What Have We Been Doing? You'll Wish You Didn't Ask!

If only they were enjoying themselves...

on the beautiful potomac river

dedication...

shark's tooth

snack time





actual battle veteran...the gun I mean!

can't you just imagine those canisters exploding near your person?

tell me how you really feel!

are we having fun yet?

WOW***WOW***WOW

We drove to Appomattox Court House today and WAS IT COOL! We walked down this totally period street to the old (well the rebuilt in 1892) court house and then down the main street. Almost directly across from the original mercantile was the house where Grant and Lee signed the unconditional surrender of the Southern Forces on Palm Sunday in 1865! WOWIE! Now I am not normally weird about being where someone famous has been--but seeing that room looking almost identical to nearly everything I have seen in history books, was like walking into a room which Grant and Lee had just walked out of. I was so excited to be able to walk into that room! See the ORIGINAL tables and the reproduction of it all and then to see out side the slave quarters which were at one time, sadly, occupied. I was wondering, yes while being blown away by the idea of being where Grant and Lee had been, why so many Confederates had devoted so much time and engery to such a horrendous practice. I just have to say that it was one of the coolest places I have ever been in my whole life--barring my visit to England (it has to take the cake, sorry guys!)--just so iconic in the American ideology. So if you live anywhere in  America, go see some history and enjoy the excitement of being somewhere that is probably insignificant in its own right and yet has some kind of cool event thrust upon it! Man I WISH I could see the pyramids! Maybe someday!

note: Lee sat at the marble top table and Grant at the spindle legged table, tables and furniture are original, house and carpet reproductions. Super cool though, even if that was found out after we were back in the car. This picture isn't mine its off the free-wikipedia database and yes it is allowed to be shared. I forgot my camera :(

When Did Love Become Unconsuming?

Happy #32

To the Crazy Who Started it all!

We Love You!

Happy Birthday!!

Wacky Wednesday

1) We are still trying to hammer out the details in homeschooling two fellas in two different grades. We have been struggling to keep up with kace's work in preschool because, honestly, we are having to battle through a lot of baggage that was acquired while Silas attended Kindergarten. I never imagined how much pride was so deeply ingrained in each of us. I am realizing that my son, my dear child has sin struggles that the Lord is graciously showing me and which are bringing out a lot of ungodly fruit in my own heart. I have often this week remembered that I am a sad example of peace, patience, kindness, and self control. So it looks like while I am striving to teach my son humility in the midst of math, I am also learning how much I need a savior still. So Home-school has really taught me much. Yeah, stop laughing at me!

2) I have been reading George MacDonald's amazing book called Phantastes and I have never felt so obtuse. I feel as though I were reading something just achingly beautiful and still not seeing the extent of the picture. What exactly is this man trying to explain? Is it a story? Or an Allegory?I can completely imagine how C.S. Lewis calls him the master, he is head and shoulders above me in understanding and experience! I am simply amazed at this mans mind! I wish I knew so much more about language and vocabulary and imagery!

3) Visited a new small group for the first time here on Monday. was good to be learning more about the bible with fellow followers. Also am realizing that our recent experiences have made me much more vulnerable than I have ever felt in my entire life. My own life story has suddenly become a means of humility for me and I want to kick against these trappings and once again think myself something! Ha ha, looks like my sons pride doesn't seem so different from my own!

4) Went to the National Civil War Park Center here in Richmond. I cannot put into words how much the things I learn disturb and also intrigue me. I cannot imagine the decisions that led to so much loss. But then again I have heard stories of such heart rending joy that I am moved almost to tears from the beauty of it. Truly a paradox to me.

5) My second little boy is on the cusp of turning five! I can hardly believe that another of my babies is coming upon another milestone in his life. He is getting so tall and so ready for everything this life has to offer him. That trait can be good or bad for him, but so far he is the most able to admit need to God. I am thankful for that today. He asked today after seeing a billboard, "Why did God die?" We had a long conversation and I have to say that the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is simply a fabulous analogy for us to use. I can hardly believe that in two weeks it will have been five years since he first opened his eyes to meet us face to face! Believe them when they tell you it flies by!

My Kids Love to Dance

My kooky kiddos love to dance. I know that this can often be a taboo thing for believers to do, but they enjoy it so much I put together a mix of songs that I thought they would enjoy dancing to. They really do love it. I hope you enjoy hearing some of the music that makes them move it!

Adventures in History

Those of you who know me well, understand how much I enjoy history! Well I was able (because we are homeschooling this year) to take an afternoon and drive along Richmond's old civil war track. We visited Cold Harbor Battle field, saw where general grant was stationed, the old Union and Confederate fortifications, as well as Chickahominy Bluffs and the Battle site of the Beaver creek. We also visited another battle field, but didn't snap any photos. Cold Harbour was by far the most fascinating, but they were all so well preserved. I can still imagine the soldiers walking through the brush and woods. Fording the swaps with their muskets and Laying prone on the ground. Somehow these old battle fields seem to carry the weight of the massacres that disrupted their serenity.

Chichahominy Bluff Battlefield

Actual trenches built by the confederate army, 1862.

More original trench mounds.

Site of the battle of beaver dam creek along the old cold harbor road track.

My handsome men, three of them at least. :D

Who cares about history, mom, when there are turtles in the beaver dam creek?!

This is just free viewing for all you who are wondering where my girl went! She sure is a beauty, if I do say so myself!

Are We Synonymous?

Words that are Synonymous with Crazy: ape, barmy, bats in the belfry, batty, berserk, bonkers, cracked, crazed, cuckoo, daft, delirious, demented, deranged, dingy, dippy, erratic, flaky, flipped, flipped out, freaked out, fruity, idiotic, insane, kooky, lunatic, mad, mad as a March hare, mad as a hatter, maniacal, mental, moonstruck, nuts, nutty, nutty as fruitcake, of unsound mind, out of one's mind, out of one's tree, out to lunch, potty, psycho, round the bend, schizo, screw loose, screwball, screwy, silly, touched, unbalanced, unglued, unhinged, unzipped, wacky

All seem pretty close to a description of this kooky crew! They are never boring though, right?!

If I Could Meet a Dead Guy....

It would be this dead guy........

Today we in the church know far too little about the unique blessing of enduring and bearing--to bear, not to cast off, to bear, but neither to collapse, to bear as Christ bore the cross, to endure beneth it, and there, underneath, to find Christ. When God imposes a burden, those who are patient bend their heads and believe it is good to be humbled thus--to endure beneath this burden. But to endure beneath it! To remain firm, to remain strong as well--that is what the word means, not anemic, giving in, shrinking back, enamored of suffering--but rather to gain strength under the burden as under God's grace, to preserve God's peace with unshakable constancy. God's peace is found among the patient.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Treasures of Suffering p. 43