Mission Trip Bookmarks

Hannah is going on a mission trip to the country of Romania. It will be a bit like going home since we lived there for seven years as missionaries. However, she is going to a part of the country that none of us have been to before.  We're all excited for her.

Yesterday, Hannah and I made bookmarks for the camp kids that she will be teaching.  We were able to make them entirely out of leftover paper and stickers from my stash.  They turned out really cute.  Of course I still have more paper and stickers so I just might make some for my Etsy shop - Ellie Marie Designs. I probably can't duplicate these but if you would like me to make something for you, send me a message.

Christmas Caroling

John, Holly and I went Christmas caroling with our church tonight. We all had a great time, especially because the weather was so nice! It's probably the first time I've gone Christmas caroling in 60 degree weather. We always go to the shut ins and senior citizens of our church. Most of them sing right along with us. Our last stop was at a sweet lady's house. She is neither a senior citizen nor a shut in but someone who is going through some physical trials. Normally, she would have gone with us. She was so blessed that we came to her house that she cried. I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful church.

Gabriel and Hannah will be home in less than 48 hours! I am ecstatic!! We've been able to see them a few times over the last 11 months but they haven't been HOME since January. And they haven't seen our "new" house at all. I'm not sure if I can contain my excitement over the next few hours. Pray for them as they travel home on Saturday. It is a 14 hour drive.

I reached one of my smaller goals with my Crafty Homeschoolers shop - 25 items listed! Next goal is 50. Wonder how long that will take?

Pink and Brown Gift Tags
(my 25th item!)

A Bit about Gabriel and Hannah

Gabriel and Hannah are finishing up their last few weeks of work. Gabriel works in the Abeka Book distribution center. If you use Abeka, he might be the one who pulled your books off the shelves! He has also been a substitute worker in the sports center. They have a day camp for elementary kids and Gabriel's job when he's there is to supervise them while they are bowling, skating, rock climbing and all the other activities that are there. Hannah works for Abeka Academy. That's their video school. She's on the phone all day making and receiving calls about enrollment.


I thank God daily for their jobs, for without them, I don't know how we could send them back this fall. But I miss them more than my heart can say. I love that they have made good friends and are really having a great time. Gabriel is getting a lot of reading in. Something that he probably wouldn't do here at home. It's been good for them, but cutting the apron strings (or heart strings would be more like it) is painful. August may be too early to start the Christmas break count down but I did it anyway. 120 days.

Scrapbook page made using my new digital scrapbooking program. I'm giving one away next week!!

Not Back to School - Student Photos

It's the "Not Back to School Blog Hop: Student Photo Week. So let me introduce you to my student:




This is Holly. She is 13, an age that she has long awaited. Being a teen was on the top of her goals list for many years. I suppose having teenaged siblings for so many years has something to do with that. She is entering her last year of middle school. I cannot believe that in five years we will be sending her off to college. Now that she has reached her goal of "teenager", she is working on some others. Her interests include journalism, art and photography.


I also had to include Gabriel and Hannah. Would you call them my former students? I suppose as Mom, I will always be their teacher. They will begin their sophomore year next month at Pensacola Christian College. Gabriel is studying pre-law. His ultimate goal is president. Yes, of the United States. Hannah is majoring in graphic design.


These pages are some of my first attempts using digital scrapbooking software. I'm planning a give-away next week so be sure to stop by again!

Not Back to School Plans - 2011

I have said now that I have two graduated from homeschool, I know how to do it now! And it is true that I have learned a lot over the years. Gabriel and Hannah will be sophomores at Pensacola Christian College this fall. Gabriel is studying pre-law and Hannah, graphic design. They love it there and we are blessed that they made the dean's list both semesters of their freshman year. That leaves me with just one at home.

Holly is going into 8th grade this year. Homeschooling one is entirely different than two or three or more! When I had all three at home and we were done with "school" for the day, they would spend time with each other. Even if they were in the same room, doing different things, there was a togetherness.

(Picture taken in the Transylvanian Alps circa 2003)

This year, I found myself analyzing what did and did not work with Gabriel and Hannah and what would be the best options for Holly. She is like them in many ways but in other ways, she is very much her own person. She is very social and needs interaction with others. So, here is what I have decided to do for this year:

Middle School English Composition and Literature - To be taken at a local co-op. I am also hoping this will encourage her to read. She reads well but never chooses to. This will be my first experience with this group of homeschoolers!


Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra - This will be a first for us. I have heard many good things about it.

Abeka History of the World - I like Abeka. It is very thorough!

Abeka Science Order and Design (Life Science)

Band - Continuing to learn the clarinet in a homeschool band group - if we can afford the gas. It is about 45 minutes away.

High School Art - this is also at the co-op. I am a bit apprehensive about her taking a high school class but the teacher said it is for all skill levels and the middle school class is for 5th-7th graders.

Her interests at this time are either journalism or graphic design. In her spare time, should she have any, she will work on keyboarding and blogging. Time will tell what her actual college major will be. At this point in their lives, Gabriel was going to be an author and Hannah had no plans to go to college.

For more Not Back to School plans check out Heart of the Matter {online}

The Twists and Turns of My Heart

Gabriel and Hannah left just before dawn yesterday morning for their second semester of college. They took a carload of all the things they needed and some things they wanted to make their dorm rooms more comfy. They also took a huge piece of my heart. What's left of my poor heart has been twisted and turned so many times in the last several months. I am so excited for their successes. I love that they love college life. But I miss them; their hugs and their laughter. Yet I know that to keep them here would not be the best thing for them. Who wants a 30-40 year old son living at home living at home and playing video games? They must grow up. They must fly away. But they are so far away. They cannot come home on the weekends. I miss snuggling with Hannah on the couch and watching a chick flick. I miss Gabriel's sense of humor. He always makes me laugh. I realize how blessed I am to have such amazing kids. I am grateful for the one on one time with Holly. She enjoys the individual attention. Yet she will spend her teen years without having siblings around. Oh, do you see the maze that my heart is going through? So many emotions! I have always known that motherhood involved the cutting of the apron strings. I just didn't know it was such a long and painful process.

A Chute Full of Holes

When we left Gabriel and Hannah at Pensacola Christian College I said that I felt like my kids just jumped out of an airplane with a parachute that I had packed for them. They had spent most of their lives as homeschoolers. Not only that, they were missionary kids. Their academic life seemed to have been in constant turmoil. Most years really didn't go as I planned. So when we left them on campus, on their own, I was fearful. Did I teach them enough? Are their study skills good enough to handle different teachers, different tests? Did we work on taking notes enough? Each time, my answer was no. I needed more time with them. Another year. Maybe two or three. Then we'd be ready. But it was time to send them. So I worried about the parachute and their landing. Would the chute open? Was it full of holes? Would they crash and burn?

As a homeschooling mom, I found it very difficult not knowing what they were doing each and every academic moment. What topic were they learning in history? What kind of speech were they practicing that week? What kind of homework assignments did they have? What were they studying that evening? I tried not to interrogate them constantly, after all, they did need time to study. And hopefully, I improved somewhat during the semester.

On December 17th, they completed their first semester and it was amazingly successful. They received their report cards yesterday and they both made the Dean's List! They both love being there and made a lot of friends. I give all thanks and glory to God who helped them to land safely on the ground in spite of a poorly packed and torn parachute.

Normal

Gabriel and Hannah have been home for two weeks now. There's a sense of normalcy around the house. That includes more noise, laughter, laundry, and frequently running out of milk. It's good to have them home and we have nearly three more weeks together! I'm thankful for their long break. They were so homesick and I was just beside myself with missing them. I knew their absence would be difficult but I had no idea of the magnitude. I am sure that it will be just as tough for me to let them go again but they are already looking forward to their return and the new normal they have learned from campus life.

The first semester went well for them. Hannah has excellent roommates and has adapted to dorm life quite well. She'd rather have a bottom bunk but overall is pleased with everything. Gabriel had one roommate that he got along with really well and the other was a complete slob. That was tough for a young man who was used to having a room to himself. After midterms, his next door neighbor's roommate left school and requested Gabriel for a roommate. So he was excited to move into a much neater room.

Gabriel loves classes and loves studying! I wish I had seen some of that enthusiasm in all our years of homeschooling. He is a Pre-Law major. Hannah is studying Graphic Design. They both had a very successful semester and are eager to return. John, Holly and I will miss them fiercely but I'm happy that they want to go back. They like it there.

Waiting to Hear

Gabriel called today. Oh how good to hear his voice. Even if it was for a question about laundry. Now I am waiting to hear from Hannah. This is a new phase in my life - anxiously waiting for that hopefully daily phone call. How did my mom survive so many decades ago when all we had was a payphone in the hallway shared by 45 other girls? A weekly call would never be enough.

Many people have asked how I am doing. Am I surviving since letting two fly the nest? So far, yes. I am not sure what the answer will be when we walk into our home and notice the emptiness there. And they are doing well and having fun. I am excited for them. But how will I handle it when they have a rough day and I am not there to give them a hug?

John, Holly and I will begin our trek back to Virginia tomorrow. Our plan is to stop half way and spend the night. It's been a long summer and a lengthy trip and we just do not feel up to making a 12 hour trip in one day this time. Looking forward to being home.

Quietness

I am sitting here in the quietness. An intense quietness. Such solitude I would have longed for in years past when I had a couple of toddlers underfoot. Now I find it peaceful yet odd.

John and I took Gabriel and Hannah to Pensacola Christian College on Sunday afternoon. They checked in on Monday, moved into their dorm rooms and registered for classes. On Tuesday we kissed them good-bye, gave them a long hug and came back to my parents house where Holly was staying.

Hannah's phone quit working on registration day. We are thinking it has something to do with her taking it for a swim a couple of weeks ago. So it's been hard to communicate with her. We have another one on the way for her to use. Today is their first day of classes. I am anxious to hear what they think! They also have a ton of meetings this week. I told them to expect the first week to be very overwhelming and also a lot of fun. I am encouraged that they have already made friends and seem to have terrific roommates!

Of course we are not empty nesters. Holly has six more years of school to go. My dad took her to the Space and Rocket Museum this afternoon. I am looking forward to all the individual time that John and I will have to spend with her. Homeschool begins on Monday!

Stay tuned for the adventures of Gabriel and Hannah at PCC and the Homeschooling of Holly - all right here. I hope you'll come back!

Graduation Day!

On Saturday, June 12th, Gabriel and Hannah graduated from high school. I do not think the fact has sunk in that a major stage in my life with them is over. The ceremony was great. It was held down town at the convention center with 198 other homeschool graduates from all over the state of Virginia. I went prepared with plenty of tissues. I knew I would cry as soon as Pomp and Circumstance began. I regained control of myself by the time the first 189 students marched in and was able to give a big smile to Gabriel and Hannah. We were privileged to hear Ken Ham speak.










Then the parents presented the diplomas to their students. So I pulled from my drama experience and was able to go on stage with a big smile. After that, the graduates flipped their tassels and we stood and sang "Be Thou My Vision". Well, I guess just about everyone else sang. I was all tears again and could hardly eek out a note.









Afterward, we had a party with family and friends. The next step in our lives is to make sure we have everything we need for college which is only days away. I am sure I will shed many more tears. Tissues are on the list!

Five Things I'd Like My Children to Know

Happy New Year! I am backing up my old blog and found this post. I'd like to share it once again just as a reminder to my children. I love you Gabriel, Hannah and Holly!!! May God richly bless you in 2010.

Someone tagged me with this meme a long time ago. How do I put into five thoughts all the things that I want my kids to know before they "grow up"?

Here’s my list. Actually, I think they already know these things but I want them to remember them for the rest of their lives.

1. That I love them with all my heart, no matter what, always and forever.

2. That God loves them even more than I do.

3. That God will be with them even when I can’t.

4. That He is faithful and true.

5. That they would learn to see beyond today and beyond themselves.

Welcome to the Woodward Hospital

Wednesday was the dreaded wisdom teeth removal day. It was scheduled for 2 PM. John took the day off. I had forgotten to tell Hannah to take the day off as well so that she could stay home with Holly. I suppose that I could have stayed home and let John take Gabriel but I felt like I needed to be there and sit in the waiting room. Don't ask why, that's just the way I am. That hour went by rather quickly as Holly and I watched HGTV. Then we went back to where Gabriel was in recovery. They told us to try and wake him up. Well, little did they know that when Gabriel is asleep, he is ASLEEP. Even a tornado wouldn't wake him up. (That happened once but that's a story for another day.) So there he was sedated and they expected us to awaken him. Right. We did eventually get him awake enough to walk out to the car.

He woke up Wednesday around 6 PM and except for a bit of pain seemed to his normal self - cracking jokes (with gauze still in his mouth), getting too easily irritated at Holly, and asking for food. We had decided that John would stay home with Gabriel while the girls and I went to church. John is a much better nurse than I am, at least when it comes to the gross stuff. We were getting ready to go when Holly twisted her ankle. She was wearing a pair of shoes that someone had given her- kind of a platform shoe I guess. So she stayed home with John and Gabriel and kept ice on it. The swelling has gone down some and now it's a nice shade of blue. She's hobbling around OK so I'm guessing it's not broken. There would be much more pain with that.

Gabriel hasn't had any difficulty. A little pain. The pain medicine makes him a bit dizzy but he's up and about - He's watched movies, we've played Risk, and he's always asking what can he eat. (Soft foods just can't fill up a teen age boy). We are approaching the 48 hour mark and he doesn't seem to have a lot of swelling or bruising. He is very impatient with the healing process. While he loves movies and video games, he's no couch potato and he's ready to get back to his normal life.

During all of this, Hannah has also had a busy schedule with work and a movie night at a friend's house. That leaves me without all my household helpers. I feel like I've got toddlers again - feed them, clean up after them, entertain them . . . and I'm doing all the housework. I am ready to get back to our "normal" life too!

The Busy and Blazing Summer

This has been a busy summer. Quite uneventful however unless you count the soda explosion last week. I was putting some cans of soda in the fridge when one dropped. It hit the floor just right. It all happened so fast. Suddenly coke was spraying everywhere - the floor, walls, cabinets, ceiling, inside the pantry because the door was still open, into the dining room, on the carpet and some clean clothes yet to be put away, and all over me. It was only one 12 ounce can. How could that make such a mess? For once I was thankful for my tiny kitchen. It took me a good two hours to clean everything up. Then I needed a shower. I even had coke in my hair.

Gabriel is having his wisdom teeth out this month, eventually. For one reason or another his appointment has been postponed. I am not looking forward to that event. I am not sure that I can endure the pain, the emotional pain. I know. Many have gone through this sort of procedure before. It's just one of those things that you wish you didn't have to do. One of those things that you wish were already done and in the past.

The most exciting event (well, except for the cola incident) happened this morning when I checked my email. I WON THE QUILT!! The girls and I are ecstatic. I can't wait to get it and will post pictures of it on Holly's bed.

Meanwhile, the baking, blazing, blistering, burning, scorching, searing, sizzling, sweltering summer continues. Gabriel and Hannah are going to a nearby theme park for the day. I'm sending them off with plenty of sunscreen and Gatorade. I know they'll have a great time. The rest of the week I will be working on homeschool plans. Our 2009-2010 school year begins on Monday. I cannot believe that my oldest two are seniors and I don't have any elementary students. Holly begins 6th grade.

How's the weather in your neighborhood?

Acutely Sedate

This has been a quiet but busy as usual week. Gabriel and Hannah left at the crack of dawn on Monday morning for camp in Tennessee. They are with our church youth group Meanwhile, Holly has kept me occupied. John was off on Monday so he took Holly out for some father-daughter time. I stayed home and worked on fall homeschool plans. Later that evening we went out to play putt-putt. Holly had only been once before. She really enjoyed it and wanted to go again. My score was horrible, perhaps my worst ever. I'd like to blame it on the sun. At 6:30 PM it was still too hot. And while I am sure that was a factor, I must admit that I'm just not that good at putt-putt. On Tuesday Holly and I went swimming, shopping and then came home and watched a movie. After dinner, we went to the library. For a child that doesn't like to read much, she really loves the library. I cannot figure that one out. Today we went to lunch with a friend of mine and her two children. The restaurant was Holly's choice - Ci Ci's Pizza.

That briefly sums up the first part of my week. Busy but quiet. Way too quiet. Days without Gabriel, who was born without volume control, are acutely sedate. There are those who think that Hannah is my quiet one. She is, comparatively. But like the rest of my offspring who all have a huge dose of Woodward DNA, she has no problems being articulate. Their absence is severely noticed. I am left at home with only one chatterbox to keep me company. And she's doing a great job!

Summer Plans

What does this summer hold for us? Well, first of all, let's not mention that it is already July 7th. Before we know it this month will be gone and the summer will soon follow. At the end of May we were in Kentucky and Alabama visiting friends and family. Hannah and I were privileged to meet Josephine, Jordan and Sarah Lirette on that trip. They took us to Tennessee to an Amish area and we actually were able to go inside one of their homes. It was amazing. I tried not to stare and resisted the temptation to take pictures, close up anyway.

June flew by with unpacking, a yard sale, Vacation Bible School and the annual, state-mandated standardized tests. Suddenly it is July and I don't know if I can hold on to this merry-go-round as it spins faster and faster. So far this month we have continued in our effort to declutter this small apartment in hopes of making our meager square footage more livable. Our walk-in closet is once again a walk in. John did most of the work and added some more shelves. Now I can actually find purses and shoes.

Gabriel and Hannah leave for camp in Tennessee next Monday morning. It will be quiet around here without them. Other than that, we will all stay close to home, enjoying the pool, a more relaxed schedule and squeezing in some more declutering when we can. Gabriel will have his wisdom teeth extracted in August. I am not sure who is dreading it more, me or him.