Medieval Camp

    Last year, Jake created "Medieval Camp," in which kids from our homeschool group come to our back yard three consecutive Sunday afternoons and do medieval activities, led by Jake and his peers.
    This year, there is a Viking theme.  His friends and he have been planning for months, and Ron has been cutting swords and shields again--this time, round shields in viking fashion.
     Camp is going GREAT so far!!

Jake Got Braces!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

It's a . . . !

Here are the kids looking at the sonogram report, trying to determine whether it is a girl or a boy!

It's a . . . . BOY!!!!!
We are overjoyed!!!!!!!

Our Visit to the Beach

    The girls and I spent a few days at South Padre for spring break.  I crawled through winter, with that lovely trip as the carrot that got me through!  Then I just SAT and SLEPT for 4 days while the girls played, played, played!

My view for 4 days:

Annie as a MERMAID!

Ready to GO!

Mary's Birthday banana splits :)

A few clouds never hurt anyone!

Mary Mother of God in the sand!

Russian Dancer

Here is our little dancer, in Russian Pointes!

They have no "rolling" ability or flexibility in the shank: so she just "pops" up!  So lovely!!

She has been ready to quit, but then her momentum returns.  It can be a tough environment!  But she is developing endurance of heart as well as of body.  I wish my skin were so thick, dealing with the people she is dealing with!

A Sinking Boat

   I have felt like this pregnancy might sink me.  I am exhausted and not sure how I am going to get through the next 3 years.  I was really ready to be done.  I do not know how I am going to care for myself and my own needs in these years.
    Yesterday I read Luke's version of Christ preaching from Peter's boat, and then telling Peter to go out and cast his nets.  When Peter obeyed, his nets were so full that the boat almost sank.
    Almost sank!  I laughed.  Sometimes God's love is so abundant that we almost sink!

Clare's Job When She Grows Up

   Clare and I have figured out what she is going to be when she grows up!  It is so precious.  She has decided that she would like to live on a farm and raise animals.  In so doing, she would like to use the masters degree in either child psychology or speech therapy that she would have earned, to take in several children at a time and help them learn behavioral or speech skills.  On the farm, she will have them tend to the animals, as well as cook, using these jobs as the environment in which she will help  reform their behavior and/or other issues.  She might take in several children at a time, or even have a summer camp for special needs.
     One reason why this is so exciting to her is the idea of spending her life with animals.  She is just made to be with them.
     Another reason is that she is a born "first child."  She loves to be in charge.  She loves to tell people what to do!  Being the third child in our family is the bane of her existence!  Having learned professional skills at how to HELP people by coaching them with professional know-how, I think she would be able to use this part of her personality, and have the gratification of helping people.
     I am so excited for her!  We talk about it a lot.  She is beaming with delight over her vision!

Now that's. . . motherhood!

   The kids and I were in Walmart yesterday.  Leigh was being as sweet as she could be, all dressed up in a church dress (Ash Wednesday).  Suddenly, she sneezed.  She cries, "UH OH!!!"  She has snot dripping out of her nose six inches long.  It was disgusting!  "Kleenex, kleenex!"  she begged.  None of us had any.  So what did I do?  What any mother would do.  I gave her my shirt tail.  She looked so apologetic as she blew her nose into my shirt.  It was so gross!  But what can you do?  It is just what has to be done--and in a way, what gets to be done.
    In Lent, we are celebrating Christ's death for our sake.  Motherhood is a lifestyle, conformed to this death, to this gift-giving cross.  We give ourselves for others.  We die to ourselves, our wishes and our comforts, our preferences and our self-control, as a gift to someone else.  The challenges of motherhood can look very different from Calvary, but are actually very much the same in spirit.  Hence they are a powerful opportunity--as Christ's was--to pray, give, love, and make a difference in this world.

Clare Giving Up "Being Mean" for Lent

   Over lunch, the kids were determining what they were going to give up for Lent.  Mary, chocolate.  Jake, ice cream.  Leigh, cake AND ice cream.
     Clare, however, suggested "beans from her tacos," and other ridiculous things.  Anything I suggested she rejected.  A kid said something to her and Clare SNAPPED back.  I jokingly said, "Clare, why don't you give up being mean for Lent?"
    She replied, "No WAY!"
    She loves it.  She's not about to give up the little smarty pants tone of voice that she uses when particularly useful!!

Healing

   This year for Lent, I am giving up trauma!  I have resolved to get the traumatic memories that I have actually healed!  I am really excited about it!  I have two leads with counselors, and a great book.
    If anyone has any thoughts about The Healing Code, please let me know!  I did hear about it from a trusted friend!
    So, here we go!  Sixty days!  Lord, help!
    I am also having 30 minutes a day of prayer time.  That can heal any wound!  Showing up is key!
    Happy Ash Wednesday!  I think this might be my best Lent yet!

A New Birth

   Today I read: "God in his great mercy has given us a new birth." (1 Peter 1:3)   Oh, what joy for this new birth!  He has, mercifully, given us fresh, new life.  he has given us membership in his DIVINE family.  Oh, what joy!!!!!
    Today is Granny Ruth's birthday.  I give great thanks for the many ways in which she taught me that I am loved, and for the safe haven that she was to me in dark times.
    I also pray for the resolution of the issues between her and her children, and anyone with whom there were conflicts.  I pray that they would find comfort in these words from 1 Peter, that our ultimate life, comfort and identity is in our NEW birth, and that our heavenly parent teaches us how to love and forgive our earthly parents--and APPRECIATE them in every way that we can.
     How rich--intellectually and emotionally advanced--our faith is!

Can't Believe It!

   We cannot believe it--Jacob was in fact accepted into Cistercian!  It seems like such a miracle.  Only by the grace of God could this have occurred!   So many applicants, so few students admitted.
    Jake, Ron and I attended an Open House there this week.  We sat in on several classes.  It seems like Jacob is such a good fit.  I think it will go very well for him!
    We are so full of gratitude, faith, and love for God.  This is such a blessing.