Fall 2019 - Photo Dump!

 Despite my silence on the blog, we DID do a lot this past fall!  School, of course.  Here Little Man is working on his math.

And reading literature.

Our dog Gucci loves to do school with us!

I am going through "Who is God and can I really know Him?", a worldview curriculum, with Little Man.  We went through it with the older kids when he was a preschooler, and before I pass it on to someone else I wanted to go through it again with him.

Both our boys are in my high school English class at our home school co-op.  I developed a four year cycle of what I would do with my own kids at home, and then offered it as a class at our co-op.  This is our year for "the long and the short of it," two long novels and several short stories.  The novel we spent the entire fall on was the 1600 page book, Les Miserables! Almost every day I could find each of the boys in this type of reading situation.

 Here is my co-op class!

Of course both boys played fall soccer with a homeschool team (fall soccer is when boys play for their school, and spring soccer is when they play either recreational or travel/club soccer).  Early in the season son C was tripped during a game and ended up breaking both bones in his left arm.

Sister G, when we visited her at her apartment one weekend, had to sign his cast!

It was an odd break, and the orthopedic doctor had an MRI done on son C's arm to make sure there was no soft tissue damage.  (there wasn't!)

7 members of our home school team are seniors this year, so we designated one of our game days as "senior day."  We had a special time to honor each one, and to pray over them.

We played a LOT of games that were kindof far away.  Falling asleep on the way home was a common occurrence.

We got to go to the home school National Tournament out of state!  Super fun experience.

Son C (#19) with the ball.

Also this fall we squeezed in two different college visits for our senior.  School #1....

....and school #2.

He would really love to play soccer in college.  We are praying and waiting and trusting that one of these two schools will offer him a spot on their team.

Halloween 2019 - Little Man and his boys small group from church dressed up as the fellowship of the ring!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving weekend, when daughter G was home, we went and bought our Christmas tree!

Son C (second from left) at our co-op Christmas party.

Fourth of July!

I saw a t-shirt in a store this summer that said, "Party like it's 1776."  It made me think of John Adam's poignant words in a letter to his wife after the signing of the Declaration of Independence (which commenced on July 2, 1776):

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more."

While many Americans may not know the details of the beginning of our nation, I am glad that John Adam's prophetic words hold mostly true.  All over the country there are parades, games, sports, bonfires, and illuminations (fireworks).  The story of our freedom from the tyranny of King George III is an amazing story, all the more incredible because it is TRUE.  It is worthy of celebration!

We spent the day with relatives and friends at our family cottage, visiting, eating, and soaking up the sun.  Yes, I went in the river, and yes, it was COLD!  But I managed to stay in longer than most of my kids, just to prove that I was not a wimp. :)

Son L with his girlfriend.

One of our nephews with his fiance.

Me and my sister in law.

My favorite 21 year old!!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Easter.  Such an incredibly meaningful holy-day for believers everywhere.  This year son C (age 15) remarked, "I just realized that Easter is, like, the most important holiday there is, even more important than Christmas.  Because without Jesus dying on the cross and resurrecting, we would have no chance."  You got it, buddy.

Though I don't like to identity myself with Judas, who betrayed Christ, when I realize I am more like him than any of the other characters that make up the incredible Easter story, I am in absolute awe and wonder at God's mercy and forgiveness.  That He could and DOES forgive such as I!

His love astounds me.

Our egg coloring this year included son L's girlfriend and her brother.  I love listening to tweens and teens interact, just having fun. 

We welcomed daughter H home for Easter dinner.  It was good to see her!

When son C realized I was going to take a picture of him mashing the potatoes, he wanted to be sure I had a good shot of his arm!  haha

Daughter G always does a beautiful job setting the table!  Love her artistic eye.

Family.  Love.

After the adults all napped (!) we did an indoor egg hunt, because the outside temps were on the cold side and our kids have all turned into wimps. ;)

Sorting the candy!  A time honored tradition for children of all ages, apparently.  My college kids never say no to free candy.

Amidst the flow of the trappings of Easter, it is a humbling joy to consider what Jesus was willing to endure for me, and all that His resurrection means to me on a daily basis.  He is everything.

New Year's Eve Dance Party!

This was my view for about two hours on New Year's Eve right before the big count down to 2018.  SO.  MUCH.  FUN.  And yes, I danced too!  Be sure to watch the videos.  Each one is only about a minute and they are hilarious. :)

Christmas Eve 2017

If you have been a long time reader, these pictures will look familiar.  They are just the 2017 version. :)  We started our family Christmas celebration at the Christmas Eve service at church.  I always love the Christmas Eve service!  We end it every time just with candlelight, while singing Silent Night.  So special.

At home we ate our traditional Chinese food for dinner, and then had our own worship service, with sons G, A, and C helping to read the Christmas story this year from my grandfather's Bible.
     

After prayer, we began opening our gifts to one another.  Daughter H was able to join us for the evening, and we had fun being all together!  She gave my husband this Keurig for Christmas!

Little Man is obsessed with this show.  We watch it with him....it's a little edgy (scary)....but we are all enjoying the very good acting by child actors, and can talk about each episode after we watch.

So happy that two of my boys still want legos!

Son L received these cool water speakers (behind him on the bookcase).  They light up and water spouts up with the beat.  We had fun trying out different songs to see how they would affect the water.

These are daughter G's feet.  She has long wanted Chaco sandals, and this was her year to get them!

We faked son G out with this gift....it was so fun!  He had wanted the battlefront 2 game (Star Wars, for those of you who may not know), but we packed it with a heavy book in a bigger box so that he wouldn't guess what it was by the weight and shape.  He opened it from the bottom and saw the book first, and was kindof confused....it was a book on eschatology!  Haha!  The rest of the evening, while all the gifts continued being opened, he loaded it on the xbox so he could play some before bed.  He LOVES this game.

Daughter G gave hubby and I light sabers, so we could have a light saber battle for date night!

Kyle Ren's tie fighter.

Daughter H got to open her stocking that night as well, since she wouldn't be with us the next morning.

Merry Christmas everyone!