Trying To Look Like Jesus

Today Lily and I went to the  Silver Lake Nature Center  and it was even better than we expected.  They have lots of interesting trails, a butterfly garden, ponds, and the Nature Center itself.  There was so much to see and explore.  Take a look below to see some of what we saw...... This was a microscope with different slides This was a learning center about animal footprints The crayfish came out to say hello Lily touching a real owl wing Rosco the stuffed raccoon Lily liked the turtles Outside The pond outside where Lily was drawing in her Nature Study notebook Just in case we get lost:) Lily took the flower pics! She had a fun time.  Can't wait to go back!! So there you have it.  Our first field trip and it was a good one.  Close to home and the favorite Baptist price....FREE!!  Thursday Lily wants to learn more about turtles (her favorite thing today).  I t...

Just a little pick me up:) Finally, Brooke has begun her junior year of high school.  I know I'm crazy for starting so early but after starting this early last year and seeing how we benefited from it, it just seems right for us.  Today we jumped into English with a diagnostic test.  Although she's been doing Abeka since 7th grade, she still forgets so much.  Now I know what to concentrate on first.  Then it was on to Algebra 2.  Can I just shout it from the roof top.  I love Math U See!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And Brooke really likes it too.  It comes with an instructional DVD that has an expert on the subject teaching instead of someone who barely passed Algebra 2......yeah, talkin' bout me:(  She did a few other subjects and then went to the park with her friends where they play games, and have bible study/devotions together.  Thank you Lord for saving my family!!  Other teenagers are doing Lord knows what, well... I know cau...

I'm so excited!  Today, thanks to my mom-in-law, I was able to finish ordering our homeschool books for the year.  Brooke is a Junior this year and will be taking Human Anatomy ,  Chemistry 101 ,  Algebra 2 ,  English 11 ,  US History , Bible, and Gym.  Noah starts 7th grade this year and will be taking  English ,  Math 7 ,  World History , General Science , Bible, Gym, Music and Art Appreciation.  He will also continue cursive writing, and he will be doing a lot more book reports, journaling, and any other writing I can think of!  Lily's  started fourth grade and I've already put down what she's doing.  I love the smell of new books....sorry for the random thought.  Any way one other thing I wanted to share was my very favorite tool I use to keep me and the kids organized while we do school.  My dream is to one day have our own school room (dream on, right): so until then I use two (soon to be three, ...

So I've been exercising and eating better than ever since Monday.  My well meaning husband has given me helpful tools to eating better.  I should listen to him because he successfully has lost over 10 pounds in two months :(   But I think my carb intake is a little too low because my brain feels a little foggy, or maybe that's the lack of sweets since Monday.  I have the worst sweet tooth on the planet, but it will literally be the death of me if I don't get it under control now!  More to come.....

The Lord never ceases to amaze me.  He truly does give us the desires of our hearts. This has been a rough year spiritually speaking for my family, and after much committed  prayer, I have seen an answer.  I want my children to live for the Lord.  To be wholly committed to Him but, it's hard in this day and age and so much is against them.  But greater is He that is in them than he that is in the world.  The Peru missions trip has done what I prayed it would do and that is that it would renew a right spirit in Brooke.  That she would see God's mercy and goodness toward us and she would trust Him to take care of us.  Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been an overnight thing, but I've seen Brooke do things and be interested in things she just hasn't been interested in a long time. Just today she was able to spend time with some godly friends who will help her with her walk with the Lord.  To strengthen her and encourage her daily.  One of th...

It's a good start to the week.  I've implemented  a new daily schedule so that the day flows better.  It starts with morning devotions and prayer, followed by a 25 minute workout.  By the time I'm done, the kids are up having breakfast and doing daily chores.  Lily starts school at 9am (at least until the other two start, then we will start a little earlier), and by the time she's done we have the whole rest of the day to enjoy!  Today we went swimming at a friends' house, which was perfect on yet another hot  day.  Brooke is back home and is in the full swing of things!  I missed having my helper around, especially at doing dishes time!  Also she is super psyched because she has gotten permission from the king of the house to have Facebook, which she immediately began posting on.  Maybe one day I'll have one too; seems addicting though.   Well as far as school goes we're still at a 3 day school week and doing the basics. ...

It just looks nice! No homeschool today.  I think we will just start out with a 3 day school week and go from there.  One more day and my baby will be home.  Oh how I've missed her.  It's been so quiet around here without her laughter....she laughs the most in this house. When she starts its contagious.  The dog has been a little depressed since she's been gone.  He keeps looking at his leash as if to say, "Are you going to walk me or what?"  Sorry pup, but that's Brooke's job.  Don't worry, we have a big back yard and a field.  We just let him run around till he can't anymore :D.  Tomorrow we will begin with a day of homeschool and end with a party because Brooke is coming home!

Missing Brooke Well.....two more days and my baby girl will be home.  The Lord has blessed this missions trip.  Every time I see a photo of them in Peru they are glowing with joy.  God is so good.  Modern technology is awesome!  It has allowed me to keep up with what is going on.  Two more days.  In the mean time Lily has day three of school today.  We've been taking it easy this week and just doing the fundamentals (english, bible, math, reading, writing).  Next week we will begin to add  Rod and Staff  spelling and maybe nature study.  That's all for now.....stay tuned.  Here is a twitter pic Pastor posted.

Today was a good day. I got alot done. Lily had her second day of homeschooling today. We missed yesterday due to a mild concussion she suffered from doing way too many flips into the pool at a party the other night. She even pulled a muscle in her chest.  When she plays, she plays hard. Nothing stops her...and it got me to thinking; what if the christian life was like that.  What if I did not allow circumstances in life to stop me.  It doesn't take much unfortunately, but it doesn't have to be that way.  When we are in Christ we can  live a victorious life...not pain free, but victorious! We can keep going no matter what. My children are always teaching me something.  Let us not allow the "pains" in this life stop us from living victoriously.

On Monday, Lily decided it was time to start the 4th grade and boy was I happy. At least there is some sense of normal going on around here! We mostly use Rod and Staff for the curriculum plus she will be using library books for US and Pennsylvania history and we will be doing various science experiments so that science is more hands on learning. We will also continue using HWT to continue practicing cursive writing which she is doing very well at. I would post pics but Brooke has my camara on her missions trip to Peru (I miss her so much). Here are some pics I found on the Herrells facebook wall. She's having a good time serving the Lord! Teen group, Pastor and the Herrell's after Sunday service. Peruvian People Teens giving out gospel tracts(over 1000 of them!) Teen group and kids from orphanage during Soup Kitchen Ministry Brooke's in the back