A "Memorable" Birthday!

Sarah enjoyed having her birthday fall on Memorial Weekend, as it allowed a Sunday night sleep-over! We postponed our birthday tradition until Tuesday morning. . . but was no less special.
Annalise and Sarah have been friends from birth. What a sweet friendship they have. We are thankful for friendships like these. They planned on getting their hair cut together for Locks of Love, but decided to wait (maybe after seeing how short mine and Bekah's turned out!! Future blog on that!). They enjoyed a cool night out on the trampoline.
After an early morning breakfast at IHOP with Dad, I enjoyed a morning with the girls at a book store and Color-Me-Mine, where the girls were able to paint a ceramic item.
The Buletti family joined us for dinner and my kindred-spirit, Melinda, made her delicious cheesecake! What a friend!
Sarah enjoyed gifts and cards, but especially the stack of books!

Homeschool?

At times we are asked why we decided to home school (pulling Sarah and Josh from public) and my number one response continues to be "because we enjoy them!" Yes, there are a lot of other reasons but enjoying them continues to be the biggest. Sadly, this is not true of many mothers I encounter. Of course they love their children, but enjoy them?! Are you supposed to? It seems the current cultural trend is "get these kids out of here so I can get on with my life!"

The Word of God seems to teach they are your life. . .

We were tickled to see a second garden - God grew corn and squash from last year's garden.
Getting the garden going and growing. . .
Another wonderful reason to homeschool is to have lunch with your kids! Paul makes an effort to join us at lunch several times a week and we try to make sure one time is at a park.
Sarah displays our silkworms. . .it is doubtful we will harvest much silk but it has been a great learning experience. Not just about silkworms and silk - but trees! Since the silkworm will only eat Mulberry leaves we learned a lot about trees in our neighborhood. . .no mulberries there!
Jael likes them too!
Sarah, Josh, and Jon get ready for take-off!
The three oldest had a neat opportunity to learn about and enjoy some flying!

What to do with the toddler while homeschooling? Well, I recommend a playpen. But, Jael loves her "cheerio" shelf.
When not into "O's", Jael loves the "cup drawer." She is a pro at taking the cups out and unstacking them . . . we are working on the reverse!
Getting starter plants ready. . .
Helping one another and working together . . . yet another reason I love homeschooling.
Never too young to learn, but sometimes too tired! Yes, we do sit and work at the table, as well!
These preschoolers entertain themselves wonderfully with picnics, playing house, and dress-up time.
Affectionately referred to as "Special Ed and Special Fred" they keep us in good humor with their interpretation of historical events.
Four-square in the cul-de-sac makes for a good recess.
Room time allows quiet, creative, inventive play. And rest for Mom!
Homeschool has also allowed each child to pursue individual interests.
Hmm. . .a good case for "wierd homeschoolers." Of course, there are wierd children (and wierd parents) everywhere. We have a house full of them!
Reading time. . .pairing off helps older children with the reading fluency and younger ones enjoy the story time.
I don't want to romantize homeschooling. We have our tough days and rough moments. Just today I spilled the coffee all over myself and the books. It's not easy and it's very sanctifying. But always well worth it!

Mother's Day

Blessed. . .

Happy Mother's Day!

A few quotes jumped out at me yesterday. . .in light of Mother's Day and all the hard-working, God-fearing women I know. . .

Sandy Parker had this one in our church newsletter, "The duties of the mother begin in the morning; they end not with the day; they incessantly call upon her till she reaches the grave. Others may have a respite; others may for a time throw off care, and anxiety, and responsibility. But the mother can never do so. She must be unwearied and faithful when no eye sees her to applaud; must sow her seed when she sees no immediate prospect of a harvest; must expect no return and no reward for her labours for years, and it may be, for life. She can adopt no theory which is not to be reduced to immediate and constant practice. How can she have this faith, and this perseverance, unless she be in the habit of communion with God? The Bible and prayer must be her strength and her weapons. With these, she can carry her babes through the deserts where fiery serpents beset her path, and they shall not be bitten. Without these, she has all the sorrows and anxieties God bestows in answer to prayer. Do you wish a wisdom that profitable to direct - a patience that never forsakes you - a firmness that never leaves you - a faith that always bears you upwards and onward, looking for your rewards hereafter - you must seek these by prayer. Without this, you can neither govern yourself, no your child, nor persevere. How can a mother train up her child for God? She must be a woman of prayer - of daily, fervent, habitual prayer - because: she needs wisdom, self-discipline, must be decided and she must persevere. May we not fear that there are too many who profess to be Christians, who, day by day, go no further in their views than merely to train up their children for the earth? Here, then, I take my stand: and here I feel the real dignity of the mother to begin - for God hath committed to her hands the keeping and the molding of a spirit which may for ever rise up in glory and light. The great object before the mother, then, is to train up her child for eternity - the service and presence of God to everlasting ages." (1800's, Truth Made Simple by John Todd)

Here's a quote taken from Nancy Leigh De Moss (take the 31 day Challenge at www.truewoman.com): "Let me read to you a quote from a book that I’ve just discovered written in 1882 called Home-making. It’s by a man named J. R. Miller. I want to read to you a rather lengthy excerpt here that I think makes this point so well about the woman working out of her home.

He says,

It should be understood that for every wife the first duty is the making and keeping of her own home. Her first and best work should be done there, and till it is well done she has no right to go outside to take up other duties. She is to be a ‘worker at home.’ She must look upon her home as the one spot on earth for which she alone is responsible, and which she must cultivate well for God if she never does anything outside.

Now, here’s where you’ll hear that this came from the 1800s. This writer says,

For the Father’s business [that’s capital “F”—Father, God—His business] is not attending Dorcas societies and missionary meetings, and mothers’ meetings, and temperance conventions, or even teaching a Sunday school class, until she has made her own home all that her wisest thought and best skill can make it.

There have been wives who in their zeal for Christ’s work outside have neglected Christ’s work inside their own doors. They have had eyes and hearts for human need and human sorrow in the broad fields lying far out, but neither eye nor heart for the work of love about their own feet.

The result has been that while they were doing angelic work in the lanes and streets, the angels were mourning over their neglected duties within the hallowed walls of their own homes. While they were winning a place in the hearts of the poor or the sick or the orphan, they were losing their rightful place in the hearts of their own household.

Let it be remembered that Christ’s work in the home is the first that he gives to every wife, and that no amount of consecrated activities in other spheres will atone in this world or the next for neglect or failure there (pp. 67-68)."

Such encouraging words and such hope in my God who saves, sanctifies, and perseveres that which He has done!

Two women we rise up and called "Blessed " each day. . .

DOLORES MICU: mother of 7, grandmother of 28

RONDA SENN: mother of 3, grandmother of 14

Events. . . .

Probably the biggest event around here this week was Mom hitting the big 4-0! Wow. It's really hard to believe. 40 just sounds old. I know, those of you over 40 know the truth - it isn't old. But it sure does sound it! I know I thought my folks were half dead at forty! I keep thinking that the little ones keep us young. . .but the gray hair and wrinkles are telling a different story! I sure wouldn't change it, though. Did I have a nice birthday? My heart is overflowing as I look at the precious faces of my seven. Doctorate? Degrees? Money? Fame? Affluence? It all pales in comparison with what God has given me in beautiful children and a loving hubby. Paul always takes some great shots and puts together some photos for my birthday, here's one I liked:
We've also been working hard around the backyard. We had some help. . . but it is coming together and we are enjoying soft grass! I also don't have to worry about a baby falling into a hole. . .



Paul, Sarah, Joshua, and Jonathan enjoyed a day's work of fishing last week. It has become an annual event to fish Hume Lake the week between their Fisherman's Conference! It's a win-win situation. Paul and the kids love catching the fish and Lolo is thrilled. He cleans them and cooks them up!
This year's biggie - with a story behind it! Jon's reel was broken. Sarah noticed the line moving. But the reel didn't work, so Jon had to take off walking with his pole while Paul and Sarah pulled the line in . . . not bad!