Happy July!

Happy July Everyone!

I know, I know--it has been REALLY quiet here on my little blog for a long time.  Six months to be exact.  I hadn't planned on taking this long of a blogging break--though after doing daily posts for 150 days going through the Psalms (which, by the way, I loved doing and was very blessed!) I did think that I might take a little pause. . .

But then my computer broke.  I mean, really broke.  As in--I took it to be repaired at two different places, and they both said the same thing--dead, dead, dead!  The first place DID manage to save my pictures and things off of my computer and onto an external hard drive, however, for which I am very thankful!  But both of them said that what was most likely wrong with my computer was not worth fixing.  Not exactly the words I was hoping to hear--especially since my computer was only one and a half years old.  Which for computer techies might be old--but for ME it is quite new!

Well, we went ahead and got a new computer for me.  Since I use the computer rather a lot in homeschooling it is rather a necessity.  And when I went down the list of what I wanted my computer to do and be as I talked with the salesman (for instance, I would like it to be sturdy enough that a tank could roll over it and it will continue to work for me--you know, that kind of stuff!) he looks at me and says "I think what you want is a Mac."  I looked at HIM like he had just sprouted a second head, because THIS homeschool mom did NOT want to have to learn how to use a new computer operating system!  I can barely keep my head above the water with just getting my day to day stuff done--let alone have time to learn some new computer system!  I just want to get on the computer and have it DO what I need it to do, without giving me any problems!  So I started down my list again, starting with the very first point which was "I do NOT want to have to learn a new operating system!"  Yes--you guessed it.  Of course I walked out of the store with a Mac computer, and have been wading through trying to learn a new computer operating system ever since.  I can't say that I have "arrived" and know how to do everything I need to do yet (probably won't EVER be there!).  But I CAN say that between asking my hubby, calling AppleCare, Google searching, or asking my 12 year old, I can usually get most things figured out.  By the way--I have been super impressed with calling AppleCare--and no, they are not paying me to say that (but I wish they would!).  However, my 12 year old is oftentimes faster and easier to get ahold of, so right now she is neck and neck with AppleCare in being helpful.  Maybe sometime soon I will be able to "rent" her computer operating skills out to other homeschool moms. . . .

So--what have you all been up to in the past six months???  We finished sixth grade in homeschool and are currently on summer break--yea!  Of course, being homeschoolers we are still doing a FEW things during the summer. . . finishing up a writing book since I want to start a different book when Fall comes around, getting a head start on next year's Science book since daddy is home and offered to do some with her, continuing to slowly work through the math book--simply because she LIKES math and didn't want to quit for the summer.

We have also spruced up our Master bathroom, which makes it sound all big and grand when in reality our "Master Bath" is a tiny closet type room with just barely space for the necessities!  But I am thankful to have it, and after 10 years of living with it the way it was when we bought the house we finally pulled the dated wall paper off and painted it crisp and pretty.  I am very pleased with how it turned out!

And finally, we are helping our oldest prepare for fledging.  He graduated from college in May (YEA! So proud of him and thankful for what God has done!), and we are helping him with a million things that need doing before he heads to grad school this Fall.  And speaking of "fledging," I have something I want to share with you. . .

BUT--I cannot figure out yet how to share the picture I want to.  I know how to share pictures on blogger, and as you know I used to share pictures all the time.  But doing the same thing on this different computer is not working today.  And calling upon my 12 year old resource didn't end up helping either.  Sigh.  Looks like I will be calling AppleCare tomorrow.  So will have to share it tomorrow or whenever I can get it figured out.

In the meantime, I am waving a "Howdy!" at all of you!  Leave a comment and let me know what you are doing this summer!

Blessings!

Susan

Happy Mother's Day!

Just thought I would share this adorable little video.  When my son was first born, I read somewhere that becoming a mother was like having your heart permanently walking around outside your body somewhere--forever.  How true that statement was.  I now have two beautiful children, and my heart will forever be with them.  Always.

I can't even imagine how much the Father must love us.

Love that gives good gifts.

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  Matthew 7:10-12

Love that does not fail.

"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:  'I have loved you with an everlasting love;  I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'"  Jeremiah 31:2-4

Love that engraves us on His heart.

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."  Isaiah 49:15-17

Everlasting love.  When does that love end?

Never.

~Susan

Invisible Me!

Hi Everyone!

I'm still here.  Really.  Even if you are not seeing me posting on my blog very much lately.  "If only" I had a secretary to follow me around and take dictation on all the things I think about that I would love to post on here!  But alas, that is definitely NOT the case!  So therefore I will have to be content with just posting when I get a chance.  (I know you are all disappointed about that, right???)

So where have I been?

I have been out helping our daughter finally learn how to ride her bike.

I have been trying out new healthy recipes.  Found a low fat granola bar recipe I would love to post.  Sometime.  Also a Chickpea salad recipe that our whole family loves to eat stuffed into pita bread.  Someday it will appear here.

I have been finishing up some jammies for our daughter.  Smiling frog fabric--she picked it out.  It is a soft flannel.  I'm glad they got finished in time for her to wear them just a bit before the weather turns too warm at night.  Hopefully they will still fit her next winter as well--I did make them a tad big for that reason. . .

I have been compiling my "Wish List" for next year's home school curriculum.  Every year I write down anything at all that I would love to have.  Then when June comes, I have to get ruthless and start crossing things off.  But for now, I am still having fun adding things to the list!

I have been helping our daughter finish up our math book for this year.  Yea!  I always use the finishing of the math book to "officially" announce to our children that they have progressed into the next grade level.  When you basically home school year round, you have to have SOMEthing to mark off the accomplishments!

I have been praying for and trying to support our son as he finishes up this second semester in college.  I can't believe he will be done with his first year in 3 1/2 short weeks!  But between here and there come the hurdle known as "finals."  Much prayer is needed to help him think clearly and study wisely.

I have been taking walks with my sweet husband.  :)

I have been trying to push through and finish up a quilt that our daughter designed two years ago and requested that I make for her.  It's NOT complicated--I'm just busy!  But I really am making an effort to finish it up.  After all, she won't be a little girl forever--and some day her tastes will probably change and she may not even like these loud, bright fabrics she chose!  Maybe.  Then again, maybe she still will! ;)

I have been sitting at the side of the pool, watching our daughter at her Swim Club.  They had their meet last week, and today it was announced that she won first place as the Swim Club member who shaved the most time off of her own personal best which they timed at the start of the semester.  Large, happy smiles! :D

I have been growing tomato plants from seeds, under lights in our basement.  I have several different varieties--most of them heirlooms.  My problem is that too many of them sprouted.  And I have a REALLY hard time pinching out the extras, so usually will just separate and repot all of them!  I currently have 50 plants--I used to have more, but I really truly did thin out some of the scrawniest.  And gave away some.  I probably only have official room for 12 plants.  But I will ask my husband to help squeeze in more. It's all right. He's used to it! ;)

I have been researching and ordering a new bike for myself!  Yea!  Remember I said our daughter has learned how to ride her bike?  Well, now I can't keep up with her when I am walking! :)  Good problem to have, I suppose!  So I decided in self-defense, I needed to get myself a bike.  It has been around 25 years since I have had a bike--hope I can keep up with her!  Or at least keep closer to her so I can watch over her.  So glad God does not have a problem with keeping close to me, to keep watch over me!

I have been reading an ebook about letting God lead in your home school.  And rethinking all those things on my "Wish List."

I have been reading through the Bible again.  This time I am following a plan that takes you through the Old Testament and the New Testament at the same time, taking a whole year to complete each.  It is divided up into a morning reading and an evening reading.  I have discovered that I do not do well with the evening readings, as there are too many times I miss them.  Therefore, I have taken to reading both the morning's Old Testament reading and the evening's New Testament readings both in the morning.  This works much better for me, but to be honest I think at this point I really prefer just reading straight through, rather than be reading in both areas at the same time.  But I am this far into it, so will finish this reading plan this year.  But I think next year I will just start with the Old Testament and read through in the order the books come.

So there you have it.  A snapshot of where I have been.

What have YOU been up to lately????

~Susan

The Easter Gift

Easter time again--hard to believe!  We spent the day participating in a walk-though SonRise service, complete with the Jerusalem market place, the Last Supper, the Garden, the Trial, the Crucifiction, and finally the Resurrection.  Our family, and around 10,000 other people, that is.  Even though I have participated many times before, every year it still touches my heart to see acted out just a small part of what Jesus did, who He was, how He died for me. How He died for you.  It leaves me speechless.  Words are not enough to describe the beautiful Gift He gave.

~Susan

A Walk in the Woods

Hi Everyone!

Our family is blessed to live close to the school campus where my hubby works, and they have lots of wonderful trails that we are able to hike on. . . 

as busy as we are, we do not go often enough.  But when we do, I love to bring my camera.

A couple of weeks ago, we got a chance to go out hiking.  Being Fall, there were not a lot of wild flowers, but I found a fascinating selection of fungi! 

I loved the red cap on this one!

Sweet little shape.  Just needs a little frog sitting underneath it in a gentle rain!

I love the woods!  The trails just invite you on and on. . . 

These looked almost like golf balls, all sitting on the same log.  So funny!

And the color arches here I thought were beautiful.  Just like the log was growing little rainbows.

The view at the top was worth the hike up!

So delicate looking ferns. . . 

Smiles for being at the top!

My sweet heart!  

Hope you enjoyed this little hike in the woods!

What things look like around here.....

Hi Everyone!

I apologize for missing my morning SOAP devotional today. As I mentioned yesterday, our area was hard hit by the storms Wednesday night. Since I wrote yesterday's post, we have learned that several of our friends have lost their entire house. This picture is of one of my son's best friends house. It used to be two story. To the right side of the metal spiral stairway you can see in the picture used to be the kitchen. It's just totally gone.

But praise the Lord--this paticular family had flown across the country to visit their oldest child who is away at a boarding school, so they were gone when the tornado came through. If they had been home, I do not think they would have survived inside this house, as there is no basement for them to have gone to. Their lives were spared, though their house was not.

Another set of friends--co-worker to my husband--their house looks pretty much the same as this one. They were home at the time, but survived in their basement. Another family--elderly couple, has a huge tree through the roof of their house. Thank God they are both alive.

I do not think we will ever truely understand why God does not always choose to protect the possessions of His people. Sometimes we do hear of miracles where a forest fire stops within feet of someone's house. Sometimes people's lives are saved--sometimes they aren't, even though they were dedicated Christians. The house in the above picture was owned by a dear family that have spent years as self-supporting missionaries overseas.

But I do know this. God is more interested in our spiritual lives than our things. Though He knows we need certain things to live here on this earth, He is not limited in providing them through only one way. Perhaps this is the time for us and those like us who did not have our homes destroyed to show Christ's love and reach out and help those in need.

So on that note, my husband has spent time helping to clear brush away, and I am making food for others this afternoon. I will return to the blogging through the Gospels as soon as I can, but have invited several families who lost their homes to stay with us for a while if they need to--so I may have company.

Remember to stay near to Jesus always. And hold your things loosely, and your family tightly.