Youth Sunday

What a blessing to have some of the junior high and high school kids from our church involved in S.A.L.T. (Students Arts Leadership Training) They have instrumental and vocal training as well as learning what it means to be a leader in worship and life.

Emma and Dexter

Alex and Kelsie "Follow You"

"Speak O Lord"

Alex, my childhood friend's daughter Kelsie Doan and KeeganKrell. Kelsie's mom and I (Leslie Stone) used to sing together growing up. This is such a sweet thing to see our daughters singing together too! But they're both awesome on guitar.

A Thankful Heart

My sister and her family of 5 came over today, my in-laws and my folks. It was a small group of 17. It was a little strange not having any 'outsiders' this year. But it just didn't work out. I was so happy to 'let my hair down'. We have so much fun together. Each and every kid too. Jackson (8) said, "your Aunt Dee is so friendly". She played Hide and Seek in the dark with them. Wow, she IS cool! The food was superb, but really, the company and conversation was the best part.

For boys over 6 feet, basketball is something you do in your sleep.

Harrison showing us some 'classical moves'. You should hear him rock on the electric!

"Can we play ball yet Harrison?" Dex

Just getting started.

Me, my mom and my sis

what to do on a swing set? (Emma 12) Aunt Dee taught her to ride her bike with no hands! That's her claim to glory today.

Jefferson is seriously recruiting his cousin Jackson for Pop Warner. (no way!)

What does a 16 year old do on a swing set?

We Love Sami!

Last night, a beautiful baby Hendricks/Dunham boy was born to Sami and BJ. We can't wait to meet him! Sami has been dear to us for many years. When she was in junior high, I took her home from Homemakers by Choice where she helped in child care. She was new to being home schooled at the time, and she was so sweet to answer all my questions about home schooling. She loved it and was so glad to be home.
Even then, Sam had purpose and knew that she wanted to be a wife and mother some day. BJ worked with the youth at their church and is a few years older than she. They had a sweet courtship and married when she was 20. Alex was 14 then and was a junior bridesmaid in their wedding, Lizzy was a flower girl and I sang and played. It was a gorgeous wedding. They moved to Virginia for BJ to complete his degree in theology and we got to be with them this summer in Williamsburg. We are so excited to meet little Brayden! They will be amazing parents!


Sam and BJ came to Williamsburg in August. Hot and muggy AND pregnant. Bad combo, but she was a trooper!

Isn't she cute?

BJ in his regimental grays!


The wedding, March 2006 (Alex is right behind Sami the bride)

Christmas 07, Chris (note his lovely apron!) , Sami and Alex

Emma Grace, mom Ginger and Sami

My Emma holding Emma Grace when she was 3 months old, 2006 Christmas.

Sami and Alex Christmas baking in 2005

Our families at the zoo in 2005 (above) Sami painting my kitchen (below)

Scrapbooking was something we always loved doing together.

Weekend Project

Here's a weekend project for ya! Redoing the sprinklers. Or something like that. The main valves or spiggots or hoodahadas when I don't know what to call things.

Derrick (engineer) and son (future engineer?) drew up the plans and carried them out.

So, needless to say, the men were a little too fatigued to join us for the play Pride and Prejudice, put on by Moezart Productions, starring our friend Matt Anvik as none other than, Mr Darcy. Of course, all the girls dream of a proposal like this! Even Alex! Well, we kind of staged it, Matt's folks and me!

Week Two at the Beach

Alex and Emily. See how far out the tide is? In the morning it's up to the wall and rocks.

Mirm and me

Clayton and Dex

What a gorgeous week this will be. But strange to go outside, look down the way, and no friends here! Missing them. But this is a great time for just us. We will get caught up on school and enjoy being outside IN THE SUN. Yes, in the sun. I don't enjoy being outside in the sun often. We had the Mohlers (minus Jim) on Friday and maybe they'll come back this Friday too. The Sheps are coming down tomorrow. Emilie turns 10 Friday!! I'm reading a couple good books, Thoene's 10th AD Chronicles book and Chan's Crazy Love.

Tutens, Doans and Krells! What fun! Not a fair picture of Dex. I pushed him down, he's actually my height!

We have a picture like this every year I think. 9 years!!!

Cool California

Dex, Keegan and Sheridan playing volleyball

Jeff was so happy to play catch with Keegan, an amazing pitcher!

Halloween toes, and our matching sandals. Audra and me

Laughing and more laughing with friends (Doans and Krells)

In due time, we will reap a HARVEST

School is well under-way. We had 3 weeks off in August, but the kids did their French, music and Math pretty much all summer. Language, music and math are hard to take a big break from. And I'm glad for their progress. We leave Saturday for 2 weeks on the beach. I'm so looking forward to it. Except for our hot, buggy, muggy week in Cape Hatteras (not ON the beach) , and one day in July, I haven't had quality relaxing time at the beach this summer and I've missed the sound and smell that soothes me. I am so grateful for time away from the scorching desert, and yet I am also grateful for our oasis here at home.

Here's a little summary of academic life:

Alexandra (16)

Sonlight core 400 which is Civics/American Govt. (Institutes of Biblical Law, Tools of Dominion:the Case Laws of Exodus, Basic American Government. Biographies and Historical Fiction including the Shadow of the Almighty (Jim Elliot) Black Like Me, Up from Slavery, Lies My Teacher Told Me, the Dry Divide, The Scarlet Letter, Walden and Civil Disobedience, My Antonia, Bud,Not Buddy, and the Giver.

Literature in co-op includes Uncle Tom's Cabin, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird and Fahrenheit 451.

Institute for Excellence in Writing with co-op and Art/Art History.

She and Dexter also go to Chemistry every week for 3 hours.

Algebra 2 (reviewing it. Might start Geometry instead! Need to do some testing to determine.

Alex has guitar lessons, plays in the church orchestra and love taking French with my father.

Dexter (14) is in his 3rd year of doing classes with the high school co-op. So he's doing what Alex does, including Chemistry, except at home he is doing Sonlight Core 100, American History in Depth. Also starting Algebra 2 and doing French with my father. So great!

Emma (12) has Literature, Art/Art History and IEW in co-op also, but she is reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Johnny Tremain, Across Five Aprils. She is doing Core 7 in Sonlight which has 36 books to read and read aloud! Yikes. She's doing the Story of the World Early to Modern Times and the Modern Age. She is starting Saxon 8/7, loving piano and French.

Lizzy (9) has Literature, History/Geography, Apologia Sea Mammals and IEW also. They are going through the Chronicles of Narnia this year. Making beautiful lap books for the Sea creatures, learning about all the states in geography, even sampling specials foods from each. At home I have to do all their reading for history. We are in Core 3 for them because it is the Intro to American History so all the kids are pretty much studying America this year.

I also do Teaching Reading and Writing at Home to the 2 youngest, and do spelling with all the others too.

Jefferson (8) is keeping up very well with Lizzy. So great to have them do the same work, or I'd go crazy. His handwriting is even better than hers actually. They chose different readers just because it's hard to share the book. He's reading Squanto and she's reading Pocahontas. Then we're reading the Sign of the Beaver out loud. Funny how all the other kids come and listen also.

Lizzy and Jeff are taking piano from my mother. She has done that with all the kids up to a point. They are doing so well.

Each year I have to evaluate how much to get done in Sonlight and how much of co-op. But it's our responsibility to choose and I love the freedom of being with my kids, traveling, learning as we go and training when the need arises instead of waiting and finding out about it later!

My favorite part about this year so far is our Family worship time. We have tried to do family devotions through the years, and it was sporadic, but we plugged along. We are finally in a habit of it and it feels strange to miss it! I love the time of Alex playing on the guitar and we sing, we read out loud 3 nights a week. Then every morning we're reading through Matthew as a family. It is such a blessing and gives time to look into kids' eyes and hearts.

I wouldn't trade these days for anything. My mom made me a beautiful apron for my birthday and tucked into the pocket was my year's verse. Only she didn't know it was my year's verse.

Galations 6:9 "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!"

Happy Sowing and Reaping!

What to love about cruising....

Great family celebration time, not worrying about the food! (Bill and Zelma Tuten's 50th anniversary)

Kids could go off and play

Someone else made the beds!

All ages playing together

Golf carts to explore in so Grandma didn't have to walk.

Great exploration time of new places (Catalina Island)

Fun with sis-in-law. (no I'm not holding a drink here)

Did I mention food? Great fine-dining. Even lobster! (Aunt Dee had a birthday on the cruise too!)

Great relaxation time

I could look at the ocean all day.