And We're Off!

We're off to the start of a Great school year! :)


We changed some things around to make life more interesting. :) The girlies will be doing research projects each semester. I am curious to find out what they have picked for their first project. The sky is the limit. :)

Everybody's oral reading was great, and we are all looking forward to learning more about Canada and the countries in South America.

The computerized schedules and the computerized math teacher were a hit. I can see that having that math teacher will take a huge load off of my shoulders this year.

So CHEERS to a GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

See What Happens???

When you are SUPPOSED to be cleaning your room and going to bed and you are dancing instead??????

The Kitten Circus

Today Was My Birthday

I had a great day. Sarah gave me a "makeover".... Erika, a manicure.... Anna, loads of hugs....and they each made something special.

The girls and Daddy designed this special Birthday Cup and signed it. :)
I loved the Umbrella and Fuzzy stuff. :)

It was great to hear from the kids and Grandkids.

"Happy Bufday Ya-Ya.... I wuv you Ya-Ya"
There were singing wishes on the phone, and little squeals of delight running about the house.

I am so thankful for my family, and they made it a really special day.

Thanks Ya'll. :)

The HomeSchool Countdown!

School Starts in 6 days! YEA!
We have decided to leave things as they are. The girlies didn't want to be in a school room all day, and Daddy concurred. So the next few days will be spent getting our "School AREA" ready. It is amazing how a lazy 6 weeks can turn into something like this!


I've gotta find room for all sorts of books and reference materials AND make it look neat. So, I guess my next few days will be a lot of reshuffling to different bookshelves around the house.

I LOVE books. I love hardbacks. I love the smell of them when we open them and the sound of the pages when you turn them. I don't think I could ever be an e-book person
as I need tangible touch to help me read. :)

I am really excited about this school year. I plan to introduce formal tests for history and science. Now that we are in 6th grade, it is time to get them ready for a more college prep type schedule.

Instead of notebooks to keep everything in, we are switching to a computerized schedule.
I will give them the assignments for the week, and then they will mark them off as done, and turn in all assignments in a folder with the schedule stapled to the folder.

This should be interesting. :)

We will also be starting a research paper for each semester. I will assign it the first week of school and they will be due before Christmas break. It will require writing and a project of choice.

It has been a really fun summer, and now, we are ready for a really fun school year!

No eye rolling allowed. (Erika is looking over my shoulder) LOL

A New Sort Of Tooth Fairie

Anna has had this tooth dangling for a couple of months. It distracts me, and I always want to grab it and yank on it.... of course she won't let me. :)
It was so loose that it was sticking out.... so instead of the usual "tooth fairie" incentive, I knew there was this little cat diary she wanted. I told her, if you get that tooth out in 5 minutes, we'll see about getting that cat diary. It was a SMALL price, compared to taking her to get it pulled. She emerged from the bathroom with success! The tooth behind that is loose too. She is working on that one, for a trip to the dog pound. :) She likes to pet the dogs and cats.
There is a tooth pushing in behind those two teeth, and when it comes in, we will be headed to the orthodontist for the dreaded braces.

Anna is missing a tooth next to her front teeth on either side. We were told this when we took her to the dentist for a check up. So, we will weigh our options on what to do. They said they can make false teeth for her, or leave things alone and just straighten what she has.
I know there are also dental implants which might be a good idea too, but not until she is full grown. So, we shall see. :)

Joseph and Sam

I just love this picture that my sweet Daughter in Law posted on Facebook.
This is our son Joseph and our 3 year old grandson Sam reading a little guy's bible story book together. They are so sweet.

A Visit

Our friend Hal Tait visited us on Thursday night. He spent the night and then left for Killeen Texas to visit his family the next morning.

Hal, is really a nice man. He went on a missions trip to Ukraine, back in 2001, and he met our Sarah. He has been going back every year since.

Hal was personally responsible for our Sarah coming to the United States.
You see, when he met her, he held her. And after he held her, she didn't want him to let her go. She clung to him, and then had to be pulled off of him. This was at the TB Sanitarium. She was pulled away and put in a crib and he said her wails, those desperate wails, made him cry. He couldn't get her off of his mind. When he came home to America, he took her picture and made a flyer and every where he went, he shared her story. All he knew about her, which wasn't much, he shared.

He came to his son's church in Texas, and shared about her, and a family's heart was touched. They applied to adopt Sarah. She came home to America on her 5th birthday.
And many of my readers know, she only lived with that family for 10 months. Her adoption disrupted.

As Hal was sharing with the girls how Sarah clung to him, she was grinning. He told her how happy he was that she was happy and healthy and safe..... and how God had orchestrated everything.

I was thinking about that. Even though, Sarah's adoption did not work out, with the other family, I am so thankful that they went and got her. Had they not, we would not have Sarah OR Erika. We would not have thought to go to the other side of the world. It is true. We wouldn't have. Ukraine was not on our radar screen. But God......

I am thankful that this family went. I DO believe that God inspired them to go. I do believe they did the right thing. And while, I do not understand what happened, I know they have learned just as much as we have about trusting in the Lord in very difficult times.

The important thing is, Sarah is HAPPY! She is healthy and growing and blossoming. Had they not brought her here, she would not be.

Disruption is a sad event. It is traumatizing for the family and the child and for the new adoptive family. But.... it is not the end of the world. It just might be the beginning that is needed for total healing.

I often think about Sarah's old family. I feel sad that they do not have the joy that we have with her. But I also think that they can say that they did a good thing for her in bringing her here, and also, in realizing they were not the parents she needed.
That is a very brave thing to think.

And Mr. Hal, when he gets home, said he has some very special pictures to send us of Sarah when she was in the TB sanitarium and met him for the very first time. I can't wait! :)
I'll post them when I get them.

We took Mr. Hal out to eat, and this is the girl's reaction when they heard him talking about a "girl friend". :)

There's a Snake in My Coop!

Well Good Morning Mr. Snake! I was chatting nicely with Chiara, when Sarah ran in and said, "SNAKE!" From the sound of her panic, you would have imagined a child eating Python!

Instead, it was an egg eating Chicken Snake..... AND if you notice the large Lump in his gut; well, that was MY BREAKFAST!!!!!

I hope he enjoyed it! Because after I finish typing this, he will be enjoying eggs no more! He worked his way on the other side of the coop next to the hay bails. ugh.
We need to get him out for 2 reasons.....

1. He will eat more eggs and disturb the ladies from laying.
2. Sarah needs to do a thorough cleaning of that coop and she can't do it with a snake
in there. :)

Anna is going to help me. Daddy said, "I'm busy!" Of course that is after he ate HIS eggs! :)

Words That Have Touched My Heart

This week the Lord has been so good to me. Inwardly, there has been turmoil. Inwardly, my heart has been restless. I KNOW THAT I KNOW that I SHOULD rest in the Lord, but when external demands of life come crowding in like a flood, and circumstance is difficult, walking the path of faith, though circumstance screams to do otherwise, is the only way to survive.

The Lord does not want us to be weighed down with burdens, but to give our burdens to him, so HE can carry our load. I need to be reminded of this from time to time. :)

My sweet Daughter Ivy, mentioned a song that is her favorite. We sing it at our church and it is so meaningful to me. I cannot sing it without weeping.


And then this week, our sweet Teaching Elder Justin, gave this message on Love.
It was amazing. "Surprised by Love"
http://cornerstonewylie.org/sermons.htm

My heart is full, as I am in the word, gleaning words of truth.

Some of Nick's Testimony

Nick has a wonderful website.

Check it out on my sidebar.... "Life without Limbs

Time To Focus

On the next school year! Already!!!!!

School starts August 11th, just 2 weeks and 2 days away. :)
Gone are the end of school ditties, "No more pencils no more books....", and onto the Beginning of School Ditties "Mom has such a lovely smile!"

I must have looked at the wrong month on the calendar... not unusual for me lately.
I was planning to start August 14, which I just figured out by turning the page, is a Saturday. I don't think that would go over so well. :) So August 11th, it is.

So what are we doing different this year????
We are going to computerized schedules and weekly manila folders instead of notebooks.
I like doing things this way, it is more efficient.
I staple the schedule to the manila folder, they put their assignments into the folder and turn it in on Friday. Papers are graded and the folder is filed with all the work checked off. I used to do this with the guys and it worked great.

We are doing Learning Language Arts Through Literature... a whole reading, vocabulary and grammar program.

We are doing Saxon Math, with the Dive CD's. (yea, a computer explanation program)

We are doing Abeka History and Science, we will dive in and add to it as we go.

I am going to continue to encourage Russian with Rosetta Stone. Sarah says she would much rather learn Spanish. LOL

I am considering changing the guest room into a school room. It gets the best light in the house, and it would take all those desks, chalk boards, bulletin boards, hand writing strips and projects out of the living room! If I'm going to do it, I have 2 weeks to get it done.
I am also hoping to get a copier/printer/scanner..... We'll see. My birthday is coming up... :)
I am excited about the year starting. I hope they are too! After all, it is rather hot outside. They have been reading all summer and I am happy that they love to read.

We will have to take our end of vacation zoo trip sometime next week. It will be sad to not have Kate and Lillian with us. :(

Soooo CHEERS! Here's to a Great 2010-2011 School year! :)

Albuquerque or Bust!

Well, they are gone. My heart aches. But I really think that Albuquerque is a good move for our kids and grand girls. We will miss them, BUT.... There is the International Balloon Festival every year.

I LOVED living in Albuquerque before Texas. I really miss it, even over 20 years later!
Apparently Chuck does too. They will be living just down the street from where we lived before.

He has all pleasant memories in Albuquerque and Jodie's new job is turning out to be a great fit. Kate and Jodie left last week to get things set up, and they are so excited.
They have already been to Petroglyph National Monument, Santa FE, Old Town, and more.
















Be Safe dear children. We love you, and we will miss you.

Meet the Stumpy Family

Courtesy of Erika and Sarah. :)


Arf. :)

Large Texas Garden

Little Texas Tomato.

This is our ONLY tomato of the year! Ugh, what have I done wrong????

Inspiration Award

Inspiration Award

I designed a new award to give to two very special people. One is Erika, who inspires me every day, and the other is Mommajeane, who makes me cry nearly every time I read her blog. :)

You can slide this image off of my blog to your desk top and then post it on your blog.
I have never done this and I'm not very good at it.... so, if the words don't show up, just type "Inspiration Award" in the caption and put it on your side bar.

Love,
Mom and Christie

A Special Moment

I didn't get a movie this time. I thought I was taking a movie, and instead I was taking a picture. I was using Erika's camera, AND, when I jumped in the lake, I jumped in with my famous glasses that are now gone. :(
So, I couldn't see to push the right button. LOL
It is funny, how something seemingly mindless, like water sports can bring about sweet moments that bring us together with each other and with our creator.
We can worship in everything we do, and I believe Erika understands this concept very well.

Yesterday, Erika went back on the knee board. But this time, daddy didn't stay in the water with her or help her up on the board. This time, she did it all herself.

We watched her struggle to get on that board, and get herself positioned so she could hang on. She fell off more than enough times, but didn't ask for help. And then, she got up and pulled herself to the right spot, got her rope positioned correctly and said, "GO! NOT TOO FAST!"

And we were off. It was the longest ride in history. We wound up going at a normal speed, which actually makes it easier to handle the board, and she moved all over the place and turned her body to make the board go different directions. At one point, I thought she would fall going through a bunch of waves made by a different boat, but no, she hung on.

After 20 minutes, she was still hanging on. I couldn't believe it...! There she was back there mouthing words I couldn't hear, and it seemed like she was singing. :)

She was gliding through that water like a happy fish, with the full freedom to fly, and she knew it. She was savoring every moment.

She finally let go of the rope because her hands couldn't hold the rope any longer and we all cheered at a great ride!

So what was she singing?
"In me there is strength to move mountains, In me, there is strength to walk on water, if I just believe the way and the truth and the life."

And just like our Heavenly Father, her daddy watched over her carefully in the rear view mirror to make sure she was ok.

For My Kind....

What is my kind? The Over 50 crowd that can't seem to ski after almost 20 years out of the water. :)
I am laughing a bit..... My back feels fine, my hips feel fine, my neck feels fine.... and Mike has a sore hip for the first time. I know I shouldn't laugh, but, it is sorta funny, since I have the broken down wreck of a body. :)



WHOOOO_HOOOOOO!

The Saga Has Come To An End

The Little fellow is gone. I'm HAPPY that he no longer raids my pantry at night. But sad that he wasn't smart enough to go into the live animal trap where he could have been transferred after incarceration to a nearby field to find other mouse friends to play with.

Instead, I had to use the old fashioned kind of trap, and yes, he ate the cheese.
Farewell Ratatouille; until I meet your next relative!

Saturday Morning Funnies

Our grand daughter Lillian is staying with us for 3 weeks. She came with an enormous amount of Barbie dolls and paraphernalia.

I have never been a big barbie fan, but I know little girls love them. We kept with the Happy Family dolls for years, but our girls have outgrown those.

So we have allowed a few barbies around here. The girls like putting clothes on them.
Daddy's request was making sure they were dressed decently. So the girls make a lot of clothing for them.

Anna purchased a Ken doll earlier this year, and we were talking about making sure Ken was a good father and husband. :) No philanthroping Ken in our house.
So Anna has made sure Ken has stayed with one barbie. :)

Well, Lilly asked to play with that Ken doll, and before Anna could stop her, she had Ken kissing every barbie in the house!
"
Anna came to me and said, "Well, I can't play with Ken anymore". I asked her why? She said, because now he is an Adulterer! I don't want to play with an adulterer!
ROLF>!