Congratuations Phillip and Katie Bradrick!

We really, really wanted to go. The wedding was in Louisiana, a mere 3000 miles way. After calculating the cost of 6 people flying, car rentals, and hotels, it was prohibitive. Another way we thought. We'll drive! We mapped out the route, choose stopping points, calculated mileage, but still out of the question. There has got to be another way!.. and there was....well sort of. We did attend A wedding celebration and viewing at the Bryan family home complete with decorations, food and wedding favors. The wedding was viewed via video streaming and was next to the real thing. We were actually quite a rowdy group so it was probably good that we were not at the wedding. I'd say we were akin to a football crowd gathered around a TV on a Saturday afternoon, except that we were all dressed up (after all we were attending a wedding) So here are some of our pictures and the real wedding pictures of Phillip and Katies wedding pictures through the link below. Cheers!

click here!

For the real pictures of the wedding click here.

We're Back from our Mexican Rivera Cruise!

What a great time we had. We got to see my aunt and uncle and cousins in in San Diego, whom I have not seen in a long time! (about 35 years for my cousin) We foolishly did not get any pictures! Then we toured the USS Midway aircraft carrier in San Diego Bay and quickly boarded the Elation cruise ship bound for the coast of Baja California! Quite surely my titles will not end up in line with the pictures so I will have list them ahead of the pictures.

1 Statue of Bob Hope (in the middle, in case you couldn't tell)

2 Elvis, my sweetie for taking me on this great trip! 

3 A magnificent full sail ship taking off just as we were about to start sailing. 

4. Formal night dinner 

5. First excursion trip on the shores of Mexico

6.This rock formation is one of the most photographed spots in Mexico and is the location for "Pirates of the Caribbean." It is the furthest most tip of the Baja Peninsula. 

7. On the excursion tour ship

8. Still more of the beautiful spots on the point. I wanted to get out and sit on that beach!

9. us in a popular restaurant with an amazing scenic view

10 The cruise ship in the distance

11  One of the many towel animals greeting us as we returned after dinner

12 We visited the bars during the day when we could see the magnificence of the decor 

13 At the La Boufador blow hole site over looking the churning waters 

14 Ah, wonderful, fresh, sweet coconut milk right from the shell and the many almost aggressive sellers in the background!

                                                                                         

20 Great Reasons to Homeschool

This may be a little small to read so if you actually cannot read it go to this link, scroll down to the color version and it will be large enough to read. (for some reason I could not get the image larger)  In fact, once you are at the source, go ahead and  pass the image on in your blog or emails. You will be participating in something called "viral advertising!" 

Go for it Jim! 

Enjoy!

PS Notice I changed the title to- 20 Great Reasons TO Homeschool. For those of us who already do educate at home these are familiar reasons. For those that do not (yet) these are just extra tidbit reasons in addition to the real intent of home discipleship because we all know none of us started homeschooling so our kids so they could wear their pajamas to school or so they could sleep in on rainy days! Some days are hard but I would NEVER have it any other way!

Living a lifestyle of learning daily!

Wacky Wednesday-Real Life Science

One dark and rainy day in May, my youngest son Graydon and I were at a garden center and happened to see a small food service type of container at the cash register. "Mantis pod" it read. Would that be Praying Mantis? I was intrigued. What a great real life science project. I often regretted my boys not being able to see a real praying mantis in our hot and humid home when we lived in Ontario. (They were not born yet)

Praying mantis's are the most intriguing little insects. They will actually turn their heads to look at your face. It's kinda shocking the first time you see his head follow yours as you twirl him around on your hand. ....Back to the story... of course, we bought the container and followed the instructions to keep it in the fridge until the weather got warm and then hang it on a tree. Out came our field guides and we researched all about praying mantis (Life applicable learning- the most stickable learning there is. In 2 - 6 weeks out of the pod were to emerge hundreds of baby praying mantis. We hung one on either side of the garden and watched carefully. We were warned to not miss the hatching because once the babies come out of their paper wasp like birthing pod there is not much evidence that the pod is empty and the babies will all scatter and you could miss it. Well, one we missed but the other I providentially caught just a the right time. Here is a great shot of the pod dripping with babies. They quickly jumped down and were off. Within 30 min we could hardly find one. They were so cute!

Surprisingly, Graydon found one of the long lost mantis babies now grown to over an inch in only 3 weeks later. It is surprising because they are completely camouflaged with their surroundings. They look like a small twig or other thread like natural debris. He was obviously doing very well.

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Sorry to be so distant....

Thank you to all of my friends and faithful readers out there who have commented on my mysterious absence over the last month. Usually I try to post daily but even every other day works well for me. However when life really gets way too fast to consider a private relationship with my computer, I may periodically, unintentionally, disappear for a time.

I regret not leaving a post letting you know of my unintentional absence but it all happened so fast. August was such a blur. I remember only sleeping in my own bed a few times for the whole month. Where did the the Summer go?

Let's see, there were strawberries to be picked. (late June) Fortunately a friend graciously brought me several already picked perfectly ripe strawberries. 60 lbs went in the freezer.

Then there were raspberries. The search for a new u-pick location was needed and took several days but once we found one we were off in a flash before the season was over. I then processed all 90 lbs in my juicer t0 remove the seeds and dried some puree for future raw jam.(future post)The rest I froze for smoothies for the cold winter months. Great.

Next on to blueberries. Circumstances took us away from our usual reliable spot and we ended up travelling quite a distance and picking on the hottest day of the year in the slowest picking spot imaginable. After a couple of hours and only about 30 lbs we quit and decided to find another location, another day.

Then there was the spontaneous camping invitation with a family that has 11 children. What an experience- what fun too! We all.... all15 of us drove up Burley Mountain and had a full circumpolar view of Mount Rainier, Mount St Helen's (the one the blew up 28 years ago), Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Then we all drove bikes downhill riding the brakes all the way, I might add. A half hour later the last rider made it to the bottom. Only a few of the tougher boys took some tumbles. Another day we all lined up and did some target practice with 22's, 27's, and a 38. Wow, that 38 packs quite a kick. Apparently my aim was impressive.

With only a day or two to clean smoky laundry, I then packed up to fly out to Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory in Northern Canada, (up by Alaska-for the uninformed) to assist my Mother as she was recooperating from knee replacement surgery. It was quite an honor to be there and we got to spend some mother daughter time. What I expected to be doing was serving her and assisting her with exercises but it actually ended up becoming quite a vacation time as as well.

I had the priviledge of going on a historically narrated river cruise, a Broadway show and... quading. That's right, I drove a four wheeler though the woods, across dirt roads, over some frightingly narrow cliff edges to overlook the entire city of Whitehorse. It was quite a sight. I only stalled the machine once. And to relax after an exhausting day of outdoor
life, I got to do a little garage sailing.

Flying home a week later gave me only one sleep in my regular bed and then off on a labor day weekend church family camp. We ate, visited, played games, kayaked, and sat around the camp fire to our hearts content. Home for only a few days to clean more smoke smell from all our clothes and my boys took off this morning on a men's retreat and will be back on Saturday night.

Next weekend my boys and a bunch of their friends and their Dad's are going on a hiking trip off into the woods.

I guess I should be tired from all that busyness in August, but to confess to you a flaw in my character, I love being overly busy. I find it invigoratingly far too easy to have nothing but fun and not deal with creeping character issues in both me and my children. Hopefully the long days of Winter will help bring us all back into line.

Nevertheless, amongst all the flurry I still managed to read a few great books (another post) sew some drapes for the school room and master a few more raw recipes. Sigh, the summer was over before I even knew it, but we had a lot of fun. Now we all need some time to slow down, refocus and reestablish some regular routines again. Hence my next post tomorrow.... or in a day or two.

How was your summer?

Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Another Wacky Wednesday at our House!

What is that? a cocoon?

a giant muticolored slug?

No its a... Langford boy idea of a great time on a hot day under some taped up sheets.

It's air conditioned, being filled like a balloon, powered by two fans and lighted with a lamp for late night reading. It's great together time and that makes memories.
Yes, at 17 and 15 there still is a lot of boy in them and that's ok!






















Living a Lifestyle of Learning daily

Give Your Children a Gift this Mother's Day!

When my grandmother was alive she did something every year on her birthday that confused me as a young child. On HER birthday, she gave everyone else presents!

What a great idea! (More on this later in Sunday's Post)

This Mothers Day, I give you applause, Moms for being that selfless person that is always there, nurturing, praying and guiding your children. No, we are not perfect and far more times than not we do blow it. But getting up again is our second nature because even after we blow it we still have sweet children to keep raising, and their forgiveness seems to motivate us on.

When my children were young we went though a phase of turning eveything into an acrostic. I remembered that time when I came across this poem for Mother FOR our children. (I may just use this poem as a model to create one individual poem for each of my children)

M- Is for Multi-tasking. Though our hands are always busy, we always listen to you.

O - Is for Overworked. We've got a lot to do - for you! - so it's OK and good when you kids pitch in without being asked.

T - Equals Task-master. We make you work because we love you!

H - Heart of the home...that's us! Keep us happy and everyone's happy.

E - We're Exciting!!! We try to make life and learning interesting, even when it's long division.

R - We Remember everything wonderful about you, our kids, even when you're being "little beasts" and not living up to who we know you are. We remember, no you remember...you're our kids, and we love you!!

Hats off to you, MOMs. Keep up the good and faithful work. Never be weary in well doing for there is a reward in heaven for you if you faint not! (my paraphrase-the best way I remember scripture principles.)
Have a great Mother's Day!

That's my son!

The Christian Heritage Conference was amazing. We are all exhausted from a wonderfully inspiring weekend with hundreds (1300+) of fellow homeschool families. The speakers were incredible. The location was perfect and the performances were excellent. My hats off to the wonderful board of home educating families that serve the Lord though the ministry of this conference and other events that you serve in so expertly. You know an event was executed perfectly when it comes off without a hitch. They make it look so easy! It is a pleasure knowing you all.

Oh and...there he is, do you see him? The tall handsome young man in the front row....that is my son! Forgive me my maternal pride , but I think he sang the best!
(Actually both of my sons are in this picture but I could not catch my oldest sons head out from behind the guy in front of him. He is directly behind Graydon, up three rows, and over to the right one person.... completely behind someone's ones head.)

Wacky Wednesday happens again!

What happens when you put two wacky boys in the same room with egg cartons, plastic Easter eggs and markers? They come up with wacky ideas to "scare" their niece when she comes to visit for Easter!


And yes, Abbie (3) was was duly impressed! I love watching my boys relationships with her develop. They think of her as such a delight and she loves them so much. (one of the many blessings of home education-your children are able to relate and bond with people of all ages, not just their peers.)

Obviously, Caden (10 months) is looking up to Graydon already!

Put something where you can see it; where your eye can remind your heart!

I love to decorate. I always have - ever since I was a child. I think it is my love of color, or design or perhaps the family feel of a specially created space. I don't have much time or money to really decorate the way I'd like to, or used to, but I can do mini projects that continue to create special family memories and reinforce the spiritual principles that I care about.

A few years ago, I discovered the book, Celebrating the Christian Year, by Marsha Zimmerman. She has written an excellent handbook for every Christian Holiday and how to celebrate it with recipes, traditions and Bible passages. The most memorable thing in the book is the importance of allowing your eye to see something that reminds your heart of a spiritual principle. Combine that with my love of decorating and you get one happy Momma. I get to visually reinforce spiritual principles through my love of decorating! How cool is that?

We have meaningfully celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, St Lucia' Day, St Nicholas Day, to name a few and all the traditional holidays as well, Christmas, Easter, and Mother's and Father's Day with extra special meaning.

For Easter, I don't generally use bunnies but I have a small collection of lambs, some made from china, and some soft and cuddly. I have collected over the years additional significant items such as old rusty railroad ties, a unique bent metal crown of thorns/candle holder and some special egg holders. I picked up some sparkly and some flat purple fabric and use the table as a display and conversation piece.

Some of the significant symbols of Easter.
Gold and Purple- royalty
white- purity of Christ
Yellow- sunrise on Ressurection Day
Lamb- the lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world!
Nails- our sins that are nailed to the cross
Eggs- comes from pagan mythology- but I choose to redeem the image of the egg into a symbol of the tomb out of which Christ appeared, the newness of life and that the was raised from the dead- It helps us anticiate the completion of our slavation in Chrsit's ressurection!

Yesterday, (a few days early) we celebrated our Easter dinner with family and I served roast lamb, whipped turnip , beets, and stir fried asparagus and lime pie for dessert. (There is no significance in the lime pie but I thought I'd try it.) Usually we quote some memory verses or read the account of the death and Resurrection of Jesus after dinner. AND do we have an Easter egg hunt. Eggs have absolutely nothing to do with the Death and Ressurection of our Lord but they are a symbol of the newness of life, or rebirth and so we have kept eggs in our Easter traditions.

Now it's your turn. Share with us what meaningful celebrations you have shared with your family and what significant items you use to decorate or serve. I'd love to hear how Easter is special in your home.

Happy Ressurection Day Muffins!

Traditions are so important in families. They tie memories together and create regularly and a sense of predictability. As any family our family traditions have developed over the years. On Easter we always have a breakfast of eggs and homemade, fresh out the the oven oatmeal muffins. But, these muffins have a slight twist. The eggs and the muffins are in one tidy package, baked together at the same time making a memorable portable breakfast to take out on a morning sunrise service or just enjoyed at home. Every year we color raw eggs and pop those in the muffins or mark some Easter message on the tops of the whole white eggs once they come out of the oven. Either way they make a pretty picture and we plan on taking them to church with us tomorrow for some friends. Enjoy!

Nestled Egg Muffins

2 1/2 cups whole wheat (or other) flour
2 c flaked oats
1/2 cup brown sugar (I use honey)
5 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs (to go in the batter)
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup oil coconut is best- but olive works well. (Other oils should never be heated)
1 cup raisins
18 small whole white eggs. I have used large eggs but if you can find medium or small eggs they work best depending on the size of your muffins tins.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, beat 2 eggs well and blend in milk, oil, and raisins. Add to dry ingredients, stirring till just moistened.

Spoon into 18 greased muffin tins equally-(they should not be very full) Press 1 egg, colored or not, but still raw into each cup and let sit about half or 2/3 deep into the dough.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min or till done.

The eggs will probably be cooked to perfection, maybe better than you have ever done them on the stove top - not grey lined which seems to be the risk on the stove. Serve with butter and jam for the muffin and salt for the egg.

Happy Easter!

Wacky Wednesday

It was a typical day, a day like any other. The sun was shining, and we had just finished doing a great cleanup job on the Family Room and all three bathrooms and then .... unexpectedly and unexplainably...fun broke out at our house. What is it we wondered? What can it be? Then we realized that today is Wacky Wednesday (Beginner Books(R))This book was one of our kids favorite and most requested books, so much so that Wacky Wednesday became incorporated into our everyday lives. We even ended up maintaining names for all the days of the week, usually in relation to our household chores or other events that typically happened on that day; Marvelous Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday-we often wore our clothes inside out that day (one of them usually did anyway) Thorough Thursday and Fun Friday.

After some school work we went to the park. (believe me it was also a wacky thing to do - it was still to cold out to spend any length of time!)

We're back!

What a tornado of a vacation! After a week away from home we are now back and all snug in our beds with vision of DC dancing in our heads. (Washington, DC, that is!) Most of the time I can say it is nice to be home again but this time I really enjoyed the break from routine and had an unusually wonderful rest and inspirational vacation. Our first stop was in Pittsburgh for my husband's nephews wedding. It was held in a bird sanctuary/refuge and was small but very quaint! It was nice to see family that we have not seen in 15 years!


After the wedding and all the goodbyes, we headed out to Washington DC for what we thought was a day or two touring the sights. We had no idea the extent to which you could visit museums, historical homes, and magnificent buildings. We were quite overwhelmed.
Half jokingly Jonathan said, "Too bad we didn't think to check if there was an "Unofficial Guide to Washington DC." At that moment we happened to be walking the streets in the bitter cold and spotted a Barnes and Noble Book store. What providence. We warmed up inside and did find that there is indeed An Unofficial Guide to Washington DC and we bought it. It saved us so much time! If you ever go to a popular tourist spot always check to see if there is one of these invaluable guides printed. They usually save you way more that the full purchase price and loads of time as well.




My husbands first GOT to SEE spot was Lincoln Memorial. The morning and early afternoon was actually quite warm. It poured in the afternoon and the rest of the week was bitterly cold and windy.




Graydon's choice was the museum of flight. They actually had the original Wright Brothers plane inside! Also was the Spirit of Saint Louis-Charles Lindburgh's first solo flight across the Atlantic)

The Capital Building was phenomenal-inside and out!.


Jonathan's favorite place was Mount Vernon, home of America's first president. The house itself was beautiful but the visitor center was like none we had seen anywhere else. After 4 1/2 hours we rushed out trying to avoid the rush hour in Downtown DC in the snow! We made it but we really wish we could have spent another hour or two.




In case you cannot figure this out, this is a model of George Washington's house-and my son's "huge" face in the back door!