Caleb turns 12!

Another birthday?  Where does the time go???!!  We are so blessed to have Caleb in our family - he keeps us laughing with his infectious humor and laugh.  He is truly a gift from God!

His sisters think so, too!

You may know that part of how we celebrate a birthday in our home is by letting the birthday person get to choose all the meals we eat that day and what we do as a family.  We did a tiny bit of school in the morning, played a game and then he played airsoft war with his daddy.  After that, he wanted to watch a movie of his choice, so that's what we did!

Sometimes the food choices can be very interesting! He chose to have:

Breakfast - Homemade Biscuits and Gravy
                   {Note: This was the best gravy I ever made!  I made homemade turkey sausage and also used part milk and part 1/2 and 1/2 (because I ran out of milk - I love when accidents make something so much better!).  I don't know if it was one or the other or both reasons, but it was yummy!  And on top of homemade biscuits???  Not much better than that!}

Lunch - Quesadillas
                  {Funny that he chose this since we have them several times a week as part of our regular meal plan - but we just looooovvveee them!}

Dinner - Homemade Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Baby Carrots

Dinner on our Special Birthday Plate

For his dessert, he wanted to try something new:  I don't even know what it would be called, except maybe sinful!  I'll share the process with you since they say confession is good for the soul... =)

Caleb snapped this picture of me working - notice the messy kitchen... this was a big job!

So, first you make a batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and spread it in the bottom of a well greased (or parchment lined) 9x13 pan

Homemade chocolate chip cookie layer

Next, layer oreos on top of the chocolate cookies - my recipe actually called for Double Stuff, but you have to draw the line somewhere!!

As if you needed more, you now add your favorite brownie mix on top of that (I actually cheated here and just used a box mix.  Sometimes, you just have to cheat!)

Then, you bake it for about 50 minutes at 350*  Take it out and it looks something like this:

Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream and chocolate and caramel syrup - because it wasn't bad enough on it's own.

I could only take one bite (don't need an upset stomach over dessert!), but it was very good.  Tasted like a brownie on steroids.  Caleb loved it though, and that's what counts!

Happy Birthday to Caleb!  I think this will be his best year yet and pray that it is so!

"Back" to School

It's hard to say "back to school" when we never really took off from last year!  We have kept busy through the summer staying on top of math, reading and cursive for Caleb and math, history and literature for the girls.  But, for all official intentions, we officially started back on August 15th - last Monday. 

This year marks some major milestones for us - Caleb starts 6th grade, so I have no more in elementary school... ='{  this is so sad to me! On top of that, MaKenna is a Junior and Holly is a Senior.  Oh. my.  Where did the time go?  We were just starting kindergarten yesterday or so... Right???  And now... Holly will graduate.  In May.  Whoa...  Ok, moving on, before I shed tears.

For Caleb this year, we are using the following:

Bible includes a character study, devotional, Bible reading and verse memorization.
Math U See Epsilon - Fractions.  I love the freedom that this curriculum gives me! 
Madsen Method - this is a spelling and grammar combination. 
We are beta testing Writeshop Junior Book F for creative writing.  I LOVE this curriculum!
Cursive is through 'A Reason for Handwriting'
Reading is through Pathway readers with questions that I make up for him.
Music is guitar lessons from a video program.
Last but not least, for History and Science we are using My Father's World. (details in another post soon!)


MaKenna is using:

Bible - we are currently doing a study of the Fruit of the Spirit
Math U See - finishing Geometry, then, TBD...
Botany Adventure - Science
English is Literature and Writing - Writeshop at the next level (creating as I go!)
Spanish I on FLVS
Tapestry of Grace for History, Bible, Literature and Worldview - (we are working through almost 3 years of curriculum in two, hence working so hard all summer!)
Crafting, cooking, baking, homemaking and character are through me, books, and daily life skills =)
Music - Lessons with our music minister

Holly is using:

Bible - we are currently doing a study of the Fruit of the Spirit
Math U See Stewardship - business and real life math
Chemistry on FLVS
English is Literature and Writing - Writeshop at the next level (creating as I go!)
Spanish I on FLVS

Tapestry of Grace for History, Bible, Literature and Worldview  (same as MaKenna above)
Crafting, cooking, baking, homemaking and character are through me, books, and daily life skills =)
Music - Lessons with our music minister
Web Design II on FLVS

Looks like it will be a full and busy year - just how we like it!  And full of all the things we each like to learn about.

How about you?  When did you start and are you doing anything exciting this year?

Last Launch of the Space Shuttle

Today, the kids and I got to be a part of history when we drove to the space coast to watch the lift off of the Atlantis shuttle.  Even living so close to the launch pad, none of us had ever seen one lift off before and we realized that if we didn't go to this one, we never would either!  We ended up having quite an adventurous day that started when we left the house at about 7:15.  We almost didn't go, since the chance of lift off at that time was only at about 30% due to weather conditions.  But, on the chance that it would go up, we went ahead and packed a lunch, loaded up and headed out - the back way to avoid the traffic!

Everything was going along great as we drove on the back road, pretty much in the middle of nowhere, listening to launch updates and traffic reports of all the people who went the main way who were not moving very fast.  The next thing we knew, traffic was stopping ahead of us and we were sitting - on a two lane road with no detour options and marshy scrub on either side of us.  At this point, there were NO traffic updates about this situation and we had no idea what was going on.  Well, turning around would mean going home since we were so far in the boonies, so we turned off the van and decided to wait.  After a while, we got out to see if we could tell what was up and chatted with a nice lady in front of us.  At this point, most people had either turned around and left or were out of their vehicles. 

The cars in front of us - not too many

The cars behind us - we couldn't even see the end of them!

Zoomed in front after people were getting out.

Zoomed in behind us - lots of people!

We ended up waiting there for an hour and a half!  We found out that there had been a 3 car accident just around the next bend and 2 people had to be airlifted to the hospital.  So sad.

Once they had gotten it all cleared and taken care of, we were back on the road and only about 10 minutes from our destination!  We were headed for a park across the Indian River from the shuttle.  However, we had no idea how to get to where we could actually see the launch.  So, we parked the van, gathered our things and just started walking.  It was a really pretty park with ball fields, lakes, playgrounds, and lots of wildlife.  There were others there, but this was definitely not a well known area because it was not packed.  We passed others as we walked and decided to just keep walking to see how close we could get to the river.  From where we were on the path with others, all we could see was the wetlands marsh (aka TREES) and lots of clouds.  So we walked...

The trees on the left were between us and our destination - how to get through was the dilemma!

We saw several gators as we walked.

Should we stop here?  Nah - let's keep walking and try to get closer!

We saw tons of fish jumping out of the water - can you see it?

Pretty things were growing everywhere we walked.

Then, we started finding old abandoned things like this canoe.

We realized that we were at the end of the path and that to our left was what appeared to be a way through - if we were willing to trudge through sopping wet mud, tall grass and who knows what!  We were willing!

More neat little things along the way down this hidden path.

Just off the beaten path...

Led to the dirt road...

Past this abandoned house...

And finally to railroad tracks, which ran beside the Indian River!  

We had found it!  YAY!!  We walked just a short ways down the tracks and the trees opened up to a completely clear view of the launch area.

The Indian River and the NASA building in the distance.

Looking down the tracks

Air Force Helicopters were constantly monitoring the area

While we waited, a family of wild hogs crossed the tracks down from us!

All of this before the shuttle ever began it's final countdown!!  We were down to 5 minutes to lift off and it was still a go.  We tuned in to the radio on my phone for updates and listened as NASA began the final steps.  Then, all of a sudden, it was time and the shuttle ignited and lifted right in front of our eyes!

I found it funny that while it was right in front of us, we didn't really hear anything.  But, once it was above the clouds, WOW, did it get loud!  The ground started to shake and vibrate and we could hear it for quite a while, even when we couldn't see it at all!  So, it was time to head back - another 2 mile trek through the wilderness!

On the way, we decided to climb to the top of the observation tower we had passed on the way in, if there was room.  When we passed it the first time, it was packed at the top and all the way down the stairs with people hoping for a view.  Turns out, other than where we were, this was the only place in the park that could see the launch!  When we got to it this time, there was hardly anyone on it, so we made the climb.

"Our" railroad tracks, seen from the top of the tower.

Part of the trail we followed to find our path.

More of the trail.

A train coming through, not long after we had left the tracks from watching the shuttle!

What an adventure we had had throughout the day!  Memories were made, history observed first hand, and (though we missed Mark getting to be with us) we had a great time just being together.  I am so thankful we had the opportunity to be there.

Caleb's Baptism

What better way to celebrate true freedom than to be baptized in the name of Jesus and have the bondage of all of your sins washed away??? Well, that's just what happened to Caleb yesterday!!

Pastor talking with Caleb

Pastor prayed an amazing prayer over Caleb - I am so thankful for this man of God in our life!

Acts 2:38 - Baptized in Jesus Name!

Freedom from sins!

Free Indeed

Yesterday, we heard a powerful and life changing message at church from our Pastor.  Here are my thoughts that I took home from the sermon - so appropriate for the 4th of July.

Freedom is what we are celebrating this weekend.  My neighbors behind me have had a non-stop party all weekend - starting Friday afternoon.  They are probably celebrating their freedoms as an American, the same as the rest of us.  However, are they truly FREE?  Are we? 

The Bible says:

         "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."  John 8:36

Free INDEED is better than just being free.

In this same passage of scripture, the disciples had the gall to say that they had never been in bondage to any man - even though they were, at that time alone, subject to Caesar and Rome, not to mention that countless other times they had been in bondage through the years.  They had a deception of freedom that wasn't freedom indeed.

         "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."  John 8:36

As an opposite example, how is it that victims in the Holocaust Concentration Camps were reported to show a sense of freedom - in spite of the terror, the horrific abuse, the bars?

Americans take pride in recognizing our freedom financially, politically and physically, yet fail to see that we are not free indeed. 

         "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."  John 8:36

We are not necessarily free emotionally and, most of all, spiritually.  Many, maybe even my neighbors, are not free from the bondages of alcohol, drugs, etc. yet they celebrate freedom.  It is better to be free indeed! 

        "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:32

I pray today that, as you celebrate with family and friends, eat, watch fireworks, cookout, etc., that you will ponder true freedom.  I pray that if you are not free indeed that you will learn the truth that will make you free and have a better reason to celebrate - better even than the great country that we are a part of and the foundation we have beneath us.  We can't let the amazing freedoms that we share as a nation prevent us from experiencing this true freedom!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

On My Heart Today - Is Jesus with Us?

I am doing a study with Caleb right now on Obedience - ways to be obedient, the true definition of it, the rewards for it and the consequences for not.  While we were doing our study today, we were instructed to read from Luke chapter 2, which we obeyed =)

At the end of that chapter, we find Mary, Joseph and Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover.  The group heads home after their feast, but that night, Mary and Joseph are unable to locate Jesus with family or friends.  Quickly, they turn around and head back to Jerusalem, worried about their son.  It takes 3 days before they actually locate him - in the temple with the teachers.

I went through and had my discussion with Caleb for his lesson - Jesus' attitude toward his parents, his not arguing back, his willingness to return home with his parents and the blessings that came with that obedience.  (Read this section of scripture to see the benefits of obeying, even if you think you are doing a good thing.)  It was a great lesson and we had an amazing talk.

However, as we moved on to his next subject, I couldn't stop thinking about those verses.  How could Jesus' parents leave their young son behind and not even notice for a whole day?  Why did they not make sure he was with them before they left the city?  Then I wondered, were they so busy - in their lives, their trip home, their 'to-do' list - that their son's absence easily went unnoticed?  How did they not know that Jesus was not with them - why were they not communicating with him along the way?

Then, I wondered... How often am I so busy that I forget to pay attention to whether or not Jesus is with me?  Have I ever gotten caught up in my life - the to-do lists, the schedules, the daily routines - that I haven't noticed that He is not with me?  How often have I not made the time to be in His presence, ensuring that He is with me wherever I go?  I don't want to be so busy that I am able to continue to operate even if He is not with me.  I need daily, moment by moment fellowship with my Lord that ensures that close walk with my Saviour!

My daily time with Jesus is the most important part of my day - it is the part that ensures He walks with me as I go!  I never want to forget that priority or think that I can get through a day without Him.

Psalm 63:1:  O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalm 34:10:  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Psalm 22:26:  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

Psalm 27:8:  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

1 Chronicles 16:1:  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

May you be encouraged today on your walk to make sure that Jesus is with you as you go.  It will make all the difference if He is!