This evening was our PEACHBook Club.The kids have been reading Charles Dicken’s
Oliver Twist and tonight they got together to discuss the book.This was a tough read, 500+ pages and Dicken’s
writes using colloquialisms in 19th century London.It is not a book the kids would have picked up and read on their own,
but they seemed to enjoy reading it for Book Club.
Each month the Dallas
Museum of Art hosts a homeschool
class.They are generally
interactive classes for parents and children.This month’s class we took a look at the Mark
Bradford exhibit currently on loan in one of the museums galleries.
Today’s class was Art and Community.Bradford is
an artist who uses found items in his work, posters, wrappers, cardboard, duct
tape, etc. One technique he uses takes string glued to the surface and then he
mounts strips of paper in a decoupage fashion over the entire surface of the
piece.The last step is to pull up all
the string leaving grooves in the art work.
It is an interesting craft technique but in my opinion, it’s
not really art.It is very random and it
is not something I would hang up in my home.But it was an interesting class and fun to see the kid’s reaction to
this style of work.
there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,
because that is their lot.
For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Every year
our homeschool group gets together in the fall for a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
at the Gungan’s home.Much like the
television episode, the group gets bigger and bigger as phone calls go out for
invitations to the feast.Guests bring a
dinner that would make Linus proud, complete with toast, pretzels, popcorn,
jelly beans and more.
Somewhere in
the midst of our quasi-feast Ms. Donna gives a great history of Thanksgiving,
complete with games and crafts.The kids
play for hours everything from chess to Nerf wars, while the moms enjoy great camaraderie
together.These are some of my favorite people;
together we solve the world’s biggest problems and encourage each other in all
things mom!
This year I
think we arrived around 10:30am and didn’t head home until after 5:30pm.And like the Charlie Brown episode, every
little Woodstock
went home with contented smiles and patting their full stomachs!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
Tonight was the first Church of Christ on McDermott Road Father &
Daughter Date Night.Girls and Dads
enjoyed a dinner of mac and cheese with Jell-o for dessert.Dinner was followed by craft time
together.Abigail and Jon really seemed
to enjoy their evening together!
Daughters of kings
are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
At the 11th hour, on the
11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of WWI fell silent and
"Armistice Day" was born. Eight years later a Presidential
Proclamation invited people to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies.
With the passage of time it was changed to "Veterans Day".
We have attended the
veteran’s day parade in 2008,
2009
and 2010.It is such a touching event to
honor these men and women who have ensured our freedom.Again this year we headed out with our
homeschooling friends to the downtown Dallas
Veteran’s Day Parade, waving flags, holding signs and cheering.
Abigail’s sweet friend, Baylor, turned 11 on 11/11/11!This morning when Abigail woke up her first
words were, ‘it’s Baylor’s birthday!’The girls celebrated at Amazing Jakes with 3 hours of Go-Karts, Laser
Tag, Bumper Cars, Miniature Golf, and Rock Climbing!Abigail’s favorite was the Go-Karts, which
she only crashed once!
They filled up on the pizza buffet and desserts!Sounded like they had a great time!
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy
good health and that all may go well with you,
even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2
We took a
little break from our studies today and headed north to Grisham Farms. It is a family owned farm and petting zoo. In the barn tour the kids
petted and learned about hedgehogs, sugar gliders, a bearded dragon, a leopard
gecko, a ball python, doves, bunnies, Russian chinchillas, hairless rats, tarantulas, and
more.
Outside the
kids learned the difference between the wooly sheep, the Painted
Desert sheep, and the dorper sheep. Abigail fell in love with a Potbelly
pig named Penny. There were plenty of goats, miniature horses, full size horses
and cows to visit.
Many of our
homeschool friends join co-ops where the meet together for a specific class or specialized
study. We have always enjoyed our field trips instead. We can take a break from
our work, and check out something new. A lot of times these field trips mean
school starts very early in the morning or it requires the kids to bring their
lap tops in the car as we drive to a field trip. And sometimes, too many
outings in one week mean they have to complete their studies on the weekend.
But for the most part they are a great enrichment to our learning, and an
excellent motivator to complete their work so we can play!
God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.
One of our first field trips as a family was to the Frontiers of Flight Museum at
Love Field almost 10 years ago.We have
been to other aerospace museums including the Cavanaugh
Flight Museum, and the Tulsa Air
and Space Museum.But the Frontiers
of Flight Museum is the best, for one simple reason, all of the docents are
retired flyers!It is truly living
history, the men taking you on the tour built the aircraft, flew the missions,
they lived the history.
It is so humbling to know the man teaching your children
enlisted on December 7, 1941 because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor!Captain
Charles D. Mohrle, just one of the amazing volunteers tells the stories of
the 3 days of engagement he and the 510the squadron flew in the Normandy invasion.He showed photos of the 24 pilots that began
that mission and he is one of only 6 who survived those 3 days.The children shook his hand and told him
thank you as he told each of them, they were worth it.I had to hug him; a hand shake just didn’t
cut t for me.
The museum follows the flight plan of the earliest aviators
to modern astronauts.You can learn the
history behind balloons and Zeppelins, the Wright brothers, World War I & II,
commercial and general flight and the ongoing space program. There is a huge array
of artifacts help bring history to life; full-size aircraft including the
Apollo 7 Command Module, aircraft models, engines, missiles, space artifacts
including the only moon rock in north Texas, uniforms, trophies, posters,
helmets, art and many information kiosks.
Today our fifty PEACH
kids met true heroes! I think the web site shows it takes 30 or so minutes to
tour the facility; we spent 3+ hours there today and loved every minute of it!
Give to everyone what you owe them:
If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue;
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.
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
