Camp meeting this afternoon for Joshua and his comrades. We picked up Rachel along the way and later convinced Emily Z. to come over for a visit.
Emily, Bethany and Rachel show their gorgeous smiles.
Young men and their walking staffs/sticks/handy swords are rarely separated, especially when you’re exploring the woods.
Timothy, Stuart and Joshua kneel chivalrously before the camera.
It’s a good thing those gentlemen were there to protect the ladies.
Kathy
Project 366 – Day 69
Once upon a time, two sisters began a little blog for moms. They wanted to help foster a sense of community and support for moms (and their blogs).
Out of this desire came 5 Minutes for Moms, a place where women can meet other bloggers, discover fantastic mom run home-stores, be entertained and encouraged. This week the lovely hosts of 5 Minutes for Moms are holding a little blogging party. There are already over 800 blogs linked to the party and a collection of at least 150 giveaways and prizes.
That’s quite a goodie bag.
David went to a Pirate B-day Party today. Doesn’t he look the part.
So, if you’ve dropped by to say hello, Welcome to the Duckabush Blog! We’re a Christian homeschooling family with five children – ranging in age from 5 to 14. Grab a cup of something hot and tasty and stay for a spell.
Dh and I blog together quite a bit. He’s a wee bit funnier than I am (but don’t tell him I said so). If you don’t believe me, just read his post about car troubles or life as a typical, every day, run of the mill homeschooling dad.
Please, please, don’t leave a comment about how funny or witty he is. Those kinds of notes go straight to his head and he becomes quite unbearable.
This blog is a little bit like our life – random, messy at times, challenging, and whimsical. We write about family, homeschooling, our walk with the Lord, recipes, parenting, photography, and anything else that comes to mind.
Five Duckabush Kiddos.
Coffee and Chocolate are frequent topics.
Be sure to come back and say hello again some time!
Kathy
Project 366 – Day 68
A couple of days ago, Kathy drove my car for some reason or other. “Your car makes an ugly little screech-screech-screech noise,” she informed me with a sniff of disapproval, so now I have to sell my clunker in houston tx according to her.
“It doesn’t do that when I drive it,” I responded haughtily.
“Oh, yes it does; but you probably just play your music so loud, you don’t hear it.” She had me there — I do play my music loudly, and my stint as a forward observer in the National Guard ensured that my hearing would not be perfect, especially as the years advance upon me in their relentless fashion.
I went out on an errand with Joshua, and had him listen out the passenger window, since the alleged noise was allegedly coming from the alleged front right alleged wheel. “I hear it,” Joshua pronounced. My oldest son already, at the age of 14, has the ability to make pronouncements in somber tones, with gravity and dignity, as though he were the guy with the gong in The Ten Commandments — “So let it be written, so let it be done.” It makes me so proud … but I digress.
I still couldn’t hear it, so I took refuge in my usual strategy for mechanical problems:
ignore it and hope it goes away.
This is a surprisingly effective strategy, but it failed me this time. By Tuesday night, the noise, perhaps feeling neglected, elevated itself into frequencies and decibels that I could actually detect. “Screech, screech, screech,” it nagged.
David and Sarah were drafted for some human interest, to redeem this blog.
“See, I told you there was a screech-screech-screech noise,” Kathy informed me, with just a touch of smug self-righteousness. For reasons that have never been adequately explained to me, car maintenance falls solidly into my domain of responsibility. For most men, this makes a certain amount of sense — some of them have mechanical skills, and others have actual knowledge of mechanical components. “That’s an engine,” they’ll assert confidently, pointing toward the front of the vehicle. “And those round things on the bottom: they’re tires.” The dent repair concord nc provide best vehicle repair service. The U.S. Flag Code doesn’t contain any provisions about washing the American flag. meaning you can safely wash a flag without violating this federal law.
I am not one of those men. I’m on the level of Joe Junior, in While You Were Sleeping, who tries to repair his carburetor with a hammer. When I try to ‘fix’ a car, it is not a pretty sight, and it usually involves a lot of walking.
Car problems always bring a certain terror to my heart. I tend to be rather cheap frugal about car maintenance, and (whenever I do break down and take a car in to the shop) I often feel that I am grossly manipulated by the mechanics. I expect that they will take advantage of my ignorance, and the bottom line of the bill seems to reflect the legitimacy of that fear.
I called up a local tire and brake shop. “Um, I need to have someone look at the brakes on my Honda”, I stammered, desperately striving to convey a sense of lofty mechanical knowledge. “It seems to be making a screech-screech-screech noise.” I hoped I wasn’t being too technical.
I could almost see Brian’s toothy smile on the other end of the phone. (We’ll call him ‘Brian’, because his name is, um, Brian.) “Sure, bring it in. It will probably take us a few hours, so you’ll want to have someone come by and pick you up. You won’t want to hang around the shop all afternoon.”
No doubt about that, Brian.
Not my actual car.
Later, Brian called me with the damage. “Let’s see, you need new brakes in the front, that’ll be $189 for that. We’ll polish up the rotors and fringlebok the amvarthingtone, but that’s included in that price. Your rear brakes have about 40% life left on them, but we’ll need to adjust and clean them for another $29. Your brake fluid needs to be completely flushed, which is another $89.”
I did some rapid calculations in my head. “Hmmmm. That seems a little steep on the 40% rotor flushing. Can you offer me anything better than that?” I patted myself on the back for such bold, savvy bargaining ability. Maybe I could hold my own with these opportunistic mechanics, after all! There was a long pause on the other end of the phone, while (no doubt) Brian reeled in surprise at my unexpected depths.
“No, that’s what it costs. If you just bleed off the fluid without flushing, all the sediment stays in the system.” Obviously, sediment was bad, but I dared not push any further, since it was obvious that Brian was not duped by my gearhead braggadocio. I un-patted myself on the back, and folded with a whimper.
“Then there’s the tires. Yours are legally bald in the front, and nearly so in the back. I can get you a new set of four good tires (better than the ones you have on there now, which are pretty good) for $451. Also, the dipstick shows no oil and your air filter is filthy — just $30 for an oil change and $15 for the filter.” He really had me on the run, now. I’d heard of being legally blind, but legally bald? It didn’t sound good.
“It’s been a while since I changed the oil,” I chuckled ruefully. Trying to regain the upper hand, I challenged the tires. “I think I’ll hold off on the tires for now — I think I can get a better deal than that.”
When the dust settled, I talked him down to $260 for tires he wouldn’t sell to his worst enemy, and I refused the air filter because it is the one thing I can do for myself. (Actually, if you buy one at Wal-Mart, they’ll put it in for free … but if I wanted to, I could replace an air filter. Really.)
Total bill: $701. I have to say, the brakes feel great, and the tires seem to hug the road in ways I hardly remember — the car seems to handle the way it did when I first bought it from my older brother, almost two years ago. And there was no little screech-screech-screech noise.
For some reason, my brother didn’t sell me this car.
My mind goes back to a road trip in the early 80′s with my good friend Phil. Hopelessly lost in the wilds of West Virginia, we discovered the brake pads on my little car were totally shot. (They made a very loud screech-screech-grind noise, as I recall.) Somehow, we managed to find a parts store and Phil (who claimed he knew about such things) talked a local mechanic into loaning us some tools. We jacked up the car and Phil swapped out the pads in a jiffy. In less than two hours (including a break for lunch) we were on our way; total cost, $30. I have to wonder — could I have just ignored that screeching noise, at least until it became a grinding noise? Did I really need the new brakes, or the new tires? Would my brake fluid have been just fine without being flushed? And what is an amvarthingtone, and how do you fringlebok it, anyway?
Burning questions, all.
Tim
Project 366, Day 65
It’s backwards day at Works for Me Wednesday. I ask the questions and you all provide the answers. It’s wonderful! I don’t have to be profound, helpful, witty, or spiritual. That’s implying, of course, that we here at the Duckabush ever ARE those things.
We don’t have time to discuss that right now. 
I have so many areas in my life which need assistance, as you already know, if you are a faithful reader of this blog.
Someone, please help this girl!
Lately I’ve been thinking and praying about developing self-discipline in my life. A friend spoke some intense words of conviction into my life on Sunday and I’ve been mulling about them ever since. I am trying to filter what she said through the reality of my life on a day to day basis.
Where are my priorities?
What are my goals for my family and myself?
Where am I letting laziness, distraction and self-indulgence prevent me from meeting those goals and addressing those priorities?
It’s getting harder and harder to capture Joshua on film.
That’s where you come in. I want you to help me figure out my life, guide me in attaining my goals and teach me how to develop a core of self-control.
Or maybe not.
What I really want to discuss is basic Bible Study/Quiet Time habits. I know there are some amazing, godly women who do me the honor of visiting this blog and sharing their heart. I’ve been encouraged, prayed for and challenged by many of you. Thank you for taking time to read and comment. I am eager to be blessed by your thoughts on this subject!
I want to spend time with the Lord. I crave time with my Bible and journal. I’m doing a fantastic Beth Moore Bible study on the book of Daniel. I want to give the work some thought and attention.
I also have FIVE children. Five children who adore and love me and MUST be with me at all times. Between my younger boys who get up early and want to do their Bible devotions with me and my older son and daughter who are entering their teen age years and like to stay up late and just talk, my life is full! And that’s not even addressing the other responsibilities that come into play in trying to run a smooth household.
And I LOVE that special one on one time.
I’ve tried to carve out some time in the middle of the day.
::snort::
Did I mention we’re a homeschooling family? The middle of the day is not exactly prime “quiet time” material here.
The (late) evenings tend to be my only moments for rest and relaxation. I don’t have the depth of insight or energy that I want to give the Lord by the time that part of the day staggers along. Blogging I can do, studying the scriptures…no.
So I’m left with the morning. If I sleep in just a little bit it seems the entire morning vanishes. Little ones need help with breakfast. The laundry cries out for a little bit of attention – just a wee load before the day starts, it whispers.
I’ve been trying to do my Daniel study while David and Sarah (7 and 5) sit with me and read their Bibles.
Um, that does not work.
David, who can read, likes to do so aloud.
Are we in Daniel this morning, Mommy?
Yes, sweetie, chapter 6. You can read it in your Bible.
Several minutes pass while I try to answer the questions in my book, help David sound out words, and referee conflict taking place in the adjoining room.
No time for reading, let’s go outside!
It’s not exactly what I would call precious moments with the Lord.
Meanwhile, Sarah, who is just learning how to read, likes to describe all the illustrations to me … in detail.
So I’ve discovered that, while this is a lovely time of family devotion and an amazing opportunity to teach the younger children how to study their Bibles, it is NOT a place where I can effectively hear from the Lord.
Is this the longest Works for Me Wednesday ever?
Share with me from your experience.
Do you have time in your schedule set apart for one on one time with the Lord?
Do you read your Bible and pray on a regular basis?
Devotional? Bible Study book? Read through the Bible in a Year plan?
Do you journal?
Do you journal or record your prayers?
Do you teach your children to have a daily Quiet Time?
How LONG is your own personal time with the Lord?
WHEN do you find this time?
Remember I am a night owl with some early risers in the family. How early do I have to get up to set aside time in the Word? Do I hide out in my room and guard 20 or 30 minutes for prayer and Bible reading?
Stun me with your spiritual maturity and discipline.
Stop by Rocks in My Dryer to see how you can aid other desperate bloggers.
Kathy
When the Lord works in your life to refine you, do you fight, flee or listen?
I am a cheerful, even-tempered person, for the most part, but this evening I found myself weeping.
Twice.
God is speaking to me about some issues of self-control and discipline in my life. I can feel Him pruning away the dry, shriveled branches.
It hurts. Stings. Wrenches.
Even though I know the end result is fresh growth and new blossoms, I still find myself clinging to those withered, unattractive twigs.
Rachel and I enjoyed the sunshine this afternoon.
Today a friend listened to me share my struggles in the areas of finances, homeschooling and healthy food/exercise habits. Just as I was asking for prayer to be faithful, she interrupted to point out that all of those battles lead back to a lack of self-control.
“You can’t treat the symptoms when there is an underlying, root cause that needs addressing,” she said and from there we began a quick Biblical word study on the topics of “self-discipline” and “self-control.”
It wasn’t pleasant. My heart was hurt as I looked in the face of some of my shortcomings and thought about my many failures. I was weary at the thought of all the effort involved in CHANGING a core weakness.
At the end of our visit, my friend gently touched her Bible and said she would be earnestly praying for me from Colossians 1.
“…and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” Colossians 1:9-11
Through the fire, amidst the tears, never leaving me, the Lord is there by my side. When I am weak, I can lean on Him. In my ugliness and failure, His love is still true and constant.
Kathy
