Oct. 28, 2009
We are Moving....
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I was reading a post made by another person on this blog site and she had the same title. I read her blog and could echo her sentiments. She said now that I have your attention~ We are moving our blog location. I hate to do it and homeschoolblogger.com has been a great home, but I would like to load more pictures directly into the blog. I will post more often if it is a simpler process. We may return to this blog... I would like my daughter to start one next year to work on her typing skills. For now though, you can find us at this address: ekluray@blogspot.com Come on by for a visit.  |
Jul. 25, 2009
Getting Ready
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My oh My! The summer is coming to an end for us this weekend! I am not sure where these last weeks have gone but I do know they are ALL gone. In order for us to get in our 180 days of school and end when we want to be done, we have to begin our school year the last week of JULY! So... all that I was GOING to get done this summer, well, I cannot recall anything that did. At the top of my to do list, getting the portfolios done from the 2008-2009 school year done, all of the assorted papers, projects and digital photos are still waiting for me! We will begin on Monday... hold on to your hats... it is going to be a bumpy ride!  |
Jul. 23, 2009
The Message
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There was another great reading that spoke to me from my June Journey Magazine (LifeWay Publishing). The subject was on suffering. We can easily be brought back to perspective when we encounter a rough situation and then we see what really matters to us. There is so much that takes precedence in our lives that is so trivial. It is those that go through the suffering that often turn around and bless others. They can do this because of what they have gone through. God doesn't waste one thing and uses all to His glory. Take what you have learned about God and show others what you have come through. Be a representative of God to those that are suffering. Use the things that you have learned in your suffering to minister to others. |
Jul. 19, 2009
Draw Near
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This post is based on the scripture, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8 I read a daily entry in Journey Magazine (LifeWay Publishing) for the month of June... yes, I know I should have gotten this great message on sooner, but someone will benefit from it~even in my tardiness. The notion of the devotional was that when you are going through a rough place, ask God for help. He will not turn away a heart that is seeking Him. Even when you feel like the situation you are in is a mess, God is on the same mission that you are. He wants to take you through it. In the asking and believing and depending, He WILL show up! The great nugget that I do not want you to miss: When our deep longings and deep needs meet God's sufficiency and His goodness, our relationship with Him gets personal. Don't ask why is this happening God ~ ask: Lord, how do You want to reveal Yourself here? God will show Himself to you and to others if you are seeking your purpose in the situation you are facing. |
Jul. 12, 2009
Everlasting God
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This we had a lesson titled Holiness Defined. The word holy means to be set apart. God is set apart from our world by his character. Likewise, we are to be set apart from this world because of our relationship with Christ. The first song in our Worship service today was Everlasting God (Chris Tomlin). Below are the lyrics. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord Our God, You reign forever You're the defender of the weak From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary "Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus." Click the link below to hear the song (or right click to open it in another window/tab): Everlasting God |
May. 8, 2009
Swamp Rabbit 5K Run
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Another race so soon.... yes, I was wondering the same thing. It is held on a Friday night after working all day ~ yikes. When we arrived in Travelers Rest, it was certainly threatening rain, although it ended up being a nice night. We found out at the event that the registration was for around 2,000 walkers and runners! I know we would not have gone if that information had been known ahead of time, but I was not surprised... what do expect when the entry fee is $5! With our affinity for rabbits  , we had to join in. The event was held on a new section of the trail that opened for the first time at the race. The Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail is part of the rails to trails movement, and is named for the former Greenville and Northern Railway that used to run from downtown Greenville to River Falls in the Jones Gap area. The railway got its nickname from the various wetlands it passed through. The plan is to pave the railway from Greenville to Travelers Rest, and to eventually run trams on the path on a regular schedule.I have some photos to give you a scope of the event: 05/08/09 From the photos, you will see some taken at home. Today was our last day of school~all 180 days (our 1st year with attendance records). |
Apr. 25, 2009
Greer Earth Day 5K
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As you know, Eric likes to run in the occasional 5K race. He had not done one in several months (winter and early morning running just didn't seem like a "fun" way to spend a Saturday), so when we saw the information on this one, he had to do it. You see, when we were here the weekend in 2008 with Eric's twin brother moving "stuff" up to the apartment, we drove around in Greer and saw this run taking place before returning from our trip~we picked up the UHaul, loaded it drove it and unloaded plus had it back to be checked in... all of this took less than 24 hours with the insane-o mover!! We have been here a year and it seemed like a milestone type thing to do. Eric was signed up to do the 5K, there was a Half Marathon and a kids run on this day. Once Eric got back, he was pretty beat, so I said I would go with the kids. We did our 1st Half.... Half Mile Run! It was down a few blocks and the route put us right in with the people still running the Half-Mararthon! (I am sure they were not happy to have us out there, but we were spread out to where they could get around us!) There are some great photos, so take a look (we took some and others were taken by the photographers at the event). 5K and 1/2 Race Photos: Greer Run Happy 2nd Birthday to Rett and Reah!!! |
Apr. 16, 2009
Biltmore Estate - Spring
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What a BEAUTIFUL time to go to Biltmore Estate. We found out when we went to the fall homeschool festival that there would be a time in April for a spring homeschool day. We could not wait to see the colorful gardens that we would experience in the springtime. We churned butter, learned about erosion and conservation, saw birds of prey, and saw how quilt patterns were put together. These things were all before we drove across the estate to Biltmore House. We toured the newly opened rooms. They were restoring them when we were at the house but got to see these special rooms. It has been 10 years since we visited Asheville and Biltmore Estate for our 2nd anniversary. The Festival of Flowers had just ended when we were on that trip so the gardens were being prepared for summer. We got to experience the most tulips that any of us has ever seen in one place. We took many pictures and hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Biltmore Estate |
Apr. 12, 2009
Easter
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Our Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt from NC came to visit us for Easter. We had some fun together on Saturday. There are some beautiful pictures at Lake Robinson. We got really, really close to the hungry Canadian Geese. We enjoyed our time together celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Family Fun.... Easter |
Mar. 26, 2009
Ice Skating??
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Yes, you read right. We have experienced many new things this school year. We went to homeschool roller skating in the fall and Rayelin enjoyed it. I knew I would be no help, so she was on her own other than supervision! This happens twice a month but we have not been back. She would go more often, but we have found a new interest. This month, there was a homeschool ice skating time put together that would meet twice a month at the Pavillion. I wanted her to try it, and I did rent ice skates to do it with her. (Luke stayed home with Dad). After we had gone around a time or two (very slowly), I saw some kids with "walkers". I said, "I need one of those." They were PVC pipe that was put together and it looked like a walker that you pushed in front of you while going around the rink. I went back to the counter and got one for Rayelin. She was much improved on it. I could see that with that device, I was no longer needed on the ice (not that I was much help to begin with)! I got the ice skate off and went to the truck to get the camera. She went around a few times with it and then went around with our friends after that. She did really well! There was only one fall and it happened just as I returned with the camera. We will be able to go back once in April. Enjoy the photos.... The Ice Skater |
Mar. 20, 2009
Happy Spring
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Wow! We have been here long enough to experience ALL of the seasons. I cannot pick a favorite. We saw the magnificence of the colorful leaves in the fall, the SNOW in the winter and now the trees that appear to be without life are bringing forth blossoms and then leaves. I hope to capture for you the progression of what we see in the trees. If we get a good rain or a few days of warmth and I don't take a picture... watch out! It is hard to keep up. We are amazed how one tree may just show signs of leaves and then if we ignore it for a few days, it looks completely different. We have also discovered something we have not seen since the fall... shade under the trees! We will definitely be needing that more and more as the temperatures rise! Now I know more fully what this verse means: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6 God's handiwork through creation is all around us if we will just pause and take it in. See our: Spring Photos |
Mar. 14, 2009
Happy Birthday 2 U
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Yesterday, we invited some homeschool friends to join us as we celebrated Rayelin's birthday. They had a great time. We had a special day today and will be looking forward to visiting EdVenture next weekend. Pictures: Birthday Girl |
Mar. 9, 2009
Violin Festival Results
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Rayelin participated in the NFMC (National Festival of Music Clubs) held at Bob Jones University on February 28th. Today at her lesson she got her results. Entrants do not compete against each other. They are judged on their own merits. She had a required composition and a selection that her instructor chose. The judge gave her a superior rating. The categories were: memory, accuracy, rhythm, technique and musicianship. The judge said she had great tone and said she was doing really well. She is really good at memorizing the pieces. Attached are some pictures after the festival, practicing at home and at the lesson last week (while the snow had not fully melted) using her new Suzuki 1/4 size violin! Violinist Photos |
Mar. 3, 2009
Still Snow...
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With the temperatures down in the teens for the overnight hours, we still have snow in our yard. There was a lot of refreezing from the melting that took place yesterday. And it should be gone soon since the temps will be in the low 70s this weekend!! Sounds like Florida (not including the snow, of course). This has been very exciting for us. We spent the time before the expected snow event talking and speculating about it happening and what it would be like. Then as it drew near, we anticipated it by watching and waiting. Then as it began, we were so excited. We went out to experience it. It is all we could talk about. We told others about it. We spent all day yesterday focused on it. I find a parallel with the coming of Christ. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were doing other things up until the day that Noah entered the ark; That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:37-42 In our lives, we should be excited about our personal relationship with Jesus and sharing what He is doing in our lives. In all we do, we should be preparing ourselves and others for the return of Jesus. Spread the Good News. We See Snow... |
Mar. 2, 2009
Fun in the Snow
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As you will see from the photos in the link below, the early pictures were taken early this morning. The snow was so beautiful and BRIGHT! We could not look at it enough. We found out that we received between 4-5 inches in our area. This was the 11th largest storm with snow in the Upstate in the last 50 years. I thought that was great. We were blessed to have not had any damage from the snow and never lost power. It was 25 degrees overnight, so the fluffier snow that we saw falling last night it quite a bit harder this morning. We got to see some of the "black ice" we have heard about in our street and in front of our garage door. We also felt the softer snow under our feet as the melting began after lunch today. We could see all sorts of different stages of the snow. It is not often that a homeschool student gets a real life example of what they have been studying to this magnitude. We had a Science test on the water cycle scheduled for today and we have done a study on weather recently complete with a trip to the Roper Mtn. Science Ctr. a few weeks ago. A Day of Fun in the Snow |
Mar. 1, 2009
SNOW!!
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Wow! What an exciting day we had. SNOW! This is the first time I have ever seen snow -- real snow! It rained all day yesterday and most of the afternoon today we had rain. At 5:45 pm, the rain we were having became sleet and then SNOW. We went outside from about 6-7 pm. The sky was growing darker, so we came in to dinner. It snowed for awhile longer and then stopped. Then, light snow started again a little before 11 pm for another hour. We have many photos that you can see the fun we were experiencing..... Sunday Night Snow |
Feb. 19, 2009
Super Birthday
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The kids and I always enjoy planning a birthday party for Dad. Since more of his "stuff" that we might use to decorate for a birthday (antiques, etc.) is in storage in Florida, we had to get creative. We had a Super Hero Birthday party... complete with an appearance by some real Super Heroes~ See who came to celebrate..... Birthday Photos |
Feb. 12, 2009
He Knows My Name
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I have a praise song that speaks to my heart. The lyrics are simple but have a very powerful message. It is truly incredible that the God that formed the universe by speaking it into existence, knows me, care about me AND loves me so much. I have a maker He formed my heart Before even time began My life was in his hand Chorus He knows my name He knows my every thought He sees each tear that falls And hears me when I call I have a Father He calls me his own He'll never leave me No matter where I go Chorus He knows my name He knows my every thought He sees each tear that falls And hears me when I call Copyright ©1996 Doulos Publishing Click the link below to listen to this song. It will be a blessing to you. He Knows My Name - Click Here to Listen Happy Valentine's Day! |
Jan. 18, 2009
First Snow!
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Wow! Did we have a great surprise this morning. While we were getting ready for church, Dad was in the kitchen and said, "It's snowing!!" It was light snow flurries, but snow none the less! We were partially ready and came running. We took a few pictures and went back inside. This was at about 8:30 am. There was snow on our windshield and it was lightly snowing as we drove to church. Everyone asked us what we thought of the snow. It was the first snow that the kids had ever seen. I had seen snow similar to this as a little child. When Central Florida sees snow, it is a big deal, but I don't remember much about it. This was very exciting but we really would like to see a bit larger snow before this winter is over. Click link to see the pictures we took... look very closely for the snow! First Snow SC Link |
Dec. 12, 2008
Dr. Hammond
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Our family traveled to Wake Forest, NC yesterday to be at a graduation ceremony today. We had the privilege to witness our Uncle receive his Doctor of Ministry degree. Not only did we get to be with our Aunt, Uncle and Cousins, but our Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt were also there! We had a great time together. It was a special family time. (02/09--Sorry for not getting this on the blog sooner! We are so proud of what God is doing in your life! WOW! Way to go!!) See the link below to the photos..... Dr. Hammond and Family |