And so it begins again ....

I wonder just how many hours we've logged in this one room ...

Over 12 years .... it's been quite a few.

The room has changed and flexed to go with the varying ages and interests of its inhabitants.  Once nearly full of educational toys, you can see that books now line the walls.  Books and tables and desks. This window dormer once served as Lego central and then play house kitchen.  Now, it sits soberly for head-down seat work like Algebra II, American Literature, Biology, and Logic.

Still our favorite place to share a bowl of popcorn together as a family, this couch has watched many a DVD and listened to many a book being read aloud.

Monday of this week, we began what is my 14th year of homeschooling.  I suppose that makes me old.

My students this year are in 10th/11th grade (we are waiting to see when the timing will be best for Isaac to graduate) and 6th grade.  My graduate is still at home biding him time with part time and (hopefully full time soon!) employment, law school applications, and various service jobs for our family this year in anticipation of beginning law school next fall.

Isabelle has been anticipating the start of school for over a month.  We do nearly every subject together and so it is a definite "mommy time" that sometimes loses itself in various tasks during a busy summer.   We both look forward to cozy time side by side working on a variety of subjects.  

My three babes.  I look at their baby pictures nearly every day on my desk while I have my time in God's Word each morning.  Oh how they've changed since those earliest of days .... and yet, the personalities are very much the same.

Serious learner. Joy-filled companion. Playful boss.

Those are my three kids in a nutshell.

Welcome to another homeschool year! 

Sixteen Years

It all started on August 19th, a stormy day in Baltimore, Maryland,  that a new 8 1/2  lb. baby boy we named Isaac came screaming into this world at 9:00 in the morning.

He was a posterior birth and had quite a headache which seemed to last and last and last :-)

His first year was amidst tears and sickness .... his only place of contentment -- right next to his mama, preferably being carried in the front pack (as long as I was moving).  It was a long year.  Needless to say, I lost ALL my baby weight without much effort!

But God is merciful and our son, whose name means "laughter", has brought much joy to this little family.

At 16, he's just started growing (another late bloomer in the mix) but has finally surpassed me in height and certainly is gaining all the manly charms along with a strong, commanding spirit.

Just finishing Hunter's Education this summer, his gift was a hunting rifle.

He's joined the MEN now.... and can hopefully bring home some meat for the freezer this fall.

The day before his birthday we hosted our annual "Game Day".  Six hours of board games, food, volleyball, food, football, and food.  There was more testosterone in our garage than previously imaginable!  Twelve large pizzas, twelve bags of chips, and 10 two liters of pop as well as ice cream sundaes and homemade banana cake were on the menu (as well as some fruits and veggies -- but those somehow remained on the tray.  Hmmmm.......)

Favorites like Risk and Axis and Allies were put out and finally given the hours needed to come to completion.  There were cheers of victory and moans of defeat.  I'm sure the neighbors were heartily wondering just WHAT was happening in our garage!

 With Dads along with boys and young men, it was a great and memorable afternoon.

Happy Birthday Isaac.  We sure love you son!

Great is His Faithfulness

It was a year ago ..... 
A year ago I was dealing with severe, daily heart palpitations.
A year ago I was reeling from the knowledge that my best friend was soon to be beginning the biggest battle of her life -- Stage IV breast cancer.
A year ago I learned that the little bump in my neck meant a cancer battle of my own.
It was a year ago that I shared with my church family, extended family, and friends that I would be undergoing major surgery and subsequent radiation.  The response was the same over and over again ... "What??!"
A year ago I noticed children got out of my path .... afraid of catching this dreaded disease - cancer.
A year ago I was downing so much herbal Hawthorne Berry tincture (the only thing I found that brought any measure of relief to my crazy heart) that my throat literally burned and my tongue grew numb.
A year ago I was floating on the paddle boats with my daughter and just weeped for the unknown of my dearest friend.
And ....
It was a year ago that He showed me this -- His immeasurable tender mercies.
As His Word promised, I was "not consumed for His compassions never fail."  Yes indeed, "they were new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness!" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Today I stand in awe.
I am so thankful for God's provisions, for His blessings, and for His miracles.  
My dear friend is in remission today -- living life to its fullest and praising Him for the value of each day.  She is nearby again where I can love on her and her family a little bit more.  This in and of itself is a miracle.
I am healthy, living, thankful, and cancer free.  My surgery and treatment now seem as if they were just a small blip on the map of life.  I know more "blips" will follow  ..... but for now I'm trying to cherish each day.
A new year is ahead of me.  New challenges.  New joys.  New sorrows.  New learning and growing. Great is His faithfulness!
"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!"
-- Great is Thy Faithfulness

August Update

It's hard to believe that today is the first of August.  Ahhh .... the summer has whizzed by and I am trying hard to savor the heat, the sun, and the warm mornings with whole days spread before us.

The garden is enjoying the weeks of intense heat (temps in the 100's +).  Beans, beets, and zucchini coming out of my ears!  We've enjoyed a few dinners with plates filled with homegrown produce :-)

Our little pumpkin patch is growing out of its bounds and my sunflowers which were purposely spaced in planting are enjoying peeking out between the leaves.

While I type, our beautiful and extremely overgrown globe willow is being cut down :-(   Iron deficient, growing over the roof, and roots spreading dangerously close to our foundation, it was time to say goodbye.  But oh ..... the tears have fallen on this one.  There seems something dreadfully wrong in cutting down a tree in this desert territory where trees are like gold .....

Our first cutting of hay was ruined by a rare week-long rain storm in June.  We are so thankful for the ability to get a strong second cutting -- hay now stacked next to the barn, ready food for the long winter ahead to feed the horses.

Here is a picture of our willow giant covering the house.  It was one of our first trees planted on this property 13 years ago ..... rooted from a single branch of a friend's tree :-)  It has seen many good memories and has stood watch and been climbed in for years. 

It will be missed.

July also held with it an English Country dance with our church family and guests.  All ages, all levels, all welcomed.  These fun mixers danced to Irish jigs are fun to watch and participate in.

This evening was a highlight of our summer!

With dance names like "Mari's Wedding", "Postes",  "Virginia Reel", "Patty Cake Polka", "Grand March", and "Spanish Waltz", this is a fun opportunity for the kids to interact on many levels .... young men leading and young ladies waiting in anticipation :-)

Sisters with brothers, and several other partners enjoyed (pictures reserved to protect the innocent) -- it was a lovely evening with home fired pizzas, fellowship, music, and dancing.

Thank you Watson family for another opportunity to enjoy this pastime.

My impressionist picture of country dance in motion :-)

A whole new month ahead full of opportunities for service, play, camping, learning, and preparing ....

another school year lies in the balance!