Lord's Day Morning Music

This morning, before church, we are enjoying the music on a new CD that arrived this week- Be Still My Soul by Anne Walsh. It can be ordered from CD Baby. Anne's beautiful, clear voice, singing the hymns that fill our hearts with joy and reverence, is preparing us for our Lord's Day service. Have a blessed day.

Easter Sunday With Our Family

Aren't cousins the "best."

Senior Class Trip to Washington DC

Senior Class of 2008

The entire student body and faculty accompanied the Senior class on this trip.

The spectacular WWII monument

The Botanical Gardens were breathtaking.

A very excited art student and teacher visited the National Gallery of Art while the rest of the group headed to the Air and Space Museum. Divide and conqueror.

Apple trees were blooming but the cherry trees were not close to being ready for the beginning of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Geese Are Heading North.......

......but we're heading south.

See you in a week!

You Can't Buck Tradition

It's tradition. When you see a robin in the yard, school is cancelled for the day. A robin was sited in our backyard this morning! The third grader is VERY happy. The high schoolers, however, are just cutting back. Geometry, biology, Shakespeare, and alegbra will continue. Things have changed since the girls have gotten older and procrastination does not have the same appeal.

Welcome back robins! Abby and I will do some nature journaling.

Why I Love Homeschooling- Reason #6

A quote from C.S. Lewis~
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.

I've Added A Hymn To My Blog Music

I found a beautiful rendition of my favorite hymn, Be Still My Soul. This hymn holds a special place in my heart. About 17 years ago, while my husband was in ministerial school, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I had a 5 month old baby and found out that I was pregnant again. It was as though our lives were spinning out of control. One Sunday night I was able to attend church after a long absence due to morning sickness and my baby's numerous ear infections. As I sat down in church, the hymn being sung was Be Still My Soul. There have been times in my Christian's life when I have memories of distinct moments of divine help and intervention. This was one of those times. God used the singing of a hymn to comfort me, His child. This hymn still brings great joy to my heart. Here are the words:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.


Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.


Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.


Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise

On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;

Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,

So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine

Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Show and Tell Friday

It's Show and Tell Friday at Kelli's blog.

It's the first week of March and the people living in the southern part of the US are making the northeners envy their daffodils, sunshine, tulips, green grass, etc....... Here is one thing New Englanders can brag about..... The Christmas Tree Shop. Don't let the name deceive you. There is not one single Christmas tree there this time of year. You never know what you will find! They have everything from lawn ornaments, to glassware, to pictures, to paper goods. And the prices are GREAT! We can always find something.

My favorite purchase is from a line of Polish pottery that they carry. This particular pattern has less blue and more green in it, which is better for my kitchen color scheme.

So if you're ever in the northeast (especially Cape Cod) you may want to stop in for a visit.

God's Provisions Through the Salvation Army

Half-price day at the Salvation Army proved to be successful. Visiting the south in two weeks is causing us to evaluate our spring wardrobes, and it's not looking pretty! Here are our finds:

4 shirts for Caroline (short and mid-sleeved)

1 coat for Cindy (Now, this was not needed for spring but a new New York & Co. coat in brown will allow me to retire another coat to which I will not be sad to say goodbye.)

3 blouses for Cindy

4 shirts for Abby

1 long-sleeved cotton dress to get Abby through the cool spring. I can't seem to keep Abby in clothes due to a growing streak

Grand Total: $30.73

(the coat sent me over my normal budget)

The sun is shining today and spring fever has begun.

Devotional From Elizabeth Elliot

Running the Course
Today there are just too many things to do. My natural response is to fret and fear. Both are forbidden: Fret not. Fear not. That tells me what not to do. What, then, should I do?
"I will run the course set out in thy commandments, for they gladden my heart'' (Ps 119:32 NEB).
There will be both time and strength today to run that course, for it is always possible to do the will of God. The course He sets for us in his commandments is not an obstacle course, but one carefully planned to suit our qualifications--that is, not too rigorous for our limitations, not too lenient for our strengths.
The plan of God for me, for this one day, is meant not to trouble but to gladden my heart. Christ's yoke, according to his own promise, is not hard but easy--if we bear it together with Him and if we bear it as Christ bore it, in meekness and lowliness of heart.
"We must run with resolution the race for which we are entered, our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom faith depends from start to finish" (Heb 12:2 NEB).

Random Pictures from February

Someone got bit by the scrapbooking bug

The only time I was warm all month was while I watching the girls during swimming lessons

What homeschoolers do on a snow day (along with their schoolwork)

Our poor dog playing dress-up. In case you were wondering- no, she did not like it.

The thermometer says 20 degrees but we can get to the grill so we're cooking out!

Hubby brought me these after difficult day. There is nothing happier than yellow flowers.

Goodbye February!!!

Blogging entries have been few lately because, in the words of Thumper's wise mother, "If you don't have nothin' nice to say, don't say nothin' at all." February was not a healthy month, full of doctor's appointments, medical proceedures, a trial with my husband's ongoing physical affliction, the flu, physical trials of our extended family, as well as the physical burdens of close friends. I HATE WHINING but this has been a difficult month. I can now step back and take a more objective look at the circumstances of February and thank God for His goodness.

Our mother/daughter Bible study group has been studying Growing in Wisdom and Faith by Elizabeth George. This study in the book of James has been a blessed help as we read and discuss how God intends for us to view our trials. Here is a poem quoted on page 35 of the book:

Paradoxes of Prayer

Author Unknown

I asked god for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey......

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.....

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise......

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.....

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things......

I got nothing that I asked for-

but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered-

I am among all, most richly blessed!