Mom - Son Luncheon at Bass Pro

Swing Dancing with our Sons

Richard

Ms. Tami

Music Inspiration

Today moms and sons from our homeschooling group PEACH, celebrated a special time of fellowship between mother and son in a picturesque setting overlooking the lake in “The Lodge” banquet room located in the Bass Pro restaurant in Garland.  The Lodge over looks the lake with a beautiful view of the fall leaves on the shore.

We got together for a special afternoon with inspirational live guitar music. During a great lunch two guest speakers offered encouragement & inspiration as they talk about their mother and son adventures. In addition, Caleb was one of the two young men who spoke encouraging words to the young men, with Richard being the other young man.   Most of the sons were in that 10-13 year old category, so Caleb and Richard had the opportunity to encourage them in good works!

My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's teaching;

keep their words always in your heart and tie them around your neck.

Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you; when you sleep, they will protect you.

When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you.

For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you

and the correction of discipline is the way of life.

 Proverbs 6:20-23

Thanks-Giving Square

 

Although we have lived in the Dallas area for a decade, we have never visited the Thanks-Giving Square in Downtown.  Thanks-Giving Square was designed by renowned American architect Philip Johnson, and completed in 1976.  The peaceful courtyard, fountains, chapel and more are situated on a three-acre triangular block set amid soaring skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Dallas.  

The chapel is an amazing spiral with a stained glass ceiling that spiral upward to 58 feet.  The stained glass goes from darker colors to lighter symbolizing the lightness in your heart as you become more thankful. 

There is a gold ring echo chamber where you can stand back to back with a friend and announce your thankfulness.  There is a Thankful Stone, like a 'Blarney Stone' where you can inwardly express thankfulness.

There is just a lot to see and it is all surrounded by scripture and goodness. It is a very peaceful. I wish I had checked this out sooner!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
I Chronicles 16:34

Kimbell Art Museum: Caravaggio: and His Followers in Rome

Calling of St. Matthew

David & Goliath



Entombment of Christ

Following our visit to the symphony we headed over to Fort Worth to see the Kimbell Art Museum’s new Caravaggio: and His Followers in Rome.  Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio [kara'vaddʒo] was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings had a serious influence on the Baroque style of painting.

In his early twenties Caravaggio moved to Rome where, during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, many huge new churches were being built and paintings were needed to fill them. During the Counter-Reformation the Roman Catholic Church searched for religious art with which to counter the threat of Protestantism.

 

He burst upon the Rome art scene in 1600 with the success of his first public commissions, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Calling of Saint Matthew. After that he didn’t lack for work, but his hot temper would get him in trouble.

In 1606 he killed a young man in a brawl and fled from Rome with a price on his head. At the age of 38, he died of a fever in Tuscany, while on his way to Rome to receive a Papal pardon.

Infamous while he lived, Caravaggio was forgotten almost immediately after his death, and it was only in the 20th century that his importance to the development of Western art was rediscovered.  The Kimbell exhibit displays 10 Caravaggio’s along with 30 or 40 Caravaggisti styled works.  Several of the pieces were on loan from the Vatican in Rome!

The piece on display are stunning, the detail, and the lighting make them almost three dimensional.  If your headed with adults it would take a good hour to hour and a half to see the exhibit.  Today visiting with the kids I broke it up into sections, today we looked at only the ten pieces by Carvaggio.  We listen to the portable audio players with the description of each piece.  We will go back again before the exhibit closes and spend some time viewing the ‘followers’ paintings. 

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,

do not associate with one easily angered.
Proverbs 22:24

Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

View from back of Meyerson

View from our seats!



Huge Pipe Organ!

Today was our first visit this school year to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center located in the Downtown Dallas Arts District and home to the world-class Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  Today’s educational performance was ‘The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.’ 

This concert featured Benjamin Britten's beloved Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and other selections which highlight the families of instruments. Additional works will include Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and music by Mussorgsky and Mendelssohn.

The Myereson was completely packed today with students from the Dallas magnet, private and home schools.  Usually we have been seated in one of the boxes on the 3^rd or 4^th level.  Today we were seated on the floor in the front row!

We all enjoy the symphony.  When the kids were younger we would listen to the ‘Say Hello to the Orchestra’ CD.  It gives children a quick overview of the four music groups and general concert terminology.  As my children got older we found Beethoven’s Wig, and still love them.  The CDs have taken great masterpieces and added silly lyrics to help children recognize the composer, the name of the piece etc.  Super fun, you can even visit their website and stream some of the songs!

David and all the Israelites were celebrating

 with all their might before God,

 with songs and with harps, lyres,

timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.

I Chronicles 13:8

Time at the Gun Range

My Dad's .357

This afternoon the boys headed over to DFW Gun Range for a little target practice. Last weekend Jon and I tried out the Bullet Trap in Plano. The Bullet Trap was nice, quite a few women but a little crowded. Jon said the DFW Gun Range wasn't as crowded, he even came back teasing me that Tuesday nights are 'Ladies Night' at the gun range, meaning free range fees and firearms rentals for the women.

Jesus said to them,

“But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag;

and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."

Luke 22:36

Trunk or Treat

Tonight was Trunk or Treat at the McDermott Road Church of Christ.  About forty cars lined up with trunks open to hand out candy and goodies to children in the surrounding community.  Children in the neighborhood around the church building were invited to enjoy the bounce houses, free food and make new friends!

We took on a little circa 1560's direction with our costumes.  The girls went with the Maid Marian look, Caleb opted for the Friar Tuck look and Jon was going for the Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean.  Funny this is I looked more like Lady Kluck and Jon resembled Keith Richards!

He witnessed to them from morning till evening,

explaining about the kingdom of God,

and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets

he tried to persuade them about Jesus.
Acts 28:23

Francis Marie Day



Jon and our Baby Girl!



Today is Francis Marie Day!   Seventeen years ago today Judge David Winslow in Tulsa County completed Frankie's adoption. At the point her adoption finalized Sissy's adoption she had already lived with us for three and half years.  When her adoption was finalized we had a huge party at the Owasso Church of Christ!  Great friends manned dozens of carnival games for all the kids.  We hired a magician who had Frankie act as his assistant.  There was a cake to serve 200 people made as a replica of her new birth certificate!  There were a ton of gifts for Sis to open, it was a celebration of  the creativity God used to put our family together!

Each year on Francis Marie Day, we do something to celebrate her special day!  Usually it involves cake, gifts, princess for a day and a special dinner.  This year she opened gifts then I took her for a manicure and to get her hair cut and curled. Later in the day we met up with Jon and the kids for dinner at Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant.

On a side note, my Grandmother, Dad's mom, never had a middle name, only the first name Eunice.  And when Frankie went to pick her legal name, Sissy wanted 'Francis Eunice'.  My grandmother knew that was an old lady name and wanted to steer Frankie a different direction.  My Grandmother told Frankie that she always wished she had a middle name.  And she always wanted the name "Marie", in fact she even signed her marriage certificate as Eunice Marie even though it wasn't her legal name.   A year after Frankie's adoption, my Grandmother went thru the legal process to have her name changed to Eunice Marie.  So while she was living the two of them would celebrate their Francis Marie and Eunice Marie Day together!

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Super Science Night

$1 bill on fire,
but not burning!

balloon touch flame
but not melting!

Last night was our homeschool group PEACH's Super Science Night with Dr. Reid of Thinking Reeds! Dr. Reid's theme tonight centered around experiments with fire!  He demonstrated expanded surface area while blowing fire out of his mouth!  We also learned about what is required for fire, oxygen, fuel and heat while Dr. Reid isolated each of these items in experiments. 

Cans delivered to Minnies!

PEACH also asked members to bring canned soups, chili and tuna for Minnie's Food Pantry in Plano.  We were able to collect and deliver 60 cans of food to Minnie's this morning!   Additionally PEACH collected Box Tops for education that we use to fund a $500 scholarship each year for a graduating senior. 

After the earthquake came a fire,

but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

I Kings 19:12

Texas Electric Railway Interurban Car

Today’s adventure took us to an old-timey train car and railroad depot near downtown Plano, housing the Interurban Railway Museum. From 1908 to 1948, the depot served as a stop along the Texas Electric Railway as it ran from Denison to Dallas.

In 1990, the depot was restored and transformed into a museum. Inside the depot are detailed exhibits showing the history of Plano and the economic impact of the railway.

There is also a large room containing artifacts, such as a conductor's uniform, train seats, and a variety of equipment used daily on the train. There are hands on exhibits showing the difference in Alternating Current and Direct Current.

A Conductor gave our kids a guided tour of Car 360, just outside the depot.  The front of the car is a passenger car and the back end is the mail room.  Although many rail cars were robbed during this era, Car 360 was never robed. 

We toured the museum several years ago and they have made several additions to the museum since our last visit.  Last time we toured the kids were fascinated with the cotton exhibit today it was the electric room that caught their attention. 

Ask the former generation
and find out what their ancestors learned,
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow.

Job 8:8-9

Art Beyond Sight at the DMA

Artist John Bramblitt show student how he 'sees'

Caleb

Abigail

John walking the classroom

Echo - Off Duty

The Dallas Museum of Art hosts homeschool classes for families.  The first class this school year is Art Beyond Sight.  Guest artist John Bramblitt who is a sightless painter from Denton. Mr. Bramblitt's works are both nationally and internationally renowned; he spoke with our class about his artistic process and what it’s like to experience works of art using his other senses. He was a sighted artist and when he lost his sight he had to relearn how to draw.  

Mr. Bramblitt brought his guide dog, Echo; who was “on duty” for most of the class time.  Mr. Bramblitt helped the kids understand how to describe art to someone who can't see.  For example the color pink might smell like bubble gum, it might sound like a soft blinking noise, or it might feel like a fuzzy blanket.

In the studio the youth had to recreate artwork based on their partners description.  The kids also spent some time in the DMA's Art Studio creating their own sightless works of art.  One exercise was to feel an object in a box and recreate on their page.

the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8