A Monday Project

Here's a real sore spot in our house. The boys used to each have their own closet.That has changed, and I was having a hard time figuring out what to do about it.
This afternoon the boys and I declared war on the closet.
I'm happy to say - we won!
Look, there is a floor in their closet!!
We separated the shoes, and less toys are now allowed in the closet. I was going for no toys, but they ran out of space.

Sunday Morning/Sunday Afternoon

I John 3:23-24 And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us. Lilly loving her kitty!
Happy Belated Birthday to my special daughter Rachel!We were in escrow during her birthday and crazy busy, so we promised her a bike when we had time. She patiently waited until today. She wanted some new wheels badly, (especially after I gave away her old ones!) but she never complained. We celebrated by taking a family ride to the end of the road. I'd hoped to go further, but we discovered that another child has outgrown his bike! Oh, the joy of a growing family!

Happy Sunday!

Change of Plans

The California Wildfires have changed our plans. Due to poor air quality outside events are being cancelled throughout the state, this included our swim invitational. Too bad, so sad. Tomorrow afternoon we'll be sitting inside and watching this...
Can't remember the last time we went to the theatre as a family. Lilly doesn't think she's ever been to a movie, she has - what year did "Finding Nemo" come out? That might have been the last time her tight wad parents forked out the money for 6 tickets, oh she was probably free back then. Oh, well! Should be a fun Saturday!

Home schooling in CA

(Copied from the HSLDA website)

Keep Praying for the California Homeschooling Case

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:
To read more visit HSLDA’s California Homepage.

On Monday, June 23, 2008, HSLDA founder Mike Farris argued in defense of homeschooling in the California Court of Appeal in the now-infamous Rachel L. case. In February, this same court had ruled that homeschooling is illegal in California. The court later vacated its own decision in response to a request for rehearing filed by attorney for the father, Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation, with substantial assistance by Farris and other attorneys at HSLDA. Farris argued as a friend of the court on behalf of HSLDA's 15,000 member families in California, as well as Focus on the Family, and Private and Home Educators of California.

Farris was joined in his defense of homeschooling by lawyers representing the Attorney General and Governor of California, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, California’s three largest homeschooling groups (California Homeschool Network, Homeschool Association of California and Christian Home Educators of California), Pacific Justice Institute on behalf of Sunland Christian School, and Alliance Defense Fund lawyer Jeff Shafer, on behalf of the family.

“The weight of legal and scholarly authority presented to this court in defense of homeschooling is unprecedented,” said Farris, who has argued dozens of similar cases since founding HSLDA 25 years ago.In addition to those who presented oral argument, friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the right of parents to homeschool were submitted by Pacific Legal Foundation, National Legal Foundation, Sutherland Institute, Liberty Counsel on behalf of 13 members of Congress, Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, et al, Seventh Day Adventist Church State Council, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence (prepared by noted law professors David Llewellyn, John Eastman, and Erwin Chemerinsky), American Center for Law and Justice and The Western Center for Law and Policy.

Farris is guardedly optimistic that the three-judge panel will not repeat its earlier error, but he covets your prayers. “The homeschooling movement has been successful not because of the work of lawyers but because the Lord has blessed it,” noted Farris. “We must always remember Proverbs 21:1—‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes.’ ”A decision is expected within a few weeks.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

VB Yes!

Three of our crew are attending what we call - "VB Yes" this week, aka Vacation Bible School. They attend at the same church I did when I was their age! They're having fun learning Bible stories, doing crafts, playing games, eating sugary snacks and singing songs. At home they are trying to teach Wade and I the hand motions to each song! I thoroughly enjoyed watching Lilly practice tonight. It reminds me of when I was a little girl!

Home Meet and More Wood!

Let's begin with Saturday morning 5:00 a.m. - beep, beep... Melissa was off to a swim meet with the kids. Wade, take a guess...he has more wood to cut. (A friend has generously allowed Wade to cut several down trees in his orchard and take the wood for free!) At 6:00 a.m. Wade arrived at the orchard, and I was still getting kids out of bed and breakfast down them. Threats of - you can't make your brother and sister late for warm ups, and why didn't you look for that last night -filled the air! We were finally packed and ready to go sweat in the heat, only two of us got to swim! We arrived in plenty of time to find the nice spot Wade picked out for us just an hour before. The meet progressed like all others. Wade arrived shortly after it began. All the wood cleared out of the orchard and the truck! We cheered and cheered as Rachel won her heat in the 100 yard Medley. She magnificently swam 25 meters of - breast, fly, back and free! Adding to the excitement of the heat winning ribbon was the fact that she also took 8.37 seconds off her best time! Bret also gave us cause to cheer as he took 3.30 seconds off his breast stroke and wound up placing fourth in his event. At 12:00 noon, I dutifully took my place as a timer. Wade, Bret and Garret left a short time after to attend a birthday party. Sometime in the afternoon the other timers and I took note of gray clouds overhead, and just as Rachel began her last swim of the day - thunder boomed in the sky! The coach always tells the kids they can swim in the rain, because they're going to be wet anyway, but we never swim in electrical storms. So we took a break, and about 10 minutes later the meet was called for the day. A little sprinkle came down, but it was still sticky hot, we were glad to be done. A friend and I loaded up our truck - and we went off to get Icee's! Yum! I really needed a treat!

Arriving home, we took cold showers and headed off to Wade's sisters house. We met Wade and the boys there, ate a yummy dinner, visited with a nephew and his wife, and then back home.

Sunday morning, beep, beep ..it's 6:00 (we slept in!) Wade is ..you guessed it. One of our own trees fell down, and we wanted it out before the irrigation water arrived. I got everything ready for the day, snacks for the deacon meeting, paperwork for the deacon meeting, Sunday school books (read the lesson one more time!), and all the kids clothes ready for Grandma's house and a cousin's birthday party. So this was to be another busy day. At church I taught the children that nothing is impossible for God, and that He loves us very much. We talked about Moses and the Red Sea. We poured water in a 9x13 dish and tried to part the water ourselves. One cutie told me she knew she couldn't do it because she didn't have a staff like Moses did! The rest of us tried and failed. Matthew 19:26 (King James Version)
26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

This wasn't our verse, but I've been reminded of it several times today. We faced things that are discouraging and seem impossible to remedy. But we know that just as God saved the Israelites from returning to slavery, He will also care for us and the needs we see around us.

After church we had a birthday party for a sweet niece, then Wade helped my mom spend $$$ on a digital camera. We hope she'll be joining us on this blog ring soon!

Another day full of lessons and blessings from our Heavenly Father.

Wade using fulcrum and lever to pry a stump up so he can cut it. Bret has the dangerous job of rolling the log under the stump after it's lifted up. (He still has 10 fingers!)

Frisbee eating almonds!

Frisbee when Wade starts the chainsaw. He's so excited, but you see that it's doesn't last for long!

Here's my man, cutting up a stump!

A little more unpacking, lost treasures...

Today has been an unusual day, I don't think I've had one like it in 8 years. After watching a friend's children for an hour, she picked up my four for the afternoon! I caught up on my school records, organized our Robinson curriculum and am in the process of cleaning out a closet. Wow! Wade offered to go get the children and then have them help him get more wood. I'm sure they're thrilled right now! Ha, ha! I was a thoughtful mom and packed them a snack and some water.

So, back to the closet. I stuffed a lot of things in the downstairs closet when we moved in. I'm not saying it will be cleaned out by the end of the day, but I've managed to empty a couple of boxes! What did I find? Read on...While filing CD's I came across this one of a field trip we took last year. This is the Lynx - you can google it for more info. Our school boarded the Lynx one afternoon for a history lesson on the War of 1812. A good friend and fellow teacher prepared the children by teaching them the history of this war. The experience of being on a clipper ship turned the history lesson to life.
Here I am, wondering where my sunglasses and camera are! Mr. V.A. is the great photographer who took these shots.
My nephew!
Rachel, Bret and classmates. Rachel's reading pays off. I was amazed at how she answered all the questions like - what this old stale looking bread was - hardtack. How did they make it, why did they eat it, on and on. I guess that's why they say readers make leaders!

Well, enough of the memories, it's back to the closet for me!!! My hungry woodcutters will probably be arriving within the hour. I'm looking forward to having them home.

Family Reunion

A GOOD name is to be more desired than great riches, Proverbs 22:1 Every other year the descendants of Walter and Sadie gather together for a special Father's Day Weekend. In this picture my father-in-law and his twin sit beside their parents.
Our faithful hosts! We will miss this spot.
Wade and his brother.
Cousins!!


An uncle and a sister-in-law!
Rachel enjoying the company of two cool guys!
Lot's of stories!
Good food, and fun conversations!


Night descends, the over-night guests are the only ones left!


During the day we enjoyed several activities.
Lilly enjoyed harassing cousins she doesn't even know!
Garret swimming!
More cousins to swim with!

My boys were very excited when these arrived!
This is Blong Ball - a game for players of all ages.
Tunes from an old juke box!
More Blong Ball

My sister-in-law and I add up our scores!
Here's the crew pouring over maps. They're looking for a new spot for the next reunion. Somewhere by a lake...sounds nice, but I'll miss this place.
My little friend asked me to play Blong Ball. We cheered each other on!
Garret on the trampoline. This place is kid heaven!
The grown ups were having a pretty good time too!

J.C. let Wade ride his bike.
Two brothers and their little cousin. My husband is the baby. Off for a joy ride!
He came back for me! We're back safe and sound.

It was a wonderful weekend full of memories for us and our children. We look forward to seeing everyone again in two years.