They're Growing Up

We once had four little munchkins.

Mimi with Elizabeth, Jonathan, Phoebe and Harrison.

The older three loved to play with Harrison. 

He never wanted for entertainment.

They're all growing up on us now.

Harrison is soon to be 12. 

Eleven year old boys are awesome. They tell you in graphic detail and with wild pantomime about the gap in their tooth that fills up with crackers and has to be dug out with a floss pick, and about the bump on their tongue, and 'can you see it?' And you're so glad that these are the worst things in their life right now.

Phoebe still loves to swing — as long as nature isn't biting or scratching or making her hot and sweaty.

She's 16 and a new driver. 

She creates lovely things with her hands and enjoys talking heatedly about current issues.

Jonathan and Gabry decided to go out to a restaurant to celebrate Gabry's birthday tonight instead of going to prom. They are a joy to be around, both of them very responsible and sociable. 

Lanaya Elizabeth Photography

And Elizabeth is officially engaged to The Amos Manasseh Gonzalez!

Lanaya Elizabeth Photography

Lanaya Elizabeth Photography

They went to an art museum that they had been to before they had begun dating. 

He proposed in that white gazebo in the gardens.

Lanaya Elizabeth Photography

Her friends decorated her dorm room before she got back. 

"She said Yes" 

Amos Photography

Amos Photography

Amos Photography

So cute together! 

They both love the Lord and walk in His ways.

We're excited for them!

Easter and Birthday and CCCB and Missionaries and.....

We've had a fulfilling week. 

It was full and it was cheerful.

Christy Franke Photography

We went to Easter breakfast that morning. The elders cook for the church. You can't beat their biscuits and gravy. 

Christy goes around and gets pictures of everyone. This is me with Andrea. She and I have been taking our nice sweet time going through a Bible study on Joseph. We're just about to the end (I think it's an eight week study, and we'll have stretched it into a year!). We chat about life stuff as well as study; it's been a lot of fun to get together.

Christy Franke Photography

The young men of church on Easter morning. 

Jonathan is there in the middle in his suit jacket.

Mimi and Papa and our youth minister Mike came over for Easter lunch. Mimi helped cook and the ham warmed up in the oven all morning, so it really wasn't overmuch to do. 

That evening the Dains came over, and Brittany had made me a birthday cake! Sneaky. 

On my actual birthday we had planned a college visit for Jonathan at our alma mater.

And how awesome that we got to sit in on one more Reese Acts class!

This is supposed to be Mr. Reese's last year teaching, for real. 

I've heard that before, but I think it might actually be true this time. 

The DeVries' were at college and Derik preached for chapel. That's the reason we chose that day for a college visit. We haven't seen them for 10 years or so ~ we saw them at the missionary convention before they left to work in Taiwan. 

We saw other friends at the college; Jonathan enjoyed himself and is looking forward to college life; we got a little bit of catching up with the DeVries'. Jennifer had to take the oldest son to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy, so we only got a hug and hello from her. But I loved hearing about the work in Taiwan and talking a bit with Derik and his other kids. They're a hoot.

Mimi had us over for Sunday lunch for my birthday. I'm always glad she has digits for our birthday candles, because I can never remember what year I am! I remember the big ones like 40 or 45, but the in-between ones get all jumbled.

Phoebe just finished up a black skirt. It has pleats in the back but is smooth up front. We need to find a good shirt to go with it, but it is really well made. She used the sewing machine some, but she likes to hand sew a lot too. She feels better about it if she can hand sew; maybe it helps her feel in control. 😀

The homemade tag for the inside back.

Beautiful work, Phoebe!

Detail from Phoebe's sewing desk.

Phillip reading to me about Galileo and how a lot of falsities concerning him have been passing around the history books. 

This is what we do for fun.

Could there be a more beautiful picture of our home place at sunset? 

Harrison and I stopped the truck on the gravel road so I could snap this. 

It'll be a hard one to beat.

 

Phoebe is 16!

 

Phoebe's birthday was on Wednesday, and she passed her driving test that very day! 

We have another driver.

It worked out well ~ the towns around here alternate days they offer driving tests. The town we wanted (close and small and where Phillip had his driving test many years ago) does testing every 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Her birthday happened to fall on 2nd Wednesday, so we were there right when they opened. That was her first birthday gift ~ a passing grade and a license to take home. 

Woohoo! One more kid to go.

She's hand-hemming a garment she's been sewing.

She decided to get 12 inches cut off to donate to charity.

We had a birthday party with a great group of girls from town. Her meal request was Bruschetta Chicken, Cream Cheese Pasta, and Asparagus. With Boston Cream Pie for her cake.

They water-colored while Jonathan asked them discussion questions.

Happy Birthday, Phoebe!

It is spring. It's still cold. But things are blooming and it's beautiful.

Charlotte Mason: The Teacher Who Revealed Worlds of Wonder

This has been several years in the making, and she's finally out there! 

The Charlotte Mason picture biography that I wrote is available on Amazon, or you can visit Blue Sky Daisies for more information. 

Twila and I have had two podcast interviews. The first one is out: Cindy Rollins at The New Mason Jar was our gracious hostess. When the next one comes out, I'll post a link. I am definitely nervous when I do these, but I'm so grateful to get the chance to promote the book. 

My hope is that this book inspires children to love learning, helps parents learn about Charlotte Mason and her ideas of how to raise and educate children, and provides beautiful moments of family reading.

This is a great screen shot from the first day it came out ~ we were number one in several highly specific sub-categories! 😅

And then we don't want to forget this little one as well. She's kind of getting overshadowed by her big sister. This is a copybook for mothers. I collected together some of Charlotte's wisdom and insight for the mom to copy and assimilate. It's also full of beautiful artwork. Charlotte Mason is a good mentor for moms, so I consider this a great companion book to the Teacher Who Revealed Worlds of Wonder. 

 

Harrison and his friend Silas playing around.

And then, the usual family stuff has been going on. Phillip works from his home office (in our bedroom; great view of the front yard though). The kids and I do school. We have 5 weeks of homeschool left! I'm starting to think about what to plant outside and what to Spring Clean inside.

Jonathan took a month to help out in an elementary Sunday school class at church. He taught the lesson the last Sunday he helped. Good job, Jon!

We went to some friends to play with their puppies. They breed and raise golden doodles and golden retrievers. They (the puppies) were full of fun and energy and lots of kisses. 😀 

We want to get an outside dog at some point ~ to go along with our millions of cats!

One of our Texas neighbors sent us a picture of her and her kids being baptized at the church they started attending since we moved. All our neighbors back in Texas are being prayed for here in Missouri. It is joyous to catch a glimpse of them seeking God and growing in their knowledge of Him!