ANIMAL PICTURES

Their days are numbered! I have a great picture of Myah riding Wilbur (the other pig).

I'll have to post that when I get a chance.

3 of the 11 chickens with their chicken herder!

Noodles and Rio.

Mossy.

She won't leave the horses alone. She just loves them. Every ride we take, she's tagging right along, and she's often hanging out with them even when we're not riding!
(This picture is for you, Bev. Traci tells me you read my blog! :))

I have more pictures, but no more time to post. I'll have to add them later...

REMODELING UPDATE

Here you can see the new roof!

This is the porchwe are remodeling. Once it is finished off, the sliding doors will be taken out and it will actually be an addition onto the house. Since this picture, the eve (that Evan is ripping out in the picture) has been totally taken out, and the ceiling has been raised about a foot. You can see our new entry door. We are going to build a wall down the middle of this room, so where I'm standing to take the picture will eventually be the office/school room, and Evan is in the entry.

The big picture window will be in the school room/office. There are more windows in the room, they just covered by the housewrap to keep the wind/rain out until the new windows come next week. For those of you who have been here, you can see that we ripped out the old porch stairs. We plan to build a new deck over the concrete stairs that are there. They are very narrow and steep and will be dangerous come winter. We are still deciding between two colors for siding, but are going with the Canexel brand. It gives the wood look without the maintenance.

RANDOM THOUGHTS...

I never regretted titling this blog the way I did, because sometimes it's nice just to sit and write without any real ideas behind it. Sometimes it's nice to just write my thoughts for the moment.... thus, here are "Today's thoughts..."

Life is so busy right now, I feel like having a single moment to hold onto for myself is very rare these days, and then I even feel selfish for desiring such a thing. I'm looking forward to next weekend when we are taking our 3rd annual trip to visit friends in White Sulphur Springs. While there, Evan and Jeremy will get out for some elk hunting, and Marissa & I (alone w/ no kids!) get to go to Bozeman for the day on Saturday to enjoy a fall flea market, which I hear is incredible. I'm pretty excited for that day! Just getting out will be very nice, and the trip is always beautiful this time of year.

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For you parents out there, do you ever feel like you hold grudges against your kids when they constantly disobey for a season? Somedays it seems like all I do is discipline, and then when they are having a good time laughing, I find it hard to join in on the fun b/c in my heart I'm holding a grudge. I know how important it is to combine joy with discipline when it comes to training our children. Why do I struggle sometimes with that? One thing God showed me about a week ago, is that I often have been blaming my kids for my own sinful heart. If I get angry or upset, I'll think to myself, "Well, I have the right to be angry b/c if they wouldn't have disobeyed for the umteenth time, I wouldn't get angry!" God gently, but strongly, told me I have an issue to deal with, and that regardless of my kids' behavior, I need to obey him. It then is as much MY issue as it is theirs! Whether or not I even express my anger, it's wrong in these circumstances. He's working on my heart just as much as He's working on their hearts. Thank you, God, for not giving up on me, and for your grace that comes daily!

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Amidst the busyness of remodeling and trying to get our house winterized (we were up till midnight a couple nights ago blowing insulation in the attic!), we are taking some time to have fun. Last night, the three kids spent about an hour with the pigs. I think Myah should become a professional pig rider -- she's pretty good at it. Evan & I spent some time on the horses in the small riding corral we have. We were both riding bare back (I'm trying to work on my balance, and bareback is the best way to do that!) -- I on pokey Noodles and Evan on Rio. Rio is the opposite end of the spectrum from Noodles. Noodles would be happy walking his life away, while Rio wants to GO! Evan had him just flying through the fields the other night! :) The instant you get on him, he gets all dancy b/c he wants to go. The best way to learn about horses is to dive in and get some. Evan has amazed me with how much he's learned just from reading, watching videos and just working with them. They have kept us busy, but it's been really fun, and we are thankful God has allowed us to have this experience. They are a nice relief from the stress of the work of the house.

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I leave you with this quote that inspires me. I'm not even sure where I got it..

"A wise woman sets a joyful mood in her home. Through laughter, music and happy times, she creates a positive attitude in her children. She knows that a lighthearted home relieves her husband (and everyone in the home) of stress."

There you have it, my random thoughts for the moment.

"INTO THE WEST"

If you have not seen this mini-series, I would highly recommend it. We've gotten it through Netflix for the past month (It's a 12 hour series) and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a story of a fictional family, but is completely based on historical facts. It's educational as well as entertaining. It goes to great lengths to show both the white man's side and the Indian's side of what happened in our past. Be sure to watch the disk with the special features as well. I really think think you'll find this series worth watching.

NEW FALL BIBLE STUDY!!!

I'm so excited to have begun yet another Bible study through Beth Moore. Her teachings stretch my mind and always excited me to dig deeper into God's Word for myself. This fall we are studying the book of Daniel. What an inspiration he is for us to follow in this present day Babylon that we live in. He resolved in his heart not to bend in his faith and he did just that. God's blessing was on him. His boldness is inspirational and his focus was right where it needed to be. Last night, we studied in detail Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2). It's amazing to me how that prophesy is still unfolding today. Biblical prophesy intrigues me, as a person can take one look at the Bible and see how flawless it really has been throughout history. It's living proof of our great God!

The study is separated into two parts: 1) Lives of integrity and 2) Words of Prophecy. I'm SO excited to embark on this journey of digging into God's Word. This study covers a lot of history, which is something I desire to learn more about. Along with that is a deeper look at eschatology, which is something else I've been wanting to have a better grasp on! I'm holding on! I think it will be quite a ride!

FINAL RECIPE CORRECTION

One of these days, I'll find my brain back after having children....hopefully....

The original way I wrote the chicken 'n dumplings recipe was correct, so please disregard the "correction" I made on it. (Which I have now deleted.) I had my baking soda and baking powder mixed up in my brain. Hopefully none of you attempted it with baking soda! :) I apologize if you did.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN LEARNING....

One of the things I love most about homeschooling is that I get to learn right along with my kids! Either I've forgotten a lot of stuff, or am just more excited about details now that I'm older. Whatever it is, I am thoroughly enjoying it! Here's a brief update on what we've learned these past few days.

Joel
We finished our study on leaves, where we learned how important it is to live and grow in Jesus. We talked about how if a leaf decides not to be a part of the plant because he wanted to be his own boss, life doesn't end up very well for that leaf. This was tied in with how important it is for us to stay with Jesus.

We studied the different trees in our own yard. We collected several and made a book. We painted leaf outlines, and made leaf rubbings. We talked about the different parts of the trees, and discussed how/why trees look different depending on what season we are in. We dried leaves and made a stained glass leaf picture from them. (Very cool activity!) We read several books about leaves.

Joel is now studying apples. We have talked about how if we stay in Jesus, we will have much fruit. We talked about the different fruits we get from the grocery store and how that is different than the kind of fruit we will produce -- the fruits of the spirit. (We are studying these in more detail during our devotional time in the morning.) We studied several different types of apples -- counted the seeds, and discovered that if you cut it in half opposite the way a person normally would, there is a star in the middle. We are almost done with our study of apples and will move into learning about nests next.

Myah
Two weeks ago, we had a detailed study of Indians. Myah learned about some of the different tribes and some of the different housing Indians use to live in. She made a wigwam and and a teepee. We learned all about the life of Squanto and also about Pocahontas and John Smith. Last week, Myah spent studying pilgrims. We made an oiled window, to see first hand the types of windows the pilgrims used in their houses, and why they would oil them. We are learning several different patriotic songs, including "America" and "God Bless America", along with the pledge of allegience. By the end of the year, we will have worked through many of the patriotic songs.

We studied stars in Science this past week as well, with a good look at the Sun, Betelgeuse, the Big Dipper, the North Star and the Little Dipper. We talked a little about constellations and galaxies, and how truly amazing it is that God knows the names of every star out there, when we don't even know all that is out there. We also talked a little bit about the speed of light as a way to measure distance.

This week our focus has been on the Dutch and their move to America from the Netherlands. It's been fun to read about since that is our heritage! We've also been learning about Jesus being the Bread of Life, and this has been tied into science with some fun experiments with yeast.

Myah also has been busy making pot holders. She just loves any craft activity, and I love them when she doesn't depend on me every 5 minutes to help! :) This project has been perfect for her!

A TYPICAL HOMESCHOOL DAY

(for those of you who wonder what really goes on

during this homeschool family's day!)

I mostly post this information for our families in order to let them know what goes on in our daily lives. The rest of you may read it, too, but may not find it as enjoyable to read as Grandma and Grandpa. :)

Monday-Thursday

7-8:30
Eat, Dress, Make bed, pick up bedrooms (if needed), one extra chore, brush teeth/hair
(I ususally start a load of laundry and if I'm really on top of things, think about dinner!)

8:30-9:00
Bible/Devotions

9:00-10:30
(Myah) Morning work: Handwriting, Math, Phonics
(Joel) Math, My Father's World study (the remainder of his curriculum)

10:30 -- Take a break!

10:45- 12:00
(Myah)
* finish up Math, Phonics
* Spelling
* more Bible, History, Science (My Father's World curriculum)

(Joel & Kiana) -- playtime

12-12:30 LUNCH

12:45 Book Basket time (silent reading for 15+ minutes)

1:00 (Joel) reading time with mom, speech homework practice, then a nap!
1:15/1:30 (Myah) any unfinished morning work, reading to/with mom

Kiana fits in there somewhere, too, but mostly just tags along with the rest of us. She goes down for her nap right after lunch.

BEING A DISCIPLE

Though I am very far from being all that this says, it does explain my heart. This is who I want to be! A disciple is a "disciplined learner". I am learning every day what it means to follow Jesus. I want to be the person that this describes, and no matter if it takes me until I die, I will strive to be just that... a disciple of Jesus. I may fall, but I will get back up.

I Am A Disciple of Jesus Christ

(written by Bob Moorhead)

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

I have Holy Ghost power.

The dye has been cast; I have stepped over the line.

The love of God controls me; the decision has been made.

I am a disciple of His.

I won't look back, let up, slow down or back away.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,

my future is secure.

I am finished and I am done with low living,

sight walking, small planning, colorless dreams, mundane talking,

cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need prosperity, position,

promotion, preeminence or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops,

recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk in His patience,

live in prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is the kingdom of God.

My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,

my guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away,

turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored

up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ.

I must go until He comes, give until I drop,

teach until all know, and run until He stops me.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ!