School Update

Boy, do I have some catching up to do!  We've completed 8 units of study since our last school update.  During our long winter, we were "milking" kindergarten for all it's worth.  Then when spring slowly showed it's long-awaited face, we were so ready to be outside but had to painstakingly endure many rainy days inside.  One good thing about that is we were able to get a lot more school time in.  So, here's a brief catch-up of the units that we've completed and a couple of other activities.

Carysse is showing off her paper plate creations during our
Homeschool Group's Project Night.  

Horse Unit

Elephant Unit

 Penguin Unit

Kangaroo jump comparison

Kangaroo Unit

She really enjoyed this marble painting activity.

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Zebra Unit

Sink or float activity

We were "rock & rolling" with many of these great ideas & these too.  

Rock Classifying 

Btw, You know you're a homeschool mom if...

the neighbors are wondering what you're doing in the rain at 7:45am while you gather rocks from your landscape.J

Rock Unit

Each May, the Aquarium has it's Homeschool Week which offers a super great discount.  We went as a family and happened to see my close friend, Sarah & her son, there.    

Jewel Unit

We made these special butterfly treats for her Butterfly birthday party.

Butterfly Unit

Our Homeschool Group hosted a Track & Field Day
at the end of the school year.  

I helped coordinate the kindergarten girls group.
We had such a fun time until it rained.L

She got the 3rd place ribbon for the Broad Jump;

And the 4th place ribbon for the Softball throw!

Thank you Jesus for all these sweet blessings! 

More than a Preacher & Wife...

Also, dearly loved friends!  

I mentioned in a previous post about how much I love my small group.  Sadly, a couple of Sundays ago, we had our final small group with The Pipers before they leave.  We will miss them immensely!  Over these past 4+ yrs, we've shared lots of meals together, laughs together, prayers together, & tears together.  

We've spent countless Sunday evenings around their dining table.  Noel has lavished her kind, warm, hospitable service towards us every time. We can't get enough of her homemade spaghetti dinner!  Pastor John is just another one of the guys around the table...sharing hilarious videos, laughing, & telling funny childhood stories.  

We've spent a Thanksgiving & a Christmas with them.  That meant a lot to us especially with us not having family in town.  Speaking of holidays, Noel's book, Treasuring God in our Traditions, is a must read.  Here's a post about the book.     

Their daughter, sweet Talitha, has watched my kids on several occasions including at the Joni & Friends Family Retreats where she's served as a Short Term Missionary (S.T.M.).

John & Noel, I thank our Lord for all the rich blessings that we have received from you.  Your life, your words, your passion for Christ and The Word has greatly impacted me.  May Christ continue to be gloried in you and through you.  I Love You!  

Here's a photo recap of our sweet evening together

K. is going to sorely miss seeing his spiritual mentor on a regular basis.  

The guys

We had a Cinco de Mayo theme!

Let the Hymn Charades begin!

Pastor John acting out "Jesus Loves the Little Children".
Sorry it's sideways for a few seconds.  

 I was on the Pipers team & we won!
Those two definitely know hymns!  

Our sweet small group

Pure Pleasure Gathering - This Saturday!

Here’s how you can pray for this gathering –

1.    The “Behind-the-scenes” support team - Ask the Father to fill them with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5.18) that those who will be using their gifts at the Pure Pleasure gathering would serve in the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (I Pet. 4.11)

2.    The Worship Team (led by Ryan Thom) - Ask the Father to fill them with the Holy Spirit, so that they would be addressing their brothers in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with their hearts! (Eph. 5.18-19)

3.    Men who are enslaved to sexual sin - Ask the Lord Jesus to come in mighty Truth and gospel power to set these men free from their bondage to all forms of sexual sin. And if any are spiritually dead, to cause them to be born again to a new and living hope (I Pet. 1.3)!  Praise Jesus that everyone that He sets free is really, truly, lastingly free indeed (Jn. 8.31-36)!  May our God satisfy them every morning and every moment—with Himself! (Jn. 6.35)

4.    Men who have been set free from sexual sin - Lord Jesus, we praise you that you have set these men free from their bondage to sexual sin!  Please keep them from using their freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Cause them to go from one degree of glory to another in their freedom, satisfaction and conformity to your image (2 Cor. 3.17-18).  Through your Spirit, equip them to comfort their brothers with the same comfort that they have received from you (2 Cor. 1.3-4). 

5.    Pastor Jason (who will do the opening Welcome/ Announcements/ Prayer) - Ask the Father to fill Jason with the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, so that his prayers would be “in the Spirit” (Jude 20). And that his words would be “good for building up, as fits the occasion, that they may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4.29) 

6.    Pastor Kempton (who will lead 2 one-hour sessions) - Ask the Father to fill Kempton with the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, so that when he speaks, he would be speaking the very oracles of God—as he serves in the strength that God supplies—so that God would be glorified through Jesus Christ! (I Pet. 4.11).

Ask our Father to cause Kempton to know nothing among the men at Pure Pleasure except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  And in Kempton’s utter weakness, ask the Lord to cause his speech and message not to be in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, that the faith of the hearers might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God! (I Cor. 2.1-5)

7. Joe Rigney (who will lead a 4-wk follow-up study) – Same prayer aim as Kempton’s. 

When the going gets tough...

The Mama gets out this stuff!

Since we've been having a very snowy, rainy & chilly Spring, I've had to plan extra indoor activities for my kiddos.  Here's a list of our favorites.

We enjoy painting our snacks! 

I keep a bag of balloons on hand.  They're always lots of fun!

Marbles - A preschoolers' joy!

My girls like painting so much that I created a Pinterest board -
Fun with paint!

Water Play - Lots of Splashing Fun!

Glow sticks - Just $1 for a bag of endless fun! 

Good ole dress-up.  Her big sister dressed her up & said that,
"She's getting married." J

We are 10 times blessed!

We recently celebrated my oldest son's 10th Birthday;
now my baby boy is 10 months!  

Here are 10 of my favorite pictures of Baby Caleb
since his 6 months post.

This reminds me of the movie Up.J

Sweet baby face

He's on the move!  

Stylin' in Uncle Curt's hat.

Sad, teething-pain face...needed lots of mama lovin'.

Cute hat that a sweet friend from church made.

Precious, food-covered face

Playtime Fun

Serenading his mama!J

Adios! 

When I woke up to this...

 I try hard to meditate on my 2 yr old's memory verse that's on our refrigerator;

Read one of the devotionals in this book;

And not allow my mind to ponder too long on the memories of the warm spring days in Texas!L

The Refiner's Fire of Motherhood

“All my children have brought more trial and struggle into my life than I would have ever wanted to have.  But, I am who I am today because of that refining fire from the Lord.  The Bible says that children are a blessing from the Lord.  That is so true!  Often they are not a blessing in the way we would expect them to be.  They bless us by challenging us and forcing us to be more than we can possibly be.  They push us into complete dependence upon God.  They strip away our pride and leave us humble and broken before our Lord.  And if we have any pride left, the Lord uses them to make sure it doesn’t stick around for too long.  I am so glad I have gone and am continuing to go through the fire of motherhood.  It is the tool God is using to make me like Him.”

Christal Stroup - "Mad at her & Mad at myself" in Above Rubies Magazine, February 2013