Oceans

We are using "Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day" for our elementary science curriculum this year.  All of the kids have loved it.  Today we are meeting our homeschool group for a screening of the Disney movie Oceans.  It looks fabulous and we can't wait.

This will be Levi's first movie.  I'm so excited to see his reaction.

We have been making lap books using the cd from Live and Learn Press.  Our kids have made a beautiful notebook of their studies this year.  Live and Learn has cd's you can buy for most of the Apologia Science curriculums.  If your kids like to be creative they might really enjoy this.  I have loved how everything is done for me and does not require a lot of prep time. This busy mom really appreciates how easy this had made her life.  We read the book and then the kids complete their little mini books together.  When they are done with a chapter they glue their books onto colorful card stock and put them into their notebooks. Super fun and easy!  My kind of curriculum.

Here is the trailer for Oceans if you want to check it out!  Happy Friday!

Hangin At The Walmart

Seems like I have been to Walmart a dozen times in the past two weeks.  Levi loves to go to Walmart and look at all the stuff.  He doesn't even pout any more when he doesn't get a new toy every time:)

I always go to the back of the store, by the garden section, to pay.  Seems like their is never anyone back there.  Anyway, we have had the same very nice African American lady as our checker several times.

Levi was very excited to see her this last time and they started talking.  I'm sure she had been wondering about this little black boy with the smile that can light up a room, who also loves to talk her ear off each time he see's her.

She asked what his story was.

I told her we had recently adopted him from Ethopia.

"Oh, you'r Ethiopian?"  she said.

"No,  I not" he said "I American!"

"Yes, but you are Ethiopian too."

"No" he insisted "American"

"Well," she went on "You are actually African American" she states.

"NO" he insists, "No African, No Ethiopian, Only American!"

At this point I give her the look that says this discusion is over.  She says nothing else.

Levi is trying very hard to seperate his Ethiopian life with his new life in America.  We tell him we love Ethiopia and want to take him back some day for a visit.  This sends him usually into a crying fit. He makes it very clear he never wants to go back to Ethiopia.  It could have something to do with the fact that he was told if he wasn't good we would send him back.  Those wonderful words seem to have come from those who worked at the orphange and they make me so mad I just want to scream.

We have assured him that there is nothing he could ever do to make us send him back.  He is stuck with us forever! 

If the stories he has told us about his life in Ethiopia are true I can see why he might not ever want to go back.

However, I hope that some day he will see that he can be American and also Ethiopian. One is not exclusive of the other.

A President Without A Country

I read this and thought it was interesting.  The story is written by Pat Boone. 

"We're no longer a Christian nation." - President barack obama, June 2009


" America has been arrogant." - President barack obama


"After 9/11, America didn't always live up to her ideals."- President barack obama


"You might say that America is a Muslim nation."-
President barack obama, Egypt 2009


Thinking about these and other statements made by the man who wears the title of president. I keep wondering what country he believes he's president of.


In one of my very favorite stories, Edward Everett Hale's "The Man without a Country," a young Army lieutenant named Philip Nolan stands condemned for treason during the Revolutionary War, having come under the influence of Aaron Burr. When the judge asks him if he wishes to say anything before sentence is passed, young Nolan defiantly exclaims, "Damn the United States ! I wish I might never hear of the United States again!"


The stunned silence in the courtroom is palpable, pulsing.


After a long pause, the judge soberly says to the angry lieutenant: "You have just pronounced your own sentence. You will never hear of the United States again.. I sentence you to spend the rest of your life at sea, on one or another of this country's naval vessels - under strict orders that no one will ever speak to you again about the country you have just cursed."


And so it was. Philip Nolan was taken away and spent the next 40 years at sea, never hearing anything but an occasional slip of the tongue about America. The last few pages of the story, recounting Nolan's dying hours in his small stateroom - now turned into a shrine to the country he fore swore - never fail to bring me to tears. And I find my own love for this dream, this miracle called America , refreshed and renewed. I know how blessed and unique we are.


But reading and hearing the audacious, shocking statements of the man who was recently elected our president - a young black man living the impossible dream of millions of young Americans, past and present, black and white - I want to ask him, "Just what country do you think you're president of?"


You surely can't be referring to the United States of America , can you? America is emphatically a Christian nation, and has been from its inception! Seventy percent of her citizens identify themselves as Christian. The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution were framed, written and ratified by Christians. It's because this was, and is, a nation built on and guided by Judeo-Christian biblical principles that you, sir, have had the inestimable privilege of being elected her president.


You studied law at Harvard, didn't you, sir? You taught constitutional law in Chicago ? Did you not ever read the statement of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and an author of the landmark "Federalist Papers": " Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers - and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation - to select and prefer Christians for their rulers"?


In your studies, you surely must have read the decision of the Supreme Court in 1892: "Our lives and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian."


Did your professors have you skip over all the high-court decisions right up till the mid 1900's that echoed and reinforced these views and intentions? Did you pick up the history of American jurisprudence only in 1947, when for the first time a phrase coined by Thomas Jefferson about a "wall of separation between church and state" was used to deny some specific religious expression - contrary to Jefferson ' s intent with that statement?


Or, wait a minute . were your ideas about America 's Christianity formed during the 20 years you were a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ under your pastor, Jeremiah Wright? Is that where you got the idea that " America is no longer a Christian nation"? Is this where you, even as you came to call yourself a Christian, formed the belief that " America has been arrogant"?


Even if that's the understandable explanation of your damning of your country and accusing the whole nation (not just a few military officials trying their best to keep more Americans from being murdered by jihadists) of "not always living up to her ideals," how did you come up with the ridiculous, alarming notion that we might be "considered a Muslim nation"?


Is it because there are some 2 million or more Muslims living here, trying to be good Americans? Out of a current population of over 300 million, 70 percent of whom are Christians? Does that make us, by any rational definition, a "Muslim nation"?


Why are we not, then, a "Chinese nation"? A "Korean nation"? Even a "Vietnamese nation"? There are even more of these distinct groups in America than Muslims. And if the distinction you're trying to make is a religious one, why is America not "a Jewish nation"? There's actually a case to be made for the latter, because our Constitution - and the success of our Revolution and founding - owe a deep debt to our Jewish brothers.


Have you stopped to think what an actual Muslim America would be like? Have you ever really spent much time in Iran ? Even in Egypt ? You, having been instructed in Islam as a kid at a Muslim school in Indonesia and saying you still love the call to evening prayers, can surely picture our nation founded on the Quran, not the Judeo-Christian Bible, and living under Shariah law. Can't you? You do recall Muhammad's directives [Surah 9:5,73] to "break the cross" and "kill the infidel"?


It seems increasingly and painfully obvious that you are more influenced by your upbringing and questionable education than most suspected.. If you consider yourself the president of a people who are "no longer Christian," who have "failed to live up to our ideals," who "have been arrogant," and might even be "considered Muslim" - you are president of a country most Americans don't recognize.


Could it be you are a president without a country?


What do you think?

Encouragement For The Stay At Home Mom

I hear so often from mom's who chose to stay at home that they are made to feel guilty or unimportant by others.  Like their life has no value because they chose to put their children first and not work outside the home.  What always hurts me the most is that this criticism so often comes from within the Body of Christ.  How this must sadden Him.

If you are a mom needing some encouragement go and read this.  You won't be sorry.

When God saves us from sin, He doesn't just want to see an outward change in us. He wants to see a complete inner transformation of the way we think. We are called to renew our minds, casting off our old ways of thinking and rejecting the world's wisdom.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

Rockin Rock Climbing Party

Samantha had her rock climbing party last night for her 14th birthday party.  Twenty teens.  It was fun.

Samantha

Levi

Garrett

Samantha is on the right and her friend Monika is on the left.  I think they were racing. 

Tyler

Zach

Tyler and a friend hangin with Levi

Amelia getting help from a friend with eating her Subway sandwich.

Samantha and one of her buddies.  I prayed that she would make some good friends that were also homeschooled this year, and my prayers were answered.  She has been blessed with several good friends.

Zach did several of the harder climbs.  His upper body strength was very impressive!

Samanta with two of her buddies.

This picture makes me laugh.  Paige was so tired and she just couldn't keep the yawn's away when it got late.  She was a great trooper.

Paige is down there with all those people around her trying to climb up the beginner rock.  They kept cheering her on and she did get up a little bit.  I'm sure in a few years she will be climbing all the way up with the rest of the kids.

The gang getting their instructions from the guys in charge.

It seems like yesterday you were born.  My easiest and fastest delivery.  So fast that your Dad actually missed it.  I kept telling the nurse that I couldn't deliver because my husband wasn't there yet.  He had gone home to check on a sick child.  My first two labors were very long.  Samantha came about 90 minutes after labor started.  None of the other 4 children I delivered had the kindness to do this:)  All of the other children took atleast 9 hours, even my 5th! 

The Bad Mommy

Last night Levi had a melt down before bed.  He didn't want to go to bed, he wanted to stay up for Samantha's Happy Birthday Day.  That's what he called it all day.  Her party is tonight and I told him he could stay up for that.  We are going to an indoor rock climbing gym, he is very excited.

Well, he went on and on and started to cry.  His Dad put him in bed and I went in and asked him why he was crying.  He wouldn't answer just kept crying.  I told him, not so nicely, that this was why I made him take a rest each day (he didn't yesterday), so he wouldn't have a melt down at night, and told him not to ask me again why he had to take a rest.  I then walked out of the room.

Nice.

To be honest I was done.  I was tired.  I didn't feel great.  I did something to my back and probably need to hit the chiropractor soon.  My guess is it has something to do with carrying an 18 pound baby around all day long:) She doesn't like the sling I have, she prefers I just hold her.

Anyway, I went back in about two minutes later to apologize for the way I spoke to him and give him a hug but he was already sound asleep.  The kid definitely needs a nap each day, and I think mom does to.

He will wake up happy in a few minutes.  The kid has a smile that melts my heart.  Another day will begin.  Mommy will say she was sorry and hopefully we can have a fun day today!  My back is feeling better, but not great.  I'm living on Advil right now.

I think Amelia's siblings will be carrying her around today for mommy.  Isn't she the sweetest thing ever?

Here is her sweet brother who loves to go around without a shirt on lately. It was raining outside and he decided our dog Sydney needed some clothes on. She was a good sport and wore her clothes most of the day. Don't you just love the tiarra?

Sunshine outside this morning.  It may be a good morning for a walk to the park:)

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Today you turn 14!  Wow!

I feel so honored to have been given the priveledge of being your mommy.  We have such fun together. You are a remarkable and kind young lady and I can't wait to see what God has in store for your future. 

We love you Samantha!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

Homeschooling Through High School

Several people have asked what kind of curriculum we are using for High School so I thought I would finally post about this. 

Tyler is a Sophomore right now and his course of studies looks like this:

Chemistry:  He took the first semester through Apologia Academy.  I'm going to be honest and say he did not love this.  The class was 90 minutes online and he had a hard time sitting there for that long.  He also discovered that Chemistry is his least favorite science and is looking forward to taking Physics next year.  Our local co-op is offering it so I think he will be taking it with them.  I think our daughter would have liked the online style more, and if you are looking for a science alternative for your student I thought this was great.  We ended up letting Tyler complete the second semester on his own.  We also bought the lab kit from Apologia which made the experiments much easier as we already had everything we needed.

Bible: I picked 30 Bible Veses for him to memorize and assigned Books of the Bible that we would read through.  Sometimes we read together, sometimes alone.  First semester he read Kay Arthur's book "How to Study Your Bible" and second semester he is going to read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity".  He is not a reader so I am pleased that he got through the first book and is tackling the second with only mild complaining:)

Spanish 2: Tyler took this class through our local co-op.  They used the Switched on Schoolhouse curriculum.  He has really liked this and his Spanish skills have exploded.  Language seems to be something that comes pretty easy to him.  That being said, there were 18 students in his class first semester and only two the second.  The parents were complaining that it was to hard.  At times I do notice that homeschoolers tend to do to much (myself included) in an effort to make sure their students don't fall behind their peers in "regular" school.  This class moved at a very brisk pace, much faster than our older sons Spanish 2 class.  I told the teacher this when she asked me if I thought it was to hard.  It wasn't for Tyler but I can see how a student who has a harder time picking up a language (like me:) might have been frustrated by the fast pace, hence the large drop out rate.  It's great for us.  Just Tyler and another boy in the class now.  Talk about one on one attention:) The class meets once a week for an hour where she goes over their tests for the week and the work they completed on the computer as well as answering any questions.  This has worked really well for us.

World History/Geography:  I have had Tyler use the Around The World in 180 Days  as a template for his studies. I bought a selection of used History and Geography books off the Home School Classifieds website for him to use as resources.  I didn't want to be running back and forth to the library, however, if you love to do this, that is also an option. 

Pre Calculus:  We use Math U See and it works well for all the kids.  My husband is a math whiz so thankfully he is in charge of math.  Tyler takes after his Dad and really likes math as well.  He is only about half way through the book so I think we are going to carry this class over to his Junior year.  The excitement of going to Ethiopia and bringing home two new family members kind of threw us off course for a few months.

Literature and Composition:  He took this reading and writing course also through our co-op.  This is his least favorite subject so I was happy to give the responsiblity of policing his work to someone else for this subject:)

Electives:  Tyler took a guitar class and a drivers training course.  He also took an Auto Shop class that was taught by a fellow home school Dad in his garage.  He loved this and learned how to do a break job, change oil, etc..  This was a great class and I am so glad he had the opportunity to participate in it.  Unfortunately, he missed three classes due to our trip to Africa and he was really bummed about that.  I might let him take the class again for fun as he has expressed an interest in doing so.

P.E. :  I wanted him to play basketball through our local Home School Sports organization but he really didn't want to.  I was sad.  He swam during the warmer weather and has started lifting weights with his brother.  He is also in charge of taking the littles on a walk in the afternoon when mom needs a little break:)

He is most likely going to do school for about 4 weeks after we would normally stop so he can catch up on what he missed during our crazy transition time.  Thankfully, we are back on track and he should have no problem completing all his work for the year.

Tyler really wants to go into a math or science field and definitely wants to go to college so we may be doing more or less than a student who has other goals.  This is what has worked for us this year.  I will be tweaking it for next year.  This was our first year of homeschooling a high school student and I was terrified.  Overall though, I think it has gone really well and I have really enjoyed being a part of his schooling experience.

Now for a sweet picture just because:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20

   Does this count?

Buddies

Once there was this young man who thought his parents were crazy when they told him they were going to adopt a child from Ethiopia.

"That's just weird" he said.

"Won't it seem weird, like strangers are living in our house"?

"No, I think God will send us the children that are meant just for us"


Well, these new siblings that he just wasn't so sure about have stolen his heart.  He is Levi's protector. 

When Zach gets home from school Levi is soooo excited.  They ride bikes, excercise and play games (like teetherball) together.  Levi wears him out.  Zach loves it.

I asked Zach the other day if it was weird having two new people living in our house.  Did it feel like they were just visiting?

"What? Why would you ask that?"

"Oh, no reason" I said.

Yes, the children meant just for us.

I am telling you this because others have said to me that their older kids weren't so sure about adopting.  It scared them a little.  I totally understand. 

My older kids were not so sure about this whole thing. However, as I watched Tyler playing on the floor with Amelia a few days ago and grab her up and tell her how much he loved her in a quiet moment with just the two of them together, I had to smile.

My kids have changed.

I wonder what they would say if their Dad and I told them we were going to adopt again?

Might be fun to find out:)

Butting Heads..............

My boys and I have been butting heads a lot lately.

I knew I was done when I started googling Military Schools.

We argue about computer time, x-box time, getting their school work done, being responsible for your own actions, kindness towards other, etc.., etc., etc..............................

I am really not a fan of whoever invented those stupid video games.

I don't know about you but I find the more time my kids spend on the computer or video game systems playing games the crabbyer they are.

A few days ago I decided I had had enough!  I banned all children from playing games on the computer and the next day I took a big box from the garage and put all the gaming systems into them.  Everything is in the rafters right now where I plan on keeping them until summer.

They aren't really happy with me right now, and you know what?


I don't really care!


My kids need to de-tox from those stupid things and then we need to have very specific rules on how much time they can spend on them and how they earn time from us, their parents.

Who knows, maybe I will just leave the games up their forever.

*********************************************************************************
On another note:

I need a new dishwasher.  Ours is 10 years old and stopped actually washing dishes over a year ago.

I usually just wash them by hand (or whoever is on dish duty does) and then use the dishwasher to sanitize them really well.

Well, now it is leaving soap scum on everything.  Not good.

So, I would like a new dishwasher but I don't want to spend a lot of money.  I don't need anything fancy.

Anyone out there have a nice, resonably priced dishwasher they love that they could recomend?

Such Sad News

Tragic news out of Russia this morning:

Russia, April 15, 20010:



During a press conference today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated that intercountry adoptions with the United States have been suspended until a bilateral agreement with the United States is signed.


At this time, the Ministry of Education (the ministry responsible for intercountry adoption) has not confirmed the suspension nor issued a statement. The MoE MUST confirm this statement for the suspension to be truly active.


A delegation from the U.S. Department of State, lead by Ambassador Michael Kirby, will travel to Moscow and conduct meetings with Russian officials on April 20, 2010.

I pray that after this meeting adoptions will be allowed to continue.  My mind keeps going to a recent post I read by an adoptive mom that stated she made an unexpected visit to her child's orphanage in Russia only to find all the children tied to the play pens. 

When will the Russian governement take responsiblity for the awful conditions in these institutions?

As always, the children are the innocent victims in all of this.  My heart is breaking for them today.

Update:  It seems these comments were taken out of context and adoptions have not been halted at this time.  Praise God!  Please pray for the children of Russia and that no closure would take place.  There are so many beautiful kids that need to find a forever home.  Stopping adoptions is not the answer.

Baseball Anyone?

We had two baseball games last night.  Levi had a game at 5:00 and then Garrett's followed at 7:00.  We had a late night out but it was lots of fun.

Levi loves baseball.  I tell Dave that he should never doubt that this child was picked out just for him by the hand of God.  They are a perfect match.

Getting some instruction from Dad.  Levi is in the Rookie division and the kids are pitched to by a pitching machine.

Swinging Hard.

Amelia always has fun running all over during the games.  Samantha, Zach and Garrett were good sports and watched her for me so I could pay attention to the game going on.

Here she comes!

Even Jo Jo got to come to the game.  When it got cold she hung out in her doggy purse.

A picture after the game.  Amelia just wants down to roam and Dave is thinking "I really need to get over to my other game that is starting in a few minutes."

Here are some pictures that Levi took after Garrett's game.  This is Garrett all ready to jump on his rip stick and go.  Their team lost in the 7th inning last night.  However, I hear they had a great snack after the game, and really, isn't that all that  matters?

I need to teach Levi to hold the camera still when he shoots.  Here's a blurry picture of Tyler ready to leave the game.  The kid had to be freezing.  Where is his jacket?????

Last night when I was tucking Levi in bed very late he says to me "Mom, baseball tomorrow"?  Yes, you have practice tomorrow.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" he screams.  So happy, because a day without baseball is a day without fun.

Yes, hand picked for our family.  There can be no doubt:)

Ethiopian Friends

Yesterday Levi was so excited to have some friends come over for a visit.

The boys were together for a few months at our agencies transition home and we met them when we traveled to pick up Levi and Amelia. Both the boys are so sweet and we are so happy that their forever family does not live to far from us.  All three boys had fun taking turns riding in the jeep.

It was a rainy day but the kids made the most of it.  Holding hands. Could there be anything sweeter that that?  Levi was so so happy to see his friends, and I think they were happy to see him too.We had a truly American lunch of BBQ hot dogs, red jello, chips and some yummy fruit. 

After lunch we went for a walk while the sun was peeking through the sky.

Levi went and put on his Ethiopian shirt to celebrate the day!

We had so much fun and hope the Crain family will come back really soon.  Levi had a good cry when they left.  I think he wanted them to stay forever:)

The Three Muskateers

Where there is one you will generally find the others.

The littlest muskateer with her serious face on.

I'm having so much fun with these three kids!

Our Little Walker

Amelia is not only walking she has already graduated to running. She loves going out into the backyard and playing. I love watching her getting so excited at the wonderful new big world that has openned up to her now that she can walk

I love this picture because Levi is talking sweetly to Amelia, encouraging her in her walking, and she is listening to what he is saying so intently.  Very sweet. 

She likes to try and play teether ball but gets really mad when the ball has the nerve to hit her in the face:)

This child is such a delight and we all love her so much.

Please don't mind the bed head in these pictures, they were all taken during her early morning strolls.

We had our three month post placement report meeting with the social worker on Friday.  He loved how the kids interacted with our family and how comfortable they both were with all of us.  Levi couldn't wait to show him his room and even made the social worker watch him play catch with his Dad.  Needless to say the social workers kind words made us all feel great.

Now, last but not least, a couple pics of the kids coloring their easter eggs.  They reminded me I never posted any.

They had a lot of fun, though Levi wasn't quite sure about this crazy American tradition.  He asked if we could have Easter again next week.  So cute.  Once we got into the story of Easter he was really excited to learn it was about Jesus.  I bought a new book this year about the real meaning of Easter and the little kids and I read it everyday.  They loved it and it really helped them seperate the bunny from the true meaning of why we celeberate that day.