My Super Heroes

A number of years ago my Auntie Lou gave me a huge homemade chest filled with yards and yards of old polyester and cotton fabrics in just about every color you could imagine. Over the years the kids have created more costumes than I can even remember. Here's a tribute to my Super Heroes!


They're looking pretty serious here...


There's that famous smile!


Off to rescue someone in trouble!

Rachel saves the day...

The girl's fashion sense is remarkable. Even the earrings match!

Save yourself a lot of money buying the latest fad toys that will be broken or forgotten in a week. Go buy some cheap fabric on clearance in an array of different colors (or find yourself an auntie that's got a box stuffed just for you!). Place the fabric in a cool box along with a pair of kid-friendly scissors.

Ta da!

Guaranteed hours and hours of play time. A lifetime of memories.

A Girl and the Island of Joy

This past weekend we delivered our little girl to her Island of Joy. That's what the Indian translation means. I like that. This all girls Christian camp is located on an absolutely gorgeous island in the middle of a huge lake surrounded by mountains. And so Rachel is officially at camp for the next week. Did you notice I didn't say we "dumped" her?


Rachel created this as a surprise she meant for us to find when we returned home to an empty house. But it got the best of her and she decided to present it to us instead. How do you like the new hair? I think it's just adorable!


We arrived at camp after driving for almost ten hours. It was raining and about 62 degrees. Notice the smile never disappears from her face.


This is the ferry coming to pick us up at the beach. The island is in the background. Yes, it is pouring rain!


This is home for the next week. Did you notice there are walls? And there's a real floor too. This made Mama very happy. So far, no tears. And yes, there was a love letter tucked inside the pocket of the quilt I made for her. See the beach towel? That's because she's headed out to the lake to take her swimming test...in the rain and cool 62 degree weather. Actually, we found out it's the first significant rain they've had all summer. So the lake water was very pleasant for swimming. This week's forecast is sunny and 80. Perfect for sailing and wake-boarding and water skiing and hiking and rock climbing and sleeping on the beach under the stars for one night.


This is the goodbye shot I took after I hugged her and told her I loved her three times. How do I know? Because with a huge smile on her face she said, "Mama, you've hugged me and told me that you love me three times already!" I guess that was my queue to go. So far, no tears. See her face? She's still happy!


This is the picture I took while standing on the dock waiting for the ferry to come and pick us up. I forgot to mention that when we arrived at the island, a crowd of girls had gathered at the shore and welcomed us with the island's theme song!


This picture was taken while standing on the dock, looking out over the lake to the closest shore where beautiful private homes are built. I can certainly understand why someone would want to live here. It's peaceful and beautiful and certainly fills hearts with joy.

Though a little soggy, we made it back to our hotel (the one without any amenities) and I was so proud of myself. I didn't shed a single tear! I was so happy because I knew she was happy and very comfortable. And because her cabin had walls and a floor. I have come to realize this is a huge factor for me.

The next day we drove all the way back home to find Jesse puppy anxiously awaiting our return. I was just fine until about 10 o'clock last night when I took a walk outside. Everything was quiet except the gentle hum of a thousand crickets. Then I looked up at the crystal clear sky and saw all our familiar stars. I can always find them in the very same spot. They never move. They are the same ones we watched a few nights ago as we lay on the driveway at 3 o'clock in the morning during the Perseid meteor shower. Rachel saw her very first shooting stars. It was a thrill for me to hear her excitement as she watched them shoot across the sky. As I stood there looking at my friend, the Big Dipper, it was then I realized both of my children were almost 600 miles away from home. And the tears came.

It's hard letting go. But it's necessary and it's good.



P.S. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

The Path of Purposeful Planning

Peace, be still.

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it."
Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)

The life of a homeschool mother does not have to be filled with raging winds and tossing waves. Peace comes with fearless prayer and purposeful planning. Jesus is still calming storms.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has done an amazing job creating just what you need to get started along the path to purposeful planning. The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner is not only for managing your homeschool, but for organizing every aspect of your household.

The Schoolhouse Planner contains more than 120 forms and over 600 pages that can be used interactively on-line with hyperlinks or as a traditional paper planner that you can hold in your hands and write on with a pen or pencil. You decide what's best for you.

The Schoolhouse Planner includes:

• Calendar pages for 2010-2013, and weekly and daily schedule pages
• 84 recipes, plus grocery and menu planners
• 24 articles, two for each month, and 24 must-know lists
• Alphabet writing charts for copywork--print, cursive, and italic
• Report cards, high school transcript forms, and a high school hours tracking log
• Multi-age journaling, nature journal pages, and a science lab sheet
• Co-op planning forms and an extracurricular activities log
• Assignment and attendance charts, plus twelve-year planning pages
• Book report forms, including elementary pages
• Schedules for two, three, four, or five children to a page
• Party planning form, Christmas card list, and alphabetized address list
• Website login/password reference sheet, budget records, and home maintenance forms

Take a look for yourself and see a small sampling of the pages of The Schoolhouse Planner. It might be just what you need to get started down the right path for 2010.

Order yours today for only $39.

I received a free copy of The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner in order to create this ad. Please note that this ad has been submitted as an entry in a contest for a cash prize.

County Fair Funnel Cake

Let sleeping pigs lie... or something like that


I don't know what's happening in your neck of the woods, but here, it's County Fair time! Those two words immediately bring to mind all the wonderful things one can find jam-packed together on one small parcel of land. Here you'll find the very things that cause families to stop and take time for long strolls down dusty roads, where every corner has a vendor selling some yummy confection. It's the only time and place where the smells of sausage sandwiches and vinegar fries and the livestock barn and the black smoke that billows out of large souped-up tractors pulling sleds filled with weights, can all mingle together and be heavenly.

I have fond memories of standing in line waiting to get a white flimsy paper plate topped with my all-time favorite...funnel cake. Of course, it had to be piping hot, right from the deep fryer, and dusted with tons of powdered sugar. Oh, yum!

When we made this recipe, we were surprised to find that it tastes exactly like what you get at the County Fair. And it makes enough funnel cake to tempt you to become a vendor! So invite over all your friends or consider cutting the recipe in half. This is a guaranteed winner...oink!

County Fair Funnel Cake

What you will need:

4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 eggs
3 cups canola oil

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Using a spoon, create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add 2 1/2 cups of milk and 3 eggs and whisk together until smooth. Pour batter into a one gallon Ziploc bag and seal.

Heat 3 cups of oil in a large skillet or cast iron chicken fryer to 350 degrees (maintain a temperature of 350 degrees). Snip a small corner from the batter-filled Ziploc bag. Carefully drizzle batter, criss crossing in all directions, on top the hot oil. Let cook for about two minutes. Carefully flip the cake using tongs and then let cook one minute more on the other side. Using tongs, remove the cake from the hot oil and place on paper towels (or use a white flimsy paper plate!). Dust generously with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

Happy Thursday!

I don't know how many big brothers would appreciate a little sister...



who decided to have her dolls throw a surprise birthday party just for him.



I'm so glad he did.

Happy Thursday!

Today is a Great Day!

Let me introduce you to the Waldorf

It's important to have a good sense of humor, don't you think? Yes, this is the Waldorf. The Waldorf is the latrine used by all the campers. Instead of being scented with the classic Blenheim Bouquet fragrance (a subtle, gender-free melange of citrus, musk and pine...taken right from the Waldorf Astoria's website), I suppose its fragrance was more reminiscent of, well, a great big outhouse. What exactly would you expect in the middle of the nowhere?

I guess I was expecting a little bit more.

Because of the very long drive, we made reservations to stay over one night in the area. I quickly discovered that most places were filled with guests. I did find a nearby establishment and when I called to make reservations they told me their facilities were just like a hotel. "Oh, I can handle that," said I. I didn't need anything fancy, but I really had no desire to sleep in a tent nor a tipi for that matter. Imagine our surprise to walk into our hotel room and discover the following amenities missing:

- air conditioning
- television
- radio
- telephone
- coffee machine
- shampoo and blow dryer
- ice bucket

Mr. Wonderful walked down to the lobby to inquire about the air conditioning. The older gentleman working behind the counter half-smiled and snickered at the same time and said, "Sir, you're in the middle of the mountains. There's no air conditioning here." Oh. Thank the Lord, our room did have a bathroom. We did not have to use a latrine! Or should I say, the Waldorf!

Insert drastic subject change here...

Rachel and I went to the post office this morning before heading out to have the kids' school portfolios reviewed. When Rachel walked out smiling and waving an envelope, I knew what she had in her hand. It was a letter from Caleb! We were not expecting to receive anything until at least tomorrow, maybe Friday. What a wonderful surprise! I promised Mr. Wonderful that when the time came and the first letter arrived, I would call him so we could read Caleb's letter together. And so that's exactly what I did.

I'm going to share it here because the letter contained more than two words!

On the front of the card he wrote:

Hi! Boss

Flipping it open, this is what he wrote:

Hi, M and D and R

I'm having a lot of fun, taking pics, and making friends, 5 of um. I'm sleeping well, and the food is amazing. Oh, and Boss at camp means awesome, beak means lame, etc.

Love u guys,
Caleb

And there you have it. Receiving this letter made my day...maybe even my week! Those three words "fun" and "sleeping well" did this mother's heart much good. Mr. Wonderful's heart was filled too.

Then, this afternoon, I received an e-mail from the camp director (all the camper families receive this). Here's part of what it said:

This session we are studying King David. David is 'da man', but not only for what he did (slaying giants and enemies), but more for who he was. We'll emphasize the importance of being God's man as a pre-requisite to doing God's work. We're memorizing Psalm 119:9-20 for 3000-12. Pray for hearts of campers and staff that they might know Jesus more fully and follow Him without reserve.

I looked up the Bible verses and here's what they're memorizing:

Psalm 119:9-20 (ESV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Our prayers for our son have been that Caleb:

• Grow in wisdom (with God and men)
• Strength of character
• Protection (physically and spiritually)
• Develop lifelong friendships
• God’s calling upon his life
• Patient and attentive spirit
• Portrays honor, honesty and humility
• Leadership and courage

Once again, I have freshly discovered that the Lord goes before us and prepares the way of our journey long before we even take that very first step. He sets everything in motion at that perfect moment in time.

Today is a great day and I am so very thankful!

P.S. I think the reference to 3000-12 means 3000 push-ups while memorizing 12 verses!

Two Words -- Having Fun!

Come on now. You didn't really think I'd just drop the whole camp thing, did you? I just had to post some of the pictures I took shortly after we arrived.


Dedicated to camp founders , Dad and Mom Kunz. This Christian camp for boys was established in 1930. "Building godly young men in a Christ-centered community through wilderness camping."



This is the view as you turn the corner from the big woods. Everything about this place was simply beautiful.



Caleb had to pass a swimming test minutes after arriving...after sitting in a car for 10 straight hours.



That didn't slow him down. Caleb was bookin' it both ways--the lifeguards were cheering him on. He said the water was great!



Sailing is one of the things Caleb will learn to do while he's away at camp.


I'm hoping another thing he learns to do while he's away at camp is lick envelopes. I prepared a nice little package for him that contained self-addressed, stamped envelopes with a piece of paper tucked inside each one. I presented it to him followed by a very short lecture. I told him all he had to do was write two words across the paper. You know, like, "Having fun!" or "I'm OK!" or "Doing great!" I don't expect a book or even a page filled with sentences, I just want to know that he's OK. He said he would write every day. I think he'll be having too much fun to write every day, but I do expect to have something in my hands by Thursday (if he mailed it on Monday). I had better have something in my hands by Friday. He don't even want to mess with Mama.

As you can tell, I'm feeling much better!