God's Creation in our own Backyard

Baby owl on the basketball hoop, see the mama in the background?

Mama owl, not letting baby out of sight.

You can even see the new down on baby's head.

You Think You Can Multi-Task

Imagine each hand and each foot doing something completely different, yet together. I only had a few lessons on the organ but I do know what's involved. It's mind-boggling. I know 3 very accomplished organists, but even they are blown away by this woman's FEAT! Or FEET!

Aah, the Model Shines

A man in our orchestra at church,Robert Dickinson, asked if Alex would pose for some shots for his website. I love the colors he captured in her hair. These are untouched and I have to select from about 32 he sent me. It was a fun experience.

Alex and Emma were approached at a restaurant by some Barbazon photographers and they gave us their name and numbers to contact them. Haven't done that, but who knows? Could be a way through college. LOL. (for someone who doesn't like makeup or jewelry or clothes for that matter, she might not enjoy that world!)

What a Week!

Last week I was distracted (in a good way) with preparing for music camp each day. I guess I felt I short-changed the younger two a bit. They kept saying "can we just stay home?" But they had fun. One day at one grandparents' house, one day the grandparents here, two other days with friends at their houses. So this week, I said YES to just about whatever they suggested! A good thing, in moderation! It's only Wednesday and I am wiped out!

Emma and her friend McKenzie, getting creative with frosting.

Aah, the final product.

I went to tea at English Rose Tea Garden here in Carefree with my friend Julie for her birthday. (albeit late!) And that was so relaxing and enjoyable. Great food, even better company. Click HERE for pictures of the tea room. And HERE for a virtual tour, with the owner Joanne narrating in her English accent. It's so beautiful.

The Glory of God

The Glory of God is what He wants us to see so that we know Him better.

He shows us His glory in and through CHRIST

The glory of God is in His CHURCH

And the glory of God is in His CREATION

We GIVE God glory through our WORSHIP,
reading and knowing His WORD
and by our good WORKS

"To God be the glory, great things He hath done
So loved He the world that He gave us His son
Who yielded His life, an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let all people rejoice
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done."

YOUTH-LED WORSHIP

Alex sang "Lead Me to the Cross" here. And she and Kelsie Doan did a beautiful duet of "Amazing Grace; My Chains are Gone"

(I need to give credit for these exquisite BW photos by my good friend Dawn Gregg)

Last night was the concert ending our week of music camp at Scottsdale Bible. We had a few songs that didn't go so well in rehearsal, but when the time came to give it up to God and let go, He blessed the kids beyond measure. They did great.Click on the photo to enlargeMy Emma worshiping, Carris Doan singing a solo on Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and Michael Blair shared from his heart before he led "What Can I Do?". He also shared the meaning of his shirt, that to we gain Christ and eternal life when we lose ourselves.

Summer Music Camp

It doesn't get much better, singing with kids that love to sing! I am so blessed. We have 32 kids on the vocal team, grades 7-12 and I think 21 in the band!! So amazing. Lots of talent. I am humbled to get to work with the gifted Sean Johnson, Joe Bubar and Tammy Reimche. Their music abilities exceed the common man. Composing, playing many instruments, sheet music:optional!

Here's the music camp blog: SBC Music Camp 09

My Alex and our life-long friend Kelsie Doan.
I've known her since before she was born. Is that possible?

Logan Domenico (I have known this fine young man since he was about 3 I think)

Michael Blair, there are no words for this young man's enthusiasm and love of worshiping and of life. Sean Allen has an amazing talented voice and makes me laugh. I am so glad they're on my team!

Summer Schedule

So it begins, the questions about what a home school family does during the summer. Do you continue with school? Don't they get a break?

Actually, yes to both. We continue with school but we also have breaks. We take breaks all year. If we want to travel in February, we can. If we want to take a longer Christmas break, we do.

I always seem to have big dreams for the summer though. Because it isn't the normal schedule. We are inside a little more unless we're swimming or it's really early in the morning or we are inside at the mall or a museum or the movies.

I was in the middle of remodeling a kitchen last summer, recarpeting the house and having the outside painted. So cleaning up the clutter upstairs and moving the girls rooms was part of it. I always want to catch up on scrapbooking, never happens. Only in small chunks.

So here's what our days look like:

Monday-Thursday

8am Breakfast

Chores

Devotions

Music practice (piano, guitar, violin)

French

Math

Reading

(have yet to pick the 11,13 and 16 year olds' books yet, so they're reading fun stuff)

Writing (cards, letters, journals, blogs)As I was writing this, my 16 year old had just written a new entry in her story blog. Click here to read it. So cool

Noon: Lunch

Chores

Free time

MWF (computer)

Swimming

Errands or outings

Next week we have music camp in the afternoons.

July 1-18 my older 3 kids will be on the farm in North Dakota.

July 19-26 Home

July 26-August 15 Road trip to my nephew's wedding in North Carolina. (I'd love some ideas of what to do, where to stop on our way east!)

So they're actually not home a lot. The thing about studying foreign languages, music and math, is it's really hard to take long breaks from it. You lose ground. I'm grateful the kids actually have seen that and don't want to lose what they've worked on.

Lord, may I be diligent in teaching and training these gifts from You. Preparing them for a future that is in Your hands. Praying they choose the narrow path, the one that serves You, helps further Your kingdom, reaches the lost, uses their gifts for Your glory.

"I Pray You Enough"

"I Pray you Enough" Anonymous Author
Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough.. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too, Mom.'

They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'

'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away & has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Then she walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.