IJS and August/September

Last Sunday, my family and I left our church of 9 years. We love everyone at our "old" church, and we hope to continue our friendships with them. Last week there were only ourselves, our Pastor's family and 6 other people, 4 of which will most likely not be at the church in a few months. So it is not a mega-church, which means we have developed close friendships with the people there. It's odd but I'm excited about this new season of going to a different church. This week we visited a church, and it was an adjustment having to wake up extra early on a Sunday.

My family and I have a pretty boring life. I'm going into my 5th week of school, and the sessions are only 6 weeks long! This session I've been taking "Life of Christ" and "Holocaust and Anti-Semitism". I'm learning in both classes, but I'm enjoying "Holocaust and Anti-Semitism" the most. I think the reason is I enjoy recent history. There are about 11 students in that class, 3 of which are ladies. We are about age 72, 52, and 19. In "Life of Christ" there are 19 students. I've always been the youngest in all my IJS classes. Fall break is coming up real soon, which means I need to start working on my final papers for these classes.

My first week of class, Daddy and Mommy went to Pittsburgh. The day before they left Je and I went and got Grandma and brought her home with us. She stayed a week with us, as our Aunt and Uncle were gone that week. Je and I got to take care of Grandma and we had a blast doing it. Having Grandma visiting encouraged me to get my school done, so I could play with her. It was also my best first week of school ever. My 1st class with IJS I had a ton going on right before I started school and on my 2nd class I was sick the first week.

The family's camera broke in May, so we've been using Je's camera. So any recent photographs, are from her camera.
Je and I made homemade bread for the first time. I found a recipe for challah (Jewish Sabbath bread) this spring, and it took until the end of the summer for me to actually make the bread. It was quite a bit of work, but a ton of fun feeling the dough in my hands. We couldn't decided what exactly to use the 2 loaves for (they each were so big, only 1 fit on a cookie sheet), so we froze them. Now we use them for homemade garlic bread (I don't think that's the intened use for challah, but we enjoy it).

12 Years Ago Today...

My first and only brother, Benjamin Edward was born dead at 8:05 p.m., when my mom was 20 weeks along. On August 10th, my mom went in for a rountine ultrasound, and there was no longer a heartbeat. A week later on the 17th, we had his funeral. It was definately a hard week, and many difficult days followed. For the few months he was with us, we had so much fun together. We went on vacation, looked at baby things, and my mom got to buy lots of new clothes! I'm so grateful that the Lord gave me Ben and the experience of being a big sister. Je and I had been praying for a year or so for a sibling, specifically a brother, and the Lord so graciously answered in giving us Ben. One thing special about today, is that it is the 12th and it's been 12 years since he was born.

Back during the summer of the 1996 Olympics, my mom came up with the acrostic for Benjamin-the name my parents were going to name their son, if the Lord ever gave them one.

Benjamin, Edward, Nathan, Jospeh, Allan, Matthew, Isaac, Then our last name.

Je and I used to sing his acrostic name a lot when Mommy was pregnant with him.

Today is also special in two other ways. Today would have been my paternal grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary, and Je is 23 1/2 today!

Gardening and the Summer

There has been a lot going on in my mind recently. Just thinking of where I'm at with my walk with the Lord. Areas that need to be corrected, and ways to change them to be more Christ-like. (Anyone who reads this is welcome to pray for me.)

On a totally different note: We put in a garden as a family on Memorial Day morning. We try to have a garden every year of about 8 plants maximum. Last year it was 4 tomato plants, 3 pepper plants, and 1 cucumber plant. Well this year we really had vision as we bought 21 tomato plants, 9 broccoli plants, 2 cucumber plants, 2 squash plants, and 2 green pepper plants for a total of 36 plants!

Well, what am I doing now that I don't have school? Last month I started teaching 4 children piano, plus the student I've had for over a year for a total of 5 students. But my student I've had a while is taking a break for the summer, so I only have 4 students this summer. One of the areas that needs to be corrected in my life is the sin of laziness. I'm praying that the Lord might give me a ministry, a way to serve Him, and also something to do to keep me from wasting time. The big thing I'm doing this summer is spending time with my family. Also I'm doing the typical tasks of folding laundry, doing dishes, helping make meals, playing piano, and doing the things that are on my list. -I know I need a bigger vision for my life and I'm working on that.

P.S. I got 4 more piano students today!

Girl's Week and Quilting

This is a post I wrote back in April when my parents were gone for a week.

This week Je and I have been fairly busy. We are planning on making three quilts together this week. The top of my sister's lap quilt should be done tonight-only two seams left to do! Tomorrow we start on Je's pastel baby size quilt, and possibly on my bright baby size quilt.
The tops of the quilts were all were completed.

Not having school has been a bit of an adjustment. It has been fun not having school. Since I don't have school my mom has given me more jobs to do around the house.

I'm one of the laziest persons around, and I want to do something about that. So I have taken up consistently running, (the running thing didn't last long and I need to get back to it) memorizing Scripture, and trying to get up earlier in the day. But this week I haven't been quite as strict on doing my new goals. Last night Je and I didn't go to bed till 1 a.m., so I didn't get up very early this morning. Yup, that's what happens when the parents are gone.

March Happenings

Due to receiving an anonymous comment, from my mom I suspect, I decided to do another post again. The comment before that was another anonymous one, that time from my sister on my need to post. So the moral of the story: comment and maybe if I see it, I'll post again.

Last Thursday, my mom turned 50 years old, half of a century. It was a non-eventful sort of affair. She did receive some presents, and she worked on sewing herself a dress during the day. For lunch I brought home Chinese at her request. Daddy took a business trip, which he didn't take Momma on, which was quite a treat for us ladies (we never get left home alone with our mom overnight, because Daddy has a very hard time being separated from her). It was just an overnight affair, so he got home the afternoon of Momma's birthday.

Je enjoys her work, and she is working many hours this week and next. The Lord just keeps giving her more and more hours to work. We sure miss her when she is gone, although today Mommy and I went to visit her at work which was very nice.

For me I'm taking a class on Jewish Culture and Customs. It's been a whole lot different than my last class. First of all NO tears!!! Then my professor is very interactive with us students, and there are 11 of us students-almost twice the amount of the first class. Therefore discussion is a whole lot easier, added to the fact that the questions are actually fun to answer. Today was my first day to be somewhat discouraged and I'm not really sure exactly why. Only 3 1/2 weeks until summer break!

Last week, and part of the week before that, Mommy, Je, and I made 8 skirts. Four of the skirts were a ladies size, the other four a size medium girls. We sent them off to Haiti. We all had a ton of fun sewing and making the skirts together.

In other news I heard a report that there is more than just one person who reads this blog, that means I need to be careful what I write, and to write more often. I really don't blame people for not commenting. I read many, many blogs, and I rarely ever comment.

A Late Christmas Photo Post

This sure is super late, but better late than never. We had a nice Christmas, pretty subdued and long like it usually is. Since we each open a present one at a time, and with the ladies Christmas buying habits it is usually a 1 1/2 hour affair. We all received plenty of things. Daddy
Je
Mommy
Ki

This blog just keeps getting neglected. I'll blame it on starting an online class in January. Right now I'm on break after my 1st online class entitled "Biblical Interpretation Makes a Difference". During break I made myself a whole list of things I wanted to do, most of which have been or are being accomplished. In my next blog post I'll talk more about what I've been up to.

Just an Update on Life

It has occured to me I haven't blogged in many months. My biggest problem is I really am not into writing and I'd rather read others blogs. Well what has been going on at my house?

Daddy had the flu the past week, so he was home almost the whole week. The ladies were planning on visiting my Grandma in the middle of the state, but then a blizzard was predicted so we stayed home. Je already had the time off from work, so the four of kinda had a vacation together at home. We've watched lots of movies, made sugar cookies, looked out the window, watched the news on tv and ate some junk food. It has been pretty nice. Today both Daddy and Je are back at work. Tonight we plan to watch the movie Up for the first time. Maybe we'll pop some popcorn to eat while watching the movie.

Sunday night is going to be real busy for me. I believe I'm playing seven songs for my church's music service. Four of the songs are for the Kid's Choir made up of 7 kids. I'm also playing a solo piano piece, playing and singing a duet with Je, and playing the piano for two ladies while they sing a duet. My sister and I are organizing the service this time. We have a music service four times a year at a local retirement home.

From November 30th through today, Revive Our Hearts aired 10 programs on the church of Laodicea. Mommy, Je, and I were able to be in the audience during the recording of the programs in March. It has been pretty neat to actually hear the programs on the radio.

Last week, Daddy had a surprise 50th Birthday Party. He found out about it so it really wasn't a surprise. We posted huge pictures of him as a child around the church basement. It was a lot of fun. A Couple of Pictures of Daddy as a young man.

This fall a lady from church blessed us with bags upon bags of apples, so now our freezer has lots of homemade frozen applesauce in it. We also made a loaf of apple bread, and a couple of apple pies.

A crock-pot of delicious applesauce in the making.

Events of July and August

Mid-July brought lots of sewing for Mommy and me. Mommy made two beautiful jumpers. One is cotton with a hydrangea print, and the other is made out of a very stiff pink material. I made a jumper out of a burgundy rose print. The end of July, brought The Friends of Israel Prophecy conference. We were only able to be there Monday night through Wednesday, but it was a delightful time while it lasted. The hotel we stayed in was quite nice, and Je and I even went swimming Tuesday afternoon. Last week Daddy and Mommy went away for a little get-away up north. While they were gone Je and I quilted a twin size quilt. Normally we clean the house while our parents were gone, but this time we quilted almost every spare moment. Saturday was the family reunion on my mom's side.

The quilt Je and I made

The Reunion

A picure of all the scraps of things I have made or clothes Mommy has made for me. I have quite a few books I'm working through reading.

A picture of the FOI Prophecy Conference

A Long Needed Update

It's been over 3 months since this blog has been updated. A lot has happened in those 3 months. One big event was my official graduation from high school. My parents really spoiled me and I ended up with 3 parties to celebrate my completion of high school. May 23rd I had an open house, and then on the 26th I had my Senior Piano Recital and Graduation. The Thursday before those events, the whole family went to a Day in the Prophetic Word and an Honor Israel Night, which were both in Grand Rapids. It was a long day, but very enjoyable.

The pictures are not in order.

My Rose Graduation Gown and yes you can buy them

at HomeschoolDiploma.com

My dad giving me my diploma

He gave a really nice speech right before giving me my diploma.

The very end of my recital
My mom made my dress the week before the recital.

The Beautifully Decorated Tables
Bright Pink and Green were my Open House colors.

We had plenty of food!

My cake at my Open House, which turned out lovely!

Day in the Prophetic Word with Tim Munger

I have so enjoyed not having school to do, and yes I'm keeping quite busy even though I'm not going to college and don't have an official job. I'm able to do more housework and read more now. Hopefully later this summer I can do some sewing with my mom. She has had some projects that have been put off, while she was homeschooling, and I'm hoping we can do her sewing projects.

The end of June, Daddy, Mommy, and I went to visit Daddy's mother in Mississippi. We left Je at home and we all missed her terribly!!! Je had a fairly good time without us, and even had some company over.

I think Mommy is enjoying retirement. She made up her own reading program for herself, and she's looking forward to going away with Daddy for a couple of days as her prize for completing her reading program.

Je is still working at the library, and I believe she enjoys it most of the time. There recently was a major change at the library, and she'll be glad when things are back to normal.

Daddy's life isn't terribly exciting. He enjoys walking with Mommy every chance the two of them have.

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday we had a delightful family Christmas at home. We even started opening at 9:30, which is pretty early for us. All of us were blessed with many presents. We like to go with many not too expensive presents, rather than a few expensive presents. Daddy
Mommy

Ki

Je


Note: There is a poll on the top right of this blog. You are welcome to participate, so we know some one reads this blog except ourselves. :)

Happy 26th Engagement Anniversary

Guess who got engaged 26 years ago?

Hello

Hello to anyone that might be reading this. Sorry, we have not posted anything recently. We are all doing well. Je just finished an online class on Powerpoint this week. Her family has enjoyed having her at home when she's not working at the library. Ki has been very busy with schoolwork. Yesterday she finished her classes in Courtship and Physical Education. In the next couple of weeks British History should also be done. Government, English Literature, and Piano will be done in a couple of months.

Pictures of My Dad's Relatives

Dad with some of his cousins, Aunt Louise and Uncle Charles

Dad with cousins

Jim and Karen

Robert and Jane

Pat and Betty

Uncle J.D. and Dottie

Pat, Lou Ann, and Betty

Barry and Betty

Uncle Charles and Aunt Pauline

Jane and Rhena

Robert, Ki and Dad

Fun on the Piano

Pictures of Flowers

Top of the casket

Civitan

Assisted Living

Hospice

Next door neighbor's extended family

Whitney's family

Pat, Colby and Family

Dad's Work

Uncle Charles on Grandmother's side

The Printers


Cousins of Grandpa


Mom's relatives


Wax Family


Dave, Mary, Molly, Matt, and Kathryn's Families

Flowers from our church

Gaines Family

Jim, Kitty, Barbara and Lizzy's families

Robert and Jane

John's Family

Flowers from Grandpa & Grandmother's neighbors

The Chapel

The Gravesite