Happy July

July is here (1/4 over already!), and we are back to school. The night before we were to start back, I admit I didn't feel ready or excited. However, I love that schooling year-round (taking off June) allows me to not feel guilty when we decide to take off days just 'because', or because we need to for sickness or travel. So, this year I have a 10th grader, 8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, and Kindergartner. And Sam and Eli are in the mix, too, learning in their little preschool ways. :) I have a workable schedule, at this point, and things are going fine. I do need to stay in prayer for strength and endurance and patience. I fail in each of those ways so often. I'm persevering, by God's grace, though!

  The girls with our dear neighbor, Deb. They made these dresses with her help.

This is our new little puppy, Bailey.  Sad, long story short, our other puppy, Bella, got sick and we had to have her put down after only having her for two months.  I now understand people's attachment to their pets a little bit better.  We were pretty sad around here for a while.  We won't be able to pick up Bailey for two more weeks, but everyone's excited.  I am excited, and nervous.  Wow.  Having a puppy is a lot like having a newborn.  I'm trying to gear up for all the work that's ahead!

This one's from Kevin's phone and is a bit fuzzy.  She's a cutie.  We fell in love with this breed with little Bella. She was a really good doggie.

Keely, who, by the way, took almost all of these photos, took this of the dinner table the other night.  The kids love to have lit candles, even if we are having pizza.  You can see our newly painted dining room.  It was a bright-ish yellow before, and quite banged up.  I like a dark, cozy dining room.

We were in Nashville for a family reunion a few weeks ago.  The kids enjoyed this cool castle-themed park.  I love that you can see Eli's happy little face upside-down. And my handsome hubby in the background.

It's funny, but out of our eight children, Sam and Eli are the first two boys born next to each other.  Sam is quite sweet with Eli, and Eli clearly thinks he's great.  If you know Sam at all, you'll understand why this concerns me a little.  I think we have some interesting mischief ahead.

Annesley is a total ham.  You can see some of her handiwork in this picture.

Here's a little sweaty-heady on the Fourth of July.  We had a nice time with some dear friends, though we didn't end up seeing any fireworks at all.  Next year...

Happy July to you!

Catechism Songs!

I'm so excited that I just discovered these CDs of the Westminster Shorter Catechism questions and answers set to music.  The kids and I have been participating in our church's memory work for the past couple of years, but I plan on focusing on the Catechism next year instead of memory work.  We shall see how far we get.  But, I think the songs will definitely help!

Do you memorize a catechism with your children?  What tools have you found helpful?

Birthday in the Backyard

Yesterday marked my baby's fifteenth birthday. Can it be? Fifteen years ago today I was waking up in the hospital with an unbelievable joy, realizing that I had a baby! Keely has been a delight and a joy, and I love how our relationship is growing and changing as she does.

While at Aldi grabbing a few things for her birthday dinner, I couldn't resist picking up some water guns for the boys.  Even a thirteen-year-old can appreciate a baby pool as a refilling station.

Earlier in the afternoon we spotted this baby redheaded woodpecker flopping by our front door.  We decided it was injured as it was sortof rolling sideways, and tried to help it.  He was beautiful and we enjoyed seeing him up close.

Unfortunately, he did die a few hours later.  You can see in Lily's eyes that she sees it coming.  She is our tender-hearted animal lover.

My little Eli is Daddy's biggest (smallest?) fan.

Happy birthday, my dear daughter!  I love you and am so blessed to be your Mom!

Funny Photos and Books

The books aren't funny, just the photos.  That title is quite unclear, actually...

Here are some pictures I took of the kids on our last day of school:

Look how cute

and intelligent

and normal my children are!

On our last day of school, we ended up having a closely divided vote concerning what fun thing to do.  Roller skating was what some wanted, and the olders wanted to roam around, go out to eat, and go to the park and library.  So I promised the three roller skating voters that we would do that soon, when I can secure a sitter for Eli, and we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon running around to places the kids requested.  

Right now I am reading several very interesting books.  Not counting Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?...

What He Must Be...if he wants to marry my daughter by Voddie Baucham

I'm only about a third of the way through this book, and much of it seems to be written to fathers, but it's been good stuff to think about.  Though marriage is years away for any of our children, I picked up this book to help me think through what kinds of things to cultivate in our boys to help them be prepared to marry someday.  I always enjoy Voddie Baucham, even if I don't agree with him on everything.  He spoke at our area homeschool conference several years ago and Kevin and I both came away with lots to discuss and with lots to challenge us.

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Two thirds of the way through this one, and I can tell I will need to read it again.  It's designed to be used in a small group setting, and I think that would be a valuable way to use this book, as discussion would be helpful.  I have learned so much and have realized that I have many faulty assumptions about poor people and what they need.  The thing I appreciate most about this book is the humble tone that the authors take.  They really emphasize taking time to understand the complex factors affecting the poor, instead of rushing in as superiors with all the answers.  I think every Christian should read this book!

Wild Swans:  Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

A friend from church loaned me this one.  He has a great interest in China and Chinese history, as he well should, being married to a Chinese woman!  This is a fascinating true account of three generations of Chinese women and their accounts of life in China from the 1920s to present.  I am admittedly quite ignorant about Chinese history and Mao's "Cultural Revolution", and I have learned so much already from this book.  This is not written from a Christian perspective, but it is fascinating to see how Communism denies the reality of human nature and it denies the way God created us to function and live in society.  

I have lofty reading goals for this month, and am going to avoid watching t.v. if I can help it.  Don't you feel like there are so many good books to read, and not ever enough time?  

First Day of Spring Break

Can I just say....YAAAAYY!!  All you homeschool Moms out there know that you get just as excited about breaks from school as your kids do!  And I should qualify:  breaks from 'normal' school.  I have some sneaky ideas to get school in this week disguised as fun.  Shhh.

Baby feet!

Last night as I was getting my boots to head to church, I pulled a toy out of one and thought, I love being a Mom.  I am trying to see each day with thankful eyes, loving these little people and accepting their messes as part of the small, small price of having a house full of people to share life with.  The Lord is so good to me, so faithful.  All last fall I felt like I was drowning under the weight of homeschooling, of mothering, of homemaking.  I am so very happy to say that the Lord has lifted me out of that difficult funk, and is granting strength and grace each day.  I still struggle, but He is helping me and walks with me.  Praise and thanks to Him!

Baby eight and baby one are good friends!  She won't like me calling her my baby, but she still is, in my mind.  :)

Today, we are going to do a lot of whatever strikes our fancy....or at least that's the plan.  The girls want to try their hand at sewing some clothes for their American girl dolls, and I would like to get some kids in the kitchen to do some baking with me.  I confess, I have to 'gear up' for kids in the kitchen.  I often feel so pressed for time that I don't allow helpers as much as I should. But today, we will bake.  I still keep a list on the inside of one of my cabinet doors to remind me who has had a turn as a kitchen helper.  It's right next to the list of whose sheets I last washed.  Lists are my friend!

We had a wonderful visit with my Mom-in-law last week.

I hope you enjoy your day, too.

Fall Photos

 

 

 No fall decor is complete without...Mater. 

  I'm glad I got a picture of Sam's addition to the centerpiece.  I came through the dining room later and he was gone. 

  Last Saturday was our church's fall party.  Here's my artistic friend Mary Jane getting ready to paint some faces. 

 Sam gets ready to exit the bounce house.

  Hay scramble!

 Oh, and as you can see, Keely took most of these pictures.  Thanks, Keels!

 Our pastor, Wade, on the left, and Kevin playing a friendly game of beanbag toss. 

Chili cook-off tasters hard at work!  

I love hanging out with our church family!  We are truly blessed with such wonderful friends in Christ to walk with. 

Photos and a Few Words

 Annes enjoyed this juicy peach at our neighbor's house a couple of weeks ago.

 I love to hear Keely play piano; I only wish I knew how!

Lily began violin lessons a few weeks ago, and was so excited to receive her very own instrument from my parents!

We enjoyed a fun time at the local children's farmstead with my parents during their quick visit.  Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

It's funny, but I feel my online time is shrinking and shrinking. And it's not a bad thing. I'm not on Facebook or Twitter, and blogging has become an afterthought. I have prayed about if I should make more of an effort to keep up with things here, and the Lord is directing me to let it lie for now, I think. I do miss hearing from you in your comments, but I am finding that my real-world days are so full, and honestly, often stressful lately, that blogging is not even occuring to me most of the time. So, I will share some recent pictures of the kids for Nana and Grandma and T-Pa, and whoever else might be interested! I am working hard to figure out how to successfully homeschool five children and a preschooler, and give time to a two-year-old and nursing baby, as well. The Lord is good, and I know that I must not grow weary in doing well, for in due time there will be a reward (Galatians 6:9). I am trying to wait on the Lord, and trust Him to show me what to do--whether that be make some changes to our homeschool, or to simply press on for the present! 
It's time to go tuck in a tired little guy, so I'm off for now...Blessings to you.