A Little More Softball

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More softball pictures from tonight’s game, Abigail was once again playing catcher.  As the temperature warms up I sometimes get worried about her playing in this heat under all that catchers gear.  But she doesn’t complain and loves to be right there in the middle of the action. 

Tonight she had a couple of great hits and it is very rare for her not to make it to at least second base.  Jon is usually coaching 3^rd base and will take a few more chance when it’s Abigail for rushing 3^rd.

 

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;
my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task
the Lord Jesus has given me—the task
of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24

Teen Speaker's Club

Abigail's Pool Cake




Comparison Speech

Our homeschool group, PEACH, hosts a Youth Speakers Club for Jr. & Sr. High schoolers .  This is the first year to offer a speakers club, in years past Caleb has participated in Toastmasters and a Speech and Debate Club.  In this Speaker’s Club youth are assigned and deliver nine different styles of speeches. 

 

The club is supplemental to their school courses in a workshop style class that provides emphasis on various styles of speeches and on speaking and leadership skills.  It has been a great asset to help the kids overcome nervousness, and organizing and presenting their ideas in a logical and convincing manner. 

Today the kids celebrate the conclusion of this year’s program with their final speeches followed by trophies and a pool party. 

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
I Peter 3:15-16

Classical Book Club

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Our homeschool group, PEACH, hosts a Classical Book Club for 6^th through12th graders, meeting every other month to discuss books of excellence while learning Biblical discernment in reading literature. 

This school year they voted on the book selections and read:

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Black Ships before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

Ben Hur by Lew Wallace

Today they met to discuss The Taming of the Shrew followed by dinner and end of the year pool party.  Later in the evening they watched a theater production of the Taming of the Shrew with Marc Singer as Petruchio.  My favorite is the Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton movie, but not as well suited for the younger audience.

A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls
together and burned them publicly. When they calculated
the value of the scrolls, the total came
to fifty thousand drachmas. 
Acts 19:19

Mother's Day 2013



My Babies!



I love that Mother's Day always falls on a Sunday, what greater blessing than worshipping the Lord with your babies!  I love that almost any Mother's Day lesson includes the story of Timothy who was taught by his Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice, because my Mother's Grandmother was named Lois and my father's mother was named Eunice, both we amazing Godly women.

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Following worship this morning the girls prepared most of lunch with all my favorites and Caleb grilled steaks!  Later in the day we called my mom and step-mom along with Jon's mom to wish them a happy mother's day and to ensure that our gifts had arrived.  

Truly I am your servant, Lord;
    I serve you just as my mother did

Psalm 116:16 

Happiness is a State of Mind

Peaches!

Plums!

Lap pool flanked  by fruit trees!

Figs!

I've mentioned before that our 'oversized lot' is code for a postage stamp compared to the yards Jon and I both grew up with.  Jon still gets frustrated from time to time that we gave up such a spacious yard in Oklahoma for our less than spacious corner lot.   But I think it is all in how you frame it. 

Even when the kids were younger and we would enjoy lunch on the back porch I would refer to it as lunch on the veranda.  When I go outside to check our peach, plum and fig tree I ask the kids, 'who wants to visit the orchard with me?'  When I head to visit our three eight foot raised beds I let the kids know I'm headed to vegetable gardens.   We have an above ground pool, I like to ask the kids, 'who wants to swim laps with me?'

My silliness usually brings a smile to the kids face and they will begin to respond that after lap swimming we could wander the orchard and enjoy fruit on the veranda. Happiness!   

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom,

knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he

gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth

to hand it over to the one who pleases God.

This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

Softball Catchers Clinic

Today Abigail participated in a Softball Performance Workshop at Extra Innings.  The Workshop was facilitated by the three Schroeder sister who all played softball in the Pac-10. Jennifer, a 2008 graduate of UCLA and a catcher; Michelle, a 2010 grad and an outfielder at Standford; and Katie, an All American outfielder and lead-off batter at UCLA as well as a former member of Team USA.  

She absolutely loved the clinic; she came home exhausted and sore but loved it.  Jon was able to snap a few photos with his Blackberry during the training.  At the end of the session Abigail got the girls to autograph her t-shirt. 

 

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

The Lord works out everything to its proper end—

Proverbs 16:3-4

OZ! The Musical

I could write paragraphs about how awesome the kids performance turned out.  I could gush on about seeing my twelve year old carry off 250+ lines and two solos.  I could tearfully describe the pride I felt for Caleb's leadership as the director, but instead here are some of the wonderful photos from tonight's performance!

Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks,
and send some to those who have nothing prepared.
This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 
Nehemiah 8:10

Granny's Visit

 

Granny texting Donnie!

Granny's here!!! One of the best times of the year would be whenever Granny is able to visit us.  She picked the weekend of the kids musical to visit.  Originally Abigail was to have a softball game and Jon's mom usually tries to take in one game a season.  But with all the recent rain tonight's game was cancelled. 

I got tickled that when we were headed out to dinned most everyone had on plaid!  Abigail has her hair in her Dorothy-doo, she's worn it this way all week.  At the dress rehearsal she was a little pre-occupied with twirling them. 

So happy Granny is here, it is so wonderful that she was willing to come down for tomorrow's big event, it means a lot to the kids! Jon's mom always gets on to me for putting her picture on the blog, but it makes our family so happy to see her here! 

Honor your father and your mother,

so that you may live long in the land
the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12