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~From My Son~

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delicate little plant in need of freedom. Einstein quote at DailyLearners.com

Dec. 31, 2008
~ Looking Back Meme ~

Kelli is again hosting this fun meme. Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. You can also add a favorite picture from each month. Here are mine:

January

Usually, taking down the Christmas decorations is a bit sad.

February

For all those who are wondering, the big storm was a big bust.

March

Tomorrow, my hard working husband has his first day off since his birthday party in January!

April

I had a couple of weeks where I just could not think of an unique way to save money, but I am back with this one.

May

I am thankful that the above verse is true.

June

Outside My Window... it's a lovely day! A Robin sits high in a tree surveying the land.

July

Wordless Wednesday: Library Love

August

I look forward to each and every Show & Tell with Mary.

September

While I was away, I read a fantastic book by Elizabeth George, my favorite contemporary Christian author.

October

I want to give a big thank you to all of you who have been leaving me the kind cbox messages all week, encouraging me and praying for me.

November

Outside My Window... I can see blue sky through some thin cloud coverage.

December

In the event that you do not hear from this blogger for a day or two, please remain calm.

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Dec. 29, 2008
~ Ramblings of a Wii Addict ~

Hello Friends,

Like the rest of you, I've been a little busy with my real life to give my blog much attention since last Monday. Our Christmas plans went smoothly and we survived another year. I have to say I am very grateful for the many blessings my family received. I am always humbled by others generosity.

I have a ton of photos to share. Probably not going to put many on here as they would bore others to tears. How many pictures of cookies, excited kids, wrapping paper everywhere does one need to see?

I did get a splendid gift from my sweet husband. He got me a small digital picture frame! I can now watch my photos instead of wishing I had them printed out to see once in awhile. Very thoughtful gift, indeed!

The highlight of our Christmas has been our Wii. The five of us are hooked and will be entering rehab this spring when we actually have to go outside and do sports. I can see the kids now as I explain that they cannot take Wii Outdoor Adventure camping with us in June. Won't be pretty. I'll probably be the worst of them all. I love my Wii Fit!

I am working on my list of goals for 2009. Are you?

I have also been enjoying using Twitter to keep up with a few of you all. If you don't Twitter, you should look into it. It's like a giant cbox with all your friends leaving quick messages all day long. Fun, fun, fun! Oh, give it a try, please! And let me know when you sign up, OK? I am Jenn4him on Twitter, btw.

Have a great week!

Jenn

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Dec. 23, 2008
~ Making Christmas Cookies ~

Yesterday was the big cookie making day. We went to Nana's house and pretty much made a huge mess! But what a yummy mess it was! We baked the whole day. It is a joy to have my mom so close by and able to spend a day making memories. Grace was the only child to hang on until the end. You can see the boys gave up to watch a movie or play on the computer. The cookies are safe at Nana's house. Tomorrow evening we will pig out! Thank you, Mom for the pizza, as well. Yummy! I didn't want dinner last night.

Today and tomorrow we are expecting some winter weather, so I had to change my plans to go see my grandparents who live an hour away. I am very sad about this, but realize that is the way things go sometimes. My mom will bring them some of the cookies on Christmas day. And I will go see them next week when the weather cooperates.

Merry Christmas!

Jenn

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Nov. 17, 2008
~ FYI ~

We're getting a new internet service provider today!
I hope to be back online soon.
Blessings on your day.

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Oct. 30, 2008
~ So far this week... ~

With a birthday there comes celebration!

So far this birthday week has been a very nice one and it is far from over. There is the Fall Harvest Party at church on Friday, birthday party for a friend of Trevor's on Saturday at a bounce place, and Trevor's family party on Sunday.

Already this week we've been to a pumpkin patch with friends and to the museum. Here are some photos from those events.

Good friends...

City boy's dream...

Act silly...

Corn Maze!

Our trip to the museum on Trevor's birthday...

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Oct. 29, 2008
~ Happy Birthday Baby! ~

Today Trevor, my baby, turns seven!!!

Now...

The night you were born... the first time I really saw you...

WE PRAISE GOD FOR YOU, DEAR TREVOR!!!!
Happy 7th Birthday!!!

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Oct. 20, 2008
~ My Birthday Hike ~

I had a wonderful birthday. We spent the afternoon hiking trails at Turkey Run State Park, near Marshall, IN. As you will see, it was a lovely day to be outside. After our wanderings, they took me to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday dinner. Yum-o! I love going there because you can get great steamed vegetables and a lean steak and not kill your diet. And all 5 of us shared dessert, so it was a good diet friendly birthday!

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Oct. 14, 2008
~ True Woman 08 ~

I've been home for a few days now and all that time I have been trying to think of a way to describe for you what True Woman 08 was to me. I don't think I have the words yet! But I wanted to at least say something and post a couple pictures.

First of all, you have to go to True Woman's website. Read the manifesto. Sign it and join the movement. Then listen for yourself. Listen to all the wonderful speakers. The messages are on the website for free. Then you will be blessed and encouraged yourself.

I did have the awesome pleasure of meeting Marla and her sweet daughter at True Woman 08. (That was like the icing on the cake, so to speak!) Like I said, the weekend was wonderful, a blessing to me, a very encouraging time. I am so excited to be a True Woman!

First glimpse of The Sears Tower

The Sears Tower, as we were driving by.

More skyline of Chicago.

US Cellular Field, home of the White Sox

IKEA (We just had to stop and check it out.)

All of us at Red Robin for dinner.

Marla and me

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Oct. 5, 2008
~ Our Trip to the Lake ~

Hello friends. Yesterday my family and I made the 3 hour drive up to Lake Michigan to spend the day. It's a so worth the effort. The slide show at the top of my blog is from our time at Indiana Dunes State Park, dinner in Michigan City and a quick trip to Pro Bass, my new favorite camping store.

It was a cool day as you can see from our jackets, in the upper 50's, but the air was so refreshing. I was still not feeling well, so I stayed on the beach and read while the family hiked the dunes. I think the fresh air did me wonders as I am feeling less congested today. If only my explosive cough would go away, I'd be feeling great.

Here is one photo that I did not put on the slide show. It was taken from the top of a dune looking down at the beach house and lake. You can almost see Chicago if you look really carefully at the middle of the lake. You have to really look for it, but it is there, I promise.

If you want to see more photos from the nature preserve hike, please visit my nature blog.

Have a blessed Monday. I'll be around after lessons and as life allows.

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Sep. 29, 2008
~ Big Weekend ~

Oh, it was a glorious weekend. Here are some pictures. First, up, we had both our mother's over on Saturday for a celebration of their September birthdays.

(That's a huge keylime pie from Costco, in case you were wondering. And, yes, I ate more than my share! )

Then after Sunday School, Sunday morning, Mama Karen, Grace and I drove 2 hours south to a family wedding. This was Grace's first wedding! (Oh! She was in girlie heaven this weekend!)

My cousin, Michele, the bride, was very sweet to Grace and gave her lots of favors. Grace is now planning her very own wedding, with no groom, as every 9 year old girl should.

Here is Grace with the cake.

And here is my new cousin, Samantha.

Babies and weddings, what more could a 9 year old girl want?

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Sep. 23, 2008
~ Empty Head Syndrome ~

I have nothing to say. I have no cute pictures to post. I am officially without blog content. I am drawing a blank, a big fat zero. No silly quiz to post either. Nothing. No meme, either. Boy, are you glad you are here visiting me or what!

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Sep. 22, 2008
~ A Special Day ~

Tomorrow the 23rd is my father's birthday! He reads my blog quite often, so I thought I would use this as a way to wish him a wonderful day. He lives in CT, so I won't be able to see him and give him a birthday hug in person. (I'll call you later, Dad! )
I love you!

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Sep. 16, 2008
~ Just 100 days until Christmas! ~

Yes, it is true. There are only 100 days left until Christmas. Here at our house, we start the countdown early. Today we brought out the Christmas music, will have cookies on our Santa plate for dessert, and my oldest brought in his little tree with lights from the garage, so we even have a tree for tonight's festivities. The kids are are planning to watch a Christmas movie as well. Kind of silly, I know, but hey, we need some silly time right now. But seriously, my husband and I have always said that we need to start getting ready for Christmas earlier and this looks like the year. We already have the kids' major gift purchased and we have a photo for our Christmas cards picked out. We'll order them at Sam's soon. Perhaps this year we will glide through Christmas and enjoy it along the way instead of all the rush right at the end. Oh, and if you remember from last year, I was eager to tell the kids about Santa? Well, it is done and they were fine with reality. This year we will celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with a little culture thrown in. After all we are a product of how we were raised and for us, it is not dishonoring to Jesus to have a little Christmas cheer.
Blessings.

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Sep. 9, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day 4 ~

Day four was an interesting day, indeed. We had the chance to drive around and see a lot of NW Arkansas. We started by visiting Bentonville, the birthplace of Walmart. We visited Sam Walton's first store, Walton's 5-10, located on the quaint town square. It's a neat museum. We even got to see his old pick up truck.

We had lunch at Chick-fil-A that day and went back to the bakery in Fayetteville. Then we went to play Gator Golf. Man, was it a hot day and those pesky bugs wanted a piece of me!!!!

Both my dh and youngest got holes in one on different holes. It was a lovely setting, but such a hot day that we opted to leave after one round and go swimming. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos swimming because my camer is not water proof. Swimming on a hot day was absolutely divine!
And that's the end of day 4.

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Sep. 9, 2008
~ Happy Birthday Mama Karen ~

Today is a very special day! Mama Karen is having a birthday! But, she is in Canada on a business trip and I am so sad that I can't celebrate with her. She doesn't even have a laptop to check the blogs, so I will have to just wait until she gets home to give her a big hug. Anyway, I sure do love my mom and wish her the happiest of birthdays. The happiest she can have so far away from almost everyone who loves her that is. Until then, this will have to do...

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Sep. 8, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day 3 of Vacation ~

Life has come at me full force since we've been home from vacation. I wanted to have all my vacation posts done last week. Oh well... today is another day!

On the third day of vacation, we re-visited our favorite spot in the Ozark Mountains, The Wilder Home in Mansfield, Missouri.

At a casual glance and to the uninformed, this little white farm house appears to be nothing special. But to the avid fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, it is like Mecca! (Not that I worship her.

) She spent all of her adult life here at this farm, 60 some years! And she wrote all the books here too.

Like I said, this is the second year that we've visited this museum. Last year, my grandparents traveled with us and did not want to go on to see the second house on the property, so it was nice to get to see it this time.

The two homes are connected by a half mile path that leads up a 60 foot hill, past a pasture and through some woods. It was a lovely afternoon walk after a 3 hour drive from Arkansas. As I walked the path Laura used to walk, I kept thinking of how hard they had to work to subdue the land. Incredible! And Almanzo was lame!

There were some pretty views from the top of the hill.

The Rock House was built by their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, as a surprise Christmas present for the Wilders when they were older. She wanted them to have a more modern house. They lived there for 7 or 8 years and then moved back to the farm house they loved so much.

Sorry, they only let you take photos from the outside.

After visiting the gift shop, we traveled through town to visit their graves.

Thanks for taking the time to read about our vacation. Hopefully there will be more tomorrow. Now it it time to get our lessons started.

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Sep. 3, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day Two ~

While the kids are watching a Moody Science Video, I thought I'd post a few pictures from our second day of vacation. I won't bore you to death with all of them. (hee, hee) We went to an airport museum in Arkansas. Personally, I was a bit hot from the Arkansas sunshine and a bit surprised that they charged a family of 5 $20 to see some old planes, but I think the kids had fun.

Jeff met a new friend.

Ryan learned to fly.

Grace and I shared a shady spot.

Oh, but before the air museum, we stopped by a friend's bakery in Fayetteville.

So the day was not a total loss. A day is never wasted spent with family, so old planes or not, it was a lovely day.

Love those mountains!

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Sep. 2, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Vacation Day 1 ~

I thought I'd do a day by day in pictures of our vacation, starting with the day we left. I can't believe we were on the road at daybreak. Our goal was to leave a little earlier, but in reality we left as soon as we were able.

And as always, the van was fully loaded down! Most of this is food for the road!

Since we are a low tech family, reading was the best way to pass the time.

Or sleeping..

The big deal for us is to reach the St. Louis Arch.

Someday we'd love to stop and explore this city. But this year we were headed to Arkansas. And more of our trip another time. Thanks for stopping by.

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Aug. 30, 2008
~ Home Sweet Home ~

Oh, I am home, sweet, home! I missed my kitty and my bed and most of all the wonderful Indiana weather. No offense intended, but it is HOT down south! One day in Oklahoma it is was 104! No thank you! I love Indiana. I think that is what is best about going away...coming home!

We did have a wonderful time. Spending days on end together as a family was such a treat. The kids were so well behaved. We ended up driving 2000 miles with all the little side trips we took. But the kids did great.

I'll have some pictures later in the week. Right now we have the rest of the weekend together and I am not going to be on the computer much until Tuesday. Just wanted to say hello!

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Aug. 23, 2008
~ Blog Withdraw Symptoms Set In... ~

Good morning friends. Tomorrow is the big day, our family vacation to Arkansas begins. Needless to say there is plenty going on here today in preparation. I just wanted to say good-bye for now. My grandma does have a computer, so I will be in touch this week a little, I hope. Although she has so many plans for us to keep busy. We're going to The Oklahoma Aquarium, Laura Wilder's farm in Missouri, an indoor aquatic center, and an airplane museum. Of course, I will bring back lots of pictures for future Show & Tell Fridays! So, have a great week. I'll be in blog withdraw. The symptoms are already starting. (*wink*)

I just hope I don't loose my standings as the 4th most frequent commentator on HSB!!!! (Mary is number 2, I think. )

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~ All About Me ~

Hello and welcome. My name is Jenn. This blog is where you'll find recorded the happenings of a very busy homeschooling family striving to be a light in our world for Jesus. We are also raving fans of Sonlight Curriculum. Class is always in session and we're tested every day.

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~Say Hello~

~From My Son~

~ How's My Weather? ~

~ My Favorite Links ~

Dec. 31, 2008~ Looking Back Meme ~

Dec. 29, 2008~ Ramblings of a Wii Addict ~

Dec. 23, 2008~ Making Christmas Cookies ~

Nov. 17, 2008~ FYI ~

Oct. 30, 2008~ So far this week... ~

Oct. 29, 2008~ Happy Birthday Baby! ~

Oct. 20, 2008~ My Birthday Hike ~

Oct. 14, 2008~ True Woman 08 ~

Oct. 5, 2008~ Our Trip to the Lake ~

Sep. 29, 2008~ Big Weekend ~

Sep. 23, 2008~ Empty Head Syndrome ~

Sep. 22, 2008~ A Special Day ~

Sep. 16, 2008~ Just 100 days until Christmas! ~

Sep. 9, 2008~ Memory Lane: Day 4 ~

Sep. 9, 2008~ Happy Birthday Mama Karen ~

Sep. 8, 2008~ Memory Lane: Day 3 of Vacation ~

Sep. 3, 2008~ Memory Lane: Day Two ~

Sep. 2, 2008~ Memory Lane: Vacation Day 1 ~

Aug. 30, 2008~ Home Sweet Home ~

Aug. 23, 2008~ Blog Withdraw Symptoms Set In... ~

~ All About Me ~

~ My Blog Calendar ~

~ Recent Posts ~

~ Blog Things ~

~ Friends ~

~Blog Design by Jenn4him~

~Template Gift of 2Peter318~

Dec. 31, 2008
~ Looking Back Meme ~

Dec. 29, 2008
~ Ramblings of a Wii Addict ~

Dec. 23, 2008
~ Making Christmas Cookies ~

Nov. 17, 2008
~ FYI ~

Oct. 30, 2008
~ So far this week... ~

Oct. 29, 2008
~ Happy Birthday Baby! ~

Oct. 20, 2008
~ My Birthday Hike ~

Oct. 14, 2008
~ True Woman 08 ~

Oct. 5, 2008
~ Our Trip to the Lake ~

Sep. 29, 2008
~ Big Weekend ~

Sep. 23, 2008
~ Empty Head Syndrome ~

Sep. 22, 2008
~ A Special Day ~

Sep. 16, 2008
~ Just 100 days until Christmas! ~

Sep. 9, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day 4 ~

Sep. 9, 2008
~ Happy Birthday Mama Karen ~

Sep. 8, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day 3 of Vacation ~

Sep. 3, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Day Two ~

Sep. 2, 2008
~ Memory Lane: Vacation Day 1 ~

Aug. 30, 2008
~ Home Sweet Home ~

Aug. 23, 2008
~ Blog Withdraw Symptoms Set In... ~