SCHOOL'S OUT!!!

We did it!!!

Our first year of homeschooling is complete.

Ally learned how to read, to add and subtract, tell time, measure....

Sierra learned to how write in cursive, carry over in addition, borrow in subtraction...

We did an OT survey course and finished AWANA books for Bible.

We covered ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome in history.

In science, we studied animals classification, the human body and basic botany.

Both girls can define and identify nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions, etc. 

Now ... if only I could teach this one to stay in her own bed all night long!!!  (Yes, that's Valerie underneath Marc's pillow and mine.  ARGH!)

Once I have time to process this whole whirlwind of a year and really analyze what went well and what needs to change, I'll do a follow up post.  For now, it just feels good to say that our mission is accomplished.  My obsessive/compulsive side is pleased that all workbooks are completed, text books have been read cover to cover and all progress charts are completely filled.  Time to PAR-TAY!

14 Years Later

Thanks to my precious sister, Susie, I have some delightful pictures of my Mariachi wedding to share with you today, our fourteenth wedding anniversary.

I'm so glad that she "doctored up" these less-than-professional snapshots of our special day.  They're priceless!

And now for a walk down memory lane...

 This was our very first ever picture together at the end of my sophomore year at Master's.  Marc had begun to stalk me and I had begun to notice.  The week  after this was taken Marc was on his way to Morocco and I to Brazil.  So....we began to write letters.

  Once we were back to school in the fall, we officially started dating.  Santa Barbara was one of our favorite spots to visit on the weekends.

I had registered to attend IBEX (Israel Bible Extension) in the spring, so Marc sent me off with a fantastic date at the beach the night before I left.  That's a saxophone-kazoo duet in the background there.

Marc was able to come to Israel for a visit over his spring break.  Of course, my prof. and good family friend, Todd Bolen, enjoyed poking fun at us on a field trip to Tirzah by having him read a portion of Song of Songs 6 aloud to me in front of everyone.

And then it was back to CA for graduation!!!

On our way up to Idaho to work at Camp Maranatha for the summer, we made a detour into Yosemite.  I didn't know that Marc had a ring for me and he hadn't planned to give it to me quite so early in the summer .... but, well, it just happened!  And it was perfect.

One of our engagement pictures.

 Wedding Day ~ May 23rd, 1998

The next six years were spent teaching in California and spending just about every free minute with our dear friends, Josh and Janella.  This was a "Tacky Christmas Party" that we hosted for the college group at church.  Classy, ain't we?!

We welcome Sierra Elise in June of 2004 and moved up to Idaho the next summer to be near family. 

Ally Grace was born in Meridian, Idaho in 2006. 

We had to take the girls back to Dodger Stadium while on a family vacation in 2007.  Marc and I had been "regulars" in the bleacher section for the first 6 years we were married.

Valerie Joy completed our family in 2009. 

We are so thankful to God for His many blessings toward us.

14 down .... 41 to go!

Oh my! Oh me! Look who's THREE!

Valerie had a bit of difficulty trying to figure out how to hold up three fingers...

...but she finally got it!

Friday, May 11th (the real day) started with donuts and a couple of presents.

Then we spent a couple of hour playing at Jabbers.

(Our first time and all three of the girls, plus Riley, LOVED it!)

We grabbed our first snow cones of the season before heading over to the park to let Valerie try out her new scooter.

We discovered that even three year olds can't afford to miss a nap!  She conked out on the couch while I made dinner that night.

Day 2 - The PRINCESS PARTY

Valerie and Annie (Susie's little girl) have back-to-back birthdays so we've combined the celebration for a couple of years now.  This one was a royal to-do!  Check out that cake.  Susie has a very creative friend who designed this one for us.

We had a perfectly gorgeous day for a party!  The kids always enjoy a good hunt, so we let them loose in the back yard to look for cut-outs of castles, wands, crowns, etc.

And then it was time for crafts....with lots of glitter and glitz!  (Where's Riley-boy?!)

I had to include this picture of how my darling little princess insisted on wearing her shoes...wrong feet and wrong toe slats.  Makes my back shiver....but she prefers it that way!

Then it was time for cake and presents!!!

I can't believe that my baby is THREE!  Now, it's time to plan another party for two more special little girls.  We're going with a VERY different theme for this one.  Come back in June to check it out.

For My Daughters

My precious little baby girls ~
The first time I saw you
I gazed in awestruck wonder
At your perfect frame so new.
Your little limbs, your sweet, soft skin,
And the beating of your heart
Were formed by God's perfect design.
You are HIS work of art!

My dear, trusting young daughters ~
Each day brings something new.
New words, new thoughts, new feelings,
Are being formed in you.
My greatest joy and calling
Is to guide you on your way.
Your simple faith amazes me.
God's grace is on display.

My courageous little ladies ~
You're more independent now.
You want to try things on your own
Which, of course, I must allow.
Along the way you'll meet success
And many times you'll fail.
But hold on to God's sovereign hand.
He will make you prevail.

My talented young beauties ~
Your gifts will be unique.
But no matter where your talents lie
I pray HIS fame you'll seek.
Use your art, your wit, your music
To enrich the lives of others.
But use them more than anything
To adore your Heavenly Father.

My virtuous sisters in the faith ~
Is what I pray you'll be.
That we may share God's gift of grace
Through all eternity.
I pray you'll love your husbands well
And train your little ones
To love, and serve, and pray, and give
Until our rest is won.

Through all the years God gives us here
Whether they be few or many.
And whether we may just scrape by
Or be supplied with plenty.
My soul's greatest satisfaction ~
More precious than any other ~
Is to know you are a child of God
And be entrusted as your MOTHER!

Val Val Lately

While preparing for bed a few nights ago (notice the princess nightgown) ...

Mom: Valerie, are you my princess?
Val:  (in a growly voice) No!  I is a very bad girl!  See me?

Why I Go to Church

It is Saturday night.  My Sunday school lesson for the 4 and 5 year old class is planned.  The girls' dresses are laid out.  My purse and Bible are near the door.  My alarm clock is set.

But,WHY!?!?

About a year ago I wrote a post about why I enjoy going to our evening church services.  I'm going to backtrack just a little bit today and tell you now why I go to church at all.  (This is probably more for me than for you.)  Marc and I have sadly begun to realize lately how many people who were "raised in the church" now don't want to go.  It has come up in many different circles: among Marc's co-workers, through Facebook comments, among family, during youth staff meetings, and in conversations with several friends.   WHY?!  As we've talked to these people, we have had to really evaluate why we choose to go.  Every church has problems.  Every believer is guilty of being a hypocrite.  American "Churchianity" is certainly not what Jesus had in mind when he commissioned the apostles to go and make disciples.  Our traditions...lingo...programs...can often detract from the real message of the gospel.  So, why do we go?!  Here is the list that we came up with:

1.  It is a command of God.  In Hebrews that we are told not to give up meeting together...and all the more as we see the day of Jesus' return approaching!

2.  We are vital parts of a body, living stones in a temple, branches on a Vine, sheep in a flock, and members of the household/family of God.  All these metaphors are straight from the Bible and they describe how interdependent each believer is among the whole community of Christians.

3.  Regular Bible teaching is foundational to our spiritual growth.  Books, blogs and sermon pod casts are great - but they don't allow you to ask questions and have follow up discussion with the author/speaker.

4.  God wants us to declare His praise to other people and with other people through singing, prayer and verbal testimonies. 

5.  It provides an opportunity for us to learn from more mature Christians.  Marc and I particularly love our interaction with  the older/wiser people that go to MFBC.  They pray for us, invite us over for meals, love on our girls.

6.  It is a place where our spiritual gifts can be put to the best use.  These gifts were given to us, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We sin when we're not using them to build up the body of Christ.
 
7.  Going to church keeps us accountable.  Many of our closest personal friends go to church with us.  We enjoy spending time with them outside of "church hours."  They see how we get along in our marriage, how we treat our kids, what movies/TV shows we like to watch, how we spend our money and free time.

8.  We go to church to be encouraged, and to encourage other believers.  There is nothing like hearing that someone was praying for you during the week or hearing about how God is at work in someone else's life to build us up and motivate us to keep going.

9.  It is good for our children.  We do our best to read Bible stories, memorize verses and songs, and teach our children good moral values at home, but we are so grateful for the many teachers that our girls have in Sunday school, AWANA, VBS, etc.  Yes, they may wander away from the Lord as they grow older...but what is planted in their hearts right now CANNOT BE ERASED!

10.  We go to church to participate in the biblical practices of baptism, giving, the Lord's Supper, discipline, and Christian fellowship.  These are public, corporate events that cannot happen outside of a church community.

We will probably think of many more reasons to go to church, but those are enough to keep us faithful to our local congregation of believers.  Church is not a club!  (Remember this convicting video?!)  Unfortunately, many people in America today go to church with a consumer mentality.  Will I like the worships style?  Does the pastor's way of preaching speak to me?  Are there good programs for my kids?  Are the people there nice?  Etc.  It's not about that.  It's not about us.  It's about HIM and the glory He receives when His children are obedient to Him and loving toward one anther.  This is our greatest JOY!

If you have some time to listen to sermons this week, I recommend this one by John MacArthur on the importance of our personal involvement in a local church, and this one by Francis Chan about being a real Christian.  (His horse manure/feather duster illustration is particularly convicting!)

And - if you can add a reason to our list, please leave a comment.

A fun trip to the dentist (WHAT?!)

I find it rather ironic that I follow up a post about our trip to a candy store with a post about our visit to the dentist.  But this one was actually - can I really say it? - fun.  Missy has been working for a dental office in Boise for several months now, so we decided it was time to schedule the girls for some appointments.  Valerie would have preffered to help Missy at the front desk, but she eventally let the dentist look at her crooked little teeth as well.

 I have never had a good experience with a dentist, so just seeing these tools makes me break out in hives.  Thankfully, the girls do not share my fear and dread of dental work.  They enjoyed their cleanings and don't need to go back for another six months.  WOOHOO!  As soon as we got home, this is the scene that I saw in the playroom: