pics...

Outside the zoo, at the end of the day. =)
The whole gang... at Balboa Park
Ancient Egyptian princess
Building a block pyramid

Blogging catch-up

You would think in this age of technology, that I would be able to keep up with blogging. But I can't. Life keeps going, at the speed of light, it seems, and I am just hanging on for dear life. But, I suppose it's a good problem to have--we have been living so much of life that we don't have time to write about it!! Well, that, and it takes me about an hour to upload one photo, so I have kind of lost the drive to wait around. However, there are some things that I don't want to forget!! So, here goes:

More hard lessons:

For our schooling, we were reading a book called, "The Hundred Dresses." A quote (not in the book) that the kids had to respond to in their Story Journal, in relation to the story was:

"To remain silent, when one should protest, makes cowards of men." (This quote is attributed both to Ella Wheeler, and to Abraham Lincoln).

Anyhow, we went on a little field trip with some friends. The kids had fishing poles, and there was a little dock with a sign that said, "No fishing." As we headed toward the dock, a man reminded the kids as they came close that they were not to fish on the dock. So, some people in the group decided to go ahead and fish, but I told my kids that we needed to respect the rules and not go fishing. The kids were fine, they hung out by the shore. After a while, Emma asked if she could return the fishing pole she was borrowing to a friend who was out on the dock, and then sit and watch them fish. Now, the obvious answer here is no, but my brain wasn't working right so I said yes. Just as we got out on the dock, a worker came and reprimanded all of us for making a wrong choice, and leading our children into that same wrong choice. He was, of course, right. But, what a great conversation it made on the drive home, as we had just finished "The Hundred Dresses", and had this discussion in regards to the quote above. It was a good chance for me to confess my cowardice (not knowingly, or intentionally, but by not carefully thinking it through) in not speaking up.

San Diego:

As our study of Ancient Egypt comes to a close, Emma requested that we visit a museum that had "Ancient Egypt stuff." So, seeing as how it was time for us to scoot away, we headed to San Diego. We first went to the Museum of Man, and enjoyed their "Discover Egypt" exhibit. Our hotel was very family friendly, and had a separate bedroom where the kids slept, and Ben and I slept in the living room (where we pulled the sofa sleeper mattress onto the floor). They had their own private beach area on Mission Bay, which had no waves, and was perfect for the kids to swim around in. We also got to go to the San Diego Zoo, which was SOO much fun! We checked out the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and saw the IMAX film about Hubble. We also went to the Natural History Museum and the Creation Museum on the way home. It was an amazing trip, one that I hope will provide some great memories for the kids. The Creation Museum was so amazing... I have some great pictures, but it would take me three days to load them onto the blog, so I may choose one or two.

P.S.-If you are studying Ancient Egypt, you MUST READ "God King". It is so good, we all enjoyed it, and it was even more amazing to go back and read the Biblical account in 2 Kings and see how the author kind of "tweaked" things a little by weaving in history.

Beach House:

What mom of four kids 7 and under ever gets to go away for two nights??? Well, my dear husband took off work so that I could join some amazing women from our homeschool co-op at a beach house. Right on the beach at Faria. We had such a great time. The Lord saw my heart, and heard my prayers... I had been aching a bit for some women who are a little further down this road of mothering and homeschooling than I am. It was so fun to get to know these women, and to really step into their lives in a deeper way. We prayed for each other, we worked out together, we ate together, and we laughed together. It was such a special time, and I can't wait to invest some more into relationships with these women. =) Thank you, Jesus!!

Exchange Conference:

So, another reason that my hubby took work off, was so that he could attend the Exchange Conference in San Diego. Mark Driscoll, and Frances Chan, among others were speaking. We had originally intended to go together, but instead Ben was going to go represent us!! However, at the last minute, he decided that he wouldn't go. They will be offering the content online soon (hopefully), and this way, we can watch it together and talk about it. He decided instead to use the time to really get alone and seek the Lord. It is amazing how little we do this, and how much we really need it. It turned out to be a really great time for him, and God really showed up in a clear way, offering some direction for him right now. So, I am just praising God, knowing that He meets us so intimately, with perfect timing, and knows just what we need. It was so neat as well, because I read this in my book I am finishing up the morning that Ben had left, and was able to text it to him:

"It is important that we get still to wait on God. And it is best that we get alone, preferably with our Bible outspread before us. Then if we will we may draw near to God and begin to hear Him speak to us in our hearts. I think for the average person the progression will be something like this: First a sound as of a Presence walking in the garden. Then a Voice, more intelligible, but still far from clear. Then the happy moment when the Spirit begins to illuminate the Scriptures, and that which had been only a sound, or at best a voice, now becomes an intelligible word, warm and intimate and clear as the word of a dear friend. Then will come life and light, and best of all, ability to see and rest in and embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and All." --A. W. Tozer

Graduation:

We got together with a few other families, and did a small "graduation." Emma read Psalm 1, which she had memorized, but was "too scared" to recite it, so she read it instead. Caleb sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Noah sang Psalm 119:11. Emma and two other little girls sang Jesus loves me. They got little certificates for their hard work and diligence. It was a wonderful time, such a blessing.

Some of this is on facebook, but I have to record it here, for my own records:

Reading Exodus chapter 10, Caleb asked me, "Mom, why did the LORD harden Pharaoh's heart?"

And the answer came in chapter 11: "So that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt."

Did I already post about the All-Sufficient One? I can't remember....(this happened awhile ago!!)

So, my girlfriend does chapel for the little ones, and they were going through the names of God. She was telling me how "All-Sufficient One" is kind of a tough concept to communicate to little people!! A few days later, we were reading about an Egyptian idol, and the priest had to come in every day and wash him, and put clothes on him, and set food in front of him. And, right there, (through tears!!) I am telling the kids...This is what our God does for us!!! He washes us in His Word, and He clothes us in the Righteousness of Christ, and He feeds us the Bread of Life and gives us Living Water!! He is the All-Sufficient One!!

I cannot tell you how many amazing conversations I have gotten to have with the kiddos. It is a crazy life, for sure, but I am so privileged to get to spend time with them, reading God's Word and studying His work throughout time. He is so good!!

(Sorry, the pictures aren't loading, so no pics this time, but hopefully soon!)

Oh, and I almost forgot!! Noah read his first little Sing, Spell (Level K) reader. Not many words, mostly, "Dad ran fast." But, very exciting, none-the-less. =)