Goodbye Summer :(

  

Sadly, the summer is winding down.

The peaches are in the freezer,

The apples are ripening,

Bedrooms have had a badly needed cleaning,

The trees are showing their true colors,

Friends have come to visit,

Projects (with creative touches) have been completed,

and school curriculum has been organized for another school year.

It's time to start getting up at the break of dawn

 (harder for some us than others),

and get back to the routine of school days.

I feel very blessed to be starting my 18th year of homeschooling.

 What a privilege! 

It's all GOOD!

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. John 17:15 ESV 

  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6 ESV

We Finally Did It!

 

 Yes, we finally used our Christmas coupon and went out to dinner!

 Alone. Just the two of us.

No dogs begging under the table.  No dishes to wash.

It only took us 8 months, but it was well worth the wait!

Another County Fair

It sure seems like we just did this a few months ago, but last weekend was the yearly county fair.

 Fitting and showing went well.

We were there to greet the second generations of fair born ducklings!

 These are  babies of the ducklings we brought home from the fair last year.

 The piggies had a good time but were very glad to get home.

There was even a love story.  This lady goose fell in love with the turkey behind her.

She took him home with her to live happily ever after.  A much happier future than the one that was originally planned for Mr. Turkey.

Alanna and I went to the fair with three Guinea Pigs and we came home with three Guinea Pigs, no more, no less.  That's what I call success!  I am still trying to get the sawdust out of our socks, but other than that it was a great weekend!

SHE DID IT!

Mandy now has a Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Azusa Pacific University!

She makes us proud!

It's already paying off, too.  

Just last night she learned how to wash lettuce and use a salad spinner!

 

We can't wait to see what God has planned for her.

Jeremiah 29:11

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Happy Birthday Mandy!

Mandy is 30 years old! 

That does not even seem possible, because that means that Doug and I have to be a lot older older than 30!

 So, after a busy, rainy, Sunday after a little weekend house guest left, we celebrated our first born!

 And that evening, as if we'd had it special ordered for her birthday, God delivered one of His most spectacular rainbows to help us celebrate. 

 

I can't think of a better way to celebrate her radiant, colorful, and whimsical, personality!

A Wonderful Weekend!

This weekend we had a visit from Grandma J. and Cousin Patty! 

We watched three fantastic movies.

Why can't they make'em like that anymore?

There was a rousing game or two of Settlers of Catan.

Then Mandy's Tattoo Parlor opened for business!

 

Of course,  Grandma was one of the first customers.

Then she became one of the tattoo artists.

Doesn't she do nice work?

I think she may have found a new career!

Go figure, the guy who wants to go into the military wouldn't get a tattoo!

Then we had a photo session with two very unruly subjects.

No modeling jobs for you two!

We all had a wonderful time that ended way too soon. We did miss Aunt Trisha and Mia, though.  See you two next time.  We'll save you some tattoos!