Time to Update!

Apparently, you know when you are getting behind, when friends start emailing you and asking for updates on your blog! Yikes! Has it been that long?

Well, we have had a very busy summer so far. One of the big issues here is, several forest fires breaking out all around our little town, leaving our air quality a little less than desirable. We are surrounded by forests and although it makes for a beautiful sight to behold, it does have its potential drawbacks, fire being a BIG one! Smoke jumpers and firefighters from all over the country have swarmed down upon us with hopes of containing the forest fires soon. I am looking forward to clean air and lying on my hammock once again. Our friends are hoping that there will be no more evacuations this season.

Well, most of you know I am dealing with a frozen shoulder. This has limited me in my movement of my right arm, the pain has subsided and now I am in the middle stage. Because of this, we have started school a little differently than in the past. We kept math going as that seems to be on subject the kids need to participate in all the time or they *loose* it, last week we added what will be the final two weeks of *Mystery of History Volume 1*…looking forward to starting Volume 2 by September! We have finished *Considering God’s Creation*, and *L* will move on to Apologia Physical Science, and *A* will work on Home Science Adventures, Astronomy, Birds and Magnetism. Both are labs and the kids are looking forward to some hands on Science! I have also added some Critical Thinking Workbooks to “enhance” their school day! (Sounds good to me!).

Titles include:

Arguments 7/12

Science Detective ¾

Descriptive Mysteries 4/7

Math Detective ¾

One of the issues that came up over this summer was *laziness*. Since I could use all the extra help around the house, I noticed some rolling of the eyes and whining when requests were made. No names will be mentioned here, but BOTH kids will be working out of *Instructions for Righteousness* under the topic of “laziness” until they get a handle on their attitudes. This will add more work to their day, but I know they will *thank* me with a joyful heart when their lesson is complete. Overall, we are all excited and ready to start the new school year

As for Mystery of History… we learned about Julius Caesar and Cleopatra this week. Of course, our Friday Night video (which will take two nights) will be the classic Hollywood version staring Elizabeth Taylor. Knowing Hollywood, accuracy was probably not a high priority, but it will be fun to watch the grandeur of the film…”they just don’t make them like they used too!” As my father will often say.

Just adding some Rodeo Pictures for your enjoyment!

The kids had a blast as they watched the Parade go down Main Street. Soon after that, they were off to the Rodeo that afternoon, to enjoy a fun filled day of junk food, sun and Rodeo Clowns.

It has been a very busy summer.

The kids next big thrill is having Nana arrive for a visit later this week.

"

Jacob Thomas Duckworth
May 27, 2000 - June 12, 2006

Last week I learned a valuable lesson from the LORD. I guess when it comes down to it; you are never too old to learn something new.

God still performs miracles!!! They may not be the ones you specifically prayed for, but none the less… miracles still happen. I witnessed one, even though I didn’t know it at the time.

If you have read my blog recently, you know that I had asked for prayers for two sweet little boys who were suffering with cancer. Two days after my prayer request both boys passed away. They were not related and lived in different states. I first heard about them from the FIAR Prayer board and I have been faithfully praying for them for many months. Our family checked their web pages daily, and I felt very attached to these boys.

So, like every morning, after breakfast I went to the computer to checked up on Jacob and Will.  Words can not express how devastated I was to read that Jacob had passed away. I had never read the archives and older entries about Jacob and I must say I really didn’t know much about his type of cancer, but I was convinced with the faith of his parents and the *thousands* of faithful prayer warriors, that Jacob would receive a miracle here on earth. I was not prepared for Jesus to take him so soon.

My thoughts were on that day: “Why did God say no to our prayers... why can't we experience miracles in our day and age?”

 It wasn't until later that week when I went back to Jacob's site that I learned that Jesus *did* perform a miracle in Jacob's life. I was unable to see the big picture through my sadness. Here is what Jacob's mom posted...and now, I truly understand why he was so Amazing!

"I hope you know what a miracle it is that Jacob lived so long. His disease was brutal - and his prognosis was terrible. When he was diagnosed in Feb. 2004, we were given a 10 percent chance of him living 9 months. So the fact that he lived strong for 28 months was a true miracle in itself. In fact - Jacob’s doctor said that Jacob was probably the longest survivor with unresected and active ACC tumors - because Jacob has had disease present on scans since June 2005. It is truly amazing that he lived through the past year - but we are so grateful for the gift of that time. Yes, Jacob makes us all believe in miracles."

Needless to say, I found myself coming before God and asking for forgiveness, for doubting Him. For not believing He would give Jacob a miracle. I didn’t see the big picture, and there is an even bigger one beyond that. It didn’t help much too loose Will on the same day, but I know God is in control, and I must trust in Him no matter what.

I just wanted to share what I learned this week.

BELIEVE!

What a handsome group!

Happy Father's Day

to the BEST Daddy

in all the world!

Daddy received *derwood* shirts and lots of chocolate!

Thank you Jesus for our Dad. 

Family and Friends:

I have been following two very special little boys who have been very sick these past few years. I first found out about them on the Five in a Row Prayer boards.

Please visit *JACOB* and *WILL* and PRAY PRAY PRAY!

Both of these boys need you right now, Lets all come together in the body of Christ and lift them up to the LORD.

My heart aches for these families...

Blessings,

Lorrie

Why do we mom’s worry about our kids scores? Let go and Let God and He will always prevail!

Those of you who know *A* quite well, know that she is not the child who wants to be caught with a book in her hand. This child is the one running around, creating, organizing, building, participating, all with a “no fear” sticker on her forehead!  Needless to say, I did not think I would see high scores in the reading department. Oh! She can read… but it’s not her favorite.

She surprised us all! Both reading and language expression were well above her grade level, I think she surprised herself! It is my hope that with these scores she will finally believe in herself and enjoy the reading process more. We shall see if she will voluntarily pick up a book and read it this summer!

On to math. We did not start a math program with *A* until 1^st grade. She wasn’t ready and I didn’t push. Technically she has always been a grade book behind, but has done well. We started third grade math in January. With math wrap ups, and other fun games she has really taken off and enjoyed this year in math. DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Five months into third grade math and she is ABOVE grade level!!!!!!!!! Math was her lowest score overall…but considering where we have been, she has surpassed all my expectations!

Overall her grade equivalent is 4.5!!!!!!!   BRAVO! MY Darling!

Dad took the kids flying yesterday.

The children enjoyed the magestic beauty

of our Creator

Photo by *A*

What a week! We started off on Monday with the required state test for *A*. I don’t know who was more nervous, my dear sweet girl, or me!!!! Mind you *A* is very bright…but it has to be on *her* terms and I wasn’t sure this would be the day she would agree to those terms or not. As it turned out…she loved taking the test and said “Mom it was fun!” So we survived testing day

The rest of the week was rather mellow as I am still having difficulty with my arm. However I did discover that a dear friend of mine Kristarella likes to clean bathrooms!!!! And she did a great job!

And finally….the BIG DAY arrived! Time to turn in those tokens! Remember I mentioned that I copied my friend’s idea about giving out tokens for certain accomplishments? Well both *L* and *A* earned tokens by reading books off my booklist, memorizing their Greek and Latin words, and scoring 100% on both math and spelling tests. Today was the day we went to the arcade center…all of the children were full of excitement and anticipation...two carloads of children and picnic lunches for after the fact.

The children were running back and forth, seeking out the machines that produced the most tickets. I think we could have earned better prizes from the dollar store, but it was the joy of playing the various games that shone through on their faces. After an exhausting two hours at the arcade it was off to lunch…yes that picnic lunch I mentioned…

We arrived at the local park to a few raindrops…the kids were able to get some playing time in on the equipment, and to down their lunches before running off again. The skies grew darker. The kids didn’t seem to notice. How do they play like that when all of us mom’s were huddled in the van thinking of chocolate and coffee?

I think we knew it was time to go when the hail started coming down…a lot of it! It looked like snow on the ground. Watching the hail plummet the earth just made the kids more, shall we say, “wound up”? I thought for sure by the time we arrived home, the kids would crash…I was wrong…it was me, the one who didn’t play the arcades, and didn’t run and jump on the play equipment, who found comfort in the nice warm van, yes it was me who took a little rest when we got home…and rumor has it, I wasn’t the only mom crashed on the couch!!!! kristarella

School has officially ended for this school year.

Halleluiah!