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Joshua, Project 365

Visitors

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Rachel left for Tennessee right after our amazing New Year’s Eve party. She went back for Union’s January Term. We had a wonderful visit with her over the holidays . There’s such a sweetness about having a grown child return home. I love college students – they are thinking and growing and figuring out life practically right in front of your eyes. Rachel is a dedicated student, loyal friend, thoughtful daughter, and godly young woman. I am incredibly proud of her!!

Tarah, Leah, Rachel, Katie and Hannah helped us celebrate the new year!

Tarah, Leah, Rachel, Katie and Hannah helped us celebrate the new year!

Joshua decided not to attend Jan Term this year. Instead we were treated to an extra two weeks of time with him. He worked, played games with us, watched movies and helped with AWANA. The very ‘normalness’ of it all was even more precious. As a junior in college with a heart for discipleship and missions as well as a passion for learning, Joshua is very intentional with his time. Our summers and winter breaks with him have been very brief. The January of his freshman year he went to Germany on a mission trip, returned for the second semester at Union and then spent the summer traveling with WorldView Academy. The next winter he returned to school for Jan Term and then served on Union’s Go Trip in Turkey over the summer months.

Joshua & Rachel at Rachel's Lake City Graduation Party - May 2014

Joshua & Rachel at Rachel’s Lake City Graduation Party – May 2014

Last week Joshua went to Alaska to visit a special friend from college. After a fun week with Kelsie and her family, the two of them flew into Seattle to spend a week with us. Watching the kids grow, form godly friendships, and bring new people into the circle of our family has been a delight throughout the years. Over and over, Tim and I have been proud of the friends our children have made and pleased to enjoy their company as well. We have played games, watched movies, worked on projects, cleaned the house, painted rooms, decorated for the holidays, thrown parties, traveled, prayed, and eaten many, many meals (and more ice cream) with beautiful, amazing, talented, interesting, fun, godly young people over the years. I could post dozens of pictures of our children and their friends. We are blessed by the people they love.

This evening Joshua and Kelsie went to the high school Navy Junior ROTC Ball along with Daniel and many of our good friends. When Joshua and Daniel were cadets, several years ago, Tim and I put on our finest duds and celebrated with them. It was fun to watch them all dress up and go out this evening.

Joshua and Kelsie - ready for the ball.

Joshua and Kelsie – ready for the ball.

The rest of the week, I presume we’ll enjoy more board games, movies, laughter, and family time before Joshua and Kelsie return to Union.

A game of 7 Wonders - Tim posed with my coffee cup.

A game of 7 Wonders – David WON and Sarah came in second. Fun!

Project 365 – Day 24
Kathy

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Homeschooling, Project 365

Leadership Class

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One of the privileges of being a part of a homeschool co-op is the opportunity to impact a large group of kids. Every co-op is unique in how it runs its classes, curricula and programming. In ACTS, our current co-op home, if you are willing and available (and have a class that meets a need for the co-op), you can teach a class during one of the semesters. It is a challenging task to add to an already busy homeschooling life, but what an honor!

These five kiddos are, of course, my favorite students (sporting shirts from Thailand and probably the last time they were in “stair step” height).

My favorite co-op kids in the whole wide world.

I remember when they were that size – circa 2010.

I have taught a strange variety of classes over the years. Usually they are things my children are interested in (Civil War, Minecraft, US Presidents, educational games) or things I’ve got a passion for (Peace Makers, public speaking, yearbook) or even areas where I feel homeschoolers should gain proficiency (PowerPoint, Publisher). Last year I ended up teaching several semesters of PE because I wanted Daniel to have a frisbee class and no one else was available to teach. That was the biggest stretch (rivaling my Minecraft class) as I am NOT athletic and don’t have any talent or gifting in leading PE games. In all honesty, Daniel pretty much ran both the Minecraft and the PE classes.

Thanks, Daniel!

You would trust him with your homeschool kids, wouldn't you?

You would trust him with your homeschool kids, wouldn’t you?

This semester I’ve somehow stumbled on a Leadership Class. It started out as a student government/leadership class, but the more I research and study and pray about leadership, the more I find myself developing a passion for really understanding and teaching about godly leadership. This week (our second) we are going to delve into the Proverbs for a look at wisdom, the foundation of any real leadership.

Just who are they sneaking up on?

Future leaders! Heading into battle?

Sword of the spirit - God's Word

Sword of the spirit – God’s Word

Several years ago Tim’s parents gave him the Maxwell Leadership Bible and it has sat perched on a shelf in our bedroom since then. I immediately thought of it as I began planning my syllabus. “Maybe that Leadership Bible will have something helpful in it.”

Stand at attention, my students!

Stand at attention, my students!

What a treasure! Principles, teaching, notes, all sorts of helpful material for, not only the class, but my personal study as well. Rounding out our look at Proverbs, I’ve got movie clips (from silly animations to serious film moments), team building activities, two TA’s who are incredibly helpful, and students who want to LEARN.

Charge!

Charge!

It’s going to be a great semester. I’m praying for each of my students. Excited to see if God can breathe a passion for leadership into the reluctant learners and cast a vision for strong, servant leadership into those who are natural born leaders already.

Project 365 – Day 22
Kathy

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Being a Disciple of Jesus, David, Project 365, Sarah

Conference & Journaling & Kids

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We’ve been very blessed to bring David and Sarah with us to this year’s Impact Prayer Seminar. Originally we were going to leave them with friends or grandparents, but things got complicated and other families attending encouraged us to sign David and Sarah up for the conference.

These notebooks are getting FILLED up!

These notebooks are getting FILLED up!

I can only echo what John wrote in 3 John 1:4,

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

What a joy it is to have shared this conference with all of our children over the years. As I sat with David and Sarah in the sanctuary, watching them take notes, listen to the speaker, and concentrate, I was reminded, once again, how blessed we are to have such thoughtful, careful, godly children.

Tim and I have attended this prayer conference many times over the past eight years, so we were more than willing to let David and Sarah be responsible for the note taking job this time. The material ranges from goal setting and time management to the incredible blessings of being a praying leader. This year we’ve especially enjoyed the company of several other church friends and families.

A little search of our blog reveals that we’ve written about the prayer seminar before:

The Lord has taught me many things as I’ve walked this path of godly woman, daughter, wife, mother, sister, friend, mentor, leader, homeschooler. He has greatly enriched my prayer life, humbled me through hardship, blessed me beyond measure, and ALWAYS continues to work in my heart and life.

Journaling with colors is WAY more fun!

Journaling with colors is WAY more fun!

I am still processing, thinking and praying about all we’ve studied and discussed and learned during the two and a half days of the conference. 16 hours of teaching on prayer! More than anything I want to be a Champion for Jesus – honoring Him in my service for His kingdom. I want to delight in Him, bring glory & praise to His name, and be purposeful in my days. This seminar has both challenged me and inspired me. Not to mention, been a bit overwhelming as I contemplate being a good steward of all the Lord has given me – my time, energy, finances, gifts, and talents.

Praying that Tim and I, along with David and Sarah, will leave here with renewed passion for following Jesus. Praying that Joshua, Rachel and Daniel will also find encouragement and a fresh love for Jesus even though they weren’t able to join us.

Project 365 – Day 20
Kathy

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Homeschooling

Co-op Begins

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We have been blessed to be a part of some wonderful homeschool groups over the years. We have spent many afternoons at the YMCA involved in the homeschool PE program. We’ve gone on field trips with other homeschooling families, shared tables at curriculum sales, and done annual academic testing together. Most significantly, however, has been our connection with homeschool co-ops.

2008 - Alamo Village (history while on vacation)

2008 – Alamo Village (history while on vacation)

Homeschool co-ops offer the opportunity for homeschoolers to come together and join resources. A homeschooling family alone (unless they are perhaps the Duggars) can’t really gather the numbers for a choir or drama team. In a co-op, on the other hand, there are enough children for team sports, plays, public speaking and debate teams. Even better, where one mom is weak, another mom is strong. I may HATE arts and crafts but have a LOVE for educational games. Or perhaps I enjoy working and teaching teens whereas another mom has a heart for 1st and 2nd graders. Co-ops offer a place for homeschool children to enjoy the company and friendship of other homeschoolers. Other kids who “get” the concept of homeschooling. They are provided with the chance to sit in classrooms, under a teacher other than MOM. Co-ops can round out a homeschooling experience, enrich and strengthen it.

We’ve met some of our dearest friends at co-op, watched students graduate, celebrated weddings between co-op families, taught many classes, studied art, drama, music, history, math, science (and so much more), laughed and served together.

Today was the first day of the second semester at ACTS co-op. Our co-op days look a little different in this season. Instead of packing up five children, complete with lunches, school supplies, and teaching materials, now only David, Sarah and I set off on co-op mornings.

Home from co-op

Co-Op days require a little bit of attitude!
Food for dinner (made at co-op)

Muffins for dinner (made at co-op)

These co-op days are busy and crazy and precious. We enjoy being together. We have many friends. David and Sarah have many opportunities to grow, learn and shine at ACTS. I’m incredibly privileged to serve on the Board of Directors with a group of amazing, talented, hard-working women. Still, we all sort of miss the days of being a “big family” at co-op, piling in and out of the minivan. Tim said something this week that has struck me by it’s TRUTH.

Our inability to wrap our minds around the passage of time is just one more
bit of evidence that we are wired for eternity, unbound by the constraints of time.

The last time Tim and I were working through a Project 366 (it was a leap year), I posted on the final day of co-op. Sarah was “graduating” from kindergarten. Oh my goodness. The cuteness and those cheeks!

Sarah and her bff Tarah - 2008.

Sarah and her bff Tarah – 2008.

How the years do fly by.

Tarah and Sarah Christmas Eve 2014

Tarah and Sarah Christmas Eve 2014

From kindergarten to 7th grade in a blink of the eye. From junior high to college in another blink. May our days honor the One who has granted us this time here on earth.

Project 365 – Day 16
Kathy

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Being a Disciple of Jesus, Daily Life

Blessings

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I’m tired. I have too much to do. I want to either settle in on the big, comfy couch and read my Bible, write and pray in my beautiful journal, and spend some time with Jesus OR just go to bed. If I’m not careful, I don’t end up doing either thing and I waste a little bit of time here and a little bit there.

Thankful for my blessings!

Thankful for my blessings!

Instead of frittering away an hour on Facebook, Pinterest, or random websites, I’ll share some blessings and then go to bed. There is nothing quite as transforming as pausing to be thankful.

Blessings and Thankfulnesses (my blog, I can make up words)

1. Serving in AWANA with my family
2. Being able to text my sweet college girl and tell her I miss her
3. Crock pots and bbq ribs that cook away magically while we’re at church
4. A talented husband who designs and creates websites for me
5. Friends who love me and are patient with me when I’m grumpy
6. Friends who come and work alongside me at AWANA
7. Friends who set an example of giving selflessly
8. Friends who pray for me when I’m struggling
9. Friends who share an encouraging word
10. Comfy shoes
11. Sunny afternoons and walks down the road
12. Living in a cul-d-sac with little traffic
13. Amazing kids who shine with their patient, hardworking attitudes
14. Having a dishwasher and kids who help around the house
15. Being able to homeschool my children
16. A great college where my older two kids can learn and grow
17. The privilege to serve on our homeschool co-op board
18. God’s love and forgiveness
19. New mercies
20. Grace and peace and joy

Having Mamie with us for Christmas is one of the BEST BLESSINGS EVER!

Having Mamie with us for Christmas is one of the BEST BLESSINGS EVER!

Project 365 – Day 14
Kathy

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