Weekly Review

This week was much easier than last week. No one had a fever or was throwing up, and my tooth stopped hurting. It's amazing how much those physical pains expose our weaknesses. Now that things are a bit back to "normal", I'll have to remind myself to still come to God for strength daily and hourly. Even though I physically feel strong now, it is God's sustaining Grace that gets me through. How easily I forget, when I'm back on my feet. The sermon that was preached this morning was such a good reminder of God's amazing grace for when I'm sick or well.

We were able to tackle quite a bit more school work since everyone was up to par.

Evan grappled with long division this week. It has been encouraging to see him gain speed and accuracy with addition, subtraction and multiplication. We went back to drilling with flash cards this year and that seems to be a help.

Evan has really taken off with his baking. He even asked if he could do his school work on Saturday so he'd be freed up to do more baking on Thursday. He has been selling bread to other homeschool families that we meet with on Fridays. He got half of his work done. Sometimes his start is better than his finish, so we're working on that character trait with him!

Amy is enjoying cursive handwriting. We use Italic so it's a bit different than traditional cursive. She is also a great speller! We are just about done with Modern Curricular Press Spelling workout B (which Evan hated but she loves) and then I'll have her start IEW's Phonetic Zoo spelling program.

Someone had suggested saving those credit card, magazine etc. applications and having your kids use them as practice for handwriting, learning their address, and filling out job applications later on. Amy filled out one for Sierra Trading Post this week. It was great practice for her and I realized she still didn't quite know what town we lived in! She guessed the town we go to church in instead. There were two spots to fill out so she got double the practice. Next week I'll try to find one for Evan.

Emily asked several times this week to cut. She is really getting the hang of scissors. We also worked on tracing and letters.

For our Bible curriculum we are using Nancy Ganz's commentary on Genesis in the "Herein Is Love" series. It has been a challenge for Emily to sit still and not interrupt while I read. But she is learning quite a bit too. She has been asking all week, "Jesus made bananas? Jesus made my kitty cat? Jesus made my big girl bed?" She is also very curious about angels now.

One of the other subjects that Evan and Amy do together is Latin. This only works when Emily is taking a nap or going for a walk with dad. This week we learned more about conjugating verbs and declining nouns. Evan is really getting it this year. Amy is having a harder time, but it is her first year. She however, loves learning the songs and prayers.

On Thursday we got to go to a Harvest Party with a homeschool group that we used to be a part of three years ago. We had such a fun time visiting. The kids had sack races, played tug of war, and bobbed for apples. Then we had dinner on my friends porch overlooking the valley as the sun set. I wish I had taken some pictures, but it seems these days my hands are always busy taking care of Emily!

Pumpkin Recipes

We're bringing these to a harvest party tomorrow!

Pumpkin Cookies

Cream together: 2 cups of butter (or Earth Balance)
2 cups of sugar (or Sucanat)

Add: 1 16 oz can pumpkin
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Then add: 4 cups flour (can be white whole wheat)
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tsp. salt

Optional: stir in 2 cups of raisins and 1 cup of nuts
Bake on greased cookie sheet for 12-15 min at 350.

These pancakes are a fun way to add a little vit. A to your morning!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Whisk together:
1 1/4 cups flour,
2 Tablespoons sugar,
2 teaspoons baking powder,
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ground ginger and salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of cloves

Mix together in separate bowl:
1 egg,
6 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons melted butter
1 cup of milk (or soy milk)

Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Heat a buttered skillet over medium heat and cook a couple min. on each side.

Emily Quote

"You have lots of pretty shoes!" Spoken to everyone at the shoe store. What's a daddy to do! Of course he bought her new tennies with butterflies on them!

Relief at The Dentist Office

This past week my kids were sick, my back and neck hurt, my husband was working extra hours, school was not going well, my house was a mess, and I had to go get a crown put on one of my molars. I'm pretty faithful to go to the dentist and it doesn't usually bother me. But I've had a crown put on before and my tooth hurt for a solid week afterward. It was not fun.

The day before the dentist appointment, I had a melt down. I felt melancholy and blue. Sure, my circumstances were not what I'd really like, but they weren't that awful. Others suffer much more than loneliness, laundry and dentist chairs. But I was full of tears instead of hope.

Before I left, I put "The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God" in my purse. It is one of the books that I bought from Desiring God back in June when they had their $5 sale. I don't really know why I bought it. But God used it at the dentist office to draw me to Him. I almost cried as I read it. It is a beautiful poem on the sovereignty and goodness of God in the midst of suffering. John Pipers words echoed my heart in the misery I felt that day. But more importantly, they gently reminded me that God not only knows about my suffering, but orchestrates the events in my life to help me know Him more. He is sovereign and He is sweet.

"He is not poor nor much enticed

Who loses everything but Christ.

It won't be long before the rod

Becomes the tender kiss of God."

I left the dentist office in more physical pain, but much lighter in my spirit. The tears were gone. They were replaced with renewed hope in God who showed His mercy to Job and who is showing His mercy to me.

Costume Preview

The girls have been sick this week. Amy decided that dressing up would make her feel better. Of course everyone else wanted in on the action!
Jengo Fett
Molly (from the American Girl series)

Dorthy and Toto

The crew

School This Week 10/12/07

My blogging friend Leslie, has started a new weekly post. I thought it was a good idea so I'm copying her! I don't know if I'll be able to post every week. But I like the idea of giving a little weekly report on what we did during the week for school. It also encouraged me to look at the little highlights and bright spots of the week since I far too easily remember the discouraging and hard times.

This week Emily learned how to use scissors. I bought a little book from Timberdoodle called Let's Cut Paper that we started to use. She was so proud of herself! Each morning she ran to her dad to show him what she'd done. It was too cute!

Amy went to her grandparents this week. That made our school week look very different. We do science, history, Latin, writing, and Bible together with Evan. She enjoyed her week off being spoiled by her Grandma and Papa. She got to go swimming and shopping quite a bit. And she had a lovely tea party with her Great Grandma, her Auntie and her Grandma. Usually the kids take turns having a week at Grandma and Papa's house during the summer, but it didn't work out this year. So we're just fitting it in where we can! We love the flexibility homeschooling offers.

Since Amy was gone, we didn't try to work on the subjects that we do with her. Instead Evan and I worked a little more intensely on math and grammar. And it just so happened that this week his spelling was particularly troublesome. So we were able to spend some more time on that as well. But yesterday, Evan said, "When are things going to get back to normal. I mean when is Amy coming home?" *big sigh*

We did get to do some fun things together too. Evan loves going to thrift stores and Alicia told me about a good deal at a local one. So we took off mid morning, something we never would have done had it been a regular school day.

We have all been various levels of sick this week too. Emily had a fever much of the week. So like Evan, I am hoping that things get back to "normal" soon!

Fall Arrangement

I love decorating for Fall. I bought a huge bunch of preserved leaves several years ago and each year I reuse them in different arrangements. This year I combined them with some fun berry twigs that I got on clearance last year. I really like how it turned out. But Sean was a little disappointed that I took the berry twigs off of our piano. I had a big brown flower bucket full of them. So I'm on the lookout for something new for the piano. I picked up a beautiful burgundy vase at the Goodwill last week. I'm hoping that I can find something to fill that. Any ideas?

Home, Sweet Home

This week we officially joined our new church as members. We've been going there for about 7 months now but there was something fun and exciting about being "official". After a couple years of not being sure where we were headed in our church search, it is really nice to have a home. God has been so faithful and good to us through it all!

I am so thankful for this group of believers. I appreciate the pastor's commitment to the Word of God through expositional preaching. Boy, is it convicting!!! It's so exciting to see the Holy Spirit use the words that John Marc preaches on Sunday to impact our family throughout the week.

We have also made many new friendships and renewed some older ones. Here are some pictures of Evan's Sunday School pool party held earlier this month.

Amy and her friend Savannah playing in the sandbox.

Year of Bread- Part 3

We have been continuing to make bread this year even though I haven't blogged about it (or much of anything else lately!).Here is Evan making pretzels. We didn't think the recipe we used was good enough to make again, but we had fun. Amy likes making scones (sorry no picture). But Evan has learned this recipe by heart and is now selling bread each week to moms in our homeschool group. He's making a tidy little profit and learning about cleaning up after himself.

I think we will wrap up the year with holiday breads. If you have any favorites that you think we should try I'd love to hear from you! You could post on your own blog or if you don't have one, send me the recipe and I'll post it here.

The Winner Is...

Henty books - Jen from Florida (I need your email address to get in touch with you!)

Henty book - Jenn (Only By Grace)

E.B. White books - Jenn (by default, she was the only one who wanted them!)

Kaya - Margie

George MacDonald - Leslie

Hop on Pop - Jenn (again, by default!)

Thanks for playing along and helping me to clear up some space on my bookshelf!

I'm Back and Giving Away Books and Things!

What better way to get back into blogging than to give away books! During the break I spent time cleaning out our bookshelves (getting ready for more books to arrive!) and I found several duplicates of some great books. Some are new and others are well loved but if you don't own them, you could win them here. I'll check again next Wednesday and draw the winners. Please leave a comment telling me by number which set(s) you'd like to win. You can enter for all if you like.

1. G.A. Henty books - With Lee in Virginia and True to the Old Flag

If you are studying the Civil War and The Revolutionary War these books are historical fiction set during that time. They are over 100 years old. We buy Henty books in lots on Ebay and have ended up with a few doubles. One person will win both, one person will win With Lee in Virginia as we have two copies available. Hardback

2. E.B. White books - Charlotte's Web and The Trumpet of the Swan

Classic stories for children in paperback. Well loved, but lots of life left in them for another child to love.

3. From the American Girl Collection - Meet Kaya

Amy was given the set of books and the doll which came with the first book in the series. This book is brand new. If your daughter gets hooked, most libraries carry all the books.

4. George MacDonald - The Marquis' Secret

This is the sequel to The Fisherman's Lady. George MacDonald was one of C.S. Lewis' favorite authors. These two stories are my favorite of his. Paperback

5. For the Preschool set - Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Brand new, hardback.

For local pick up only (unless you want to pay for the shipping).

6. Puppet theater - It looks similar to this one, but all the chalk spaces are green and the sign is either missing or was never there. Also there are no curtains, but it would be easy to make some. We bought this at a garage sale, but don't have room for it.

7. Rescue Heroes' Fire Truck and assorted Rescue Heroes

8. Foot Spa - It looks mostly like this.

A Quick Question

This year I'm going to try to have some time each day for Evan and Amy to play one on one with Emily while I teach the other big kid. I was wondering if any of you have some good ideas for things to do with a preschooler (2-3 years old). I'm thinking things like playdough, blocks, and puzzles. Please leave a comment if you have any ideas. I'm hoping to collect a bunch to rotate through. Thanks!

Getting Ready for School

We are gearing up for school to start (August 13th, Lord willing). I'll be taking a break from blogging until after Labor day. I'll probably still check friends blogs on the weekends, but I don't think I'll be writing anything until after we get a good start. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Oh How I Love Jesus

Kim tagged me with a wonderful meme, to write out 5 reasons that I love Jesus.

He is...

Creator- With all the fruit and flowers growing in abundance at my house right now, this aspect of Jesus came to mind first! His creation is amazing. I'm so glad that he gave us so many different kinds of plants, animals and people. And being created in His image, he's made us creative too. I can't wait to see what Heaven is like!

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Friend- This past year God has allowed me to go through a valley of sorts. I didn't really have any close friends. Now, I'm not complaining; I had my health, family and a few faithful friends who live very far away. But the day, to day, live life with you, bear your burdens, laugh with you, cry with you, give you a hug when you need it kind of friends were gone. The reasons why are for a different post altogether. But God allowed me to be striped of something good so I would learn to depend on Him alone. Even though it was hard, I learned He is a faithful friend.

He has restored to me a growing circle of friends through our new church and school group and gave me a surprise of friends through blogging as well! I hope that learning to have Jesus be my best and first friend will make me a better friend to the earthly ones He's given me now.

John 15:14-15 "You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

Sovereign- I have been learning so much about God's sovereignty in the last year or two. It is so comforting to know that He is in control!

1 Timothy 6:15 "our Lord Jesus Christ, ... he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."



Preparer- Knowing that Jesus is preparing a place for me gives me such a different perspective. I remember John Piper once talking about enjoying a walk in winter. He realized that he had never had a winter vacation, cozy in a cabin, reading lots of good books next to a fire and his family and thought that would be a lovely idea. But, he also thought, it can wait. Yes, it would be nice, and there is nothing wrong with vacations, but even if he never got to have it, heaven will be so much more glorious than the best vacation ever taken on earth, he could wait.

John 14: 2-3 "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

1 Corinthians 2:9 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

Rest - In this season of life I am not as physically weary as when I've had newborns and little sleep. But I find myself emotionally (and sometimes physically) weary from the many roles I have with wife, mother, instructor, housekeeper, cook, etc. I find myself needing to come sit at Jesus feet to give me strength to do what I need to do. Again John Piper says in When I Don't Desire God:

"The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart... We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer."

Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."


I tag:
Alicia
Kristen

Leigh

Johanna

Jess

Movin' On Up

Evan and Amy just got promoted up a belt in Karate. This has been a very good experience for the kids, promoting discipline and physical fitness. We have been pleased with the instructors at this dojo.

Amy waiting at the beginning of class. These are all pictures of the belt promotion ceremony.

Amy is getting her new belt- White with a Yellow Stripe.

Evan has been taking lessons longer and has moved from an orange belt to a blue belt. One of his Sensei is handing him his new belt and his promotional certificate.

Our Karate Kids!

This is Evan's goal. To become a black belt.

Visit with Noah and Johanna

We had a great visit with my sister and her baby Noah this week. I thought Emily was going to get upset with me holding Noah. She's done that when I've held other babies recently (she's in a very clingy stage!). But she got upset when it wasn't her turn to hold Noah! She just loved him.

Amy, of course, was a great helper and enjoyed her cousin a lot too. I don't have a picture of Evan with Noah because when I was taking these pictures (unfortunately, the only time I had my camera out) Evan was helping my sister carry in her luggage and baby stuff.

A Story of God's Goodness

Twelve years ago today Sean and I were married. It was a sweltering 115 degrees outside. (Praise God for air-conditioning!)

For those of you who missed it last year on GirlTalk, during the bookclub discussion, here is the story of how we met.



Just like Ruth, the story of how God brought my husband into my life started out with difficult circumstances. I was starting my fourth year of college, helping to organize Bible Studies for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. During an event designed to reach out to students, a young man handed me a love letter saying that "God had told him that I was the one he was to marry". It turned out that this man was not a student, but a homeless schizophrenic man who now knew my address, since one of the Bible Studies was at my apartment. Over the next few weeks he dropped off letters at my doorstep, in the middle of the night, that became increasingly obscene and threatening. I decided to call the police.

I was advised to get a restraining order and not walk alone. God met my needs abundantly. My roommate's father was a lawyer and filed the paperwork for me free of charge. Twelve other believers lived next door, underneath or across from me in our apartment complex. They took turns walking with me to class and going to the police station with me to drop off more letters as they came. At one point three young men slept on my living room floor with baseball bats "just in case". During finals' week when my friends were busier and my life was more stressful, my dad took a week off of work and came to be with me.

During this time I met three police officers who were handling my case. I would find out later that all three were godly Christian men. Two were my fathers age and viewed me as a daughter in Christ. One was a good looking single guy. He ended up being the one who came and arrested the man who was stalking me.

Over the summer break, the stalker was released from jail. I ended up having several conversations with the young police officer about it all. Each conversation would start out "Hello Officer" and end with "Good-Bye Sean". By the time I returned to school, at a different address, the homeless man had written me one last letter saying that "God had told him to move on". The return address was in another state. The case was closed. Sean helped me move into my new apartment and took me out to dinner, our first date. We were married 10 months later.

Last year when I was talking to my son about Romans 8:28 he looked at me and said, "Mommy, that's just like how you and Daddy met! God used it for good!" Amen to that. He sure did!

I Love You Sean!!!

Here's to many more great years together. Thanks for being my "Knight in Shining Armor"!

Summer Fun!

We've got fruit galore this year and it all ripened at the same time! I'm busy, busy picking and making jam this week!

And The Winner Is.......

Margie!!!

I'm long overdue to give you a call and set up something for the girls. Now we have one more reason to get together! Congratulations!

Thanks to all of you for entering and making this fun! I'm on a cleaning and purging spree. The homeschool closet is next and we're going to have a garage sale next week. So maybe I'll find another good give-away. Is anyone looking for any curriculum in particular? You never know, I just may have it and not need it anymore.

"Win-a-Book" Week

It's official! Fishmama even made a button for it! If you have a book to give away let her know and she'll keep a list of who's giving what away. Sounds fun, huh?!