Monthly Archives: April 2007

Events, Project 365, Rachel

P365 – Day 109 (It’s Showtime!)

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It’s that time of year again … the end of co-op and the final production from the drama class. All year long they have practiced, rehearsed, laughed, and worked to produce their play. The drama teacher does an amazing job with the students, actually pulling out of them a truly professional performance. She has discovered this wonderful publishing company, Pioneer Drama Service, that has an extensive collection of scripts – plays, musicals, one-act pieces, and so on. The last two years’ plays have been absolutely hysterical! I can’t wait to see what they have for us this year. I purposely resist reading the script so I can enjoy the final performance.

rachel's ready

Rachel is gathering props for play practice. Nice hat, girl!

The three older children are all in the drama class, and therefore, the play this year. The chosen title is a melodrama, How the West was Dun…or left High and Dry in low Humidity Chasm.

Rachel stars as the Schizophrenic Kid (changing back and forth from white to black hat). Joshua is Rich Coldheart, bank owner and all around evil guy. Daniel is the Lone Stranger. I can’t wait to see them knock our socks off.

cow girl

The kids have had double practices this week and last. I’ve been very grateful for Holly and her husband, who have shared the driving with me. We’ve taken turns with pick ups and drop offs. Thanks guys!

The arrival of the play signals the end of co-op for the year. The kids will be sad but all the mothers/teachers are breathing a sigh of relief. It’s difficult to maintain your own homeschool AND teach classes at a co-op.

Stay tuned to hear all about the play this weekend!

Kathy

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Daily Life, Project 365, Silliness

P365 – Day 108 (Chess)

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The children have taken to playing chess these days. I’m not sure when it started or who initiated the first game but Chess has definitely arrived into our home.

thinking hard

who's winning?

I’m a TERRIBLE chess player. I’ve tried but I just can’t seem to put my heart behind a game that encourages/requires silence. I play games to ‘relate’ to people. I guess that can be translated – I want to TALK during a game. Chess requires way too much concentration to be fun. It seems like a simple game but I found this online:

The number of possible ways of playing just the first four moves on each side in a game of chess is 318,979,564,000. [Source: Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts]

I don’t know which is more mind-boggling, the fact that the number of possible moves is so high or that someone took the time to figure that number out!!

For several years my father would host an annual Chess Party. It was probably the strangest party I’ve ever been to – silent groups of men and boys, bending over chess boards in intense concentration. They would occasionally break for treats before scurrying back to find another opponent. The women folk (hate to be sexist but I don’t know if any women joined in the chess game time) and assorted children would be in the other room playing rousing games of Scattegories or Pictionary.

young chess players

Tim and my dad play a few rounds of chess on the porch of my grandmother’s home in Virginia. Boy, were they young! Phil, in the corner, looks to be high school age.

big smile

That’s a big smile, Tim, are you winning??

My friend, Lee, has two sons who both enjoy chess. One of them taught chess and went on to compete in several chess tournaments, even winning (I believe) a chess scholarship. I don’t think we have that level of skill going on in our home but it’s fun to see the boys learning something that teaches logic, reasoning, math skills and problem solving.

Note: Lee’s two sons graduated from their homeschool, receiving full college scholarships. Lee now works with parents on a consulting basis, helping them with high school transcripts, college applications and scholarship searches. She is highly motivated, organized and completely professional. Check out her website for further information. She loves working with homeschooling parents and has some amazing resources at her disposal.

I think at one point this week we had a game of Chess going in one room and Go Fish in the other. The mind reels. I know where I belong. :)

Kathy

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Daniel, Events, Joshua, Project 365

P365 – Day 107 (The Rock)

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I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Proverbs 18:1-3

Several months ago there was a serious wind storm that knocked down large pieces of our backyard fence. Tim and the boys managed to fix the portions facing our right hand neighbor. We won’t go into great detail on the quality of their work except to say, it’s a good thing the neighbor’s dog weighs about 20 pounds and doesn’t actively want to come into our yard. Hopefully no one will sneeze too close to those fence sections and they will stay in place.

digging

Unfortunately the far back fence piece wasn’t going to come together that easily. The post was broken and the entire concrete block needed replacing. Have I ever mentioned that we are more the indoor, computer type people than the get outside and work with your hands folk?? I’m not excusing it, just stating a fact.

concrete block

This week Tim decided it was time to start working outside. He’s so grateful not to be on the property digging up Oregon Grape, that anything else looks easy by comparison. He went outside on Tuesday to start digging up that pesky concrete block. David and Daniel helped him for a little bit. Tim’s allergies (nasty this time of year) drove him inside just as Joshua was coming out to join the work team. He and Daniel continued to dig away at that cement block while the rest of played inside. Okay, I was making dinner, hardly lazing around, but I can’t speak for the rest of the group. :)

After a little bit (far longer, frankly, than I thought they would last), the boys rushed in saying they had gotten the block out!! We were all stunned. Tim hurried out (camera in hand) to check on their handiwork. Yes, indeed, it was true. They had completed the job and removed the concrete slab.

carrying the offense block

Awesome job, boys! You are two hard workers! Since we continue to study Proverbs in school devotional time, I couldn’t help but think of several verses in Proverbs 10 (notice the many references to sons and fathers).

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (v1)

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. (v4-5)

The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted but the wicked will not remain in the land. (v29-30)

silly boys

These two sons brought joy to their father. They were diligent (and were likewise rewarded). Unlike the cement block that they uprooted, their righteousness will remain blessed in the land. How grateful we are that our strength and foundation is in the Lord, a rock that cannot be moved.

dinnger hole

Now to go on and finish the fence…but that’s for another day.

Kathy

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Events, Kathy, Project 365

P365 – Day 103 (I’ve fallen…)

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We had our Women’s Retreat this past weekend (as Tim already mentioned in his awesome Saturday Blog). I took exactly TWO pictures all day Friday and NONE on Saturday. My goodness, if Tim hadn’t covered for me on Saturday I would have actually had a lapse in my Project 365. Yikes! We wouldn’t want that to happen.

One of the pictures from Friday is of me and a sweet friend, Beckie. I posted a blog about Beckie WAY back at the beginning of my Project 365 adventure. She makes another appearance in today’s post. So the picture is from Friday (keeping up with the Project 365) but the story of this blog is from today (clear as mud?).

I just got off the phone with Beckie. She was checking to make sure I was safe and sound and in one piece. You see, in a moment of utter grace and poise, I fell backwards in the church parking lot this afternoon and fell and conked my head.

Yes, it was a priceless moment that should have been captured on film, but thankfully WAS NOT!! I was in the parking lot visiting with Beckie and some other friends. I was standing up against the curb and started to take a step back. As soon as I did so, I felt the edge of the curb and knew there was no way I could lift my feet up and over it or stop myself from falling. I didn’t have time to shift around and stop the motion in action. There wasn’t anything to grab on to so DOWN I went.

Ouch! I landed first on my bottom (ah, nice cushion there) and then banged my head hard on the sidewalk. I was thankful I didn’t fall the other way – hate to crack teeth or bang noses.

Everyone was terribly solicitous. They helped me into Beckie’s car and made me sit down and rest. They looked at my pupils and gave me instructions about concussions and the dangers of falling asleep. It was quite an impressive crowd – the worship pastor was there, the youth pastor came by, two of the church secretaries hurried to help (one being the wife of the junior high/Small group pastor) and the AWANA director.

Here’s a sample of the conversation Beckie and I had:

Beckie: Kathy, are you all right? Oh my goodness, you really hit the ground hard.

Kathy: Yes, I heard it too.

Okay, I think I would have had me sit down for a little bit at that point as well. “Kathy, we are very glad you heard the noise of your own head smashing the sidewalk, how about you rest for a few minutes before driving your children around town.”

beckie and kathy

Beckie and I at the Women’s Retreat, Friday night.

I took the ice they graciously provided and then declared myself well enough to drive home. I was a little shaky/sore but not dizzy or light headed feeling. I got in the car and immediately burst into tears.

What is that all about??? Am I too proud or self-contained to cry in front of other people? Perhaps. Maybe I was afraid they would cosset me too much and I wouldn’t be able to stop crying. The poor children, they were awfully worried to see me crying.

Rachel: Mom, you don’t ever cry. How come you don’t cry more? Are you okay?

Daniel: Mom, it makes me scared and worried when you get hurt.

Thankfully I have a hugely blessed life and am most often happy and cheerful and healthy. It shakes everyone up (including me) to have Mom (Rock and Stable Force/Manager of the Family) fall down.

kathy at the retreat

She looks poised and confident but this gal is one good push from falling flat on her backside.

By the time I got home, the tears had stopped and I was feeling better (although still very tender in the noggin). One of the women called me 10 minutes later, checking to be sure I was okay. Wasn’t that kind.

It reminds me how much we have been loved and cared for by the people of our church. When Daniel had his appendix out last year we were thoroughly covered in prayer, blessed with meals, and visited by many members of our church family. Daniel got so many gifts that I think some of the other children wondered if they couldn’t do without their appendixes (appendices?) as well.

I am thankful for friends and for a hard head that keeps me safe.

I’ll close with a piece of Tim’s prayer this evening:

“Thank You, Lord, that Kathy is so hard headed she survived her fall this afternoon.”

Kathy

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Aunts and Uncles, Events

Happy (late) Birthday Uncle Dan

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This week of April is full of birthdays in our family. My mother-in-law’s birthday was on Wednesday, my brother’s birthday was on Friday and Daniel’s birthday was today! Wow! That’s a lot of birthday cake. :)

I have some great black and white pictures of my brother Dan from the batch Joshua digitized for me a while back. I just had to post them in honor of Dan’s birthday.

I love you, Dan! Happy Birthday!! Is it 35??? :)

happy birthday?

Okay, I do NOT know the history of this picture. My dad looks absolutely dead/exhausted. If this was Dan’s 4th birthday, then I was turning 6 in July, Thom was turning 2 in July, and my mom was 4 months pregnant with Phil. Ouch! No wonder Dad looks a wee bit tired.:)

Dan lives in Michigan, but occasionally finds himself up late at night. Being a bit of a night owl, very social and a great phone conversationalist, Dan has been known to call friends and family across the US (following the time zones). Since we are all the way over on the west coast, Dan has diiscovered he can always call and chat with us, no matter what the hour because, with the time difference, it’s never too late for us. We have great conversations, chatting about everything from movies to Starbucks (a mutual passion). Dan has an amazing way of making people feel comfortable. He is easy to talk to, funny, friendly and charming.

I have LOTS of pictures of Dan but these OLD ones are some of the few actually scanned in to the computer.

swimming

Time for a little pool action at Nana and Grandaddy’s indoor pool in MN.

look at that face

Look at that face! Is he planning some mischief or what?

Being close in age and different in our academic and social interests, Dan and I had just a wee bit of conflict negotiating those teenage years. Okay, I might have been the typical bossy older sister. Who knew we would grow to enjoy each other with some age, wisdom and distance (helped when I went off to college-lol).

silly hug

Every girl needs a “big brother” and eventually all three of my YOUNGER brothers grew to become my big, tall brothers.

I still remember the first time Tim met my family and the “looking over” he received from my brothers. And people wonder why I laugh so hard at the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding when the main character’s brother talks to his sister’s fiancé.

Nick: I’ve never seen my sister this happy, Ian.
If you hurt her, I’ll kill you and make it look like an accident.

I can’t be sure, but I think some sort of similar exchange may have passed between Tim and Dan, Thom and Phil. Thankfully Tim survived the brother test and was permitted to join the family.

getting married

Time for the big day, Sis! Are you sure you’re ready to marry “that guy?” May 1992 – Wedding!

Just a little Happy Birthday Blog for my brother Dan.

Kathy

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