A different kind of spring break

A chance to catch my breath for a few days has offered me the opportunity to write a little bit. Our area has been hit with tornadoes in an extraordinary manner, not seen for over 20 years in NC. As the aftermath unfolds,many have lost their lives and many more their homes and things that were precious to them. I still cannot believe how close the tornadoes were to our home and yet how far away they were at the same time. Drive up the street and take a right turn and the devastation unfolds. Our family was talking about how remarkable the destruction of a tornado is, how it dessimates one home and leaves another right next to it untouched. Unexplainable... It serves as a reminder once again to hold on to things loosely in this world and to love your family and those you hold dear, magnificently, every day, even when they are not lovely and you don't want to do it, because you never know what the next turn in life's path will bring your way. Lavish the love on them! I am grateful for the pause in school for this week, but seek now to make it more meaningful. I want our family to help the ones around us that are suffering from the destruction left behind after the tornadoes. We are so fortunate to have been spared from the tragedy so close to us. Friends have been effected, we will start, of course, with them. This could be a huge marker stone in my kids lives', where they see faith in action helping the hurting,trying to make a difference in Jesus' name. I am so grieved over the families whose lives have been so tragically touched by Saturday's events. I want it to make a difference in what we do this spring break with our days. I want it to make a lasting difference in how we are as a family, how we relate to one another, to those around us. Praying for all of those across North Carolina that are hurting and suffering. Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit..."

Getting Ready for A Big Tea

I am helping to plan a Christmas Tea for my homeschool group. We are expecting around eighty ladies to come for an evening of tea and delightful finger foods while enjoying Christmas music, a wonderful guest speaker, door prizes and lots of fun. 

I have been working on the lists of who is bringing what and preparing emails with all the information our members need to know so that the tea will go well. As much work as big events tend to be, a tea party for 80 ladies, I love to serve the ladies in my homeschool group, Lighthouse Homeschool Association.  

I feel so blessed to be part of such a diverse and ever-growing group of families all educating their children at home. Table hostesses are working on creating unique tables with Christmas themes for this evening. I cannot wait to see how everything looks. I will take pictures and post them after the event in December. For now I can breathe a little easier knowing that the plans are in place and begin praying for the ladies that will be coming for an evening of Christmas tea.

Back after taking a break

Life has a way of speeding up sometimes, so fast that I get dizzy! I have been taking a break from blogging for just that reason. We have been flying through the months of September, October and now half way through November! The last few months have been filled with dance and basketball tryouts, choir rehearsals, Boy Scout camping trips, quick trips to the beach and just doing life. We have delved into everything full force this fall. 

 I am looking forward to the holidays this year and the break in activities that both Thanksgiving and Christmas bring for our family. I love settling in with hot chocolate and a good book and hearing the kids playing in different parts of the house or outside in the beautifully colored woods. I love being able to be home for extended periods of time without having to run out to a meeting, practice, or other committment. 

 So I am back from a break from the blog, but looking forward to the upcoming break to catch our collective breath and enjoy some family time together. Enjoy these gorgeous fall days they pass by so quickly. Before I know it I will look out the back windows at the lovely woods and the leaves will be gone from the trees and more time will have passed quickly by.

School has begun!

We have several weeks under our belts as the new school year gets into full swing. We are getting ready to start week 4 of year 4 in Tapestry of Grace! My oldest has had one meeting time for his Biology and Spanish courses and my daughter has tried out for Nutcracker and awaits the announcement of parts for this family Christmas favorite.

Ready or not, school has definitely sprung around our house. I just keep telling myself to ease into the year and add a few things each week. I am being decidedly fierce about our calendar as individuals as well as a family. This time last year dear husband was in Iraq and we were in a flurry of activity. We also were anticipating his arrival home for R&R. Sometimes it seems like a dream that he is home with us now. I want to make sure that we have plenty of time to just be a family and continue to work on our re-connections as the new school year marches on and more and more things get going.

The kids have made a strong start. They are getting back into the world of schedules, books and reading! Anyone who uses the Tapestry of Grace curriculum knows that there is always plenty of reading to be done. Much prayer has gone into the start of this new school year. I have been reminded to add some interesting field trips and fun elective times into our schooling. I often get so involved in the nuts and bolts of school and schedule that I forget those things. My youngest is eight now and he has done many of those fun field trips as a toddler in a stroller. He needs to get to do them again as a curious eight year old.

I am thankful for the new school year and also thankful for the gentle pushes to extend myself and constantly be examining how to encourage my kids to excellence and fun. It is going to be a great year!

Together At Last!

Dear husband and I are actually together for the first time in three years to celebrate our wedding anniversary. This year we are celebrating nineteen years of marriage! For the last three years he has been deployed in Iraq or training to go to Iraq. We are very thankful to be able to actually be together this year. There is something special about still being excited about our anniversary even though we were so far away from each other. It has made this year's anniversary more poignant in the fact that we made it through those separations and now are reunited. My prayer is that we never get so use to being "married" that it does not matter to us that we are apart on our anniversary. Happy Anniversary soldier boy! I love you.

Two Days in a Row

I was trying to create a blog signature after being inspired by my friend Beth at http://nclighthousekeeper.blogspot.com/, but I was not successful! I can't get the background of my signature to match my blog background. Oh well, it was fun trying to get it to work.

I am however successful at posting two days in a row. I don't have anything exciting to update about this morning. I had a nice early morning walk, made a pot of steaming coffee, and now I am going to enjoy a cup out on the deck before it gets too hot today.

We are planning a game day inside for the family. Our youngest is going to get a lesson in how to play RISK on the dining room table. I am not sure what else is in store for our last day of family vacation, maybe a little family ROCK Band. I am going to go make waffles and cook some link sausage now. I think I will make some brownies and some more sweet tea and maybe we will grill out marinated chicken breasts tonight. I have loved our five days of family vacation. Great food, lots of laughter and fun times this family vacation, and all at home! We also got to see more fireworks last night at the top of our street.

Tonight we will top it all off with new episodes of American Pickers and Pawn Stars! Happy July 5th and happy second day in a row blogging!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 234th Birthday America! Our family has been enjoying a "vacation" at home this year over the 4th of July Holiday. We are near the end of our five days of family fun in our home, and I have enjoyed our time together celebrating our great nation's birthday. Red, white and blue are the colors of our vacation. I pulled out every patriotic thing we own and the kids have been wearing all of their red,white and blue regalia. One of our dogs is wearing her own patriotic gear as well.

We have been blessed with swimming in our neighbor's pool while they are out of town for the holiday weekend. We watch their kitty cats and get to swim. What a swap! Last night after swimming, we had some pizza and cheese dip and then a fabulous, free fireworks display, courtesy of our town just a short walk up the street. Our days have been filled with things I remember from my own childhood,talking with neighbors, bug spray, a little sunburn and lots of yummy summer time food. I made a family favorite, blueberry pound cake.

Today, in honor of the official day of Independence, we are grilling out burgers and corn on the cob and having sweet watermelon. Later the night sky will be filled once again with the bright light of our kids running around with sparklers and before that some silly string! The tournament of tailgate golf will continue this evening. Our oldest has pulled ahead, however a rule consultation has determined that yesterday's tournaments may be tossed out because points were not awarded correctly. Competition in our family is fierce!

We have tried to slow down and enjoy our kids and play hard with them the last several days. Honestly, I am pretty tired, but I am having fun and hoping that the kids will remember fun times at home with Mom and Dad. All the aches and pains of pool volleyball and crazy badminton will pay off one day when the kids are sitting around remembering the times we spent together as a family. We are truly blessed to live in a land of freedom and our family is so grateful to have my dear husband home with us to celebrate Independence day. Last year he was in the heat of Iraq away from all things family, it was just another day. We definitely are making up for that this year!

Happy Independence Day!