The adventure of following Christ through life has brought me to the world of homeschooling. As the mom of four boys, my hearts cry is to see them become mighty men who are passionate about their God. I desire to see them grow in wisdom and stature, just as Christ did. This weblog is a place to voice ideas and thoughts. A place to hopefully encourage and be encouraged in our journey. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:06:00 -0600 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:06:00 -0600 Bummer deal.  Once again our hard drive on our laptop has crashed. Yep it just died this past Feb., November 2008, and one other time before that.  This will be our fourth replacement. It is still under warranty so we should be back within a week or so. Not the end of the world but an inconvience.  You would think that we would learn to back it up.  Maybe we will this time. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/746703/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/746703/ The other night we watched the movie Taking Chance.  It shows in great detail the process of bringing home a Marine who was killed in action.  The honor, respect and reverence is amazing.  Tomorrow will be the funeral of another warrior.  Not one that ever wore a uniform but one that faithfully served none the less.  Marion McChatton was one of my prayer warriors.  It is amazing how quickly you can feel a bond with certain people - Marion was one of those people for me.  Marion was a grandma who was fighting a battle with cancer when I met her in Lolo.  Even in her own pain, she was an amazing warrior for others.  She loved people and she loved Jesus more.  She prayed for more people, and most will never know.  She was an amazing and humble servant.  My times spent on my knees next to this dear lady will always be precious to me.   My time with this dear lady was short but she taught me tons and I am blessed to have known her.  She will be missed.  This precious lady will not receive the warriors honor on earth but I know that she will receive a greater honor in heaven.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/745221/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/745221/ Oh, how I wish I had taken my camera!!!!  We went on a family hike up to Silver Falls past Entiat.    There was a couple of inches of snow and it was an enchanted winter wonder land.  We were the only ones up there and as we hiked we saw the falls which were full of icicles and frozen places and yet there was still water falling.  It was so cool.  The higher up we went the more snow there was.    We were able to go out behind the falls, which was really cool.  We never cease to be amazed at God's creativity and the delightful places that he has created for us to enjoy. It was such a fun day and we stopped at a quaint little store/cafe for hot chocolate on the way home.  It was a great family day full of lots of fun memories. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/744775/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/744775/ This morning it is snowing here!  It is not sticking at the moment but there is still frost on the ground.  And so begins the winter weather... There is something special about the first snow of the season. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/744446/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/744446/ It seems like I go in spurts when it comes to reading.  Either I am reading a lot or I am dragging myself through a single book over a period of time. I am on a spurt and getting lots read so here is what I have been reading besides school books and kid stories. I finally finished up Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow.  Then I took off reading more. Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel LORD, Heal My Hurts by Kay Arthur Seizing Your Divine Moment by Erwin Raphael McManus Mountain Top by Robert Whitlow The Tail That Wags The Dog by Max Myers I have also read a bunch of Colleen Coble books which I won't take the time to find pictures for. In my Bible reading I have just finished 2 Samuel and I am starting I Kings. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/742687/ Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/742687/ Grandpa Burgess has a friend who owns an orchard here in East Wenatchee.  He let us go glean in his orchard.  We were able to get lots of apples today!  What a great gift.  We love apples.  It was a gorgeous day to be outside.  It was cold enough to need a coat but not freezing.  It hasn't gotten cold enough yet to freeze the apples although it might get that cold the next few days. It was fun to be in the orchard with Paul's mom and enjoy the sweetness of nature.  Gleaning makes me think of the ladies in bible times, especially Ruth.  God is such a faithful provider. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/735152/ Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:39:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/735152/ Last weekend we went to Concrete.  On Saturday, Michael and Mark went fishing with Mr. Corey and they all caught a salmon.  I posted pictures on Loeffler family pictures, if you forgot the password e-mail and I will give it to you.    This was the boys first time to catch salmon!   We had some for dinner Saturday night and brought some home in a cooler to enjoy later. Sunday Paul taught Sunday school and played the piano for worship at CBC.  It was a fun weekend visited friends. This weekend we went up past Lake Wenatchee and went bike riding as a family.  It was a great day!  We found a rock slide and went bouldering on the rocks.  When we finished our bike ride we went down to the White River and threw rocks and got our feet wet.  The water was freezing.  I could only keep my feet in for 20 seconds at a time.  It only takes about 5 seconds for them to go numb.  I posted pictures of the boys on the rocks. Today we enjoyed church and a luncheon at church.  The boys have played all afternoon and I canned 14 qts of pears.  I still have another box  of pears that is not quit ready to can yet.  All in all it has been a great couple of weekends. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/731039/ Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/731039/ Benjamin turned 5 years old today.  A momentous event for our little guy.  Being five means no more baths, he gets to take showers.  Being five means he gets to chew gum.  Being five means he gets to be in Kindergarten.  Being five means no more baby stuff, he is big now. Being five means that he is almost too big for Little Einsteins, but not quite.  Being five means that he is a Sparky now.  Being 5 means that life is good.   Being 5 is cool!  If you don't believe it just ask him. We had a family party with dinner, presents, cake and ice cream.  Great Grandpa and Lois came over for the night.  Grammy made a very cool Scooby Doo cake.  We had a fun night! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/725584/ Wed, 9 Sep 2009 23:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/725584/ Today is Labor Day!  It has been rainy and cold this weekend.  It feels like fall.   The rain has not slowed us down though.  We had company Thursday and Friday night.  The Lanahan's came and we spent park of a day up at Lincoln Rock Park letting the kids swim.  We played games and enjoyed hanging out with these guys. It is so good to connect with long time friends who really know us.  Saturday, we took a family hike up Blewett Pass at the Discovery Center Trail.  The leaves are starting to turn colors up there and some are already dropping!  We took a picnic lunch up there and then hiked in the rain.  It was a fun hike.  It became windy towards the end so the boys were happy to see the car.  The rest of our time we stuck to the car and expored National Forest roads.  Then we came home and had chili dogs. Sunday we went to church and then Paul took Mark and Michael on a bike ride around the Wenatchee Valley Loop Trail.  While they did that I took the other two boys and we explored Lincoln Park and another park, both of which we had never been to.  Then we headed for home just as it started to dump rain.  An hour later we went and rescued Paul and the boys who were wet and cold.  They came home and had hot chocolate.  Then a bit later Paul and I went out on a date.  We went up Mission Ridge and explored trails up that way.  It was fabulous. Not sure what we are up to today.  We are starting school tomorrow, so I am mentally getting prepared for that. Benjamin's turning 5 on Wednesday!  So I need to figure out what we are doing for his birthday.  He is so excited and is counting down the days.  I am no longer a MOPS mom - all of my boys are now in school and I am enjoying not having any preschoolers! Summer has sure flown by like normal.  So now we switch gears and head into fall. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/724680/ Mon, 7 Sep 2009 11:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/724680/ While we were living in Concrete, WA, before we even had children, Paul became friends with Greg Wilkinson.  Greg, Vernie, and their kids had come to the Concrete area to care for a elderly parent.  Greg became a prayer partner with Paul, and over the years Greg has been so faithful to pray for us and our ministry. In the summer of 2006, Greg received the diagnosis of cancer, and this week he past away.  We will be headed off to Spokane for his Memorial Service this Sunday.  This has been a long battle for Greg.  Even in the midst of it all Greg's heart stayed soft toward God and his faith remained strong.   And even in the midst of his suffering, he prayed for us.   I am humbled by this and know that we will miss this faithful partner in ministry.    "To live is Christ, to die is gain."  I know that while we feel a loss, Greg has definitely gained. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/721044/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:06:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/loefflermom/721044/