New

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

~Lamentations 3:21-25

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

~2 Corinthians 5:17

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

~Ezekiel 36:26-27

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I pray 2012 holds abundant blessings for you and yours.

Great Wolf Lodge

At the beginning of December we took a two night mini family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, OH and the kids had an absolute blast! We were celebrating Jordan and Carson's birthday, and were joined the second night by Jason's brother and his family to celebrate our sweet niece Tora's birthday. The kids adore their cousins Tora and Caden, and it was so fun spending time with all of them that even after three days the kids still didn't want to leave. Here are some pics of the fun!

Jordan & Tora

Carson & Caden

Christmas 2011

We had a great Christmas and although we were busy we really enjoyed seeing all of our family.

The third weekend in December we traveled up to Mansfield on Saturday for my dad's family's annal Christmas party. We saw my grandma, step-mom, aunts, uncles, cousins (I have 15), and all of their families.

Then on Sunday we traveled down to Circleville to celebrate Christmas with my mom, Jan, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.

On Christmas Eve we went to Canal Winchester to celebrate with my step-mom, Debby, and on our way home we stopped in Hilliard to visit Jason's grandparents (his grandpa is 93!). We were home for about 15 minutes and then turned right around and left again to attend the Christmas Eve service at church.

On Christmas day we spent the day relaxing at home, and my mom and Jan came up to visit and eat Christmas dinner with us.

Finally, on Monday, we drove to Hilliard to celebrate with Jason's parents, brothers, and their families.

Whew, I'm exhausted just from all the traveling! I may need a vacation to recover, but in the meantime here are some pictures from all the fun.

At Grammy & GramJan's in

Circleville with cousin Tyler

Their big gift from Aunt Weazie, Uncle Greg,

and Tyler was a trampoline!

At home on Christmas morning

This is probably Carson's favorite gift; it

is really fun and he has spent hours playing with it 

(if you have boys I highly recommend it)

Corinne and her new doll bunk bed

Jordan and her doll clothes

What a great Christmas!

Thoughtful Thursday {Best Buddies}

I love that these three are such sweet friends. They get along so great together and I know they love each other so much! I truly believe that they are such good friends becasue they spend so much time together - (ha!) like 24/7 since we homeschool :)

I pray that they will always be there for each other and will be best friends their whole lives.

Recently Read & Recommend

I typically decide to read a book based on a friend or family member's recommendation, and the first thing I do is visit Amazon's website and read the book's reviews. The second thing I do is borrow the book from the library (or the friend who recommended it) because I almost never buy a book unless I have read it or at least looked at/skimmed it in hand.

Several friends recommended the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp at our last homeschool support meeting. I remembered having heard of this book and that I had considered reading it about a year ago. Per my usual routine I had looked at the book on Amazon's website and discovered it had received 3.5 stars (out of 5) and had gotten some mixed reviews - lots of people loved and lots disliked it, and although I don't make my decision to read or not read a book based on the Amazon reviews (there are several books that I love that have gotten mixed reviews and less than 4 stars on Amazon) I decided not to read it at the time. So, when several close friends, who I dearly love and respect, recommended it I decided it was time to read it and judge for myself. And the verdict is....

I LOVED IT! If you are a Christian parent and you have not read it I highly recommend that you do so. It has so much great information that I can't even begin to give a synopsis. The main controversy over this book is that the author advocates spanking, and while I am not anti-spanking I do not entirely agree with him on every point regarding spanking. I do, however, think that the book overall is excellent and a wonderful resource.

Bottom line: I bought the book!

Our Favorite Games

A list of some of our favorite games! Some we've had for several years and others for only a few days, but here are the top six that we love 'cause they're FUN.

Castle Logix
by Smart/Tangoes USA
1 player
Ages 2-8

Candyland

by Hasbro

2-4 players

Ages 3+

Blokus

by Mattel

2-4 players

Ages 6+

Rat-A-Tat-Cat

by Gamewright

2-6 players

Ages 6+

Qwirkle

by MindWare

2-4 players

Ages 6+

Q-bitz

by MindWare

2-4 players

Ages 8+

Choir Concert

Earlier this month Jordan and Carson sang in the Central Ohio Christian Homeschool Chorus' annual concert. They both did a fantastic job and everyone had a great time!

The kids before we left for the concert:

Jordan with one of her best friends, Abbi:

For Unto Us a Child is Born

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6     

I Just Wanted a 3 Column Blog

So today I decided that I wanted my blog to have three columns instead of two - you know the kind where the blog posts are in the middle and you have 'stuff' on either side. Well, this small change turned into a multi-hour project and by the end of the ordeal I was exhausted. The first thing I discovered was that to have a three column blog I needed to change my blog layout. OK, I thought, I can handle that. I go into the blogger settings and find where I can change the blog layout, I choose the three column style, and apply the change...and disaster strikes!

The brown background I had before doesn't work with the three column blog layout! OK, fine, I will just change my background. After all, I've had the same background for awhile now and a change might be nice. I go to the website where I found my previous background and look for a new one that I like that will work with a three column blog. I find a nice purple one (my favorite color) and switch the code on my blog for the background...but the saga continues.

The template I had been using doesn't work with the new background, and I discover that since the last time I changed backgrounds blogger has updated and changed all their templates. It takes me half an hour to figure out which template will work with the new background, and once I do I realize that I don't like the way the blog title looks with the new template. So I go back to the site where I found the background and find a banner that I like, but the banner doesn't match the background I had chosen (of course). I decide to search for a banner that does match, but discover that they don't make one. They do, however, make a background to match the banner I like so I decide to use that background instead (its pink though which is definitely not one of my favorite colors, but I decide to just go with it). I get the background switched again, and set to work on the banner.

Fifteen minutes later the banner title is on and I realize that the new template's default setting is to align the blog title/header/banner all the way to left, instead of centered, and it looks terrible (and was driving me crazy). I go on a search to find out how to center the header/blog title and another fifteen minutes later that's done. I preview the blog and find a few other minor formatting, font, and color issues so I find fixes for and tinker around with those, and an hour later I'm finally happy with the overall look.

Then I discover that there are heading tabs (I didn't have any before) that match my background and banner so I get those and add them to my blog. Next, I mess around with the gadgets on my blog and arrange everything the way I want it, but in the process I find that the width of the sidebars won't accommodate some of my gadgets, so I have to go back to the template and adjust the widths and then move a few of the gadgets that still won't fit.

Finally, I survey my ALL NEW blog and decide that it looks great, but that it really isn't me. I'm not a pink and black with bows type of person, and while I like the new look (and will not be changing it anytime soon) I've already found a background and banner that I like better (and are much more me), so the next time I have a few hours to spare (ha-as if!) my blog will be getting another face lift. In the meantime, if you are a pink and black with bows type of person please enjoy the new look!

Thoughtful Thursday

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

~Luke 2:8-14

Thoughtful Thursday

I Caught Your Faith
~Anonymous

I saw you stand
bravely for years
But saw no trace
of senseless tears

I saw you stand
calmly through stress
But caught no glimpse
of bitterness

I saw you stand
prayerful in grief
but saw no trace
of unbelief

Though you spoke well
of Jesus Christ
I caught your faith
watching your life.

She's 9!

She's our firstborn and therefore our parenting Guinea pig.

She has a sweet and tender heart.

She loves reading and art.

She dislikes math.

She enjoys singing, dancing, and playing the piano.

She's almost as tall as her mom.

She was born 9 years ago today and that means...
She's 9!

If anyone can tell me how I blinked and 9 years flew by I would really appreciate it.

The Weight of Your Afflictions

~From a sermon by Scott Brown~

The presence of your afflictions are not according to chance.

The timing of your afflictions are all part of God’s pre-ordained plan to sum up all things in Christ.

The weight of your afflictions are carefully measured, to bring you forth as gold.

The number of your afflictions are strategically appointed, to buffet you enough to change you.

The length of your afflictions will be no shorter or longer than what pleases God, in order to enlarge your patience.

The outcome of your afflictions are designed to address a God-glorifying end.

The arms which brought the afflictions will hold you through them.


You can listen to the sermon in its entirety here.

Thoughtful Thursday

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

~Jim Elliot

7 on the 7th

Happy 7th Birthday to our sweet boy! I don't know where the time has gone, but I do know that we love you more ever year.

Thoughtful Thursday

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.

~Proverbs 4:23

Motherhood IS My Mission Field

LOVE this post by Rachel Jankovic on the Desiring God website.
If you are a mom you need to read this!
Motherhood as a Mission Field

And be sure to check out her latest post:
Motherhood is Application

Thoughtful (& Thankful) Thursday

I will give thanks to You, O LORD, with all my heart!
~Psalm 9:1

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
~Psalm 106:1

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
~Colossians 3:15

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am so thankful for my wonderful family and friends, and most especially for my three sweet blessings and my amazing husband. I am also eternally thankful for my Saviour and his redemptive work. I pray that we will all be reminded of how very blessed we truly are, and that we will treasure each and every moment we have with our family and friends. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Christian Love

from The Valley of Vision

O Lover of the loveless,
It is thy will that I should love thee
with heart, soul, mind, strength,
and my neighbour as myself.

But I am not sufficient for these things.

There is by nature no pure love in my soul;

Every affection in me is turned from thee;

I am bound, as slave to lust,

I cannot love thee, lovely as thou art,

until thou dost set me free.

By grace I am thy freeman and would serve thee,
for I believe thou art my God in Jesus,
and that through him I am redeemed,

and my sins are forgiven.

With this freedom I would always obey thee,

but I cannot walk in liberty,
any more than I could first attain it, of myself.

May thy Spirit draw me nearer to thee and thy ways.

Thou art the end of all means,

for if they lead me not to thee, I go away empty.

Order all my ways by thy holy Word

and make thy commandments the joy of my heart,

that by them I may have happy converse with thee.

May I grow in Thy love and manifest it to mankind.

Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus;

give me his benevolent temper,

his beneficent actions,

that I may shine before men to thy glory.

The more thou doest in love in me and by me,

humble me the more;

keep me meek, lowly,
and always ready to give thee honour.

One Man

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

~Romans 5:18-19

Thoughtful Thursday

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

~1 John 4:18-19

Thoughtful Thursday

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

Thoughtful Thursday

God be in my head,

And in my understanding;

God be in mine eyes,

And in my looking;

God be in my mouth,

And in my speaking;

God be in my heart,

And in my thinking;

God be at mine end,

And at my departing.

~Anonymous 

New Phone Photo Fun

For my birthday last weekend Jason got me an iPhone (yeah!) and the kids have had a great time playing with one of the photo/camera apps.

Thoughtful Thursday

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 91:4

Autumn Fires

As part of our Ambleside curriculum Carson and I are reading a poem a day from A Child's Gareden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is the poem we read yesterday:

AUTUMN FIRES

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The gray smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!

Thoughtful Thursday

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

~Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

Freed

Yesterday Jordan and I read Chapter 21 of Tree in the Trail by Holling Clancy Holling, and I loved this part:

"Seems funny not to see her spreadin' above us, don't it?" said Jed. "But if a tree could think, I'll bet she's mighty glad to be a yoke, swingin' along, tinklin' pretty. That tree was too held down. Always pointin' as if she wanted to follow us on the Trail. Now she can go beyond her hill, away out yonder - farther than she ever dreamed.

"Maybe it's that way with people, sort of. They git rooted down, too. Along comes disaster, or what looks like it, an' they feel lost. But maybe, if they only knew - all that's happened to 'em is that they've been freed. Freed to go farther then they ever thought. Maybe they's bells waitin' for them, too. Bells that will tinkle inside 'em somewhere...."

Artist: Fragonard

In addition to the composer study we also do an artist study each term, and I go about finding books in the same way. For artist studies the best books feature one artist, are oversized, and contain lots of big pictures of the artist's work.

This term's artist is Jean-Honore Fragonard and until now I had never heard of this artist before (not really surprising although I did take four years of French in high school and he was a French painter).  Unlike the composer for this term there were not very many resources available at the local libraries. The two books* we are using are:

Jean-Honore Fragonard: Life and Work by Jean-Pierre Cuzin
Jean-Honore Fragonard by Jean Montague Massengale

If books on a particular artist or composer are hard to come by the internet can be a good resource for finding photos or samples of an artist's or composer's work.
I found four good photos of Fragonard's paintings available for viewing on the web:
The Reader (my favorite)
Inspiration 
Blind Man's Bluff 
The Stolen Kiss

*Note: Some of this artist's paintings contain nudity.

Composer: Mozart

As part of our Charlotte Mason based homeschool we do a composer and an artist study each term, and since I know next to nothing about the famous artists and classical composers I am learning right along with the kids.

For each composer I start by scouring the online library catalogs for juvenile biographical books and musical CDs of the composer's work (I also use Amazon as a search tool to find titles and if I see something that looks good I search the library's catalog for it). If there are lots of options I narrow them down to the top 4-6 and those are the ones we use for the term.

This term's composer is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and in this case I waded through tons of hits. Here are the books and CD that made the cut:

BOOKS
Amadeus Mozart by Ibi Lepscky
Young Mozart by Rachel Isadora
Mozart by Ann Rachlin (Famous Children Series)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by Barrie Carson Turner (Famous Childhoods Series)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Musical Genius by Steward Ross (Famous Lives Series)

MUSCIAL CD
The Very Best of Mozart Naxos

Thoughtful Thursday

A friend posted this on her blog and I loved it so much I had to copy and repost it for this week's Thoughtful Thursday:

"[God] changes not because thou changest. Nay, He has an especial tenderness of love towards thee for that thou art in the dark and hast no light, and His heart is glad when thou dost arise and say, 'I will go to my Father.' . . . Fold the arms of thy faith, and wait in the quietness until light goes up in thy darkness. Fold the arms of thy Faith I say, but not of thy Action: bethink thee of something that thou oughtest to do, and go to do it, if it be but the sweeping of a room, or the preparing of a meal or a visit to a friend. Heed not thy feelings: Do thy work."

 

~George MacDonald

Walk the Walk

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and  the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

~1 John 2:3-6

A Tale of Two Narrations

A few times a month I type out the kids' narrations to keep as a record and to see how far they've come. Here are two of Jordan's:

Fall 2009 - Narration from the story of Jonah:

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and he didn’t obey so he ran away and got a ticket to go on a boat that headed toward Spain. And there was a storm when they were going there and they even threw things overboard so that it would make the ship lighter. And Jonah told them to throw him overboard and they prayed to God and asked that they would not drown, and then they threw Jonah overboard and the storm stopped. And then God sent a big fish to swallow up Jonah. Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights then God told him to unswallow him. And then the second time God told him to go to Nineveh and that time he obeyed. And it took him three days to get in there, and they wore sackcloth, and they turned away from their sins so God did not destroy them. 

August 2011 - Narration from Our Island Story chapter 31

Thomas a Becket was Henry’s chancellor. He got a lot of stuff for him and he had servants, and he had rich food and he had nice clothes. He was almost more powerful than the king. He and Henry played a lot, like little boys after they finished working. Henry made him an archbishop of the church and so he lived at the church, he lived in a cell, and he and Henry started to quarrel because he and the Pope were on one side and Henry was on a side. They quarreled and quarreled until Thomas a Becket fled and then he came back, but then they started to quarrel again. He stayed in England though. The four knights heard him; he was very angry and he said that he wished that he would leave, and the four knights heard him and wanted to please their King and so they went to Thomas a Becket’s house and told him/asked him if he would obey their king or he would have to flee. And he said I do what my God wants me to because I am one of God’s servants and he is higher than the king and I will only obey him.And so they got angry and they said we will be back and Thomas a Becket said you will find me here. And two monks didn’t want him to stay there; he said I told them they would find me here. Then it was time for church and so he went out and the four knights got in because the people wanted to bar the gate so that he wouldn’t get hurt and he wouldn’t let them. And they came in and they killed him. And then they ran away frightened.

I love it!

Blast From the Past

My heart is melting! I just found these pics on one of my old cell phones. I was deleting everything off of the phone so some friends can use it, and I came across these precious pictures from 2007-08. They are so unbelievably cute and sweet that I just had to share.

Thoughtful Thursday

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new EVERY morning; great is your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:22-23

Phone Fun

I snapped this pic with the camera on my phone (not an iPhone -hint,hint) while we were waiting in the van for Carson to finish his piano lesson this afternoon. Those two are such cuties!

Decisions, Decisions

The effort of decision is the greatest effort of life.

~Charlotte Mason

Thoughtful Thursday

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

~C.S. Lewis

Living By Prayer

O God of the open ear,
Teach me to live by prayer as well as by providence, for myself, soul, body, children, family church; Give me a heart frameable to thy will; so might I live in prayer, and honour thee, being kept from evil, known and unknown. Help me to see the sin that accompanies all I do, and the good I can distil from everything.

Let me know that the work of prayer is to bring my will to thine, and that without this it is folly to pray; When I try to bring thy will to mine it is to command Christ, to be above him, and wiser than he: this is my sin and pride. I can only succeed when I pray according to thy precept and promise, and to be done with as it pleases thee, according to thy sovereign will.

When thou commandest me to pray for pardon, peace, brokenness, it is because thou wilt give me the thing promised, for thy glory, as well as for my good. Help me not only to desire small things but with holy boldness to desire great things for thy people, for myself, that they and I might live to show thy glory.

Teach me that it is wisdom for me to pray for all I have, out of love, willingly, not of necessity; that I may come to thee at any time, to lay open my needs acceptably to thee; that my great sin lies in my not keeping the savour of thy ways; that the remembrance of this truth is one way to the sense of thy presence; that there is no wrath like the wrath of being governed by my own lusts for my own ends.

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
Edited by Arthur Bennett

Birds: A Masterpiece & A Poem

Art work by my 4 year old who never ceases to amaze me!

Answer to a Child's Question

Do you ask what the birds say? The sparrow, the dove,
The linnet, and thrush say, "I love and I love!"
In the winter they're silent, the wind is so strong;
What it says I don't know, but it sings a loud song.
But green leaves and blossoms, and sunny warm weather,
And singing, and loving, all come back together.
Then the lark is so brimful of gladness and love,
The green fields below him, the blue sky above,
That he sings, and he sings, and forever sings he,
"I love my Love, and my Love loves me."

~Coleridge

Schooling Confuses

Schooling confuses teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new.

~ Wendy Priesnitz

More Every Year

Today is our 11 year anniversary! I can hardly believe it has been 11 years since our wedding day and that we have been together for 14+ years. Wow! Time sure does fly. I am so blessed to have married my best friend and I can't say enough about what a great husband and father he is. I love him more every year and I am looking forward to the next 11 years.

Our Wedding Day

9/16/00

I loved our cute little cake!

The topper reads:

"Hand in hand and heart to heart,

Joined in love that will not part."

Here we are last year about a week before our 10th anniversary.
September 2010

 

And just for fun.....

Here is our High School Senior Prom picture.

May 1997

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful: it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Thoughtful Thursday

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

~Matthew 11:28-30

My New Motto

I found this folder at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago when we were school supply shopping, and as soon as I read it I knew I had to buy it (I probabaly should have bought 2 or 3). I took a picture of the folder so I could upload it to my blog and Facebook. I think I'll make it the background on my phone and computer as a reminder because this is so much easier said than done for me, and I know this is something I need to work on (see my last post).

~Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Shepherd

By William Blake

How sweet is the shepherd's sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.

For he hears the lambs' innocent call,
And he hears the ewes' tender reply;
He is watchful while they are in peace,
For they know when their shepherd is nigh.

I just read this poem in one of my homeschooling magazine and while I love this picture of homeschooling I was also struck by it. I, as mom and teacher, am the shepherd and my sweet kiddos are the sheep. I follow my sheep, my innocent lambs, all day. I must nurture, care for, protect, and watch over them. My tongue should be filled with praise, but I know I fail at this more often than I care to admit. My prayers for this school year are that I will have patience, that I will manage my time wisely, and that I will be the shepherd my children need. I pray that my sheep know that I am always near and that I love them more than words can say.

Vacation Pics (finally)

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from our big family vacation back in June (yes, I know that it was 3 months ago, but I've been swamped I tell ya!).

Anyway, this was our first year going on vacation with my family and we had a blast. We had a rental house up on Lake Erie and everyone had a great time. The weather was really nice, and although the water was cold the kids didn't mind. In addition to spending time on our lake beach we also went to Cedar Point, African Safari Wildlife Park, and Put-in-Bay, and had many adventures along the way...