Our Favorite Jon

We had the privilege of watching Jon play soccer this afternoon. The girls were very excited and Kevin took the opportunity to take some pictures with our new telephoto lens. He's a cutie and was a real joy to watch, as you'll see from the variety of his game faces! We especially enjoy the picture of Jon & Emily walking along after the game, like a high-school-jock-with-his-girl moment.

It was a great game and everyone did a great job, even Coach Dave! Don't worry mommy, I'll have a CD for you at church tomorrow. And I thought this was a great shot. (Jon's the one in the middle with his tongue out)

Two Weeks...

Well we have been busy. Third week of home schooling and we're chuggin' on. This week has been rough. Its been good, lots of little extra projects, but Emily's been less than cooperative and I haven't really been in the mood, but we both got it done. Its not always so exciting, but I guess I'm enjoying all the extra projects. For Valentine's we baked heart shaped cakes. The girls did all the mixing and pouring and we even colored the cakes. For Prez Day we make magnetic badges and today we painted sugar cookies. They didn't come out like I thought, but the girls enjoyed the painting part - and of course the eating part.

I'm also adding in a little science. On Thursday we listened to our hearts. My mom (elem science teacher) provided the stethoscope so we listened to our heart at rest then the fun part!! Bouncing on a trampoline got our hearts going. We listened to them pounding harder and faster. Emily was impressed but more interested in bouncing. Next week we'll be growing a soybean. I got this little kit so you can see the roots and everything. They got excited about growing green peppers in south africa so hopefully they'll enjoy this too.


We also got some more work done around the house. My parents had (had) a gazebo type thing attached to the porch, so the hubby took to tearing it down. I got to clean out the adjacent flower beds. We'll hopefully be planting some veggies and herbs there. The struggling rose plant is going to that big garden in the sky.


And here's just a picture of Emily being silly. It was a site to see!


On the job front we've got some things moving and shaking but nothing concrete. It feels like we've been here forever, but it just been over 2 months! But we're trusting in the Lord because He is faithful, He will never leave us or forsake us, He has a purpose and a plan, He will direct our paths. And so we lean on Him and not on our own understanding. But trust me, we do question, we do complain, we do beg to know why, and then we come to our senses and remember that He's in control!

Its Official

We're poor! LOL

We got our taxes done today. It made me laugh. Don't know why. Maybe seeing the real figures on paper made me realize the scope of our predicament. But hey, what can we do?

The good thing about being poor? Lots of extra deductions and special "poor people" tax breaks. So now we're waiting to see what God has in store next!

Don't worry, I'm not. It really does make me laugh inside. Maybe its a nervous laugh, maybe its a "how did we get here" laugh, or maybe its a "can't wait to see how God pulls us out of this one" laugh. As the good word says (that sounds a little southern doesn't it?) in Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Plus Paul says in Philipians 4:12-13:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Treasure or Trash

Oh it could have been such a beautiful picture of my little Katie, but the camera caught something we obviously missed!

Don't see it? Click on the pic for a better view.

First Week Of School

Yes, it was OUR first week of home school. After readjusting, moving, readjusting, settling in and the rest I FINALLY got to start home schooling Emily. Our first week went well. She was eager to do the work, which at this level takes about 45 minutes.
We pray with Daddy, then its Bible study, phonics, numbers, review and an activity.

Our first week was a study in Creation (where else should you begin but in the beginning!) She learned her first Bible verse.


I just used the camera on the computer to record. We did record a cleaner version, but this was just easier. Sorry for my laziness. Must be the cold. And yes, that's a camera - she was taking pictures

We worked on the letter "i", its sound and names (capital and little).

We also worked on our numbers. We were to work on 1-2-3, but she caught on really quick so I added 4. She had to tell me the number, then show me how many items were equivalent to that number. We used some plastic Easter eggs I found in my mom's closet. I had to keep searching the house for them because the girls kept playing with them. (hey, my own Easter egg hunt!) I did start out with 10, but 2 have gone missing. Good thing they're not real eggs! Thus she had to borrow two eggs from the #3 to complete the necessary amount needed for #4.

We did have more pics from earlier in the week, but the camera did something weird and they're all gone. Which stinks because the pictures from Kevin's trip to Colorado with the snow and his visit to New Jersey are gone forever. He's most upset about the picture of his grandmother who is quite sick, and at 89, that's not always a good thing. Anyway…

Yes, we did most days in our pajamas. But we're that kind of family. If we don't have plans to be out first thing, we can spend all day in them. Especially when its cold outside. Nice warm pajamas just seem to keep the cold out better. But I promise myself I will be more disciplined next week and get dressed first. But we did start on time - 9am - so that was a bonus. One step at a time.

Our special project was making a tree from leaves we picked off the ground outside.




And since we were talking about creation, what better place to experience God's handy work than the zoo. So off we went. Got our annual pass so we're set (now we know we'll be moving soon - just from experience). Here's a few pic from that.

So that's our news of the week. So each morning I turn into "teacher mommy" (she just started calling me that) and Emily becomes "student Emily". Katie's participation is limited. She does most of the coloring work. Emily's not so much into it. It took her two days to finish one picture. She does dig the computer though.