Monday, September 29, 2008

Enjoying the crisp Fall air...


Oh it is so hard to make the children do their school work when it is just so beautiful outside!  The kids had so much fun this morning as they ran around outside.  They jumped on the trampoline forever too. 

Aren’t they cute? They were having so much fun.  Christian looked like he was doing one of his famous "ninja" moves!!! So, how do you (mom/teacher) tell them to come inside when all you (I) want to do is join them in the beautiful outdoors?  Well, how do you? 😀
  
But, I bet you can guess what I did!!

Now for my musings…  Right now, I’d tell you that Fall is my favorite time of year.  Really, it probably isn’t.  I don’t have a favorite season.  I do have a favorite time of year. That would be the time of year when any season changes to the next.  I love the beginning of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.  It feels as though it is a new awakening for me, time to grow and change.  Time to be still and listen for the Lord’s call.  What does He want of me today, in this season?  I praise the Lord for His world, with all it’s beauty (and strife).  I know that each day that passes brings me closer and closer to Him, spiritually and physically.  I want to live every day, of every season, with joy and longing for His word and His purpose in my life.  My husband and my children are so much apart of what He has for me in this season.  It also includes the joy in ministering at church too.  We (my husband and I) are very involved at church.  We teach Awanas (2 different groups) and now we have been asked to teach a young adult Sunday School class.  How blessed we are!  I believe we will begin that in the next couple of weeks.  My prayer is that the Lord will use us to bless and challenge others in their walk with Him.  Thank You, God, for all You do!!

School outside!!!!

Well, here is my solution for school on a beautiful, crisp fall day here in Texas…..

Of course, the kids loved it!!   The breeze is so nice.  It’s about 84 degrees here today and in the shade with the wind blowing gently, I don’t think we could ask for more!  It’s perfect for the kids to do their learning out under God’s blue sky.

Here’s another photo I couldn’t resist….

Houston is such a little helper.  I am so proud of him.  Lanie just soaks it up most the time.  Well, unless she "already knows"!!!

Final thoughts for today….

Life is so precious and short.  In James 4:14, it is written "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." I want to exhort everyone that reads this to live their life as though they will meet our Maker tomorrow.  Love, laugh, and live as the Lord wants you to.  Today, I am going to kiss my children more, hug them tighter, and PTL for each one of them!!!  I am going to tell my husband how much I love him and appreciate him!!  I am going to tell God how devoted I am to Him and that I, body and soul, am His and will do my best to live today and everyday as He wills!!!

Now, I have mounds of laundry to tackle….

May God bless you today!!!!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Family Picture



This is a picture of our family at Christmas.  I think it’s the last one we have taken all together. It's not a professional picture but at least it gives you an idea of who we are.😁
I have been so looking forward to this new year!!!  Houston’s in 2nd grade and Delanie started Kindergarten.  We started a little early, August 18th, so that we don’t have to stick rigidly to weekly schedule.  Some weeks we might have school all 5 days, but other weeks might only have 3 days. 

So far, the kids are doing great!  Lanie is just loving school.  I’ll have to take some pictures of them as they work.  Lanie asks every morning, "When does home school start?"  Houston whines, "Don’t remind her!"  As you can tell, Houston isn’t jumping for joy at the prospect of schooling.  But, he’s doing great too!

This year we are using the following curriculums:

Rod & Staff (phonics, reading)
Handwriting Without Tears
100 Easy Lessons (reading)
Math U See (2nd grade)
Saxon (Kindergarten)
Five in a Row (for Science, Geography, History)

I want to add Mystery of History and Math U See for Lanie.  I guess we’ll see if we can work that into our budget this fall.

Christian and Mason are doing Pre-School Activities in a Bag (as I can get them put together). 

Blessings!!