We're at it again!! After much thought and prayer we decided to homeschool Taelor. Today was Taelor's last day in public middle school. I'd like to say we will NEVER put our kids in public middle school in the future - but I don't want to potentially choke on those words later. For now, the two littles will stay put in their elementary school, where they are doing well. . . and Tae and I will be at home. When they reach 6th grade - we will make a decision at that time. But, for Taelor, this was and is the right decision. Christian and I gave her the choice. . . and this was her choice - with our support of course. I am excited and nervous. It's only been a few months since we home schooled ( we've been doing it for years) but we thought that chapter was over. Guess not. :) So today while she was at school, I rearranged the office and cleared some shelves and made a school nook for her. Tae really liked the room when she saw it and it will be fun to personalize as we get started. For now, we are looking into several different homeschool groups as well as art and drama classes. She also started guitar lessons with daddy last night. I think everyone in our family (except for me) is going to be musically inclined.
We start school tomorrow, (yes, I know it's Friday), but I want to get started, even for just one day before the weekend to maintain some normalcy of schedule. We covet your prayers as we re-begin this fun, crazy journey!! :)
Blessings!!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Change of settings
Hey people. Some of you may have recently gotten an invitation to read this blog. . . . Recently the blog was receiving some unwanted viewing and I had to change the privacy settings to include specific emails. Therefore, your emails were among the ones that I didn't need to restrict. If you have no desire to read this infrequently updated blog - no worries. There is nothing specifically special about this blog - just lots of pictures and updates about life in the midwest. Thanks for your indulgence.
Blessings!!!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
My oh My. . .
Since it has been so long since I have last posted (sorry about that). . . I really don't know where to begin. I guess Christmas is as good of time as any. . . although it seems so long ago already. Christmas, sad as it sounds, was not "Christmas" this year. None of us felt like it was Christmas, there was kind of a somber mood all of Christmas day and leading up to it as well. We had an uninvited guest on Christmas morning, that stayed until a couple of days past New Years. . . Miss Icky Yucky Stomach Flu. Our main Christmas celebrating took place the week before when Ellie, our dear neighbor in Oregon and eldest daughter's best friend came to visit. I guess that is really when we felt festive. While she was here, we took the girls to Chicago to the American Girl Cafe for brunch. . .my oh my was it beautiful and fun. What a special treat!! We walked around Michigan Ave and then went on a horse drawn carriage ride. The girls had a blast and really enjoyed their Chicago Experience. . . all compliments of Great Papa and Nana and Bompa Williams - that was their Christmas present - a Chicago Experience, that we are otherwise to cheap to do. :) Once Ellie left and the stomach flu arrived, that was it. :( School has resumed and so have the busy schedules. The snow is still here, and we do love each day that it snows some more fresh beauty. There's something so purifying about the white of the snow. . . like that song, "White as Snow, White as Snow, though my sins were as scarlet, Lord I know, Lord I know, I am clean and forgiven. . . ." We love that song. :)
Anyway, our biggest struggle that seems to dominate our thoughts is churches. There are many wonderful, wonderful churches in our area. . . we have just yet to find one that is a good fit for our family. We are different. (We sometimes seem to stick out like a sore thumb, or at least I do in all of my unpolished ways). We spent 6 months at one church and fell in love with the people, while inwardly hurting as it didn't meet some things that are vitally important to us, knowing that we hadn't yet found the one and we needed to provide more change for our "we are so sick of change" family. Our family knows full well that our identity is in Christ, not in the Church we attend. . . and yet we struggle. After trying our 3rd church today, I told Christian I have this sinking, depressing feeling in the pit of my stomach as it was yet again not the one. Not to put it on a pedestal or elevate it to an idol, but just to recognize it's specialness in our hearts . . . our church back in Oregon was everything that our ENTIRE family loved and needed in a church. All of you Solid Rockers - count your many blessings, we have yet to find anything that holds a candle to Solid Rock. . . the realness of the people, the genuiness of the pastors, the phenomenal teaching, the FUN, and of course, the chest vibrating - crazy loud - yet amazingly worshipful music. How we miss it dearly. And to be completely truthful to you many (maybe 3 of you) followers, my heart aches for Oregon. We know the Lord has us here, for however long a time, I pray it is short and we can go home - our temporary, earthly home - but more than that, we pray for the Lord's will in our lives, that we may be obedient to what He has called us to - even in the midwest.
SO sorry for the raw blog - thus the delay in posting - still trying to gather myself up and embrace that "the joy of the Lord is my strength" - I tend to like to wallow in my sorrows. Probably the next thing I need to pray about. . . self pity. :) There's always something!! :
On the way to Chicago
Hailee at American Girl
Taelor and Ellie - when these sweet girls became friends 5 years ago, they were the same height, despite their 2 year age gap. . . not anymore. :)
At the American Girl Cafe
Allison and Mommy
Ellie and Taelor
Heart shaped pancakes with star shaped butter :)
Christian, smirking thankfully when he notices another man in this pink, estrogen filled room.
The Christmas decor was beautiful!!
On the carriage ride - twas a wee bit cold. . . .
And with our faithful pony. . . who kept nibbling at Hailee's coat while trying to take pictures. :)
Anyway, our biggest struggle that seems to dominate our thoughts is churches. There are many wonderful, wonderful churches in our area. . . we have just yet to find one that is a good fit for our family. We are different. (We sometimes seem to stick out like a sore thumb, or at least I do in all of my unpolished ways). We spent 6 months at one church and fell in love with the people, while inwardly hurting as it didn't meet some things that are vitally important to us, knowing that we hadn't yet found the one and we needed to provide more change for our "we are so sick of change" family. Our family knows full well that our identity is in Christ, not in the Church we attend. . . and yet we struggle. After trying our 3rd church today, I told Christian I have this sinking, depressing feeling in the pit of my stomach as it was yet again not the one. Not to put it on a pedestal or elevate it to an idol, but just to recognize it's specialness in our hearts . . . our church back in Oregon was everything that our ENTIRE family loved and needed in a church. All of you Solid Rockers - count your many blessings, we have yet to find anything that holds a candle to Solid Rock. . . the realness of the people, the genuiness of the pastors, the phenomenal teaching, the FUN, and of course, the chest vibrating - crazy loud - yet amazingly worshipful music. How we miss it dearly. And to be completely truthful to you many (maybe 3 of you) followers, my heart aches for Oregon. We know the Lord has us here, for however long a time, I pray it is short and we can go home - our temporary, earthly home - but more than that, we pray for the Lord's will in our lives, that we may be obedient to what He has called us to - even in the midwest.
SO sorry for the raw blog - thus the delay in posting - still trying to gather myself up and embrace that "the joy of the Lord is my strength" - I tend to like to wallow in my sorrows. Probably the next thing I need to pray about. . . self pity. :) There's always something!! :
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