We are HOME mostly!

Learning a new song at the TB Sanitarium



We are home and so glad to be here. We will be quite happy when our luggage joins us.:)
Apparently it didn't make it on the plane change in Amsterdam, but the good news is they plan to deliver!

That is REALLY good news, since this a.m. we went to take Becca to the Airport and when I got there I had a flat tire. Soooo, I had to call poor jet lagged Mike and get him to come and rescue me and Erika. He showed up with a happy attitude and 2 sleepy girlies that were fairly decently dressed, so we decided to head to church after changing the tire. We were late but made it to 2nd service. Bob was GREAT today, as my jet lagged body stayed awake during the sermon. :)

As soon as I feel more normal, I'll post some pictures and video. We really had a blessed time and so much happened. Right now all I can think about is how thankful I am that I don't have to shoe horn my body into the metro every day to go somewhere.
I honestly didn't know what really crowded was until the metro pulled up and I was thinking, "this one is full, we'll have to wait for the next one, only to be pushed in by the crowd behind and holding on to perfect strangers for dear life. Then, the "take off" like a bullet out of a shot gun and the sudden stops reminded me of why the girlies would not have been able to live and walk the streets in Ukraine, and it made me feel for the elderly and those who are less fortunate.

It was also great to see a smiling face when we arrived at the airport. We are blessed in America and don't realize HOW blessed we truly are. While we our nation is in flux and has its positives and negatives, one of the positives is the influence of Christianity, that effects MANY areas of life that we do not even understand.

Well, this jet lagged, body needs to get some much needed rest, and I must say before I go, THANKYOU ALL for your wonderful prayer support. We could sense your prayers and we KNOW that the Lord did some awesome things. We so much appreciate the day in and day out work that Papa Dima does every moment he can, and to God be the Glory.

good night... or day, or ..... see you next Thursday. :)


I'll sign off with this photo of a Praying Mantis, I thought he was a really cool guy!

We Were Able To Call The Girlies!

We just finished talking to the girlies a few minutes ago. (or I should say, I did) Mike is still talking to them right now. It was great to hear everybody's voices.
We understand that Anna wants us to bring home a alligator or snake stuffed animal, Erika wants a horse stuffed Animal and Sarah wants a glass doll.

We are so happy to hear that Becca is fairing well! Great Job Becca! I had to laugh talking with her and hearing her say she was tired. :) I know EXACTLY what she is talking about. :)

I am so thankful that she is there with the girls. It sounds like everybody is doing well.

Girlies, we are on the home run stretch! We will be home on Saturday afternoon!
We cannot wait to see you. We miss you so very much.

Love,
Dad and Mom

Hello From Kharkov

We are happy to report that we are alive and well! We got to see the Russian Border yesterday. It looks like any other border that is heavily guarded. :)

The soldier walked up to our van and said, "What do you want?" "To see the border".
He said, "You have seen, now go!" Ok, no problem! :)

SO we saw. :)

I have so much to say but it is swimming in my head and stuck there.
Just know that we love you all and care for you. I'm so glad you are all doing well and obeying Becca.

We will see you soon! SATURDAY!

BTW- how are we getting home? LOL

Hello Little Girlies

Mommy and Daddy made it safe to Ukraine! It SMELLS like Ukraine. :) It is cool here and beautiful. We miss you and think about you. We are going to leave on the train in a couple of hours. We are looking forward to seeing everybody!

More later
Love,
Mom

Science 101

I girlies are loving thier new science book.

Yesterday during our lesson, the subject of "Field Guides" to help us learn about a specific topic came up. I thought I was doing a great job explaining "field guides", that is, until I asked "Can somebody tell me what a "Field Guide" is?

All hands went up immediatly!

Erika: A field guide, is a guy standing in a field!

Sarah: No Erika! A field guide is a guy taking people in a field and telling them
what is there. Like, "guiding them!"

Anna: It is some kind of book.


:?

Becca, I hope you do a better job of teaching science!

Last Day Trip Message

We are leaving for Ukraine tomorrow. I have a minute after finishing packing to tell all of you that we love you so very much. We have asked the Lord to bless this trip and keep us in His perfect will.

To Becca, Sam and the Girlies that we leave behind at the house:

Have a wonderful bonding time together. Make sure that you season each day with joyfulness, help Becca with the chores and help her to take care of baby Sam. We will write to you as we can when we get to an internet cafe'. MOST OF ALL, do everything to serve Jesus. He is all that is most important in life. Serving Him, in chores, work, play, family fun and all we do can make our lives full of true Joy and Peace.
Rest in the thought that Jesus has EVERYTHING under control. We do not have to worry about one little thing. (except mommy was a little worried because I have misplaced the zoo card) :(
Becca, hopefully Hurricane Ike wasn't the "calm before the storm". :P

Be GOOD GIRLS for Big Sister Becca, and we also want you EACH to know that we are so very proud of you. We are proud of your brothers and sisters who don't live at home too, and Katie, Lilly, Sam and Will.

BIG HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL, and you can only get in our bed if Becca says it is ok!


Love,
Daddy and Mommy

James 1:27

Our Parents

Our parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in July. But the Party is Today.
How poetic that a Hurricane is blowing through at the same time. They have withstood many Hurricanes in their lives. But they didn't budge. We will not be at their party today, but our hearts will be there.

The first time I met Ed and Lois, I was a little scared. Especially since I was abit of a package deal. I came with 4 grandkids in tow.:)

I quickly found out that they were accepting of all of us and 4 more was no big deal.
What WAS a big deal was that I didn't know how to play spades.

I thought Ed was being nice to me when he gave me Jim for my partner and he took Mike.
He was really taking advantage of a chance to BEAT Jim at cards! :)
Jim nearly pulled all his hair out trying to teach me to play, but I finally learned, and Jim forgave me.

I was looking at old pictures of Ed and Lois and the time has FLOWN by. I can't believe how YOUNG they looked 20 years ago. :)

We love our parents, and pray that they have a wonderful Party with friends and family.
As of this writing, the winds are really blowing and it is raining and we did make the right decision to stay home, though we really are feeling sad that we missed such a big celebration.

Happy 50th Dad and Mom!

You Mean He Doesn't Know About......

SEX? :)

This was Erika's question after she and I saw a news clip about Teen Pregnancy in the Dallas area being out of control. I do allow the girls to see these types of broadcasts in order to teach them. So, we watched, and after the clip was over, the News Anchor said, "I have NO IDEA how this is happening!"

Erika's eyes got kind of big and she said, "What does he mean he has no idea? You mean
he doesn't know about sex?" I was trying to keep from laughing.

As you can see, we have had the "talk". And NOW, she KNOWS and was shocked somebody that old didn't know! :)

Marcus, Ivy and Will

This is a picture of Emily, Marcus, Tim and Ivy.... From Last Christmas. Emily and Tim are married, and Marcus and Ivy are married. Emily and Ivy are sisters too.
I sure do love our family. :)

This is Will with Marcus. Our littlest missionary. :)

Marcus, Ivy and Will are now in the friendly skies to Mexico for a short term missions trip. When you think about them, send up a prayer their way. They are very excited about ministering to the people there.

Hurricanes and Parties Don't Mix

It was our intention to head out to Oklahoma tomorrow afternoon and spend a quick day with our relatives to celebrate Mike's parents 50th wedding anniversary.

But it appears those plans will not take place due to a Hurricane named "Ike".
It appears we are in the direct path for this storm and it has plans to go all the way through Oklahoma as well.

We need to come back to Church for Sunday before leaving for our trip to Ukraine on Tuesday, and that would cause us to have to drive BACK to Texas while the, then tropical storm will be headed the other way. Not a good mix for late night driving.

So, unfortunately, they will have to celebrate without us.

There will be other times to be together, and we do cherish those times.
It just couldn't be this time. :(

Fun Times

We were all having breakfast and Anna was complaining she was cold. I was hot, and the jokes started coming....

Anna says, "That was a rude compliment!" :)

Dad says, "And I'm boiling cold, or am I freezing hot?"

Extra Sweetness Coming Our Way

You know, as a parent, many times you feel inadequate, ill-equipped, inept, fill in the blank. When those feelings come, it puts you on your knees, and strikes fear inside of you.

For the life of me, I don't know why I doubt the Lord, but many times I do.
Especially when a little bump comes our way. I am then quickly reminded of God's grace.

Our Anna became afraid after hearing about a little girl removed from her home. She became sullen, grouchy and down right difficult, for about an evening. :)
I KNEW in my heart that she was afraid.

Imagine if you had been removed from your home again and again, and then felt safe, only to hear about somebody you KNOW being removed from their home! It truly struck fear into her.

Last night, I watched her toss and turn and get up for another hug and another kiss and another trip to the bathroom. I had to remind myself that she was struggling.

But, when she awoke this a.m. I expected the same as the day before and instead, we got big hugs, REAL big hugs and lots of I Love You's, and Loads of smiles ALL DAY~!

I think in her heart she knows she is ours and we are hers and we will never leave her. But there is that "fear factor" that sometimes pops out. It is fading more and more each year, and I am so pleased that this VERY REAL, UPFRONT IN YOUR FACE experience did not cause more than just a little bump in her life.

It just made my day today when she woke up and was so happy to be HOME! FOREVER HOME!

Cable TV, Good or NOT!???

Ok, last week we got an offer that was a little too good to pass up. With a slight differene in our bill, we now can get FIOS internet, which we already have, Fios phone and FIOS TV.

We have NEVER had cable television, let alone Fiber Optic anything, other than internet. So, we decided to take the plunge, after all, there will be no channels around here in February unless we convert to some sort of signal box anyway, so why not?

Now, after watching PART of just one news show, I find this on our Bulletin Board!


The POWER of TELEVISION~!

I have to say, I am a little annoyed with the regular TV stations. If you have cable, you can get any news and hear anything, but we were unable to hear the John McCain speech on the same channel that fully covered the DNC.... I cannot help but think that is planned. No matter your political conviction, people need to be able to have access to BOTH camps and that was not provided for the regular guy who cannot afford special programming or cable.
And THAT is politics.

My Friend Michelle

I am pleased to report that my friend Michelle is in Ukraine right now, and they have met their new daughter which she reported that they are totally in love with. :)

This is a miracle. Things are not happening in Ukraine very easily, and I am so happy for them. Can't wait to see PICTURES and possibly MEET her!

We will be in Ukraine at the same time and plan to hook up with them.

Shopping

Most of ya'll know I am not a big shopper. Once a year maybe, for enjoyment to see the crowds at Thanksgiving, and then after that, only what is needed.

Well, I NEEDED to get a few things for Ukraine. So for a couple of days, Sarah the first day, then all of them again, have done a little "shopping".

Sarah LOVES shopping. She longs to walk the corridors of a mall or shopping center.
She gets all dressed up and has a wonderful time.

Anna and Erika are more subtle. They enjoy going, but I think Anna would prefer to stay home and take care of animals and Erika would MUCH rather clean tools for dad.
(but dad is out on business)

So, we all went. It is so funny watching the girls interact in a store vs. the experiences with the boys at the same ages.

The girls get all thrilled when walking past the clothing sections, the bra section,
and toys. The boys, turned their heads at the bra section in horror, they hated clothes, toys were common but much preferred the check out counter where the baseball and playing cards were kept.

They never really pretended to talk with friends that weren't there, bring fake cell phones, speak in british accents or be happy that I was trying on jeans.

The girls do all of that, and insist I show them the jeans I tried on before I take them off.

"Oh motha, you look just lovely!"
Why thank you Sarah. I never felt so lovely in a simple pair of jeans. :)

The guys, if I dared take them with me, when we would pass through a clothing section would get on either side of me and say, "Dad said don't spend any money." They were all in Jr. High and High school at the time and it would crack me up that they would want to protect me from myself. :)

I really didn't need any protecting, but they were so funny to try and help.

My Daughters in Law do enjoy shopping.
I am considering asking them if they would love to take Sarah out for a day of hit the mall all day shopping. She would LOVE it.

Me, I think I'm more like Anna. I'd prefer to stay home and take care of animals.
It's a zoo out there in those shopping centers!

Girl Conversation

Oh my, I wonder where they come up with this stuff!

I took the girlies to the store with me to get a few things for Ukraine. As we were on our way home, they whipped out their pretend cell phones to have a conversation.

It went something like this: Speaking in their best British Accents

Sarah- Hello
Anna- Oh you must know, I'm engaged!
Sarah- Engaged! What IS his name?
Anna- His name is Kevin.
Sarah- Oh what a beautiful, lovely name.
I'm engaged too!
Anna- How old is he?
Sarah- 23!
Anna- That's a MAN!
Sarah- How old is your fiance'
Anna- 18
Sarah- that is awfully young, don't you think so?
Anna- well as my mother always says, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

(she knows I married at 18)
To which I said, ok, girls lets be quiet now. Inside I was dying laughing. :)

A Glimpse into School Life

We had a variety pack of personalities with our boys, and it seems that we have the same with our girls. :)

Now that the newness of school is worn off, they are off to a good start. At least from how it looks BEFORE grading papers.

Today, we continued our trip around the world with Israel and the girls learned about Golda Maier. They learned snippets of World war 1 and 2 and what it meant to be Prime Minister of such a small country in a hostile environment. They also learned that important people, as with King David, can many times have tragic family lives. Such is the life of many rulers.

Then we moved on to Spelling. Erika, who typically keeps a very neat desk, and keeps very good track of her posessions, seems to have misplaced her spelling workbook. AHHH.
She is only on chapter 2. We have searched High and Low and so far, no spelling book. If we HAD a dog, it would be his fault, but since we don't, it's "not me's" fault and "I don't know" has it.

So then we move on to math. Anna finishes suspiciously fast. She prefers that I don't grade her paper. Hmmmm..... Oh my she is doing REVIEW. 454-267. She would have to carry over, but she doesn't like subtraction, so she invented a new way to do math.
Reverse. 7-4 is 3, 6-5 is 1, and 4-2 is 2. So her answer was 312???????
When I asked her about it, she said, she thought that was a fine way to do math so what is the problem? LOL

She is now working on redoing her entire lesson, hopefully before dinner.

Then there is Sarah who zooms through everything, gets it right, and asks, "Can I read on the porch? I'm finished." She took her practice spelling test and got everything correct. But for some reason she can't spell on her blog. LOL

So, during this typing, Anna is almost finished with her math, correctly this time and Erika just located her spelling book. It was on the couch under the pillow. Apparently she didn't look "that hard". :)

I wonder if I could lose the washing machine?

Practical Sarah

The Girls have been taking care of the animals next door while the neighbors went on a weekend getaway. One of the joys of this job was being able to play with 4 puppies that are about 4 weeks old. They are really cute, but if anybody has ever raised puppies, when they first start learning to eat on their own, they can get really STINKY!
This was Sarah's solution:

Erika's Baptism

Today our precious Erika was baptized. She gave her speech and Daddy baptized her.
As soon as I figure out how to get a picture out of my camera, I'll post it! :)

God is Soverign

Thank you so much for those who are praying. The Lord has answered our prayers, and we trust that His will has been accomplished.

The outcome was not what we had expected, and those little surprises and bumps help us to trust Him more.

We are confident that He has used us in a way we do not know or understand, and in that we will rest. :)

Exciting Times

The air is full of excitement around here. I cannot wait until I can tell you why, but right now, let's just say the girlies are bouncing off the walls with excitement.

They are making plans, cleaning up, and making more plans......

Mike and I are so excited too. We are waiting on the Lord, and when you do that, no matter the outcome, you are in HIS will. We have been praying and meditating on HIM most of today, and also waiting for important phone calls.

Those calls have come and gone and now we wait for a final call.

But when that call comes, it will all make sense. Why has the Lord put certain things on our hearts lately? Why have we been talking with the girlies about certain things?
And then it seems to become crystal clear.

Right now, it is clear, I'll wait for that final call before I say "crystal clear". :)

Praying to be in the Center of HIS will.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

If you are a praying believer, please pray for us. There is something going on in our family that I cannot disclose, but know the Lord wants us to commit it to prayer.

I cannot share more right now, but it is a good thing! :)

So, if you can, please pray for the Lord's will in our lives, for the Lord's will in the life of another and that all will work out to His Glory!

Thanks so much

Baptism Revisited Again

A decision was made for Erika to be baptized on Sunday. I am really thankful that there were those that saw she was truly ready and didn't make her wait any longer.
She was willing to wait however long she was told.... after all she waited all that time before she had a family.:)

Here is her speech before daddy baptizes her: (spelling errors and all)

Hello my name is Erika Minich I am from Ukraine, Before I was adopted I started to learn about Jesus, how he died for me and you. I am a sinner because Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus Christ is my savior. Jesus loves me this I now for the bible tells me so. He died for my sins, I trusted him. I have a clean hurt but I am still a sinner. I want to be baptized because I want people to understand that Jesus died for my sins and that He is my Savior and I want to serve him for the rest of my life.

Mike's Adventure

Mike has been wanting to get into electric cars for a long time. Last night was his first call to go and pick up and electric car for repair. He has the trailer now, and took off in his pickup truck to go and get the vehicle.

It was in Commerce about an hour away. On his way home, he got a bit turned around and wound up in FROGNOT TEXAS. Where is that? I don't know, but then, his transmission in his truck blew and filled the cab with smoke, so there he was in the middle of Frognot Texas with a broken down gas hog towing a broken down electric vehicle.

The tow trucks came and got him home and the adventure continues.

He took it all in stride. The girls however were TERRIBLY worried about daddy being stranded on the road and every 2 minutes came to ask, "Is he ok? Did he call?" They couldn't sleep until he got home which was around 10:30 last night.

Poor guy.

Tattle Tale Blues

We've got the Tattle Tale Tattle Tale Blues!

It seems that we are competing today for a gold medal in the category of Tattle Tale.
So, I solved the matter.


Anna won.

She won the right to clean the bedroom alone, since she seemed to be so skilled at giving a moment by moment blow by blow account of everything possible that could go wrong in that room.....

Ahhhh, it is quiet and the other girls are folding clothes. :)

I just love motherhood.

The Early Morning Events

We started off with an event filled morning. First off I had a great night's sleep due to a new mattress cover we just purchased for my back. It is 4 inches of foam part regular foam, part memory foam and it was VERY helpful. Now, this a.m. we felt like we had to climb out of bed, as it is pretty soft, but ahhhh, not having to toss and turn all night with terrible back pain was really a pleasure.....

So, first thing, darling Erika gets up early while Mike and I are having our morning coffee and our new little "bra wearer" says, "Mother, you need to put on a bra!"
Hmmm....
"Erika, don't you know that your mom is a card carrying member of the national burn your bra society????"

She says, "Yes, now go put on your bra mother!" LOL

Well, Yes Maam!!!....


This is Sarah's Pirate Look! AYE!
How's that for a challenging look to a good game of backgammon?


Guess who won?


And by 1 move!!!!!




All the while, Anna was quietly reading her new favorite book on the couch.



I love it when kids start to read for pleasure. Marcus and Tim used to LOVE Calvin and Hobbs.

Our Anniversary Date

Pictures the girlies took on our date: We had our own personal camera crew.
It is good for kids to see mom and dad admire each other.




Anniversaries are always fun. They give time for reflection and future plans. It is funny how different each anniversary is. I remember when our guys were little, we'd get out a table cloth and candlelight and make a quiet dinner with nice quiet music while the boys sat at the top of the stairs and giggled. "GO TO BED!" OK.......

Then there were a few years where we went to a nice dinner alone.

Then, the girls came. To be honest, my memory of the last 5 years is nearly a blurr!
But I know we went swimming one time, we were home from the hospital another time, once we went to a movie, and then this time crept up on us. With all our plans for the next few weeks, school starting etc. here it was, and the day before we were talking saying, "What should we do for this anniversary?" Hmmmm.... There were no movies playing, and it is a Tuesday night. So, we decided on dinner. The girls got real excited and we then decided to make it a family dinner since we are leaving for our Ukrainian missions trip in less than 3 weeks. (that is our real anniversary plan :) )

So they all got dressed up and we took them to "On the Border". Then, they said, "Can we sleep in YOUR room tonight and fall asleep to a movie? It IS your anniversary and it would be so special!" (NOT) LOL

Mike was so funny..."Yes it is OUR anniversary, NO, you can't!" LOL

They were all looking at us like WE were being selfish, ruining their special day of enjoying our anniversary. "You always want to be alone and you don't let us sleep in your room!" Sarah pouted....
Yes, that is right. Moms and dads have rooms and kids have rooms. That is the way that it is! :)

I just love childhood innocence.



Here are our 3 little stowaways. :) They had a great time on our date.

My Life

Sarah was just pretending to be me.

She said, "Quick somebody get me some water, I think I'm having a hot flash!" :)


The truth can really make you, uhhhhh, S-W-E-A-T !

Speaking of Anniversaries

There are many anniversaries in our lives, some good and some not so good. Children who have faced trauma in their lives have many anniversaries. It might be the anniversary that you were taken away from your parent, or the time you were moved from one foster home to another or when you were moved to your adoptive home or when you went to court etc. etc.

Children, though many times quite young when this stuff happens, have some sort of 6th sense when anniversary time comes around. We have always noticed that there are two specific times of year when our Anna has relived past trauma. One of those times is now, and the other is during the holidays.

Every year, things have gotten better and we are going on year 5. Anna came to us on about her 5th birthday. That is around holiday times.

However, the first year we had her, we were abit perplexed at her behavior in August.
She had been doing great and then all of a a sudden WHAMO, from out of no where these traumatic behaviors showed up.
We headed straight for the rocking chair and she'd just pour her little heart out. Memory after memory.

When we finally got her adoption paperwork in the mail which didn't happen until after that first August, I was flabbergasted to see that her dramatic removal from her mother occurred in August and then there was yet another removal at the end of August from one foster home to another! So August was a FULL month of trauma for her.

So Mike and I were all geared up for this month, expecting to see some difficulties, though not the ones we have seen before. And, pretty much, not a lot happened.... then a few weeks ago, there was a little blip, like with any NORMAL child, and then the events of yesterday and today.....


HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED!

Yesterday, Erika wanted to write about her life. She started to write and started reading out loud her story about being in the orphanage. Anna later came over to me and started to cry. She said, mama, I'm not the same person you think I am. I am not the same girl. I am a new girl. I have been reborn. I was a little puzzled at first but kept listening to her. I rocked her and soothed her and talked to her. In the back of my mind I was trying to figure out what she was saying and honestly, I wasn't sure, but didn't want to suggest anything, so I just listened. (learned that from Mike, he is so great at this)

So then, last night, when Mike and I were going to bed, we noticed that Sarah had climbed onto the top bunk with Anna and they were laying there talking. I sensed it wasn't a time to tell them to stop talking and go to sleep, even though I was tempted as it was 11:30. Anna NEVER stays awake much after her had hits the pillow! So something was on her heart.

Then today, She handed me this: (she used part of a poem and changed words in it, but it is how she feels, and I think she did a pretty good job!)

My Life is Like a Poem


About the story:
Anna is the baby
The two good people are mom and dad
The child is me, Anna.



In Threads of Magic
So its told
A young child was born like gold

To shine for Dad and gracious mom
The small baby did so beam
Two good people smiled
Brought song and beauty to this child.

Link Button for Dennis

If you scroll down my side bar, you may come to a link button that says,
"Remember to Pray for Dennis". Dennis is the New son of a fellow blogger.
I have her listed under adoption blogs, "Christine's blog, and Christine's other blog".
Dennis's story starts on Christine's other blog, but now that he is a member in the family, he is on the regular blog. :)

He is fixin' to have some major surgery and many tests coming up. So, his mama has asked us to put his picture on our blogs so anybody who stops by, can pray for him.
He is a real sweety of a little guy. So, if you scroll down and see him, throw up a prayer or two and ask for prayer for him in your prayer groups. He has a long road ahead.

But it is BRIGHT! He is a very fortunate little guy to have such a special family, and his family is very fortunate to have such a wonderful little guy to be the baby in the family.

That Crazy Man I Love

Today is our Anniversary. We still haven't decided what we are going to do. Most likely we are going to take the girls out. LOL Because our REAL anniversary present is coming up in a few weeks when we will whisk ourselves away to Ukraine for almost 2 weeks and leave our girlies behind, yet in very capable hands.

The Lord has been so good to me. In spite of my failures, my sin, I have been blessed beyond measure. The Lord has blessed both Mike and I and we praise Him for his working in our lives.

We have only been married 19 years. But we sure do look older than the day we married.
I am so thankful for the brave man who entered my life and took on an army of kids, along with an eccentric, hippie throwback wife, having never been married himself or having never been a father; AND he was a YANKEE! I was a California transplant, but we fell in love in Dallas.

So Happy Anniversary dearest.
For 19 years I have not called you Mike, but "MY MIKE". :)

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Well, today's Gymnastics made a hit with Anna. She loved the drama and the swirly things. She and Sarah made sticks with streamers (strings) and have been jumping around the house twirling. Here are 2 of Anna's dramatic poses!

Off To A Great Start!

We finished our first 2 days of school and we are off to a great start. The girls are loving their desks, and it seems that they have retained all that they learned last year.

I was worried about taking 5 weeks off, but you know what? I needed that 5 weeks, and so did they. They swam, and swam and played and pretended and went shopping and went to the zoo, and played some more. It was a great rest time.

Then, when it was time to start, they were really ready. It seems that we have turned a corner in reading for everybody and they are reading for enjoyment.

We are off to a good start in History, taking our virtual "Trip Around The World". :)

I'm so glad we are able to do what we do, and I pray that the year continues to go well for them.

I also found these really cool math cubes that explain fractions and decimals. They are kind of like the addition blocks, but they are written in fractions and decimals.
The one thing our oldest son had trouble with was fractions. He couldn't understand how a bigger number was a smaller amount. These cubes help you to SEE that.

Now I gotta go clean house...... :)

How Do I Say No To the Limbless?

On a good note, this was an article about a Prosthetist who makes limbs for those who don't have them, in Mexico.

What a wonderful ministry.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/22/heroes.puckett/index.html

I often think of where our girls would be were it not for the caring people who make their legs, and have changed their lives. I give glory and praise to the Lord for moving on the hearts of people who care so very much.

THANK YOU LORD, for changing our lives, giving Erika independence more than we had ever dreamed, and for letting us get to know some very special people, whom we would have never met, had there not been hardship in our lives.

Organic Foods Article

There is an article this a.m. at CNN.Com about a study that concluded that "organic foods are not more nutritional, than non organic."
As if a person would think that if they ate an organic apple it might contain more vitamins than a non organic one?

That has NEVER been the issue for me in buying organic foods. The issue for me is the pesticides and poisoning of the environment. The foods that are raised conventionally contain dangerous pesticides. I remember in the 1980's one of the studies on childhood leukemia linked the disease to polished apples. In organics, you don't polish apples.

HERE: is the kicker of the study:

This study -- published in the latest edition of the Society of Chemical Industry's (SCI) "Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture" -- is the first to assess the nutritional value of organic fruit and vegetables. It should be noted that the study does not make conclusions about the comparative levels of pesticides or chemicals in conventionally and organically grown food or the health effects of consuming such chemicals.

NOTE: The study is done by the "CHEMICAL INDUSTRY". LOL


So, if a person is to skim this article, they might MISS the log floating in the stream of bologana! The chemical industry didn't say anything about how chemicals remain in the food and are harmful to your body. Oops, we were only speaking of the nutritional value of a carrot vs. a carrot. duh......

Not to mention the poisoning of the water, soil, etc.

Organic farming is good for the environment, good for the soil, causing it to help the environment.... (this shows up later in the rebuttal section of th article.

But really, how does anything like this make the news other than for a teaser to make a person mad?
It is also so harmful, because many people will read a headline and then think conventionally grown foods are just as SAFE as organics. That is not the case. Organic food farmers go through rigorous regulation to get excellent, non poisonous foods to our tables and we need to support their efforts.

The First Day of School

Well, we had a great start to a great year. We covered all of our subjects today, except for art, unless you count making an Israeli Flag for History "Art". :)

For history this year, we are taking a virtual, "Trip Around The World". We actually started at the end of last school year, and plan to continue until we cover every continent and important country.

So here are the girlies doing Spelling.... guess which girlie was abit overwhelemed with doing "Just cursive????". Yep, from now on..... :)

The Girls Have Their OWN BLOG

The Girls have a new blog. We will be using this to teach typing skills, computer skills, and creative writing skills. I will leave the mistakes as they are, unless they ask for help in spelling. :)

Their address is:

http://thenoelles.blogspot.com/

Here It Is

The Lonesome Pine Ranch School Room:

God Cares About The Little Things

I have written before about the requests the girls had for a great start to a great school year. They wanted a desk, a bell and a chalk board.

Well, we have a bell. I checked around on Craig's List to see about Chalk Boards and desks. I found a great deal from a nursing school going out of business. When I got there, they had just 2 desks and a chalk board. I was able to get them for 25.00 for all.

Anna didn't care for the desks and asked if she could get one that looked a little different. We still needed one, so she started looking on the computer and found the color and style she liked. The problem is, it was over 100.00 if you purchased it new!

I was ready to settle on another desk that looked like her sisters, but the drive was too far and it would have cost more in gas than for the desk itself.

Daddy said, "Let's wait and see what God provides, give HIM a chance to work!"

So we waited a day or two and went back onto Craig's list. There was a description of the exact desk that Anna wanted for 15.00! We thought, ok, this is His provision and the desk was located close by our church. I called the number and it turns out, it was a long time aquaintence from our home school group that was selling the desk. I told her I'd call at a certain time, but when I did, she didn't answer. So we went ahead and started home from church. When we were almost home, she called and said her phone was on silent and she forgot to change it, but they were home and we could come.

So after we got home, I headed out to get the desk. About 3 minutes after I left, Mike called and said, WAIT! Another friend called and said she had a desk she was giving away. He said, go ahead and go look at it. They just live 5 doors down! So I turned around and drove over to her house. And guess what? It was the EXACT desk, even EXACT COLOR Anna had wanted. And it was FREE. :) My friend and I had a good laugh at the way God works in our lives. I called the other lady back to share the story, and it turns out she knows my neighbor! Isn't that funny? :)

Anna is so pleased with her new desk. And now, after I decorate the wall with a map or two, and some pin ups, we will be set for school to start on Thursday! :)

What a great lesson for the girls.

More Understanding .....

Erika has been speaking English now for almost 2 years. I have to be really careful to remember that she doesn't always understand the things she has heard. She might understand the individual word, but our words can have many meanings.

So, we were watching the Olympics. Everybody was busy and Erika was watching alone. She came in and said, "Somebody smashed Michael Phelp's goggles, and he came in 2nd place because of it!" I was shocked! Who could do something like that!???? So I'm looking all over for news about the event and there is nothing.

Then I sit down with her and they use the word, "smash" and "leaky goggles" again.
She said, SEE! They SMASHED his goggles and now they are leaky and he came in 2nd!"

I said, NO, his goggles were "leaky" and he SMASHED the World Record anyway! He came in second in a different "practice race". She was so confused. What is a "World Record" that can be SMASHED? SMASHED means broken, crushed, but it is tangeable, breaking something you can touch and feel. She didn't understand until now that that green line across the swimming pool wasn't really there but was showing us where a swimmer from another race swam before, and now the swimmers swimming now are ahead of that and they are now the fastest! They are the fastest in the world, and when that time is written down, it is a "record". It is recorded, or written down so everybody knows what the fastest time is.

I'm exhausted just typing that. :)

BUT.... now she understands and is very happy that Micahel Phelps was not the victim of "bad worldly goggle smashers!

Gymnastics Craze

Watching Olympic Gymnastics has got Sarah going Topsy Turvy!

Play List is gone now

I took the play list feature off the blog because it takes too long to load. I like the feature, and I liked the music, but it was a little too "busy" and bogged down the blog.

The Back to School Countdown

Sarah was asking for "olives". Now those olives are VERY green!


Anna discovered how to make some rather uncomfortable shoes with tin cans and string.
She loves them.



This is Anna resting after a busy Sunday afternoon!



Katie and Erika really enjoyed braiding hair. Erika especially loved the end frizzy results. :0



This a Sarah kicking back and relaxing. :)


We start school 1 week from tomorrow. We are all looking forward to starting back up to a full school year of learning and discovery.
Now I need to go and finish our schedule.

Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded

I never knew there were so many verses to this Hymn.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osacredh.htm




OH SACRED HEAD NOW WOUNDED


O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Animal Disaster 102

101 happened last year when Coyotes ate our sheep and turkeys.

We learned from that experience that they must be locked up at night to protect them, and the girls have faithfully without question for over a year, kept all animals protected at night.

However, the shelter we have for our turkeys as about a 2 inch space around the bottom for cleaning and air ventilation. Apparently that was enough for some creature in the middle of the night last night to eat several sleeping turkeys. They lean against the walls when they sleep sometimes and what every it was was able to get to them from the outside.

The disaster wasn't as bad as last year, as only 5 turkeys were eaten or killed, one we will have to put down and the bigger ones are fine, and the goats are ok, however, I am finished with farm animals.

That is how I feel right now. The cost to raise them, and care for them, and then kill them and store them is just outweighed by the end result.

While I find it great experience for the girls, I'm not sure if farm animals are the answer.

Searching for wisdom, and not looking forward to todays slaughter to protect our food.

How Is Jesus Christ Honored?

Yesterday we were talking to our 4th grade Sunday School class for one of the last times, as they will all be promoted to the 5th grade soon.

The discussion was on "How Is Jesus Christ Honored In Your Life?"

It wasn't what we had planned to teach for the day, but it was important enough to put the planned lesson aside.

You see, during snack time, several of the boys were talking about how "cool" detention was. You get detention and you don't have to do your work, you can take a nap etc.

This class is a challenging class. The children have been "churched", many since their births, and one particular boy is always "bored", "Oh I already know that story".

So yesterday when the conversation came up, I closed the lesson and asked the simple question. "How do you honor Jesus Christ in detention, or when you get a detention?"

There was silence followed by frowns and I don't knows. Mike said, well, one way Christ is honored is "justice is served" when you do something wrong, there are consequences. Christ will be honored one way or another. :)

More frowns and thoughts and I don't knows.

So I posed another question: "How do you stand out for Jesus Christ in your school?
In your home? In your neighborhood? With your friends? In your church? In your clubs?
On your teams? Do you? If not, why not? Do you KNOW Christ or do you just know all about him?
One kid said, you really can't stand out at my school because all the kids are Christians, I go to a Christian school.

We then asked "How can we KNOW CHRIST?"
There were several answers. Believe he died on the Cross for your sins.

What does it mean to "believe"?

That got a little more direct.
One little girl said, "trust". It means to trust. As she went further in her description, I got a strong sense that she knew the Lord. She attends a local public school and is a real sweet child in class.
She stands out from the others, not because she is quiet, but her spirit is obedient.
I have known her since she was a baby, and she is definitely a different child than when she was younger. :)

I guess I wanted to challenge the children that Life in Christ IS LIFE NOW! Life in Christ is exciting. Life in Christ is REAL and as believing Children, IF indeed you know Him, you will honor Him in your life. Both at school and at home. You will put Jesus Christ first in what you do, which will effect others. You will effect them in how you relate on the play ground, how you speak to others, how you help others and how you respect others.

I truly hope the lesson got them to thinking about their own relationship with Jesus and how HE can change their lives. If HE IS WHO HE SAID HE IS, then why wouldn't we want to devote our lives to Him? If HE knows what is absoloutly best for us and only intends both trial and triumph for our good, then why wouldn't we put our trust in Him?

If there is eternal life and eternal damnation, why wouldn't we trust the ONLY one who can give us life eternal?

I hope they ponder these things in their hearts and come to know the ONE who can change them from dead to living.

Lillian the Pouting Princess

5 Girls and I went shopping today. We hit the 2nd hand store and scored BIG TIME!

Lillian insisted on this Ballerina Outfit with Ballet Shoes. What are gramma's for?

She COULD have given me a smile, but NOOOOO! She was in full pout mode after her first big swim in a real swimming pool proved too much for her and we had to go home. :)

So here she is in all her glory, pomp and circumstance. :)

Things I Have Learned About Lilly This Week

Lillian just turned 4. She is very contemplative. She has deep thoughts and watches everything.

I took her to the store with me and she was so funny. In the car I asked her,
"Lilly, what is your favorite color?"

There was a pause..... "Purple, I like purple."

We played the stop and go game with the lights on the way to the store. She told me to stop on red and go on green and be careful on yellow. (She only got to practice that once)

When we got into the store she helped me push the basket. It was so funny. Every single gesture I made, how I stood, if I put my finger on my chin to think, she did.
(I think I put my finger on my chin ALOT)

If I picked up a can to read the ingredients, she did it too. It was such an honor for her to want to be like gramma. :)

The biggest honor of all was the Ponytail. She didn't like having her hair done last week, but this week the first thing she asks for in the morning is the pink heart hair thingy. "Here gramma, put my hearts in."
OK..... :)

Katie The Farm Girl ?

This a.m. when the girls woke up, they were ready to be snuggle bunnies. Katie came in and asked if she could go let out the goats. SURE! You can also change the water and clean out the barrel before putting fresh water in.... This look of shock came over her face. "I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"That is haarrdddd, gramma!"

"What is hard about it?"

"Ummm. you have to clean it?"

Yes. Would you like to go and do it?

ok gramma....

A little later she came in and said, "I did it!, It was EASY!"

She seemed pretty satisfied with herself. Notice the hard working smile on her face and the water on her shirt? She was already sweating at it was only 8:00. :)

Katie you are a rockin' FARM GIRL!

Busy Girls

The girls got busy today with ART. We had a few thank you cards to make, and Lillian wanted to help. She really LOVES Art. She spent the morning using water colors and the afternoon drawing and using glitter paint. She was really focused on drawing flowers.
She is starting Pre K this year and I think she will do really well as she can really concentrate when she wants to.

Here are a few pictures of creation at work.

Bananas or Watermelons

How about bananas cut like watermelons. :)

Hugs

When you are a mommy and a gramma you just can't get too many hugs. :)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Yesterday, August 6, was my birthday. I had a wonderful 50th Birthday, complete with a show put on by the girls, and watching the movie Nim' s Island.

So why the title Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Well, My entire life, on my birthday when we watched the news, there was the infamous laying of the wreath in Japan to recognize those who perished by the first and last atom bombs ever dropped on human beings during a time of war. August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was attacked. On August 9, 1945, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

I have noticed over the last few years there has been less and less coverage of the event. As a child, I would have welcomed not being born on that day, as every birthday was the somber reminder of Nuclear War. But now, as an adult, I was a little sad that there wasn't more media coverage, especially in the times in which we now live. We are on the verge, if not already there, of another cold war. Pakistan has Nuclear capabilites and the political picture in the Middle East is not good. Iran either does or is close to having nuclear weapons.

One of the problems with history, is if we forget how terrible it was, it will repeat itself.
Some of us are old enough to remember the cold war. Russia was supposed to bomb us at any time, and we were supposed to bomb them at any time. Thus, at school we had bomb drills where we got under our desks and covered our eyes, as if that would help. When we were in Ukraine, our translators told us they did the exact same thing!

I fear that the realities of war are so far removed from us that many younger people see it almost as entertainment. Movies are so realistic and violent and the instant reports of war news on the internet both video and photo numb us from the true horrors of war.

The Nuclear attack on Japan ended the war, but the atrocities continued for decades, with children being born with deformities, and people continuing to die from radiation and radiation related cancers.

Just the accident in Chernobyl, Belarus, caused many cancers and birth defects and deaths, and many don't know that the radiation and fire is still buring today 2 decades later. There are teams that go in for short periods of time and are working on covering the area to keep it from leaking radiation.

So, let's remember to pray for those effected by war, by Nuclear Fallout, and for those who might hastily enter into Nuclear Engagement without thinking through the results.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm

Grandaughter's and Junior High

I can't believe it! My grand daughter is about to embark on Jr. High School! She is playing in the band, and it seems like just yesterday she was starting Kindergarten!

Here she is on our latest Zoo Adventure. I don't think she cared too much for touching a sting ray. :)

Conversations With a Four Year Old

Lilly:Can I help bake the cake?

Gramma:Yes you can.....

Lilly :Ummmmm..... after she has licked her hands from all the batter.....

Lilly: I'm clean now, I don't have diahrrea any more!

Gramma: That's good. I'm glad you don't~ :?/

Lilly: Yea.....

Lilly : Gramma, Can I go see Grampa's "toodles"?

Gramma: Do you mean his "tools"?
Lilly: Yea.....

Gramma: I love you Lillian!


Pause......

Lilly: You have pretty eyes gramma!

Gramma: Thank you.

Gramma: You have pretty eyes too.

Lilly: No, I have dark eyes.

Lilly:Mama has dark eyes.

Gramma: What kind of eyes does daddy have?

Lilly : Daddy has Guitar Eyes. :)

Lilly: I have to go see what the girls are doin'...........

Bye Lilly......
Bye Gramma......

Feeding the Sting Rays

Anna was really excited about feeding sting rays. They were very slimy and really neat. Glad their barbs were removed. Some of the bigger ones would splash us when they swam by. Pretty funny.

Lilly and the Carousel

I took all the girls to the zoo today. This cracked me up.....

Reflections of a Sinner Saved by Grace

When we were at camp last week, a young man began to play the piano and sing.
"Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound, that Saved a Wretch Like Me!"

This young man, is Autistic, blind, and has multiple limb loss. Both lower legs and both arms are effected. How can he play the piano? I don't know, but he can, and played it beautifully.

I looked at him and thought..... I don't see a wretch. I see such a pure individual.
Yet, God has revealed to him his true nature, and he has received salvation.

I am a wretch. NOT HIM! The truth is, we are all blind, and naked, and we are all wretched individuals, apart from Christ.

I am so thankful that in my wretched state, God saw fit to reveal himself and opened my deaf ears and caused my blind eyes to see.

He continues to prune me, break me, and throw the bundles of chaff that my life produces into the fire in order to be refined.
Oh how patient He is........

Would I be singing amazing grace if I were physically blind? How about if I didn't have my arms or legs? How about if I were crippled? What about if I were destitute? What if I lived in a war torn country?

I have not had these experiences,(besides being destitute for a while) but I have had plenty of experience God has chosen to bring my way. He causes the rain to fall upon each individual to bring about his specific purpose in each person's life.

I pray that the rest of my life will reflect that Amazing Grace that he has so abundantly poured into me.

I put a link to a very special web site of a young man who has come to know the Amazing Grace of our Lord Jesus. http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

What's A Kid To Do?

If you have just 2 hands and you need to use those to eat breakfast, but you don't want your ball to roll away, you get creative and use other body parts to make things work! This is our 4 year old grand daughter Lillian making things work! :)
We get to have the grand girls for a week!

Baptism Delayed

Erika had a meeting with the elders and didn't answer the questions to satisfaction. I think part of her expressive language is a problem. To articulate in English, complex ideas is hard for her. So, we are going to work with her a little more and help her understand.

We had a great talk with one of our elders tonight. He said they did not question her faith at all, they just want her to be able to express it verbally.

I have many questions about the baptism process and probably fall more along covanental lines regarding baptism.

This same elder plans to talk with Erika Sunday to make sure she understands that they are not questioning her faith. She thought they had said, "Think about it a little longer if you really want to follow Jesus."

So the August 31 date is null and void. I'll let ya'll know when it happens.
I wouldn't have posted it WAS going to happen until after the elders visited her.
There was abit of confusion. 2 elders approved the week before, but then there were some more that wanted to meet. The 2nd meeting is the one that took place today, and they have asked her to wait.

So, we'll wait some more and maybe learn abit about patience and study up some on doctrine.

The Turning 50 Hair Cut

I said I would cut my hair when I turn 50. I did it 4 days early. :)