Just a quick update

I really have to get past the thinking that I need to wait until I have the perfect moment to record my happenings in the most perfect way. I think that is why I don't write sometimes because I want to write it down just right and then I never get it written at all because time hasn't waited and I have moved on or forgotten what I was going to write about. Trying to work on that.
Moving on...
We have lots of blessing to tell about (btw, if this typing looks weird once I get it up there it's Kyla's fault because she keeps coming up and hitting keys on the keyboard when she thinks I'm not looking=)lol. Lela just turned 7 on Friday and we celebrated with a fun party on Thurs because Ed had to go to work the next morning. I feel like we have stayed busy with our "social life" lately. smiles. We are really enjoying spending time with Mom and Daddy and girls now that they are home and close by. We have sewing projects and quilting parties and other such stuff planned as soon as we can squeeze it all in.
I am trying to get back on track with the schooling...(do I keep saying that?) it is a struggle to keep a schedule amidst all the goings on. I am thankful that our workload is flexible but then again you can only "flex" so much. So keep us in prayer in that regard if you think of us.
Also......(drum roll please) we just found out that Kyla is going to be a big sister long about June of next year. We are very excited and although she doesn't say so, I think she is too. We thought about trying to keep it a secret at least for a little bit but we wanted to tell the kids and of course once they are told you just as soon tell the nation...so no secrets here.
Ok, well, I have one more bit of news and then I have to scoot because I have children swinging from the ceiling. ( ok maybe not but they are at least jumping off the couches).
Ed just got his first wedding job to photograph so he is super excited about that. It will be Nov 21 and we will all get to go as they are sort family. It's Holly's brother and wife-to-be.
Running now....

Just me

I haven't put a picture of myself on here in awhile and thought
maybe I should. So here I am.

Catching up and stuff

Wow, the past two moths have been busy, productive and very surprising. Like my whirlwind trip to Wyoming for Phoebe's wedding at the same time that my folks come home from Africa. I'm still spinning a bit from everything that happened...
Up until the last minute, I was scurrying around trying to get everything perfect for the family coming home and excitedly making plans for what we would do first. Then, next thing I know, I'm being sent out west to my cousin's wedding, while my husband and 5 oldest children stay home. I won't go into a whole lot of details as to the how or why (it gets complicated) but suffice it to say The Lord was in it. I believe we (I traveled with Pete and Holly too) were a blessing, and I know I received a blessing. It really made me appreciate all my family in a whole new way too. I have never been away from them more than overnight before (and that was only while I was giving them another brother or sister), so I was missing my babies and my honey badly. I was so happy to come home and they were all happy to have me home.
Then too there was the whole thing of me not being here to welcome my Dad and Mom and sisters, and I really was sad about that. In a way, it was one of the longest weeks of my life I think. Isn't it funny how we can have a million different feelings about something all at the same time?
Anyway, I am home now and reveling in the company of ALL my family. Family is such a precious word isn't it? The Lord is so good to give us so many blessings!
In the week and a half since I have been home I have finished putting the house to rights and it now feels settled and I'm ready to tackle the schooling again. We took a couple weeks break during the move and subsequent happenings. Good thing I got an early start this year.
Oh yeah, I just realized I skipped that part. For those who don't know, we have moved and I do plan to post pictures very soon of everyone and everything. And I really really want to keep up on this thing more often too. We'll see how that goes.
Anyway, to all of you who haven't given up on my blog and do happen to still read it.....Happy Fall! I hope to have lots more posts coming soon.

Everyday drama

Well, we finally recieved our first official curriculum order. We are all so excited. This is only part of it of course, the rest is coming soon
We already started some lessons the beginning of the week. I wanted to get an early start because I know we will be losing time later on in the year. So far the kids are loving it. I still trying to work out just how I'm going to juggle everything...I guess only experience will help there. We are following a classical approach and, although it will be more challenging to follow, it is a method we really believe in.
This summer has gone by so quickly..I still feel as though I should be planning what I want to accomplish with my time. I realize it's not completely over yet (given the heat index anyway=), but the majority of it is. I'm not sure I could tell you what we have done besides just living. That sure takes up alot of time.
I'm attempting to potty train Levi...haha. Attempting being the key word. He's not too sold on the idea yet. Ky is getting around and into everything. When she is on the floor (she doesn't crawl, just scoots) I spend most of the time prying stuff out of her mouth. Then if I could get Isaac to quit teaching Levi to jump off of everything in sight....he says he's flying. (sigh)
Alyssa and Lela have spent alot of time "sewing". I got them little sewing kits and they have gone crazy cutting scraps into doll clothes. They actually did complete a little sewing project each on their own. Lela made a tiny little appliqued quilt block and Lyssa made a tiny potholder complete with loop. I was so proud of them! It was totally on their own, I just showed them how to thread the needle or untangle a thread.
Aaron turned 8 in July ( doesn't seem possible!) and we took him the the USS Alabama for his birthday. It was a fun field trip for everyone ...except for when I wasn't scared spitless someone would get too close to the edge. What's with the 'cute' little ropes around the edge? where's the wall?
All that aside, the kids had a blast, especially getting to tour the submarine. I have to say I was pretty impressed too.
Oh, and then Aaron got his first BB gun (thanks, Uncle John) and shot his first bird the other day. He is allowed to target practice with inanimate objects as long as none of the others are outside. It never occured to me that he would actually shoot a bird, but he came in all excited. "Mom I shot my very first bird! I can't believe it, I didn't think I would! Papa said Mawmaw would scare away the dogs with it and it would just bounce off them. I can't believe it!"
I was torn between not bursting his bubble ( he was so proud), and not wanting my birds killed in my own backyard, thank you very much! Then he started to head out the door again. "I'm going to go get another one!" At which point I told him I would make him clean and eat anything he killed. He looked shocked, so I explained you only shoot stuff for food. Then he said,"Well, I'll go find a squirrel. Papa says those are good to eat." (Oh, yay.) I told him he had to clean anything he shot but that didn't discourage him in the least. So far, no squirrels have wound up dead.Thankfully.
I have to admit I have a hard time with the whole shooting thing. I know, on the one hand, he needs to know this stuff for survival and it's parts of a guy's nature to conquer,etc. But at the same time, I want him to respect life and not take it lightly. Ed has taught him all about gun safety and that sort of thing, so I know he is aware of what they can do. I guess the Lord just wants me to stay prayed up. =)
Anyway, as you can tell, we have plenty of everyday drama around here...

Homemaking Art

A friend of mine just sent this article to me and it was such a blessing I felt I wanted to share it with you. I'm going to highlight the parts that really spoke to me.

Homemaking as an Art

By Mary Felker

Wouldn't it be wonderful to paint a masterpiece, compose a symphony, or pen a soul-felt hymn? Perhaps you have completed one of these yourself, or maybe you take time to enjoy these arts created by others. My first thought after drinking in the amazing feeling of one of these pieces is, "How'd they do that?"

Whenever we ask this question, the answers are based in the techniques and skills used to produce the tangible results we all enjoy. It is true that the creators of these beautiful forms of art have ability. However, unless the artist draws from a wealth of insight and experience, the piece won't speak to us.

So it is with the art of homemaking. We can work hard at running our home through making meals, cleaning, child training, or decorating and yet never really say anything. Now, don't run from what I'm saying with the thought that I am giving you one more task to add to your chore list. Take just a few more minutes to read on and perhaps catch a vision of homemaking at its best. Really, it's life as its best.

God Himself is THE Artist. How He created His masterpiece is truly a wonder. However, when we meditate on what He meant to communicate and the quality He used to create with, we can grow in our hearts the appreciation for this art of homemaking. When we as humans decide to create something, it is always in a limited form, without life or the capacity to create. We are finite in our understanding and confined to the materials we have at hand. Limitless God chose a living, growing, ever-expanding medium to express Himself through. He set the sun, moon, and stars in their courses and gave them specific laws to govern them. He created each system on earth to be interdependent with the next in order to support the life He placed here.

He took this one leap further. He created man in His image and gave him everything he needed to reach his full potential and whole expression of being in the image of God. You know all this. It's a review. Yet it is the common things in life that can be overlooked. Simple truth is the easiest to miss and yet it can also change your whole world view when you finally see it.

What if it were really true that He has given us everything for life and godliness? What if, when He created the world, He made its every part to facilitate its success? What if every single thing you need were flowing toward you all the time like waves on the ocean? What if you were to believe it's true?

Too often we can't see all He has for us because we focus on all we think we don't have. It is not possible to create a thriving, vibrant, life when you are not sure you have all you need to pull it off. Your life will open to the world of possibilities when you begin to recognize His bountiful care for not only you but for everyone. There is no place for worry when you remember that everything is going your way. Whatever challenges you face, I say, turn your back on them and your face toward all you have - resources, ideas, potential. Grab hold of all the "yeses" you see in your life and you will see all of the other possibilities for you.

Our homes are part of the ongoing work of God's creation. We are, in a real sense, the creators of our homes. We have every resource we need to make it a haven to our families and others. We may grow in skills, but more so, as we grow in faith toward our all-loving, all-supplying God, we will be free to develop our homemaking art.

We are too quick to fret. It takes time to build a masterpiece. You may not know the answers, have the tangible resources, or see the end to a situation at this time, but walking in faith means seeing with your soul the abundance that is all around. There is nothing lacking and no need to worry. This is what it means to pray without ceasing and be anxious for nothing.

When a new problem (I call them projects) comes up, rather than yell at one of the kids or wring your hands, get a God's eye view. The situation may not be pleasant, but the universe is still on course. Your angels are still on guard. The blessings you need are still there with ten thousand besides.

What happens when you take this view? You act differently. You use who you are in abilities, thinking processes, emotions, and skills in a way that creates more blessings for yourself and those around you. Holding fast to the truth that God IS and is all for you, will allow you to say something with your homemaking. The joy of the Lord comes from knowing, to the core of your being, that everything is all right in Him. And since we live and move and have our being in Him, we are all right. With this view, He can ignite our flame and we can let our home fires blaze.

Mary Felker is the moderator of a unique site dedicated to helping Christian women manage their homes. To participate in her free home management course that has helped many, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AuntieMs/ or email her directly at AuntieMs@yahoo.com.

THANKS Audrey!