I'm a homeschooling mom of four little girls ages 6,7,8,10. My husband is a minister and we live in Indiana. I love my life with my funny husband and girls! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 8 May 2007 22:28:00 -0500 Tue, 8 May 2007 22:28:00 -0500 Well, I've done it. I've moved my blog. I debated forever... I just love the HSB community and I know I'll miss out on meeting other great HSBers.  I'll definitely be checking in with all of my HSB buddies. I've got you on bloglines! HSB was the perfect place for me to start out blogging and I learned a lot! Pretty please come visit me at my new address... www.stillhisgirl.blogspot.com. It is still under construction a little bit, but I'm getting there! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/325934/ Tue, 8 May 2007 22:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/325934/ My head is full, my heart is full today. We did some fun-normal-sightseeing-things and some remember-for-the-rest-of-my-life kind of things. We enjoyed the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, saw the Capitol, and the actual C3-PO and R2-D2 from Return of the Jedi, Seinfeld's Puffy Shirt and the real Ruby Slippers. At Arlington Cemetary, we found my grandfather's grave. We heard a fabulous presentation about Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theater, saw the clothes President Lincoln had on that night, the gun that killed him, and lots of other amazing Lincoln memorabilia. I've always been a little fascinated with President Lincoln and how he was so pivotal to our nation's direction and history. I think my obsession started when I was in third grade and read a biography about his mother. I can't imagine the burden on him during the Civil War and am blown away by the courage he showed with the Emancipation Proclamation. Did you know that the day he died was Good Friday? That it was only 5 days after the war ended? Imagine the mood of the city that evening, and then the mood the next morning after he died. I LOVED the Ford Theater museum, can you tell? :) We went back out at night armed with hot chocolate from our fabulous hotel. (Again, a winner! If you're ever heading to DC, this hotel was great.) The city is beautiful at night. We sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and talked about how blessed we are to live in the U.S.  But the thing that will remain with me the longest was our visit to the Holocaust  Memorial Museum. We didn't go through the main exhibits, knowing it would be too much for the girls. But the children's exhibit, Daniel's Story: Remember the Children, was amazing.  It is a fictionalized (yet accurate!) story of a German Jewish family from their happy home to the concentratinon camps. They have done a fabulous job making it meaningful and significant without be overwhelming for kids. As I tried to explain something so unexplainable, Shelby said, "So why don't they just say, 'We think we're better than you' and be done with it? Why did they have to do all of this?" The other area of the museum we visited was about Lodz, Poland, and the ghetto that was created there for all the Jews of the city. They have diaries and writings of children from that ghetto displayed in audio and photos. One of the most stunning images was a large display of cups and bowls that had been unearthed from a mass grave. I wrote a few weeks ago about my father-in-law being born in a prisoner-of-war camp in WWII. He was born there 64 years ago today. I thought of his family often during our time in the museum. For me the high point of the day was when we went into the museum store. We were incredibly blessed to be there during an author's signing. I met the author and was simply charmed by him. (He called me beautiful, for one thing.) His book, Legacy and Redemption... A Life Renewed, is his story of his survival of the holocaust. Truly, I was so honored to meet this gentleman. He spoke to us for quite a while in his charming accent, and signed his book for our girls. He wrote, "Cassie, Shelby, Brynne, and Jenna... from your caring loving parents, who want much you to know. With my best wishes to all of you, Joseph Tenenbaum Washington DC 5/6/07."  He marked the part of the book he doesn't want them to read until they are 14 or 15. "Then, you read the whole thing." I pray my girls remember today's incredible honor. I know that when they are my age, there will only be a handful of Holocaust survivors left. I began reading the book as soon as we were in our car. I cannot wait to read the entire thing; I was drawn in just by his letter to his children at the beginning. Here is an excerpt: "I bear witness for my children, grandchildren, and offspring to come so that they can know and understand, remember and not forget what my family and my generation endured. The past is within me, not behind me; it accompanies me wherever I go...I cannot presume to write for my fellow survivors, but if I do not expose my own experiences I might as well be among the dead. Perhaps the Almighty has spared me in order to bear witness." And he includes this scripture: "Only beware and guard well your soul that you do not forget the things which your own eyes have seen... but make them known unto your children and your children's children." Deuteronomy 4:9 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324787/ Sun, 6 May 2007 18:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324787/ Wow! What a full day we had today in D.C. We are wiped out! We saw a zillion different things, and never once did anyone say, "How much longer?" or "When are we leaving?" I consider that a huge success! Some memorable moments of the day... *Watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. There was also a wreath ceremony where they played taps. Beautiful. *Watching my girl who has learned so much about the Civil War light up when she found out we were going to see Arlington House, General Lee's family home. *Hearing my six year old excited to say the beginning of the Gettysburg Address while standing in the Lincoln Memorial. She is good! :) Just before we left home, a friend told me that a woman from our church said that when she prays, she pictures herself climbing up in God's lap. She imagines it to be something like the Lincoln Memorial. I loved that image, and put it to use myself there today. *Seeing the quote John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife which has been engraved on a mantel of a fireplace in the White House. (We saw a reproduction in the White House Visitor's Center.) "I pray Heaven to bestow THE BEST OF BLESSINGS ON THIS HOUSE and All that shall hereafter Inhabit it, May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof." *At the Vietnam Memorial, a tall, strong man was on his knees, sobbing. One hand was on a name on the wall. Very memorable scenes and moments today. The best of blessings on this house. And on yours today, too! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324419/ Sat, 5 May 2007 21:20:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324419/ We had such an amazing time in Ocean City. If you ever get a chance to go off season, the hotel we stayed in was incredible. www.oceancityhilton.com By choosing a Hilton, we are helping pay for Paris's legal fees. :) This morning was gorgeous, so we ended up staying a little longer. I got Thrashers fries, Deb! :) The girls were getting ready for our time in D.C. so they practiced doing their hair like George Washington's. (I think Shelby is trying to do his face, too; she wasn't actually grouchy even though she looks it!) We hit D.C. and started at the National Archives. It is amazing how much the ink is disappearing on those original documents. On the Declaration of Independence, I could only see John Hancock's signature. I bet my grandkids won't be able to see much at all. They also have a really fun and informative museum there that we loved. My favorite part was seeing the old photos and video footage of presidents. George W was an awfully cute little 3 year old. What a privilege it is to be here in a city so rich in history! My heart is heavy tonight for some dear friends of mine. They got word yesterday that their brother-in-law was killed in Iraq yesterday. He leaves a wife and a 4 year old and 1 year old. None of that extended family are believers, and I know my friends are burdened in that way as well. I've so loved this blogging community. Seeing what people did for Heather (www.especiallyheather.com) blew me away, and she has been on my mind and in my prayers these last two days with her surgery... as if I really knew her. I know you guys pray- would you pray for my friends and for their family who are hurting today? My brother served a year in Iraq and missed the birth of his first child. It was always a fear, of course, that he wouldn't come home, but I can't imagine what families go through when they lose a soldier across the world. I'm so thankful for our service families. It has been fun blogging on vacation. I don't feel guilty at all... like I do at home when I should be doing laundry or cleaning! :) I love reading your blogs. There are some amazing, amazing people out there in cyberland! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324078/ Fri, 4 May 2007 21:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/324078/ Just a little something I whipped up today... Amen and Amen! That's a whole lotta  years worth of "This Little Piggy " that you're looking at there. And  just when I begin to feel unsettled in my soul, God shows me He is in His heaven and all's right with the world. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/323428/ Thu, 3 May 2007 19:04:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/323428/ Red- The color of the top of my feet. This redhead doesn't tan! Green- The color of my blonde daughters' hair after chlorine in the pool. Yellow- The color of the saltwater taffy we got on the boardwalk today. Tan- The color of the sand lining the bathtub. Orange- The color of my all-you-can-eat seasoned Maryland crabs. Brown- The color of my mocha mud pie I'm going to eat after the kids are in bed. Blue- The color I'll be if LaKisha goes home. White- The color of the down comforter and sheets I'll be climbing into with my man. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/322875/ Wed, 2 May 2007 20:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/322875/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/322146/ Tue, 1 May 2007 14:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/322146/ Today we made a quick stop in Baltimore to see Ft. McHenry and the spot where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner. It was a last minute idea, so we  didn't pay to go through the fort, but it was a great chance for more fabulous history lessons! Hopefully the real Star Spangled Banner Flag will be on display at the Smithsonian when we go! We're at our fabulous hotel in Ocean City now. I am sitting on the balcony with a perfect breeze. It is near sunset, the moon is full and bright, and the waves are crashing. I think the ocean is the place I burst into instant praise the fastest. Walking through the woods can do it to me, too, but the ocean.... ahhh, the ocean..... then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, how great Thou art! One of my favorite songs  is called Ocean (by Lamont Heibert)... Something about the ocean makes me rise up and praise Something about the heavens makes me stand in awe again Something about the sunrise reminds me of your faithfulness Something about the ocean and I'm lost in love again So that's me.... what about you? What brings you to instant praise? A sunset? Newborn baby? Laundry that is completely caught up? Going back to praise some more.... • http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/321779/ Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/321779/ We are having a fabulos-o time here in PA! The drive was about 10 hours and the girls were wonderful; watched two dvds and sang along with their crazy mom to my ipod tunes. My brother's home is beautiful and it is so fun to be with their kids. Friday we went to Hershey where the street lights are in the shape of Kisses and you can smell chocolate in the air. The World of Chocolate was perfect for this chocolate lover. (I LOVE chocolate... I even host a "Choctoberfest" every fall in my house that is just a zillion girlfriends and tons of chocolate. FUN!) Of course we learned lots on the little ride/tour that we went on twice. My favorite part s were the singing cows and the 3-D movie. I'd like to come back and get the tour of the whole town; sounds like Mr. Hershey was an amazing man and not just for making every day of PMS or rotten children more bearable... he started an orphanage and many other things. Today is my birthday (29th) and I was treated to a t-shirt from Hershey and a fun necklace this morning at breakfast. Then we headed out to Gettysburg. We picnicked there and walked through the cemetary where we think a relative is buried. My brother is a HUGE Civil War buff, so he was the perfect tour guide. The girls have memorized the beginning and ending of the Gettysburg address, so it was very cool to see where it was delivered. Probably the favorite thing for the girls was playing on the battlefield, climbing on the rocks in Devil's Den and on Little Round Top. I think they could have stayed all day. When we had to leave, surprisingly enough it was my oldest (whose social life is completely destroyed thanks to this trip) who really didn't want to leave! I think I've done a decent job of introducing the Civil War and Gettysburg and some specific people like General Meade and Jenny Wade and Robert E Lee. I think that until I say something like, "We're going to Gettysburg tomorrow, girls!" and my youngest says, "Really? Are we going to see little people falling down?" My third daughter, Brynne, isn't quite getting it, either. "Why do you keep saying it was three days if it was four years?" But then she retold something extremely well to her sister... "The one guy was killed and then the guy that killed him was one of the guys that they were killing and then he was killed while they were killing the other guys. And then you know that one guy-- the one that was killed?...." Souvenirs from Gettysburg Mom-- Christmas tree ornament and fabulous book with photos, great info, and activities for kids Dad--Postcard to send to my dad. He's so much nicer than me. Brynne-- Robert E. Lee's family in paper dolls Shelby and Jenna, tomboys-- soldier hats and swords. Of course Shelby, who can boss Jenna around while sounding simply helpful, got to be Union while Jenna is Confederate. Cassie, who is NOT a tomboy--a fuzzy pink pencil that reads "Gettysburg." Who wouldn't want one of those? My baby brother (who is 18 months younger than me yet somehow turned 29 four and a half years ago) cooked an incredible birthday dinner for me on the grill, London Broil and asparagus. YUM! Dessert was a fabulous strawberry shortcake. It has been a very happy birthday for this very happy girl. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/320907/ Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/320907/ After a zillion loads of laundry, a trip to Target, Old Navy, and Kroger, packing six suitcases, a tub of food, a box of library books, and pretending that the house is cleaner than it is, we are heading out Thursday morning for our big vacation! Wohoo!! We head to my brother's home in PA first, where we will delight in both Gettysburg and Hershey. Battlefields and Bon Bons. Pefect combination! Then to Ocean City for a few quiet days and then we will hit Washington D.C. (Which one of my daughters HATES, she declared tonight after finding out she was going to miss a pizza party AND a bowling party AND a Bible Bowl tournament.) So while many of us view D.C. as a beautiful city reflecting our heritage, to my oldest, it is simply a horrible beast that is ruining all her fun. I have a feeling she'll come around. My hubby got a fabulous new laptop (for only $37! That is a story in itself), so I'll see if I can figure out how to post photos on it so you can see me eating my weight in chocolate and torturing my child with monuments. While we're gone, I'll be celebrating my 29th birthday again, so that will be fun! I'd love some prayers for safety, health, wonderful memories, rest, and enough money to make it back home again. Thanks, girls! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/319732/ Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/StillHisGirl/319732/