http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:42:00 -0600 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:42:00 -0600 We recently were finally able to get together with our precious friends, The Hall Family, -- well, a portion of the family.  We had a great time catching up and are reminded how very sweet our friendship is.  God is so good to bless us with so many wonderful friends. Mark enjoying  some time in the pool: The group gathered to pose for a quick picture before we had to leave.    We've been close friends with this family since Mark was born.  It's so great to reconnect.  The children can't wait to do it again. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/746665/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/746665/ I recv'd this today from HSLDA e-lert service: November 20, 2009 Senate Will Vote on Health Care Bill Creating Home Visitation Programs--Urgent Calls Needed! The U.S. Senate will vote at 8 p.m. Saturday, November 21, on whether to proceed regarding H.R. 3590.  If 60 senators vote for cloture, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will then substitute his 2,074-page bill, "The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act," in place of H.R. 3590.  This bill will become a shell for the Senate's version of health care reform, which it will debate and may ultimately approve. Majority Leader Reid's bill, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act," is the fifth of six health care bills created by leaders in Congress that has included federal funding for new home visitation programs. While HSLDA does not normally urge its members to act on legislation relating to health reform, we see the "Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act" as a serious threat to parental rights. This $848 billion bill calls for home visitation programs which would empower government officials to teach parents how to raise their own children.  Although these programs will not be mandatory, parents may feel pressured to participate, allowing the federal government unprecedented access into private homes and involvement in early education. To read more on how "The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act" threatens your right as a parent to raise your children as you see fit, please see our preliminary analysis on the bill at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7260 . ACTION REQUESTED Please call your senators today and urge them to vote against cloture on "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" in H.R. 3590.  You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. You can use some or all of the following message: "I am opposed to 'The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,' substituted in H.R. 3590 because Section 2951 creates home visitation/early education programs through grants to the states.   Parents, not federal or state officials, should make child-rearing decisions for their children. Please vote no on cloture." You can reach your two U.S. senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Or find contact information for your senators by using HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . Sincerely, J. Michael Smith, Esq. President, HSLDA http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/746207/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:58:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/746207/ Our fall soccer season has come to an end.  We had another wonderful season with some good life lessons along the way.  The girls had a great end to their season.  They won the championship.  It was even better because Brooks was their coach. Here's the team giving high 5 after a goal: We had an amazing goalie, Hannah.  Here's the whole team with their championship trophies: And my girls --   Bekah was feeling really good and had asked Brooks if she could play.  He told her that he would put her in toward the end of the game.  She can run and play but she is supposed to avoid falling.  Not too long into the game, one of our players got hurt so Bekah went in and played the whole game.  She was out of shape from no activity since the end of August but she did a great job and the girls really enjoyed playing the final game of the season together.  Mark had a great last game.  Here he is with his buddy, Jackson: And Mark and Brooks: Sam's team almost made it to the championship game.  They lost in a shoot out in Friday night's game.  Sam's coach said a small little something about each player as he gave the trophy.  When the coach gave Sam his trophy he said "Sam I can play any position (last name)" Here is Sam receiving his trophy:   We have a couple of months of no soccer.  Sam will play indoor winter soccer and that begins in January.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/743965/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:19:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/743965/ I was able to snap a few pictures of Mark at his game this weekend.  He and Sam almost always play at the same time.  Between trying to watch both games, cheer for both boys, video both games and snap pictures -- well, I don't do a very good job of getting all that done.  :-) Mark and Jackson I took this picture to show the green on Mark's face.  He had very much enjoyed the snack of a fruit roll-up thing.  The green doesn't show as much in the picture. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/739425/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/739425/ Bekah had surgery to repair her collar bone.  It's hard to believe it's been five weeks; however, for her, it has definitely felt like five weeks.  She hasn't been in pain but the restrictions have made that five weeks seem like ten weeks to her.  She had a follow-up appointment yesterday and the doctor was very pleased with her progress.  In fact, he released her and she doesn't return to see him until the spring.  He said she might even be able to play spring soccer.  She is now free to run but must be careful.  He told her he still doesn't want her taking a fall and no contact sports.  She is so happy to be able to run and play.  As soon as we returned home yesterday she was outside running and playing.  Here are her x-rays from yesterday:   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/737975/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/737975/ Last week Mark took his first official Math test.  I haven't been giving him any tests because I know if he's mastered the material or not and he's just in Kindergarten.  He wants to be just like the "big kids" and that means doing school like they do (on his own as much as possible) and taking tests like they do.  So last week he finished his Pace and took his test on Friday.  He was soooooo excited.  He ran to tell Bethany, "Bethany, I get to take a test tomorrow.  I finished my pace and I get to take a test tomorrow.  I love this school.  I love this school.  I love this school"  He was jumping up and down shouting how much he loves "this school", which translates to this curriculum.  It's funny because he has completed several other books but they were all thicker and didn't bring nearly as much excitement.  Something about these small paces and finishing one and starting another really bring him joy.  Here he is with his completed test:   He was very happy to begin his new pace today and was sure to ask me "Mommy, do you have a lot of these for me?  I am going to be needing more very soon."    It's such a joy to see Mark growing and learning more and more each day.  Yesterday morning while getting ready for church he had some "issues".  He wasn't happy about the pants he needed to wear.  He ended up getting them on but still had a bit of an attitude about it.  We went on to church and planned to deal with it when we returned home.  As church began, he still had an attitude and would pull away if I touched his shoulder.  I instructed him that he was being rude and he needed to get his heart right.  The service went on and we listened to the teaching etc....  It came time for communion.  During our quiet time to prepare our hearts for communion, Mark came to me and asked me to forgive him for being rude and not showing love.  He then went to Brooks and asked Brooks to forgive him for having the attitude about the pants (Brooks was the one dealing with that)  I thanked the Lord for working in the life of Mark and for Mark hearing and responding to the Lord working in his life.  God is so good to give us these glimpses along the way.  It is an encouragement to continue on this hard work that is before us.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/737448/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/737448/ The boys were having a wonderful time in our beautiful weather yesterday so I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures.    Mark is so blessed to have such an amazing older brother.  Sam is so patient and loving with Mark.  Equally, Sam is blessed to have Mark for a younger brother.  Mark looks up to Sam and wants to be just like him.  He is often doing -- or attempting to do -- a chore for Sam or something special for him.   As I watch the boys play and interact together, I am reminded of the seminar that S.M. Davis does on "Why Satan Wants Your Firstborn" and I completely see what he says and totally agree with it.    This one is blurry but I love the smile on Mark's face:   I am certainly blessed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/734624/ Fri, 9 Oct 2009 08:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/734624/ Bethany is really enjoying this soccer season.  She had to move up to the U13 division this year.  She was so looking fwd to playing with Bekah.  Of course, all of that ended when Bekah got injured.    Bekah's team had their end-of-season party on Sunday.  Here she is with Coach Jeff: and w/ Coach Jon: These two coaches are amazingly wonderful.  They love the Lord and we were blessed to have them as coaches.  And here is Bekah's collar bone as it is healing.  This is just after all of the bandages are off so the yellow spot is residue from medical tape.   Her next appointment is on October 20th.  She is healing very nicely and is doing more and more each day.  She is feeling so much better that she is now tired of doing nothing (well, tired of just sitting around and reading etc...)  She's feeling so much better that she'd like to be able to run and play.  Her bone is achy when it is cooler outside.  She had that happen for the first time on Sunday when the temps were lower.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/734070/ Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/734070/ I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I normally do on vacation since I was spending much time taking care of Bekah.  We had a lovely time and were so thankful for our time away.   Bekah spent much our time away reading:     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/733308/ Mon, 5 Oct 2009 07:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/733308/ Long before her birthday, Bekah had requested that we be on the beach for her birthday so we had planned accordingly.  We were to check in the day before her birthday and she was looking forward to spending the day on the beach.  Of course, we didn't plan for the injury to happen on 8/27.  The doctors told us that we could still go on vacation as she could sit and heal on the beach as easily as she could at home.  Of course, she was greatly disappointed w/ the injury because now she couldn't really play and enjoy the ocean like she normally does.  Our friends, Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, live near our vacation spot so we planned to get together with them while there.  We ended up getting together with them on Bekah's birthday and they made her day so special.  When we arrived and entered the home we saw birthday decorations.  Bekah was surprised.  Gary grilled out and we enjoyed delicious food, followed by cake and ice cream.  They even got her a present.  Another great thing was two other families came over so it was like a little party.  The children (except Bekah) all enjoyed going out on the boat w/ Mr. Ezzo.  Mark LOVED riding his golf cart and Mr. Ezzo even let him drive.  Yes, Mark talked about that for days.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends.  What could have been a not so great birthday ended up being very special. I have a few pictures from our visit but they aren't all that great -- lots of back lighting in their beautiful home and I'm not good at taking pictures or editing them to counteract that.  Here is Mrs. Ezzo getting the cake ready: Bekah blowing out candles: and opening her present: And, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Ezzo along with Missy.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/729942/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessed2bamommy/729942/