Before we get started....

Before I can really go into the "home schooling" area, I had to take the time to explain where I am coming from. This is something that has been greatly on my heart. The Lord has been challenging me, poking me and prodding me these last few years.

I'm a very passionate person. I know what I believe in many areas of life. Despite my deep feelings about things, I am constantly challenged to work on keeping the focus on what is really important. Believe me, it's not always easy. Please allow yourself to really take a good look at yourself and examine what you find.

I personally have seen relationships damaged by differing opinions as trivial as epidural vs. natural birth, dresses only vs. pants, nutrition vs. junk food, hospitals vs. home remedies. Now if I've ruffled your feathers, please hear me out. Some of these issues may be important to you and I'm not meaning to trivialise them. I'm simply trying to make this point. None of these for mentioned issues or any others like them are so important that I should neglect to love those around me.

John 13:34 & 35~  " A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this the world will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus himself tells us that the way the world will know if we truly know Him, is if we love each other. So if my disposable diapering, alfalfa tea drinking, microwave using, and even home schooling ways are getting in the way of loving any of you, then I am in the wrong. Not wrong for believing what I do, but wrong for prioritizing a method or a thing over an eternal being and my testimony for Christ.

As I delve into why we believe what we do, I just want to be very clear. If you feel yourself challenged, praise the Lord! We all should continually be molded and polished to serve the Lord. If you feel yourself judged, know that my choices in life do not affect my love for you. I am not the judge.

2 Corinthians 5:10~  "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

Stay tuned for the "Why" coming up soon!

Coming soon: The "What", "Where", "When", "Why", "How"

I've had some questions about our home schooling plans, thoughts, schedule etc.. This is an area that is very important to me so I want to take the right amount of time and effort to say what I mean effectively. If you have any specific questions pertaining to any area, please ask so that I can address them.

Lydia is Five!!!

May 6, was Lydia's fifth birthday. We were taking off for California that day so I didn't get a chance to write about her. Sitting here now I feel a bit overwhelmed trying to imagine how I can explain to you what a tremendous blessing she is to us!

Lydia is our oldest. I remember the day I found out I was expecting. September 1, 2004. We had only been married for three months but I was sooooo anxious for a baby. As soon as that pink line appeared I burst into tears. I was going to have my own baby! We decided not to find out what we were having, but were both 100% positive that we were having a boy. Seeing my baby girl for the first time was the biggest surprise of my entire life. But oh was I happy!! Laying in the hospital bed that night with my baby girl in my arms and my amazing husband on the couch beside me, I knew I was the most blessed of all women!

The name Benjamin means "Son of my right hand". Lydia should have been named the feminine version of that! She truly is my right hand. I don't know what I would do without her. From her cheerful smile to her comforting embraces. From her silly playfulness to her amazing wisdom. From her childlike dancing to her motherly comfort. From her goofy sense of humor to her heart for the lost. She is an absolute gift from the Lord, perfectly created with amazing purpose!

Every now and then, a post comes along that fills me with emotion. This is one of them. I'm so thankful that God's plans are not our plans. I'm so thankful that He in His wisdom gave me my Lydia Grace. I'm so thankful for every moment I have with her. To God be the glory! 

We're Home!!!

Last Thursday we took off for David's brother Benjamin's graduation. Three of his brothers have attended Shasta Bible College in Redding, CA, so we used to travel down there quite a bit. Somehow life has gotten a little more busy and we hadn't gone down since Jonathan's graduation two years ago. I was super excited about the trip and especially the time spent with dear family members.

All packed up and ready to go!

Our sweet Ella's first road trip!

The handsome driver. Nothing like spending the whole day driving with your very best friend! I'm so blessed!

We left on Lydia's 5th birthday so we stopped in Weed for some birthday ice cream.

Despite all the bad said about Weed, you can't dispute how amazing it would be to look at that mountain (Mt. Shasta) every day!

Our trip down went great! The girls had fun looking at everything around them, Ella slept almost the whole way and Havi only fussed for about ten minutes when it was an hour past her bedtime and she couldn't fall asleep! The only major bump along the way was..............

Yup. A flat. But God was so gracious to us and landed us at a huge pull out and just enough light to get it changed easily. Thanks again David! You were amazing!

It had been a very long day, but finally we arrived at...........................

(Picture wasn't taken that night as it was pitch black when we arrived!)

Kathy's (David's mom) uncle owns this beautiful house up in the hills outside of Redding. They are such generous people and have offered for us to use it whenever we need.

David's family has eight sons and one daughter. Two are married and one is in the works. When we all get together, it is a BLAST!!!

Talia ( on the right) is our only niece and cousin so we were sooooooo excited about spending some time with her. Talia and Ella are two and a half months apart.

Saturday was the graduation. We are so proud of you Benjamin!!! Here he is with his beautiful Melissa. Aren't they so cute?!?

(Ella getting to know two of her great-grandmas)

Many family and friends came up after graduation. It was such a special time.

This dear, dear lady is Aunt Millie. She is Ella's great-great aunt and is one of the most precious people I have ever met. Every moment spent with her is a treasure. Ella was named after her mother.

I had to add this picture because I just love it! Two of my very favorite people. Miss Mary ( who lived with us for nine months) and Laura, my amazing sister-in-law.

I ate up every moment I could have with my precious niece. They live five hours away and while that is much closer than many aunties get to be, it is much too far for me! I love that girl!!!

My girls had a fun time with Lilly. Lilly and Bethany were babies together, then her family moved back down to Redding. It was so fun to see the girls playing together!

Laura and I were confusing everyone the whole time as we traded babies back and forth.

On Sunday we headed up to Dairy, OR ( near Klamath Falls) where we spent two days at Jonathan and Laura's house. That was such a special time. Laura really is a sister to me and I came away so encouraged by the time spent with her. Plus, she is an AMAZING cook! Yum!

The uncles made a great fort for the girls!

(Talia, 6 months old. Ella Joy, 3 1/2 months old)

Talia did so good with her cousins. They adored her!!!

We had such a fabulous time the entire trip, but I am so thankful to be home. My blog will come back to life now, I promise!

May. Ahhhhh the delight!

Okay. I admit it. I'm sure you have all realized it by now, but I have been suffering from a serious case of "Blogger's Block". I come here every day. Stare at the screen. Walk away. Soooooo, if any of you have any inspired (or even quite plain) ideas, thoughts or questions for me to expound on or delve into, I would be most appreciative! I'm even considering a giveaway for those of you with ideas, but once again, have a mental block as to what to give away! (I'm telling you, this is quite serious!).

After considering my complaining attitude about March, I thought I might redeem myself by sharing a few of the many things I LOVE about May!

May Memories

Today is May 1. May Day! I can remember two very important things that happened for me on May 1. On May 1, 2004, I graduated from high school with my brother-in-law Benjamin. Of course he wasn't an official brother-in-law yet, but became so the following month. Somehow the thoughts of my approaching wedding coming up in 35 days seemed to cloud the amazingness of that day. It was fun though!

On May 1, 2003, I received my first bouquet of flowers from the man of my dreams. He stopped by my house in the middle of the day with a bouquet of wild irises. What I think is really special is that yesterday, he stopped by our house in the middle of the day with a bouquet of wild irises! I love my man!

As you can see, he's not the only one to adorn me with such special finery. I'm so blessed! This kind of goes along with the next thing I love about May.

May Merriment

May seems to bring so many special times. This morning our youth group put on the Mother's Day Breakfast. Every year it is FABULOUS!!! Two years ago they transformed our fellowship hall into a luscious garden, complete with a stream (with turtles) and hundreds of plants. Last year it was a pioneer farmyard, with hoopskirted servers, a real old cook stove, goats and chickens. (Yes, all IN the fellowship hall). This year it was a beautiful courtyard with laid paving stones, a magnificent fountain and a vast array of plants and flowers. We are SPOILED!!!

In May we also have birthday time!!! Havilah and Lydia's birthdays are exactly two weeks apart so today we are having a joint birthday party on my side of the family. Fun! Fun! Fun! I always try to imagine that carrot cake has some healthy benefits to it. As I poured in the sugar and oil my confidence was a little shaken. I guess the yumminess will have to make up for it!

The other great thing about May is that running and playing outside is in full swing! Which brings me to my last consideration.

May Madness

Oh yes! I am very guilty of this! I am one of those planners, schemers and dreamers. Unfortunately my diligence and consistency has not quite caught up with me yet! Every spring, I start drooling for a garden. It will be the most amazing garden ever. Last year we had an abundant harvest of beets and cilantro ( even though I planted about everything else on the planet.) When I was growing up, our garden was always beautiful! Although, I never seemed to take much notice of the countless hours my Daddy spent watering, weeding and tending.

My dear husband is very gracious and patient and has actually given his blessing for me to have another try. I'm not sure what as come over him! I really am determined to be more consistent this year. Last year I learned two important lessons: Plants don't grow very well without sufficient water and deer aren't scared by fishing line.

Thanks for sticking with me through the thick and thin. Through Blogger's Block and blubbering ideas. Through words like amazingness and yumminess, You're all the best!

This made me feel better......

I hope it encourages you too!

Havilah is Two!!!

Our sweet Havilah turns two today!!! It's so hard to believe how fast she has gone from an adorable little baby to an irresistible little girl. Havi is truly one of a kind and continues to blow us away with her dynamic personality. Every day with her is a real treasure and we praise the Lord for blessing us with such a priceless jewel!

If you want filled in on her birth story, just click here .