The week ahead

This week we have lots planned for school! We will be wrapping up our month-long unit study on bears with Lael working on a research project on the different types of bears (I know, it sounds very impressive, doesn't it?) Jaden will be reading Corduroy books and focusing on the letter C as his letter of the week.

In addition, I hope to finish up our presidential timeline, as well as reading a biography of Rosa Parks.

Of course, we will be doing phonics and math, handwriting and Bible. We might even sneak in a Teddy Bear tea party at the end of the week, just for fun (and to practice good manners). Don't you wish you could join us?

Word for 2008

If you know our family at all, you know that we love music. We usually have something playing on the stereo downstairs (or lately, I've been using our computer to play favorite songs). And you can almost always catch our princess singing her way through the day!

That being said, it's no surprise that God often uses words of songs to draw my attention to things He wants me to give some attention to in my life. I was encouraged back in December to prayerfully choose a "Word for 2008" -- an area that I felt God was encouraging me to grow in. After much prayer and consideration, I chose the word "purposeful" . . . I want to be purposeful, focused, diligent in every area of my life -- relationship with God, family life, ministry, everything I do.

This morning I was reminded of my "Word for 2008" while listening to a song by Nichole Nordeman called Legacy. The words are (in part):

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Did I point to You enough

To make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed your name

Unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy . . .

Not well traveled, not well read,

Not well-to-do or well bred

Just want to hear instead,

"Well Done, good and faithful one . . . "

As I think about the choices and decisions I make every day, I want to be more purposeful and mindful of the legacy that I am leaving behind -- not financial investments or widespread fame, but of a life sold-out for my Savior -- that those around me and especially those closest to me will see more of Him in me tomorrow than they saw today. That will be a lasting legacy which will impact my children and even generations to come.

Snowy day fun!

Finally, we got enough snow to play in! Our princess has been praying all winter for snow to fall where we live, but every time it did, it was quickly followed by rain that washed the snow away.

But Saturday afternoon we had some snowy fun, including:

making snow angels,

preparing for (and then actually having) a snowball fight

and building this magnificent snowman!

Disclaimer: Before you are completely impressed with the size of snowman we were able to build with only 4 inches of snow, you should know that the arms are actually cinnamon sticks, the eyes are pennies, and the smile was cleverly crafted from a red twisty tie!

These pictures will give a more accurate representation:

As you can see, we had lots of fun!

Fun field trip

On Monday, we went on an historic field trip . . . the first field trip in the history of GodSeekers Academy that was organized and planned completely by our principal, DADDY! (Yay for Daddy!)

We went to the Mack Truck Museum in Allentown and had so much fun. Here are some pictures of our trip.

After all that driving, we worked up quite an appetite! So it was off to our favorite lunch spot, Chik-fil-a, for a yummy end to our field trip!

Worship defined

I have been thinking alot about worship recently . . . partly because my husband (who is also the pastor of our church) has asked me to pray about getting more involved in the worship ministry at church. But mostly because it seems that worship is a very misunderstood word. It seems that so many people have their thoughts on worship and what makes worship "good" or "bad".



One of my favorite quotes about worship is from John Bevere in his book Drawing Near, where he says, "Worship is not a slow song!" He goes on to say that worship is about who we are and about surrendering our will to that of our God, who alone is worthy of worship.

I want to continue to grow in this area: to make my life one of worship in everything I do, not just on Sundays when I gather with other worshippers. It's more about my heart attitude than it is about the song or style of music. At least, that's what I think!

Fun family times

We spent last Saturday with my husband's family to celebrate his father's 60th birthday. While there, we went to the Chambersburg Ice Festival to see the many ice sculptures they had there. Our kiddos loved it . . . here are a couple of pictures (thanks to Uncle Brock for the photography):

Prince Jaden and Princess Lael on their royal (chilly) throne!

Lael as an Inuit girl

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Beginning to blog

After much consideration, I've decided to jump into the blogging world! I'm doing so for a couple of reasons. First of all, our extended family all lives a distance away, so this will be a way to share regularly the fun things that we are doing here -- and how fast our kids are growing! Second, I want to use this as a record of where our homeschooling adventure takes us. And finally, as in everything I do, I want to give glory and honor to God -- after all, everything I do is only accomplished through His grace and strength.

Christmas memories

I know that Christmas was over a month ago, but I thought I would post a couple of my favorite pictures anyway . . . you can never have too much Christmas as far as I'm concerned!

Here is our wonderful family at our church

(where Daddy is the pastor) on Christmas Sunday!

My precious little ones are singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus on Christmas morning.

They are enjoying our traditional breakfast of homemade cinnamon biscuits -- yummy!

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year: spending time with family and enjoying times of fellowship with our new church family. And best of all, we focused on the true meaning of Christmas -- the birth of our Savior. It just doesn't get any better than that!