Big Picture Friday

3 Generations

I didn't take this photo, but I love it. Mom was adopted as a baby, so this documents the longest known link of her genetic chain.

It's a beautiful chain, isn't it?

God is so good.

Look Who Moved Into the Neighborhood

We arrived home from church today and were unloading when Malinda suddenly yelled out, "Bear!" It's the 4th time we've seen him this summer, but the 1st time we have had the camera handy to capture him. As he ambled up the driveway we realized Cassia was still in the van! I stepped out on the porch and called to Cassia to stay put while he made his way to our yard. I continued to snap his photo while he ate a few mouthfuls of grass and then he wandered off into the woods... He was totally uninhibited by my presence. Cute as he is, I think he is going to be seeing the Montana Fish and Game department and maybe Yellowstone Park in the near future. Cassia made it inside a few moments later.

Big Picture Friday

What does September look like in your world?

An Acceptable Time

"There's a theory which I take seriously... that we live until we do whatever we're meant to do."
~Madeleine L'Engle

I am late in posting this. It seems that one of the favorite authors of my younger self died the same day as my friend, Larry Brice. Madeleine L'Engle. She was 88. If you haven't read
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wind in the Door or
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
it is the perfect time of year to begin. You'll love them, I promise.

A New Era Begins

We have been homeschooling now for 16 years! (Wow! Do I ever feel old saying that!) It never fails that with the onset of each new school year we change something that irritated me about the previous year. You would think that after all this time we would just fall into place and never miss a beat... HA! I wish!
This year we have a nice, sturdy table. Odd thing to bring up? It wouldn't seem odd if you had been in our school room all the previous years and heard the kids griping about the others not saying when they were going to erase, or when they were going to get up because they table wiggled and messed them up. It had gotten to the point where I would have one do their work at the coffee table and the other at the table. The problem with that was that I had to be in 2 places at once and/or running back and forth between them, or they weren't getting their work done because I wasn't there to crack the whip. With the coming of the gloriously solid worksurface, we all do school together in one place, at one time, with no interruptions!! Yay, God!
We've only done 2 days so far, but it is going well and our Jr year of highschool is going smoother than it would have at the squeaky, rickety, wiggly table of the past!
For those interested, this years subjects include:
*Forensic Science
*Social Studies -
~Role of Family in Culture
~Current Events
~God & Government Book #1
*Language Arts -
~Proofreading & Grammar
~Journalism
~Essay Writing
~Advertising (which also falls into some SS)
~Novels and Poetry -
>Cantebury Tales, Chaucer
>Paradise Lost, Milton
>Pilgrims Progress, Bunyan
>The Abbott, SW Scott
>The Black Arrow, Stevenson
>Crippled Splendor, Ivan John
>The Man Who Was Thursday, Chesterton
>Many More
~Vocabulary
*Math -
~Advanced Algebra
~Geometry when AA is finished
*Geography
*US History Cont...
*Music (instrumental, vocal, and therory)
*Art
*PE
(Not all of these are everyday. We finish one and begin another or they are once or twice a week..)

With a Heart Bowed Low

Our dear, dear friend,Larry, passed away this morning.
I know he was ready to go be with Jesus, I know he is sitting with him now.

But I was not ready to let him go.

He was 52.

12 years ago, he and his wife struggled through a life threatening

pregnancy to bring a daughter into the world.

They survived and so did the baby. They won that battle.

Last November, Larry was diagnosed with inoperable liver and colon cancer, stage 4. This was a battle they wouldn't win.
My heart is heavy, the tears won't stop.

I wish I could communicate with passion just how much this man meant to me; to us.

Tears and pain are clouding everything.

At James ' 25th birthday
1992

Doug, Kent, Larry, James

Please, please, please pray for Shirley (his wife) and Madison (his daughter), for Grace Harvest Church, and for us as we all walk through this valley of shadow that has come at the loss of this husband, father, pastor, and friend.

This is a video I made for Pastor Larry for his 50th birthday as a surprise. It isn't the "Final" version that I presented, but it is the only one I have, so I'm presenting it here as a memorial.

Thanks Mom & Dad!

I'm so thankful for James' parents. They bless us in so many ways with their love and care. This past week we had vacation ~ at their house! They are down visiting their newest grandchild, and Anna and Shaun of course. They allowed us to infiltrate their home while they were away so we could get away too. We missed them being there with us, but their generosity gave us a week to relax, unwind, and be at peace. We played pickleball, and bocce. We went out in the boat, and watched the sun go down on the lake. We watched a couple movies and popped popcorn. Friends came over to BBq with us, and we went to see friends and eat with them. Having to say goodbye again was the only thing that made the time bittersweet.
Mom and Dad, we can't wait for you to visit so we can have our time of blessing you in our own small way. We love you.
Thanks also to everyone who prayed for us. The van did great, we didn't overspend, our hearts are full and blessed.
Photos below !!

vacation 07

The Master Suite!

1st night's sunset on the lake!

Paul boys are famous for their breakfasts!

Studying. Even on vacation.
Keep goin' down!

Vaca 07 continued

Tuna melts for lunch.

Friends gathering for fun and laughter.

Pickleball!

Sun sinking low ~ @ Connely Park.
few more below

Vaca 07 continued

Grammy hurt her back so we set up a salon in her home to do her nails for her!

Our neighbor of 13 years, Lorraine.

Bocce @ Connely Park

Boat ride off into the sunset. Goin' Home.
The End