All posts by KME

Read-Alouds

When I was a child we lived far from any of our extended family members, so summers were usually spent driving to either Virginia or Minnesota (sometimes both in one summer) from our home in southeast Michigan. The trips were long and (use your imagination here, young readers) took place with NO cell phones, iPods, dvd players, or other hand-held games. Eventually we acquired Sony Walkmans and earphones and could pass the time with our favorite cassettes (and music we taped from the radio).

To pass the time, my amazing mother would read aloud to us. For Hours! She held us captive with silly stories and dramatic tales. Our most often-read and favorite books were by a Canadian author named Gordon Korman. When Tim and I got married, Tim drove all around my hometown looking for copies of old Korman books so we could have our own collection.

David LOVES a good book.

David LOVES a good book.

And so a tradition has continued. We have read and re-read these books for years. Korman wrote and published his first book in JUNIOR HIGH!!! These fun young adult books are clever, well-written and full of memorable characters.

On this rainy day, Tim picked up Son of Interflux, and started to read. Such a great story. And a joy to me that Tim has continued this tradition from my family and passed on these hilarious tales to our children.

Snuggle, reading time!

Snuggle, reading time!

I can’t speak for ALL of Gordan Kormans books, but these are some of our all time favorites:

Can one student and his disgruntled classmates thwart a giant corporation's attempt to build a new complex on school land?

Can one student and his disgruntled classmates thwart a giant corporation’s attempt to build a new complex?

Running AWAY from camp has never been so funny.

Running away from camp has never been so funny.

A hilarious story about friendship, poetry and an attempt to reverse one's bad luck.

A hilarious story about friendship, poetry and an attempt to reverse one’s bad luck.

“Whatever you do, DON’T lose my apartment.” 3 friends crazy adventures in the big city.

A drummer, a

A drummer, a “flute-guy”, one celebrity and two theives make for a hysterically funny story.

A loveable con artist?  Attack jelly, Cow Experts?  So funny!

A loveable con artist? Attack jelly, Cow Experts? So funny!

One of my all time favorites!  The story of a high school that finds some spirit!

One of my all time favorites! The story of a high school that finds some spirit!

Kathy

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, which means that if you purchase a book through a link on this post, I will receive a small commission (4% of the purchase price) from Amazon.

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Tennessee or Bust

Although it feels like it’s still the middle of summer, our hearts are turning toward school. At least for Joshua and Rachel as Union University begins classes on August 19th.

image Packing up!

image Road trip snacks

Tonight Tim, Joshua, David and Sarah pull out (in Rachel’s little Kia) for parts east/south. We were incredibly blessed by some friends who serviced Rachel’s car last night and got it all ready fo a big trip (and life in a college town).

They’ll make a stop in Yellowstone and then head on to Jackson to drop Joshua off on campus for his Life Group retreat.

image Love the new Starbucks mug Joshua brought me from Istanbul!

Rachel and I will head out next week, meet up with my mom and Daniel in Michigan and then drive to Union.
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Sarah makes sure we don’t forget bug spray.

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Rachel didn’t think this sword would fit in her car, but Joshua wanted to try.

Such exciting times and changes for our family. Next year will be so different with Joshua and Rachel both in college and Daniel full time at the vocation school.

And off they go…
image Joshua doesn’t look too sure about this trip.

image And with Tim driving (broken toe and all), who can blame him!

Praying for a safe trip!

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Duckabush Week

I downloaded the WordPress app to my phone. I’m eager to try blogging “on the go.”

This has been such an incredibly gorgeous, busy, full summer for our family! Daniel and Joshua have both been traveling. Rachel graduated from high school and finalized plans to head to Union University in the fall, and we have spent many many days at the lake, beach and pool.

We had a wonderful week on the Olympic peninsula in July.  The kids all went off to day camp at Wilderness Northwest and the moms enjoyed lots of down time.

We drove up to Mt. Walker one afternoon.

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Back at camp Grandpa made an appearance as the king of the jungle.

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Rachel was the only counselor from our family this year as Joshua was in Turkey and Daniel was in Seattle at World View Academy. We were missing several of our CITs, but Jenny and Luke joined Rachel in making it a great camp for the kids.

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Of course, Zoe is always one of our favorite little campers.
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The weather was a little chilly (pretty much the only week in the whole summer that was cold) but we managed to have smores and play outside with friends.
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We had some kids in a camper, others in a tent on the deck, more in the house, and still managed to make sure the moms all got their own space.

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Definitely one of the best weeks of the year. Huge thanks to Jody Weed and Kara Boone for running the camp, Ray Canterbury for working with the counselors in training, Rachel and Jenny and all the teens for serving the campers and making it fun, and all the other many people who give of their time and effort.

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Happy Easter

After a beautiful (early) Easter service at church, we piled into the van and set off for the Duckabush. Time to spend the day with Tim’s parents. Such a treat for us! Family time, delicious food and literally NO WORK for me as Tim’s mom did all the prep work and cooking. Yum!

Can you say SPOILED!

I’m so SPOILED! Thank you, G’ma, for doing ALL the cooking!

We had a wonderful family lunch with lamb and hot cross buns, a huge salad and a platter piled high of vegetables.

First they work, and then they nap!

First they work, and then they nap!

The girls helped Grandma with lunch while David set the table and provided some dinner music.

Thank you, David.  The table looks good!

Thank you, David. The table looks good!

Play on, David!

Play on, David!

Who would like some lamb?

Who would like some lamb?

After lunch we relaxed. Daniel picked out a sad movie for us to watch. I think I fell asleep on the couch at one point. Tim helped his dad with computer work. It was a perfect way to end the Easter weekend. That evening we gathered with some other friends and celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection with a mini-drama and Easter hymn singalong.

Daniel starred as Thaddeus and David as Cleopas.

Daniel starred as Thaddeus and David as Cleopas.

On the Road to Emmaus, the boys (aka Thaddeus and Cleopas) met Jesus (played by Tim).

Tim has the beard, that pretty much qualified him to play Jesus in our drama.

Tim has the beard, that pretty much qualified him to play Jesus in our drama.

In between acts we sang Easter hymns. Some I knew (Christ the Lord is Risen Today, There is a Redeemer, Crown Him with Many Crowns) and several I didn’t (Only Believe, Jesus the Very Thought of Thee, and I Gave My Life for Thee). Obviously I have not been spending enough time listening to traditional hymns.

Dessert time!

Dessert time!

Sarah, Rachel LOVE seeing Tirzah and Sharon!

Sarah, Rachel LOVE seeing Tirzah and Sharon!

Afterwards we celebrated with more delicious treats and some time with friends. It was a nice break from the busyness of life and a chance to reflect on the wonder of Christ’s gift to us – conquering death and offering us LIFE FOREVER!

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Does Normal = Taking For Granted

Where has the week gone? Tim has been fighting a cough since last Saturday, so he’s definitely not feeling well. He pretty much put all his energy into his job and then AWANA on Wednesday night. The rest of the time he slept or relaxed (movies and computer games feature prominently during these times – neither require conversation. Ha).

I managed to pass the time this week with the usual demands of life – homeschooling, housework, prayer and coffee with some special friends, errands, Bible study, homeschool co-op. Nothing terribly unusual or noteworthy.

Kathi and Becca never fail to encourage and bless me!

Kathi and Becca never fail to encourage and bless me!

The children also enjoyed a fairly normal week – work at Black Bear for Rachel, lots of school for everyone, various homework assignments, papers and tests, AWANA, co-op, workouts at the fitness center, the occasional Ultimate Frisbee game, sleepovers. Again, nothing unusual.

David knows how to make life fun.

David knows how to make life fun.

In the midst of it all, I began to wonder if we realize what a blessing it is that this is our normal. That we live in a FREE country. That we can get together with friends and pray in the middle of Starbucks. That we are able to school at home. That Tim telecommutes several days a week and is home with us the rest of the time. That we can Skype friends and family 1000′s of miles away. That we go to a church that preaches from the Bible. That we have every store/market we could want within 25 minutes of our house. That our pantry, cupboards, closets and dresser drawers are full, and we want for so little.

Friends since they were preschoolers - Daniel is saving for a trip to visit Zach in Thailand this summer.

Friends since they were preschoolers – Daniel is saving for a trip to visit Zach in Thailand this summer.

And so much more.

I am humbled.
I am embarrassed at my petty grumblings.
I am ashamed at how I take the extravagant riches of my “normal life” for granted.

This beautiful girl is one of my greatest treasures.

This beautiful girl is one of my greatest treasures.

And once I again I am reminded that everything I have is from the Lord – my gifts, talents, possessions, my children, my husband, my very life and breath.

And I open my hands before Him. Hands that hold tightly to “things” and are quick to make idols of them.

And I breathe out a sacred prayer and pledge to be a good and faithful steward of all of these treasures and talents. I surrender (once again) my life and all that it entails to the One from whom every good and perfect gift comes.

God's Word is like a sword - it pierces me with its truth and conviction.

God’s Word is like a sword – it pierces me with its truth and conviction.

Kathy

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