Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Easter Goofiness

Finally downloaded pictures from my camera and found this one:

That's what happens at 8:30 am when we've been up and at church since 5:30 am. This goofy one turned out the best of the bunch.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Another Teenager In The House

Miss Eleonore joined the ranks of teenagers on April 18th.
She had an enjoyable day despite some setbacks. Church was in the morning and afterwards her brunch meal choice was ruined and David and I had to think fast on our feet to quickly cook for our hungry family. To make up for it, she opened all her gifts while the meal was being cooked.

Hannah gave her a new t-shirt.
Nathan gave her material.
Abigail gave her Crispix (her favorite cereal) and 3 Musketeer bars (her favorite candy bar).
Sam gave her nail polish.
Her dad and I gave her a Lands' End tote for library books (like her brother's, except in green) and a Barnes and Noble gift card.

The afternoon was spent at the piano recital before coming home to enjoy supper and cake and homemade ice-cream.

Her meal choices:
Brunch: Overnight French Toast and sausage (which turned into regular french toast and sausage)
Supper: Steak and baked potatoes, corn

Cake: Angel Food with 7 minute frosting.

Monday, April 26, 2010

I've Never Been More Attracted to You in my Entire Life!

Do you remember the scene in Everybody Loves Raymond where Debra says that to Raymond as she watches him vacuuming the house with the new vacuum he purchased? It is one of my favorite scenes, and what I've thought all morning as I've watched David vacuuming the basement rafters and ductwork. He's a good man and I'm ever so grateful he loves to vacuum, especially on days like today when the entire basement is coated in cement dust from having to dig the floor to repair a broken pipe.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Making Connections

Seeing my children make connections to their world from lessons in history is quite fun. The funniest to date happened yesterday.

We are currently studying Ancient Rome and I was reading to the children about the Colosseum and the Gladiators, before I read to them about Chariot Racing:

"At the start of a race, an official dropped a white cloth. Up to twelve horse-drawn chariots would fly out of their starting gates. The charioteers raced their horses seven laps, or five miles, at top speed in a counterclockwise direction around an oval track."

It was then that I paused and Nathan piped up with eyes opened wide and gasped, "Hey it's the first NASCAR race!"

Yep, that's my boy.

Now I've set the oldest two to figuring out how to say in Latin, "Boogity Boogity, Boogity, Let's go racin' boys."

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Reward - Movie Day

We set homeschooling goals for the month of March and met them! Woo Hoo! We learned a thing or two. Woo Hoo! Yesterday, we celebrated with our reward: going to see Percy Jackson and The Lightening Thief in the theatre.


Only my oldest daughter had read the book and that just this last week. We all thought the movie pretty good. Our daughter filled us in on what was different (basically everything) and said she liked some parts of the book better and some parts of the movie better.

We picked this movie because it goes right along with this year's study of history and the kids knew who all the gods and goddesses were. There were some scary scenes with mythical creatures and my youngest wanted to sit on my lap for part and the second youngest held her big sister's hand and closed her eyes through some parts. Some of the dialog I thought was less than stellar, but overall I think we all enjoyed it enough we wouldn't mind seeing it again.

We have goals set for the month of April, I'll let you know next month how we did and what treat we were able to enjoy if we met them.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

In the Stead of Christ

This is my picture I took of a picture in the main building at Arlington National Cemetery. We saw it when we toured there last May on our vacation to Washington D.C.
When I first saw it on the wall, it immediately drew me in. I was emotionally drawn to Mrs. Kennedy's eyes. Her look made tears fill my eyes and run down my cheeks. I found it so beautiful that she was looking into her Father's eyes for strength to get through this awful time. No other words can comfort and give hope except Christ's words.

My friend Laura said it beautifully in her post on "When You Die:"
"I ran out of words to say them...but my husband did not. Wearing his clerical shirt and collar, gently speaking...he spoke words of real comfort to these grieving Christian Lutheran parents. Words of hope and salvation in Christ alone, words they were familiar with since they heard these words regularly in church. Words that brought tears to their eyes because they knew they were true. Words that were spoken with such compassion as from Christ himself...who was there with them, in the midst of all this sorrow."

I can't know what Mrs. Kennedy was thinking or what her priest said to her. But my tears flowed because I imagined what I would be thinking and how I would want to cling to Christ's Words from the man he placed here on this earth to speak them into my ear.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

When Can I Teach?

That was the question my dearest asked me when he came home the other afternoon.

First, he found his oldest sitting at the table typing up questions on a borrowed laptop for a Narnia game she is creating. Then, he found me and the rest of the kids on the couch watching tv.

"What's going on down here?" was his first question.
"I'm teaching!" came my evil grin reply as I lay on the couch cuddled under a nice, comfy afghan.
"When can I teach?" was his immediate reply.

We covered quite a few subjects with this one video. And I got to take a trip down memory lane and show off my singing talents (quite gong worthy).


Sunday, April 04, 2010

Rejoice and Sing!

Good Christian friends, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord of life is ris'n this day;
Bring flow'rs of song to strew His way;
Let all the world rejoice and say:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Praise we in songs of victory
That love, that life which cannot die,
And sing with hearts uplifted high:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Your name we bless, O risen Lord,
And sing today with one accord
The life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (LSB 475)


May you, my dear friends, be hoarse from singing!

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Another Check in the Constant Catechesis Column

Pastor preached the midweek Lenten services on the final words of Jesus from the cross. "It is finished" were preached the last midweek Lenten service. With that sermon I finally understood that these words meant all salvation work was finally complete. There was nothing left to do then or now. Sure I've heard those words before but only now did I have the ears to hear.

Good Friday's sermon were on the words, "Father into your hands I commit my spirit." Again, my ears were finally opened to hear that Jesus didn't die in a position of weakness and exhaustion, but instead in strength and triumph! Jesus doesn't yield to death, it yields to Him and comes when He allows it.

Now that I can hear, I see that these words always said that.
"It is finished."
"Father into your hands I commit my spirit."


Thanks be to God that He gives me faithful pastors who preach His word and who constantly catechize me, that He gives me His Holy Spirit, opens my ears to hear His Word, and strengthens my faith!