Fun and Games

 

We are half way through the book of Luke!  The kids have worked hard to push through the first twelve chapters.  This week we took a break and played some wonderful review games. 

 

One of the kids favorite games I made was from one of our footnotes in chapter 4 which refers to the word 'Ha' which means, leave us alone.  If the kids get the answer correct they select a game board envelope.  That envelope will state if they get to keep their point, HA; or if their score or another teams score gets zapped. 

 

Just something fun to help review all the work they have put into studying.

 

Today was a great day because some of my former Bible Bowl kids, the Burrow family, were visiting from College Station! 

“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 

 Luke 4:34

Thanksgiving Goodies

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After a wonderful holiday with Jon’s family we headed to see my mom for Thanksgiving.  If you know my mom, you know she puts out a spread of food like nobody’s business.   She had a spread with every possible snack food, dessert, and holiday goodie imaginable. 

There were family favorites like asparagus and sweet potatoes.  Michael even mixed up a little cherry cheesecake, using an old family recipe.  My mom and I snuck in a little holiday shopping while the family slept off the food coma from all the yummy goodness.

She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family

Proverbs 31:15

Thanksgiving with the Old Cousins

While we were in Oklahoma Frankie grew up with her cousin BJ, and they spent a lot of time together.  Jess is several years younger and is Caleb's age.  When they were young I baby sat the boys each summer until we moved to Texas.  So, anytime we return to Oklahoma my kids refer to is as going to see their 'old cousins.' 

 

They are the only cousins my children have, but when everything became old house, old job, old church the cousins too became 'old.'   The kids are a hoot when they are together, it's like they all revert back to being young children! 

 

We were all together at Granny's house for Thanksgiving including a lot of Jon's extended family.  At one point I heard Jon explaining second cousin, twice removed; I'm not even sure what that means!

 

Granny and Donnie had a house full of people and plenty of delicious food and Sport seemed to take it all in stride!

 

Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family,
because I have shown kindness to you.  Joshua 2:12

 

English Country Dancing Christmas Ball

Ever wonder how a couple hundred homeschoolers celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday season?  Well, they put on early 1900's dress clothing and head to a lovely 1899 restored farmhouse for an evening of dancing.  They danced all evening with friends doing the English Country Dances they have practiced all year. 

 

The farmhouse is used for parties and wedding venues, so it was absolutely lovely with the Christmas lights and decorations. 

 

One of my favorite things about events like this is that the entire family can participate.  If younger siblings want to dance, they are welcomed. Check out the picture in the lower right hand corner of Caleb dancing with the little girl in the pink dress!  

 

So if you've wondered how homeschoolers spend a Friday night, well, they spend it out dancing and celebrating 'til midnight with a large group of friends.  Not really different from any other teens . . . OK, maybe a little different.  But I'm OK with that!

  

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.  II Peter 3:1

PEACH Recital

This was one of those evenings I wish we had family that live closer to us.  It was the PEACH Recital.  The kids took turns singing, playing instruments, reciting poetry, etc. 

 

The recital also includes an art competition and a baking competition.  This gives all the kids an opportunity to display their talents. 

 

Caleb and Abigail played Australian Waterfall on the keyboard.  Caleb was going to do an improve piece but Abigail wanted him to play a duet with her, especially since it would be his last performance.  And being the kind soul he is, he agreed!

 

Caleb helped out judging the tasty desserts, the winner was Virginia’s fudge.  He said it was really good; it reminded him of his Granny’s fudge. Virginia later told him it was nothing special, just the recipe on the side of the marshmallow crème bottle. We laughed because that IS Granny’s recipe!!

He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.  I Samuel 14:27

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

It's that wonderful time of the year when we are reminded of all our blessings.  Each year we spend Thanksgiving at the Gungan's celebrating pilgrims, history and all things Thanksgiving. 

Ms. Donna gives the kids an overview of the history of Thanksgiving and then a quiz!  The kids played Bingo and made crafts.  But of course the highlight is the Charlie Brown luncheon and watching the Charlie Brown cartoon special.   

 

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Road Trip

Yesterday Caleb and Richard headed off to Lubbock Christian University.  The two are exploring their options for college.  Richard is sold on LCU because it has the major he wants, and I think he's working on selling Caleb on the idea. 

 

It is crazy to think they are even old enough to be looking at colleges but apparently 17 years have passed.  The two are a good pair and seem to make better decisions when they're together. We loaded them up with snacks, including Twinkies for the road trip and sent them on their way. 

 

Together they toured the campus, went to chapel, met with an admissions counselor and most importantly ate in the cafeteria.

 

Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.  I Samuel 20:42

'Smart' Kids

 

Best day of the week!!  These are pictures of this years Texas Bible Bowl crew.  Do you see how much fun they are having?  I have covered the first ten chapters of Luke and today we were reviewing the chapter location for each story.  It is a tedious process, but the kids are having fun and enjoying learning.  This is my happy place! 

 

How will this serve them in life, well a year ago when Caleb was talking to a friend about the importance of baptism, Caleb was able to direct the friend to the account of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts and other scriptures.  The amount of knowledge they retain is incredible, once they've learned this material they can process it faster than any 'smart' device!

 

the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Acts 8:36-38

Glenn Beck Taping

 

 

Today was another afternoon spent at Stage 19 on Glenn Beck's program. It was a show wrapping up the weeks events including Glenn's discussion of health issues.  He also recapped the History House and the stop animation programming.

 

He is building family friendly programming more in line of the old CBS where you have news, but also really good entertainment, not the dark, 'reality' programming that now passes as entertainment. 

 

I love this man's heart.  He is very passionate about what is happening in the world around us but even more passionate about God, doing the right thing.  Each show begins and ends with prayer, what a powerful statement.

 

It was an emotional moment today chatting with Glenn between breaks about his illness and how he shared that with his older special needs child.  Mary is high functioning like Frankie, and as I listened to him talk about the serious nature of his illness, my first thought was, 'how did he explain it to his daughter.'  I can't imagine.  The conversation left us both teary. 

JFK Living History with Eugene Boone

 

As the last Living History program for 2014, The Sixth Floor Museum hosted Eugene Boone, former deputy sheriff. Boone described walking through the sixth floor in the Texas School Book Depository, searching around the stack of books with battery-powered flashlights for "anything that didn't belong." Between two stacks of books in a crevice, that's where he found the rifle used to shoot the President.

Mr. Boone was the youngest Deputy Sheriff that worked in the Dallas Sheriff’s office in 1962 and was recognized as “Rookie of the Year.”   The conversation with Mr. Boone was hosted by Museum Associate curator, Stephen Fagin.  Caleb and other members of the Museum’s Youth Advisory Committee served as docents for the event.

Prior to joining the Sherriff’s Department, Mr. Boone worked at the Dallas Times Herald and had contact with Jack Ruby.  In the conversation Mr. Boone said his impression of Jack Ruby was that Ruby killed Oswald to drum up business for his club.  He thought Ms. Ruby felt no one would convict him for killing Oswald because ‘everyone wanted to do it.’ 

If you are in the area and have the opportunity to check out the Museum's Living History series, please do!  It is amazing to hear these first hand stories from those who witnessed history!  Caleb has loved serving for the past five years on the Youth Advisory Committee.  So many fascinating stories! 

Lord, I have heard of your fame;
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
    in our time make them known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2 

C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce On-Stage

Tonight Jon and I had a date night that I have been looking forward to for months!  Max McLean's stage production of The Great Divorce!

The Great Divorce takes audiences on a fabulous bus ride from a suburb in Hell to a celestial new world on the outskirts of Heaven.  You meet passengers, ghosts and celestial bodies along the ride.  It's a great tale of the often ridiculous explanations we give as to why we choose not to obey God.

Max McLean is the genius behind this stage production.  Several years ago he put on C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters.  It was such a spectacular show we have watched for more of his work to come to Dallas.

Mr. McLean has this wonderful voice that almost sounds like the character Snape from Harry Potter.  He also put together an audio ESV Bible that the kids listen too for Bible Bowl. 

 

C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.”

 

If this performance is coming to your area, don't miss it!  In the Spring it will be in New York.  McLean's next project will be to put Martin Luther on trial! Can't wait!

Click HERE for a peek at our visit to see Screwtape on stage in 2011.

Swinging for the Fence

Abigail's home school softball team had their last two games for the fall season tonight.  The girls played a double header with a game at 6:00pm and 8:00pm.  They won both games with a sizable margin.  Meaning for the season they only lost one game, the game I watched!

 

CHANT's games are on Monday nights, which is my Ladies Bible Study night.  I skipped last week to watch the girls play and it was the only game of the season they lost.   I'm hoping for better odds when we go into the spring season.

 

Abigail had several at bats, swinging at two and bunting on the third.  She scored twice and had a great time.  She hasn't played catcher in a game yet, because they are a high school team and there are several more experienced catchers on the team.  In practice she gets to play with the other catchers and loves every minute of it. 

Whoever pursues righteousness and love    finds life, prosperity and honor.
Proverbs 21:21

A Time to See Granny!

 

This was one of those rare days when we did not have softball, or service project or church event!  We were able to drive up to Atoka and meet up with Granny, Donnie and Sport.  It was a beautiful day, not too hot or too chilly.   We met up for Mexican food with lots of guacamole and then took on one of the antique malls of Atoka. 

 

The kids played with Sport, Abigail taught Granny how to take a selfie, and we shared a Dairy Queen blizzard at the end of the day!  It was a very full day!  We are so grateful Granny and Donnie made the trip and are willing to drive almost three hours each way to see us!  Those grandbabies love seeing Granny and Donnie.  I think Sport was glad to see the kids too!

Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:6