A Glance at 2008 with the McEndarfer’s

January – Every January we sit down and come up with a list of new skills we would like to learn through the year. This year was different. Each child prayerfully considered choosing a mentor from our church. That has been a blessing far beyond anything I imagined. Roy continues to work hard at Aroostook Trusses. It’s amazing how big some of the loads are he delivers.

February – Homeschooling continues to be a priviledge. Teaching the alphabet one minute and then moving right into Biology adds many dimensions to our experience. The children are all doing well. Each month it seems we are celebrating another birthday and that adds a lot to our year.

March – We enjoy serving in and through the church family as a family. Roy is especially enjoying teaching an adult Sunday School class using Answers in Genesis curriculum.

April – I believe it was in April when Gregory trusted Jesus to be his very own Savior. There is nothing more important to us as parents than to know our children belong to HIM.

May – We opened up Mainely Grains. It is our family business and it’s good to have a child working with me each day, we’re learning a lot and taking it very slowly. We sell whole grains, spices and herbs along with teaching workshops. We’re hoping to be online soon.  

Planting the gardens has become a highlight in May. We’ve tried our hand at wheat this year and next year hope to do oats and barley as well.

A trip to Mass was enjoyed. It’s always nice to visit with family and friends. Sometimes this nine hour drive seems so very far away and we so miss folks. Would love to have you visit us.

June – Christina and Christopher attended CYIA. It was a blessing to work with two of them at the local fair for a couple of days. Christopher is excited about a truck he’ll be picking up to help with the plowing here. Gregory and  Rebeccah are excited about school every day and they have reminded me of just how much fun teaching little ones can be.

July – Christina went to NYC with CEF and worked teaching 5 Day Clubs in China town. She also attended a weekend at NBBI this fall to become acquainted with it. She’s not sure what her next step will be. Timothy enjoyed time with his mentor throughout the year and was blessed with a very special award that was granted to his mentor and then given to him. He holds that as a treasure.

August – Being outdoors, working in the gardens, schooling and now Mainely Grains took up every day of the summer. Benjamin spent a great deal reading and won awards for two different reading programs. Canning, drying and freezing all take a good chunk of our time as well.

September – The older children spent a couple of weeks working for a local organic potato farmer hand picking potatoes. Great experience for them, the younger ones got to try their hand as well for a few hours. Jonathan spent a week of intense moose hunting. While no moose was to be had he learned a great deal and loved spending that time with his mentor.

October – The children started Northern Maine Wreaths. Jonathan spent a day deer hunting too, he is very interested in the outdoors and has begun work on a nature trail. Clearing paths, identifying plants and making signs for them, all make it a fun and hard working project. He hopes to be done by next fall and thinks it might end up being a mile long.

November – Making the wreaths has begun and will keep us all busy through Christmas. Jonathan enjoyed his 16^th birthday with a steak and shoot party. Men from the church came and went target shooting and then we all enjoyed a nice dinner and blessings for Jonathan were spoken by several. Christopher went trapping with a Maine guide friend of ours and learned a lot.

December – We are looking forward to celebrations throughout the month including a dinner theater that Christina, Jonathan, Christopher and Benjamin are involved in.

Roy and I often talk about our move here and how amazing it all is. While financial bumps in the road have come so have blessings that surpass all of that. We are looking forward to going through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University together right after Christmas. We are dreaming of buying the land around us and it would be neat to see that come to be.

We never send pictures but thought it would be nice to include one here since we’ve carried over to two pages now. Hehe! Have a blessed Christmas! We would love to hear from you and what you’re up to.

Roy, Annette, Christina, Jonathan, Christopher, Benjamin, Timothy, Gregory and Rebeccah

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