Quilts and Cake

Over the last few months there have been occasions to enjoy some crafting.  One of my nephews and his wife had their first baby.  What a cutie she is!  Of course a baby quilt was in order.  I made it bigger than a traditional baby quilt so that she could enjoy it through her toddler years at least.  Plus, I just kind of got carried away making the disappearing pinwheels.  They were lots of fun.  I used this tutorial by Jenny Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

This next quilt went to a family who had their first baby.   

Back and tag 

Of course I had to include the book with the gift!

This is a flimsy from 2015 Mystery Quilt through Merry Mayhem.  I need to piece the back, sandwich, quilt, and bind it off.  So, still a little ways to go on it.

In the beginning of March, Caleb and Josiah went to a Teen Leadership Retreat.  I made this cake for the event. Dale had the opportunity to speak in one of the "Break Out" sessions. 

I love living in the country!  Being treated to gorgeous sunrises and sunsets are something I hope I never take for granted. Our old, cheap, camera doesn't do it justice. It also doesn't do moon shots.  I've tried and failed on every setting the camera has.   

Have a great day!

~Lisa

Why I Enjoy Home Schooling... warning: Picture Heavy!

There are several philosophical reasons, but some of the simpler ones are:

Playing Uno and/or Scrabble and counting it as Math and English

















PJ day!  ( I need to plan one soon I think)



A leisurely first cup of coffee during Bible reading

FLEXIBILITY  (this one is HUGE for me)... I can arrange our schedule as I see fit.  For example, Co-op and Art lessons have been part of our schooling this time around.  



Family Field Trips... like this one to the Corning Glass Museum and the Rockwell Museum

Being home to do things that I was missing while working such as making bread and laundry detergent (I know, I like that stuff... I can't help it, I'm weird!

Another thing I love about home schooling is picking out curriculum.  I'm like a kid in a candy store!

We are using "Romans: A Courtroom Drama" by Thomas Westwood for our morning devotions.  I picked this because it goes hand in hand with what the teenagers are studying for Quiz Team in the Spring.  Quiz Team is a competition in the Talents For Christ activity that we do each year.  This year the Scripture is Romans 1-8.  This book will give us a good background on the verses they are studying.   

Also for devotions we are doing "A Heart of Humility"  which is a study on Philippians chapter 2.  I bought the materials from  Intoxicated on Life.

In the picture to the right is a mere smattering of some of what we are doing this year in home school.  There is a lot with 6 students.  This little pile was one I had with me to check over while the kids were in art class.

Another fun thing we are doing for the month of November is "30 Days of Thankfulness".  I have one of the children each day pick a card I made up out of a container, and it has something to be thankful for.  We hang it on the kitchen wall, and we make sure we thank God for that during the day. There are also some blank cards so if anyone wants to write their own, they can. I got it for free from Currclick.

Besides Co-op, which we added into the schedule this year, is art class.  Now I haven't been clever enough to get any pics of the kids at Co-op yet.  I'll do that soon.  We meet every other week, and all the kids seem to be enjoying it.  I'm not teaching anything this semester, but will be after Christmas.  Don't ask me what... I haven't figured that one out yet!

Esther chose not to do art class, so she, Isaac, myself, and a good friend and her youngest who is seven, goes to the McDonald's nearby to hang out.  I got Esther here working whatever it was she had.  I think she was saying something like, "Mom, what ARE you doing????"

Maybe the management doesn't mind, but I always feel as if I need to buy a little something to warrant taking up some space for customers.  I usually get coffee or hot cocoa.  Isaac is enjoying something overly sweet and delicious here.  :)

Of course, I have to include some pics of the budding artists!

On Labor Day we went to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  It was a gorgeous day, and we went with some good friends of ours.  What a fun day that was!  After the hike down to the bottom we played in  the water for a bit, then hiked back up for lunch.  Everyone was starving!

Usually after our art lessons we stop at the Library.  Our library uses the receipt system.  You see here it also serves as a list for me to check when we are packing up the Library bag.  I can make sure we have everything.  I check off the books as I put them in the bag, and whatever isn't there I circle with my super-powered red pen, and tell the kids to go find the books.  

One of the aspects of home schooling is that we can get outside (I have a whole different set of pictures for that!  That will have to be another post.  Honestly, I keep thinking I need to Vlog, and just do some DITL type videos!)  I think Isaac found this dandelion, the very last one in our yard, as far as I could tell.  I know it sounds simple and silly, but I'm so thankful we can literally stop and smell the roses, er, or blow on the last dandelion fluff as it were, instead of being trapped inside and then to much in a hurry and scurry after coming home from school each day to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of God's creation.

(Okay, that was a MAJOR run-on sentence. )

I love all the fun times, but the kids know that you don't mess with Mama when there is work to be done!

Blessings,

Lisa

A Special Thank You

To All Our Veterans! 

Dear Lord,

Today we honor our veterans,

worthy men and women

who gave their best

when they were called upon

to serve and protect their country.

We pray that you will bless them, Lord,

for their unselfish service

in the continual struggle

to preserve our freedoms, our safety,

and our country’s heritage, for all of us.

Bless them abundantly

for the hardships they faced,

for the sacrifices they made

for their many different contributions

to America’s victories

over tyranny and oppression.

We respect them, we thank them,

we honor them, we are proud of them,

and we pray that you will watch over

these special people

and bless them with peace and happiness.

In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

(By Joanna Fuchs)

Talents for Christ

After months of preparation, we attended the annual Talents for Christ competition in Bloomsburg, PA.  We had a wonderful stay with our host family (us girls, that is) and the boys stayed at the church, and camped out for the night, with several men supervising.  I took some pics, of course!

 Here is the Quiz team in action.  The back row of students are from another church.

Here is our group, along with Pastor Montgomery from the church in Roulette.  He "coached" the team.

The church provided wonderful meals for supper Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

More eating.... whadda surprise. (Hey, it was a Baptist gathering after all!)

From left to right: Mrs. Greene, her daughter Hannah, and Esther.

This was my first attempt at getting Hannah's picture.  Just like Esther, she HATES to have her picture taken.

Leasa Fair and Sheri Greene

Our hostess had this bird... parakeet or something?  It made a squawk that sounded like a toddler crying.  Of course, as a mother, I was trying to figure out what kid on the block was making so much fuss.  Then I found out it was her bird.  He was very beautiful in real life.  This pic doesn't do him justice.

I loved, loved, loved her vintage stove.  The burners are on a drawer type thing. You can push it in when not in use.  They don't make them like this anymore!

One of the events Saturday was Bible Knowledge, based on the same passages they had been studying for Bible Quiz Team.  Don't they look like they are working hard?

Elizabeth receiving a ribbon.  They all got awards and ribbons, but mostly I captured the back of their heads, so I decided not to add it in here.  You get the idea of the proceedings however.

How small can Benjamin fold up?????

Hannah Greene, Josiah, Esther, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Heather Greene made up our large ensemble.

There was lots of fun amongst the competition!  

Look at that artwork Leasa Fair's daughters did for the competition.  Amazing!  Lots of ribbons and awards were received in our group.

They all did a wonderful job, and now that I've seen the set up, and the options, lots of ideas are brewing in my brain for the kids for next year.  Mwhahahahahahaha!  

Fun and Busy Days!

Yesterday was one of those perfect days for going visiting, which we did! We drove a couple hours north to visit my MIL, SIL and her family. It was in the 30's, sun shining, just absolutely beautiful! Clear blue skies and when we drove home the night sky was gorgeous with the stars so bright.

Our plan was just to visit all day, but sometimes our plans get changed. First off, Isaac had one of his "I'm awake and you can't get me to sleep" spells, and was up until after 3am. This resulted in us sleeping in a bit, so we were a little later leaving than we had first planned. That was okay, as the day's schedule was flexible.

Then, while Dale was still asleep and I was having coffee and guiding (aka, pushing shoving threatening bargaining cajoling ) my children in their chores I really felt led by the Lord to call a friend that lives not too far from my MIL. She had been sewing like crazy all week to finish some costumes she is making for her and her children. They are going to Williamsburg next week for a retreat, and was really under the gun to get them finished. I called her and offered my help for the afternoon. It was so much fun! I got to visit with her for a while, and of course LOTS of sewing was going on. I especially liked it because... um, well, I just like to sew. LOL.

I did spend some time with the in laws after that, but it was the right thing to do. Have you ever had one of those times when you just knew the Lord wanted you to do something that wasn't "in the plans" so to speak? It is always a blessing to listen to His guidance, and do what He says, even if it interrupts our little plans. My friend was greatly appreciative of my efforts, but honestly, I received as much blessing, if not more, from the "doing" of it.

Speaking of sewing, I need to get back to work! Hopefully I will be able to post pictured by Tuesday.

Blessings!