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Tuesday, October 16, 2018

He's Off!

Here he is looking out over the Pacific
September 24th marked a new day in our lives. Our oldest son Stephen left for a year or more of voluntary service at Penn Valley Christian Retreat in PA. The dynamics of our family life have naturally changed with the oldest son gone. Especially one who is a dynamic leader and who wants constant activity.

Here is what the outdoors looks like at the retreat, from the front porch. I took panoramic shots from a seat on the porch.

Two hotels


Up on the hill is his apartment




As one of the two maintenance men, he is responsible for mowing and trimming, snow pushing, dish washing, setting up for events, cleaning and I really don't know what all. Go visit to see him at work. 

Here is my latest letter to Stephen, written yesterday-

Today is a cool, wet day. We actually have a fire in the wood stove since yesterday morning. I probably wouldn't have had one today but Daddy is at home working at the desk so he wants it warm. I went out to the garden barefooted and pulled weeds a little while.

The guys are more or less sitting around today. Matthew took the drain/garbage disposal out of the left sink in the crazy room. It was leaking into the cabinet below.

Melvin, Christopher and I did our Bible study and read-aloud before moving on to other things. We're reading the book about Laura Ingalls' school days under Miss Wilder. They both took up the book (at different times) after I quit reading today and were reading it to themselves. They couldn't wait for the next installment.

The last couple Sundays most of the ministers have been gone. Winstons, of course, are in Australia. Elmer is on a CLE trip. Steve was here but I guess he doesn't take full responsibility yet so Daddy was moderator again. Dan preached and he's still doing his ABC preaching. His subject was Knock. Speaking of Jesus knocking at our hearts and us knocking as in ask, seek and knock. 

Eldon's son Virlin and family were visiting. A lot of the youth were gone- Rosalyn and Chris, the Wengerds, Allens' youth and Dans' three youngest. Cynthia has been in Indiana for a couple weeks helping her Grandma who fractured her wrist. Some of the Miller girls were with Allens. Kim was home from SMBI but went back in the evening.

Four families are going to Miss Linda's wedding - Genes (also taking Dominic), Waynes, Dans and Allens. Monica can't travel right now, being quite large with child. Due soon.

Speaking of which... Sylvia will be helping her. Then Melody in TX wants Sylvia to help her after that. It's kind of a close shave if Monica is late with her baby. :( Praying it all works out. 

I just read Gladys' letter today and she said Ray is going to be at Penn Valley soon. That's my cousin Ray from TX. Just so you know.... :)

Last evening we had a local program at church. The theme was the Bible. Vernon opened by talking about fulfilled prophecies from the Bible. Then Keith and Randall had a Bible Quiz and Grandpa had children's class. We had snack afterward instead of a fellowship meal for lunch. Probably so the day wouldn't be quite so full, though I never did hear why they did it that way. We had "Chick Fil-A" sandwiches for snack/supper. Or Lori's version of it. We took chicken patties. Plus salties and sweets. 

Daddy had door jobs every day last week including Saturday. Austin worked at Orvals all week, painting the living room and kitchen area. She also wanted shutters painted outside. She said just the ones on the porch. Then she realized later that there are more on the front of the house so she wants those done now sometime. 

We took Grandpa to Dr Betsy on Wed for a checkup to find out why he's so bloated and miserable. She said his digestive system is in very poor shape and told him to stay away from all grains. She also gave him a bunch of supplements to take.

Grandma said, If we can just find something for him to eat instead of crackers! He said, You act like I eat a lot of crackers! She said, You do! He said, No, I don't! Lol

My secret sister gave me a large container filled with fruit (apples, pears, pineapple, oranges, grapes, bananas, lemons) and peanuts in the shell. Also some fruit candies throughout and a Snickers bar in the bottom. I said if it's who I think, she doesn't take me serious that I don't eat sugar or else she put the Snickers Bar in for Daddy. :)

Well, I better move on and get some laundry done and supper made. Though I have no clue what to make and it's already 4:30. What are you having to eat these days?

(Later- I made rice and stir fry and cherry cobbler.)

Monday, October 15, 2018

Back Again

West coast
Reunions

Visitors

Traveling

Singing

Camping

Son leaving

School beginning

New business venture

Canning

Poor internet service

Reading

These are the many subjects that have kept me away from the computer. So I will attempt to tackle each one in turn soon.

God is good. All the time.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Another Event You Don't Want to Miss

Flowers growing from a crack in the patio at my sis-in law's house
The Not Back to School Summit began this week at Home Education Council of America. There have been numerous talks this week that have been helpful to me. We were out of state until Wednesday evening and dealing with jet lag Thursday so I missed a number of presentations.

But there is another full week of wonderful speakers and topics to come. As a basic free member of HECOA one has access to all live sessions and a complimentary 24 hr replay. Sign up now to catch today's and possibly yesterday's presentations. 

Jillian Newkirk started off with helpful tips for ending the power struggles between adults and children.

Joseph Hoffman taught about music and pointed us to his academy where he offers hundreds of free lessons. 

Greg Denning tells how to simply and successfully teach teens. Greg comes from a broken home but found the help he needed to succeed in life. He now mentors teens while being a father of seven and traveling the world with his family. (He's the one who inspired our sons to stay away from sugar a couple years ago. He himself has been sugar-free since age 16.)

Dr Angela talked about how to understand your children who have gifts that can seem like hindrances, e.g. dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, ADHD and etc. She recommended books by Ron Davis- The Gift of Dyslexia and The Gift of Learning. It was eye-opening and empowering to hear the stories she told regarding children and adults she has helped to appreciate and work with their gifts.

Andrea Hall taught us how to make math real through everyday living. Learn decimals in the grocery store and fractions while baking in the kitchen. Do square foot gardening to learn counting, measuring, and much more. Look at shapes in nature for geometry. There are so many ways to make math tangible for your children.

Come join the fun, be inspired and enriched. Maybe you will even be stretched and learn something new! 

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Monday Is For Meal Planning


Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Sunday  5
Invited out
Tortilla chips 
Monday 6
Scrambled eggs
Divided lunch
Potatoes/hotdogs
Cukes & dip
Peaches
Chicken patty sandwiches
Cucumbers & dip
Tuesday 7
1 help Lloyd
Leftovers
Hotdogs
Spaghetti (GF)
Lettuce salad
Wednesday
Waffles
Sausage gravy
All at one job
Leftovers
Carrots & dip

Thursday 9
Fried eggs and beans
All at one job
Leftovers
Peaches
Beans
Coleslaw
Friday 10

Egg biscuits
All at one job
Leftovers
Cheese sandwiches
Veggies & dip
Saturday 11
Leftovers
Salmon
Rice
And so I will post it on Tuesday. 😀 Need some inspiration?

Some of the recipes are linked to what I use or something similar. Waffles and muffins are made with light buckwheat flour. For bread and biscuits I use spelt flour.

For the lunch menus I write down what is happening for jobs so I know how to pack.

There will likely be puddings throughout the week as well, using up milk. Breakfast will include homemade yogurt as often as possible.

What are you cooking this week?

Here's what we saw Friday morning in the western sky. Of course, a picture never does justice. It was a full arch, double in some places.
Have a tasty week!

Monday, August 6, 2018

Thomas Jefferson Education Convention



For the last several years I have been studying the Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd) philosophy. Take note- this is not a curriculum, it is a philosophy of learning. Some time ago I shared the "Inspire, don't require" key of learning/teaching.

This past week the TJEd Convention 2018 began. I'm sorry to introduce this just now, because if you didn't know about it before, you have missed the early bird pricing. But even so, the price is reasonable.

And the content is life changing. We have been part of a "conveyor belt model" of education for so long that we think it is the normal way to be educated. Then when our children don't meet our expectations or don't do well with this "normal" way of being academically educated, we panic. Our children feel like failures and so do we.

"It worked for me!" we say. "Why doesn't it work for my child?" 

We find our children coming away from a formal academic education with a hatred for learning. They slam the books shut with a hurrah and want nothing to do with them forever after.

Is that the education we want for our children? No! A resounding no! 

We want our children to know their purpose in life and be educated in a way that will equip them for that purpose. TJEd will help us know how to accomplish this. 

Sign up here for the convention. (Scroll down to the box that says "The 2018 TJEd Online Convention".) I've listened to Rachel's first two videos and am feeling excited about the upcoming school year.

If you are unable to listen to the convention and would rather read, check out the book A Thomas Jefferson Education.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Dishwasher!

Matthew (16) and Melvin (14) gave me a most precious gift this week! They pulled a dishwasher out of storage and replaced the one in the house that has been out of service for years. 



It is so wonderful to be able to put the dirty dishes in there and let them wash while I do laundry, sweep floors, wash windows or sleep!
Happy dance!

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Flower Show -Lilies

There are some pretty lilies hiding in the weeds around here.








 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:28-30 NLT