STORMS

Last night was to be our last study of the year. I began getting calls an hour before the study and we ended up cancelling. We had some amazing storms again last night. We didn't get hail this time (lots on Sunday) but we did have wind, rain, and lots of thunder. I was looking forward to concluding our Bible Study season last night....not that I don't love the group....but I am in a "closure" stage right now....school ending, graduation, Bible Study....seems the thing to do.

I let the younger ones go out and play in the rain. We used to do the sames in the dorms in the Philippines. BTW, she has a rubber snake...not a real one! ::snort::

The storm blew several eggs out of our tree. The kids called me to take photos, I took one and then cried. The little bird was perfectly formed and I'm sure it was a great homeschool science lesson but it made me very sad.

We ended the night reading some hilarious stories from a compilation of outdoor writers. We read one Patrick McManus, our all time favorite, and I can't remember who the other guy was but it was a great story. We laughed, prayed, and went to bed. A great night - but I still wish we could have finished up Bible Study. LOL

GRADUATION PREPARATION

I've been working on announcements. I need to get address labels to print tonight or give up and finish writing them all by hand. LOL

We need to decorate a table for the reception. Ideas anyone? We're pretty average around here. We've not done book "things". I figure I can turn his slide show into a photo album for the table. We have a few little league plaques type things. I could display his Chick Fil A uniform. LOL Hmmm....I could blow up a photo of last summer's mission trip. What else should I do? I do have some of his old tonka trucks...wonder if the littles would be upset if "their" toys end up at the reception????

Ideas?????

SCHOOL

WooHOO - we are making progress! Lots of it. The goal of Jared, Arielle and Nolan is to finish TOG this week.

We'll do math and reading all summer.

Josiah's plugging away on his last couple of week's work too. We need to get his portfolio mailed to NARHS.

Jamin is taking a ton of credits and hasn't been able to make up for our poor work ethic as easily as the others. He IS doubling up some work and will be able to really speed ahead as he finishes other subjects....but the poor boy will have work to do into June/July.....THIS is what happens when you don't begin until mid-Sept.....LOL

VANDALIZED!

It seems the ALF has discovered our little W. TX town. Several restaurants and the local high school were vandalized with graffiti. The Chick Fil A trailer was painted with "Eat more Veggies" and "Go Vegan" and "Meat is Murder". Black spray paint, destroying private property....go Animal Liberation Federation (yes they DID sign their art work). You know, I don't care if folks have these sentiments (I tend to think eating more veggies is a great idea myself), but in America we do have legal avenues of protest that don't involve cowardly lurking and destroying and defacing of private property.

In a strange twist, several have gone and purchased BIG buckets of KFC, taken their bucket and lawn chairs, and sat eating at the vandalized sites.  Gotta' love Texas...

Book Review: The Ministry of Motherhood

Ministry of Motherhood Book Discussion

This is the book we will begin discussing on Monday, 14 May. You can buy it at Family Bookstores, or order it from amazon.com, Whole Heart Ministries, or several other spots online.

Barring "unforeseen complications" here is my plan!

This book is written to be a 6 week study. I'm hoping we can discuss it in 5 - 6 weeks. I will be leaving for a month long vacation at the end of that time. I will post thoughts on the introduction AND the study questions on Monday. We'll try to do the first section that first week as well (page 21 - 57).

In future weeks I will simply post quotes and thoughts from each chapter M - Th. Friday I will post the study/discussion questions. That gives us three days to discuss the study questions and begin a new section the following Monday.

I will NOT be summarizing each chapter. I'm trusting that you will read the book. I'll post highlights that speak to me. You will be able to comment on any post and share quotes that spoke loudly to you that are different than the ones I comment on.

A few comments about comments....I know that on blogs most often everyone interacts with the blog author/owner. For our discussion, I'd like to see more of the give and take that you would expect to find in a small group meeting in a living room, or on an email list. Feel free to interact with the ideas I share, with me, AND with each other. I'll only ask that we are polite with each other...speaking truth in grace and love! Every book discussion post will be clearly labeled and put into that category so you can ignore them or find them whenever you have the time to read and comment.

I've read the first section to see how much time it will take and I think we are going to be BLESSED by this discussion.

Some have asked for more info on the book. From the back cover:
"....But in the dailyness of providing for a child's physical, emotional, and social needs, vital opportunities for spiritual nurture and training can be overlooked.

This doesn't have to be the case. You CAN focus your energy on what matters most. Learn how you can:
~Make life's mundane and nitty-gritty moments work for you and not against you
~Incorporate character building as a natural part of life
~Teach your child in the same way Jesus taught the disciples
~Pass on Crucial gifts that will serve your family for a lifetime

Using biblical wisdom and practical teachings, Sally Clarkson shows how you can make a lasting difference in your child's life by following the pattern Christ set with his own disciples - a model that will inspire and equip you to intentionally embrace the rewarding, desperately needed, and immeasurably valuable Ministry of Motherhood."

I've had the pleasure of attending conventions where Sally spoke. She never fails to challenge and encourage. Sally and Clay served on the staff of Campus Crusade for many years.

Book Reviews: YADA YADA and Tsars

TWO MORE SPRING READING THING BOOKS READ....

*Yada Yada Prayer Group* by Neta Jackson. Reading this book AFTER reading the second in the series has confirmed my determination to read books in ORDER. I didn't like knowing what MUST happen next. ::snort:: Another fun book with the theme of being "sinners saved by grace" clearly shining through. Josiah got the next one from the library for me, and I'm adding it to the spring reading thing list. LOL

Earlier in the year we watched the movie with this same title. I determined to read more on this subject. This is a great book. It is well-documented, historical and yet reads like a novel.

*Nicholas and Alexander* by Robert K. Massie.

For the first time I really GET what happened in Russia during this time period. I understand WHY Lenin and such had to attempt to destroy the church. The Russians were a deeply religious people. I understand how Rasputin got such a hold on the Empress. It saddened me to read of the steps along the way that led to the death of Tsar Nicholas and his family. If he'd been a bit quicker to act, a bit less determined to maintain the monarachy as is, a bit quicker to discuss the really tough issue of Rasputin with the Empress....I was ashamed at the lack of insight showed by the American President - along with most other European Governments of the time. Of course, we're looking BACK now and we KNOW that they were all murdered, at that point in time it was assumed they'd simply live out their lives in exile.

From the back cover: "A wonderfully rich tapestry, the colors fresh and lcear, every strand sewn in with a sure hand. Mr. Massie describes those strange and terrible years with sympathy and understanding...they come vividly before our eyes."

Pregnancy Update...

I'm very tired. I'm sick. I have no energy. I want to sleep all the time. I'm also fighting a UTI. I won't be going to Arlington this weekend. I'm simply not up to it. SO....I've dragged myself out when I HAVE to be out and other than that I've been taking it very easy. I watched a disc of "Waltons" and "Here's Lucy". I've begun and finished a book on the Romanovs.

I DID get up yesterday and do a bunch of things that needed done....and I made DINNER. Here are my dinner helpers.