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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCYLILLIE!!
Monday, April 7, 2008

Today, our Little sweetheart is a year old!! We are all in shock. Truly!! This year has really blown by! God is so good in placing this little sweetie in our home.

Lucy, we all hope you have the best birthday today! You are such a joy in our lives.

There will be several tributes to our Little Girlie for her special day, so we will be linking them as they are posted! We will also be adding pictures too!

Happy Birthday Loolie. We are all so proud of you!!

From Mommy:

Wow. It has been a year. A year. And I love you more now than I did then, though I don't know how that is possible. It is 3 am here now, on the 7th. Last year at this time, I was just starting to have the hard contractions. I woke up after a bit of rest and woke up the midwife. It was time.    

29 minutes later, we met you for the first time. Our little girl. Jocelyn and I knew you were going to be a girl. We were ready for one. You were so tiny. And content. You nursed well and were so sweet. The next weeks were full of joy and trying desperately to figure out a name for you!!

And now, a year later, you are still so sweet and content. I cannot believe a year has passed.

 

 

You are such a little baby doll still. So smart and loving.

You let Caleb grab you around the neck and give you all the hugs he wants, and you hardly make a peep.

I love your little delicate fingers and the way you sing with me, reaching the right pitches and stopping and holding the words you can't even speak yet. Your words are only understood by us, but I know you understand so much more than you can tell us yet! We love your aaaah when you say yes and the way you have started shaking your head yes and no.

 

Had we ever put you down sooner, I am sure you would be running around by now, but we all want to hold you, so it is a small sacrifice.

Besides, to see you stand from crouching is so fun, and you do it so well now. We are anticipating those first real steps.

But don't expect to be put down too much just because you start walking. We will still be holding you all the time!

I cannot even say how you have captured your Daddy's heart. To see his eyes light up and a huge smile on his face each time he sees you and the way he just watches you is priceless.

You simply light up the room, my little darling!

You remind me of each of your brothers and sisters, and it is a joy to have you.

I love to see you raise your hands to go to your sister or lay your head sweetly on Eric's shoulder as he sings to you. What a blessing.

Our times together nursing are so vey precious to me, and they will be kept in my heart forever.

To look into your eyes, to feel your little hand on my face or to watch you doze off to sleep, it is our time, and I love gazing at you.

Thank you Lord, for this precious gift you have given us. Thank you for loaning her to us to teach her and love her and be blessed by her presence. It is truly humbling to know, my dear little Loolie, that you are God's and I get the privilege of having you here. I truly do not deserve you.

I will tell you that you are in great company too. God has filled this home with great children, your sisters and brothers, to love you and teach you and care for you. You will never be alone or unloved. God put you in exactly the right place at the exact right time.

I am still as overjoyed and in love with you, Little Girlie, as I ever was. You are a light in our lives. I can't wait to watch you grow and see what God has planned in your life. I love you my dear. Love you. Love you. Love you!

Mommy

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For Sale: Books, CDs, Other - Oh, and Goats!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Time to get rid of a lot of items that we have had sitting around our home, waiting for an Ebay listing. We are planning to move in the near future, so we must remove a lot! This will be a friendly way to get rid of some of it and bless you with items you may not be able to afford from somewhere else. I tried to cover all the bases, so have a look-see and Email Me if you need to.
 

If you have any questions at all about any of these items, please email me. Many of the movies were given to us, and I know they are in great shape, but I cannot vouch for the content of any of the movies, of course! :) The Vision Forum items are leftovers from when we sold homeschool books and supplies. We no longer endorse VF.
Also, please give me a day or two to contact you about an item. First emails are first-served, so no worries there. I will also let you know if the item is already sold in email RE: Please Email any offers; I am open to fair offers.
Thanks!


CATEGORY: BOOKS
SHIPPING for first book is $2.00 Media Mail or First Class, depending on weight. Priority Mail is $4.60 base rate for one book.
Additional books:
Media Mail  Each additional book is 0.50.
Priority Mail  $2.00 for each additional, up to $8.95 for flat rate box.

Desecration - Anti-Christ Takes the Throne
Book 9 in the Left Behind Series  HCDJ
Tim LaHaye Jerry Jenkins
$1.00


When Godly People Do Ungodly Things
Beth Moore     HCDJ
$1.00  SOLD

Ten Lies About God
And How You Might Already Be Deceived
Erwin W. Lutzer   HCDJ
$1.00

The Kingdom of God is a Party
Tony Campolo    HCDJ
$1.00

The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers
Gary Chapman
$1.00  SOLD

NEW Experiencing Community Small Group Study Guide
Thom Corrigan ~ Navpress
78pp; includes Leader's Appendix
$1.00

Character ~ Who You Are When No One Is Looking
Bill Hybels
6 studies for groups or individual
Includes Guidelines for Leaders and Study Notes
$1.00

Your Family Time with God
John Maxwell    HCDJ
$1.00

So Much More
Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin
HCDJ , Vision Forum
Like New
$8.00


The Prayer of Jabez Devotional
Bruce Wilkinson
$1.00


The Prayer of Jabez
Bruce Wilkinson
$1.00


Yucatan Deep
Tom Morrisey
softcover.  used.
$1.00


I Spy Spooky Night A Book of Picture Riddles  
New Condition; Name in face plate on inside cover
0590481371
Cartwheel Books  Scholastic Inc.
$1.00


Moments Together for Couples  HCDJ
Devotions for drawing to God & one another
Dennis & Barbara Rainey
0830717544   ?90000
$1.00



HOMESCHOOLING BOOKS
MORE COMING~ I FOUND A BOX! :)

Some of the bigger books (Lesson plans and TE), I have added a dollar, because they are quite heavy and more to ship.

+ADDED+ K-grade
K God's World  A Beka Science Series
Student Text 16454  2nd Edition
ret. $8.95  $2.00

K God's World  A Beka Science Series
Student Text 16454  2nd Edition
ret. $8.95  $2.00


+ADDED+ 1st Grade
A Beka Health Safety, Manners 1
Student Text Reader Second Edition 54089003
ret. $9.95  $5.00

A Beka Discovering God's World Science 1
Student Text Reader Third Edition 50512
(bottom has very minimal humidity wrinkling)
ret. $9.95  $5.00

+ADDED+ 2nd Grade
Letters/Sounds 2 Teacher Edition Test Key
Third Edition 20621003
ret. $7.15  $2.00

Arithmetic 2 Teacher Edition
41718004
ring-bound answer key to text. front cover is bent
ret. $21.15  $10.00

Arithmetic 2 Tests/Speed Drills Teacher Key
41734
ret. $9.15  $2.00

+ADDED+ 3rd Grade
A Beka Reading 3 Curriculum and Lesson Plans
with Phonics Review 75485004
ret. $25.00  $11.00

A Beka History 3 Curriculum and Lesson Plans
Our American Heritage 76848003
ret. $11.00  $5.00

A Beka Arithmetic 3 Curriculum and Lesson Plans
75507003
top corner of binding torn
ret. $30.00  $12.00

A Beka Arithmetic 3 Teacher Key to work text
Fourth Edition 54798007
ring-bound answer key to student text. front cover missing
ret. $21.15  $10.00

A Beka Language 3 Teacher Edition
Third Edition  36455007
ring-bound answer key to student text
ret. $23.00  $11.00

A Beka Language 3 Teacher Test Key
Teacher Edition Third Edition 36471008
key to student tests
ret. $9.15  $2.00

A Beka Science & Health Curriculum and Lesson Plans 3
for Health Safety and Manners 3 and Exploring God's World 3
Some highlighting and back cover bent 7692003
ret. $15.00  $7.00

A Beka Health Safety and Manners 3
Test Quizzes and Worksheet Key
Second Edition 58130007
ret. $9.15  $2.00

A Beka Exploring God's World Science 3 3rd Edition
Student Text 57312007
Used. There are some erased answers.
 ret.11.95  $5.00 SOLD

A Beka Exploring God's World Science 3 3rd Edition
Answer Key to Text 58610010
ret.6.15 $2.00 SOLD

A Beka Exploring God's World Science 3 3rd Edition
Teacher Edition Test, Quzzes, Worksheet Key 58130007
ret.9.15  $2.00 SOLD

A Beka Health Safety and Manners 3 2nd Edition
Student Text 58106007
$5.00 SOLD

A Beka Health Safety and Manners 3 2nd Edition
Answer Key to Student Text 58629012
$2.00 SOLD

+ADDED+ 4th Grade
A Beka God's Gift of Language A (4) SET
*Writing and Grammar Tests (Some writing erased)
Second Edition 61131004
*Writing and Grammar Test Key
Second Edition 61158002
ret. $13.65  $7.00

A Beka Spelling and Vocabulary 4 Student Test Book
Student Tests Book Second Edition 60054004
  -4 pages of erased answers
ret. $4.60  $1.50

A Beka Spelling and Vocabulary 4 Student Test Book
Student Tests Book Second Edition 60054002
  -8 pages of erased answers
ret. $4.60  $1.50

A Beka Spelling and Vocabulary 4 Teacher's Test Key
(NOT the same as student books above)
(probably) First Edition 44784
ret. $9.15  $2.00

A Beka Arithmetic 4 Teacher Curriculum
Second Edition (Brown book) 43737
ret. $30.00  $7.00


McGraw-Hill Learning Materials
Spectrum Writing Grade 4
Main ideas, Sequence, Cause and Effect, Details, Comparison, Facts and Opinions, Making Your Point
This is used. Almost all of Unit 1 is missing.
There is no writing on the remainder.
The back cover is bent.
Includes answer key in back.
$1.00


+ADDED+ 5th Grade
A Beka Spelling and Vocabulary Tests 5 SET
*Student Tests Book Second Edition 60321002
  -1 page of erased answers
*A Beka Spelling and Vocabulary Tests 5 Teacher Key
Second Edition 60348002
ret. $13.65  $7.00

A Beka Arithmetic 5 Tests & Speed Drills Key
Third Edition 26220003
ret. $9.15  $2.00

+ADDED+ 6th Grade
A Beka Spelling & Vocabulary 6 Set
*A Beka Spelling & Vocabulary 6 Teacher's Edition 13.15
ring-bound edition to student workbook 60364001 
*A Beka Spelling & Vocabulary 6 Student Tests 60372002 4.60
  -1 page of erased answers
*A Beka Spelling & Vocabulary 6 Teacher Key to Student Tests 60380001 9.15
ret. $26.90  $12.00

used A Beka Spelling & Vocabulary 6 Student Tests 60372002
3 Lessons of answers in pencil with ink corrections
ret. $4.60  $1.50

A Beka Arithmetic 6 Teacher's Edition
ring-bound Third Edition 61859001
paper cover is tearing from ring a bit
sticker mark on cover
ret. $21.15  $11.00


+ADDED+ 10th Grade
A Beka Grammar and Composition IV Test and Quizzes Key
Third Edition 76252001
ret. $9.15  $2.00



HOMESCHOOLING-OTHER
SHIPPING is as specified

These are mini flash cards with the Bible story on the back.
Please note the size is MINI: 3 1/4"x 4 1/2"

A Beka Book Flash-A-Card Miniature Set #1
1997 #17221
Heaven- A Beautiful Place
Adam-How Sin Began
$5.00
SHIPPING is $2.00 Media Mail, $4.60 Priority Mail

A Beka Book Flash-A-Card Miniature Set #2
1995 MFSB SS/B
Crucifixion
Resurrection
Growing Spiritually
$5.00
SHIPPING is $2.00 Media Mail, $4.60 Priority Mail




CATEGORY: CDs
SHIPPING for first CD is $2.00 Media Mail or First Class, shipping class depends on weight. Priority Mail is $4.60 base rate.
Additional CDs:
Media Mail $0.50 for each CD thereafter.
Priority Mail $1.00 for each CD thereafter.

Vision Forum
*PRICES EDITED*
$5.00     NEW Defending the Fatherless CD
$5.00     NEW Defending the Fatherless CD
$5.00     Like New Defending the Fatherless CD
$5.00     NEW The Blessed Marriage CD
$5.00     NEW The Role of the Grandfathers in Local Church CD
$5.00     NEW The Role of the Women in Local Church CD
$5.00     NEW The Role of the Women in Local Church CD
$5.00     NEW What's A Girl To Do? CD
$5.00     NEW Jennie B. and the Pilot CD
$5.00     NEW How to Evaluate a Suitor CD
$5.00     NEW How To Think Like A Christian
$5.00     NEW What Expect When Establishing a Local Church CD
$5.00     NEW What Expect When Establishing a Local Church CD
$5.00     NEW The Joy of Family Worship RC Sproul
$5.00     NEW The Joy of Family Worship RC Sproul
$5.00     NEW The Home as a Factory of Church Leaders Scott
$5.00     NEW The Home as a Factory of Church Leaders Scott
$5.00     NEW A Biblical Vision for Multi-Generational Faithfulness Einwechter
$5.00     NEW A Biblical Vision for Multi-Generational Faithfulness Einwechter
$5.00     NEW Weapons of Our Warfare: Truth Sproul
$5.00     NEW Weapons of Our Warfare: Truth Sproul
$5.00     NEW Weapons of Our Warfare: Beauty Sproul
$5.00     NEW Weapons of Our Warfare: Beauty Sproul
$5.00     NEW Hollywood's Despised Villian Botkin

$5.00     NEW Pilgrims vs. Indians CD
$5.00     NEW Making Wise Decisions About College CD
$5.00     NEW Making Wise Decisions About College CD
$5.00     NEW How Modern Churches Are Harming Families CD
$5.00     NEW How Modern Churches Are Harming Families CD
$5.00     NEW Home School Vision Victory CD
$5.00     NEW Home School Vision Victory CD
$5.00     NEW 6000 Years Earth History CD
$5.00     NEW Women and Children First  CD
$5.00     NEW Women and Children First  CD
$5.00     NEW The Promise Phillips CD
$5.00     NEW Rebuilding A Culture of Virtuous Boyhood CD
$5.00     NEW Discovering Life Purpose CD
$5.00     NEW Discovering Life Purpose CD
$10.00   NEW Victory for Daughters CD
$10.00   NEW Victory for Daughters CD
$10.00   NEW Victory for Daughters CD
$10.00   NEW The Spotless Bride CD
$10.00   NEW The Spotless Bride CD
$9.00     Like NEW The Spotless Bride CD
$10.00   NEW The Heroism of the Fathers is the Legacy of the Sons CD

+ADDED+ $10.00   Give Me Your Heart, My Son, Vision Forum conference
                      This is a set of 8 cassettes and has been listened to.
                      SHIPPING on this item is $4.00 Media Mail or $4.60 Priority Mail

                  $10.00  Building a Family That Will Stand Vision Forum Conference
                      This is a set of 8 cassettes and has been listened to.
                      SHIPPING on this item is $4.00 Media Mail or $4.60 Priority Mail

MUSIC CDs

The Prince of Egypt CD
Music from the movie.
$1.00 SOLD

Real Life Music CD 1996
Used CD
Amy Grant, Bryan Duncan, Michael Card,
Amy Morriss, Grover Levy, Crystal Lewis,
Guardian, Anointed, Greg Long, Jaci Velasquez
$1.00

Music You Can Believe In CD 1995
Used CD.
Clay Crosse, Wes King, Brent Bourgeois,
Church of Rhythm, Carolyn Arends,
Michael W. Smith, Ashley Cleveland,
Michael James, Ian, Rich Mullins
$1.00

Mercy Me - Almost There
like new CD.
$1.00

People Get Ready CD
Like new CD.
Crystal Lewis, Geoff Moore, Rebecca St. James,
dc Talk, Margaret Becker, Barry McGuire, The Impressions,
Big Tent Revival, Rich Mullins, Audio Adrenaline,
Michael W. Smith, Al Green
$1.00



CATEGORY: VIDEOS and DVDs
SHIPPING for first video is $2.00 Media Mail or First Class, depending on weight. Priority Mail is $4.60 base rate for one video.
Additional Videos/DVDs:
Media Mail $0.50 for each thereafter.
Priority Mail $1.00 for each thereafter.


The Prince of Egypt VHS video
Used. Plays fine. Clamshell case is crushed.
$1.00

BibleMan DVD The Incredible Force of Joy
Used. Plays fine. No insert.
$1.00

Hercules - Walt Disney
ISBN: 0-7888-0584-3
clamshell case
$1.00

Dumbo - Walt Disney
ISBN: 12257-0240-3
clamshell case
$1.00

Toy Story 2 - Walt Disney
ISBN: 0-7888-2454-6
clamshell case
Very good condition
$1.00 SOLD

Mary Poppins - Walt Disney
ISBN: 0-7888-2220-9
clamshell case
Very good condition
$1.00 SOLD

Walt Disney's Masterpiece Lady and the Tramp
0788812807
clamshell case
$1.00

Walt Disney's Masterpiece Robin Hood
1558901892
83m  rated:G
clamshell case
Very good condition
$1.00 SOLD

Top Hat
Fred Astaire   Ginger Rogers  VHS
b/w 99m
Classic Romance
1980
$1.00

Shall We Dance
Fred Astaire   Ginger Rogers  VHS
b/w 108m
Classic Romance
$1.00

Irving Berlin's White Christmas
3775725429
1954
$1.00

The Bishop's Wife
The Classic Collection Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment
Cary Grant   Loretta Young  David Niven
Classic Romance
$1.00

An Affair To Remember
Cary Grant  Deborah Kerr 
Classic Romance
1957
nr
$1.00

Funny Girl
Barbra Streisand  Omar Sharif
165m 1968  rated G
$1.00

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Robert Morse
2h 5m  1967
nr
$1.00


CATEGORY: GAMES
SHIPPING for first item is $8.00 Parcel Post. Priority Mail is $8.95 flat rate box.

Scooby Doo Monopoly Collector's Edition 
never played with, but opened
$8.00

Disney Edition Monopoly
includes 8 Collectible Themed movers
the plastic is torn, but it is unopened and unused
$10.00

Please feel free to copy and forward this list to groups and friends.
Email Me!

We also have a couple of Nubian bucks for sale.
Cowboy
Full-blooded Nubian
DOB: 2-25-07
$125.00

Ellessar
Full-blooded Nubian.
DOB: 3-2?-07
$125.00

We also have a doeling for sale.
Eamane
Full-blooded Nubian
DOB: 3-25-07
Never bred. Mother is a good milker.
$100.00

I will get good pictures up soon, as well as their measurements. You can click on the photo above to see a bigger one. It is from last year. I just put it on so you can see the bucks' coloring.

Shipping:
You must pick up.   :)

blessings!

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We Had to Take Caleb to the Hospital...
Thursday, February 28, 2008

For those of you who don't know, we took Caleb to the hospital yesterday morning about 7am. He was shivering, and his skin was splotchy. When I took him into the bathroom light to get a closer look, he was just so hot. We took his temp, and his fever was about 106' under the arm. I gave him some motrin. He has no problem drinking water at all, so he was not dehydrated. I figured out that the shivering was good, that it is just his body trying to cool itself.

Matt got up very shortly afterward to go to work, and I told him what was going on, and we decided to go to the hospital. I took his temperature again with another thermometer, because Matt could not believe his temp was that high, and it was the same. His temp was at 105' when we left.
Read the rest: Update on Caleb

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Moving: Don't Know When, Don't Know Where
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I have been looking again at farms, ranches, and land out west. All last year, we looked in Arizona just north of Phoenix for property prices, kept an eye on weather during different seasons and read up on homeschool laws. Now, I am looking at Texas. Our goal is to be near New Mexico, but not in the actual state of. Problem is that our parents live in Las Cruces, which is in the southmost central area of the state. We lived in NM 11 years ago. I have homeschooled there, and I am not interested in living there and homeschooling. Let me correct that: we are not interested. Matt totally agrees.
No, NM is not a red state with a bunch of rules and regulations, but Texas is right next door, and the laws there are better. I do feel that if we are moving all of that way, then we need to be within a six hour drive at least. I would like to be within and hour drive, but that would put us in El Paso, and we are not at all interested in living there.
How great is that that we are looking at Texas? I would imagine that Eric is pretty excited. It is his goal to own a huge cattle ranch in Texas someday. No, we do not have cattle. We have goats. and chickens. (I think the horses are finally going this week!) He does have a Guide to Raising Cattle and is interested, so I am letting him run with it. We will see what God has in store there.

Considering the work we have to finish on our home to have it ready to sell, we have a bit of time to look and pray and wait for God to speak His will into our hearts. We miss our parents. We have longed to move there and away from this cold winter weather since last year. I still remember Matt coming home in April when it snowed again after having been 80' weather the week or so before, and he said he was ready to move. He hates delivering mail in this bitter cold. LucyLillie was just a week old, so we figured we wouldn't be moving until this year anyway. Now it is this year, and I am hoping to not be in this same room, typing these same words next year.
Though I will hate to go. I love this little old farmhouse and the big red barn. I love the giant maple tree and the beautiful woodwork and the pocket door and our oval window entry doors. I love the Morning Glory that climbs the windmill tower over the well. I love it that Isaac, Caleb and Lucy were born here. This is the longest we have lived in one place, and it has certainly grown on me. I hate the carpet and these old walls that you can hardly put a nail into, but I look at Eric and see all that barn has been in his life skills, and well, can you tell I am a bit sentimental? Just a little?
Let's not even talk about all of the work we have all put into the new addition that is still unfinished and may be until we move. I sure would like to live in it for a few months though. I suppose we will see.
I know Mom is tired of hearing and waiting on us moving down there, though I know she understands. All the work to do and little time to finish the addition. And, with each change of season, a new challenge crops up. And then a year passes...
All I know is that Jocelyn said she certainly hopes we move before summer, because she does not want to move the dog cage all over the yard again to feed the goats. I agree. Either move or put up fencing.
That is at the top of my list, too: fencing. We must buy property that is already fenced. None of this chase the goats all over the property stuff.
I am thankful that God is in control of this. when I made the 4-state comparison chart the other night of the homeschool laws (yes, I am one of those kind of people), it about drove me bonkers looking at those and looking at the map of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona on mapquest. "Who in the world knows?" is all I could come up with. Add to that Amanda and her, "I am not moving to Texas," and Jocelyn, who took some convincing with some of the beautiful and lush flat land, river and grazing pictures I found. Matt is pretty open, I think. He is easy-going like that, though. Boy, I wish I were.

blessings!

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Murphy's Law of Pipes and Propane
Friday, February 8, 2008

Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

From Wednesday:
Today has been quite the day. I awoke this morning to a frantic son, Eric, telling me to please get up now and come down to the basement, that it was an emergency. The pipe in the basement was broken and there was water shooting out of the well in the basement. Leave it to Eric to break the pipe and flood the basement on the day we have received more rain and our town and so many around us are completely flooded. I am smiling as I type that.

Great. So, now what?  This is only something else to add to the dog's lacerated paw, for which I have been caring for since a week ago Monday. She cannot walk on it (she could, except is will pull the skin apart), so she must be taken out to to go to the bathroom, hopping on one paw. She has to stay in her little pen all day, laying down, keeping off of it. We have had to pay constant attention to it being cleaned and covered and her not licking it... Is the bandaging too tight? Did she eat the bandage?

Read the rest......

blessings!

 

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To Christmas or Not To Christmas?
Monday, December 24, 2007

Matt and I have been talking about the whole Christmas thing. I wrote a post last year about the pagan origins of Christmas, after finding out things I don't know if I am glad that I found out or not. The reason I am not surewhether I am happy that I found it all out is because we are still processing it. We are ready to give up what we are called to - as in all things - but we want to make sure we are doing it as to the Lord. It isn't a matter of belief or disbelief, it is a matter of discernment. It is a matter of taking a stand on God's foundation of something we have barely scratched the surface on. It is not a matter of not wanting to be weird or not wanting to be different. It is a matter of not being overzealous and throwing the baby out with the bath water instead of seeking Him in this area.

It is important to us to teach our children in the ways of the Lord. It is very important. That does not make us perfect or even completely doctrinally accurate, and I don't want to give the impression that we think we are. We are just a couple of thirty-something parents who love the Lord and were raised on a diet of Christmas each year. And, I love the twinkling white lights on the outside of a beautifully-set house just after a snowfall. I also love the smell of pine boughs, and decorating the tree was at least one tradition I did every year... that and Christmas dinner. I remember fondly the pictures from eight years ago my nine-month pregnant belly in the pictures of decorating the tree about a week before Hannie arrived. Sweet memories. And I think Christmas cards are beautiful. I even like making Christmas cards with the rubber stamp sets we have. Eric said tonight that we should send Christmas cards. They are fun and warm and well-wishes of love from family and friends. Who doesn't want to get that in the mail?

One down-side to not celebrating is that this is just the natural time we get our children what they need for the year. Not that we can't still ge them what they need that's on sale at this time of the year regardless. We can. This is just a good shopping time, Christmas or not. ;)

But all of those beautiful things pale in comparison to serving God fully. And, is celebrating Christmas or not celebrating Christmas serving God fully? We know some of the answers to that question, but not all.

So, we are processing all of this. We are more concerned with reading the story of Jesus' Birth in Matthew and Luke. We want to establish family traditions based on the Bible and what He is doing in our own family. We also do not want to step into rituals that are meaningless year after year when there may be a more excellent way.

I was not going to even post on this topic this year, because, like homeschooling and home birthing, it is a controversial topic that sometimes causes loving people to become angered and resentful in talking about. I do not want to anger or embitter anyone in this, nor do I want to argue, for you see, we are still on this journey, learning for ourselves.

Robin Sampson posted an excellent post on this. If you would like to read further on this, you can read her article about it, which happens to also be named To Christmas or Not To Christmas, hahaaa. It includes their 'evolution' of Christmas throughout the years, which I found interesting. I would like to do that, just as a record for our family.

Other "To Christmas or Not" posts:

Not Your Average Christmas : AKA Why We Don't Participate

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She Oughtta Be In Pictures!!
Monday, December 17, 2007

Here is an ad that LucyLillie is going to be in in the next issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Is she not totally adorable???

Blessings!
from the very proud Momma, Jacque

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A Blanket of Snow
Sunday, December 16, 2007

 It is officially winter here. The winter weather dropped an 8-1/2 inch blanket of beautiful, soft, pure white snow last night. This is not our first snowfall, just the first of any consequence. It blew quietly all night.

I looked down at the barn in the wee hours of the morning to see if I could still see the light on. On a clear night, I can see it shining through a large crack where the huge wooden frame has separated from the stone foundation. There's also a window in the stone wall that is covered by a piece of wood that has enough cracks in the old wood to see the light through when it is on. I tried to see the light from several different windows, but I couldn't. It worried me. It worried me enough that I laid Lucy in her crib and put on my winter coat and hood and trampled through 6 inches of already-fallen snow to go and check on our animals.

The warmth from the lights being the only heat for our goats and chickens, I had to make sure they were still on. As I got closer, I could see a faint glimmer through the cracks in the barn door, but continued anyway. I might as well check on them, since I went all the way out there. I guess the snow was blowing harder than I thought since I couldn't see the lights from the house. The snow I traipsed through was probably a foot deep in some places, and it was still coming down. This was at four am. I had not been in the coop at night since Matt and Eric made it smaller. I did not realize just how crowded it was. We have been working and working to spiff it up for our expected 30 hens and a handful of roosters... except that it seems that we have more hens than we expected and will either butcher hens and a few roosters or butcher a few roosters and have too many hens. As I closed the barn door and scooted the rock back in front of it, I considered shoveling the walk. I returned to the house instead knowing LucyLillie was in her crib and would not likely be heard if she woke.

I awoke this morning to four of our children's voices coming from outside an upstairs window. I could hear Eric and Hannah talking about how deep the snow was. I looked out to see that they were shoveling it, trying to get to the barn and the garage. They needed to get to the feed in the garage, and then to the animals in the barn. Both paths were 'snowed-in'. The snow in front of the garage was about a foot and a half deep. The barn path wasn't so deep, just a longer path. I was surprised to see that all traces of my trip to the barn only a few hours earlier were gone. The wind had blown the snow clean over my tracks to and from the barn.

I jumped back into bed and snuggled up with Lucy for a few more minutes, when I heard footsteps coming upstairs. "It must be Eric, coming to show me the handful of different colored eggs," I thought, as has become his sweet morning tradition. Seeing Jocelyn instead, I could only ask one question, "Is everything ok?". Her "No" was a little expected, though with no tears, I knew the goats were not in trouble. Then she told me the bad news: Hannie's beloved "Crooked Beak" had died in the chicken pen overnight.

Poor little Crooked Beak. We had just been laughing the previous evening at the funny little hen. She had a crooked beak, crooked toes on one foot and a wing that sometimes hung down a little lower than the other. She was incredibly tiny, and I don't know if she weighed more than a couple of pounds. She would jump into the feed bucket and ride down with you down to the barn. She did this the last time I went down there, and I didn't notice her until I was under the tree where we feed the chickens. She also jumped right up into Jocelyn's hand just yesterday when she tried to shoo her off the driveway. We were laughing because I said that we had a "lap chicken". Hannie did not understand, and promptly told me to please stop making fun of Crooked Beak, almost with tears in her eyes. I explained what I meant and we all had a laugh.

We noticed this funny little chicken and her little crooked beak last summer as the chicks were just getting their feathers. I remember trying to clip her beak just a little so that she could peck better, but there was no way I could keep it up. It didn't make much of a difference in her beak, and Hannie actually teared-up when I did it. Seems Crooked Beak had already found her way into Hannie's heart. Hannie spent the next couple of months making sure Crooked had extra food and milk and water since she couldn't eat very well by herself. We talked sbout the fact that one day, we might go to the barn, and Crooked Beak would be dead. We talked about the fact that we would do what we could, but she just might not make it. I told her about Crooked Beak, and I don't think she was sure how to react. She didn't cry, but wanted to put her in the trash bag by herself. We would talk about it later.

When I came downstairs a little while later, the barn chores were done and the paths shoveled to the size of a foot path - not very wide. Not to fear though, Matt and Eric spent the next four hours outside sharing in the cameraderie of manly hard work shoveling all of the of snow that once graced our little fifty foot sidewalk and part of our two hundred foot driveway. I can only imagine the stories Eric will have to tell my grandchildren about "the times he and Daddy spent shoveling 'this many feet of snow for hours and hours."' Eric even got to accompany Daddy into town after the road was cleared, and then up to watch the last quarter of the football game. More testosterone, I guess.

The girls and I, on the other hand, stayed in today. It was perfect winter weather to sit in the cozy house, looking outside at the not-yet-trampled snow through our picture window. We sat and talked; Rachel made a lovely breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. She was so excited to come and tell me that one of our chicken eggs had a double-yoke in it! Ahh... life on the farm! Jocelyn and I made a braided belt; Isaac and Caleb made lego castles and towers; Hannie played Momma for most of the day, singing to and caring for LucyLillie. Lucy is learning to sit in her Playcrib and enjoying it very much. All of her siblings marvel as she pulls herself up on the sides and steps up onto her little tippy-toes to peer over the side and smile her cheeky little grin.

Now, with (most of) the Littles in bed and Lucy in the rocking chair with Rachel, Amanda is finishing up singing How Great Thou Art from the old church hymnal we have had for years, Jocelyn is diligently typing away her Memo Monday post and Matt, well, he is probably dozing away upstairs on the couch in the attic room.

It Is Well With My Soul.......

Blessings!

~Jacque

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Just a Re-Cap of Our Way Too Busy Lives
Sunday, December 2, 2007

Hi my friends! We have really been spinning here, and I just have to remember God's goodness and offer a praise in the midst of all of this seeming chaos! This has always been a plus to the fact that we homeschool: we can take the day-by-day and apply it to our home learning and just take it as it comes in our lives. No taking days off school or make-up homework. This is life, and it is good!

I just want you to know that we have been so busy on only one computer since the laptop is getting its brain replaced -or maybe it's its heart, I don't know. Anyway, we were hoping it would be back today, but nope, maybe tomorrow. Then we have a wireless network to set up. We - Amanda, Jocelyn and I -  have been trying so hard to keep up with our online and blogging commitments as we accomplish our "regular" ones, but, well, as Heather so wonderfully reminded me on the phone the other night... blogging is fun, and we love our friends, but it is not my (our) life!

On top of that (and at just the right time, of course) Amanda, Jocelyn and I have been working overtime on the Homeschool Blog Awards along with our wonderful, super-de-duper team of fantastic homeschool blogger-moms!  We are adding and subtracting to the site, and it is just wonderful to be a part of it, but so much work too. And we aren't even the ones doing the majority of it, we are just helping as we can!  Many of these super-moms are such a blessing - just like so many of the rest of you, my friends. It is amazing to me that God has brought so many like-minded mommas from all across the country and the world into our lives in so many different circles for us to love and carry each other's joys and sorrows, to bless and encourage. And, lest I forget - all of the friends my daughters have - I do not know a lot of their moms personally, but I know of them and about their families, and they are 'just a part of our circle of friends' too!

Christina was telling me a couple of weeks ago that she had company over, and they were talking about Jocelyn or Lucy or our family, and their guests were like,"Oh, are they new at the church; do I know her?" or something like that. It is so true though. It's like we all just live right down the street, and are great family. How awesome.

I have my book review of The Homeschooler's Book of Lists: More Than 250 Lists, Charts, and Facts to Make Planning Easier and Faster with CDROM by Sonya Haskins written out, but not yet typed up, and all I can do is offer an apology to Sonya. She sent me this wonderful book, and I didn't get it reviewed on the days I was supposed to! We all love it and it, has been read quite a bit, but I didn't get it all typed up and worked out yet. But - THERE's another thing to look forward to! I am also behind on reading The Hedge of Thorns - how about you?

We have also been praying and making phone calls and finding out about Grandma in the nursing home. We are still waiting on a report from Aunt Peggy. This has renewed our minds to the fact of all the things we will need to do to ever move back West again. I look at many things we have, and think, "Do we need to keep this? Am I willing to move it or replace it?".  And, believe me, this chilling weather is making us think about moving real quick! :)

And, let's see - let's not forget... Gena had her Beautiful Baby Susanna Hope... another family God has blessed our family with in just the past year. It's odd to me that last year at this time is probably the first time Gena and I actually sent each other personal emails, and then, when she !realized! that I was expecting LucyLillie, well, it was shortly after that we became so close and our families too. God knows just what we need just when we need it. I am thankful for so many friends I have met through blogging.


Several things I have noticed lately in and around our home:
*LucyLillie is 'talking'. She sticks her chin out, stretched out her neck and just talks and talks. She is so cute! She also got her first tooth!! Yes, it is just a little sharp nothing, but, she officially has one!
*Eric has been helping quite a bit! He asked me the other day how to run the washing machine while Amanda was at the store so he could help her out. He also surprised me with over-easy eggs on toast and coffee this morning as I checked emails. Yup, he's my boy!
*Amanda is so excited her Dad bought and picked up Dark Foundations by Chris Walley. She loves this series and was even reading it online the other day in anticipation.
*Jocelyn and I made goat's milk soap today! She is chronicling it for a couple of reasons: 1) we are avid scrapbookers, and 2) she is writing about it in The Girlhood. We got some great pictures!
*Eric, Hannie, Isaac and Rachel made cookies the other night and took pictures for me so I can get a BFS post up - hopefully before this assignment is over!
*And Caleb- well, I am trying to let him be the baby more. He has no animosity at all towards Luc (she is his Precious!), but I can tell he needs more Mommy-time. So, with that, I am saying good-bye and going to take him upstairs and snuggle while Luc sleeps!

Check over at Amanda's blog for the Homesteading Carnival! She is hosting and is now going to get on and look for some posts.... Email her one if you have one. She would so appreciate it!

And, go enter Jocelyn's Holiday Bundle. She started it for Thanksgiving, and it will run for one more week! She has over $300 in prizes donated, and everyone gets something! Go sign up for yours!

blessings!
Jacque

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Our Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Day
Saturday, November 24, 2007

We had a very non-traditional, relaxed Thanksgiving Day yesterday. It was non-traditional, because we had Mexican food. Yes, Mexican. It's funny that I have heard some of my children's online friends' have asked if we are of Hispanic descent. My husband was born and raised in New Mexico, but is not Hispanic... though he is of a small (can we even measure it?) Comanche Indian descent. My skin, when I was younger, was an olive-complexion, and I tanned very easily; so do most of our children. Add our dark hair, and I can see where friends might think that.
It was also non-traditional because I did not cook one thing. Amanda cooked the dinner, and it wasn't the cook all day, eat, then clean-up the rest of the day type of day, either.

I awoke to Hannie preparing to serve the eggs and bacon she made for breakfast. Scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. We will have to have her cook it longer from now on though. Matt likes his crunchy, and I like mine a tad more cooked, but, no one said so, lest we spoil her job well done. Nothing like a seven-year-old who can get up and make a nice little breakfast and set a pretty table too.
Daddy prayed for our day and our food and that God's Hand would be upon us and direct us. Breakfast was served. Daddy made about a dozen pieces of toast and brought out the honey. We read through an old American History workbook about Miles Standish, the Separatists and the Strangers - the Pilgrims. It was a nice time, not too deep, but just enough to keep everyone's attention and ask some questions. Eric got to read when Caleb crawled up into my lap, which already held little LucyLillie. She got to eat some pears all mashed up. We took pictures of her first foods a couple of days ago, but I have yet to blog it.

After breakfast, it was time to clean up the attic room (our family room/ master bedroom) in preparation for the football game later that afternoon.Daddy took Eric and Hannie upstairs, and the girls and I got on our 1 computer to check email. (Correction: Amanda) Ok, I got on the 1 computer to check email... the girls hovered, and we laughed and read emails from Auntie and visited some friends' blogs. All afternoon, the children took turns on the piano. I think when everyone was hungry, Jocelyn went and got the Littles a hot dog. That was Amanda's cue to get dinner done.

I found a site with sheet music for Amazing Grace, at Jocelyn's request. When it was time to eat dinner, I went out to the parlor, and she was playing out of our Praise book. Our children only play the right hand, but it really did not matter. I laid my face in my hands and just took in the music and heard the words in the voice in my head. It was calming, even when there were several others in the room talking and playing and what-have-you. I smiled to myself and just relished the moment of this time. All of our children, eighteen to seven months, in our home, enjoying each other and time together.
Daddy again prayed for our food and that God's Hand would be upon us and direct us. We all thanked God for a wonderful day, and dinner was served. We had rolled tacos, con queso, beans and rice and chips. Of course, we had pumpkin pie and ice cream. Matt then washed the china - I am convinced it was because the Cowboys were playing their annual Thanksgiving Day football game... and, well, *that* tradition stood yesterday, of course! haha.

My Mom and sister called as we ended our meal, and Jen got to listen to Caleb sing as he played the piano. There was dead silence for about a minute, and I asked if she was there, and she said, "I'm just listening to him play the piano," in that sweet, amazed voice. Made me joyful.
So, all in all, it was a peaceful day. Good food, prayer and celebration. Family fun. We ended it with Daddy asleep in front of the game, the Littles falling to sleep slowly but surely, and the girls and I enjoying each others' company as I hemmed Matt's pants.

We do plan to have turkey breast on Sunday, and Amanda is even now making a list of our favorite holiday foods, including mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potatoes/marshmallows and rolls. I think Matt held off in his decision of the question, "What should we do for Thanksgiving" just so he could have the Mexican dinner. Boy was it good.
Hope your day was wonderful and relaxing, and you have a great weekend!

blessings! -Jacque

for image credits, follow the linked images

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