From Voice of the Martyrs:   

Pastor Bike, as he is affectionately known, is considered to be one of the most outspoken evangelists in China. He is a bold believer willing to cross borders, hand out Christian literature and Bibles, share Christ with those under age 18 and lead thousands to Christ. All these actions are considered "illegal" in communist China.

On August 6, just two days before the Olympics began, Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan was arrested, along with his wife and a coworker.

Go to FreePastorBike.com to sign the petition now.

We are winding down to the day when I can hold this little bundle in my arms instead of grabbing my stomach when she decides to pull her "I'm a baby mule" kicking act.  We are all so excited around here. Big Brother certainly is holding out for a boy. Now that's faith!  He said, "I've heard those tests can be wrong. I may have a brother yet."   I've got to get a few more things, but by this weekend, we should be officially ready...I hope!

School is going well. We are actually where I thought we'd be in most subjects and a little ahead in others. I've had to make some adjustments, though. Doing the Plants Grown up and Polished Cornerstones materials on Tuesdays and Thursday is too much. So, quite simply, we've dropped that part for now.  However, we are using "The Brother Offended Checklist" and our "Blessing Chart".  These are so easy to hang up and reference as needed!  Doorposts materials are, in my opinion, well worth the price.  We've also switched to working through the book of Matthew and our weekly Contenders for the Faith and Keepers at Home projects are going well.

We've had to work like borrowed mine-mules, but that two-week vacation when we bring"Charlene Darling" home is getting much closer!  The kids seem to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment at how much THEY have done. They really like the praise from their Dad, too, over their hard work.  They are more able to work independently than before and I think that's going to be an asset in several ways. One, they practice being self-motivated and disciplined. Two, it helps lighten my load tremendously. Three, it will give them a legit excuse to not be around when diaper changes are needed....

My outside activities are pretty much at a halt---well, after today they are. Contractions, fatigue, etc. have all forced my husband to tell me: "Hon, STOP!"  That was Sunday  night. I said if he could just bear with me until Wednesday, I ought to be able to slow down.

So after getting the church library out of storage and restocked on shelves [we had to store it during a recent remodel], three doctor appointments, cooking for a bereaved family at church, getting women's group flyers printed, Sunday school lessons ready, teaching two at home, killing weeds around the sidewalks, yanking up half our small garden, umpteen loads of laundry, grocery shopping, picking up garbage that a neighbor's dog spread across the back yard,  errands in town, beginning to sew a skirt, and scrubbing the kitchen floor [yikes! I hope hubby doesn't read that], ALL since Monday afternoon, I think I'll try to rest at least by Friday. But Saturday is ironing day and we have a young adults get together from church and a family reunion and I was supposed to sing at church this coming Sunday night....you get the picture.

Whew, I need cup of Yorkshire tea and a long Psalm to relax!

Better plans and a more organized approach to record keeping for school has made a  huge difference in this year already.  And I LOVE  the Bright Ideas Press materials [type it in the CBD search box in my sidebar]. Mystery of History 2 and Christian Kids Explore Chemistry are outstanding texts with fun projects. Hats off to those folks--they've got this homeschooler as a repeat customer.  They are easy to use and flexible, but are academically "meaty".   Besides, I like supporting products BY homeschoolers FOR homeschoolers.  There are so many choices these days for homeschoolers, some quality, a lot not, that I just prefer to keep our homeschool buck supporting the people who "get it." 

I'm hoping to get some pics of my  latest completed projects up--Thelma Lou's yellow gingham dress and Charlene Darling's baby blanket. My cell phone's camera function isn't cooperating with me.  We also took a trip recently to Fall Creek Falls State Park and got some pretty good pictures. Just can't get them downloaded to the computer and thus uploaded to the blog.

Thanks everyone for all the sweet comments here recently. Your prayers and friendship are valued! I'll be commenting back very soon.

In CHRIST, Gin

I love "nesting" for a new baby.  I just love all things homey. Maybe it's not the neatest or best decorated around here, but it's cozy  and welcoming.

The smell of grape juice dripping through a jelly bag is floating through the house on breezes through the large open windows.  Little pink dresses and ruffled blankets are being sorted and stacked everywhere, much to my daughter's and my delight, and brother 's disgust.  A soft crocheted blanket in progress is draped across the arm of my favorite living room easy chair. A cup of Yorkshire tea is waiting for me in my dear little rose patterned teacup.  A bird entertainings us as it performs loudly but sweetly on the porch railing outside the nearest open window to the schoolroom.

This is such a soft day---if feels like September already. The sky is already September blue and the morning was cool and clear. Even the old yellow dog sensed cooler weather and sprang around joyfully.  I might have pet him but he was very wet after romping through dew-soaked field grass.

This is a good day.  Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Very glad.

On August 12, 1995 my sweet Mother went home to be with Jesus.  The cancer had racked her body and made her too weak too speak. It had spread and devoured her flesh, but her soul belonged to Christ Jesus.  He himself said, "...I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28).  This was what kept her going.

I never really understood Mother's faith. Barely out of my teens, I was a nominal Christian, merely a churchgoer. Her Christian life consisted of  much more than a habitual appointment on Sundays and Wednesdays. She carried on with grace that I certainly didn't possess.

There are so many memories of Mom's last days. Friends' kindnesses, heart breaking goodbyes, last smiles.  But now, to me at least,  it is her faithfulness that stands out. When my faith crumpled, hers was sure.  I didn't think about her faith or mine much at all for the next couple of years. My grief swallowed me and I still had a lot of growing up to do. Eventually though, I began to re-think my relationship with God.

It was my husband's growing faith and the preaching of a faithful  minister that triggered the change in my spiritual life. However, I didn't come quietly. I argued, I resisted,  I resented inferences that I needed help beyond myself.  I didn't like one bit the truth that finally became irresistable.   The casual Christianity I'd adopted began to be replaced by a real, living  faith in the real, living Son of God.  The teachings from the Bible seemed to explode with greater urgency and clarity than ever before.  The gentle example of a loving husband, the sound reasoning and clear teaching from Scripture by a faithful pastor, and the constant reaching out by God the Holy Spirit won in the end.

I don't think I'll ever be as strong as Mom was. But at last the source of her faith is clear---the Jesus of the Bible, the resurrected Savior.  Of all the gifts she gave me, an introduction to Him is the best and most lasting.

I've often been asked, "What about socialization?"  Then I launch into my defense of the homeschooling lifestyle, peppering it with all the times my children have behaved well, participated in outside activities, and behaved  "normally" for children. But in the back of my mind I remember all the weirdness and can't help but think, "What if the socialization people knew this?" Little incidents like:

**At the eye doctor's office this week, two ladies looked at my daughter and asked her some questions. With two peppermints in her mouth she se replies, "I just come in here for the candy."

**Dear son, aka Earnest T., says, "Mom, I want a chainsaw for my birthday. "  He's got a thing for powertools.

**On the phone with my best pal [who only has daughters] in mid-conversation I inject to my son, "Son, don't use the power tools in the living room floor." My friend cackles in laughter. "What?" I ask. "Haven't you ever said that before?"

**Dear Daugher, Thelma Lou, asks while watching and Andy Griffith Show episode [of course], "Mom, is there love between those two? They look like they're about to kiss or something. "  My wise reply? "Ask your Dad."

**The photographer asks Thelma Lou, "What color are your eyes?"  Her answer? "I don't know. I can't see my eyeballs."

**Upon entering a local clothing store, my sheltered kids cringe at the really raucous music on the loudspeakers. My six year old puts her hands on her hips and asks [LOUDLY], "Why do they play that ungodly junk? Don't they have any cd's of Jim and Marie? " [Jim and Marie are a couple who go to our church and have sung in groups in this area for over thirty years.]

Maybe those socialization folks are onto something......but I'm not too worried about it. My guess is that their kids are weird, too.

I've got to crow just a little because I have a feeling that my taut ship will sink  later on in the school year. I'm going to enjoy this smooth start while I can.  This is an odd time for us to start back to school. We never start this early, but with baby number three on the way, I'll have to have some time off later in the schoolyear. No doubt our schedule will change drastically then!

By the way, I don't put my children's real names or pics on the web---they go by codenames on this blog, related to the Andy Griffith Show. Kid 1 is Earnest T. Bass, kid 2  is Thelma Lou. I'm torn between Charlene Darling or Josephine Pike for baby #3.

School is going very well. We're getting done earlier than we ever have, accomplishing more than we have before, and have free time in the afternoons. WHOO-HOO!  Here it is 12 noon and the kids are through with Bible, reading, science, grammar, spelling, handwriting, math, and our Contenders for the Faith/Keepers At Home lessons. We're done with laundry, lunch, and getting ready to run some errands in town.

We've also canned peaches, shucked/frozen corn, and gotten the house in a little better order. Not perfect, but better.

Pinch me, is this MY life? The perpetual running-behinder?  I need to remember this incredible start by commemorating it on the blog.  One day soon when I'm up at 2 in the morning with Charlene/Josephine, I'm going to remember with fondness that once, once upon a time things went like clockwork.

We had such a great time at homecoming--lots of friendly faces, great music, outstanding preaching, and out-of-this world food.  Jerry and Little Jan Goff were our featured singers, and Dr. Jerry  delivered a message that took us thorugh the book of Philippians.  We were blessed to have them with us.

We had a death in our church family this weekend. A sweet little lady who'd been on chemo and was counting down till her last day of treatment--she wanted to try to come eat with all of us. She was also really looking forward to the Southern Gospel music. Now she's with the Master, which I'm sure is a better homecoming than all she'd hoped homecoming at Friendship would be.

Oh, I just got an email from Nancy over at Homeschooling Is Life. She's posted  pictures up of what she and the kids entered at the fair this year. I insist you stop reading this blog RIGHT NOW and go read this entry:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ByHisGraceInColorado/565218/?#c1108936

Way to go, you guys!