Perspective

We are home early.

Friday morning, the day we had planned a special trip to the Vancouver Art Gallery and a surprise trip to the Children's Space Center Baby woke up sick. Then she threw up. Twice. On the hotel carpet floor.

The hotel graciously let us check out early with no charge, and the cleaning staff said nothing that was not sympathetic when I flagged one of them down to help.

We then headed home because when we are sick, we just want to be home, and we thought Baby would be the same. Sure enough, even though Baby is still sick, she is a bit better because she is home, and she is certainly more settled.

It was disappointing to have our plans changed, but it is amazing how a little perspective can make it better.

So I counted some blessings:

1. We were close enough we COULD just drive home.
2. We were able to stop for lunch right by the kids bookstore I wanted to check out, so we were able to do that.
3. We finished all our shopping for "essentials when you visit Canada" on Thursday, so worse case this was a reverse of the Canadian tradition of heading to the US for the weekend to shop.
4. Baby is clearly on the mend. She is sleepy, and not eating great, but doing better.
5. I feel bad about this one, but I am really grateful I do not have to scrub the floor where she was sick. I can do it, but it always makes me feel kind of sick too. And the hotel did not charge us for the night we canceled.
6. We can go back anytime, it is close enough. We could easily do it in a weekend.
7. It is disappointing to miss the art exhibit that only goes until September 6, we have the benefit of knowing that there will be an exhibit by Picasso at the Seattle Art Gallery starting in October. And yes I have searched art galleries in Oregon, Washington and BC.
8. We are home. There is always something nice about that after being away, even if it is for 1 night.
9. Since the, um, let's just call it the hotel incident, there has been no tossing of the cookies, and no fevers.
10. No one else appears to be getting sick, and Miss Pear has a whole new appreciation for what Baby can do....

Quick Trip

We are heading out for a long weekend quick trip just our family. But are leaving on Thursday.

We have been planning this trip for a while, and it is a big deal to us! So we have a fair bit to get done tomorrow before we go.

See you next week!

It's Monday, I'm Melting

I know I said I was working on a better attitude about no air conditioning, and I am, on Saturday when we set record breaking heat I was stoic and creative and even optimistically cheerful. On Sunday we again set records and I looked on the bright side and said that after a month of trying to get to Sunday night service with 2 little girls we were finally going to make it! And we did! It was great! It was also a good thing we got the girls into the air conditioning because Baby was starting to get sick from the heat and Miss Pear was not far behind if her pink cheeks and resting her head on my lap were any indication.

But last night it was still 80 in the house at 10PM, and my good attitude fizzled.

Actually I think what annoyed me the most next to the girls getting sick in the heat (always a concern in our family) and effectively killed my good mood and attitude was that I was almost 3/4 of a day ahead in my Bible in 90Days reading in anticipation of a family 3 day trip this week and am now only on track.

Sigh.

In other news, I am sure our neighbors were laughing at us when it was at least 90F out side and we were all heading out in sweats carrying jackets after supper! It was Miss Pear's last day of formal skating lessons for this session so we all went to watch and then had an ice cream celebration afterwards.

It is a complete mystery how it can be record breaking heat and Dairy Queen is not packed. But the drive through has a line up around the parking lot. Very interesting.

Now that I think about it, signing Miss Pear up for skating lessons during the summer was genius on my husband's part. People look at us funny when we say we are doing skating, but when it is blazing hot out it feels so refreshing to be in the cool ice rink!

Okay, I just read what I wrote, and am tempted to delete it, but in the interest of trying to be authentic I am going to leave it because it lets me say one thing.

Each day, just as the heat was becoming a concern for the girls there was something that made it okay. Either it was having ice cream on Saturday, church Sunday night, or skating on tonight, such perfect provision! So often we just look at things and say that it was great it worked out, and don't go beyond that. I don't believe in things "just working out" or in coincidences, but I do believe in God, and He is the Almighty, able to do more than we can even comprehend, and provide perfectly for us.

And before I forget, a sweet commenter noted that a lot of people have the window air conditioning units up here - that made me feel better after thinking that all these people were superhuman and could handle this heat with no problem. Such a comforting perspective!

Okay, that's it, I am done, I need to read my Bible in 90 days, and that means I need to get reading. Good night!

Homeschooling Kindergarten

Homeschooling kindergarten is fun, almost as much fun as preschool. We started preschool because Miss Pear was begging to learn to read so she could read her Bible (still working on that, but making progress), and math so she could read recipes.

Definitely my girl.

We start the morning with Bible time at the breakfast table reading:

1. Everything a Child Should Know about God
   Excellent basic Bible doctrine
   
2. The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes
   
3. A chapter of the Gospels. We are in Mark right now, when we get to the end of John we head back to the start of Matthew.
   

We then have reading time, picture books first and we always start with God Knows My Name and then read about 3-5 others, and then have chapter book reading time.

We then take a break, I tidy the kitchen and get some things like laundry started and it is time to start school.

Baby tags along with us, doing what she can, playing with brain food toys in her highchair and reading books, playing under the table at my feet, sitting in Daddy's chair and coloring, then running off to play.

Or Core, or official like type stuff is:

1. Saxon Math 1 (we did K for preschool, it is fun math toys that sneak in learning, and so far Miss Pear is handling this easily).
2. A Reason For Handwriting A (Yes, the grade 1 level, we did the K one for preschool).
   
3. Rod and Staff Reading and Phonics Grade 1 (first level offered, and Miss Pear is handling it easy and asking to do more than the day's lesson)

(Daddy and Miss Pear have a "reading meeting" in the evening after supper and are going through Alphaphonics).

If we sat down and just plowed through this we would be done in 1.5 - 2 hours. But no body would be having any fun, and it would quickly become drudgery. So if the Math lesson was longer than usual like yesterday's one where we made a pictograph then we take our first recess there, otherwise we do math and handwriting, have recess and come back for reading and phonics. So this ends up taking us almost until lunch, but we have fun, and the fact that we don't rush seems to help Miss Pear get it much easier.

Starting in September, on Tuesday mornings we will be doing Classical Conversations.

After this is done we can be done for the day if we want, and usually we are as far as formal learning goes. After this the rule is to feed the curiosity. So we explore science topics, social studies things, read about art, craft, and learn to do things around the house. Miss Pear wants to know how to do everything, so when I do laundry I show her how the washer works etc. She also wants to cook, so I am constantly on the hunt for things she can make. Today at lunch she made banana yogurt salad and mostly assembled the grilled cheese sandwiches herself (I grilled them). It is fun.

In a lot of ways we fall nicely into the classical model of education, but our love for reading also ends up placing us in the Charlotte Mason method, and our practice of feeding the curiosity puts us a little bit in the unschooling method. I don't really worry about what method we use, I just concentrate on what works for my family and how we learn.

All in all, I am having a GREAT time!

Homeschooling At Our House

We started kindergarten last week in our house, and we started in August for a lot of reasons. While I have wanted to share about our plans for this school year, there is one thing I need to say first.

While I enjoy sharing about our schooling adventures, and yes, we are a homeschooling family, I sometimes get odd responses to this, and often it is of a defensive nature, which kind of confuses me.

So let me tell you my secret....

...If you don't homeschool your children, that is perfectly fine with me.

Seriously.

Just because we homeschool does not mean I hold it up as the standard for all families.

Although there is one standard I do hold up for Christian families - ask God and He wants you to school your children and then do it, even if you are unsure. If you have done that, and are doing that, then I will totally support your schooling choice, even if it is polar opposite of what we are doing. If you have not, I would encourage you to ask Him!

That is how we ended up homeschooling. And yes, this has been confirmed as the method of schooling for Baby too.

If my knee cooperates I will share some of our homeschooling plans starting tomorrow.

How do you school your children? What is your favorite part of that method?

CSA Boxes 5 and 6

The produce boxes are now filled with locally grown beautiful produce! I did not post box 5 before it arrived as that was the day of Miss Pear's cardiology appointment and we were distracted. At that appointment it became clear we are doing the right thing as it is very important she enjoy a heart healthy diet, more so than for most people.

The box we got that night included:

Bunched Carrots
Roma Tomatoes (it was supposed to be Chioggia Beets, but I needed tomatoes!)
Green Beans
Walla Walla Sweet Onions
Cabbage
Spinach
Salad Mix (Cut Greens)
Cherries
Blueberries
Peaches (a double order because I really needed more fruit so I swapped out the arrugala)
Nectarines

I also ordered an extra bag of carrots because they are so delicious and taste like they came right out of the garden, none of this store bought taste!

This Week's Box

Red Leaf Lettuce
Bunch of Carrots (swapped in place of Baby Chioggia Beets)
Green Chard
Mixed Summer Squash
Savoy Cabbage
Cucumbers
Red Radishes
Baby Bok Choy
Flavor Supreme Pluots
Blueberries
Peaches
Apricots

I also added a bag of carrots and a bunch of celery as we never have too many carrots and I needed celery. I am finding it is better both by cost and by flavor to order extra fruits and veggies through the box!

As it stands now, unless the grocery store has a screaming deal and I am going any way I only buy fruits and veggies through the box or at Costco where I regularly buy bananas and peppers.

Cloudy Monday

Good afternoon - no Bible in 90 Days update today except to say I am on track.

Week is not off to a great start. I fell and very badly bruised my knee cap. It is the first time I have hurt myself where the pain was so bad I thought I would be sick. I am praising God that it did not break and think it has a lot to do with the fact that He prompted my husband to very specifically pray for my safety as I work around the house each day when we were praying last night!

So I am off to get settled with a book and an ice pack.

Praying

There was a time my husband and I both maintained fairly extensive commitments outside our home. We both served in ministry as volunteers, in addition to serving in our church. This was before we had children, of course, and our work was either together, or it was at the same time (we both served Monday nights) so that we had plenty of time together.

Things are different now. God has made it clear to us that my main ministry is in our home and will be for years to come. Not only am I good with that, I am thrilled.

No longer am I out teaching others' children the Bible, I am home teaching mine. Just for one example!

In this season of life I cannot do a lot to directly influence outside my home, but I can do some.

My ministry outside our home is simple now. I share bread I have made. We share a meal either by inviting people to our home or taking a meal (we will have the same one that night), and by praying.

In the course of even the busiest day I can find time to pray while I am doing dishes, flipping laundry, cleaning, or drifting off to sleep.

I may not be able to do a lot, but I relish what I can do, and do it wholeheartedly.

Attitude Adjustment

I am working VERY hard on an attitude adjustment.

People keep telling me that you just don't need air conditioning in the area we live in.

And they are SERIOUS!

Exhibit A - it was 87 F today.

We have had a few very hot days where it just does not cool down at night, but each week there are a few days where it is just REALLY uncomfortable in our house between about 4 and the sun going down.

And being hot makes us all grumpy.

Plus if the girls get too hot they actually do get sick.

But we have no air conditioning because people do not think it is necessary up here.

Honestly.

Not kidding.

I am working hard on trying to adjust my attitude.

Honestly.

No, I am not kidding.

I keep reminding myself that God has called people to a lot harder things that living one summer without air conditioning. All you have to do for perspective is consider the missionaries your church supports and you will see what I mean.

And it helps my perspective.

But we are still getting AC next year when we buy our own house!

A Time to Celebrate

The last 2 years have been interesting, brutal, and probably the most spiritually significant of my life so far. The health issues of the girls have had us all over the map, and the fact that they are so healthy now is nothing short of miraculous.

On Sunday we got a chance to celebrate with our new church family at one of the summer evening picnics. And it was wonderful!

The children played and had a great time. It was fun to see how many friends Miss Pear has!

We all sat around and ate our suppers.

Then we were called up to share our story of the past 2 years. My husband did a wonderful job of opening our time by making it clear this is all about what God has done and sharing the timeline of all the goings on, and then I shared the big lessons we had learned through this, and got to really say how wonderful God is!

Our pastor then led us in singing Praise to the Lord and prayer. While we were praying a present for the girls appeared, and they were thrilled to find it was the doll house they had loved so much. It was a very special, very meaningful, very appreciated gift.

We then shared cake, ice cream, blueberries, cookies and whatever other yumminess was put out and visited some more.

It was a very special evening, and even now I get a bit teary thinking about it.

It was wonderful to have a chance to stop the fast pace of life and thank God for His love, mercy, and blessings in our lives.

Bible in 90 Days Day 29/Week 5 Check in

It has been an interesting week since last Monday. Our oldest daughter at age 5 had skating lessons Monday night (her little sister alternately cheered, laughed with delight and tried to join her), a cardiologist appointment on Wednesday, and our whole family had a Classical Conversations homeschooling co-op meeting Friday morning where our oldest would be in class one morning a week learning in the classical method while our youngest and I sit at the back and learn too.

That kept us busy. But I did keep up with my reading.

I am writing this Sunday afternoon, and this evening at our Church picnic we will be sharing how God cared for our family these past 2 years, especially the health of our girls. As I have thought about that I have been overwhelmed by God love, care, healing and provision. We felt compelled at the end to take a time to stop and say thank you, and when we mentioned this in casual passing it morphed into sharing our story at one of the summer picnics.

When I read the Bible in 90 days starting in January I read because I was overwhelmed, and I found great comfort.

This time through I am reading because I did finish last time, but not in 90 days, and I felt compelled to try again. This time as I read I am finding great perspective on the past 2 years and great joy.

So while I do fall behind a chapter or 2 here or there, I always do manage to catch up the next day, and I am finding it be a source of great delight and encouragement.

For more information on reading the Bible in 90 Days check here, and to see how others are doing check here....

Miss Pear at the Cardiologist

Yesterday was the 6 month check up after surgery for Miss Pear, at a new hospital with a new cardiologist. We love the cardiologist and the hospital.

The appointment itself went well, somethings were upsetting to Miss Pear, and somethings were fascinating.

As for the results, the are conflicting.

The aortic valve itself, to make a long and complicated story short is functioning normally, which is a miracle! Normal was never a word used to describe the best case scenario of how her valve could function. That is a miracle. There are no other words for it.

The disappointing news is that there is a narrowing before her valve again. That could be a number of things from nothing to the membrane growing back. That is last one is deeply frustrating and concerning because there really is, right now, only one way to deal with a membrane in the heart, and that is to remove it.

So on one hand we feel like shouting praises from the roof tops, and on the other hand we feel like throwing a temper tantrum that would put a 2 year old to shame.

So what do we do. It is too early to know anything about the narrowing. We will go back in 6 months and pray that things are clearer.

In the mean time we will pray, trust God, and live each day.

Bible in 90 Days Day 22/Week 4 Check in

My reading is going along nicely. I did fall behind a bit last week with having friends over on Thursday for supper, with it being my birthday on Friday and taking a tour of the farm that does our CSA box on Saturday, but I am ALMOST caught up. (As in just a chapter or 2 behind).

What I have been seeing most this past week is the contrast between obedience and disobedience.

Going back a bit I was struck by how Pharoh was willing to be obedient until there was relief, and then his heart was hardened. The call to me was to be obedient in the every day, especially in times of relief.

But this week I was struck by Moses disobedience, which was kind of shocking as I always think of him being this glowing example. Yet his wife had to circumcise their sons when he neglected to do it, and then Joshua had to circumcise the Israelites before they could enter the promised land. Moses had to flee Egypt when he struck and egyptian and killed him, and he was forbidden from entering the promised land because he struck the rock to get water when that was clearly not what Jesus said.

I was again struck by Caleb's obedience, which was certainly not easy, but yet he persisted and became the proud owner of Hebron, a city that has been and continues to be very significant.

Now I am in 1 Samuel, and reading about Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David, and again the contrast between obedience and disobedience is so clear and stark. Even though this is my 9 or 10th time reading the Bible cover to cover, which does not count all the sporadic, random, curious reading I did on my own, or structured reading I did as part of my seminary studies or Bible studies, the Bible always is new and fresh. If it is not to you, please ask God to teach you, to show you new things, to make His Word new and fresh for you!

Mostly though, I am reading a long and enjoying time in God's Word with Him. It is a joy.

What is God teaching you this week?

Happy Birthday!

Okay, so it is my birthday, and maybe yours today. But instead of the usual woo hoo I am a year older, I wanted to stop and tell you the three big lessons I have learned from God this past year in the hopes that it might encourage you.

1. God loves our children.
In the midst of all the girls health stuff this past year and three quarters I have learned that I will only ever have the tiniest glimpse of how much God loves our children. It is incredible.

2. God provides.
No matter how the numbers look from a logical earthly perspective, no matter how impossible situations seem, God provides. You may have to look back after the fact to see it, but He provides.

3. God is still in the miracle business.
Sometimes we throw this word around casually, and sometimes we discount what we see. But I want to tell you that God is sovereign, He is the Almighty, the God Most High, and He is still in the miracle business.

What are the big lessons that God is teaching you?

when it is quiet here....

...you can be assured it is quiet no where else in my life!

We are trying to finish off our school year for the end of this month (we took 2 months off with the move, not to mention all the medical things) and with our whopping school schedule of 30-45 minutes a day during the week we should be perfectly on track...in fact we will finish hand writing this week and math next week.

My inbox for my personal email is 2 screens long....yes, I have filed what I can, but seriously it is insane!

Miss Pear has her cardiology appointment next Wednesday afternoon, this is the 6 month surgical follow up.

We are going out to the farm where our CSA box comes from on Saturday morning for a tour...I am unreasonably excited.

I am doing the Bible in 90 days, and I love it, it is great, but it is at least an hour of reading a day for me. A small, small, tiny gift to my Lord, and in return He blesses me tremendously during this time.

We are thinking of a way to thank God for His care and provision the last 2 years. Not only were little girls healed, but bills were always paid on time, we always had food on our table, and even though sacrifices were definitely made, we never did without what we really needed when by earthy means that should have been the case. Some days it felt like the widow with the jar of oil that never let out...but in my case my shampoo seemed to last forever and my freezer and pantry seemed endless.

My freezer and pantry are a mess and need order restored, and probably labels made.

We are working on getting ready to start our next school year the first week of August to make sure we can take time off when we move next spring into a house of our own.

I feel the need to spend more time in prayer along with the Word. It is like there is something I am supposed to be getting and it is just beyond my reach.

So if things are a little quiet here, know that all is well, but my Lord and my family will always be my top priority, as much as I enjoy my time here with you.