Wednesday, August 27, 2008

This might be too much for him!

So we're into our third day of homeschool and for the second day in a row Elijah has taken a nap. He never takes a nap. He's always on the move. He's so funny because yesterday he fell asleep while reading "The Great Dinosaur Mystery" and today he fell asleep after his Language Arts lesson. Maybe it's time for an earlier bedtime? Poor kid he's so excited about school but can't stay awake! He's some cute though. I need to go wake him up so he goes to bed at a reasonable hour tonight!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Homeschool 2008-2008 First Day

Today was our first day of homeschool. It went great. My boys are truly wonderful kids. I am so blessed to be their mom, I am so blessed just to know them. I am so thankful to watch them grow in every area of their lives.

The cutest part of the day is after practicing the Continent song, Elijah was playing with his blocks. All of a sudden I hear my 4 year old sing "North America, South America, Europe, Asia" He stopped there but I am sure he'll get it by weeks end. By the way the rest of the Continents are Australia, Africa, and Antarctica and the oceans Indian, Arctic, Pacific and the Atlantic...now get a map and see if you can label them! =)


The highlight of the day for me was watching Isaiah study Luke 1. He read straight from his NKJV and then I asked him to find all the names the angel gave to Mary about Jesus. He hunted and found all of them. He wrote them out in his "journal". He was my little Berean!

Today I asked the kids what they liked best about homeschooling and if they liked being homeschooled. Here is what they said:


Isaiah (7 years old 3rd grade)

Elijah (4 years old pre-k but tell him kindergarten if you see him, he's hung up on that)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Rain Rain Go Away!


So Felicia and I planned a fun day at the beach today. But the weather just would not cooperate. So we did what any sensible girls do when defeated by rain...we shopped! The boys and I met up with Fle and Noah for a day of errands and lunch. It turned out to be a very good day and we had a great visit. The boys were really good despite the fact they "didn't get to do anything fun". I guess shopping has lost it's luster.



What a blessing it was to have the boys together. Fle and I never thought the day would come that we'd all be out together. Little Noah is just an amazing miracle kid. I was just so in awe to see him sitting in his big boy car seat with my boys of God's faithfulness. We have prayed for this little family for so long. We've cried out to the Lord for healing, for peace, for comfort and when I saw him smiling and giggling with my boys, I realized how the Lord has answered all our prayers and added blessing upon blessing, doing exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think.


Here are the boys! Elijah, Noah, and Isaiah. (note my boys new haircuts)

Fle and Me (hey that rhymes) Photo by Isaiah and cropping by Felicia (nice job)




Saturday, August 16, 2008

New Friends

We were really blessed to meet and to get to know the Bell family. They are missionaries with "Grace Dental" They came to help with VBS and to share about their work on the mission field. The kids really connected with their kids and we just had a great time of fellowship. It reminded me that it is the gospel that truly bonds us as believers!


Going out on the boat. One word for the attempted swimming day "leaches"
Here is Isaiah and Jared. They really became good friends...as Isaiah says "my best friend" notice they are holding hands!
Here's Elijah and Emerald. They are so cute while singing in the program. They both wanted to be the loudest! Healthy competition!
Here is me and Emily! I want to cut my hair after seeing her cute cut!

Friday, August 15, 2008

More on VBS

So we wrapped up VBS with the closing program. It was adorable . The kids worked so hard to sing their songs and to do a good job. It was also a chance to share the gospel with the parents and grandparents.

Here are some videos of the closing program.




All the kids singing.(side note attn: Alan I did not pick out the shirts, the boys picked them out at the store and then wanted to wear them to the closing program LOL)





Here is Elijah's group.





Isaiah's group

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Digging for the Truth.

The kids and I are attending VBS this week (vacation bible school) at the little local church up the street. The theme is Dino Detectives: digging for the truth. We have a small group of kids coming faithfully everyday, but actually more kids than I thought would come.

I was asked to teach the 4-6 year olds for the week. It's awesome to see some of the kids in my class hear about God for first time. Their eyes got wide and the mouths dropped open yesterday when I explained how Jesus died for them. I love this age because truly this is how the Lord wants us to be, with a childlike faith. They are eager to learn, quick to believe. It is interesting the group of kids that are attending because a lot of them their parents do not attend church and do not know the Lord personally. I had the chance to talk to one mom, and she expressed how much she wanted her daughter to be in church, but it wasn't her "thing". I hope today to have a chance to share with her that God's love isn't just for the children.

We live in a very spiritually dead area. I have been reminded this week of the mission field right in my back yard.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Happy Re-Birthday to ME...read on I'm 11 years old!

I am 11 years old! No not physically 11 years old but spiritually!

11 years ago I met the love of my life...Jesus!

Here's the "mini-version"

It was the summer of 1997. I was living in an apartment in Lewiston for the summer, right before my senior year of college. I was a "party girl". I had joined a sorority, had tons of friends, and just loved to have a good time. I was happy, or so I thought. I remember one night after a night of partying I was sitting in my bedroom thinking "is this it?, is this all there is? if it is this is pretty sad" And really it was sad. I didn't have purpose, I didn't have peace, I didn't know anything!

About two or three days later there was a knock on my apartment door. There were two girl Mormon "missionaries". They were so nice. They seemed so genuine. So I invited them in to tell me more. They talked a lot about Jesus. Jesus? I remembered Him. I grew up Catholic, spent almost all my school years in Catholic schools. I knew this Jesus, which means to say I knew all the stories about Him. So over the next few weeks I met with these girls as they explained their religion. It sounded so good to me. I could see some purpose, a sense of belonging in this church. I liked that. So I thought it would be a great idea to join.

It didn't go over too well with my mother who knew that in the core of their beliefs was a denial of who Jesus really is. She wasn't going to stand by and let me rush into my decision. She urged me to read my Bible. She wanted me to read it without anyone explaining it to me. She wanted the truth of the Word to speak for itself. I wasn't too happy because I really wanted to belong to something greater than myself and this just seemed like a good place find refuge. In the middle of that summer I got really sick. I had pneumonia. I really was out of commission. The only thing I could do was read. And I did read. I read a lot. I finally started to feel better and I remember sitting in my room. I came to John chapter 20

Then the same day at evening, being the first of the sabbaths, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace to you! And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Of whomever sins you remit, they are remitted to them. Of whomever sins you retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I shall see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days the disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace to you! Then He said to Thomas, Reach your finger here and behold My hands; and reach your hand here and thrust it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name.

When I read Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed I just knew in the core of my being the Jesus is God. That He died on that cross for me. That He was speaking to me personally. I was overwhelmed with the truth. I was on my knees confessing Jesus is Lord and promised to follow Him all the days of my life. I knew the Creator of the Universe. I knew He loved me. I had purpose, I was accepted, and I belonged to Him.I had found my refuge. The power of the word of God that day left me in awe. It was as though He stepped into space and time and made sure those words were written for me for that very moment.

I never joined the Mormon church, obviously. I am so thankful that the Lord is merciful and He is patient. From that day on my bedroom floor until today He has remained faithful to me. He has been my constant. He has been my rock. He has been my friend. He has been my savior king. He has has had His hand on my life. I couldn't have imagined that day that giving Him my life, that He would give me this life and a life more abundantly. Nor could I have imagined the journey I would embark on. I am so overwhelmed and thankful for amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Two become one!

We were honored and blessed to attend a wedding today. What a beautiful wedding it was. It was very Christ centered, and elegantly understated. Kimmy and Joel have started a life built on the firm foundation of Jesus. It so awesome to attend a Christan wedding, to witness the Creator of the Universe write their love story and bring them together is such an awesome way. It really struck a cord with me to renew my own wedding vows to my husband. To remember why we came together almost 9 years ago. To renew that first love we had and to remember our First Love, Jesus Christ.


Ok for those of you dont' know Peter wore JEANS to our wedding, so note that he is NOT wearing jeans for this wedding. I was pretty impressed at his "dressing up". He looks cute!

Kimmy and Joel's first dance! And I actually got 4 dances from my hubby! That's the most we ever danced.


Saturday, August 2, 2008

Cabela's







Peter really wanted to check out the new Cabela's store in Scarborough. Since we were 5 minuets away we all were up for it. WOW what a fun store. It was like a field trip within a shopping experience. They have a huge moose statue right out front. (if any of you know me well you know my issues with moose) So of course I had to have our picture taken with it.



Inside the store they have everything for the outdoor enthusiast. I was actually surprised at the amount of clothing that I might actually wear.



In the middle of the store they have a huge mountain. Around the mountain there are stuffed once living animals. They look amazing. Here are just a few! Of course a big 'ol moose. Ok look at the size of those antlers! The boys are very into polar bears so they were excited to get up close and personal to this one.



York Beach

The day we went to York's Wild Animal Kingdom was a hot one. After seeing all the animals, riding on all the rides we kept seeing people in bathing suits and towels. I asked someone if there was a beach nearby. Sure enough just a block from the park was York Beach. It was great. We suited up and cooled off.





The boys loved the waves. Isaiah would ride them in while Elijah enjoyed being knocked over by them. There were so many people I had to keep a close eye on them.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Yorks Wild Animal Kingdom

Lazy Aligators
Sleepy Lions


Our next stop on our adventure was Yorks Wild Animal Kingdom. I took so many pictures here that it made my head spin to think about uploading them all, so just a few to give you an idea. I had read mixed reviews about this place. But I would have to say I was impressed. The park was clean, the animals were very well kept and seemed clean and content (as content as you can be in a cage) The only thing I didn't like was all the extra costs of things, to feed the animals, pictures, special animal rides it cost extra. But the kids loved it and to see their faces when they saw real live animals was pretty awesome. We have studied about so many of these animals but to see them in person brings a whole new dimension to their learning.
This was the highlight. The boys loved feeding the deer. They came right up to us wanting some tasty morsels. We see deer a lot out here in the sticks, but they usually run away so fast the boys only get a small glimpse of them. Not here. They didn't really want to be pet but rather wanted love shown in the form of food.


They have a butterfly garden. I loved this. So many different kinds. This is the Owl Butterfly...can you guess why
He was a little aggressive and the boys didn't want to feed him.
The goats wanted food too. Every time we turn the knob on the food dispenser they all came over. It was really humorous to watch.
A white tiger
The tigers were the show stoppers for the boys. They just watched them with their mouths open.

Boston Chidren's Museum Pictures


The Big milk jug outside the Museum. You can't miss this big landmark!

When you first walk in there is this huge climbing structure. The boys had a lot of fun on this. I think if I didn't force them to move on we would have stayed there all day!


The next section is called "Kids Power" It's awesome. The kids have to use their own body to make things move. This one was fun. They had to lift a bowling ball by pulling the rope, then when they let go it forced a tennis ball into the air and through the rings above.



Here the boys need to generate enough power to light up a series of lights until they hit the red one.

Below: Here is the seat they had to pull up with their own strength.

Below: The boys had to push the contraption around faster and faster in order to get the wheel above them spinning.


There was a room dedicated to bubbles. Messy but fun. The kids got to be inside a bubble.



There was so much interactive fun. Arthur room, where they were able to be in a Arthur video and pretend to fly a plane.




Making music like the blue man group.


Boat fun. Lots of water and boats to play with. Isaiah is the captain of the ship.


Rock climbing and the famous basketball room!


Isaiah took this picture. It's in the construction/transportation section

Silly boys!

Everybody has a waterbuffalo!

This is inside a real Japanese house that was put back together in the museum. The boys are pretending to eat.


This was Isaiah's favorite room. It was a market.