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O.k. time has gotten away from me. It’s been at least 6 weeks since I’ve done an updated blog post and the entire month of April is goooooone! We’re counting down the last few weeks until our sweet Gabriel Judah is due to arrive. Naomi is no longer saying “I like your fat tummy mommy.” Now she’s verbalizing “there’s a baby in your tummy, can you make him come out?!” Jadin and Zion are excited since they know all the snuggling and goo-gooing a new baby brings. They have big plans for him already. Since he is their third brother, they can now live out their dreams of remaking the three Amigo’s movie. My mom is doing a baby shower shindig later this month. I’ve done the whole registering at Target thing and am digging through the attic bags for little boy clothes etc. Each kid goes through so much “stuff” and I’m definitely NOT going any further in life w/o a double stroller (in Jesus mighty name)!
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We are wrapping up school for this year. I’m pacing that we’ll finish up around the week the baby is due. All though we never really stop ;) The kids want me to reread them all the E.B. White books and the C.S. Lewis Narnia Series this summer. Both boys are going to continue working through their reading levels this summer as well, no reason to ever stop the reading. Zion is reading on a 3rd grade level now and still carries books with him wherever he goes. He also has discovered a new love of alphabetizing word lists like big brother Jadin does. He begs for more math mazes of 1-100 to unscramble and put in proper number order. Home Educating the 2nd for me has been such a blessing b/c as I always tell Jadin, he’s been my genie pig ;o) We’ve known since Jadin was 2 that Homeschooling was what God had for our family. Our first 2 years, although I never thought twice or questioned our decision, were bumpy while we ironed out wrinkles and found a mode of learning that worked well for our family. It’s been a journey that we’ve had to trust the Lord on. He never leads us on any other kind. There are families who come to us now for advice that are seeking direction for their family on home education. They generally are receiving a lot of opposition and negativity from people in their lives that they’d like support from. Our words of wisdom are just like anything that God calls you to do, your going to have opposition. Ultimately, you have to know what God has directed your household to do and let His peace lead you. As we move toward our 5th year, I can say without a moment of hesitation, that once I stopped trying to work my plan and sought God for His plan on our curriculum, subjects taught, books read, sports played etc, these last 2 years have been peace filled and very successful. The greatest aspect is we know the best is yet to come! Last night Zion read me a book all about the Anatomy of a Snail. He thought it was so cool and kept saying “Look at how God made him!” He was amazed that all the same organs are curled up in a different way, however, it works well for the snail.
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Jadin’s math brain has really turned on and he’s very useful! This was proved out the last time we did our big grocery-shopping trip together. He rounded each individual item (of two full carts of food) to the nearest dollar amount as we shopped. His overall estimate was within 84 cents of the grand total! The best part is I didn’t say “o.k. do you’re rounding while we shop, let‘s get some math out of this.” He was self-led and I know all the home educating moms will give me an “Amen” here! Jadin has started his “2009 catch-and-release program” for bullfrogs, giant goldfish, crayfish and water lizards. I count this as Animal Science credit. I came home the other day to a bucket full of 32 bullfrogs. Yesterday after his lessons he took out to the big pond rock his art supplies and binoculars. He sat there and bird watched for over an hour and drew several outstanding bird/wildlife pictures. We also had one beautiful day this week that was 90 degrees. For “P.E” we broke out the new wiggling water sprinkler in the field. I got some great videos and pictures of that afternoon. It also wouldn’t be spring without us rereading Ol’ Yeller. The kids have it practically memorized and laugh/cry out loud throughout it. Ice-skating continues for both boys. Their group classes are finished until Fall. Grandmother has them taking private lessons from her coach who is a former Disney skater (and was home schooled 7-12 grade ;0) until their group lessons start again. Naomi want’s nothing more than to turn 3 and get her “pink princess ice skates.” Last time I went to watch the boys skate it was a full cardio work out for me to keep her off the ice. Jadin is torn now between being a professional Ice Skater or a MMA fighter (since he saw his uncle’s fight). I told him at 8 it’s o.k. to do it all (or be a grown up like mom and still do it all ;)
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Praise God, Trav got his new position on day shift at his work that we‘ve been believing for! No more zombie night shift or cut hours! 7-3 Monday-Friday w/ every weekend off!!! It’s a Preventive Maintenance position that only he and one other person do for his company that runs machines 24/7 with over 300 employees. What this means is they need him to keep things running and that‘s good job security! At home he’s been busy in the yard, hauling loads to the landfill, making rock piles at the pond etc. He’s in “Man Heaven” getting his Cub Cadet mower next week (lightly used/2 years old). It’s all he talks about…it’s engine…the size of it’s mowing deck…there’s a twinkle in his eye about it…maybe I should worry?
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We did have 2 foster children for 3 weeks. It was a good experience over all, we learned a lot…and we’ll be looking to the Lord for his perfect fit for our family. I have 2 more weeks in my current Liberty University classes. May 11th I start two more for the summer, Bible 104 and Education 200. I’m on track to finish this B.S. degree by next spring. I’ve been very blessed getting scholarships for most of it so it’s been like paying for 1 class a semester vs. 4 - Thank You Lord!
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Besides all our little family updates I’ve been really pushing deeper in the things of God and making starting my days spending time w/ Him a priority. My challenge has been needing extra sleep while carrying the baby and trying to still get up early. Satan uses anything to keep us/me out of God’s Word. I’ve been making my flesh sow that precious time with Him even when I’ve gotten up late (which is everyday these days :0) and even when my to-do list is overwhelming. He really has multiplied my time and I’ve lost nothing but only gained by doing this. I know God spoke some awesome truths to me twelve years ago about His call on my life. Yep, twelve years. Where have they gone, well that’s another book for later, but I believe nothing is wasted in the Lord! All of lifes experiences will be used for His glory! As our Pastor has been preaching lately, I’m ready to stop living under the radar and push deeper into knowing Jesus in a mighty way. I want to be ready for whatever God has for me. The main lie that I’ve heard from the enemy is “Jesus is coming back soon, so don’t worry about it anyway...there's not enough time.“ Well, should the Lord come tonight I want Him to find me pushing forward into the things of Him. Not sitting around being lukewarm and coasting through the finish line. Maybe I’ll never get to live out the ministry in my heart, but as long as I have Him, I really don’t care anymore. I just want to know Jesus more, hear from Him more, and sit at His feet more. I want to wake up in the mornings with Him singing over me, close my eyes one day and wake up beholding His beauty. I’m all sappy over my Lord and proud of it! I heard another Pastor in our church say “ I wish I had more than one life to live for Jesus” and that rings so true for me…Lord I wish I had 1,000 life times to live everyday for Your glory….but help me live this one and not miss one thing you have for me! Let me not waste one day of this precious gift. It's NOT about me, it's all about You Lord!
"TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE
AND THE THINGS OF EARTH WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE."
Words/Music by Helen Howarth Lemel
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http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aNR-gnyzyGR98CzSfotYgA?feat=directlink
~90 Degree Day Pictures ~Princess Naomi Pictures~Homeschooling Table Work Pictures~
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