Seaside Snapshots...

I do not have much time to write today
but wanted to share some snapshots
from our visit to the ocean yesterday
(there are quite a few... sorry...
and they are in no, particular order).
Hope y'all are enjoying your day!













{tasting the salt air}












{a few possible shots for Ally's upcoming senior photos}

















Ready, set, go...




































"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
and his greatness is unsearchable."
~ Psalm 145:3

Quick Pics from Our China Study...

Though our study on China has ended,
I wanted to share a few quick pics
that I had not, yet, shared from our study.

Here the lil' girls were doing Chinese numeral copywork...





(copywork pages found at enchantedlearning.com)

Will read Count Your Way Through China
after finishing his Chinese numerals copywork...



On Friday, we wrapped up our China study
by having a Chinese food art lunch
with chopsticks, traditional Chinese music, and friends...
I shared a photo of the children gathered on the floor
during this lunch in my previous post
but I wanted to share these photos below, as well...


Learning to use chopsticks...








Their own creative Chinese food art...


Carolynne's (age 5)



Beth's (age 6)



Will's (age 10)

It was such a blessing to study China.
It was a blessing for the children and I to spend the week
in prayer for a missionary family currently in China.
It was a blessing, too, to learn about missionaries of the past
that served God in that country...
to see their example of courage, faithfulness, love,
and resolve to serve, honor, and obey Jesus Christ
with their lives and, many times, at all cost.
Those are the "heroes", the examples, our children need.
They're the ones I need, too.
And the example I know I need to set. May the Lord help me.
Thank you, Lord, for the examples of faithfulness
You have set before us, in others and of Yourself.
May we learn to be more like Thee.


"Brethren, be followers together of me,
and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."
~ Philippians 3:17

"For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, ye should follow his steps:"
~ 1 Peter 2:21

Simple Woman's Daybook...

FOR TODAY... February 9, 2009


Outside my window...
the sun is brightly shining...
warmer temps are forecasted (60s!)


I am thinking...
"to stay at home is best" ~ Longfellow


I am thankful for...
the Lord's Day! I just love being in His house
with His people, hearing His Truths!


From the learning rooms...
continuing with consistency in Bible reading (Proverbs study),
beginning Ancient Egypt in History,
studying South Korea for geography/missions,
and learning our other, unnamed subjects. ;o)


From the kitchen...
it needs a little blessing from the weekend
but I was able to clean the top of the fridge
(a sorely neglected surface)
On the fridge menu:
M ~ wet burritos
T ~ stuffed shells/garlic bread
W ~ ground turkey, rice, and green bean casserole
Th ~ italian chicken
F ~ sourdough pizza


I am wearing...
tan regency gown


I am creating...
the regency pelisse I began a couple of weeks ago


I am reading...
Exodus, Psalm, and Matthew {KJB},
Boyhood and Beyond, and Never Alone by John R. Rice


I am hoping ...
the Bosch mixer I was able to order (!) arrives soon Ü


I am hearing...
the heater blowing and sounds of breathing from the monitors,
as everyone is still sleeping in


Around the house...
all is pretty well, after blessing the home over the weekend,
but touch-ups are needed


One of my favorite things...
singing praises to the Lord


A few plans for the rest of the week...
enjoy being at home most of the week,
with the exception of getting out for piano that Ally teaches
and our midweek service at church;
plan to focus on our home learning
and, if the weather is nice, perhaps we'll go to the beach. ;o)


Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Wrapping up our study of China, the children enjoyed
Chinese food art with friends.


"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,
even the God of our salvation. Selah."
~ Psalm 68:19

Our Haven at Home Happenings...

We've had a busy beginning of our week
and it has been a blessing!

Monday we went to Ally's rheumatologist appointment
and went to get more blood work done.
Afterwards, we went home, eager to begin our learning.

After our Proverbs time, Ally, Will, Suzie, and I
sat at the table to read our last chapter of Adam and His Kin...



Then Ally retired to her room to work on her seatwork
while the younger ones and I worked at the dining room table.
A beautiful mess...


We began studying and reading books about China,
began praying for a missionary family in that country,
read Story About Ping, did some illustrations,
read Genesis 48 in History, did a picture study
on Rembrandt's Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph,
read other miscellaneous books and some seatwork...


Will working on his Story About Ping Illustration



Carolynne working in her Language Lessons for Little Ones



Beth working in her Language Lessons for Little Ones 2


Tuesday, we enjoyed blessing our home
and learning together in the morning
before we went out of the house to piano lessons.
Ally worked in the kitchen and made lunch, too...



The lil' girls enjoyed vacuuming together...


Will picked up and put things away but he escaped the camera.
We did our Proverbs study together, finished term 1 in History,
and did more miscellaneous reading and seatwork.

Later in the day,
we went out to piano lessons that Ally teaches...


She is becoming a loving, patient, firm but gentle teacher
and it is a blessing to see her learning how to teach.

Meanwhile, the rest of us fellowshipped out-of-doors...


The lil' girls enjoyed the swings.
(notice how Beth is missing a new tooth? Ah, bittersweet!)


Will enjoyed playing actively with a friend.
Boys will be boys. ;o)


We were thankful to stay home during the day on Wednesday.
We focused and spent much time learning together.
We did our Proverbs study together then illustrated
as Ally worked in her Wisdom for Life notebook.
Then Ally went to focus on her academics
as the children and I worked together.
We spent a lot of the day focusing on China
and reading aloud from our Sofa books this week.
We were able to read Tikki Tikki Tembo on the couch,
then did illustrations about the story.
We, also, read about Gladys Aylward, missionary to China.
We learned about different Chinese foods and about pandas.
In addition, we enjoyed listening to tradtitional Chinese music.
We, also, worked together doing miscellaneous seatwork.


This photo was in the morning, after Proverbs time.
Ally was working in her Wisdom for Life notebook
while Will was helping Carolynne with a picture study
in her Language Lessons for Little Ones.

Meanwhile, Beth was working in her Language Lessons, too...


Yes, we do sometimes homeschool in our jammies. ;o)

Suzie, too, wanted to homeschool...
but she just wasn't getting it by osmosis...

She tries. ;o)


Later in the day...


Will read a biography about Hudson Taylor,
missionary to China

The lil' girls enjoyed doing some math printouts...




Late in the afternoon, Will read aloud to the lil' girls...

but Ally was listening in, too, from the kitchen.
She enjoyed Will's animation as he read
about the three little pigs.

Wednesday evening it was a blessing to be in church.
We were rejoicing how the Lord provided a new pulpit, too!
Pastor was in Romans 12, focusing on verse 9...
" Let love be without dissimulation. "
Love without hypocrisy, without being fake,
but instead, having love that is real, genuine.
It was a blessing to hear!

This morning I had a dentist appointment
and then enjoyed a lovely lunch date with my beloved
(with special thanks to our eldest, Ally *Ü*).
We hope to spend a small amount of time this afternoon
reading aloud and learning together.
Tomorrow we have our homeschool group park day
and then friends over for fellowship.
It will be a busy day and, likely, a busy weekend.

Before I go,
I wanted to share a few illustrations from this week...
{click to enlarge to see more detail}

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
and the man that getteth understanding."
Illustration depicts a man with a magnifying glass in one hand
and God's Word in the other. Speech bubble says,
"I found It! And I'm getting understanding as I read It! I'm SO happy!"



"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart."
Illustration depicts a young man with God's Word in his hands,
in front of his eyes,and hidden in his heart.



Illustrations from Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
Left two photos depict when Ping was caught
and trapped under a basket.
Right photo depicts Ping hiding in the bushes
and a character Scripture verse:
"...but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God" ~ 1 Peter 2:20b


Have a lovely rest of the week!

From the Sofa: China

Read alouds this week, as we study China.

Simple Woman's Daybook...

FOR TODAY... February 2, 2009


Outside my window...
the sky is a bright blue as the sun continues to rise
and there is a chill in the air


I am thinking...
about what it must have been like
to see God part the Red Sea
(read it during my quiet time this morning)


I am thankful for...
God's perfect, preserved Word,
for the body of believers, and for answered prayer.


From the learning rooms...
continuing with Proverbs study,
beginning our Ancient Egypt study,
studying the country of China
while praying for a specific missionary there,
and continuing with other learning


From the kitchen...
a blessing is needed from the weekend


I am wearing...
cream square neck dress with mauve floral print
and burgundy shirt jacket


I am creating...
the finishing touches on my regency pelisse


I am reading...
Exodus, Psalm, and Matthew {KJB},
Boyhood and Beyond, and Never Alone by John R. Rice


I am hoping (praying)...
for family and friends spiritual needs


I am hearing...
Will playing Rush Hour at the table,
my beloved flipping pages as he reads his Bible,
the heater blowing, and noises from the monitor


Around the house...
a home blessing is needed
as we get 'in gear' for our week


One of my favorite things...
being in God's house with like-minded believers


A few plans for the rest of the week:
follow-up rheumatologist appointment for Ally,
piano lessons that she teaches, midweek service,
dentist appointment, homeschool park day,
work on consistency in our homeschool day,
enjoy the family the Lord has blessed me with


Here is picture thought I am sharing...


"...to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children..."
~ Luke 1:17

It blesses my heart to see father and son tying heart strings.

Have a lovely week!