun thing a week with Zachary and Jack (even if it has to happen at night or on the weekend) 2. Take a week off every quarter to do nothing but projects and enrichment things. We do a lot of projects in the summer and we do a lot of family field trips. We almost always build our vacations around something educational. So, I guess things are not that bad, I am just hating that things have to be different for the little guys than it was for the older ones. I guess if I were looking at this in a "the glass is half full" kind of way, I would see the joy in the older kids reading to the little ones, the fun Zachary and Jackson have playing all of the educational games together while I am working with the older two, the fact that the little ones pick up so much from the older ones that I can teach them in half the time as I did the older two, and just imagine the incredible education Micah will get when he is the only one I have to work with.:)

One of Those Weeks

2009-09-18T06:27:00.001-07:00

I have had one of those weeks. We all have them. It is one of those times that you question everything you are doing and wonder if it is really the right thing. After being close to tears on Wednesday, my husband, ever so politely, reminded me to take the advice I give people all the time. In one of the homeschooling talks I give, I tell mothers that their days are only going to be as good as they make them. When we are lazy as their teachers, more then likely our days are going to be pretty nasty. I know this and I think that is why I get so frustrated. I just get upset with myself and then take it out on them. I started the week sick and then just could not get my groove on. The fact that my two oldest are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum on what works for them does not help. I can put one on auto-pilot and get through days like this. The other, not so much. Things quickly deteriorate with this child when I cannot devote major time to watching this child's back and making sure things are getting done. So, how did the week end? It ended with me revamping and starting over. I have to remind myself everyday that tomorrow is a new day and I have chance to reclaim our homeschool. But, man, am I glad it is FRIDAY!!

Mashed Potatoes Anyone?

2009-09-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know the bathroom sink makes a great mixing bowl? Walked into the bathroom to find an entire box of instant mashed potatoes dumped out and mixed with water. They were actually just the right consistency. He said he was making dinner. I'll let you guess which he that would be.

And We're Off

2009-09-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

It all comes down tomorrow. We started school last week. But, I like the slow start. We have our big annual breakfast out and then we do 2 or 3 subjects and try to get on a better schedule. Tomorrow we will do it ALL. It's funny. A month ago I so did not want to even think about school. But, now I am ready for some structure. A former pastor's wife of ours used to say the reason the end of pregnancy was so hard, was so we would not be afraid of labor. Tonight I am thinking the reason the kids go crazy with very little structure is so I will not be afraid of the daily schedule with something scheduled into every minute of the day. Ladies, I am not afraid and I even am looking forward to tomorrow! How are your school days going?

It's a Sad Day

2009-08-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

Alright, so in the grand scheme of things, what I am about to tell you is really not that bad. But, it is kind of sad or disappointing. I am giving up my school room. My mom will be staying with us for periods of time. She is handicapped and cannot make it up my stairs. Therefore the extra room downstairs is being turned into
Sarah's room and she will share with my mom when she is here. I guess it was inevitable. I had all 4 boys in the same room, and even the though the room is huge, it is quite a bit of testosterone to be bottle up in one location. So, we are cleaning out and moving things around today. The only argument we are having through all of this is, who has to share a room with Micah. Do not get me wrong. They love their brother. But, you see, he eats adult sized portions of his meals. And, you know what goes in has to come out. His system seems to need to cleanse every morning as he wakes up. They are all fighting to be the two who do not have to wake up to that every morning!:)

2009-07-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

So, it has been a while. There has been a lot going on here. Busyness and emotional stress and just the raising of 5 kids. When Micah's adoption was finalized I breathed this sigh of relief and thought, "It's done. We can breath now. Surely things will go well for a while. God does not give you back to back grief." So, yes, now I am laughing at myself. I forgot for a bit that God is in control, He decides what happens with our life, and He has every right to throw as many curve balls at me as He wants. I thank Him everyday that He is the one in charge of my life, not me. If it were me, I am sure I would have something much more catastrophic than a few curve balls.I do not think it would be wise or is the right time to go into details,but we have been forced to make sacrifices for someone's selfishness and these sacrifices will not stop anytime in the near future. It has been sad and painful and I have had to confess much anger and bitterness. I am so blessed to be married to a strong man who does not think and make choices according to emotions and is quick to keep me from making that mistake. He is quick to study Scripture and takes it literally and I am so happy to have him point me in that direction when I have to do things I am not excited about doing. The funny thing about all of this is that I can almost literally feel the maturity and growth that God is bringing about in me, and in all of my anger(which I am still confessing almost daily) and sadness I am so excited about that growth. If you all think about it, would you please pray for me, but especially my parents, sisters and their families.

Happy Fourth of July

2009-07-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. I look forward to it every year. I love the summer, so celebrating in the warm weather is great. I always have to find a huge fireworks display. I grew up in an area rich in Revolutionary War and Civil War history. I think this holiday is just very nostalgic for me. I am one of those sappy people that really does have a patriotic pride on this day, and I want to do it up big. Well, as we were watching fireworks last night with some friends, I was having different thoughts. As the sky would light up, our friend would joke about the wonderful things to be thankful for this year-cap and trade, economy, more abortion rights, universal health care, ever growing national debt,our President's desire to build relationships with people like Hugo Chavez, etc. I think for the first time ever, this holiday is depressing to me. My family will spend today celebrating at a cookout with our church. But, I know my heart will be in prayer for our nation. I was hoping to visit the Tea Party in Lancaster today, but it does not look like it will work out. Please let me encourage you to pray for the state of our Union today, and if at all possible show your support at a Tea Party in your area.

Where Did June Go?

2009-07-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

Life has been crazy busy around here. Isn't summer supposed to slow down?!? So, here is a quick rundown of what has been going on. I am hoping to get back to blogging. If for no other reason, I like to have to permanent documentation of the children's lives. I do not journal well and it has been fun to go back and read all of the exciting (to me) things that have happened.
-The first week of June we had the annual End of the Year Gathering for Veritas Press Scholars Academy. It was a huge success. The students had a blast and from the looks of it, the parents and teachers did too. They square danced, had several festive meals together, had academic competitions, and a Lancaster County scavenger hunt, to name a few things.
-WE have become good friends with a family from Mexico through the online school. Their 12 year old son stayed with us for a bit after the gathering. We went somewhere fun everyday. I was so exhausted. Because of naps and things for the little kids, day trips do not happen very often. If they do, we usually divide and conquer. Well, we were doing so many new things that I was never very comfortable doing it without Bruce. So, the little guys had to come. Let's just say I paid for that for a couple of weeks. A week and a half of little napping did not prove to be the wisest choice on my part.
-Isaac celebrated his 11th birthday while his friend was here. The friend being here and all of the special trips and things going on was Isaac's gift from us. It was cut a little short(the friend became homesick and left early.), but I think it proved to be a good birthday celebration. HE had to get over the promised trips and things that were not happening since the friend left early, but when I explained that any one of the things we had done made for a great celebration, he got over it pretty quickly.:)
-As soon as the friend let I had to get started on our home school portfolio to turn into the state. That was soooo time consuming. Next year I will definitely work on it through he year!
-Finally, we just got back from Atlanta. We were working for Veritas Press at the ACCS convention. We had so much fun. It was great to see our friends from Hawaii and others who we only see every few years. We met online families who we had only "met" over the computer. I am already looking forward to next year.

Now I am going to put my feet up for a few minutes and then enjoy my birthday meal. It will involve a couple of hours of picking crabs for myself. Did you catch that?-for myself. The deal is, on my birthday I will not pick for anyone else!:)

Ideas Please

2009-06-12T05:39:00.000-07:00

Need to keep our 12 yr old house guest busy. He is getting homesick. I need inexpesive ideas! We have done Chocolate World at Hershey, seen Up, the Air and Space Museum in DC, bowling today, Gettysburg tomorrow. We are still planning minature golf, free movies on Wednesday next week, and a day trip to the beach if the weather ever cooperates. Any other ideas?

Is This a Bad Sign?

2009-05-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

We have been laughing at Micah all morning. He has discovered the art of temper tantrum throwing. Except he is a little too lazy to follow it all the way thru. He kind of grunts when he is not pleased and then lies down on the floor and looks at you. There is no crying or flailing of body parts. Just lying on the floor. I think it may be a bad sign when a 1 yr old is too lazy to throw a complete temper tantrum.:)

We Did It!

2009-05-21T16:25:00.001-07:00

I am feeling all sentimental today. Bruce laughs at me when I get this way. Therefore, you all will have to hear from me instead. Sorry!! A little over a year ago I agreed to teach this Middle Ages, Renaissance,& Reformation class online to 4th -6th graders. I knew it would be a lot, but, hey, I would be teaching this year to my own kids so, it couldn't be that difficult. Wow, I completely underestimated the time commitment. After making this commitment, we discovered our adoption would be contested. I developed the attitude of, "How much can a mother take? We just have to get through this school year and clean up any messes later." I fully expected to have a lousy school year. We decided I should not back out of my commitment to Veritas Press and the families who had already signed up for my class. So, we plugged away. Well, here we are at the end of the year and I am sad that my classes are done. Do not get me wrong, I am happy to have my Sunday nights back from the hours of making the never ending power point slides, but I am sad to be done with these students. They, along with their families, prayed us through our very long court battle, they sat patiently at their computers when Isaac came on one Monday morning to say, "My mom will be right here. My brother is having seizures and the ambulance is here." No, I never made it to class that day. They called me the best teacher ever. I said thank you, but really, it's between me and mom so, I take it for what it is worth. On our homeschool front, I am amazed at my children. I never thought we would actually finish the year. And I was good with that. I decided to cut my self SOME slack. Guess what? Today was our last day of formal school and we are done!! Sarah came to me and asked for a fun book to read. I said. "Go to your Literature shelf and pick something you did not get to this year. You will continue to read them, but I will not make you do the Lit. guides through the summer." She said,"Mom,I read them all." I checked and she was right. I am so happy that they persevered and worked through a time that they could have easily taken advantage of me. I was too tired to fight. Little do they know, but I would have so made excuses for them. But, they did not and I am proud of them. Anyway, I am happy to say we had a great school year, we accomplished so much and now we will rest for a couple of days. Then it is time to start gearing up for the Veritas Press Scholars Academy End of the Year Gathering! And yeas, I will teach again next year. I have done all of those power point slides now!

My Nose is Stuck

2009-05-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

We all have yucky, nasty colds. Jack woke up the other morning and said, " My nose doesn't work. It's stuck! Fix it!!!" I giggled and went about my business. Well, now my nose seems to be stuck and want somebody to fix it!!

Should We Make Things Easier?

2009-05-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

Friday and Saturday we worked the PA Homeschool Convention for Veritas Press. I have so much fun, but they are painful for me. My back cannot take it. I start taking medication the night before and every 4 hours while we are there. It is always Mother's Day weekend so, that means I usually spend Mother's Day nursing my back. But that is okay. I rarely get the chance to just lie around for the day so it is great Mother's Day treat. But, that is not what I wanted to write about. I cannot tell you how many times, at the convention, someone would ask me about a curriculum and I would start explaining it to then hear,"Is it easy? I just want something easy. I want to hand it to them and know they can figure it out without me." I understand the need for easy. Do not get me wrong. I have picked a couple of things that allow some independence so I can work with the other children. That is one reason we have outsourced a little to a couple of online classes for Isaac. BUT, it is NOT the motto of our home. I pick curriculum that best fits the way in which we want our children educated and within that realm what best works with that child. I have my children in different spelling and math programs for that reason. When we decided to have a large family there were a couple of areas that we did not want the individual child to miss out on. Education was one of them. Yes, I go to bed crazy exhausted some nights. We have decided to do 2 to 3 days a week of Math through the summer to take some of the pressure off. We also have them do Literature year round. We just come up with these little things to make it not necessary to lower the standard in the name of ease. I don't know. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I will get to the end of the road and realize we killed ourselves for nothing and we should have taken the easy road. What are you thoughts?

Happy Birthday Jack

2009-05-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Today is Jack's 3rd birthday. Jack is such a great kid. He is the family comedian and has most of us wrapped around his little finger. He also has the best head full of curls. As much as we have spoiled him, he still made a great big brother to Micah and loves his dog Milo. He is often heard saying, "Milo is a great pet!" And hey, he also gives us great excuse for a Cinco de Mayo party every year! We love you Jack! Happy Birthday!!

You Can Follow Me On Twitter

2009-04-29T04:55:00.000-07:00

I have started Twittering. I am thinking I like Facebook better, but I will give it a whirl. If you want to follow me, I am Momof5inPA.

Menu Plans

2009-04-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here is our menu for the week.

Monday- Chicken stir-fry
Tuesday- Grilled pork tenderloin, wild rice, salad
Wednesday- Spaghetti, salad
Thursday-Chicken tortilla soup
Friday-Dinner with friends
Saturday- Cinco de Mayo/Jack 3rd b-day party--Steak/Pork/Chicken Fajitas, Tacos, Black Beans and Rice, Something corn, Chips with different salsas and Guacamole (The love of everything Spanish in Bruce keeps this party going every year even though Jack is starting to realize he may be getting cheated out of a real birthday party.:) It has also kind of become the "Oh no! You can't not have the margarita party this year!" with our friends.)
Sunday- Left overs

Help Please

2009-04-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Zachary wants to know, "Can you wash wetness?" I have no clue what he wants or needs here. Any translation help would be much appreciated.

Accepting the Award

2009-04-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to see Mike and 10th Avenue North accepting the award.Congratulations again!!

Scary Times

2009-04-24T06:35:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged about some of the current events on purpose. We are in a scary place and I do not have anything profound to say. Our president makes me nervous, it is becoming ever so clear that the whole freedom of speech and opinions thing does not really count if you are a Christian or in some cases just have good morals, and our government's solutions to our economic crisis makes me want to shake someone really hard to wake them up. When speaking of my children getting older, I told a friend recently that it just could not be true that Isaac is not a toddler anymore. I said it just does not feel real. Sometimes I think it would be fun if life were really like when we were little girls and played house. We could imagine anything and we just played in blissful ignorance. Wouldn't it be great if we could do that with our children? The scary thing is that I get the sense our President is playing the same game. What concerns me is I am not so sure he is teachable enough to wake up to the reality of real life. He is playing house and I am not even sure that he realizes it is a game and not real. That terrifies me. When I look at the whole intolerance of intolerance that is going on combined with our leadership, all I can do is pray. So, that is what I am going to do.

Look at Him Now

2009-04-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest joys Bruce and I have had in working the last 15 years with teenagers is being able to enjoy the journey they take and watching the things God does to mold them into the adults they become. I love catching up with a former student to see what they are up to now. Mike Donehey has been easy to follow. We have kept up with his family and are always amazed at what we hear. Congratulations to Mike and 10th Avenue North on winning Best New Artist at the Dove Awards! We knew Mike when he walked around Fredericksburg Christian School constantly composing songs and playing his guitar. I remember him composing a song about the French mission trip we were on a singing it in the airport. Of course, Isaac thinks it is pretty cool that the brother of his first crush is the lead singer of his favorite band.(Yes, Kanene, even though you went off and got yourself married, he still remembers you.)Again, Congratulations guys!

For Whom Are You Holding Your Head High?

2009-04-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

I am guessing you all have figured out by now that I am kind of "high strung" as my husband puts it. I really try to calm down and not let myself be anxious over things. I have been doing a pretty good job lately. Well, today something out of the blue and out of my control unfolded before my eyes. It has caused me to be in a state of panic, humiliation, etc. It is not the end of the world, but it will have lasting effects of people's opinions of me. So, my husband, who is feeling some of the same things over this, reminded me that God knew this was going to happen and so what if people have the wrong impression. Beyond God, does it really matter what opinions people have of you? I know in general yes, it does. We should be a light unto the world, and people should see Christ through us, but when things are beyond your control and you do not like the end result-Does it really matter? No, it does not. I am reminding myself of something I say to my children quite often when they worry over friends and what they think of them. I ask them, "If Christ were right here would you be able to hold your head high about the details of this particular circumstance. If so, stop worrying about it!" So, if you are like me and worry way too much about what others think, remember who you are holding your head high for.

Menu Monday

2009-04-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get back into menu planning. I was doing well for a while, then we became too, too busy.Which means spending too much money eating out, or in our case, having food delivered. So, I am getting back into planning. For the weekend I have started making sure I have food for 3 meals on hand and waiting to see what is going on and preparing the food accordingly. We will either start the Sabbath Saturday night with a meal, or have it after church on Sunday. Occasionally, we close the Sabbath with the big meal on Sunday night. I have enjoyed doing that as well.

Monday- Baked chicken and potatoes with fresh asparagus
Tuesday- Pot Roast
Wednesday- Slower Cooker Pork Chops and Gravy with rice, and green beans
Thursday- Grilled Chicken, Cous Cous, Salad
Friday- Black Beans and Rice, Spinach Salad
Weekend Meals- Grilled London Broil, Smoked Ribs, Hot dogs roasted over the fire, broccoli salad, sweet potato fries, German Potato Salad, fresh asparagus.

It is Official

2009-04-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

The adoption is finally official! Micah is legally our child now. We had the hearing this morning. I am so glad to put this year behind us. This journey has been difficult, but as with anything journey God sends you through, we have grown tremendously. I hope I have learned to be more sensitive to others and to know that people need grace when they are suffering. I have learned how important it is to be teachable during these times of your life. We are so thrilled to have Micah in our lives. He is truly a blessing. We are also thankful for the added benefit of the friendships which have grown from this. We could never do enough to thank the people who have helped us through this time. But here is a big THANKS to you all!

Planning

2009-04-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am stuck in one area in my planning for the children's schooling. I am good with curriculum. I already know what I will need help with and what I will do on my own. I am stuck with the daily schedule. Not so much coming up with it, but how to present it to the kids. I know I may not be making much sense. Maybe it is because
I am still a little confused about what I am looking for. Until this year They have been pretty dependent upon me. They have known we follow a schedule, but they would still come to me for what needed to be done next. Isaac is getting older and needs to take a little more responsibility in this area. Time management is not his strongest attribute. Sarah on the other hand has to be told to calm down if she thinks she is getting off of her schedule. There are pros and cons to both, but one needs the responsibility and one just wants it. So, I am looking for a daily planner or assignment sheet to hand them. Isaac's days go much better when it is laid out for him in visible form and there are consequences when he does not complete each goal. Without that he is distracted every step along the way. I know I could make my own and I may do it. I was just hoping to find something already done that I can input the info on a monthly basis (I have found with small children doing it for the year just discourages me. Someone is sick or I spend my day in constant conflict,it throws everything off, and then I have to re-work everything.) Then I would just print it out and give it to them. I really do not need all of the record keeping that comes with most programs. We are not there yet and the older they get I will probably let VP handle all of that. Any suggestions?

We're Back

2009-04-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

So, we're back. As much as I try to deny it, we are home. We had a great vacation. It is so true that you never realize how stressed you are until you take that much needed break. I finally feel like this last miserable year is behind us. There was so much closure, for me at least, in being able to visit with Micah's mother and our incredible friends without the adoption hanging over our heads. We could actually be friends and have a ton of fun. At least we did. I hope they did too!:) This is a trip Bruce and I would not normally just take. My husband sensed my need to unwind and find closure and with a place to stay, great friends to take our children, and cheap plane tickets we did it. Not sure when or if it will happen again, but I am glad we did it! Enjoy the pictures.

Aloha

2009-03-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

My blog has not been my priority lately. I am coming back to it, though. I have lots of thoughts mulling around my head. But, they will have to wait. You see, Bruce and I have a vacation planned. We are leaving Thursday for a full week in Hawaii WITHOUT CHILDREN!! Actually, while I know it is very important to have this time alone and we really need to unwind after the year we have had, I know I will be guilty of constantly thinking, "Oh the kids would love this!" We have wonderful friends who are keeping all 5 of our children on top of the 9 they already have! Some of their children are much older than mine, so they will have some help. The kids are so excited and I know they will have a blast. We cannot wait to spend time with our friends without the heaviness of everything that was going on the last time we were there. So, I am off to pack. I will post pictures and details when we get home.