Cyclonic!

Wow! March has been a whirlwind!

We enjoyed many feasts! Dinner at the Crumpton's, birthday celebrations at the Shugert's, taco/games day here with the Orazem girls, Chitudo Black Belt Club dinner at Alfonso's. Of course we can't leave out the Saint Patrick's day celebration at Ron & Ceci's complete with singing & instrument playing. Or the next day eating sushi in Japan Town with Eva & Omar.

B&R kept us busy with Youth Funky Games Night, Bible Face Off, Laser Quest (yes again), running around River Park spending their gift cards, finishing the snowboarding season at both Badger Pass & Sierra Summit & the ever exploding Bembe gigs.

Jeff & I did manage to see Miss Bethany this month as well (thank you Eric). It was overwhelming to see her in her current state, but I am grateful that the opportunity arose.

The three Shugert kids were our house guests for about a week.

Jeff's business is going very well, he's been busy this month. He's been busier than ever, but more organized than ever. VCC has hired its 1st employee

All four of us have been writing for the local Homeschool Newspaper. Jeff was interviewed in regards to IT/self employment. B&R & I fulfilled our regular columns for the paper, as well as the homeschool blog & yearbook student interest / family pages. I guess it's about time I write here....I'm know, sorry about that!

We have been working at lightening speed in our educational endeavors.

Billy has begun the processes of setting goals for the Congressional Award program. Jenny is overseeing Billy's progress & I am doing the same for CJ. Don't be insulted, no family member is allowed to confirm or guide his progress. Billy also attended the Original Design Purity Conference.

As a family we walked the Fresno Right to Life, Walk for Life....very humbling experience. We had a blast at the Rock & Worship Road Show (more on that later).

I know this is a hasty way to get you all up to speed on our happenings, but April is harassing me, so I decided I better jump in & conquer March.

Our Week

Mon.-I took a nutrition class lead by Mrs Dori Lim. B&R took one in the next room over for the teens. Jeff & I went to yet another homeschool meeting. Billy had Bembe practice (he has had more gigs this month do to Black history month)

Tues.-The guys all went snowboarding & then to Chitudo. Me? I cleaned, graded, filed & did my own exercise.

Wed.-A heavy duty turbo charged day of school work to make up for yesterday.

Thurs.--Another full speed school day & Chitudo

Fri.-B&R went to dance lessons (well the instructor never showed so they just sat around & talked), Laser Quest & Colorado Grill. The poor restaurant had 4 million teenagers all at once to deal with. Dori drove them from Dance to Laser Quest & they just walked across the parking lot to Colorado grill. So Jeff & I were able to relax and have a leasurly date.

Sat.-B&R played baseball at Chefa's Sport Sat. Jeff & I grabbed a Starbucks & sat and talked for the next few hours. We had a picnic lunch with the Lim's & then B, R, A & A went rock climbing. Us old people walked across the street & sat at Starbucks (and yes that makes two trips that day) for the next several hours & had some great conversation. Ricky had computer work he needed to do at the church, but Billy didn't go to music practice. He hurt his thumb & can't drum right now.

Sun.-(today) We are getting ready to go to church . This afternoon will be full of yard care & work at Papa's mountain.

Friendship Widens Our World

Sometimes in friendships you take the time to do activities you may otherwise not pursue.
For example my Jacki loves skating. She is even on a roller derby league. She has instilled the love of skating in the hearts of her family as well as mine. We have been roller staking and ice skating over the last few months together, just like we have for years. We are brewing another trip soon as well.
Austin & Aubrey have joined the Yosemite Fitness Rock Climbing League. Jet & Dori use this to remain in shape themselves (like preparing for their trip to Everest) Rock Climbing is a huge part of their lives & they share that with us. This weekend, like several other times over the years the Vincents & the Lims tackled walls together.
Moving up to the foothills has put us contact with people who are showing us off-the-beaten-path areas we may not have ever known about.
Thank you all for enriching our lives.

The CHEFA Fine Arts Faire

CHEFA ( Christian Home Educators of the Fresno Area) puts on a great show every year. This is an opportunity for children of all ages to showcase their talents. There are two aspects to this project, performance & displayed arts.
Billy & Ricky are in the CHEFA Drama class. For the last few months they have been learning to mime. Their instructor split the class in half for the Fine Arts Faire. The girls performed a serious song while the guys song was real goofy. Earlier in the year they had homework assignments to create a mime to their own chosen song. Billy apparently did a wonderful job because his teacher asked him to preform this solo at the Faire. He mimed "colored people" by DC Talk.
As for the display section Billy & Ricky entered two photographs a piece. Ricky's 1st picture was of snow being rushed onto our window by a heavy wind with the trees in the yard beyond that. His 2nd picture was a misty-foggy sky with naked tree branches & the shadow of a sparrow. Both pictures look black & white, however it is just nature's coloring at that moment. Billy's 1st picture is of a spectacular winter sunset of red, orange & yellow against the naked black -looking branches. His second photo is interesting. The top half looks like a black and white photo of the mountain side & trees. While the bottom half looks like green grass & a field of yellow flowers. Again, just God's handy work, no trick photography. We had these blown up to 8 by 10's & framed. Look for them the next time you visit our home.
One special aspect of the Fine Arts Faire every year is the involvement of Jeff & Becky (Jeff's parents). Of course I have always done things in my own little school with my boys in preparation of this event, but so have they. Becky oversaw & photographed a Biblical herb garden that B&R planted tended & dried. Then they baggied & labeled the herbs. I helped the boys finish the project by overseeing recipes made for each herb, taking photos of that & placing it all together in a book. Becky also oversaw the tracing, stuffing & sewing of all the internal organs of a human body. These were then velcroed to a cardboard cut out of Ricky. As the boys have grown older she has been replaced by Jeff Sr. The guys have turned their attention to woodworking & the beginnings of metal working. He has helped in making a catapult, swords, shields & battle axes.
This year he was on duty overseeing Ricky make true Boomerangs. One is wooden & the other is fiberglass. Billy, being in high school, needed a more impressive project. So Jeff oversaw him make a bar dip, push-up/pull-up system.
I am grateful for CHEFA & the Grandparents for the hard work & opportunities they give my boys.

Thank you!!!

Aikido

Jeff & Ricky have been taking Aikido together, but for separate reasons.
Jeff is endeavoring to sharpen his skills consequently bringing these new traits to his Chitudo instruction & of course personal knowledge. It's good for the teacher to continue renewing knowledge & understanding.
It was actually kinda of funny when his students found out he was taking classes from another school, they freaked out! They were very protective their school/art. They asked Jeff if his Chitudo instructors knew what he was doing (like he was sneaking around) Jeff explained that they encouraged him to pursue this, so all ended well.
Ricky has different gifts & struggles as God has graced. He is taking Aikido to learn to walk light, establish consciousness of every minute bodily movement. These skills, quite frankly, will help him tremendously in every area of his life.
Jeff began taking these classes first. This Dojo only hosts adult classes. Jeff asked if they would be willing to let Ricky join in the class he was taking. They agreed to a trial bases, if Ricky could behave (not interrupt) & keep up (not need extra instructional time) he could stay.....he passed.

"I believe that school makes complete fools of our young men, 

because they see & hear nothing of ordinary life 
there"-Petronius

To be finished in the year 2025

I am writing a book about Homeschooling. It will be ready for you to read years after B&R have graduated from our little school, when time & I get along a little better. I have lots of ideas, but no time to really dedicate to the project. I do write but not with any regularity. I have a folder I dump thoughts/writings into, which I will compile at a later time. Many of you (My friends & Family) have made every effort to push me in this direction, insuring me I have lots to share with others....& that I shouldn't harbor that knowledge. So Look forward to reading my book sometime before you die!

Broomball

Have you ever experienced this or ever even heard of it? Basically you are playing hockey with broom looking thingys on ice wearing tennis shoes. B&R played earlier this month with CHEFA, This activity started at 10:00 p.m. & we got home around 1:ish. I don't know why, but this is the time the Ice skating rink has always chosen. Billy's friends chose to be the green team. Ricky relented to the girls on his team & so he was on the pink team. Being the ham that he is, he embraced it. He tied the pink piece of fabric around his head like a babies head band & swung his hips around while out on the rink. His team didn't win, but he didn't care anyway. Actually I don't really know whose team won to tell you the truth.

"Education is what remains after I have forgotten what I had learned in school"- Einstein

Okay, so about the coffee woes

I have a little problem with breaking carafes. So a few years back Jeff bought me a coffee maker with a metal carafe. Unfortunately as I was taking it out of the box I dropped it. Yes, I broke it. Well, a chip fell off the plastic rim & a big dent was created on the side of it. I decided not to replace it assuming I would just repeat the offense. I was content with my silly looking carafe. Eventually the coffee maker its self stopped working (not my doing) We needed to replace it, but couldn't afford the price tag of a metal carafe. Of course glass was not happening!
Becky lent us her old-time percolator, which stopped working soon after we received custody. It had a faulty wire that had been tweaked a few times. Her percolator lived a long and purposeful life. Yet it came to my kitchen to die!
The next product came straight out of our garage. Yep, we used our camp coffee percolator. The all-metal campfire one. We used this for a while. Sometimes we did have chewy coffee. Especially the lucky one who was blessed with the last cup. It was hard to ignore its hoaky appearance, although it was a conversation starter.
Ron & Ceci gave us a thermal metal carafe coffee maker for Christmas. We have enjoyed it very much.....thanks bunches.

Why do I have cats?

I am allergic to cats, yes its true. I can't cuddle up with my feline friends. I shut my door at night so they won't sneak in bed with me. I vacuum my furniture regularly (which they also scratch). They are the reason I can't have indoor plants. It is common for cats to try & use the soil for a liter box and that is bad, but my cat does worse. Kansas plucks each leaf or pedal right off the plant/flower. No, he doesn't eat the plants. They are toys in his eyes, well everything is really.
They are destructive! I left a ceramic sugar bowl out on my counter one night. I woke up the next morning to sugar all over the counter & cat scratches in it...not like litter scratches...but like they were batting at it. The ceramic dish was spared somehow. But fear not, they got into the dish drainer & knocked a platter onto the aggregate flooring. Millions of tiny fragments flew in every direction. I was barefoot. It was still dark. Yet I didn't step on even the tiniest of pieces. I made it to the light, but when I turned it on, I just wanted to turn it off & go back to bed.
No, this is not uncommon. Why do I have cats? I guess because even though they do things like scoop the acorns out of a bowl on the coffee table. They are cute and oh so funny! They make me laugh and I need to laugh. there you have it!

"The secret of success is to know how to deny yourself. Prove that you can control yourself, and you are an educated man and without this all other education is good for nothing."-R.D. Hitchcook

They Lied to me!...Twice!

When Billy was born ....& again when Ricky was born "they" said I was gonna have "it" easy. Well "they" lied! Boys are not cheap! With all the instruments, activities & sporting goods...let me tell you, its not cheap!
And that's before the real growing began. Billy has really challenged our bank account the last couple of years. He is growing out of shoes, pants & shirts. Ricky is creeping up right behind him. Every time I turn around, someone needs some article of clothing.
And the hormones! I was told, things would be simple. They are not! I have randomly regenerated hormones flowing through my house every day.
However, I will say this, the relationship I share with my boys at this age is precious. I know that I will miss all the drama, chaos & just plain noise when they are gone. So I am grateful for it all.
A lady at church, who has grand kids my boys age, told me if I will let it happen, this will be the time we can grow closer together. She says, when you are going through a wheels fallin' off the cart time & you want to scream, say to yourself "is this what I want them to remember about our home?" I'm glad she said that, it will stick with me.
Its hard to remember when one of them comes down the stairs in a foul mood , that this is a special time to be cherished. This happened today & the cranky-pants didn't even know why he was upset. I was able to send him right back up to the shower & by the time he came back down, he also forgot he was upset!

"A room without books is like a body without a soul"-Cicero

And to that end B, R & I have put together a list of our favorite books. Today we will start with our top 100kidlet book choices.
Littles

1. The Pokey Little Puppy-Lowery*
2. Henry & Mudge-Rylant*
3. Angus & the Ducks-Flack*
4. Carl-Day
5. Chicken Soup w/ Rice-Sendak*
6. Clem the Clumsy Camel-Mueller*
7. Bisquit-Capucilli*
8. Poppleton-Rylant*
9. If you give a Mouse a Cookie-Numeroff*
10. Very Grouchy Ladybug-Carle*
11. James Harriet's Treasury for Children-Harriet*
12. Corduroy-Freeman*
13. Curious George-H.A.Rey*
14. Good Night Moon-Brown*
15. House that Jack Built-Frasconi*
16. Petunia-Duvolsin*
17. Richard Scarry's Treasury-Scarry*
18. Story of Babar-Brunhoff*
19. Very Hungry Caterpillar-Carle*
20. Little Engine that Could-Piper*
21. Make Way for Ducklings-McCloskey*
22. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom-Martin*
23. Harry the Dirty Dog-Zien*
24. Where the Wild Things Are-Sendak*
25. Mr. Putter & Tabby-
    
26. Owl at Home-Lobel*
27. George and Martha-Marshall (the Hippo's)*
    
28. Guess How Much I Love You-McBratney*
29. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel-Burton*
30. Thomas the Tank Engine-Brosnan*
31. Velveteen Rabbit-Williams*
32. Frog & Toad-Lobel*
33. Capyboppy-Pleet*
34. Berenstain Bears-Berenstain*
35. Floss
36. Amelia Bedelia-Parish*
37. Blueberries for Sal-McCloskey*
38. Emil the Eagle-LaFleur*
39. Little Bear-Minorik*
40. Newt-Novak*
41. Mouse Soup-Lobel*
42. Clifford the Big Red Dog-Bridwell*
43. Flip-Dennis*
44. Arthur-Heban (the monkey)*
    
45. Arthur-Brown (the aardvark)*
46. Chilly Billy-Mayle*
47. Nate the Great-*
    
48. Key to the Treasure-Parish*
49. The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy-Thayer*
50. Tough Enough's Indians-Carroll*
51. The King with Six Freinds-Williams*
52. Little Polar Bear, Take Me Home!-deBeer*
53. The Sailor Dog-Brown*
54. Tikki Tikki Tembo-Mosel*
55. Tacky the Penguin-Lester*
56. Owly-Thaler*
57. Lester & Clyde-Reece
58. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble-Steig*
59. Flip the Dolphin-Kassian*
60. Daniels Duck-Bulla*
61. Tim the Mouse-Lloyd*
62. The Biggest Bear-Ward*
63. Bo the Famous Retriever-Simmons
    
64. Granny and the Desperados-Parish
65. Runaway Bunny-Brown*
66. Roxaboxen-McLerran*
67. Baker Baker Cookie Maker-Hayward*
68. What a Teddy Bear Needs-Kaye*
69. Meet Trouble-Hood*
70. Dandelion-Freeman*
71. Magic Fish-Littledale*
72. Time of Wonder-McCloskey*
73. Grasshopper on the Road-Lobel*
74. Encyclopedia Brown-*
    
75. Benjy and the Barking Dog-Graham*
76. The Golden Key-MacDonald*
    
77. A Dog Named Grizzly Bear-Boring*
78. Inch by Inch-Lionni*
79. What was That!-Matthews*
80. Frances-Hoban*
81. Lentil-McCloskey*
82. Rikki Tikki Tavy-Kipling*
    
83. Winnie the Pooh-Milne*
    
84. The Secret Moose-Rogers*
85. Selfish Giant-Wilde*
86. Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit-Potter*
    
87. Wizzers Bad Day-Kassirer*
88. There's an Owl in the Shower-George*
    
89. Farfalina & Marcel-Keller*
90. Richard Brown & the Dragon-Bright*
    
91. Sleepy Little Lion-Brown*
92. A bear Called Paddington-Bond*
    
93. Billy & Blaze-Anderson
    
94. Wild Fox-Mason*
95. Stickeen-Muir*
96. How it was with Dooms-Hopcraft*
97. Bunnicula-Howe*
98. The Snuggle Bunny-Jewell*
99. Sammy Dog Detective-Bare*
100. Benvenuto-Reit*

And the Beat Goes On.....

Here are our top 100 Book Choices for the next stage in reading, the thicker chapter book.

Middles

1. Homer price-McCloskey*
   
2. Silversheene King of Sled Dogs-Hawkes*
3. Mary Poppins-Travers*
   
4. Incredible Journey-Burnford*
5. Old Yeller-Gibson
   
6. Place of the Lions-Campbell*
7. Great Quarterback Switch-Christopher*
   
8. Detectives in Togas-Winterfeld*
   
9. Little Pear-Lattimore*
10. My Side of the Mountains-George*
11. Lassie-Knight*
    
12. Gone Away Lake-Enright*
13. Mouse & the Motorcycle-Cleary*
14. The Moffats-Estes*
15. Half Magic-Eager*
    
16. The Dog Who Wouldn't Be-Mowat*
17. My Fathers Dragon-Gannett*
18. Trolley Car Family-Clymer*
19. Penderwicks-Birdsall*
20. Old Mother West Wind-Burgess*
21. Stone Fox-Gardiner*
    
22. Wonder Book- Hawthorne*
23. The Defender-Kalashnikoff*
    
24. Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH-O'Brien*
    
25. The Hardy Boys-Dixon*
26. Tale of Despereaux-Dicamillo*
    
27. Superfudge-Blume*
28. Adam of the Road-Gray*
29. Ragweed-Avi*
30. At the Back of the North Wind-MacDonald*
31. Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates-Dodge*
32. Black Ships Before Troy-Sutcliff*
33. The Enormous Egg-Butterworth
    
34. Wishbones Classic-Mattern*
    
35. Absolutely Lucy-Cooper*
    
36. Black Stallion-Farley*
37. The Wolfling-North*
    
38. Black Beauty-Sewell*
39. Ribsy-Cleary*
40. Book of Three-Alexander*
41. Rabbit Hill-Lawson*
    
42. Borrowers-Norton*
43. I Freddy-Reiche*
    
44. Brighty of the Grand Canyon-Henry
45. Where the Red Fern Grows-Rawls*
46. Bronze Bow-Speare*
47. Wharton & the Castaways-Erickson
48. Trailblazers-Jackson
49. Henry Reed Inc.-Robertson*
    
50. Charlotte's Web-White*
51. Twenty One Balloons-DuBois*
52. Cheaper by the Dozen-Gillberth*
53. Mr Poppers Penguins-Atwater*
    
54. Trumpet of the Swan-White*
55. The Good Dog-Avi*
    
56. Swallows and the Amazons-Ransome
57. Cricket in Time Square-Seldon*
58. Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow-French
59. Rangers Apprentice-Flanagan*
60. Staurt Little-White*
61. Door in the Wall-de Angeli*
62. Story of Dr. Dolittle-Lofting
63. Star in the Storm-Harlow*
    
64. Smokey the Cowhorse-James*
65. Toby Tyler-Otis*
    
66. King of Squaw Mountain-Borland*
67. Kavik the Wolf Dog-Morey*
    
68. Fantastic Mr. Fox-Dahl*
69. A Family of Foxes-dillon*
70. Silver Chief-OBrien*
71. The Midnight Fox-Byars*
72. Five Children & It-Nesbit*
73. Never Cry wolf-Mowat*
74. Sign of the Beaver-Speare*
75. Tiger on the Mountain-Arora*
76. Five Little Peppers & how They Grew-Sidney*
77. Whittington-Armstrong*
78. Shadrack-deJong
79. Coyote Summer-Wallace*
    
80. Follow My Leader-Garfield*
81. Freddy the Pig-Brooks*
    
82. Boxcar Children-Warner*
    
83. The Haymeadow-Paulson*
84. Gentle Ben-Morey
85. Farmer Boy-Wilder
    
86. Rescuers-Sharp
87. Peter Pan-Barrie
    
88. Ginger Pie-Estes
89. Pinocchio-Collodi
    
90. Rascal-North
91. Sugar Creek Gang-Hutches
    
92. Downriver-Hobbs
93. Seven Sleepers-Morris
    
94. Brady-Fritz
95. The Samuari's tale-Haugaard
    
96. White Serpent Castle-Namioka
    
97. Lad, A Dog-Terhune
    
98. Eragon-Paolini
99. Shiloh-Naylor
    
100. Phantom Tollbooth-Juster

Last, but certainly not least

Our top 100 picks for the big guys..............
Colossal

1. Gulliver's Travels-Swift*
2. Summer of the Monkeys-Rawls*
3. Don Quixote-Cervantes*
4. The Mark of the Original Zorro-McCulley*
5. Arabian Nights-*
6. Tom Sawyer-Twain*
7. Sir Gawain & the Green Night-Tolkien*
8. Hittite Warrior-Williamson*
9. Saga of the Volsungs-Byock*
10. The light & the Glory-Marshall*
11. Beowulf-Heaney*
12. A Night to Remember-Lord*
13. Song of Roland-Sayers*
14. Seabisuit-Hillenbrand*
15. Canterbury Tales-Chaucer*
16. Till We Have Faces-Lewis*
17. Odyssey of Homer-Lattimore*
18. Pride & Prejudice-Austen*
19. Chronicles of Narnia-Lewis*
20. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-Verne*
21. A Walk to Remember-Sparks*
22. Iliad of Homer-Lattimore*
23. Eagle of the Ninth-Sutcliff*
    
24. The Yearling-Rawlings*
25. A Christmas Carol-Dickens*
26. Watership Down-Adams*
27. A Ring of Endless Light-L'Engle*
28. Shaking the Nickel Bush-Moody
    
29. Uncle Toms Cabin-Stowe*
30. The Hiding Place-ten Boom*
31. Last of the Mohicans-Cooper
32. Freckles-Potter*
33. Kidnapped-Stevenson*
34. Wizard of Oz-Baum*
35. The Ides of April-Ray*
36. Heidi-Spyri
37. Within the Palace Gates-Siviter*
38. Proud Taste of Scarlet & Miniver-Konigsburg*
39. All Creatures Great & Small-Herriot*
40. Animal farm-Orwell*
41. David Copperfield-Dickens*
42. Emma-Austen
43. Gone with the Wind-Mitchell*
44. Good Earth-Buck
45. Grapes of Wrath-Steinbeck*
46. House of Seven Gables-Hawthorne
47. On Walden Pond-Thoreau*
48. Scarlet letter-Hawthrone
49. Three Musketeers-Dumas*
50. Rob Roy-Scott
51. Pilgrims Progress-Bunyan*
52. Oliver Twist-Dickens*
53. Kenilworth-Scott
54. Count of Monte Cristo-Dumas
55. Wolves of Willoughby Chase-Aiken
56. White Fang-London
57. Two Years Before the Mast-Dana*
58. Silver Chalice-Costain
59. Scarlet Pimpernel-Orczy
60. Red Badge of Courage-Crane*
61. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm-Wiggen
62. Trumpeter of Krakow-Kelly*
63. Big Red-Kjelgaard*
64. Captians Courageous-Kipling*
65. Redwall-Jacques*
66. Wind in the Willow-Grahame*
67. Call of the Wild-London*
68. Twice Freed-St John*
69. Dragon Slayer-Sutcliff
70. Banner in the Sky-Ullman*
71. In Freedoms Cause-Henty*
72. A Wrinkle in Time-L'Engle*
73. Secret Garden-Burnett
74. Jungle Book-Kipling
75. Kim- Kipling*
76. Jo's Boys-Alcott*
77. A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court-Twain*
78. Little Men-Alcott*
79. Cat of Bubastes-Henty
80. Merry Adventures of Robinhood-Pyle*
81. The Kings Fifth-Odell*
82. Mara, Daughter of the Nile-McGraw
83. National Velvet-Begnold
84. Alice in Wonderland-Carroll*
85. Little Britches-Moody
86. Otto of the Silver Hand-Pyle
87. Penrod-Tarkington
88. Prince & Pauper-Twain
89. Swiss Family Robinson-Wyss
90. Treasure Island-Stevenson*
91. Against the World, the Odyssey of Athanasius-Corey*
92. Dragon & the Raven-Henty*
93. Fountain of Life-Martin*
94. Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day-Odell*
95. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Twain*
96. A King Without a Shadow-Sproul
97. Winning His Spurs-Henty*
98. Deer Slayer-Cooper*
99. Ivanhoe-Scott*
100. The Writings on the Hearth-Harnett*

.....and more about me.............

This questionnaire was handed to me at church at the beginning of the month.

Ten questions to ask at the start of the new year.

Once when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God told them.
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause & think about the direction of their lives. It's easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going & where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? See people through his eyes, not my sometimes cynical eyes.
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Have mercy on my sister.....& my heart.
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Spent time individually with each guy.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Consistently reading God's word...alone.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Surfing the web...set a timer.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Be true to God.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Chloe, Jacob, Dante & Eric's new bundle.
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? Work on building up our immune systems so we aren't continually sick.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Write down thoughts as they pop up to trigger my memory. Create a prayer board.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? Making good memories with my family. Building a legacy.

In Addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways". Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

1. What's the most important decision you need to make this year? To have the surgery or let it go..
2. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area.My curriculum choices, release.
3. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year? Overcome my fears
4. What habit would you most like to establish this year? Exercising (daily)
5. Who do you most want to encourage this year? My sons**shoot for the stars**
6. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it? Hire an employee for VCC, buy a house & buy a car...discuss, seek wise counsel, save money, evaluate cause & effect.
7. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? Buy a new laptop & a computerized transcript program
8. What's one way you could be a blessing to others this year? Let them know...use words
9. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren? Study my children & minister to their specific needs. Use Gods words to guide my steps.
10. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you want to seek most earnestly this year? Oh, I have a huge list, much too long. There are too many great books, I won't commit to just one. I do have a list though.
11. What thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year? The way our relationship with Bonner & Hannah went down. We will pray for them.
12. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year? That he preform a miracle of fertility for Jeff & I.
13. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?Patience with teenagers. Talk to others, read inspiring books & bite my tongue.
14. What's the most important trip you want to make this year? The (CHEA) Long Beach Homeschoool Convention to be inspired & rejuvenated for this journey
15. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?To sand & refinish furniture without Jeffs help.
16. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year? Consistent Hospitality
17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year? Invest in lectures on tape/CD & educational DVD's to insure school time takes place.
18. What one biblical doctrine do you want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it? The problem with astrology & the gospel in the stars. I will confirm my faith & gain depth of wisdom.
19. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? They would say I could do whatever I put my mind to & they would be right. I will take the plunge.
20. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year? Pet safety and quality products(An outdoor dog kennel/run with a top & an outdoor bunny play yard.
21. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?Conquer my fears. I will exhale & jump in.

Life on our Roller Coaster

• Saturday B&R spent the day working at Camp Haze & then B had music ministry practice & R had sound/recording system work at the church
  
• Sunday First came sunday school & morning service where B&R had their church equipment/music moments. All the guys got hair cuts. We bought a 20 gallon ice chest (to fill with groceries) & went to dinner with Mike & Angela. (we also made a pit stop @ their house).
• Monday night B&R spent time at Yosemite Fitness with Austin & Aubrey. They had a great time on the rock climbing walls! They also enjoyed learning new games at their house later that evening. Jeff & I were at a Homeschool meeting
  
• Tuesday was the 1st Chitudo night in the new building.
• Wednesday we stayed home (yeah for movie night!)
• Thursday was the 2nd Homeschool meeting we attended for the week. B&R caught up on more movies.
  
• Friday B&R went to the bookstore, out to lunch, Ice skating, out to dinner & dance lessons. I went to the 3rd (and I think last, at least for a while) homeschool meeting.

Chaffee Zoo

B&R attended the Chaffee Zoo Young Naturalist Winter Camp over Christmas break. This gave them a chance to get more intimate knowledge about exotic animals. It was an opportunity to gain hands on Zoo Keeper skills. The camp also gave them an inside view to the happenings at our local Zoo. They enjoyed the behind-the-scene tour aspect as well. I am still hearing stories about the "characters"they met. They went on a guided tour of the Zoo, which gave them lots of information on specific critters such as names & personalities etc....They both had a lot of fun, even though there was mucking involved.

Here are two fun facts for you.

Ricky thought it was funny that one of the Elephants doesn't like people with curly hair. She won't let them come near her. Apparently one lady endeavored to conquer this . She ended up wearing a hat (hiding her hair) & the elephant excepted the situation.

For some crazy reason Billy called his belly button a Motmot when he was a baby. No, we could never figure out why. B&R discovered an exotic bird at the zoo called..yep, you guessed it, a Motmot, who knew? Billy managed to get a picture with his cell phone.

"If you think EDUCATION is expensive, try IGNORANCE"-unknown

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire"-William Yates

Tagged By A Teeny

• Where is your cell phone?Hmmm, I know I should care...
• Your hair?Recently cut three inches off
• Your favorite thing?Laughter
• Your dream last night?Talking to Bethany at Grandma's house
• Your favorite drink?Cherry Pepsi
• Your goal?To conquer my fears
• The room your in?J's office
• Where do you want to be in six years?Where you can't cook an egg on the sidewalk in August
• Where were you last night?At a homeschool meeting
• What your not?Selfish
• Muffins?Ohh! Mimi's cafe, any of them!
• One of your wish list items?A house in the shade
• Where you grew up?The Valley
• The last thing you did?Make dinner
• What are you wearing?My comfys
• Your TV?Longs for an armoire to hide in
• Your computer?Needs to be replaced (I'm using J's)
• Your life?I'm a daughter of THE King
• Your mood?Enjoying the silence (the guys are at Chitudo)
• Missing someone?Always
• Your car?Window shopping
• Something your not wearing?Makeup
• Favorite store?Does Amazon count?
• Your summer?Road trippin'
• Your favorite color?Yellow
• Last time you laughed?Today
• Last time you cried?Today
• If you could snap your fingers where would you be?Maine
• What's your favorite season?Winter
• What's your favorite flower?Daisies
• Silver or Gold?Depends on the outfit
• What's your middle name?Anne (with an "e")
• Have you ever been out of California?Yes
• If so where?Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Mexico, Texas etc....
• Where were you born?Memphis Tenn.

Seven Things About Me

Seven Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. Conquer My Fears
2. Lose Weight
3. Go On A Cruise To Alaska
4. Own & Regularly Use A Boat
5. Live in New England...At The Very Least In July & August
6. Go On A Road Trip Across America (A Few Times)
7. Meet My Great Grandbabies

Seven Of My Favorite Foods

1. Bean & Cheese Burritos
2. Cobb Salad
3. Pilaf
4. Avocado on Ritz Crackers
   
5. Broccoli Salad
6. Biscuits & Milk Gravy
7. Cranberry & Almond Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Seven Things I Cannot Do

1. Support Abortion
2. Support Gay Marriage
3. Engage With A Big Portion Of My Family
4. Pretend I Don't Want More Children
5. Enjoy Really Hot Weather
6. Swim In The Tundra
7. Point A Can Of Spray Paint Into My Eyes (In Memory of Renee)

Seven Things I Hate To Do

1. Wash Dishes
2. Vacuum
3. Correct & File School Papers
4. Be The Mom & Not The Friend
5. Spend Money On Boring Things (Like Cars, Bills Etc...)
6. Be Around Arrogant & Or Mean Spirited People
7. Buy Groceries For Feeding TWO Adolescent Boys

Seven Movies I Watch Over & Over

1. The Sound Of Music
2. Anne Of Green Gables
3. Sarah Plain & Tall
4. Its A Wonderful Life
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
6. You've Got Mail
7. Fools Rush In

Seven Things I Love To Do

1. Read By The Fire Sipping Bengal Spice Tea
2. Laugh With My Family & Friends
   
3. Be A Mom
4. Share My Life With My Husband
5. Homeschool My Sons
6. Adventure With My Family
7. Decorate & Organize

Seven Songs I Listen To Over & Over Again

1. Gratitude-Nichole Nordeman
2. In Christ Alone-Newsboys
3. Legacy-Nichole Nordeman
4. Sweet Pea-Amos Lee
5. Give Me Your Eyes-Brandon Heath
6. You Are The Sun-Sara Groves
7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow-Jason Castro

Back to Reality

The Christmas season brought many fun times for the boys. They went to a Laser Quest/pizza party with CHEFA. A luncheon & cookie exchange ( we made peanut butter chocolate chip) with MATCH. And walked down Candy Cane Lane, gift exchange & spaghetti dinner with BEST. Remembering this was just with the school groups.
We enjoyed a walk down Christmas Tree Lane & the goodies afterward with the Lim family. going to Tamarack Snow Park & a Christmas dinner/gift exchange with the Shugert family. As well as making Gingerbread houses with the Cunning kiddos. All of these familys are very dear to us.

Then there was the family celebrations full of wonderful traditions.

Becky likes to give out PJ's on Christmas Eve. She also has specific things that go in stockings & a method to her gift giving. She makes a great meal, we look forward to it every year. This year Jeff (Sr) threw in a very nice surprise. Jeff's family comes down from Berkley each year. This year they saved us from our coffee woes. (More on that later)
My Mom has her traditions as well. One thing she like to do is buy a silly gift for the men-folk. This years "toy" was Nerf guns. Yes, each adult male got one. As they were opening their gifts...the war began. This year the kids & Moms got the goofy gift as well. By the time everyone had their guns we took the party outside & it continued until Jim brought the compressor out. Yep. An air compressor. Which was used to blow up balloons, that were strategically set up in the yard to be shot at with 6 shooters. A boys heaven! I didn't feel good (sick yet again) & little Dante didn't get a gun....so I gladly released mine.
We have traditions in our little foursome. We have our celebration on Christmas Eve eating cinnamon rolls, from The Cinnamon Roll Shop for breakfast while we watch the boys open their gifts. Several years back we started a "Manbox" for B&R. Every Christmas we buy a tool for the box. Buy the time they leave home they should be pretty well set. We then pack into the car & head to the snow park.

Next came New Years Eve. Jeff & I believe you should spend the closing off the year & the fresh start (new beginning) with those who are most important to you. And so each year we close out the rest of the world to focus on Jeff, Charity, Billy & Ricky. The phone is turned off & the fun begins. We eat junk food. We play new games that each Grandma buys every Christmas. We watch new movies. We save fireworks from the 4th of July & set them off. We have party poppers, silly string & noise makers that we go crazy with as we watch the ball drop in New York via the T.V. We toast our families happiness & love.

A lot happened this season that was wonderful & somethings that I could have done without. I was disappointed in not seeing my sister & my Jacki. yet very glad to have dinner with my brother. One thing I am very grateful for was the ability to have some rest. The boys went on sleep overs, went to movies & had friends over as well. But we had a lot of reading, watching new movies & sleeping in. However now its back to reality. Its time to hit the books in our little school.

"If I were to label much of the educational material today, I'm afraid a large percentage would definitely be twaddle. How colorfully and scientifically our generation talks down to the little child! What insipid, stupid, dull stories are trotted out!"-Susan Schaeffer MacAuley