Table Scraps, Too

S-N-O-W

2012-01-01T23:14:00.001-08:00

This winter in Michigan has been very unusual, very unlike the snow-laden winters that I remember growing up in Northern Michigan. As a kid, the snow seemed to pile up foot after foot, and having a green Thanksgiving and Christmas was unheard of. Winters like this make me wonder whether there is some major environmental shift taking place.

This year, November and December have been unseasonably warm, with many days in the 50's and only light dustings of snow at any given time. This past week had several days that felt mild and, one day, almost balmy. We really have not had any winter to speak of.

On Thanksgiving Day, we were outside in light sweatshirts playing our Turkey Bowl football game in the green grass.

On Christmas Day, after getting only a few white flakes floating on Christmas Eve, we wore our jammies without coats to our morning church service, and there was no sign of snow that day.

Last night and today, that all changed with the blustery, blowing whirls of white turning a gray-green world into a Narnia-like winter wonderland overnight. The snow weighing down the branches of the trees is so beautiful, magical.

Here is a shrub by our garage yesterday afternoon.

And here is that same bush less than 24 hours later.

And, of course, that welcomed "RING" of the early-morning phone announcing a snow day is music for everyone in the household; well, maybe except Daddy who still has to go to school to make sure everyone is informed about the closure and all of the after-school events are cancelled and rescheduled. I don't think the inherent joy of a snow day is ever outgrown!

So, we enjoyed a leisurely morning, went out for lunch together, and then donned our boots, ugly camo snowsuit (Reminder to self: Order snowpants from Lands End) and camera and ventured out into the snowy, powdery white Narnia in the back field. The kids were giddy and ready to slide in something besides the muddy-wet mix that they have been trying to sled in the past few weeks. Everything looked so clean and bright white, and I loved the contrast of the tree branches against the bright-white ground and sky.

Everyone got to make use of their new Christmas hats and snow clothes. You can't see it in this photo, but I got to wear an old pair of my husband's orange camo snow pants that probably still have deer guts smeared into their depths. Lovely, I say, lovely. Next stop: www.landsend.com!

I wonder if I'll ever get another family photo without my son donning the sarcastic 8-year-old boy face?? It was pretty blustery out. But it felt good to run through the powder and lay on the snowy cushion and breathe the fresh, cold air into lungs recovering from two days of sickness.

Welcome, Winter, to Michigan! We enjoyed playing with you today. I hope you have decided to stay for a little while this time (but not too long!).

2012.

2012-01-01T17:37:00.001-08:00

Clearly, the year 2011 was not my best as far as consistent blogging. I am hoping to change that in 2012. I really miss having the almost-daily documentation of my thoughts and experiences of life. And I miss interacting with you, my faithful readers who have held on through my hiatus.

As we welcome the first day of 2012 today, we are just returning from our final out-of-town family Christmas celebrations. I am contemplating finding homes for all of our new gifts, taking all of the decorations and ornaments down, and getting back into the swing of work and school this week.

As I am waiting for my hot bubble bath to fill up, I find myself thinking ahead to what I want out of 2012. In the last 5 years, I have followed suit with some of my favorite photographers/life artists and replaced the idea of "resolutions" with a one-word declaration or theme for the year. The word is not meant to be a resolution but rather a way of summarizing what one's hopes, dreams and strives to emphasize as a new year begins.

In 2011, I selected the word "Quench" which fit with our new move to the lakeshore, both physically and symbolically. In previous years, I have chosen words like "be" and "create".

For 2012, I have contemplated a lot of possible words and have finally settled on the one: NOURISH. This year, I really want to focus on nourishing the important things in my life.........

Nourishing my marriage and being more intentional about supporting and encouraging this wonderful man whom God has given me, rather than giving into my human tendencies of criticizing and focusing on his shortcomings;

Nourishing my children as we learn together in the homeschooling process day in and day out; continuing to get to know and nourish each of them as individuals and to seek ways to help them to develop the talents God has gifted them with as they seek His calling on their lives;

Nourishing friendships with women in my life; God has given me some wonderful women in our new community, and I look forward to growing our friendships as we live out this life in community with each other. I also have a handful of "old" tried and true friends who are true gifts from God, and I want to continue nurturing the sisterhood connection with them.

Nourishing my self-expression through writing; for a while now, I have sensed that God is leading me more fully into writing, namely writing books wherein psychology and Christianity intersect. What that will exactly look like, I don't know currently. But I need to spend more time writing in different venues, from blogs to research to critiques, to further explore this area of my work.

Nourishing my body in a healthier way; this includes regular exercise, eating more whole local foods, and getting appropriate rest, sleep and alleviation of the stress of my work. I have weight to lose and energy to regain, and the time is now. This is the "year of turning 40" for me, and I want to embrace a new decade with strength and passion and fitness.

Nourishing my creative self; as I have reflected over my life, I am more and more aware of the fact that I believe that God has created me to be in the business and work of creativity. What that exactly will look like in the coming year, I am not sure. But I know in the depths of my soul that I need to make more time to create and explore how creativity needs to infiltrate my life more fully.

And finally, the most important thing......

Nourishing my relationship with my Savior; getting deeper into His word each and every day, losing myself more and more to Him as I seek Him and His ways for my life. This is my life line that will allow the nourishing of these other areas....no more giving my God the raw end of the deal. I want Him to have my first and best moments of every day.

Which one word fits your hopes, goals and dreams for 2012?

Homeless.

2011-06-13T13:23:00.001-07:00

I have often heard--and have often said myself--that life with Christ is an adventure, if we are open to it. And sometimes even when we are not.

Today, we begin a new leg of our adventure. As of yesterday, we are officially moved out of the beach house and have all of our earthly belonging in storage units. I guess that would qualify us as officially homeless.

This transition has made me think a lot about what "home" is. I am a person who very much likes to have a nest and to feather it. I love the process of setting up a home, decorating it, and making it reflective of and supportive of our lifestyle values. For the past two plus years, we have been up in the air, either readying for a move, waiting to sell our house, or in storage and rental properties. To be completely honest, it has been a struggle for me. It is easy to say that "home is where your family is" or "home is where the heart is", but the physical structure is important to me.

This process certainly has given me a new mindfulness and gratitude for having a house to call my home. It has made me more sensitive to the circumstances of those who truly are homeless and who could never even dream of owning their own house. Currently, we are living in a hotel with all of our earthly possessions in storage. Thank the Lord, we have the resources necessary to do that. But so many people don't and would not be able to pay to stay in a hotel, having nowhere to go but on the streets. I cannot imagine what that is like.

So in this season of transition, I want to allow God to expand my vision and sensitize my heart for those who find themselves "in transition" as a permanent way of living and being. I want to have a new level of awareness to the needs of those around us.

And I keep challenging myself and all of us to keep making lemonade from lemons. This weekend, as we were moving all of our stuff into storage and while our leather chairs were sitting out in the parking lot of the storage unit, we had an impromptu photo shoot. I love the way these turned out and thank God for giving us fond memories, even in times of transition.

On a Roll.

2011-06-03T15:06:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, as adults, we forget that learning simple skills really is a big deal. Case in point: Learning to blow a bubble with bubble gum. I am a gum lover. I love all kinds of gum and can often be found mindlessly blowing bubbles. My kids, from a very young age, have always been intrigued by the bubbles I blow and have wanted to learn how to blow their own. Now, teaching a young child to blow a bubble is not easy. Explaining and trying to demonstrate the process of flattening out the gum with your tongue, placing the gum vertically across your inner mouth, etc. is just a really abstract process for kids to grasp.

Many times, when my kids were young, I remember that I would chew gum, blow a bubble, and then give the bubble to them so they could put it in their mouths and hold the bubble, pretending that they had blown it.

On Wednesday night, Hayden had a packet of Big League Chew and was bound and determined to blow a big bubble with it. Now, even the adult in me gets excited with a new package of Big League Chew, and there is no better bubble-blowing gum in my book.

Hayden must have stood in front of the bathroom mirror for over an hour trying to blow bubbles. Often, he would fail. Many times, he ended up spitting the whole wad of gum out into the sink. But, he persisted and did not give up.

And when that kid succeeded in blowing a huge bubble on his own, you should have seen his smile....well, you couldn't really see his smile because it was hidden behind the huge bubble covering his face, but I know that it was there.

Kids teach us so much if we take the time to notice. Persist. Even when (and especially when) the process is frustrating. Don't underestimate the value of the simple pleasures of life. Things like a good pack of bubble gum and a huge bubble. Be teachable. Don't allow the temporary sting of failure knock you off a course that is ultimately leading to success in the bigger picture.

Thanks for the reminder, my sweet boy.

June.

2011-06-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, summer is here. Not officially quite yet, but we have gradually moved into summer mode around here. Our homeschooling year is pretty much over, although we do have some fun, creative studies that we are planning for the summer.

I have had a hard time over the past months getting regulated in my blogging; I miss the process but can't seem to find my groove of daily posting. So, in an effort to get back into a regular blogging routine (which is important for my self-expression as well as for documenting what is going on in our lives), I am going to start by posting a photo and some of my thoughts related to the photo. Some photos may be of our current lives, others may be from the past.....but I am hoping that it will help my blogging juices to start flowing again.

Sooooo, here goes.

As I was looking through my photos from the past week or so, I ran across this one and it just reflected so much about what this current season of life is about. The beach is a place where we have been able to relax, reflect, play and just let the stress of moving, work, etc. float away. The weather so far this spring has been pretty windy and on the cooler side, but we were able to swim in Lake Michigan three times in May despite the sub-50-degree water temperature. Let's just say it was VERY refreshing, in an iciclish sort of way! We are in the last couple of weeks before we have to move out of the beach house, so we are trying to soak up every single day of having the beach just steps from our front door. This has been a good, good season for our souls in so many ways.

The wind whipping our hair.

The sand sifting through our toes.

Catching up on good books.

Playing catch, frisbee, football.

Watching seagulls dive into the water for fish.

Chatting with an occasional beach walker.

Gazing out onto the horizon.

Collecting shells and driftwood.

Walking leisurely.

Swimming in the cold early spring waters.

Building sandcastles and imaginary worlds.

Talking.

Saying nothing at all.

Note: However, I will NOT miss having beach sand everywhere--EVERYWHERE--in my house.

Death, Where is Your Sting?

2011-02-08T02:35:00.001-08:00

I knew in my heart that she was nearing the end; after all, she wasn't wearing earrings. She had said to me on many occasions that she felt naked and undressed without earrings, and I can't ever recall seeing her without them.

I started this post on February 8; I sat down to it again on March 5, nearly one full month later. And here I am, on March 22, hoping to finish my thoughts on my Grandma Kay and her passing from this life into eternity with Jesus.

I have never before personally seen and experienced the process of death unfold. And then God called me to one of the holiest weeks of my life.

My Grandma Kay has always been larger than life in so many ways to me. Although she was petite in body frame, her presence was one of strong, graceful beauty. She was poised and always took great care in her personal appearance; at her funeral, many people commented on how beautiful, groomed and poised my Grandma was. But even more, she was a woman who poured her entire life and energy into her family. Like any grandma, she fretted. She wanted the best for each of her children and grandchildren. And she was one of our biggest cheerleaders in life.

She was one of those people that you can't imagine ever getting old and frail, let alone dying.

Yet, over the past couple of years, she had started to show those telltale signs that the years were getting on, and her physical body was getting tired. She was not eating as much, and she started to appear more frail. I was always worried when we had big family meals for holidays, because she always seemed to pick at her food and then talk about how full she was. She even began confusing people's names, which was a definite sign of deterioration since she was always one of those people who remembered names and wanted to make people feel special by remembering who they were. That skill served her well in her time working as a salesperson for Avon and for VanDrie's Furniture. People loved my grandma and wanted to be known by her. I remember a time a couple of years ago when Grandma tried to introduce my sister, Haley, to someone and could not remember Haley's name. My heart sunk, knowing that her mind was being challenged with aging.

A couple of years ago, my bright, intelligent Grandma went into a local department store. And she could not find her way out. Those telltale signs that age is stealing the cognitive clarity and the confidence in one's daily living activities have been there, but have until February been easy to explain away as episodic, temporary.

On the first Saturday of February, we received a phone call as we were just getting home from Hayden's basketball game. Grandma was in the hospital, appearing to have suffered a stroke in the night. We quickly scrapped our plans for the rest of the day, packed, and drove up to Cadillac. The drive provided ample time for thinking, reflecting and remembering.

As we quietly entered the hosptial room, I truly did not recognize the tiny, frail woman that I saw lying in that bed. It has been several months since I had seen Grandma, and she had deteriorated even further in physical size. Her body looked tired and frail and weak, and her beautiful face was greyed and contorted in a reflection of pain, worry and distress. As I held her hand, looked into her face and said, "Grandma, it's Nicci. I love you, Grandma", she tried to open her eyes and moved her lips seeming to want to talk, but her body just did not want to do what her mind appeared to desire.

I knew right then and there--something just told me--that I needed to stay for the long haul, to honor this beautiful woman who had impacted my life in such non-human ways. There was nothing I could do to stop this natural process of life transitioning into death, but I just needed to be there. I really did not wrestle with the decision. I just knew that I needed to set my week's activities and responsibilities aside to be with my Grandma, my mom, my aunts, and our entire family during this time.

Into Sunday, the doctors said that she only had 24 hours. We sat in the hospital waiting room, taking turns in the quiet of Grandma's room. Holding her hand. Wetting her parched mouth and lips. Experiencing tiny gifts along the way of open eyes here, a word or two there. Holding on for and celebrating the even longer periods of clarity where she seemed so much like the lady who we loved.

She held on for four more days. Didn't I tell you how strong Grandma was? During that time, we laughed and we cried. We held Grandma's hand and talked about her jewel-filled, colorful mother's ring and how much we cherished it. We told stories about Christmases, making ice cream, and sledding off the barn roof at the old farm. We laughed about Grandma's beehive hair-do and marveled at how she got it to stand that tall. We breathed life into stories of this precious, beloved woman who was dying before our eyes.

We told stories, waited, cried, prayed and held Grandma's hand for more than three days.

Grandma died on Wednesday night. Earlier that day, I had gotten a hair cut and color in a sort of tribute to my Grandma. I wanted to look my best, just as she always wanted to look her best. I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening in the hospital, trading time holding Grandma's hand next to her bed with time spent talking and sharing in the waiting room with my family. We were blessed by so many local families bringing in snacks, meals, cards....and some just coming in to check on Grandma and stand to watch her laying on that bed. Many smiled and just shook their head as tears threatened.

During that evening, my mom and her siblings (my uncles and aunts) went into Grandma's room alone. I later learned that during that sacred time, they each said their final good-byes and told Grandma that it was OK to go. They released her into God's arms. When my mom, aunts and uncles emerged from that room, they broke into deep, soul-wrenching sobs. I held my mom. My Aunt Karen fell against a pole in grief, and I quickly ran to hug her and hold her up. I felt their deep, deep grief wrangled from their chests as they expressed the emotional reality of the loss of this woman, their Mom.

It turns out, that may have been just what Grandma needed.

At 8:00 PM that Wednesday night, several people were taking turns in Grandma's room, and I remember that American Idol was on the television. People in the room were quietly watching and laughing as the people auditioned for their spot; thinking back, I am confident that Grandma would have wanted it that way and that she heard every ounce of laughter in that room. Grandma died watching Americal Idol auditions.

At just a few minutes before 9 PM, Haley and I decided to head back to her house for a few hours and planned to come back later around midnight for another shift. We both walked quietly into Grandma's room, took her hand, told her "I love you, Grandma" and kissed her on the cheek. We were the last ones to talk to her and kiss her. Before we were even out of the hospital, Grandma turned her head to the side, made some brief incomprehensible sounds, and took her last human breath on this earth.

The minute we got back to Haley's house, Dad called us to come back. We knew. We just knew.

We rushed back to the hospital, ran down the hall to her room, and gathered around the bed with our family, looking at Grandma's earthly body which was now breathless and lifeless. She was in heaven. She was gone. She was whole again. And we sang. We sang "Amazing Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross." And most of all, we sang "My Tribute", my Grandma's favorite hymn. It is a song that she had asked me to sing for special music in her church more than once growing up; it is a song that Matt and I included in our wedding ceremony in honor of my Grandma. And one by one, people said their final good-byes to Grandma, left the hospital room where her physical body lay, and went back home. My sister and I lingered, with tears, and after a long time of gazing on my Grandma's face, turned to leave. Where there had been a look of fatigue and stress, there was now a look of relaxed peace on Grandma's face. Grandma didn't have to worry and fight any more; she was in Jesus' arms of peace and rest now. And we went home with a strange sense of loss coupled with the deepest peace and wonder.

When we sang the song "This is Holy Ground" as we gathered around the bed where my Grandma's body laid, I believed that it truly was. God's presence was so obvious there. It was a holy time, holy ground on which we stood. I didn't actually see holy light emanate from that bed, but I knew in my heart that it was there. That He was there.

The 2 words that sum the process up, from my perspective, are: Beautiful mystery. I was and still am hurting deeply from the loss of my Grandma, but more than that, I was awed by the beauty and peace of her transition from this life into the presence of God. That week was a gift straight from heaven, and I would not trade it for the world. For death has not stolen my Grandma from me and my siblings and my mom's mother from her; rather, Jesus' victory over death had stolen the sting and finality from death. He is risen, death is conquered, and Grandma is now the recipient of that eternal gift of life.

Lord, thank you for the gift of a week with my Grandma, a week shrouded in sorrow, celebration, and in a deep, mysterious, all-encompassing grace and peace.

Art Journal.

2011-01-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

Today was a day that I anticipate each time that I teach my Art Therapy course. I always assign my students what I call a "Day of Exploration"--a day to do nothing but go out into the world and observe, sense, draw, take photos, see, REALLY SEE, the world around. It is a day intended to provide soul inspiration and much-needed change from the typical constraints of the academic world and so many other demands in our lives.

Today, my day of exploration led me out into the woods. I found myself walking in the deep, fresh-fallen snow. I found myself wishing that I had worn taller boots and snow pants! But anyway, I found myself beckoned by the thick blanket of snow, and I laid back beneath the canopy of bare snow-laden trees and just looked. Observed. Took in the beauty of looking up and the fresh perspective it brought. I snapped several photos of the branches from that perspective.

After dinner, I sat down with my camera and my art journal, as well as a new package of pastels. And I just started to draw what I remembered from looking up into the trees and the sky beyond. It is amazing how inspiring and stress-relieving art is.....how it can get us into a state that some call "flow"--where time, worries, stresses, inadequacies, and demands all fall away. I teach that daily Art Journal work can combat stress in a powerful way, while also recentering us and keeping us full of inspiration and gratitude for God's blessings. But the truth of the matter is, sometimes the busy nature of life gets in the way, and the creative time is the first thing to get squeezed out.

Tonight, I remembered how important it is to do this every day. Tonight, I recommitted to making sure that each and every day includes some time--if only 30 minutes--to create something. Tonight, I played without worrying about staying in the lines, being perfect, or creating something for anyone else standards.

Tonight, I created. And it felt so, so good.

Two Swans A'Swimmin'

2011-01-05T18:28:00.000-08:00

One of the things that we have thoroughly enjoyed about living in a more country-focused setting is the wildlife that we have come into contact with during our time of exploration. We have seen multitudes of deer, both in the wooded areas and near the water and dunes. We have tracked many animal prints, some of which have resembled tracks of bear and cougar. We have encountered an Eastern hognose snake in the sand and several mischievious raccoons in our driveway.

Near our house, there is a small river that flows out into Lake Michigan. We have loved exploring the shores of that river, which run along a curvy wooded road on one side and a hilly sand dune area on the other. The kids enjoy climbing the dunes, while we have all enjoyed learning to identify that many different types of plants and trees that grow along the water. In the fall, there was a sandhill crane that we could see every morning as we drove along the river. The area is also a favorite for lots of different kinds of birds that we have seen, including owls, bluejays and cardinals.

A special treat this winter has been the in-residence habits of a pair of swans that we spy every time we walk or drive in that area. They look so gorgeous against the black waters on the backdrop of snow that echoes the pure white of the swans' feathers. We have loved stopping with a bag of day-old bread and feeding the swans, watching their graceful movements. While this might seem like such a small thing to most, it is something that has been so good for our souls as we enjoy God's creation against the beauty stillness and quiet of the woods. It is been so good for us to get away from the busyness and noise of the suburbs. We look forward to many more simple pleasures like this.

Quench.

2011-01-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had those times in life where you just feel thirsty? You know that feeling you get when the air is dry, or when you've been exercising vigorously, or when you wake up in the morning and your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth? When you are thirsty, there is very little else you can think about until that thirst has been quenched.

When we are thirsty, we sometimes try to quench our thirst with different things. For some, we try coffee or tea or even, like me, a nice crispy Diet Coke. For others, you may try to hold out until the thirst passes, only to give in to the urge that can only be quenched by cold, wet, fresh water.

We were created with an innate need for water; this can be understood on a physical level, as in our body's physical need for water in order to live, or in a spiritual sense, as in our need for communion with our one and only Creator, the giver of living Water. Yet, despite this fairly simple and straightforward need for water, we human beings have become experts at neglecting our need for water both on physical and spiritual levels. Many doctors are concluding, based on replicated scientific research, that many health conditions ranging from migraine headaches to diabetes to heart problems can actually be traced back to one problem: Dehydration. And we don't have to look very far in the world around us to know the consequences of spiritual thirst. Many try desperately to quench their spiritual thirst with all sorts of God-substitutes, ranging from drugs and alcohol to sex and acquisition of material positions. All of these, while seeming to satisfy, are empty and destructive to the human soul and cannot touch the God-given thirst that only He can quench with His living water.

In our lives as Christ-followers, I believe that we go through spiritual seasons on our journey. During some of those seasons, we are fully satisfied, Christ feels near, and our thirst is quenched. When we pray, we sense God's presence and His answers. The Word of God absorbs seemingly effortlessly into our heart and lives, and we are overflowing spiritually. It is a time of obvious growth and flourishing. During other seasons, growth may still happen, but it is slower and less obvious. Our thirst may go on for days; at times, we may feel parched, on the edge of dehydration spiritually speaking. While our faith tells us that God is near, we don't necessarily feel His presence personally and we feel dry, parched, and weary. Prayers seem to go unheard and unanswered. We may try to read God's word but that thirst just may not be quenched, no matter how hard we try. While I believe that these times of thirst are still fertile ground for growth, let's face it, they are a lot more difficult to endure.

Standing at a beginning of a new year, 2011, many of us will make New Year's resolutions and pledges for how we want to better ourselves and our lives in the coming year. A few years ago, I decided that rather than make resolutions, I was going to select a single word to help me set new goals for the new year. Many in the scrapbooking arts community do this under a movement called "One Little Word" and I like the simplicity of having one word to strive toward. I have selected words such as "me" and "nurture" over the yars.

This year, as I was working to select my one little word for 2011, I began to see that water is a major theme for me right now. We are currently living on the shores of Lake Michigan so there is water around me everywhere I look. This was a total gift from God to us as we needed a place to rent after we sold our house, and He provided us this beautiful respite for a year. I have spent many days walking on the shore, being mesmerized by the powerful autumn and winter waves as they speak to me of God's power in nature and in my life. On a physical level, I am also mindful that I need to drink more water in an effort to maximize health and wellness.

The word then came to me: QUENCH.

At its core, I want 2011 to be about quenching. Quenching the thirst in my body for better health; quenching the thirst in my spirit to know God more deeply; quenching the thirst that I have to make creative endeavors a bigger part of my life's work. Most importantly, I want to seek more and more fervently after the Living Water that is the only water that my soul was created for and the only water that can quench my thirst for good and keep me coming back for more. Living on the water, with views of water from every window, will help me to keep this goal in my mind at all times.

QUENCH. I want to make God's Word and my quiet time resting against His heart an even bigger part of my everyday routine. I want to feel the pain and yearning of being thirsty for Him and to experience the daily refreshment and renewal that only He can give as He washes over me with Living Water.

QUENCH. I want to be mindful and deliberate about increasing the fresh, cold water that I include in my daily diet.

QUENCH. I want to recommit to daily exercise, including ample walks on the beach. Not only is the exercise good for my body and soul, but the time spent at the water's edge reminds of how vast and deep and wide my God's love for me is. I want to end 2011 more fit and strong than I ended 2010.

QUENCH. As a homeschooling mom, I am always looking for ways to inspire my kids' love for learning and to keep that flame burning. I want their thirst for God's Word, for good literature, and for stimulating learning to increase, and for them to experience how quality learning can at once quench that thirst while also motivating them toward deeper and broader learning and growing experiences.

QUENCH. I need to make creative work a more integral part of my everyday life and routine. In the craziness of selling our house and moving, I have had to put my creative work on hold, and it has really taken a toll on me emotionally in the latter months of 2010. I realize more and more how much I need that creative time to nurture my soul. I am not sure exactly what this will look like in 2011, but I feel that God has given me gifts and a passion for creativity in my own life as well as nurturing it in the lives of others. I need to nourish that part of me more deliberately.

What one little word encapsulates your goals for 2011?

Reflecting on 2010

2010-12-31T06:23:00.001-08:00

Happy 2011! As I reflect on this past year, it is difficult to wrap my mind around just how quickly the days of 2010 passed by. It seems that we were just celebrating the coming of 2010, and now here we are, ushering in a new year and a new decade. A lot has happened for me in this decade......getting married to my wonderful Matt, having 2 beautiful children with him, purchasing a first home (then another and another and now on to a fourth). I may save the "reflections on a decade for another post, but for today, I wanted to reflect back on some highlights of 2010. This is especially important because I wasn't as consistent with blogging in 2010 as I wanted to be, so I want to be sure to document this for future reference. So...here goes!

January 2010 brought with it the end of our first full year of homeschooling the kids. What a blessed albeit hardworking journey it has been for our family, but something I would not change for anything! This picture is from a day when Kennedy and I got out into the woods for some bird watching at the nature center. It was so beautiful to be out in the cold, snowy woods with our binoculars and to see some of God's most beautiful and finely detailed creatures. This is something that homeschooling has done for all of us...opened our eyes to some of the wonders around us that we used to just gloss over and take for granted. We were hopeful that 2010 would bring the sale of our home, because Matt's job was increasingly insecure as the district warned of extremely tight budgets and dinimishing state and federal monies. We began to understand once again that God's timing is always perfect, as He had protected us from buying another house is a new district where we weren't likely going to stay. Both kids again played Upward basketball, so that occupied most of our Saturdays.

February brought the usual celebrations of Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day. In school, we continued our study of birds, focusing in on owls. We even spent a day dissecting owl pellets, which Hayden is concentrating on in the photo below. We also followed online a pair of mated owls as their owl chicks hatched. It is amazing how fascinating and awe-inspiring the animal world is when you take the time to dive in and learn in-depth and hands-on. The kids' basketball games continued through the month of February.

In March, we were able to take a long weekend trip south to Notre Dame and South Bend, Indiana. Matt was attending a football conference, while the kids and I spent the weekend exploring the university, the surrounding area, and especially the zoo. What a wonderfully educational zoo the Pottawattomee Zoo in South Bend is, especially for a smaller zoo! The kids especially enjoyed the peccaries and a very engaging toucan, while we were able to get up and personal with some friendly and LOUD flamingos. The trip also brought the kids' first time eating at a Chick-fil-A, which they both really loved (Eat more chicken!). Later in the month, I attended a conference in Chicago, and Matt and the kids joined me at the end for a long weekend exploring the city. Highlights of the trip included going out on the glass ledges at Willis Tower (Sears Tower), exploring Milennium Park and "the bean", Shedd aquarium, and our favorite, Lincoln Park Zoo. None of us had ever been to the Lincoln Park Zoo before, and we were amazed that such a nice zoo was free. We were sure to make some purchases at the gift shop to show our appreciation for such a nice zoo. We even saw a wild coyote roaming on the sidewalk and in the duck pond encloser, looking for lunch. Easter also fell early this month, so we celebrated Jesus' resurrection with our annual Easter egg hunt as well as Easter dinner at Grandma McDonald's house.

April brought with it spring break, and another year of us staying at home (Boo). We are hoping that once we get settled in, we will be able to take a nice trip to a warm destination to do nothing but lay on the beach and play! The month also brought with it our first warmer days and hints of spring, along with plenty of days playing game, riding bikes, and enjoying the better weather. Hayden recently discovered the game of Monopoly and likes to torture us, I mean, he likes to play the game as a family. We all try to grin and bear the marathon events for his sake! April brought the start of baseball/softball season for both kids, and it felt good to be back outside exercising and having fun after a long winter. Both Matt and I coached the kids' teams again this year.

May 2010 brought with it a big milestone for Matt and I, as we celebrated our tenth anniversary. We spent some time talking about how much God has blessed us in our first decade together.....marriage, 2 wonderful children, good careers, and nice homes. We had hoped to have a vacation together, but again, the timing just wasn't good with an impending job loss and a house needing to sell, so we stuck close to home and just went out for a nice dinner. Hopefully, that vacation will come soon enough, as we would love to get away together as a couple for a few days of respite and focus on just us. May also brought to a close to my 13th year of teaching at Cornerstone University, and I received the honor of being promoted from associate to full professor at the end of the semester. What an opportunity it has been to be blessed with such a supportive group of colleagues and such promising students; I am truly humbled to play a part, albeit small, in their development and future work for Jesus Christ in a world that so desperately needs to experience His love and hope.

With June came our first 75+ degree days of summer 2010 and lots of days in the pool, at the park, and even a few trips to Lake Michigan. We ended our school year with our annual trip to North Beach in Spring Lake, and we even stopped to reconnect and play a bit with the Core family as we headed home. We saw that our old house on Wildfield Drive is on the market again, and it brought back lots of good memories of our time living in that cute house. We also celebrated Father's Day, thanking God for Matt and how good of a husband and father he is to our family. June also brought with it the final word and "pink slip" indicating that Matt would be laid off from Tri-County schools due to budget woes. We vowed not to panic but to rest in trusting God that His timing and His placement for our family is perfect; we showed the house MANY times in June and while many people expressed interest, we did not receive any viable offers. We had to rely on our faith in God in a new and very tangible way over the summer, and the Lord never once failed us.

July alway signifies the beginning of birthday season in our family, as three of us have birthdays in a 4-week span. Soon after our low-key celebration of the 4th of July, we turned to the celebration of Hayden's 7th birthday. We decided to keep birthdays a bit lower-key this year, being more cautious with Matt being out of work and us being unsure of what the fall would bring income-wise. Hayden and Kennedy each had one friend over, and we went to Craig's Cruisers for putt-putt golf, go-carts, bumper boats, laser tag, and arcade games. We had a very cute Mario Bros. cake made for Hayden, and he loved it! Lots more days were spent riding biking, playing outside, swimming in our pool and at the beach, and just hanging out outside with the neighbors. At the end of the July, we enjoyed our annual trip to Mackinaw with the extended McDonald family. We enjoyed a fun weekend of reading, playing games, swimming in Lake Huron, and singing around the camp fire. We opted not to go to the island this year but instead stayed an extra day to explore and shop in Mackinac City. July ended with my birthday celebration (38 years), including a beach day on Lake Michigan at the Chapmans' cottage and a nice dinner out. We also had a family combined birthday party for both Kennedy and Hayden.
In August, we praised God when Matt was offered a new job as the athletic director/assistant principal at Hart Public Schools. We sensed that God was leading us to move north whether we sold the house or not, and we trusted God to take care of the details. So, we had a big sale, packed up our belongings, and started looking for places to live. God, in His typical amazing God manner, led us to a gorgeous beach house that the realtor owned and was willing to rent us very inexpensively. We would be spending a year living on Lake Michigan! We could hardly believe it, but we serve an awesome God who loves to surprise us with blessings, so we gave thanks and prepared to move. In perfectly coordinated timing, God also provided an interested buyer for our Byron Center home, and we signed a sales contract before moving north. August reminded us of God's faithfulness, provision and perfect timing. We celebrated our sweet girl Kennedy's 9th birthday in early August. She had friends over for a girls' slumber party, and we had a fun time honoring our sweet firstborn and remembering 9 years of parenting her beautiful spirit.

Early September brought our move to the beach house, and we still had some warm days left to walk on and explore the Lake Michigan shoreline. We began a new homeschool year, studying dune ecology, human anatomy, and other interesting topics. September 4th brought with it the 40th wedding anniversary of my mom and dad, so we celebrated with a special dinner at the Cadillac Grill. Sadly, we learned this month that our foster nephew, DJ, would be going back to his birth parents, so we we savored our last moments with him. September also brought with it a start to my 14th year at Cornerstone. It was a bit of a different fall for us with Matt not coaching football, but we did attend a few games as we got to know our new district. The Hart/Shelby communities have been so warm and welcoming to us, and we are loving the small-town feel of being back in the north country. We have connected with a wonderful homeschool co-op where we have all made friends and taken wonderful academic classes; I have also done some teach of drama and music class and will again teach drama and add an art journalling class this winter session. We have also been attending a wonderful church--Shelby Road Baptist Church--and are soaking in God's word and thankful for His work and growth in our lives. At the end of the month, we celebrated Matt's birthday with gifts and dinner out at his favorite, Red Lobster.

October brought my favorite season, which was highlighted by living in orchard and farm market country. We loved all of the fresh apples in abundance, and fell in the love with the sweet juicy taste of the fresh Honeycrisp apples grown in this area. We frequented the many fruit stands and farm markets in this area, and again thanked God for leading us here. We celebrated year #24 of the Annual McDonald Pumpkin carving day, and brought our pumpkins home to display here at the beach house. We trick-or-treated in Hart. The highlight of the month was actually brought about by a major windstorm, when we spent a couple of hours out on the beach in awe of the power, might and splendor of God as shown in the winds and waves. That day was a very impactful day of God speaking to us through his creation.......I am here, I am powerful, and I am in control, no matter what the world around you says. How comforting it is to take refuge in Him. God's beauty is so apparent out here on the lakeshore, and I feel that God brought us to this place for some much-needed soul-healing.

November is always about preparing for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. We spent most of the month studying the pilgrims and the Indians, focusing on what an adjustment it must have been for the Native Indians to have their land invaded by the white man. There are so many myths surrounding that Americans perpetuate surrounding Thanksgiving and the Pilgrim/Indian saga, and it was fun to research the real details (including the fact that the first Thanksgiving meal did not come until more than a year after the Pilgrims arrived, and that they ate seafood like mussels and eel rather than turkey). We made a fund, detailed diarama of an Indian and Pilgrim settlement, and the kids had fun roleplaying scenarios that we learned in history. This year, we hosted the entire Stahl family for a long weekend over Thanksgiving, and it was such a nice, relaxed family time. We worked together to prepare the meal (including making our own homemade butter, like any good respecting homeschool family!) and do the necessary clean up, spent time out on the beach, and played games together. A highlight was the First Annual McDonald Family Turkey Bowl, which we played out on the beach. The boys beat the girls 4-0 this year, but the girls vowed to come back stronger and fitter for the win in 2011! We spent Saturday and Sunday in Beal City visiting Grandpa and Grandma McDonald and reflected on how we are blessed with two loving, involved extended families in our lives. We ended the month with turning out attention toward Christmas preparations.

December was busy as most Decembers are, with ending my Cornerstone semester and readying for Christmas and the year's end. Matt and I excitedly purchased the kids' top wish list items (ipod touch for Kennedy, legos and a camera for Hayden) and couldn't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning! In homeschool, we explored December traditions around the world, including Jerusalem, Spain, Italy, Australia and Mexico, and we celebrated Hanukkah and St. Nick's Day in addition to our focused Christmas celebrations. The McDonald Christmas party took place early on the 19th this month, and we enjoyed another joyous gathering with over 50 people in attendance this year! Because we usually spend part of most holidays on the road travelling, we were thrilled to be home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, just a quiet peaceful time with our little family of four celebrating the birth of Jesus and his gift of eternal life. On December 26th, we headed to McBain for a few days to celebrate Christmas with the Stahl family. After returning home, we had a couple of days to spend our gift cards and prepare for the new year. New Year's Eve brought our second annual Boys vs. Girls game tournament, which the boys won this year. As is tradition, we played games, watched football, ate yummy appetizers, and shared a sparkling juice toast and kisses at midnight. Our holiday observances will continue through until January 6, the Day of Epiphany which commemorates the wise men travelling from afar to Bethlehem. Everyone knows that the 12 Days of Christmas don't actually begin until Christmas Day, which is Day One, right? I have been reading an incredible book entitled "Epiphany" which is an historical fiction account of the wise men's journeys to Bethlehem, and it has really made me think. Like so many, I grew up knowing that "the three wisemen travelled from afar to bring the Baby Jesus gold, frankinscence and myrrh" but I haven't thought a lot about the details of their experience......why did them come? What was their journey like? It has been a powerful book that has reshaped my experience of Christmas in meaningful ways.

Without a doubt, 2010 brought its share of challenges to our famly. In addition to Matt's job loss and the challenge of selling our house, I also saw two of my friends walk through their parent's long and terminal battles with cancer. I saw my sister have to give up a foster baby who she loved deeply as her own and planned to adopt. But the bottom line is: God is good, all of the time and in every situation. With both of us holding advanced degrees, we never expected to deal with job loss, but Matt lost his job mid-year and we were unsure what the fall would bring. And we got to see God faithfully provide an even better job in a community that we love and that fits our family values and goals much better than our previous location. So, with the challenges came an incredible realization of God's faithfulness and provision. He has cared for our material needs time and time again, and provided us a beautiful place to heal emotional hurts from the past year and to begin anew in fulfilling that to which He has called us individually and as a family. God is faithful, Amen, and 2011 looks to be full of promises and possibilities! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

2010-12-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

And here's to more consistent blogging in 2011!

Glimpses of our Fall.

2010-11-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

Since my last post in mid-July, our lives have transformed in nearly every respect. After many months of waiting to see who would be the next people to live in our Byron Center home, we finally met a family who loved it as much as we did. We, on the other hand, were blessed to find a beach house on Lake Michigan where we will live until spring. This house feels like a gift straight from God's hand, as we are able to enjoy and learn about the gorgeous shoreline in a new and exciting way. To walk a few steps and be surrounded by sand and water and seagrass and shoreline animals.....it is such peace and therapy for the soul Now that we are settled in (though most of our belongings are in storage), I wanted to try to get caught up on blog posts and re-integrate regular blogging into my weekly, if not daily, routine.

So, just to catch up, we have had a fall filled mainly with moving and getting transferred over to our new area. We did, however, get a chance to spend a couple of days with my sister, Kendra and nephew, Caleb, at a hotel in Frankenmuth. The hotel had a water park with multiple water slides
Of course, leaving Byron Center meant some tearful goodbyes to our neighbors, who Kennedy and Hayden have basically grown up with. Here are Kennedy, Hayden and a few of the Oetman kids on our last night in the neighborhood. We look forward to them visiting us at the beach in our new home in the spring.

The fall and winter are some of our very favorite times at the zoo, so we have had some amazing trips. I really cannot overemphasize how much my kids learn about nature, God, and biological science by spending time at the zoo. Typically, on visits to the zoo, families are so hurried and just trying to get through the crowds and out of the heat. Our trips to the zoo in the fall and winter are leisurely and allow lots of time to just watch and ask questions. It's powerful learning at its best.

The zoo is full of colorful leaves and is all decked out in God's best for fall.

Of course, while we were in Frankenmuth, we had to save room for a traditional chicken dinner. We also learned some interesting things about German and Bavarian settlements in Michigan.

One of our unit studies for this fall has been the human body. The kids have had a great time with some of the hands-on games and models that we have been using. We are preparing for later in November, when the "Bodies" exhibit comes to the Grand Rapids Public Museum....it is a display of preserved cadavers which showcase all of the major muscles and systems of the human body. We look forward to how our trips to the museum in the coming months will enhance our understanding of how God created the human body and its functions.

While we have always enjoyed summertime on Lake Michigan, being here through the fall has given us a new understanding of the seasons on the lake. We have witnessed some stunning views of the lake as it changes with the temperatures and winds. We are anxious to continue observing the lake as winter hits all too soon. We have heard that the ice formations in our area are nothing short of spectacular and have already been scoping out good sledding hills on the dunes.

This is a shot that we captured during the recent wind storm. As we stood on the beach with the sand whipping against our skin, we were totally awed by God's power in the wind and waves.

As always, fall brought with it many family traditions, such as the Annual McDonald Pumpkin Carving Day. Next year will be the 25th year that siblings and cousins have gathered at Grandma and Grandpa's house to carve pumpkins.

We trick-or-treated in our new area this year and learned that many people here go all-out on decorating for Halloween.

This year, Kennedy dressed up as a Michigan Football Fan (GO BLUE) and Hayden went as a ninja. I tried to talk him into letting me sew him a cute monkey constume or something a bit less violent, but in the end, his request to be a ninja won out. I did not allow the weapons or the blood that I saw some other ninjas carrying around on Halloween, though. A mom has to draw the line somewhere.

Back in late September, we were also able to gather for dinner to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. We are so thankful for the love and commitment that they have for each other, and for the model of God-centered marriage and family that they have modeled for us.

This is a path along the river where the kids and I often walk and explore the surrounding woods and dunes. We have spotted blue herons and sandhill cranes here, along with ducks and lots of blue jays. This is also a great forest for learning to identify different kinds of trees.
One of the blessings of moving to this area has been a new homeschool co-op with which we have gotten involved. When we first started, they lost their drama teacher, so I ended up picking up that class even though I have no training in drama. What fun we have had! In eight weeks, we prepared a production of the short play "Stone Soup" including making a simple set, doing simple costuming and make-up, and culminating in a performance for parents last week.

Have you ever made several pies in one day? How about 1,500 pies in less than one day? Last month, we all joined in with the Hart Athletic Department to make from scratch 1,500 pies to be sold as a fundraiser. As you can see, there was a little bit of pie-making and a LOT of flying dough balls and flour fights.

So, our fall has been busy and blessed. We are preparing to host Thanksgiving at our home in 2 weeks and looking forward to the holidays on the beach. Hopefully, it won't snow too much, because we are a bit concerned about being snowed in out here! What a beautiful season to really hone in and appreciate God's amazing creations.

Some Favorite Summer Moments (So Far).

2010-07-12T08:46:00.001-07:00

Celebrating my father-in-law's 80th birthday with our entire McDonald family. Above, he is pictured with some of his grandkids and great-grandkids. My father-in-law is still feisty and has one of the best senses-of-humors that I know!

We have had lots of good and sunny pool days, which tends to draw kids from all over the neighborhood into our backyard for playing, jumping, splashing and just being kids. Isn't that what summer vacation is all about?

Here is a group of kids that congregated last week......they ended up with a rousing game of water-polo....so fun.

We have also made several trips to our local zoo; we love the newest additions, the baby capybarras. These creatures are so unusual and intriguing. We did not know this, but we learned that these rodent-type animals are very good swimmers.

Mighty Mike the alligator is one of the newest residents at our zoo. He doesn't look all that big here, but he is very, very large and ferocious-looking. On this day, we just missed him eating one of the resident ducks from the next cage over.

Lots of hugs for everyone, even Ruby (though she doesn't look like a completely willing participant here).

We celebrated Father's Day with a quiet day at home; while we did miss seeing our dads/grandpas on this special day, we also enjoyed not having to travel and just being able to shower our Daddy with special treats and lots of love.

As we do every year, we celebrated our final day of school for the year with a trip to Lake Michigan. While the water was still very chilly, it was a great day for basking in the sun, building sand castles, and playing sand football.

We spent a full day down at the Grand Rapids Art Festival in June, doing all sorts of creative activities like chalk art, hat making, screen printing, glued sculptures, and more....and, and of course, we sampled foods from all over the world (though the Hawaiian ices from right here in the US were our favorites!).

June brought strawberry picking with our neighbors; while all of the rain and humidity made the picking season shorter than usual, we got some very tasty berries and also made enough jam to fill our freezer for another year.

The summer is slipping right by, but we are trying really hard to capture the simple summer moments and to savor them. Before we know it, the routines of fall will be back and, although we absolutely love the fall season and all it brings, we are not ready to say farewell to the relaxed and routine-free days of summer quite yet.

What have your favorite moments of summer been so far?

Seven Things I Love About You.

2010-07-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hayden, you are a ray of sunshine and a burst of energy in our lives! Today, I find it so hard to believe that you are seven years old! I can remember so clearly the days leading up to your birth seven years ago.....it was HOT, I was tired chasing around your then-two-years-old sister, and I was so excited to have a little boy to add to our growing family. You have added so much to our family, and you keep laughs and smiles in constant supply in our home. I love that about you, Sweet Boy.

I love how you love other people. You have always been a social bug; I remember when you were just walking, how we would go to a restaurant and you would toddle around to other people in the restaurant, giving them hugs and your great big smile. Now, you always want to be where other kids are.....you love to play games, run and play, and just hang out with your friends. People love you and are drawn to your smile and energy. I love that about you, Sweet Boy.

I love that you are a cuddler. You always have a hug and an "I love you" to share, even at random times throughout the day. Some of my favorite times are those mornings when you come into my room, crawl in next to me, and say "Mom, I just need to cuddle with you." And we talk about the day, we laugh, we read books, and we just talk and share with each other. Those times are cherished deep within me, for sure. I love that about you, Sweet Boy.

You, my son, have such a deep and sensitive heart. You feel very deeply and you wear your emotions on your sleeve. In a world that often teaches boys and men that crying is not appropriate, I think that is so important that you feel and show your feelings. You are also so sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in your heart; it is not uncommon, when you make a mistake or a bad choice, that you start crying even before I discipline you. And you are very quick to pray, wherever you are, to ask Jesus to forgive you and to help you make a better choice next time. I love that about you, Sweet Boy.

You always want to wring the most out of life that you can. You live life to its fullest and are always open to meeting new people, trying new things, diving in to new experiences. You really don't seem to be scared of much. I love that about you, Sweet Boy.

I love how much you love sports. You are very skilled athletically and have a passion for playing sports. Often, you can be found outside practicing hoops or kicking the soccer or football around in the back yard. You love to play sports, watch live sports, watch sports on TV, play Wii sports....you love it all! You even love to try new sports like golf and tennis. I love that about you, Sweet Boy!

You are at a very fun and enjoyable time in your development. You are starting to get more independent, but you still love to be strongly connected to us. You continue to branch out in your world.....studying nature, increasing reading skills, grasping more complex math concepts.....I count it as a major privilege of my life to be your main teacher, your biggest cheerleader, and your mom.

Happy 7th Birthday, my Sweet Boy. We love you so much and can't wait to see what this year brings for you....thanks for all the love and fun and creativity that you bring to our lives each and every day!

Two Months.

2010-07-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Wow. Has it really been 2 whole months since my last post? I have had this strange mental block related to blogging over the past weeks; I would often think "I need to post on my blog" but then find an excuse not to. I really do miss documenting my thoughts this way, though, as well as having the record to look back on, so hopefully I can get back into the groove here.

So, what have we been busy doing over the past 8 weeks or so? Here are some highlights of what has occupied my time and mind:

Studying insects for science, including raising and releasing Painted Lady butterflies
Lots of critter-catching......frogs, toads, fireflies
Celebrated Cinco De Mayo with a big neighborhood siesta that included hand-cut paper banners, homemade tortillas, and icy fruity drinks in cactus glasses....OLE!
The Grand Rapids Art Festival.....lots of music, dancing, creating....topped off with yummy ethnic food and Hawaiian ices.
Another great softball and baseball season
Opening the pool for another season.....we have spent many HOT days splashing and playing the hours away.
Another annual end-of-the-year beach trip to Spring Lake........great weather, and we stopped in to visit the Core family on our way home. We drove by our old house on Wildfield Drive, and it is for sale.
Trips to Meijer Gardens and the spectacular Chihuly glass exhibit.....we are going to do a special unit surrounding his work in July and August. It is very inspiring creative work.
The zoo.....Mighty Mike the alligator, baboons, and our favorite.....new baby capybarras!
Cleaning, painting, showing the house....open houses, fix it jobs.....still praying for our buyer. We are so thankful to our friends, the Watkins family, who gave up three days of their summer to come down and help us paint, move boxes, and fix things.
Soccer camp and Kidsgames for the kids.
In May, Daddy received a pink-slip from his teaching job due to budget cuts; we are trusting God to bring him a new job or return him to his position this summer. This is an uncertain and unfamiliar time for us, but we have faith in God's provision and timing.
Visits from the Stahl/Durga families for Memorial Day....we had a great weekend of swimming, resting, playing, and just enjoying good food and company.
Praying some of my close friends through their parents' battles with cancer. One of my friends, Lori, lost her mom to cancer in June; another friend, Becky, is still in the fight with her dad's cancer diagnosis. It really makes you think about life, death, family, priorities, and faith.
GAMES! My word, have we been playing the games around here lately! Hayden is not-so-mildly obsessed with games right now, and we play many times per day....his favorites are Michiganopoly, Yahtzee, checkers, Sorry, and Mastermind......it has been amazing to see him getting really good at mental multiplication through playing Yahtzee especially!
We said farewell to our neighbors, the Whans, this week as they move to their new home and job in Temperance, MI. The neighborhood sure has seemed still without them around.

It is so hard for me to believe that it is July already; can it be?? July will bring some more summer fun for us as we head North for a weekend in a cabin in the Straights of Mackinac, and also a camping and fishing trip. We also hope to get several day trips in, as well as a few zoos and a Tigers baseball game.

Happy 4th of July!

Other Times, He Calms His Child.

2010-04-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

It's easy to trust when life is going smoothly. When all of your loved ones are healthy; when all of the bills are getting paid and the paychecks are steadily coming in; when everything seems to be going your way.

But is that really TRUST?

We are walking through a season of life right now where there is a lot of uncertainty. God us calling us to rely on Him, His purposes and His provisions in a way that we have never had to before.

We have always felt very secure in our income and our jobs; we have never had to worry much about things financially in our day-to-day needs. My husband just received a pink-slip notification that he will not have a teaching job after this spring.

We have always been able to sell a house quickly when we have needed to; June will mark the one-year point of our house being on the market; we want to sell, and have had a lot of interest in the house, but no serious offers to date.

We have not have much illness in our families, and our experiences with life-threatening disease has been quite removed from our everyday concern up until recently. All around us, friends are engaging in the battles of their lives against cancer; I have two of my dearest girlfriends whose parents are right now, at this moment, battling life-threatening cancer. We are praying and believing that God can and will heal.

We have always been in neighborhoods and friendship circles where there was a certain amount of professional job security, and where unemployment and financial uncertainty seemed something far from our reality. In our immediately neighborhood of 8 houses, 4 of those families are currently unemployed or facing impending job loss. And these are highly-educated, professional people. Many, many of our teacher-friends and school-administrator friends have been told that they will be without jobs after this year.

There's a great song that has been providing perspective to me lately. It goes like this "Sometimes He calms the storm, but other times He calms His child."

We are in the storm right now. But I am here to attest that God is faithful, and He has granted us with a strange sense of peace that He remains in control, and that He is working in ways that we cannot see for our good and His glory. I look forward to the day when we will see all of the pieces together in His time, and we will praise Him then as we are continuing to praise Him now when our sight and understanding is so limited. His blessings are rich in our lives, despite the uncertainty:

God has blessed me with a promotion at CU; as of May, I will officially be titled "Full Professor of Psychology" which is the highest title/honor that a professor can achieve. Praise Him for His provision.

God continues to bless our family with health. Praise Him for His hand of protection on us.

God has brought us through our first full year of homeschooling, and we praise Him for the amazing adventure that this year of learning together has brought us. The kids are thriving, we are loving learning about His Word and His Creation together, and we look forward to a summer of fun, learning, and time together. Praise Him for calling us to this amazing way of learning that we would have never considered apart from His work in our lives.

God has really been convicting me lately that He has something special in mind for our house. While we have a deep desire and a growing urgency to sell the house, we also don't want to settle for anything less than His best plan. I don't want to just get so caught up in wanting to get this house sold, that we lose the bigger picture of how He may be wanting to use this house in someone else's life. Praise Him for being able to use something like a house to bless other people. We wait on His timing and ask Him to give this house to someone whose needs are perfectly matched to what this house and neighborhood have to offer.

This spring, among the waves of uncertainty and worry about what our future holds, I have noticed that I have a heightened awareness of the beauty of creation awakening after a long winter. I think that some of this has to do with the fact that homeschooling just helps me to see everything as a learning and discovery process; but, God has really blossomed in me a new appreciation for His creativity in nature. This spring has seemed so exceptionally beautiful and miraculous to me, as I have seen the flowering of the trees, heard the emergence of the spring peepers and the amazing diversity of birds, smelled the fresh earth and the growing grass. I have interpreted this as God's personal whisper to me. I am here, my Child, and I am in control. I created this world and all of the things of beauty within it. I created and control the turn of the seasons; believe me when I say that I love you deeply and have the best unimagineable things in mind for you.

On one level, things in this life on Earth are uncertain for us right now in this season. But, without a doubt, God is at work and we can be entirely certain that trusting in Him will bring the stability and the hope that we need. We will continue to trust and praise Him through this storm. Praise Him for loving us and holding us firmly in His will and in His hand.

Green.

2010-03-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

Irish eyes were a'smilin' at our house on St. Patrick's Day. I really didn't celebrate this holiday very much growing up, but having married into a traditional Irish-Catholic family, I have become very fond of learning about and celebrating my husband's heritage.

We enjoyed a fresh loaf of bread for dinner to go with our potato soup.

This green spinach salad was another aspect of our green dinner; it was delectable.

We celebrated our first picnic of the year by going to "Frog" Hollow, where the kids enjoyed the playground.

A little Frog and Toad went right along with our green theme.

These drinks--"Irish Fizz"--were very fresh and delicious. It was simply a scoop of lime sherbet, with 7UP poured over. I have a feeling that my family will be asking for this treat year after year.

We also collected green items from nature, learned about the country of Ireland and the legends associated with St. Patrick, and did some garbage pick-up at the park to stay with our theme of "being green." We all decided that we need to take a field trip to Ireland sometime before the kids go off to college!

A Good Reminder

2010-03-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

The sun was shining and the temperatures up yesterday, so we decided to head off to one of our favorite learning venues: The Zoo! The sunshine and warmer weather were good for the soul, and I also got a good dose of reminder of why homeschooling is such a good fit for our family:
When Kennedy was in kindergarten at our local public school, they did a unit studying penguins. They drew penguins, read books about penguins, and even learned to walk like penguins. Fast forward to yesterday. We have been studying birds of all types and are moving on to penguins. I watched my kids observe real-life penguins, drawing them and studying their movements and habits. What a gift to be able to study penguins while the real thing dives and cavorts in front of you. Such is the gift of hands-on, out-in-the-real-world learning. We have loved studying penguins, including some favorite books including the classic "Mr. Popper's Penguins" along with "The World of Penguins" which we picked up in Chicago and "Penguins!" by naturalist Wayne Lynch.

While we were focusing on birds on yesterday's visit there were some other animals that caught our fancy. Like this big boa constrictor eyeing us up...... I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor.....anybody remember that song/poem from their childhood? My son was especially interested in that one...."OH HECK, HE'S UP TO MY NECK!", though he reminded me that we don't usually say the word "heck" in our house.

And this iguana looking so serious, wise and skeptical in its bright-green and yellow armor of scales....... Usually, the resident barn owl is in its box, but it was out by the heat lamp, so we took the chance to sketch him and search his cage for owl pellets. We are just finishing up studying owls, including dissecting a real owl pellet to find the animal skeleton within, and it has been a fascinating study full of good science, good nature, and good literature. We would especially recommend the novels "Owls in the Family" and "Wesley the Owl" along with the Audubon's "Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide." We have also enjoyed the poetry book entitled "Today at the Bluebird Cafe" by Deborah Ruddell.

And the pelicans always fascinate us; that beak is a masterpiece of God's creativity. Did you know that a full 5 gallons of milk can fit into that expandable beak?

This guy is always one of my favorites at the zoo, due to his bright almost-neon coloration.

What a great reminder that the world is full of learning opportunities and that powerful learning occurs at all times of the day and in all settings. We spent today scrapbooking our animals photos to include them in our zoology notebooks; we will be finishing up birds next week and then moving on to insects and bats. My son is especially looking forward to the book entitled "Bug Butts" that we picked up at the library......such a boy. Raising little zoologists has proven to be an exciting process, and one that we will continue to embrace as spring brings a whole new host of critters to study.

Chicago Highlights.

2010-03-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

After a long week of sessions at my conference, it was nice to take a few hours to sightsee around Chicago with Matt and the kids. We had lots of highlights; we met the above flock of bright pink flamingos on our first-ever trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We LOVED this zoo and cannot believe that admission is free! We witnessed and interesting sight when just on the other side of this flaming/duck pond was prowling a wild coyote....yes, in the middle of the city! It was a bit freaky when the coyote exited the fence and was free on the sidewalk.....but it was quite a realization that wild predators can live in the middle of the city!

Here is the view of the city over the trees of Lincoln Park.

We loved watching and interacting with the beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium. Their bold white bodies against the deep blue of the water are completely mesmerizing, and their sweet faces are simply endearing. They were definitely a highlight of our time at the aquarium.

No trip to Chicago would be complete without a slice of deep-dish Chicago-style pizza at Giordano's.

Navy Pier was pretty deserted, but I enjoyed walking up and down the pier, feeling the brisk breeze coming off Lake Michigan. I couldn't help but think of warmer days ahead when we will head to the Michigan-side of Lake Michigan for long summer swims and sun-soaking.

And, of course, every child needs to experience the view of Chicago from the top of the Willis/Sears Tower; I have fond memories of this from my childhood. Now, they have added glass decks that you can actually walk out onto, so that it feels and looks like you are floating in mid-air over the city. It was definitely a breath-taking experience, and the views are unparalleled. It was a beautifully clear day, and we could even see the far shore of Michigan on the horizon.

Another taste of Chicago......the cheddar/caramel mix from Garrett's popcorn. Such a delicious and traditional snack (actually, it was my dinner one night!).

Here is another shot from the aquarium; we are always mesmerized by the moonjellies.

It was a great trip, both professional and personally. I learned a lot, was inspired professionally, and spent some great time with my family in the fun and vibrant city of Chicago.

Out and About, Camera in Hand.

2010-03-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

My conference sessions are over for the day. So I'm heading out. I have my sketchbook in my purse and my camera in hand. I'm not sure where exactly I'm going, but I'm going to start walking for the Lake Michigan shore. Hopefully, I'll be back later tonight with some photos to share of my Chicago shoreline adventure.

Time Away.

2010-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, life just gets hard. Sometimes, it seems that you get bombarded from all directions with "dos" and "shoulds" and "shouldn't haves." For me, that past couple of months have been that way, and it's been heavy. It's been overwhelming at times. I have had to lean hard on Jesus, which is where I want to be, but it has not been easy.

Selling a house and keeping it in showable condition, including getting ready at a moment's notice.

A new course that didn't go as I had planned. I am used to being very successful at teaching, and this one just wasn't what I wanted it to be.

The constant friction that exists when a women tries to work full time and mother full time, not to mention being a wife.

Throwing homeschooling into the mix. So many things that I want to do; lots of planning time and evaluation time. Constantly making sure that the kids are getting what they need.

The pressure of possible job changes for Matt which, quite frankly, could include him losing his job due to budget cuts at the end of the school year.

Today, I traveled to Chicago for a conference for the next week. More than anything, this getaway is about time to regroup. Refresh. Take some time to learn and be inspired. To take my camera out and see the world the only way that you can through the lens. To read God's word. To just be quiet. Thank you, Lord, for providing this time away, which is just what my soul needs.

Unexpected Blessings.

2010-02-24T05:16:00.000-08:00

This week has been one of those weeks; I am readying to leave for a week-long conference on Monday, which means that this week is full of catching up, getting ahead, and taking care of details so everything is in order for when I am gone. The kids are going to Grandma McD's for a few days (CHECK) and my graduate course will be done as of Thursday night (CHECK). I have all of my course proctors secured for exams (CHECK) and my travel and hotel plans confirmed (CHECK). Sometimes, you have to wonder if being gone is worth all the planning and foresight that it takes to be gone for a week!

Anyway, needless to say, I was exhausted when I arrived home from work yesterday. All I wanted to do was get into my pajamas, fix a cup of hot tea, and sink into a comfy chair for a bit.

When I pulled into the driveway at home, the kids and Miss Carol were out in the front yard. They had created an amazing snow sculpture of a Loch Ness monster (like Nessie, from Art Prize) and an adorable snowman. Here is the monster:
The kids were quick to meet me at the door and beg me to come outside and play in the snow. I saw my hopes of a restful afternoon dwindling. I just did not feel like playing.

Inside, I was screaming "NO!" I just need some down time. But, their pleas got the best of me, and I changed my clothes and headed out into the snow. It really was a gorgeous day, with the sun shining and relatively "warm" temps (for February in Michigan, that is). In no time at all, my exhaustion and frustrations of the day were forgotten, and we were scampering around in the snow while laughing and playing and creating together.

Soon, we had a bright idea.....what about painting the sculptures? So, I went in and mixed up several bowls of diluted tempura paint, first in green. We started using large paintbrushes to paint the spines of Nessie. This proved to be a rather tedious process.
The first splash was sort of a mistake. A spill. Which led to another splash. And more spills. And soon, we had a new approach to "painting" the sculpture. I created multiple bowls of snow paint, in all colors of the rainbow, and the kids were laughing and having a ball as they splashed the water-paint onto the sculptures. The process was so fun and random, and we loved the result!

Soon, the neighbor kids starting coming over to see what was going on, and they joined in on the fun. By the end, we had created a beautiful, color-splashed masterpiece:
Hayden decided to apply the same process to his darling little snowman, with fun results:
I learned an important lesson yesterday, one that I often preach to my own students and kids. Play and art change things. They have the power to combat stress and to enrich even the most frustrating of days. They draw people together. They help us to put things into perspective. They connect and inspire. I am so thankful that I followed my heart (no matter how tired my body and mind were) and played today.
Thank you, Lord, for unexpected and spontaneous blessings......especially those that come in the form of a tie-dyed snow monster.

Valentine's Day.

2010-02-14T18:54:00.001-08:00

Our Valentine's Day traditions are simple and home-spun. Rather than buying each other Valentine's, we always sit down at the table together to use some of my paper and scrapbooking tools to hand-make cards for each other. Out of all the holiday traditions that we share as a family, this one is near the top of the list. They are so much more precious and endearing that store-bought cards, and I love the fact that we are creating for each other and getting such joy out of creating something for the ones we love. This year, I also cute a simple heart out of a piece of felt and used the heart for some fun photos.....this may be a new element to our tradition, as I love the collage of photos that resulted.

Happy Valentine's Day from our home to yours!

First Week of February.

2010-02-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

As usual, we have been busy around here. Busy with things like......
Learning to be scientists by building plans, making hypotheses, and testing them out.Writing books about our own local superhero, Hayden Boy.......
Playing games of Stork's nest, in connection with our study of storks and reading of "The Wheel on the School" (one that I clearly remember from my own school experience)...... Sledding down our local sledding hill...... Celebrating another half-birthday (Happy Birthday, my sweet eight-and-one-half-year-old Girl! Could it be that your ninth birthday is just around the corner this summer?) And of course, we have been doing a lot of creating......here are a few of the masterpieces that the kids are turning out these days. These first couple are their rendition of da Vinci's "The Mona Lisa" that we have studied as part of our Leonardo da Vinci unit....... And here are some other works that are brightening the walls of our home right now......February is a chock-full month as far as schooling goes....so far, we have studied ground hogs in conjunction with GroundHog Day and have continued studying Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks in conjunction with Black History month. By the time you add President's Day, Valentine's Day, and Ash Wednesday/Lent, we will certainly be well-versed on a lot of history and cultural events. These last couple of photos are the kids' progress in learning to draw and paint different kinds of birds; we are focusing on Zoology over the next 2 years in science, and we are currently covering birds and ornithology. I love this unit because it focuses on teaching the kids to identify and appreciate the amazing diversity of birds, and to appreciate God's amazing creativity in the bird population. March and April will bring studies of bats and insects, before we move on to Marine Biology for the rest of 2010. 2011 will begin our year-long study of Mammals. As far as science goes, this Apologia Elementary science material is amazing.....complete and, most importantly, based on a Christian worldview of God's amazing creation.

Next post.....what we're doing to celebrate Valentine's Day this week. Love the ones you're with!

Haikus.

2010-01-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

Monday morning, cold.
January freeze drolls on.
How we wish for sun.

This morning has been all about writing haikus. Given that we are immersed in a science unit on birds, I have been searching for great bird books. We were inspired in our writing today by this book:

I had forgotten how much fun it can be just to sit around and write poems. In a span of just about 30 minutes, we produced several and were sharing, smiling and laughing as we worked. Here is a sampling:

The first day of spring.

Snowy owl awakes at last.

He calls his welcome.

By Kennedy, age 8.

Blue jay is so blue.

He shows his beauty proudly.

The birds admire him.

By Kennedy, age 8.

And, although he didn't really want to take the time to write about birds today, Hayden thought is was cool that you can really write Haikus about anything. Case in point:

Good guys, bad guys fight.

May the force be with you, Sir.

Victory is ours.

By Hayden, age 6.

I even dove into the fun and came up with some poems relating to our bird studies:

Small wings, quick, a'flap

rarely resting, color blurred.

Hummingbird hovers.

By Nicole (age irrelevant)

Pink splash, feathers flash.

Bright slate against pale, bleak grey.

Burst of happy hues.

By Nicole (age irrelevant).

Red Hot Water Bottle.

2010-01-19T20:39:00.001-08:00

It's the best $12.99 that I have ever spent in my life. Meet my new best friend: Yes, I am having a wonderful relationship with a red rubber hot water bottle. This week, I have somehow come down with my very first-ever ear infection. I thought that I knew nagging, shooting pain....but this is the kind that is literally and figuratively trapped inside your head, threatening to drive you insane. Yep, it's no fun.

So, in an attempt to try any methods of pain relief, I have finally found the lovely combination that seems to bring a bit of relief: Vicodin and the red hot water bottle against my ear.

Nights are the worse. When I lay down, the fluid in my ear shifts, bringing lots of increased pain and pressure. Last night, I sat up in the living room chair and slept basically in half-hour increments, getting up to re-wet my hot washcloth. So, today, I stopped at Walgreen's to make the hot water bottle purchase. I felt like my grandmother.

I now have whole new empathy for little babies. When they get ear infections, they get so cranky and inconsolable. They can't tell us what is hurting. I can't imagine. Thankfully, my babies never had ear infections (I mean literally....neither one of them ever had an ear infection), which I attribute to incessant breast-feeding.

Hopefully the infection will settle down soon....I seem to be having a new symptom--some lovely drainage from the ear (think runny nose, but out the ear canal. Lovely, I know). I am also having lots of itching in the ear canal, which is very annoying in itself, but I take this as a sign of healing. I am praying that this means the end is in sight.

Until then, it's just me and my $12.99 red rubber hot water bottle.

Homeschooling: Year One in Review.

2010-01-16T14:40:00.001-08:00

This week marks the one-year point of the start of our homeschool journey last January. And what a year it's been! We have settled into the homeschooling lifestyle quite smoothly, and now can barely remember when it was any other way! As I started listing out some of the highlights of the year, I decided that it would be fun and also helpful to pull together some photos collages month-by-month. So, while it's not possible to begin to list everything that we've done here, I have included some highlights (warning: Long post, lots of photos!). So, here goes......

JANUARY, 2009: We started this amazing homeschool journey. We prayed and asked God to bless and guide us as we followed His leading into this adventure. We spent a couple of weeks just sleeping in, cuddling while reading lots of great books, and deciding what we wanted to study. That first month, we did a little bit of math, little bit of spelling and LOTS of reading and writing, field trip outings and creative projects. We took trips to the zoo to draw and study animals like the Pacific octopus, the massasauga rattlesnake, and the poison dart frog. We studied Genesis and the Days of Creation, loving being able to focus our learning time on God's word and his amazing creation. We spent a lot of time exploring the globe and learning about new places around the world. We learned about and made models of the solar system. We played basketball, played outside, and got used to thinking about home and the world as the center of learning as opposed to school.
FEBRUARY, 2009: We continued lots of reading and writing, with lots of playing and art thrown in for good measure. Favorites of that month included our out-loud reading of the "Chalk Box Kid", "Stuart Little" and lots of great audio books from our trips to the library. We celebrated 100 days of school with lots of fun activities like graphing 100 pieces of candy, writing a "100" story, and making a 100-shaped pizza for lunch. The kids created their own restaurant "The K and H Roadhouse" and had many hours of math and cooking practice. Kennedy started a "Fashions" notebook and spent lots of time drawing and cataloguing her creations. We read, played games, and made homemade valentines cards and treats.
MARCH, 2009: The weather finally started to break, so we had our first picnics of the year! Our favorite parks to visit are Frog Hollow and Whistlestop Park. We studied ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, including exploring mummies and making pyramids out of sugar cubes. We explored dinosaurs and visited the special exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. We studied Dr.Seuss the author, read lots of his books, and attended Cornerstone's production of "Seussical the Musical." Kennedy studied peridots and created a lapbook about peridots, while Hayden made a lapbook about rocks of all different colors. We wrote about the season of spring, spent lots of time at the library, and celelebrated St. Patrick's day with a day of green meals, like Green Eggs and Ham. We spent a week in Traverse City exploring the lighthouses and having fun swimming and splashing at Great Wolf Lodge.
APRIL, 2009: April was about the butterflies! We read books about butterflies, explored butterflies in our art projects, and visited the butterfly and art exhibits at Meijer Gardens. As the days got nicer, we also started looking for signs of flowers and other butterfly habitat outside. We made many trips to the zoo, where we studied nests; we even tried our hand at making our own nests to hold our colored Easter eggs. We studied Eric Carle, the author, read several of his books, and tried our hand and making tissue-paper art Eric Carle-style. We searched for critters, buds and other signs of spring along the streams and creeks of area parks and trails. We visited the zoo, picked our first dandelion bouquets of the year, and helped Grand Rapids residents fill downtown sidewalks with art at the Chalk Flood.
MAY, 2009: We moved some of our lessons outside as the sun starting showing itself more often and it started getting warmer. We studied chocolate--where cocoa beans grow, the rainforest, different types of chocolate, the role of chocolate in Ancient civilizations. Hayden learned about the Magic E with Kennedy's help in her role of "Miss Magic E". We celebrated Cinco de Maya and took our first trips to learn about lakeshore ecology. We created art, played lots of baseball and softball, and created amazingly cute and skilled self-portraits. We learned all about the American flag and sent flag thank-you cards to some very important veterans, our Grandpas! We found frogs and toads in the yard, studied critter holes in the grass, and spent many afternoons at the zoo. Favorite books of this month included "The Nephew's Magician" by CS Lewis, and Kennedy started getting into the Warriors series.
JUNE, 2009: We celebrated the summer's start with our annual trip to the lakeshore for a day of fun and sun. We planned a special graduation/Grandparent's day to share everything we did in homeschool, including a lunch of soup, taco salad and fresh lemonade all made by the kids. We had a chocolate-tasting event with grandparents and gave them a "taste" of our homeschool. We camped at Higgins Lake where we fished, made a bug journal, and found the biggest waterbug we had ever seen! We saw the musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" downtown at the Civic Theater. Kennedy and Ruby entered the library's pet show, where they earned an award for Most Energetic Pet. We left for Pennsylvania where we explored the mountain streams and woods and enjoyed a trip to Hershey, PA to culminate our chocolate unit at Chocolate World and Hershey Park. We spent time in Lancaster County learning more about the Amish culture, and Kennedy started reading the "Lizzie" series of books about growing up Amish. We found the school in Lancaster where the Amish girls had been killed by the angry Englishman, and we reveled at the forgiveness of the Amish. We ended our trip with a day at Toledo Zoo. Hayden's learning obsession with fish continued, as he bought a fish book and spent the whole vacation noticing every fish he could. We picked strawberries, made strawberry jam, and even tried our hand at making bread from scratch.
JULY, 2009: While we slipped into summer mode, we didn't stop learning! We started out the month learning about our country--the USA--and celebrating America's birthday. We then celebrated Hayden's sixth birthday with a little-boys' slumber party and day at Craigs' Cruisers. We spent days at the zoo and read "Mystery on Mackinac Island" to get ready for our end-of-July trip. Later in the month, we headed north for a weekend of camping with the McDonald family and a trip to Mackinac island. On the island, we increased our knowledge of Michigan history and enjoyed the butterfly houses. We learned about things like Indian homes, canons, and the reason for wars. We also found a little snake on the island and tried to identify it. Thanks to our favorite Island Bookstore, we took home several books to help us learn more about Mackinac Island and Michigan history. We ended the month celebrating Mommy's birthday.
AUGUST, 2009: Kennedy's birthday kicked off the month of August, and she was thrilled to receive Kaya and all of the Kaya books for her birthday. Mommy, Kennedy and Grandma Stahl went on a girls' trip to Shipshewana, where we visited Mennohof to learn more about the Amish Culture. We enjoyed several Amish meals, including old-fashioned Amish pie, and stayed in little Amish-style log cabins. When we returned, Kennedy hosted a slumber birthday party, and we dressed up and went downtown for the Civic Theater's rendition of "Sleeping Beauty." We experimented with all kinds of recipes to use up our CSA veggies. When Lucy's home in South Africa was robbed, we planned "Rock and Read for Lucy" where we rocked, read books, and raised over $200.00 to send to Lucy and her mom. We stayed up past midnight to watch meteor showers. The kids met Miss Carol for the first time, and they experimented with clay together. We read "Wheel on the School", an old classic that Mommy remembers from elementary school. Kennedy built a tee-pee for Kayla; we spent our first day of school at the beach, making beach jars and enjoying the last few warm days of the year. We cheered Daddy on at his new school and with his new football team.
SEPTEMBER, 2009: We got back into our normal school schedule, when Mom and Dad are both heading back to teaching. The kids spent Tuesdays with Miss Carol, and Thursdays with Miss Renee at Cornerstone. We experimented with watercolors and mosaics. We began our study of Leondardo da Vinci and went to see the Da Vinci horse at Meijer Garden (It's so BIG!). We made frog habitats. We started our study of Florida and practiced drawing. We started our new math and spelling books, and read "Mr. Popper's Penguins." Kennedy continued reading in the "Warriors" series (she is now obsessed) and Hayden launches into the fourth set of the BOB books. Hayden loves to make books by stapling paper and cardstock together and has made 15 books this month alone (this obsession would continue all year, and we loved it!). His favorite books are about Mario, Star Wars and superheroes, and if you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he replies "I am going to be an author and an illustrator." I love, love, LOVE it!
OCTOBER, 2009: We continued our study of da Vinci by learning about Italy. We studied Christopher Columbus and learned that he is from Italy, too. We made salt-clay models of Italy and traced Columbus' journeys across the ocean. We took fall trips to the zoo and FINALLY caught a glimpse of the maned wolf. We practiced math with blocks and cooking, and spent lots of time dressed up as American Indians. We immersed ourselves in creativity at ArtPrize, and were amazed by the range of art that people can created. (Our favorite was "Imagination" which took 2nd place). We played and experimented at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, and wrote back and forth to Lucy in South Africa. We immersed ourselves in Shel Silverstein poems and laugh....a LOT. We studied manatees as part of our exploration of the state of Florida, and hope that we can swim with manatees in Florida someday. We learned about the human skeleton (aka "Bones) in preparation for Halloween. Kennedy learns to stitch. We caught, observed and studied a praying mantis, and learned that the female eats the male after mating (the kids ask what mating is). The kids made clay pumpkins with Miss Carol, and began studying Mexico with Miss Renee. Kennedy started taking piano lessons at Cornerstone with Miss Deb. We took trips to the Country Dairy farm, where we learned how milk, cheese and ice cream are made and drank the best-tasting chocolate milk ever! We went to the pumpkin patch where we saw exotic animals such as baby zebras, South African cattle, kangaroos, alpaca, and a camel. And Hayden writes and illustrates more books.......
NOVEMBER, 2009: We read many books about pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, including "Thanksgiving on Thursday" and the accompanying research guide. A highlight of the month was when we prepared and hosted a neighborhood tasting feast including foods from the first Thanksgiving (no turkey, but lobster, turnips, venison, greens and leeks). The kids took a lunch trip to Robinette's Apple Orchard with Renee. The kids auditioned and were cast as a fairy and sprite in Cornerstone's rendition of Shakespeare's "A MidSummer Night's Dream", so we learned about Shakespeare, the Globe Theater, and what it's like to be on stage. We played many games of W-A-R (most of which Hayden won). The kids studied Mexico with Renee, including tracing and labeling body parts in Spanish, making homemade tortillas for lunch, and dressing up in sombreros and doing the Mexican Hat Dance. We took a day trip to Shipshewana to continue learning about the Amish. We visited the Michigan Wildlife Rescue Farm to see lots of animals and Miss Carol's art display. And Hayden writes and illustrates more books......!
DECEMBER, 2009: We made crowns with Miss Carol, leading into several days of skits and make-believe play. We studied the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and learned to make latkes, play driedl, and light the menorah. We also studied other cultural Christmas celebrations such as St. Nick's Day and St. Lucia's Day. We continued exploring early Egyptian cultures, including making scrolls and making ancient markings out of rock paint. Kennedy learned to play Christmas carols on the keyboard. We continued our study of Leonardo da Vinci the artist and inventor at the Grand Rapids Public Museum's exhibit, where we also enjoyed the Egypt and Animals of North America exhibits. We learned the story of Jesus from creation to His Birth through the Jesse Tree and its ornaments. We cut down our own Christmas tree (which later became the centerpiece of our back-deck bird habitat). And of course, we made gingerbread houses, cooked and baked together, did Christmas projects, played in the snow, and sang lots of Christmas songs. We read lots of Christmas books and especially liked "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."

JANUARY, 2010: We have started the new year with Zoology and will be focusing on birds, bats and insects throughout the late winter and spring. We took in an Audubon Society presentation about birds of Michigan, including a winter birdwatching hike. We made our own peanut-butter pinecone bird feeders to hang. Our big project is our back-deck bird habitat, which will include handmade bird houses that the kids will be making with Daddy (along with our Christmas tree and the pinecone birdfeed hangers). This will be the stage for lots of bird observation and learning to identify different types of birds and their behaviors. We will also be studying Martin Luther King Jr. and the African American civil rights movement. The kids have been able to be involved in some of the field trips for my J-term Art Therapy class, including working with clay, a field trip to the clay painting studio, a day of exploration activity, and a trip to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In January, we are reading a funny and endearing book "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" and then plan to do some additional reading to finish up our unit study of da Vinci. Both kids are playing Upward Basketball again this year and we will be starting at the YMCA as a family for physical activity and focus on health in the new year. We will be reading "Anne of Green Gables" and "Sarah Plain and Tall" and taking in area plays of the same name. We will be refocusing on our state-by-state travels through the United States, including planning a multi-state trip for the summer. Aristically, we are learning to mold birds from clay, draw birds, show perspective in art, and to use watercolors effectively. And, we may change our path from this complete, depending on what comes into our path as the new year unfolds (such is the joy of homeschooling, where we determine the curriculum!).

Whew! As I took the time to create these collages and list out the highlights of activities that we have done over the past year, I am realizing that it's been a very busy and productive year. How fun and interesting it has been to piece together learning experiences based on the kids' interests, and how enriching it has been to learn side-by-side. I am completely honest when I say that I have learned as much if not more than the kids have!! I am planning a more reflective post about how homeschooling has changed me/the kids/our family, so look for that later in the week. Until then, we will be immersing ourselves in Martin Luther King, Jr., taking a day of exploration out into our community, visiting the art museum, and creating lots on our own, too.
Enjoy your week!

Return of Photos!

2010-01-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months, my posts have been without photos for one simple fact: Due to the large size of the MP on my camera, as well as the amount of photos that I have been known to include in my posts, I had exhausted all of my allowed storage. SO....I finally broke down and purchased more memory.....so the next few posts will be heavily laden with photos as I try to catch you all up with photos from the past few months! Oh, it feels so good to be able to post photos again! And here are just a few from the past couple of weeks, just because.......
We have been "in training" with upping the level of daily responsibility that the kids have around the house. For Kennedy, this means loading and uploading the dishwasher, and for Hayden, this means sorting the dirty laundry into piles by color. They are doing a really good job--only minimal resistance--and it is nice to step into a "manager" role as opposed to doing all of these tasks myself! I highly recommend getting your kids involved....I will NOT be raising any kids (especially sons) who can't do dishes or laundry!
Last Monday, I was doing some computer work for one of my courses and my son came and gave me this rock that he created. Honestly, it was pretty much exactly how I was feeling on a Monday morning! It makes me smile every time that I look at it.

Last Wednesday, Hayden turned 6 and 1/2, which is a very important milestone by any little boy's standard. He requested chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and we spent the morning making them. Actually, Hayden did most of the work, with only minimal help with the oven from me. He even made himself that adorable birthday hat using kraft paper, markers and the Cricut. Happy 6-and-one-half, Buddy!

A couple of weeks ago, Kennedy and I were able to take in a bird presentation from the Audubon society, held at the Howard Christiansen Nature Center. It was on a beautiful and brisk but brightly sunny Saturday, and we ventured out into the snowy woods for some bird watching. While we only saw a few birds, it was a beautiful day to be out hiking in God's gorgeous winter wonderland. Note to self: Do more winter nature outings.

More photos to come, I promise! :)

Overwhelmed.

2010-01-13T15:01:00.001-08:00

I was standing in my kitchen, unpacking groceries just a few minutes ago, and a wave of anxiety washed over me. Now, I am a very busy person who balances a lot of roles, so I am not typically the type of person who gets stressed out too easily, and I have a pretty high tolerance for stress, but this week has been quite trying and I think it caught up with me tonight. Some of the things on my plate that are causing me stress:

1) I am teaching a j-term course which I love (Art Therapy), but it is a 7-hours per day format which is quite intense. I finish one day of teaching just in time to come home and spend 2 or more hours preparing for the next morning. I love it, but it has definitely compounded the stress this week.

2) January is always a tight month financially for our families, as it is for many. This year, the stress seems to be compounded because we are still adjusting to the cuts that were made in both of our salaries in the fall. We rest in the faith that God will provide our needs and more, but it is still stressful to make all of the numbers add up.

3) We would just love to sell our house. We know that God will allow this to happen in His time, and that that very well could be tomorrow, but this month after month of waiting and wondering makes us weary sometimes. Matt is driving 2 full hours per day, which cuts into our family time and increases his stress level, not to mention the $400.00 plus in extra gas expenses that this commute creates. Lord, what are the reasons for this waiting time? We rest in you, Father.

4) I also picked up an additional class to teach--a Thursday evening graduate class in Statistics. I love the people in the class, but there are some major changes that need to be made in how the class has been run in the past (this is the first time that I have taught it, and it is an already-written curriculum), and I have spent a lot of time revising and revamping the curriculum to suit my strengths and the needs of my students. Again, this is the type of work that I enjoy, but the timing of this extra work load couldn't be worse.

5) This past week has been full of notices of people who I care about losing loved ones, being diagnosed with cancer, having babies with significant developmental and neurological needs.....the weight is heavy, and I am SO thankful that all of these loved ones are firmly in God's grip. Sometimes, these reminders of all of the hurt and pain and loss in the world just makes my heart yearn for heaven.

6) Matt came home sick this afternoon. He vomited at school today, which I can't remember ever happening in the almost 10 years that we have been married. I just finished a run to the grocery store for chicken soup, ginger ale, popsicles and 7-Up. Hopefully, he will feel better soon! And, as I told him, at least he didn't throw up in front of his classroom of adolescents, because I'm not sure he ever would have lived that down!

Wow, it's amazing how just writing this down helped me to get a grip and feel more settled. I am claiming God's words that say that we need to "cast all of our anxieties on Him, for He cares for us" and knowing that "His mercies are new every morning." I know that God understands my needs and my cares before I even utter or type them, and that He has just the remedy that I need. Thank you, Lord, for loving us even on stress-filled Wednesday nights!

Monday Musings.

2010-01-11T19:46:00.001-08:00

Mondays tend to be a pretty full day around here. The weekends seem to pass by so quickly, and, before we know it, we are back to work, back to school, and back to the week's routine. We are slowly but surely slipping back into our normal routine following the break. I am teaching a graduate school class in statistics right now for the next 8 weeks, and also start an Art Therapy course tomorrow that I will be teaching for 6 7-hour days over the next 2 weeks. This is the first year that I have had my J-term running while also homeschooling, so I must admit that I am feeling a bit overstretched right now.

The past week has been tough for several people in my circle of influence, which weighs on me and my heart. I know that many readers out there believe in Jesus' power and cling to the power of prayer to change our circumstances, so I wanted to share some of the prayer requests from my surrounding friends' circle and ask you to join in prayer for these people:

1) Pray for Dave, the father of one of my best friends from high school, who was just diagnosed with color cancer this week;

2) Pray for Baby Lydia, the newborn daughter of a past student, Jeff and his wife, Katie; Lydia was born two days before Christmas following a full-term pregnancy, but apparently suffered significant oxygen deprivation in the womb. Doctors are not sure of the extent of her brain injury, but please pray for this young family.

3) Pray for Joy, the mother of a friend in our community, who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor.

4) Pray for Char, the mother of another friend who stood up in our wedding, who continues to battle cancer in Arkansas;

This past weekend, I was able to enjoy a special treat of a scrap retreat with two dear friends and fellow women of Christ. They came to my home, and we shared 2 days of laughter, creativity, rest, and good home-cooking. How special it was to sit around our kitchen table piecing together photos, paper and words and sharing our stories with each other. Many, MANY laughs were shared, and I am so thankful for the gifts of these friends in my life. I have learned over my time as a mother that I need these periodic times away from my family to connect with myself creatively and to spend time with others in creative fellowship. I can't wait until next time, Ladies!

Wednesday Wonderings.

2010-01-06T08:05:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are mid-week of the first week back to a semi-normal routine following the holidays, and I am already baffled by how quickly the month of January is slipping by. As I am sitting at the kitchen table trying to orchestrate the happenings of the morning, I find myself wondering:

What will I make today for lunch? Or maybe a run for lunch out is in order?
How long will the sunshine streaming in the sliding glass doors last?
How will my new class that starts tomorrow night go? (I always have a healthy level of anxiety when starting a new class.)
What kind of soup shall I make for Friday night's dinner?
What was it like to be the queen who found Baby Moses in the bulrushes? To be the mother who left her infant son there to be found? (Guess which Bible passage we are studying today?).
Why are Januarys always so challenging budget-wise? (As if I don't know).
How will the kids respond to the new "Birds" unit I am planning?
Where will I stay for my upcoming trip to Chicago in March? Where will I eat? Shop? Find good book stores?
How will I ever actually be able to buy the $5,000.00 plus worth of books that are on my amazon.com wishlist?
Why don't I always think ahead to put dinner in the crock pot in the morning....the pork loin for tonight's dinner is beginning to smell amazing!
How is it already Wednesday and I skipped the past 2 days of blogging (But you must admit, I am already doing better in 2010 than I did in the latter half of 2009!).

Happy Wednesday!

One Little Word: Seek

2010-01-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

For the past 4 years, I have participated in the "One Little Word" movement that has circulated in the scrapbooking arts community. For those of you who aren't familiar with OLW, it basically involves selecting a word to help guide your goals and actions for the new year. These are the words that I chose for the past 4 years

2006: Create
2007: Be
2008: Play
2009: Home

For 2010, I am choosing the word "SEEK" for my one little word. In God's word, He tells us clearly that if we SEEK first His kingdom and His righteousness, then all the other things that we may desire will be added unto us. Stop and think about that. So many time, this world pulls us in 100 different directions and demands so many different things of us. But God says that if we seek His kingdom first and solely, that that is all we need to do.

In 2010, I want to deepen my understanding of what it is to seek God's kingdom first. I want to be even more intentional about focusing my eyes on the kingdom of God. This means being more intentional about praying and reading the Bible every day....not just reading, but really letting the words soak in so that God can change me through them. Not just uttering a few quick words to God but really learning what it is to pray without ceasing, to be in constant conversation to God throughout the day. I want to seek a deeper understanding of what it means that I was created in His image, in the image of the Creator of the universe. He calls me by name. He created me to create. I want to seek His truth in an even deeper and more transformative way in 2010.

What word will guide your goals for 2010?

Looking Ahead to 2010.

2010-01-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we enjoyed a delicious family dinner at Outback Steakhouse, where we talked about what God might have in store for us for 2010. It is fun to get this conversation going with the kids, because they aren't afraid to dreamed unleashed and out loud! Some of the main topics in our conversation were:

Will God add a new brother or sister to our family in 2010? This conversation is still alive and well in our family. I would love to have another baby, while Matt is not as convinced. I would love to look into adoption and whether God has that in store for us. I look forward to learning more of God's will for out lives in this area.
Selling our house: We hope and pray that God will sell our house early in 2010. We are anxious to move on a new community, to find a homeschool group there, and to start connections. God, we know that you can move this mountain in 2010 and ask you to do just that!
Tweener! 2010 will bring with it Kennedy turning 9, which will mean that as of August we will officially have a "tweener" in the family! Yikes! In many ways, I think she is already there at times, given how quickly she is growing and the little attitude that can emerge when she is tired or stressed or has too much down time on her hands. I'm sure this timespan will bring with it a new set of challenges, but it is a delight to see Kennedy blossom into a beautiful young lady before our eyes.
Pay off debts: We are anxious to get some bills paid off and to experience the freedom that comes with decreasing debt. Just like the sale of our house, we know and believe that God can move this mountain!
Jobs: This past year, we did not necessarily anticipate making a job change, but this year finds Matt working for a new district and back in the classroom. We wonder what the job front will bring this next year. While neither of us anticipate making more changes in that area, we also know that the job situation in Michigan is, at best, precarious right now. We trust in him and are thankful for the good jobs that we have.
Travel: What new parts of the world will be see this year? We hope to get to at least 2-3 new states that we have not previously visited. Will God call us to serve him elsewhere in the world? Will He give us vacations to rest and see more of His beautiful creations? We are excited to see what He has in store.

New beginnings are always full of excitement and anticipation. Thank you, Father God, for your promise that you will pour out your blessings and work all things to good to those who love you and are called according to your purposes!

Auld Lang Syne

2010-01-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely loving this group; a capella music is one of my very-favorite genres of music, and Straight No Chaser does it extremely well. Happy New Year....may your year be full of rich harmonies and dissonance that ultimately resolves into something beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6luyImluKEE&feature=channel

Looking Back at 2009.

2009-12-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

Highlights of 2009:

Making the decision to start homeschooling the kids--This was a monumental decision for our family, and there is no looking back. We are loving this incredibly difficult, deeply rewarding journey and look forward to continuing learning and discovering together.
Matt deciding to leave his job as athletic director in Byron Center--While we have made some good friends and learned some important lessons here, this has been a difficult place for us to live; we are happy to be putting a close to this chapter and looking to a new community and new beginning in 2010.
Kendra and Dan's fostering of Caleb and DJ--We have grown to adore them in a very short time. We pray for God's rich blessings on these precious boys and hope that that includes them becoming a permanent part of our family in 2010.
Being awarded the 2009 Teaching Excellence Award at Cornerstone University--I went into the fall feeling a bit discouraged--I wouldn't really call it burned out, but maybe just a touch of passivity--and receiving this award helped to relight my fire for teaching these college students and grasping this amazing opportunity that God gives me each day I set foot in my classroom.
Kennedy starting piano lessons, reading voraciously, enjoying basketball and softball, loving learning at home in our family context.
Hayden starting to read, loving to sing and dance, loving basketball and softball, thriving in the safe, secure home learning environment.
Seeing Matt's passion for teaching and coaching reignite in his new position at Tri-County.
Taking a 10-day road trip to Pennsylvania to spend time with the Salisburys--time in the mountains hiking and fishing, time in Hershey and Lancaster County.
Multiple trips to Amish country and learning about the Amish culture together as a family.
Summer mother-daughter-grandmother trip to Shipshewana.
Learning about Hanukkah and broadening our understanding of the Jewish culture.
Receiving my vintage quilt for Christmas from my parents.
A quiet, laid-back night of food, games, movies and cuddles to lay 2009 to rest and usher in 2010. Happy New Year!

Top 10 Christmas Moments of 2009.

2009-12-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

Now that it is a few days post-Christmas, I have had a chance to sit back and realize once again how richly, deeply blessed we are. With all the hustle and bustle of preparing meals, wrapping gifts, opening gifts, and all of the other busy-ness that goes into making Christmas special as a parent of young children, it is hard to find time in the midst of it all to be reflective and to savor the quiet, holier side of Christmas. So, in reflecting on the events of the past week, I decided to identify 10 very special moments--some of them having to do with gifts--but some of them having to do with the simpler, quiet side of Christmas celebrations. So, in no particular order, here are my top 10 moments/aspects of the Christmas season this year:

10) My 2 new foster nephews, Caleb and DJ. My sister, Kendra, and her husband, Dan, have had these precious little boys for about 6 months; Caleb is a 2-year-old ball of energy, and DJ is a sweet little 4-month-old. Having them around for Christmas this year was pure delight, and as I sat back and watched them interact with our family as if they had always been a part of it, my soul was just happy. We hope and pray that the Lord will bless Kendra and Dan with the opportunity to adopt these little ones permanently, and we know that that decision is firmly in His hands. What a joy to watch them savor Christmas, and to watch my sister and her husband during their first Christmas as parents.

9) Hayden's prayer. As we were readying to enjoy our Christmas Eve dinner, Hayden said that he wanted to pray for our meal. As we joined hands, he enthusiastically began his prayer by saying "Dear Jesus, I'm so excited that it's your birthday!" It made me wonder whether I come before God and his throne with this type of child-like excitement to celebrate Jesus' birth. Hayden's innocence, excitement, and wonder at Jesus' birth were the perfect start to our Christmas celebrations this year.

8) Listening to Kennedy's reading of the Luke 2 Christmas story. Now that my kids are readers, it is so satisfying to sit back and allow them to read the Christmas story. Those familiar verses that I have read hundreds of times take on new and deeper meaning as I hear them told by the voices of my children. Kennedy has read the story for the past 3 years, and I look forward to Hayden being able to read it for the first time next Christmas. I remember memorizing Luke 2 as a child, so we may even work on that for Christmas 2010, who knows!

7) Celebrating Hannukah. I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of traditional Jewish celebrations is very basic. I think it is important as Christians to understand these historical traditions both in terms of their role in the Christian story, as well as in terms of their cultural significance today. I love exposing my kids to new and different cultural celebrations as they widen their worldviews. This year, lighting the menorah and sharing some traditional Hannukah customs (driedl, latkes) and stories enriched our celebration of Jesus Christs' birth. I look forward to making this a part of our annual December traditions.

6) The Christmas Book Advent. There is so much wonderful children's literature surrounding Christmas, and this year, I was on a quest to find some new stories to add to our Christmas collection. Some of our favorites that we added this year included "Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree", "One Snowy Night" and "God Gave us Christmas." I plan to add a few new stories each year until we reach a collection of 31 stories to be read in December.

5) The Wooden Barbie House Saga. I will remember 2009 as the year we went on the quest to find THE wooden Barbie house that Kennedy pointed out in Costco. I'm not sure why we didn't buy it right then, but there were lots there, and we just figured it would still be there as Christmas got closer. Lesson One: When you see something that you want at Costco, buy it now! Although it took a lot of phone calls and a wrong house shipped from Wisconsin, we were able to locate the right house and have it shipped here just in time for Christmas. It has been fun to watch her play with her Barbie's in it, arrange and rearrange the furniture, and even talk of making her own curtains for the windows. It reminds me of the fond memories of Christmas' where me and my sister got new dolls/Barbie's and spent hours playing with them in the days following Christmas.

4) Zhu-Zhu pets. This was the "must have" toy of 2009. These tiny little furry hamsters that scurry on the floor and make funny little noises. We had seen some at Toys R Us but did not buy any for the kids. Grandpa Stahl, however, came through and gave each of the kids a Zhu-Zhu pet. I must admit that they are pretty cute. They reminded me of grandparents who always strive to make Christmas special and magical for their grandchildren.

3) Kennedy playing Christmas songs on the piano. This is the first year that Kennedy has been taking piano lessons. She was so excited to be able to play Christmas songs like "Silent Night" and "Up on the Housetop". It was joy to listen to her practice, and I look forward to her skills getting better and better in the Christmas' to come.

2) My vintage quilt. I have admired a vintage quilt at Shipshewana for the past 6 months. I'm not sure of its era, but it is made with white antique muslin and scraps of colorful fabric; it has several small places where use has worn through it's fabric, but I see that as simply more character and beauty. I have been back to the store where it lived 2 times since initially seeing it, each time reluctantly leaving it behind due to its high price tag. I thought that I would never be able to own the quilt, but God decided to bless me this Christmas. My eyes were immediately filled with tears at my parents' house when I opened my package to find the quilt wrapped in tissue paper, with its gently worn edges hinting at Christmas' past. This is the most special Christmas gift I have been given, and I will cherish it always. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for such a special, cherished gift of history and tradition.

1) My family together. I am all too mindful that many families are separated from loves ones this Christmas. The war bring with it families that are without fathers and mothers, sons and uncles/aunts. The economy makes it necessary for some family members to move away from their families to find work to survive. Many in my circle of friends and family have lost loved ones this past year, and so Christmas brings with it a deeper sense of loss and separation for these families. I am thankful for the gift of being able to gather with the extended McDonald and Stahl families, and also of having my little family of 4 together to celebrate Jesus Christ and the hope that He gives to all of us who call on Him for salvation. I never want to lose sight of this real and true meaning of Christmas.

I would love to know what your top Christmas moments of 2009 are!

December Highlights.

2009-12-23T20:56:00.000-08:00

Given that my blogging consistency in December has been far less than stellar, I decided to pop in here to document some highlights of what we have been doing for the past 30+ days since my last post. One of my goals over my Christmas break is to revisit my blog habits and reestablish my regular posts; I miss it on a daily basis as a place to write my thoughts and share photos, and also on a more longitudinal basis as a place to document and reflect on personal and family happenings.

So, in no particular order or hierarchy, here are some tidbits from our December:

Learning about and celebrating Hannukah--We purchased a menorah and learned about the origins and practices of Hannukah. We have lit the menorah, read traditional Jewish stories, and learned how to play driedl for the traditional chocolate coins. We made and tried latkes.
Place our empty boots on the window sill so they could be filled with treats in celebration of St. Nick's Day on December 6.
Taking our annual trip to the Red Flannel Tree Farm for a horse-drawn sleigh ride to pick out our Christmas tree.
Final trip to the John Ball Zoo for the year; sadly, due to budget restrictions, the John Ball Zoo will be closing for the winter. We love going to the zoo in the winter, because the animals are usually more active and the crowds next to nothing. We will miss visiting the animals this winter.
Making holiday treats....frosted sugar cookies, peanut butter balls, and peppermint bark.
Choosing this year's Christmas ornaments.
Frantic nights of grading stacks and stacks of exams and papers, trying to get finished so that I could get on to Christmas preparations.
Trying to find all of the decorations and ornaments in all the boxes that are already packed for our move.
Hoping that we actually make that move sooner rather than later!
The kids making multiple versions of their Christmas wish lists; the revisions continue even to today, 2 days before Christmas.
The doll house saga....thankfully, the wooden doll house topping Kennedy's Christmas list is safely assembled and in the garage, waiting to delight her on Christmas morning.
The search for the Imaginex Bat Cave.....finally found in yesterday, so that, too, is secure and under the tree, ready to make one little boy happy.
Planning the annual Christmas Eve menu...this year to include an appetizer feast of hot shrimp and crab, bacon-wrapped chestnuts, fried clams, fried pickles, veggies and dip, and sparkling grape juice.

Merry Christmas! Be certain to make room for Jesus this Christmas, and to keep Him and His hope at the center of your Christmas celebrations!

Gratitude.

2009-11-18T04:15:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been nearly one month since my last post. I am very disappointed that I have let my blogging slide so much and am hoping to make it better during these last days of 2009, making a renewed commitment to it in 2010. I not only miss the daily ritual of coming to to these pages to write my thoughts and our home's daily happenings, but I also lament that I will not have those entries to look back on.

I'm not sure what it is about this fall, but the days are seriously melting away. We are now one week away from Thanksgiving, which means Christmas is right around the corner. It feels like it was just September, does anyone else feel that way? The fall, my very favorite season, is tapering away, and it has been a gorgeous one with lots of fall color and plenty of mild days to enjoy the moderate temperatures and beautiful surroundings of colorful leaves, drying vegetation, and critters hanging around to savor the last days before winter hits. At this time last year, we had already had a fairly good covering of snow, so I am thankful for the prolonged time to enjoy autumn's splendor.

Around here, the routine of this time of year is in full swing. I am in the midst of the final push before Thanksgiving break, with lots of exams and papers coming due....which means one thing, lots of GRADING. I have a plan to try to prevent the pile-up in the last 2 weeks, and so far my plan is working, so we will see whether I am still playing that tune in 2 weeks!

The kids are in full swing with homeschool, enjoying our weekly routine of lots of reading, handwriting/journalling, math, geography, Bible/history, and science. Right now, our topics of study include Thanksgiving, Shakespeare, the state of New York, and Leonardo DaVinci. The kids are working with Carol, their art teacher, in the medium of clay and right now are learning to sculpt birds, which corresponds to the Birds of Flight unit that we will be starting in Science next week. We are also gearing up to begin an advent study, utilizing the Jesse Tree, and we will be using an advent wreath in our home for the first time this year. We just got a new shipment of books and supplies from Sonlight this week, which was just like an early Christmas! We sure do love our books around here! This weekend is the kids' performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Cornerstone, and I can't wait to see all of their hours of practice pay off. We have all learned so much about what it is like to be part of a college-level theater production, and it has been fun, engaging and educational the whole way through. Next Tuesday, we are hosting an "original" Thanksgiving dinner event where we are serving what the first pilgrims likely ate, that being lobster, clams, EEL (seriously), venison, turnips, corn, nuts and dried fruit. It is so different than what we typically envision it to be, and I look forward to having some of our neighbor kids over to share in the experience.

On the housing front, we are still homeowner's. We are resting in God's peace that our house will sell at just the perfect time. While we are anxious to move, we are trying to focus on gratitude for having a nice, warm, comfortable house. It's all in perspective, right? We are still knowing that God can move this mountain and will do so in His time.

During the month of November, we have been focusing daily on what we have to be thankful for. Today, I am consciously thankful for so many things like a husband who loves me despite my quirks, two beautiful children who keep us laughing and learning constantly, supportive extended families who love and accept us for who we are, the gorgeous masterpiece that God created in His Earth, the gift of learning together as a family, a hot cup of cider or chai, reliable vehicles, good friends, and the gift of creativity. What are you thankful for on this 18th day of November?

Right Now....

2009-10-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

The kids are downstairs playing "Hunters" with 3 of the neighbor kids.
I am wondering in said game who are the "hunters" and who are the "hunted."
Beef stew is simmering in the crock pot. It smells delicious.
Our past-nanny's homemade brownies are ready to go into the oven. These are by far the best brownies we have ever tasted. She left us this recipe when she left us to take care of her own grandkids. We love Mary....and her brownies.
My half-graded stack of exams is sitting next to the computer.
Littlest Pets and Rescue Heroes have overtaken the living room.
The fireplace is burning hot; our furnace, however, is not thanks to Mr. Bird who got into the exhaust fan and perished, while jamming the fan and causing major damage to our furnace. I don't believe in karma necessarily, but what came around this time went around. Literally and figuratively.
I am praying for God to provide the $3000.00 that we need to replace said furnace, on the house that we are hoping to no longer live in. Knowing that He will provide.
Is thankful for new brakes on the van, although that was another $300.00 check we had to write yesterday. Realizing that sometimes when it rains, it really pours.
I am thankful for whoever thought up the concept of Fall Break, because I'm not sure I could have handled all of this financial stress while having to teach a long day today.
I am excited for the kids' first rehearsal tomorrow night for their role as fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
I think that tomorrow afternoon we will take school to the zoo. It's been pretty mild temperature-wise and the zoo should be pretty vacated. We love having the zoo pretty much to ourselves during the school day.
I am aching for some scrapbooking time. I may have to pull some photos out and try to do a layout tonight, if I'm not too exhausted.

Some of our Favorite Sites.

2009-10-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

The plethora of information and ideas available on the Internet is so exciting to me as a homeschooler and educator. I cannot tell you how many times I have been lost for ideas on how to teach a concept to my children, or an activity to do with my college students, and I have simply clicked a button and there is a world of ideas at my finger tips!

Today, I wanted to share a few of my current favorites that I turn to for both ideas and inspiration.

One of my recent discoveries is here: Art for Kids. I have a deep passion for children's art. I love how unbridled children can be in their creative expression...the bold patterns and shapes and use of color. I love the inherent "abstractness" of their work, and the unique spin that each child weaves into their work. As a child therapist and a mom, I firmly believe that children communicate powerful ideas and feelings through their art work, but we need to look for what they are trying to say. This site gives so many fun and educational ideas on projects that kids can create. It is one that I have turned to often in the past month.

Another of my favorites is Blue Yonder. This is a homeschooling family who is very creative and even publishes a seasonal book of educational activities called "Book of Days." In fact, they just released their Autumn version and it is a great deal at only 6 dollars! These books are comprised of simple family activities that are very creative and focused on getting the family outside learning together. I love that this woman and her children work together to publish these books, and we have utilized the summer one quite frequently in our homeschooling. This resource is great for any family, homeschoolers or not.

Another of my favorite sites is The Crafty Crow. What I really love about this site is the emphasis on doing creative activities that involve and celebrate nature and natural elements. She gives a lot of ideas for repurposing items and using foods to create, which is always a hit with kids (think potato stamping and broccoli trees!).

I am intuitively drawn by the educational philosophies of Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia, largely due to their emphasis on creativity and child-directed learning. I browse a lot of sites related to these educational philosophies, one of them being Waldorf Mama. Again, I love the emphasis on education being highly creative and peacefully exciting, and I infuse our homeschooling with a lot of these elements.

I hope you find these sites as exciting as I do! No matter if you homeschool or not, I think there are a lot of hidden gems here than can enhance any child's education......or adult's, for that matter!

Making Lemonade.

2009-10-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have those stretches of life where it just feels like everything going on is a battle? That's what this last week has been for me. I have been struggling with a sinus infection-turned-flu-like-bug that just wiped me out for a week and is still nagging 10 days later. I even took a half-day off from teaching, and I slept more last weekend (40 hours, I think) than I ever have in my life. I have been consuming Mucinex, Theraflu, Halls throat drops, water, hot tea, soup and way too many Kleenex.

Then, my son comes down with this freaky rash which ended up being hives, thanks to a quick run to our neighbor-who-also-happens-to-be-a-doctor. This kid was covered in red splotches and welts from head to toe. He has never had any allergy before that we know of, so we are just trying to figure to figure out what he ate or came into contact with that could have caused such an outbreak. So, add to the pharmacy list benedryl and cortisone cream.

My daughter and husband are now sniffling and coughing, too, so as I listen to our cacophony of bodily sounds echoing through our home, I am just praying that this week will bring health and lemonade rather than more lemons!

Last night, I had the unspeakable happen when I tried to access some photos on my largest 8 GB memory card......nearly 2,000 photos from my son's 6th birthday, summer, and our vacation to Pennsylvania. And I couldn't access then. Tried some of the free software online to try to resurrect the images. No go. So, today I paid to send my card off to some secret data resurrection center where they also work with classified government data, to hopefully get my photos back. I am SO thankful for Facebook and this blog; because I do these, I have a few images from each event. I am usually pretty good about backing up photos but just got lost in the busyness of the summer and fall. Lesson learned.

God has brought us a very steady flow of people looking to potentially buy our home...Thank you, Lord! This week, we showed it three times! While it made for a very busy time trying to get and keep the house in showable condition, we are so thankful for the potential to make a sale yet this fall. I just keep praying for God to move this mountain, and that we will be patient and wait for His timeframe.

Have a great week! Tomorrow, we head to ArtPrize, so more photos coming!

Without a Voice.

2009-09-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

Over the past 24 hours, a scratchy throat has somehow turned into a full blow sore throat as in "I feel like my throat is closing in" and a gruff almost nonexistent voice. A sore throat is never good news for a teacher, and this one is a doozy. I made it pretty well through my first class and first meeting this morning, but by 11:00 AM, my voice was gone, leading me to have to change plans for my 11:00 class (which they did not mind in the least, by the way!). Last night, I got less than 2 hours of sleep due to all the crud in the back of my throat; I took at bath at 3 AM after laying in bed getting frustrated for 3 years, and fell asleep for 2 hours before the alarm went off at 6 AM. Bottom line....it was a VERY long day, one that I got through only on God's strength. Ever have one of those?

I want to be honest here; my heart is really heavy right now for several of my friends who are going through very difficult, life-altering circumstances. I have been all too aware over the past 2 weeks of how Satan's business it to attack and undermine families, relationships and communities. He smiles and celebrates when we fail, when marriages fail, when cancer wastes away bodies, and when we doubt our significance. I have become more and more mindful of the fact that without Christ, life. is. hopeless. Without Christ, we. are. dead. Sometimes, the weight of the effects of sin are so overwhelming.

I need Jesus. I need him in my life each and every moment. I need Him to help me keep perspective in the face of the hurts, failures and devastations of this world. Praise God, even in the midst of heavy burdens (and maybe even especially), He has given us the victory.

Just what's been on my mind later....now, I'm going to bed to hopefully wake up with my voice bakc. The weekend can't come any too soon!

God Speaking.

2009-09-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

We had a great chapel on prayer this week, and it gave me just the impetus that I needed to start writing. I have been toying with a couple of ideas for books and really would like to publish a book before I'm 40. That gives me 3 years to make this happen.

One of my primary ideas is to write a book about why creativity matters to God. So many times, artistry and creativity are seen as secular and anti-Biblical. And I'm amazed at the lack of literature on creativity and the Christian life.

Did you know that God is constantly creating? I think sometimes we see God as having created the world in 6 days, rested for one day, and then stepped aside to let the world happen.

But He didn't. He is constantly revealing himself to us through the amazing creation and its dynamic nature.

The question is.........will we enter the conversation?

September is Slipping Away.......

2009-09-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

It is a steamy, rainy Monday morning, the first of fall. I just love this time of year for so many reasons. Whenever fall starts to show its beautiful face in the colors of the leaves, the pumpkins and gourds gracing the gardens and farmers' markets, the weight of sweaters.....I find myself turning inward. Being more reflective. Turning my full attention toward home and family after a long summer of being outside and here and there. Fall, without a doubt, is my very favorite season. I love the chill in the air. I love getting my beloved sweaters out. I love the air of excitement at Friday night football (even when we are losing, as is the case this year). I love the tastes of caramel apples, apple cider, pumpkin lattes, and warm, hearty stews. My ears hear the crunching of the leaves underfoot, the echo of the announcer shouting out "Touchdown", and the distant shots that signal hunters' successes. I just love everything, EVERYTHING about fall. Well, everything except these blasted FRUIT FLIES, that is!

Well, given that there have been more and more days between my posts, I probably should catch you up on what has been going on in the McDonald world over the past 2 weeks. We are back in full swing as far as homeschool goes and are neck-deep in our studies of Ancient Egyptian history, reading for meaning, US states, Leonardo Davinci (the artist and inventor), the book of Genesis, nature exploration, bird biology, and so many other fascinating subjects. The kids are focused but so naturally relaxed as they learn. Kennedy is at a great age where she is very independent in her work and knows when she needs to ask me for help; Hayden is making very good progress with reading and writing, though he would still much rather be outside foraging through the woods to find treasures. He is still very much into rocks and minerals and doesn't go far without his little pocket-size rock, gem and mineral identification book, with its curled corners from lots of use. We are loving our new teachers--Carole, who focuses on art and creativity with the kids and Tuesdays, and Renee, who tutors them and takes them on pond walks (looking for turtles, the ultimate thrill!) on Thursdays. God has provided us with a great arrangement and wonderful people to pour into our kids; we are so thankful for this. This week brings a field trip to Meijer Gardens to study the DaVinci horse.....did you know that Davinci planned this HUGE sculpture but never finished it? And that when another artist finished it, he sculpted 2--one which stands in Milan, Italy, and the other right here in Grand Rapids, MI of all places! I love that the kids get to experience this amazing piece of art and history right here in our hometown.

Matt is settling into his new job; it is a challenging school, for sure, but he is really liking his fellow teaching colleagues and the kids in his classes (well, most of them!). It is clear that God called us to this new district to be change agents for Him, and it is exciting to be in His will though also frustrating because the job is so big. We are trying to keep in mind the truth that it would be impossible with His strength, so we are praying that He helps us to step aside and let Him work through us.

The new semester is off and running for me, too, as we are already lauching into Week 3! I was so humbled and honored to be awarded the Teaching Excellence Award for 2009, and it is nice to be affirmed in my work to start off a new academic year. I am also taking on a new challenge beginning in 2 weeks when I travel to Lansing on Thursday nights to teach a course in our adult program. These are people coming back after long absences to finish their college degrees, and I am looking forward to the practical emphasis that these courses have. We had been praying for God to provide a bit of extra money for the holidays, so we are very thankful that He answered our prayers in this way.

As for our house, we are still in the "For Sale By Owner" mode. We are praying fervently that we will be able to sell by winter, but resting quietly in God's will. We have a house showing scheduled for Wednesday night and are wondering whether this is the buyer that God has for us. Waiting and praying and hoping......

I have been struck by something this month. As I look around me, it seems that Satan is really attacking marriages. This week alone, I have learned of 3 friends who are in the process of divorcing; each of these situations involve children, and it just breaks my heart to think of what their reality will now be as their family crumbles. I think that Satan is very aware that the family is the backbone of God's family, and He is fervently attacking from all angles. Seeing this ugly and devastating trend has reminded me that it takes WORK to maintain a healthy marriage. It takes daily attention to meeting your spouse's needs; finding fun and creative ways to express your love and caring for the person God gave to you. I am being careful to thank God daily for giving Matt to me and for how he has blessed my life in so many ways. Don't forget to thank God and your spouse today for your marriage.

So, that is what mid-September is bringing to the McDonald household. Today looks to be a rainy, gloomy day so I think we will dig into our school work and then later, go see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." What will your Monday bring? Regardless, have a GREAT ONE!

Back to.......Learning (Though we never left).

2009-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here we are, on the eve of the return to school for Michigan public school kids. Typically, this day would be filled with back-to-school excitement and that little tickle of anxiety about the first day in a new classroom, being on time for the bus, that perfect first-day outfit, making sure the school supplies are packed neatly into the new backpack, deciding whether we will eat hot school lunch or pack a cold lunch.

But today's not like that.

For the first year, we are not going with most of the kids in our neighborhood to the bus stop tomorrow. This is the first September where we will start the year off homeschooling. If you are a new reading to Table Scraps, you know that it was in January, mid-school year, when we made the decision to take our kiddos out of the public school and begin homeschooling them. It has been a true adventure for us, and we are loving the prospect of a brand new year of learning and growing together at home and in our community.

So, tomorrow morning, we will get a new outfit on. Yes, I will take first-day photos out on the porch. And then we will head out to the kids' favorite restaurant (Perkins.....kids eat free!) for a back-to-school breakfast. After a quick stop at Cornerstone, we will head out to the beach for a day's activities related to beach ecology.........swimming, sand castle architecture, making beach jar collages.......with a stop off for icecream on the way home. We really want to still make the first day of school very special and something to look forward to, and I think this plan will accomplish that end!

I am really excited about all the things we plan to learn about this year. I am also very excited about the two wonderful women whom we have hired to help us with the kids' teaching and learning on the days that I am at the university teaching. One of the tutors, Renee, is one of my advanced psychology students; she is very nurturing, creative, and sweet, and I am excited to have her work with us on Thursdays. The other, Carole, is a credentialed art teacher who loves nature, is passionate about the earth, and just brings a lot of gifts and insights to the table. I am so thankful to the Lord for His provision in leading these 2 women to our family.

Here are some of the things that we will be focusing on this year, of course leaving plenty of room for rabbit trails according to the kids' interests:

BIG BLUE BUS: We will be "travelling" in an imaginary vehicle, our big blue bus. We will be travelling around the country, studying each state over the next 2 years. I am using a progam called "Which Way USA" and every month, we get information and a new map for 2 states. Over the next 2 years, we will be able to cover all 50 states. I love this material!

SOUP SCIENCE: At least 2-3 times per month, we are going to use soup recipes to practice fractions, study produce, talk about processes like condensation, etc. We will be making a recipe book and possibly selling the books as a fundraiser to buy books for Lucy, our "adopted" daughter in South Africa. We will also be making BREAD at least one time per month.

NATIVE AMERICANS: Both kids have expressed an interest and fascination in Indians, fueled by the gorgeous Indian costumes that my mother-in-law sewed for them both last week. Kennedy picked out a pair of moccasins when we were on Mackinac, spending her own money on them. We will study the cultural practices, as well as the historical development of the various Native American groups.

AMISH: We are almost done with our Amish cultural study; we have learned so much about this fascinating culture over the summer through our trips to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Shipshewana, Indiana. We are planning another overnight trip to Shipshewana in October, to experience the fall harvest there and to finish up our unit. We are even hoping to have dinner in a real Amish home this time around, and I would love to get into an Amish school to observe, too.

ART: With Carole's background and training in the art, the kids will be getting plenty of time each week both to develop their basic skills and techniques, as well as to explore their own creativity. I can't express how excited I am to have Carole working with us, as it is critical to have the kids immersed in artistic expression.

DAILY 5: I will be organizing our literacy activities around the concept of the Daily 5; this means that every day, we will spend 20-30 minutes minimum in each of the following five activities: Reading Silently to Self, Reading Aloud to Others; Listening to Read- Alouds; Practicing Writing; and Spelling/Word Work.

ANIMAL BIOLOGY: BIRDS--We have decided to wait until the kids are a bit older to finish astronomy and have switched over to the Apologia Elementary Animal Science books, as the kids are both so passionate about animals. It starts with birds and animals of flight and then progresses to ocean/water life and finally to mammals and people.

HUMAN BODY: We are also going to be delving into the amazing science of the human body this year. Last night, Kennedy said that she thought the kidney was on your leg; yep, it's time to demystify the human body and look at God's amazing creativity in this way.

Of course, we will also study MATH (Singapore Math) and HISTORY (Story of the World) and BIBLE (Southwest Program) and SPELLING (Spelling Power).

I must admit that a part of me is sad not to be entrenched in the back-to-school craze that has been a part of our lives for the past years. But there is a strange and wonderful peace to this year; I bought a few 10 cent glue sticks and 25-cent boxes of crayons and, of course, my new pack of rainbow Sharpie grading pens, but I didn't feel the same pressure to have it all purchased by tomorrow. We ordered new shoes and a couple of new outfits for the kids, but we can gradually get what they need, knowing that our emphasis is on comfort. And that at least 2 days a week will be spent in our PJ's until noon!

Happy First Day......whatever that looks like to you!

Table Scraps, Too.....

2009-08-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

So, I am back from my annoyingly unsuccesful try at Wordpress. Blogger, I've missed you! Because I exhausted my memory on the Table Scraps blog, I have created "Table Scraps, Too" in hopes of returning to my regular blogging ways!

Right now, I am working on a post to update everyone of the happenings in our lives over the past month or so; then, it is my goal to return to blogging nearly-daily, as I certainly missed that during my sojourn.

Until then, enjoy this summer Tuesday!