Wow, May.

Wow, is it already May? Jeff defends this month. And next Friday, he turns in his final thesis draft. It feels like we are looking in on some crazy dream. How can we already be at this point? I'm glad I've been blogging. Otherwise, I would have no memories of this Spring. It's been like walking in thick soup.

There's not much else to report. I'm sure Eric has said cute things, and Emily has performed some wonder. I just can't shake the soup out of my head long enough to remember. Hopefully, it will all come back by the time we see you all in June.

Ta Ta for now!

Oh, one update as I notice the last post. I don't think I can live without a dishwasher. Tried it, didn't like it. Wish I had more grit.

Drumroll please

One if by minivan, two if by.......... Volkswagon?

Had a great day marching with the Redcoats. We followed them for 1/2 mile until they ended up in the parking lot where they broke formation and character for the first time since we met up with them. Couldn't resist snapping a shot of two Minutemen keeping a close eye on them from the cemetery.


Afterwards we headed out for a picnic on Battle Road next to the Hartwell Tavern. There were no battles today, just hikers and children playing. :-)

The original bloggers

I am so amazed at Grandma S. and her generation. They are the original bloggers. Reading Grandma's letters are so comforting. She keeps us up to date, and always ends with letting us know how much she cares for us. I think people are just now starting to pick up the pleasant custom of correspondence that seems to have ducked under a rock for the past 40 years. I remember Granny always encouraging me to write to her and others. I would just shrug and think it archaic. Mostly afraid that I wouldn't have anything worthwhile to say. Now, I realize that content isn't the aim. Letting people glimpse into your thoughts allows them to see that they are loved by you. Ultimately we write because we need to connect. We are hardwired for connection.

Recently God has been rapping on my hard head. He is the one who hardwired us for connection. He wants us to connect with Him. I have been trying to plug along on my own. Thinking that I can survive this hard spell and begin to breathe again on the other side of GRADUATION. Well, I couldn't be any thicker. The thing that really irks me is that I know better by now. God wants to walk with me, and more importantly He wants me to walk with Him. The reason why still confounds me. He created me in His image. He wants fellowship with me. I can hardly believe why someone so all knowing, knowing my bitter thoughts and yucky sides, would still want to hang out with me. That's what He has been doing though. On Friday, a good friend came up to me and said, "I don't know why, but I've been feeling the need to pray for you all week." Only God could have told her to do that. I haven't really let on to my solitude in a public way. I confessed that I have been weepy all week. I haven't been able to let go of my grip and take my load to God. So He snuck up behind me, and tapped me on the shoulder through my friend. Then on Saturday, another friend of mine just showed up in my backyard to help me rake a bit. She had just dropped off 4 of her 5 kids at a friends house and didn't have anything better to do! And now today, our pastor preached about restoration with God, and God's call to intimacy with us. He even confessed that God has been on his case because of his lack of intimacy. Okay God, I get it. The scripture at the head of my blog sums it up pretty well. I'm just thankful that He doesn't let me get away with it. To be apart and at odds with Him is more painful than actually being with Him. I know that sounds odd. But to spend a day with God is intense. However, as the song goes, "...better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere." Also, I've known no greater joy than the times that I've walked closely with God. He is not only all knowing, but beautiful. He can be hard to resist, even by a stubborn fool like me.

If you've read this far, you are probably thinking I have strayed from my original post. Au contraire, mon frere. The original, original blogger was actually eons before "The Great Generation". He has left a post that is living and breathing as sure as you and I are today. His word is a direct love letter to us. Even all the bits about wars and such. He explains Himself and who we are in relation. To read those words is to step up next to His side, or as a child sit in His lap to get closer. He speaks breath into my soul with those words. I can hear direction and purpose. Not in a general since, but clearly, concisely, pertaining to actual events in my day. How can He do that? And how can He send relief through those that don't even know my angst? Why does He do that even when I don't ask? The fact that Grandma always ends her letters with conveyance of love for us reminds me that I am loved unconditionally by a woman whom I have always admired. And she is persistent. Each week a new letter. It gives me some semblance of order in the universe to know that. God sends His love to us in the same way. And I'm just thankful that He hasn't let me get by with throwing His valuable gift on the table to be used for later. He has pressed my soul so hard this past week. Hence the painful part of the scripture at the top of this blog site. He disciplines those that He loves. I know He loves me because of this. Now I need to get on to the disciple bit of the disciplining so that I can actually be fruitful for Him. So thanks for listening to my little confession this post. Hopefully, next post will find me fully abiding still.

Butterfly Place

Today, after waking up to more snow, the three of us were fed up with the uncooperative weather. I mean it is officially Spring after all. We packed up and headed out in search of a slice of Spring, and ended up with a plate of summer. A humid 80 degrees was just the ticket. We spent a lovely two hours observing and dodging butterflies, watching quail crossings, and viewing the fish pond. Here are a few of the delights.

Just a post

I thought I ought to post so that others could not call me a hypocrite. We have been enjoying our week. Days start off slowly with cartoons in the mix. Then they rev up to school, running around town for activities, and preparations for Easter. This year I get to cook the Easter meal. Can you believe that I've never cooked a ham before? Any suggestions for the perfect ham? Well, I'm sure it will be hard to attain PA standards, but I will try my best. Last night we participated in our church Seder. Emily was really looking forward to it. She understands the background of the whole process. She keeps giggling about the fact that we have pizza at the end. "I still don't know what pizza has to do with it", she says with an 8 yr old all knowing smirk. Eric liked the matzo. We had 150 people attend! Tonight we will go back to church for a more somber service. I always like this time of year. It is refreshing how God uses this remembering time to laden our souls with the truth. I can't walk one step without remembering. And I've noticed many friends and acquaintances experiencing something similar. Christian friends have commented on feeling a fresh introspection. And one acquaintances commented that she feels like she is missing something. Now that is the beginning of a new hope! Although I am lamenting not being in PA this season, I feel good about being home. There is feeling of connection to my neighbors and friends, and I sense opportunity. Much love to you all.

Copywork Charlotte Mason Style

Copywork is a standard part of our homeschool day. According to my education hero Charlotte Mason, it is the best way to learn grammar, spelling, and just plain good writing technique. I've read that many of our great historic leaders apparently taught themselves how to write by copying down the works of others before them. This is how they became proficient enough to go on and write the great speeches and documents that formed the cornerstone of our country. Well, that's nice and all, but.........I was raised on good ole spelling tests and grammar worksheets. I love the theory, but can it really work? This is what plagues my mind when I set forth to instruct Emily in a way different from how I learned. The past two years of following Miss Mason's "copywork" ideas have worried me. However, I have begun to see some fruit.

Emily is allowed to pick her own selections to copy. These typically come from either her literature or history books. Lately, she has been picking funny quotes. When I read aloud to her, I have been commenting that quotation marks indicate a person speaking. I've mentioned this a few times. I thought she understood this because after all, I am such a good teacher to bring these things up when we read. (sarcasm here) This morning she proved that copywork is indeed the best source of instruction, not.....Mom said so. I was in the kitchen when I heard her exclaim, "Oh Mom! Those quotation marks mean that someone is talking! I never knew that." I had to smile. I told her what a good observation she had made, and mentally reminded myself to relax into the method. I've noticed that her observation is starting to effect her reading voice. She uses a different tone when someone begins to "speak" in a book. So thanks Charlotte. As far as I'm concerned, we are on a first name basis now. (a note to those not familiar with Charlotte Mason: She was turn of the century English and long since deceased).

To those of you who are still hanging in on this post, here are the funny quotes Emily has been enjoying. Do you know their source? If not, use one on Emily, and she will be happy to fill you in on the joke.

"Nothing, woman, nothing's wrong. But I haven't had so much fun since that shark bit off my legs."

"Oh please don't go-we'll eat you up-we love you so!"

But the King paid no heed to them. "I have broken my good axe," was all he said, "I have broken my good axe."