A Photo Shoot Attempt

I thought it would be cute to get a picture of the matching boys...



Real quick, before naptime...


Ok, ok, nevermind. Go back to wrestling...



Naptime, it is...

Bright Pink Envelopes

After asked to sit down on the couch, I was presented with two pink envelopes from my 9 year old and 7 year old.

In it were two poems:

Happy Birthday Mama!
Have a Happy Birthday in this wonderful New Year.
We love you Mama.
Roses are red Violets are blue
and that is why we love you!!!

Love, Micah.

The other one read:

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday Mama!
May, it bring joy to you,
You've been a great parent,
and make us glad too.

Your kindness and faithfulness
and being so smart,
Brings us to know,
You're a work of art!

If it weren't for you, we would be oh, so sad!
But now that you're here,
we're extremely glad.

Years have grown so fast,
so have you,
and surprisingly now,
you're at the age
thirty-two!

We each have something special,
We're sure you'll love it!
It's the best we can give,
and it's small, I admit.

We each have a birthday envelope,
with your present in it too,
Happy Birthday, Mama! We love you!

Love, Sophia

(Enclosed was a lovely, homemade pot holder!)

Josh, my 5 year old, said because it was my birthday, he would make a tent out of a sheet (draped over the floor vent to 'poof it out').

As the day progressed I laughed at how requests had a different twist to them. "Mom, since it's your birthday, can I...?"

A birthday can't get much better than this!

11 years

I was 20 (turning 21 two days later) when I married him 11 years ago. It was in the middle of our Junior Year at Hillsdale College. We were paupers. But we were happy. We saw examples of good, generous people from the beginning- people we wanted to emulate someday. We took the first job we could get a year and a half later to support the new baby on the way. In 11 years we've moved 7 times and had 5 children. We've experienced the joys of parenting, traveling worldwide together, job promotions and gaining priceless friends over the years. However, it was the struggles of living through very difficult conflicts and a death of our child that I see God's grace so visibly orchestrating. I'm glad I have him to go through life with. God is merciful. God is soo good. I'm thankful for him.

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!!