Chia Children

  Our science class is studying biology this year and I've taught the important and somewhat boring information on plant and animal cells, herbivores versus carnivores, and on and on and on. 
  To break up the monotony (I get bored easily) we made some homemade Chia Children. I took a picture of each kid and put it up against the wall of a clear cup - filled the cup with potting soil and chia seeds. The "hair" grew perfectly but the pictures disintegrated as the hair grew. (which I found even more amusing). Next time, I'll put the pictures in plastic. The roots were visible and the kids spent hours examining the whole thing.
 Dumb but amazing science.
  

Jeremiah and Samuel Chia Children

Don't Waste a Perfectly Good Snow

Right in the middle of a math lesson, the neighbors coming knocking at the door with their sleds.
Schools out till tonight  - loving homeschool!

I Don't Know Much

 One of the things I've come to know about foster care and adoption, after much worry and planning, is that you can't know a single thing. Not one thing. You don't know when a social worker will call with a child or know which child is "right" for your family. You can't know much other than you're willing to do what you don't know. 

However, I do know who does know and God makes such amazing plans!

Our most recent and final (really) adoptions are more than just great.  As my oldest daughter returned with her family from living in Chad, Africa we discovered just how "right" these kids were. Five of my kids would tell you that their best friends were their nieces and nephews. Two of them were born on the exact same day in the exact same year. Two had the exact same name - Elijah James. Both my daughter and my granddaughter are the same age and the same very tall height. 

So when our families get together it is pure wild, wonderful happiness. 

And when they have to return to Florida  after a visit,  it's like pulling apart Velcro.

It hurts so good when God makes the plans.

Who's Looking at You?

In every crowd you find one. The one that sets the pace, leads the way, finds the fun.  In this, my tail end family, it's Emma. 
 Not because she's the only girl in the bunch or because she was taller than everyone for so long. (finally Isaiah!) 
Rather, it's her reckless ability to give her heart to whatever she does. Give her a cause - she's in. Inspire her with a book - she soars. Show her a hero - she worships.
Thankfully for her adoring brothers, that hero is Jesus. 
Lead on Emma!

Back to Home

  Getting excited about starting our homeschool year. All six kids will be home this year which makes it the first time since Kirsten climbed on the bus in 1981, that I won't have anyone in public school. (After 32 years I'm ready to not fill out a single form, pack a lunch, or deal with homework)
  One of the best things this year is my ebay score of a pull down U.S.A. and world map.  I convinced James that a rainy day like today was the best time to hang it.  He worked his wood and screw magic and it's ready to go!  
  Now I need a reel projector on one of those metal carts. Hmmmm.

Not Done Yet

Crossing the yard this afternoon I glanced up to see Jeremiah and Samuel balanced precariously atop our swing set.  My first thought was  " danger" and I was shocked at myself!  Since when was climbing too high a scary thing?  I've never been a sissy Mom. 
Then I realized what getting older was really about.  It wasn't so much that I was scared that they would fall - it was that it was almost the end of the day and I was just really too tired to go driving off to the hospital if they did fall. I was only a few hours away from getting in my pajamas and doing nothing at all. But they're little boys and they deserve the chance to climb too high and to sometimes fall down and all the other things that keep me from sitting around in my pajamas.  

So I smiled and waved and took their picture and they swung down to the ground like nothing at all.

Better Than You

What do boys do when there's nothing to do?  They compete.  They argue.  They compete.  They argue.
Meanwhile, the girls get things done. I do love little boys.

Your Math Book? Seriously?

Are homeschooled kids just a tiny bit.....different?

I think so, but you decide.

Today is our local homeschool convention and my kids found out that the author of their math books, Steve Demme from Math-U-See will be a speaker.

They were beyond excited and want me to take their math books to the convention to get his autograph.

Tucking Ezra in last night he said, "I can't believe you get to meet Mr. Demme tomorrow! It's so cool!"

I rest my case.

(Never, ever, in my entire 13 years of school did I have single thought about my math book other than - hate.)

Your Turn Isaiah

  With eight boys in the family, you just have to wait long enough and you become the oldest son in the house.  While that sounds like it might be an enviable position, and in many respects it is, there is a weighty responsibility that goes with the title.             

  Isaiah has risen to the task.

  Not only can we count on him to do the right thing, he does it quietly, humbly and always with humor and compassion.  He makes parenting a teen look easy - which is not always the case. (You know who you are.)

  And he's learning to work hard.  He's set his heart on being a carpenter and was given a chance to apprentice with a builder in  town.  His feet ache from the steel toed shoes, the ladders are  scaring him to death as are the fractions he has to compute with a tape measure and he had to forgo a field trip for work. And all without complaint.

He spent a little of his money today and bought a tool belt.  

You're looking good Isaiah.
  

Sometimes I Look Better on the Inside

  Reading through the Bible this year has been interesting.  A life time of reading here and there like a chicken pecking around, I thought I had probably read most of the verses.  Maybe I had. But lining it up and hearing it one line, one story after another is different. It weighs more and stays in my head.
  The last few days have been in Exodus and the building of the Tabernacle with all the gold and gems and opulence  the nation of Israel had given. Each person bringing their share to make this unbelievably ornate place for God to dwell. Every last detail of where to place each item and what it is to be made of it and how many cubits it was and who should make it.
  And then in chapter 38, like a strange surprise, it says - "They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting." Really?
 Now, I don't know what these women did, or how this happened. I don't know if they all got together one day and noticed that the sink in the place needed something to give a little sparkle, or if they heard Moses worrying about where they could get some extra bronze.  I do know, that every woman needs a mirror and they gave theirs up.  That's big. Especially knowing that they were there at the entrance working and everyone would see them and now how do they know if their hair looks okay or if there was a little manna stuck in their teeth?  
 Sometimes having a large family, I feel like I've donated the mirror.  Finding more than 10 minutes uninterrupted is miraculous. Showering is a luxury afforded only when I can nab someone to watch the baby and put out any fires the boys start. Painting my finger and toenails is out of the question and if you don't wear make up, you don't have to spend time taking it off. 
  But its good.  You know those ladies at the entrance to the tent were happy to see the sink finished and so beautiful and I'm looking to see what God can do with a lot less of me and more of Him.
  Just don't look too close at my eye brows - plucking is optional these days.