Break

Well, I have some catching up to do here.

I now have a little more time.

Last week Classical Conversations finished for the year. My class dressed up like Pilgrims and Indians.

Then this past weekend, my friend from college, Sarah stayed with us. I'm sure her single life at home is a much more peaceful environment. She was very patient, though, and endured all sorts of performances and interruptions. But, the climax was when Judah got the flu and threw up all over the place. Sarah got to experience what life is more like than not here, I'm afraid: Craziness!

We couldn't help but laugh how much Judah liked his breakfast.

Ratz.

Maybe if Sarah visited again in the summer it would be less chaotic? Probably not. She was kind to put up with us, anyway!

Drawing Classes

This fall I've started teaching Drawing Class again. It's been two and half years since I've taught so it has been fun getting back into it. I have 21 students come to my home (2 seperate classes). They're learning the concepts of drawing and this week we're talking about shading. Here is a sample of a great exercise on shading I found for anyone out there who wants to 'sharpen' their shading skills.

Pencil Shading Exercise

Graduated Tone
Graduated tone can be used to create the illusion of space and form in a drawing. It is a very useful skill to develop.
Use a B, 2B, or darher grade of pencil for your shading. Lighter grades (H, 2H etc.) will not give enough depth to your darkest tones.
Just start by shading the area you wish to be dark and slowly build up the tone. As you work towards the light, gradually ease the pressure on your pencil until you can no longer see it. You then patiently repeat this process, building a depth to the shading and trying to keep the tonal changes as smooth as possible until you achieve the intensity of tone that you desire.

found here

A New Niece

We have a new niece!

My sister, Amy and her husband Michael just had their first baby:

Elena Elizabeth
born on September 21,2009
9 lbs 7.5 oz. , 21.5 " long

(As I'm typing this, Micah looks at her picture over my shoulder and whispers, "She's a little princess...)

Psalm 145: 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.

Micah starts Karate!!

Catching Up

Things have been much too busy around here. I had too many great photos to ignore August completely, so I've posted it a tad earlier here. We'll see if I can catch up sometime soon.

Thankful for You

In the midst of the whirlwind, time stopped today for a while. Today marks the 2nd year that Samantha is in heaven. The kids and I went to the cemetary with some flowers. It is about a 20 minute drive, so there was time for good conversation. The kids wanted me to tell her story again. We recalled some memories and I tried to answer the many, many questions about why she died. Josh, who was 3 when she died, had the most questions. " I just wish she could come back so I can play with her", he said. The kids also had so many questions about heaven. I answered them as best I could (If God thinks it's important, He will definitely have teddy bears for her to play with in heaven, Josh). But most of all, I was encouraged at this opportunity to share with my kids the importance of life, living the best for the Lord, for our days are certainly numbered. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel again and to beg for God's help and salvation for them.

Our conversations are not saturated about Samantha on a daily basis by all means. Even this day, I tried to talk about her with the kids only on the way to and back from the cemetary. It just seems so heavy for them to bear very long. As for me, however, as a mom, I'm thankful that this day particularly, I can think about her all day and watch the video again of her sweet little moment of smiles (maybe some day I can figure out a way to post this short clip).

Lastly, with time going on, I didn't expect people to actually remember this particular date, as I do. Personally, dates are not the sort of things I'm good at remembering. I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the sweet short emails , calls and even a rose bush hand delivered in memory of Samantha. I really couldn't ask for better friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Up North

We just got back from a two week vacation- last one of the summer. I know I've said it a hundred times already, but summer just seems to go way to fast. It seems to get faster each year.

Anyway, we started our trip in Milwaukee, where my husband has been going frequently for work lately. We were excited, however, because my cousins live there and my aunts live nearby so we scheduled to see them all. Little Gracie, whom we've never met, was quite the hostess. I'm sure she was surprised to see 4 kid's bombarding her backyard, but she was a good sport. Aunt Nancy came from the farm by bus to see us. She brought supper for us-straight from the farm: delicious hamburger and steaks and garden fresh vegetables AND her well-loved Oreo dessert that she has made for many a Thanksgivings. What a cook! We had a delightful evening.

The next morning the kids and I had breakfast with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim (and Aunt Nancy) from Green Bay. They were on their way to Michigan the following week so we were going to be able to see them again in a few days.

After Milwaukee, we started heading to my hometown - to Mema and Grandpa's. My (9 month pregnant) sister and her husband were there, near the end of their visit. Since Amy lives 45 minutes from me, we have never been to our folks parents the same time, since she's been married. We had dinner together and then checked out the last day of the Nautical Festival. Perfect timing! It had only a few hours left and it would be packed up and gone the next morning, so we let the kids pick out 3 rides and that was it. To end the fun evening we watched fireworks on the beach.

The week always goes by way too fast. I wish I could capture the smells of the lake, the pine and cedar, and bring them home with me. We did a lot of biking on the trails and swimming in the lake. We went boating, picnicking and star gazing too! We simply can't see all those stars at home... they were breathtaking! Aunt Ruth, mom and I one evening dragged a few blankets and pillows to the beach and lay on the sand dunes until midnight counting all the 'falling stars'. Our week also included parks (even exploring the new quarry pile where the kids can 'dig' for fossils), going out to the State Park to visit friends, trying out a new archery set we found at a garage sale .

Mom had a fun project for us to make. She brought down all her jars of buttons and we made bracelets. She got the idea from another aunt of mine and we had so much fun sewing the buttons on to elastic strips.

We were able to spend a couple of days with my favorite Mr. and Mrs. D. They are my 'second parents from home'. This was to be there last summer in RC since Mrs. D has been altered with her Alzheimer's, of late. It was extremely hard for me to say my goodbyes. Going home to visit will not be the same anymore. We love them so much and it's hard to see people we love get old! Makes us look heavenward...

Heading home, we stopped at a hotel we particularly like in Southern Michigan. I couldn't help but remember that the last time we were there we had 4 kids as well, but it was Sophia, Micah, Joshua and Samantha.

This time there was a slightly different mix of children: Sophia, Micah, Joshua and Judah.

Rapping up the trip, we headed home. As always, it's good to come home too.

Sophie's poem

My Happy Nine Golden Years
by Sophia

When I was born,
and first opened my eyes,
I was my parents
first surprise!
When I was 1,
I played and hid,
I crawled and rolled,
and slept, I did.
When I was 2,
My! Was I funny!
I believed in magic,
and the Easter bunny.
When I was 3,
I started to talk,
I could run, at last, laugh and walk.
When I was 4
I was finally me,
as everyone, is you see.
When I was 5
I had huge fun,
to my birthday, I invited everyone.
When I was 6
I still was excited,
I read, I spoke, I ran, I writed.
When I was 7,
I loved my age,
I think I loved to draw,
a picture on every page.
As I am 8,
I'm contently glad,
for I have no reason to be sad.
When I am 9,
When ten nears,
for then I'll remember
my happy golden years.

July...

Is going by in a blink, so I'm trying to catch and write down some of the moments before August arrives!


We started this month, with a trip to Southern Michigan, where my sister-in-law lives (my husband's sister) along with her husband, Jordan and two children. Their second girl was born in March. We had not met her yet, so we (Sophie, Judah and I) jumped in the car with Nena (my mother-in-law) and Aunt Stephanie (my husband's other sister) to meet her.



This is their backyard view...



They were planning for a very large (around 60 people) Fourth of July party. We helped set up and decorate.


There were 26 pounds of pork loin prepared for pulled pork sandwiches.



The master of ceremonies (Jordan) is a patriot, to say the least. The festivities were amazing. He had mazes set up, canoe races, sack races, paint-ball the redcoat contests, you name it. Also if you can guess the number of vintage bullets in the jar you can take this 'Don't Tread on Me' flag home.

The grand finale of the evening was a canon shot, that fired a firework, into the awaiting bonfire stick pile that ignited into flames. It was a hit.

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The day we departed was Sophie's 9th birthday! This was my grand finale. I'm so glad she's a part of my life.