Monday, July 25, 2011

MOLOME: Spread Love Everywhere



Spread love everywhere.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. 
(Mother Teresa)

Friday, July 22, 2011

Darn, it's hot!


It's still hot...so, what else can we do, but cool off in the pool!?! While cooling off, the boys battled a ferocious horsefly and battered their dad with water balloons until he gave up and jumped in.  Eventually, lightening streaks across the sky forced us out of the water. 

We picked Tori up from camp this afternoon, Ben comes back tomorrow, and Jonah leaves for South Dakota on Monday morning. Are we ever going to all be together again? 

Today, I discovered that you aren't allowed to sell bird nests on Ebay.  Too bad, I have a nice specimen that someone would love to have. 

I'm currently reading a book called Moses, by Chuck Swindoll.  I'm enjoying it a lot....seems like God placed the book in my hands at just the right moment.  Lots of great insights and practical application about living your life in God's will.  So far, I wholly recommend it, even though I'm not finished with it yet.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

It's Wednesday ICU

This week we want to…survive this massive heat wave, start getting ready for a major yard sale, make homemade blueberry muffins, find a lost camera, have a shrimp boil...
The kids are…well, the two left at home are planning a bonfire party for their friends...which means mowing the yard and cleaning up the house.  I love it! 
I am learning….how much fun it is to make altered books.  Here is my first altered book's "Cover-Before Picture"


and here is a "Cover-During Picture"


Sorry it's sideways....I'm telling you these technical things get me all the time.  I'm sure there is a perfectly easy way to turn it around, I just haven't figured it out yet! Anyway, so far with the book, I've covered the entire front and back covers with ripped pieces of brown craft paper, using Modge Podge. Then I decoupaged a ripped up napkin to the front.  Aren't the butterflies gorgeous?  I love butterflies.  
I am struggling with…the same thing as last week, realizing that my entire life is about to be uprooted is getting to me, but I'm still waiting for God to show up.  I know He will!  Please keep us in your prayers!
This week is the first time….I really can't think of anything we've done for the first time this week.

Summertime, Summertime, Summertime...

Silas and Jonah found this perfectly formed bird nest in our yard a few days ago.  I don't know what kind of bird built it, but it is incredible how sturdy it is.  The bottom is covered with mud; Silas says that is so the eggs don't fall out.  Sadly, this nest is so clean...I don't think it was even used, and we found no signs of eggs or baby birds anywhere near.  The abandoned house next door is home to about 20 cats, so possibly that is where the answer lies.

Well, Tori is at Camp LRCA this week, meeting up with one of her best friends, Annie P.  Annie and Tori only see each other two or three times a year...since Annie lives in Michigan City, camp and birthdays are just about it for them.

Ben is spending the week in, well, who knows where?  Somewhere down in Southern Illinois (a foreign country, I hear) at CIY (Christ in Youth- a conference for teens).  HIs lovely Shelly is with him. College starts August 22, so he needs to come home and get himself ready for that.

We were supposed to go to Six Flags today, but the heat advisory scared us.  Plus, we are pretty well tired out from a busy weekend.  We traveled to Indiana to visit a church, staying afterwards to have a picnic at one of the lake with the staff, then traveled home in yesterday's intense heat with no air conditioning in the truck. So, instead of riding roller coasters, Si and Jonah went cherry picking with the Wifler family, and I'm enjoying a day with nothing that absolutely has to be done.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

ICU

Sorry I just haven't been posting at all lately.  Silas and I have been so busy, I will upload some pictures of the fun things we've done the past couple of weeks, as soon as I can catch my breath! I've temporarily given up on the Monday Menu Planning, just because everyone in our family is going in 100 different directions and it just doesn't make sense for me to spend the time planning and cooking.  Si and I have been eating with friends, eating small meals out, and scrounging around in the kitchen to keep ourselves nourished, and it's been working pretty well!
Lake Michigan Chicago Skyline in the Distance
July 4, 2011

I want to start a new weekly meme here, called ICU (Intensive Care for the Christian Unschooler) as long as I can get it to work. It comes from a group I'm a part of on Facebook.  For some reason, I've been having trouble adding the buttons.  I'm not too hot with the technical aspects of blogging, but I'm working on it! Anyway, here it is.....

This week we want to…earn more money for our misson trip to Honduras this fall.  Only my husband and I will be going this time, but I still can't wait.  I've got a few things listed on Ebay (my user name is Bentorijon, check'em out!), and I sold a book on Amazon that went for $83.  So, we're making progress....
The kids are… finally home...sort of! Ben and Tori are home from working at Summerfest in Wisconsin with All Tyed Up, and Jonah is home from California.  He accompanied his friend, Alex, to an archery tournament in Sacramento.  We're so proud of Alex, who is also homeschooled,---he just made the USA World Archery Team and will be competing in Poland next month.  Yay, Alex!  Ben is actually spending the week dog-sitting for a family friend who is on a mission trip to Honduras, but he's close enough to home that we actually see him every day! My heart is breaking because our family was not able to go to Honduras this summer, but God knows best, and we are following His lead.
I am learning….that God alone is my provider and I can trust Him in all things.  He has plans for us....mighty plans!
I am struggling with…changes coming down the road very quickly for our family! We are about to have a MAJOR life change that I can't elaborate on right now, but it will be soon.  Add this to the fact that our oldest is starting college next month, the stress level around here is pretty intense!  But I know God has plans for us, and I can't wait to see what they are!!!!
This week is the first time….I have agreed with my husband that we need to get our male kitty "fixed."  ASAP!!!!! Oh, it's also the first time I ever got a tattoo...wow, shocked everybody who knows me!
One large star for every member of our family...I didn't leave anybody out!

I am grateful…so grateful for my friends who are sharing a heavy burden with us right now and praying for us in what we are going to be facing over the next few months.  I love you all so much.  Thanks for being strong for me when I can't be.

The biggest change I’d like to see take place in my family in the remainder of 2011 is…..that we could spend more time together!