What’s up with the Knowles family?  Well, I’m not going to tell you about ALL twelve of us right now, but here are a few tidbits. 

February 16-18, Lydia (12) and I survived what we think is a case of salmonella food poisoning after eating tainted peanut butter.   (Maybe it was just the flu, but it seemed a whole lot more intense than that!)   This outbreak has been in the news – Peter Pan and Great Value brands peanut butters with the code 2111 on the lid.  We survived major intestinal revolt Saturday and spent all day in bed, but we were only a little uncomfortable by the next day.  The boys all had minor symptoms, too.  Here is a news link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/14/salmonella.outbreak.ap/index.html

One thing I really appreciate about Lydia is the dramatic spark she brings to our lives.  She is such a ham!  But even more, I appreciate that she is making an earnest attempt at maturity, especially in the area of respecting her parents.  She is the most consistent about taking the initiative to apologize when she knows she has not responded to us appropriately.   She has also been a gentle encouragement to me when I'm not responding to others very sweetly.  Lydia also single-handedly (well almost!) planned and carried off a birthday tea party for Naomi recently. You can see pictures at:  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/VirginiaKnowles/289751/A+few+photos....html 

Rachel, newly turned 16, has been helping me organize my blog pages at www.homeschoolblogger.com.   One thing that Rachel showed me how to do is to add pictures using the www.Photobucket.com web site.  Rachel recently started taking formal piano lessons from Mrs. Tonya Travelstead, who was Julia’s teacher many years back.   (Rachel has actually been playing the piano for quite some time, but needs help fine-tuning her technique, especially her rhythm. We went out and bought an inexpensive digital metronome after she researched the options on the Internet.  TICK tock tock TICK tock tock!) Rachel also had a birthday party this month -- about 15 teens and a bunch of good clean fun.  

Mary, 19, is busy with school (she’s a journalism major at UCF), interning at the Orlando Sentinel two days a week, and keeping up with tutoring jobs.  She will intern at the Daytona Beach News-Journal this summer.  At the Sentinel internship, she’s had a string of articles in the crime and courts beat.  Many of her pieces have appeared on the front page of the Local and State section.  You can check out her articles at www.orlandosentinel.com.  (You can do a search on her name.) Her most recent major article is: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-ticketing1607feb16,0,3231701.story

Mary and Julia both plan to go to the New Attitude conference on Memorial Day weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.   This year’s theme is “Humble Orthodoxy Takes Discernment.” http://www.newattitude.org/   Some of the speakers whose names you might recognize are Josh Harris, John Piper, Al Mohler, and C.J. Mahaney.

Julia (turning 18 in April) just found out that she has been accepted on a Mission:X team to Bolivia!  As in 2005, her team will travel down near the Argentinian border (quiet a harrowing trip), but this time she’s on the medical team.  That means instead of staying in the village of Entre Rios, she and her 7 other team members (including a doctor and a nurse) will hike through the mountains to the very remote villages.  Their lifestyle will be what we might charitably call “primitive” or “rustic” – but Julia is an adventurous sort and is thrilled!  Julia will graduate from high school this year with almost a year of college done, and continues to work for Metro Life Church on the building crew.

Joanna, who is 14, will be going to Niceville, Florida for a Mission:X team.  This is a small town up in the panhandle.  They will be assisting New Life Community Church in something or other.  I’m not sure of all the details yet!   Joanna has  been a huge help serving in our home, putting in countless hours with her little brothers and sisters when I am running errands.   I couldn't do it without her!  (Ditto for Rachel!)

To help raise funds for the Mission:X trips, Metro Life is hosting the Commission Tour.   The contemporary Christian band West Coast Revival will be in concert in Casselberry, Florida  on Saturday, March 24 at 7 PM.  Tickets are $5 at the door.   

http://www.xtreme-online.org/tour.html   They are also putting on concerts in Chesapeake, VA; Fairfax, VA; Daytona Beach, FL; and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Speaking of Metro Life events, I’m also looking forward to the “Joy Inexpressible” ladies’ retreat this June 14-16.  http://www.metrolife.org/joy/   Jennie Detwiler and Melodye Jones are the speakers, so I know we're in for a treat!  If you live in the Orlando area, you're welcome to join us!

Several days ago, Melody did a very messy "unmentionable" in her playpen, which, considering that it was already falling apart, we decided to throw away.  So that night she started sleeping on a crib mattress on our bedroom floor.  Or I should say that's where she slept part of the night.  The next morning, Thad found her curled up behind the recliner chair, where she had rolled despite the fact that he had blocked that area off with a laundry basket!  Melody finally learned to walk last month, which is a relief since she was 17 months old!  Now she toddles as fast as her chubby little legs will carry her.  Melody lives up to her name with her musical babbling.  She doesn't talk yet (beyond saying Mama) but it sounds like she is saying "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah!" as she plays with her little electrical guitar toy.  She's always humming!

That's about all for now! 

Blessings,

Virginia