Well it's Saturday afternoon. Jim's still working. The boys are watching 3-2-1 Penguins. Very cute show by the creators of Veggie Tales. The boys are watching videos right now, but the show is on Qubo on Saturday mornings. In each show the two kids and the 4 penguins learn life lessons usually taken from the book of Proverbs.

Yesterday Jim had a surprise day off. It's nice for a break, HOWEVER, he doesn't get paid for it! Owen and I have had colds (his second in the last month!) This one for me has included some dizziness. No fun!

My boy in camouflage. One minute he's a soldier, the next minute he's going hunting!

His walkie talkie (baby monitor)

Love this family picture taken at my sister Donna's
2 years before Owen was born

My guy (fishing last weekend)

Not much else going on. Until next time...

blessings, joie

I couldn't wait to post these pictures from last weekend! The boys went fishing, Owen for the first time! Nathan & Jared hadn't caught anything in the past, so this was cool for them, despite the size of the fish!

Again, the pictures aren't in the order I'd like, but I can't seem to move things around since I'm using this new server..

Wallet-sized pictures are great to use in a project like this! I've had these printed for some time now. I love how this page came out. I made one change since taking this picture -- I made the word "US" in red--to go with the colors of the boys' clothing and the cardinal! They are metal Mailbox Letters from Making Memories. I have them in pink, red, celery green, lite blue and brown. I love them!

Owen wanted scambled eggs last week, so I'm going to entitle this page "Scramblin' Man". Remember the song "Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Bros.?

I adore this picture of my husband!

Last Sunday, we celebrated my father's birthday. My sister Brenda's family and our family went to hang out with my parents. Owen called it "Meema's and Peepa's Camp-OUT Ground"! There's a little stocked pond there, so we all went fishing. The fish were very small, but they still were FISH! Jim's taken Nathan and Owen fishing before, but they've never caught anything -- until today!

I had this game when I was a kid--40+ years ago! It's Dolly & Daniel Whale! I looked and looked until I found it on Ebay last year! It's simple but so cute! I love it! (Isn't Ebay great??!!)

Nathan made waffles for breakfast, so I'm off to eat!

blessings, joie

What Kind of a God is it that has created evil?

joie's note: thought this was a great devotional!

LoveWorth Finding, Dr. Adrian Rogers

September 21

BIBLE MEDITATION: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: “If there is a God and that God is a good God, then why is there suffering?” “What kind of a God is it that has created evil?” Ever heard those comments? Ever made them yourself? You’re not alone. Many people have thought the same thing. But that’s not straight thinking. Let me tell you the way it truly is. God did not create evil. God created perfection. God made man perfectly free, and freedom therefore gave rise to evil. In order to love, we must be free to choose to love. Then, in order to choose to love, we have to be able to choose not to love.

ACTION POINT: Which kind of love do you want from others? A forced love or a free love? Which sounds better, “I have to love you” or “I love you”?

blessings, joie

For a second time, we celebrated Owen Matthew's 4th birthday, this time with family and friends. My sister Donna hosted the gathering at her house -- which I have dubbed "Party Central". It was great to see aunts, uncles, and friends that we only get to see a few times each year! That's the reason that we had the party at Donna's. Our house is very small, and I couldn't have had any more than immediate family. Donna offered her place so that we could have an end-of -summer/birthday celebration with extended family.

Note: sorry the pictures are out of order. I'm using a different internet server, and I don't know how to edit.

Owen loved his new work boots. Aunt Donna got him a pair last year, but he's grown out of them. So he was so happy to be "ruff & tuff" again! Last night he saw the "waterproof" label on the boots. He looked at me very seriously and asked, "can these boots make me walk on water?" !! I love the way the minds of our little ones work!

Yesterday Jared was holding the hose over the creek and here's a RAINBOW! When I make this into a page, it will be entitled, "Make-Your-Own-Rainbow"!

My boys in their VBS class. See Jared peeking out behind the boy in the front. A friend recently gave us this photo; I LOVE it!

Owen with his fish cake!

We went from 80 and super humid on Sunday to a cool, windy day yesterday.

Today, so far, it's really chilly!

Until next time...

blessings, joie

OWEN IS 4!

This is our boy on his 4th birthday! We had dessert over at our neighbors'. They bought him a carrot cake because he had been wanting one all year -- only because he loved to see the carrots decorated on the cakes as we went past the bakery at our local grocery store. Turns out he loved the cake too!

Owen with his carrot cake and tiger car!

Here are some pages that I've recently completed. Click on the picture to see a close up or read my journaling.

Owen trying SO HARD to get the nerve to go under water!

love this perspective in potty training last winter

One of Jared's latest passions

No need for explanation

My boys make the best chocolate chip cookies! A recipe that I found in an
older cookie cookbook. The word cookie is spelled "Cookey"!

Getting ready for Owen's birthday party tomorrow. I'm looking at this picture
now, and the red "spots" look like pepperoni! It does look different in real life!

I'm sure I'll post pictures from his party next time I post.

blessings, joie

Jim actually had a day off this week! After two weeks in a row of working 6 days, we began to wonder. For those of you who may be wondering if this change was worth it, ABSOLUTELY! Working days makes the rest pretty tolerable! AND he gets paid for his time!

I mentioned a few weeks ago how chilly it was for mid August. Well, this past week was pretty hot for September: 80-90! Last week I was ready to take down the pool. Glad we didn't because the boys used it four days in a row! Here's a priceless picture of Jared.

Yes, his body is OUTSIDE of the pool! He was spinning around and got dizzy and literally fell out of the pool! (the pool is 30" high) I was just snapping pictures and didn't even know what had happened even when I was taking this picture! Only Jared...

I love this precious picture of Jared asking Owen if he wanted a ride in the
wheel barrow. (believe it or not, Owen declined the offer!)

Nathan instructing Jared on what to do for lawn mowing.
Even though they fight alot, Jared really looks up to him and listens
to him. I wish Nathan would appreciate that.

When we were coming up the hill from the pool, I was carrying "Princess Puppy" under my arm. Owen and Jared were behind me. Jared, as he usually does, made a puppy whining sound, and Owen said, "don't worry Puppy, you're safe in my mommy's arms". So I had to take a picture of me holding Puppy the way I was when we came up the hill -- I'll eventually scrapbook this page!

My baby turns 4 tomorrow! I can hardly believe it! I'll post pictures (new haircut and all!)

blessings, joie

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

This Labor Day has been pretty laid back for the boys and me. Jim, on the other hand, had to LABOR! However, he did just call me (3:00) to tell me that he was headed back to "the yard" because he'd made his last delivery for the day. He'll be home around 4:30, and then we'll have a cookout with our neighbors! Yum! Nathan & Jared are next door now helping make a baked macaroni dish. Owen is helping "Uncle Kelly" work outside. They love it!

Photos of my mother-in-law and her friend. We visited with Kay and her family the last time Jane visited early in August (my mother-in-law lives 150 miles north of us, but Kay lives closer to us.) It's a treat for us to get them together when Jane's in town!
The coloring isn't great here. The colors are much brighter and crisper in REAL life!

Jim has tomorrow off, so I probably won't be posting.

Until next time...

blessings, joie

LISTS OF HOMESCHOOLING/FAITH TRAINING RESOURCES

I want to add lists of favorite homeschool and/or Christian resources that I have found helpful or just love for my family! Some will be for parents and some will be for kids. Eventually, I'll indicate what age group as well. I have much work to do on this. I'm hoping to add to this regularly.

If you have any great resources to recommend, please let me know. I'll check into them and maybe add them to one of these lists!

Back in December I put together a list of non-Santa Christmas videos. I realized that not many parents are aware of some of these. Some of these videos are not available new anymore. Just check on ebay or half.com .

Here are some lists of resources that I have enjoyed or currently enjoy using to help my children learn either about academics or about faith in God.

Academics

Which Way Ben Bunny by Mavis Smith (no longer in print)
about learning left and right as we follow Ben Bunny chasing after whoever "stole" his carrot. Has a
surprise ending!
Benny's Pennies by Pat Brisson
cute book about simple subtraction
One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes
cute book about simple multiplication
The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine
includes cd with 37 selections from the greatest composers.
The Geology Book by Dr. John D. Morris
The Ocean Book by Frank Sherwin } from the Wonders of Creation series
The Weather Book by Michael Oard
Kid's Pumpkin Projects by Deanna F. Cook (Planting & Harvesting Fun)
Mudpies to Magnets--Science (experiments) for Young Children (pre-school and up!)
More Mudpies to Magnets by Elizabeth Sherwood, Robert Williams, Robert Rockwell
Creation Geology-Felice Gerwitz & Jill Whitlock
Creation Anatomy-Felice Gerwitz & Jill Whitlock
Germs! Germs! Germs! by Bobbi Katz Fun book from the perspective of the germs!!
Make Way for Tooth Decay by Bobbi Katz
God Made the Ocean by Heno Head, Jr. (LOVE these books. Simple enough to read to 4 yo, but packed with info for 3rd & 4th graders too!)
God's World of Weather by Heno Head, Jr.
God Made Dinosaurs by Heno Head, Jr.
God Made Our Bodies by Heno Head, Jr.
God Made Outer Space by Heno Head, Jr.
God's World of Weather by Heno Head, Jr.
God's World of Animals by Heno Head, Jr.

Bill Nye videos } be cautious of messages that go against God creating the earth and all that is in it (in fact if you go to his website, the first thing you see is a silouette of an ape morphing into a man -- over 7 million years. That being said, many of the videos are still good for science classes!)
The Magic School Bus } be cautious of evolution and ungodly messages. Still many are good.
Popular Mechanics for Kids -- SCIENCE -the boys just started watching these -- entertaining, full of information




About God

Adam Racoon books by Glen Keane
I have loved reading these books to my boys as they teach about the relationship between
Adam (symbolizing us) and King Aren (Jesus)


Homeschool/Faith Training Books for Parents
The Relaxed Home School by Mary Hood have to buy used; not in print
The Joyful Home Schooler by Mary Hood
The Enthusiastic Home Schooler by Mary Hood
School Proof by Mary Pride have to buy used; not in print
Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp
This book is a great resource for planning your school year from pre-K to 12th grade!
What Your 4th Grader Needs to Know {edited} by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. (not Christian)
(or whatever grade up to 6th) note: I do not use all things in this book. I take what I need as a Christian
homeschooler.
Faith Training by Joe White (start with your toddlers!) have to buy used; not in print