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Did you want to begin singing that great song from Sound of Music?? A wonderful lady whom I had the priviledge of meeting in Canberra just moved to the Netherlands with her family. They don't know exactly how long their stay will be but what an adventure! The Lord has really orchestrated this event and this godly family waited on Him and let it happen in His time. What a testimony! Michelle had the *great* idea to start a diary of sorts where people could write their thoughts and special messages, favorite Bible verses, Australian stories and special holidays and birthdates. Isn't this a brillant idea??? Here is my list of Aussie things that I sent her - these are just a few of the many things that we miss from Australia. Carin's Aussie things to remember: |
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II Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence May I tell you this one's story for me personally? Not what it means - but, how I came to view it as a favorite verse. I believe it is a testimony to God's faithfulness. Many years ago I attended a women's retreat with other women from my church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was in my early 20's. The organizers had painstakingly planned things... even down to our own Bible verses laid on our pillows. These prayer warriors had prayed for months and had then written each woman's name on a 3 X5 card followed by her special verse. I still recall reading my verse thru that evening when I found "my" pillow on the queen sized bed. I had to reread it numerous times - I just couldn't seem to "get" it! Infact, I was even a bit put out that they would give me such a seemingly esoteric verse! lol However, I kept that card. Actually, I stuck it in my Bible. I reread it when the mood struck me. Still, I couldn't make much of it. The verse's meaning seemed to be just out of my grasp! What in the world is wrong with me? And, what were those ladies thinking? Maybe someone who didn't know me personally had done one of those "close the Bible and then let it drop to see where it lands" things in picking out my verse. Whenever I felt I was getting a bit big for my britches, I would pull out the card and read it....I would quickly remember that I certainly don't know much at all or have all my eggs in the basket or my ducks in a row. Now, those last parts are still too true lol - but, one day during a discouraging period of homeschooling a number of years ago, the Lord chose to reveal to me the meaning of "my special" verse - the verse prayfully chosen for *me* years before. I believe I just sat there and wept. To think, I had been given this verse as a young 22/23 yr old (who was clueless of its personal truth) and when the time was right-some 14 years later- He showed me its meaning *for me*! The God of the Universe! He did this for me. Just when I needed to know this-He had had it planned out down to that old 3X5 card in my possession. Is He not an awesome God??! My circumstances look different when I realize that our God is interested in the big and little things in our lives and He has *such* amazing plans for us. When this verse was given to me, I had no children and certainly didn't plan on home educating the children I might have someday - yet, this verse really gives me strength and courage in the endeavor of homeschooling (and life). |
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Chloe just finished her corrections on her second brief for the club - this one was 25 pages which included 2 pages of references. That is a lot of work. And, no grade or official reward....I wonder if I would have wanted to do something like that. The subject matter: depleted uranium. How is that for an exciting topic? She sends her brief to another member of the club (who has more debate experience). That member reads and critiques the brief - adding ideas or suggestions in another color of online ink. The brief is then returned to Chloe for corrections. Chloe reads the suggestions thru and then begins on the rewrite. She didn't have a lot of rewriting to do so it took her maybe an hour total. The brief is then sent back to the critiquing member. It is a lot of work considering it may or may not ever get used during a debate. |
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How good it was to see everyone! So many I had not seen for 22 years or more. My dear Aunt Sis turned 90. Of course, this requires a grand celebration. The plans were made and the party's course mapped out. Those who planned the event did a marvelous job. I believe that Aunt Sis had a marvelous day and enjoyed the fuss and (mild) chaos about her. Shawn had taken photos given him to make a powerpoint presentation that ran on continuously. How fun it was to watch this and guess who some of the photos could be. We also got to bring home copies of the presentation. The children and I bid a sad farewell to Aunt Sis and Bobby and Holly sooner than we would have liked. Oma was leaving at the same time as well. So many goodbyes all at once...
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Well, more will be forthcoming in regards to this momentous event. I just couldn't resist spreading the news though....it would appear that Hudson is potty trained! After trying various bribes - er, I mean incentives, we finally found one that worked....ice cream bars. Hudson is allergic to dairy products so I found some dairy free Tofrutti "ice cream" sandwiches. That worked. Well, that and this cool underwear with cars on them. He didn't like getting them dirty. *If* they made pull-ups with Nemo on them, he would have been trained months ago. It is hard to believe that he is old enough to be out of nappies. We love to see his curly blonde hair fly by as he races to potty now...and then asks for his "ice kem samich". Sometimes he gets one and sometimes he doesn't. Its been fun. |
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This is me... 
I have a terrible sore throat and can't talk. Literally, I can't talk. So, this is my children today.... 
"Oh, did you to say something to *me*, Mommy? "(don't forget to notice the sweet angelic glow about their innocent faces as they say that with a straight face.... 
). Ok, it hasn't really been that bad... 
We just had our little tree decorating evening (usually it is done on Thanksgiving weekend). But, that was partially due to not being able to put the silly thing together after having had it in storage for so many years. Who would have thought it would have been helpful to *save* the instructions?? I am sad to say that a box of our ornaments is missing - we didn't realize it until all the other stuff was up on the tree. 
I am a forgetful person and my silly little things help me remember events and places...oh and I am maybe just a little sentimental too. The ones that I can remember that are gone are those we bought in Germany when Chloe was a baby. 
Due to a number of things, we just haven't gone and done much traveling lately (I don't count all the hours in the car driving Chloe back and forth to lessons and classes. Neither do her dear siblings who get tired of being in the car on those days). I am just praying that there isn't a snow or ice storm or anything like that. 
LOL Ok, I know - he won't go off to university with a package of Depends under his arm. It would be nice in some ways though not to worry where the wipes and nappies are located.|
What joy it is to participate in something that seeks to glorify the Lord and make Him known! The older children and myself had the priviledge of being in our church's Christmas program called, "One Amazing Night". Some of us sang and acted, others acted and danced. The music is still ringing in our ears. I believe several of the pieces were from/arranged by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Great music. Chloe played Mary's younger sister. She and the young lady who played Mary were able to rehearse their scene at a weekly co-op lunch break. This helped them learn their lines but also got them used to acting together. I played a gossip - something totally opposite my real-life character, I hope. It was heaps of fun as my opposite is/was a terrific actress, Sophia. I had never really gotten to play a character role before so this was new territory for me. I really had so much fun - though I was nervous about a costume change (and I admit I was afraid of "bombing"). All went just fine though. Now, it seems rather silly to have been jittery at all. The Lord wouldn't have minded if I had missed a line. Oh, the big excitement for me personally: I got to scream onstage The amount of work that it took to get everything done behind the scenes is incredible. Posters and flyers were all over to advertise the production. The costumes were made, a stage was constructed, lighting installed, sound equipment wired and in place...wow! Did I mention the musicians? I can only imagine how much time they spent rehearsing. They did a great job - we didn't use any taped music. Then afterwards, the audience was invited to stay for "supper" - cookies and hot beverages. I can not express adequately the great job that all these people did. It is/was amazing! Dear friends from Springfield drove over and watched "One Amazing Night". That meant so much to all of us. They drove an hour to see us...I hope it was worth it. Hudson and Mitch were so excited to see JJ - oh my goodness. And, Chloe couldn't wait to introduce Sally to her churchmates. After everything was over, it was wonderful to see their smiling familiar faces. What fun.... As far as the play goes, we spent hours and hours and hours rehearsing. But, it was worth it.
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It was nice to do something beside my children. That doesn't seem to happen nearly enough. I feel like we were truly blessed to be a part of things.|
I have spent the last hour or so catching up with all that has been going on with our homeschooling friends in Canberra. We have had such fun looking at the photos from several events: Medieval Day and the Show and Tell Day. I am glad they were posted. Chloe and I sat here and picked out all the familiar faces. The ladies looked lovely in their costumes for the Medieval Day. Gorgeous. Several men dressed up for the day as well and looked great too. Chloe was especially excited to see her special friend with her dogs. It made her day. Christmas is fast approaching, isn't it? Does time seem to be speeding up each year for anyone else besides me?? |
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Boy, are we busy. Already! But, it always seems that we *all* are busy, doesn't it? I sure long for those simple times that I keep hearing and reading about. However, I can't seem to come up with any thing to drop out of our family's schedule. Everything seems worthwhile. Everything seems of value right now. Anyone else have that problem? Despite our frenetic pace, we are enjoying life enormously. Shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse were put together last weekend in a whirlwind- I mistakenly believed that they were "due" back last Sunday during AWANAS time. Whew! Now, we have time to put in personal letters and find photos to print out to include in our boxes. I am so glad. We haven't done that for several years despite the fact that the children especially enjoy doing this very personal thing. We are usually too busy - so, does this mean that we aren't as busy as usual?? This year Chloe opted to contribute to a box going to two Romanian girls instead. Our church sent out a small group to Romania in September. The photos and stories that they returned with were incredible. The junior high girls in the AWANAS group decided to gather school supplies together to post to two teen orphan girls. I noticed that looks were exchanged between Chloe and Mitch last week when their Latin lesson included the information that Romanian was a Romance language derived from Latin (making Romanian easier to learn by already knowing Latin). The making of the shoe boxes always signals the beginnings of the holidays and Christmas season. As we shopped this year - only Suzannah went with me this time around - I thought of Ann Prunty often. Ann manages the operation of Operation Christmas Child in the ACT region. She is enthusiastic, compelling, and a hard-worker. Under her care, the number of collected shoe boxes in the ACT has continued to increase. It is not unusual for her to actually *go* where these boxes end up. What wonderful advice she had given to us about what to put in our boxes. Because Ann had actually been to see some of the boxes delivered, we knew to listen to her suggestions about what should be included. As Suz and I meandered thru the store, we did our best to do Ann proud. This is our second shoe box season away from our friend Ann. We sure miss her and hope that the shoe boxes are coming in by the dozens in the ACT this year. The Lord is using this wonderful ministry for His work. Isn't it exciting that Christians can participate in this same work while living in different countries??
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The school year has been humming along like clockwork - tick tocking along with an occasional alarm bell going off and then getting attended to. Chloe is extremely busy with debate and her Classical Cottage School courses. She has said that she misses doing all her Ambleside readings. We had planned on her continuing with them but she really has no time. Mitch and Corrie continue with their Ambleside Online studies though. I don't think that they realize how much they are learning. It is such a pleasant way to gain knowlege - thru the reading of great literature. Suzannah is busy with her math, handwriting, phonics, and history. She will not officially begin Ambleside coursework until next year. She has expressed a desire to learn Latin so I did agree to let her participate in Corrie's lessons. All four of them are working on Spanish which is easier on me than having some doing French and another doing German and still another working on Spanish. We have all noticed how studying Latin is helping with the Spanish and vice versa!
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What an experience! It was incredible...five days in gorgeous Pennsylvania at Jumonville Retreat Center. The weather was wonderful and the company even better. Little Bear Wheeler and Mark Holden held a Releasing the Arrows/History camp at the beginning of October. Even the drive over with the trees changing colors was stunning. Since it was the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War, we spent a great deal of time thinking about George Washington. We hiked to the site where the Frenchman Jumonville was killed by Washington's party. We saw Fort Necessity and couldn't believe that anyone could have survived a battle with *that* as protection! General Braddock's gravesite was well marked - it was moved when the highway was made larger. Let's see, the older children and I went on a tour of Falling Waters. It is a renowed home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We had first tried to see Kentuck Knob but the cashier did not want us to take the children on the tour. So, we turned around and walked out. Falling Waters is much more kid friendly with a great play room to wait in before your tour begins. I was impressed - especially after our experience at Kentuck Knob! One of the highlights of our camping experience was the colonial dance. Most of the participants dressed in period clothing - we were all amazed as most were homemade. The "ball" was so fun and appropriate for such a wide range of ages. I was most impressed by a young boy of approximately 9 or 10 who was so kind and encouraging with my Suzannah (who really struggled doing some of the reels). I regret that we didn't get his name. We definately got the dancing bug now! The other big highlight for the children was having lunch with Little Bear and his lovely wife, Marilyn, one day. It was the quietest the dinner table has ever been, I think. The children were so much in awe of him that they could hardly speak. Little Bear wore his colonial/George Washington type clothes for much of the camp which really added to his historical lectures. We signed up for the camp in June and we all thought that October 1 would never get here. It is great when something that has so long been anticipated lives up to your expectations. |
Anticipating the arrival of Little Bear for a talk about George Washington!|
Recent Visit Deemed Success Oma recently flew from Chloe has been formerly asked to babysit for non-family members. Her first job is this evening. Chloe has been preparing for this responsibility for quite a while. In mid-July, she took at Red Cross babysitting course. However, most of her job training has occurred as a part of family life. Chloe is generally quick to supervise her younger siblings when it is necessary. We hope that this first official job provides satisfaction of a job well done and the pay isn't bad either!
Wombats Rule A recent poll of members of Team Bozarth has discovered that wombats still rank highest as favorite animal. The turtle was a distant second. It is unfortunate that many Americans are unfamiliar with this Australian marsupial. This survey has a margin of error of +/- 2 Movie Review-That Darn Cat At first glance, the movie would appear to be rather ho-hum. The box stated the usual Disney stars and actors. Ed Wynn even had a small character role. Yet, Team Bozarth thoroughly enjoyed it. Dean Jones co-starred with Haley Mills in this movie about an independent cat and bank robbers turned kidnappers. Dean Jones plays a FBI agent who is allergic to cats. Imagine having to deal with an informant who makes you sneeze! This idea was hammed up in typical Disney style in this movie entitled That Darn Cat – and had Team Bozarth laughing out loud. Some of the movie’s positive points include the tons of wholesome humor, the genial relationship between the two sisters (played by Mills and Dorothy Provine), the lack of public physical affection displayed between the two teenagers (Mills and actor Tom Lowell ), and the level of responsibility that is implied of the sisters while their parents are touring Europe. The two bank robbers and kidnappers are portrayed as the bad guys. Although the viewer understands that these are hardened criminals, the movie does not dwell on this. It shows them as bad but not actively doing a great deal of wicked things. In other words, we are shown the kidnapped woman listening several times as they discuss killing her. Viewers know what is being discussed without it being the focus of the scene….the victim’s reaction is what is being showcased. The most violent scene of the movie happens near the end. Jones is hot on the trail of his cat informant with Mills behind him. He hears the robbers talking. They are about to kill the bank teller. He radios for back up and then knocks on the door of the robbers. Mills enters the apartment on the guise of looking for her cat and “husband”. The inevitable fight breaks out but we don’t recall any gun shots although guns were pulled and pointed. A fistfight begins that is neither too long nor too short. With its mystery and intrigue mixed with predictable characters and slap-stick humor, this is a movie for a wide variety of ages and interests. That Darn Cat gets a thumbs up from Team Bozarth.
The boys got to shoot the air rifle and the girls picked up the pellets and sold them back to JJ for candy. This way he got to reuse his pellets and the girls got something out of it too. Sally and Chloe performed their muffin skit for us as well. They had learned this type of speech at the conference. Later on, we visited Talbot’s Outlet store. Mitch especially enjoyed this time bonding with all the girls in the family.
Corrie Chloe Singin' & Signin' "Yes, Lord" The Bozarth Times Herald is an occasional publication written, produced, and distributed by Excelsior Via Academy staff and students. All editorial comments may be submitted to this publication. However, consideration and/or publication of submitted comments are not guaranteed. |
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We've done so much moving about in the last year plus. It is nice to know that many of our dear friends are not far away - on the other side of their computers. This computer thing has a number of disadvantages but many advantages as well. I like that I don't have to find a stamp before sending a message AND it is so easy to write something and edit it - no more erasing or rewriting entire letters/notes. The season is changing here so that puts all of us in a different sort of mind set, I think. Chloe begins an online geography course tomorrow evening and then the following week starts a one day a week classical school program for homeschoolers. The Classical Cottage School was begun by a couple of moms who wanted to teach their kids Latin and a few other subjects that they didn't know themselves. They got together and rounded up a teacher. That was several years ago. Now there are at least 180 homeschooled kids taking classes once a week at a church that they are renting. It is hike for us : it is over an hour drive time to get there. She will take Logic, Progymnastic (a writing course), Omnibus, Spanish, Shakespeare, and help work on the yearbook. A lady from our church is going to take her this year. If all works out as we expect (but we are not taking anything for granted! ) the younger children - even Hudson - will follow Chloe's lead. Hudson would take an art class and have a read aloud time (and I am hoping that they offer language classes for the very littlings too). The other children would take a variety of courses as well BUT I am not sure what my goals are with them. IOW, I *do* have schedules and lessons plans mapped out for ALL of them until they are at least 19 years old LOL! So, this will be a major thing to relinquish most of that. The school stresses that the parents are the real teachers and the school's teachers are there just to tutor in these courses. We will have to take the assignments given and run with them, so to speak. If I chose to opt Chloe out of anything, I have been told that I will be able to - and the teachers will be *fine* with that. The teachers of this school are primarily other homeschool moms/dads. I went to the welcome meeting and was quite impressed with their standards both academically and behavoirally (that is a word, right?). ANYWAY, we are doing this because we are wanting to make sure that Chloe is adequately prepared for the college that she has selected. Of course, paying for it will be a whole 'nother ball of wax! |
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Earlier this morning, songs could be heard throughout the upstairs. Apparently a brush could not be found. Suzannah made the most of the opportunity. She began singing the Veggie Tales "Hairbrush Song"...with some slight alterations. "Oh, where is Mommy's hairbrush? Oh, where is Mommy's hairbrush? Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where, oh wherrrrrre, is Mommy's hairbrush?" Then it got changed for socks and shoes and anything else that she needed to locate on Sunday morning. Little singing voices always warm my heart! The eastern box turtle now has a name...thanks to a dear friend in Australia. She suggested Mrs. Hortatio since she had spent the night "battling" a snake and survived. I think that she-the turtle, that is- probably aided and abetted the snake's escape but we won't hold it against her. We are enjoying watching her alot. Mrs. Horatio does not retreat inside her shell when we pick her up or talk to her. That is a nice thing in a turtle, don't you think? When Mitch brought the turtle home the other day, a neighbor was talking to another lady. She asked Mitch what he had. He gladly showed them. Both ladies turned up their noses and "ooouuu"-ed. Mitch told me when he got in what had happened and then quipped, "You can tell they aren't homeschool moms". Bullentin! Snake Update: We have reason to believe that the dear snake(hereafter referred to as ds) was able to flee its indoor confinement while the loving and hospitable family was worshipping the Lord. This would appear to be an answer to certain person(s)'s prayers. Nevertheless, there are those withinin the household who are presently mourning the loss of ds. As evidenced by a bit of snake skin left on the door jam, it now seems that ds squeezed under the front door and escaped for the great outdoors leaving behind the unknown indoors and some grieving humans. We must now content ourselves with merely a pet turtle. Our many hearts are now collectively mulling over the old saying, "Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all". We think that this certainly applies to our own ds. Off on his own now, ds won't be forgotten as we will always be looking expectantly at every clump of shrub or bush or tall grass anticipating our meeting once again.
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The eastern box turtle found yesterday still has no name. We can't come to any reasonable agreement - we are looking for a Shakespearan name or another meaningful name from some work of literature that we can all agree on. The discovered what turtle scat looks like (Allen then suggested naming her Winnie-who-Poohed but no one but Mitch seemed to think much of it). After a busy busy day, we were all showered and ready for bed while Allen mowed the lawn. We have had lots and lots of rain and our now lush green grass thoroughly enjoyed it - but, it did require a bit of a haircut. It didn't look so long until the neighbors all cut theirs. Anyway, at one point I could see Allen pouncing about the back area and moving fast. He grabbed a stick. A few minutes later, the neighbors -who must all have been sitting outside on the deck - came running (I am NOT kidding you) over to see what Allen had captured. I wonder what everyone thought when he held up a garter snake - only about 2 feet long. He had managed to only dazz the fellow and since these snakes are not protected species, popped him in with the turtle in the large aqarium on the table. The lid did not fit properly - it was just a large cookie sheet, afterall! We really should have known what was going to happen next. |