The beginning of the end

The kids are back in school full swing and Labor Day is behind us, it's the beginning of the end of summer.  The official end of summer is NOT until Sept. 21 however, everyone is looking forward to the fall leaves and cooler temps.  A dear friend had her fall wreath up the third week of August.  She is so ready for fall.  I, on the other hand, am holding on to every warm moment with all that is in me.  

I guess we took our last "summer" camping trip over Labor Day.  Summer camping trips always include boating, skiing, swimming and tubing.  I think we will take the boat out a time or two more but then it will be time to winterize it and park it in the barn until next spring. Our family really extended the Labor Day holiday to 5 nights.  We went to Salt Lick Creek on Wednesday night.  That gave our family two nights and two days before the "masses" arrived on Friday night.  The "masses" were the 5 other families that like to camp together.  

Two years ago, Lane learned to ride a bike at this same campground.  This year, Karis learned.  She caught on very quickly but she still needs to tweak her skill.

On Thursday, we were the only ones at the swimming area.  The kids enjoyed building dams, roads, swimming pools and castles together.  

On Saturday, we headed out right after breakfast to the lake.  

Gran Gran  and Elizabeth tubing.  They were screaming the whole time having so much fun. 

Jordan and Micah had fun tubing too.

One Thing

This afternoon I am totally enjoying myself canning tomatoes and praising the Lord.  Sounds weird, I know.  I have got Rich Mullins blaring through the house.  I am singing along as loud as I can just praising Him.  Yes, my kids are looking at me funny too especially since I don't really have a good singing voice.  

It has been a long time since I listened to Rich Mullins.  We dug it out today because we were studying the Apostolic Creed.  He has a song called Creed that quotes the creed.  I continued to listen to this great CD.  The Lord uses his music to convict my soul.  I am listening to "One Thing".  

Everybody I know says they need just one thing 

And what they really mean is 

They need just one thing more

And everybody seems to think

They got it coming

Well I know that I don't deserve You (italics mine)

Still I want to love and serve You

More and more

You're my one thing.

Save me from those things 

That might distract me

Please take them away 

And purify my heart

I don't want to lose the eternal for

The things that are passing

Cause what will I have

When the world is gone

If it isn't for the love

That goes on and on with

My One Thing.  

What is your one thing?  Is it Jesus?  I want Him to be my One Thing.  Many times I don't live like He is.  I get caught up in those things that are passing and I stress and I experience anxiety over these things.  I worry and fret then I get upset with my babies and time is wasted on those things that are passing.  

The last line of the song is my prayer today:

Every night and every day

You hold on tight

Or you drift away

You're left to live

With the choices you make

Oh Lord please give me the strength

To watch and work and love 

And sing and pray.

A Bad Day Homeschooling is Better Than a Good Day...

...in public school.  

This was not in any way a bad day.  It was wonderful.  Even on our horrible days of home schooling, I wouldn't trade them.  

Here is a wonderful day of home school.

After reading about the city of Pompeii being buried under a volcano, we made our own volcano.  My small kiddos had not ever done this activity before today.  We read about how this volcano erupted on August 24, 79 a.d.  The city was modern and vibrant.  They were actually getting ready for their elections. About 1 pm the volcano started spewing and sputtering.  It shot lava up 12 miles into the air and with the pressure of the gases in the mountain, it stayed in the air like a mushroom for hours.  During this time, people just went on with their lives. We read about how one man even took a nap.  When the volcano finally started to weaken, the ash fell on the city at a rate of about 6" per hour. The whole city was soon covered in hot, molten ash. The city stayed buried for 1500 years.  

We then headed outside to make our volcano with baking soda and vinegar.  It was a hit.  They loved it.  We did it over and over until we ran out of baking soda and vinegar.  

This whole story and activity spurred lots of conversation about volcanos.  We looked on the internet and found pictures of the Mount Saint Helen's eruption in 1980.  We found some really great pictures and video on YouTube.  The kids then wanted to know where in the world were volcanoes.  So Jordan and Jackson got on the internet to find locations of volcanoes worldwide and then reported back to Lane and Karis what they learned.  On our world map, they marked a few places.    

A few minutes later, I found Lane and Karis looking at science books about volcanoes. 

 We then drew pictures of the city of Pompeii with a red cloud in the shape of a mushroom.  

None of this was pre-planned.  I don't think I could have planned it any better than it turned out.  We really had fun and hopefully learned a little along the way.    

Flowers of the Field

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:6-8

PERFECT

I can't think of a better word to describe our weekend. We went to Dale Hollow Lake and stayed at the Lillydale Park campground. I have never been to Dale Hollow but I had heard about it. Anytime Dale Hollow is mentioned, faces glaze over as if this is some sort of magical place. Well, it is not literally magical but it is perhaps the best lake EVER. I have never been to a lake or in any body of water where I could see so clearly in the water as I could there. It was deep, wide, clean and clear.

The weather would also fall under that catagory of "perfect". The temperature was in the mid 80's with little humidity. We actually had nice fire on Saturday night which is unusual for this time of year to be able to enjoy.

The campground was just as wonderful. We had a great site location.

And of course, the company was perfect. We camped with friends and the kids had a great time together. It just blesses my soul to see kids love each other the way these three families children do. As Chris said all weekend, "memories...we are making memories". These are sweet times that our children will remember for their entire lives.

It was a good weekend.

Shall We Gather at the River

Saturday afternoon we met friends at the river. It was so hot and we needed to cool off. The kids just bobbed and the adults got to catch up.



Unfortunately, our friends had a little problem with their boat. After deciding to do a little tubing, Glenn could hear a belt making a lot of noise on the engine. He tried to tighten up the belt that was squeeking and making all the racket. He saw that it was going to need to be changed...soon. After a quick examination by the men , they decided they could definitely take care of that easily the next week. We took off, not worrying about it, all kids in tow tubing down the river. We didn't get too far before he came to a quick stop. We knew by the look on his face that the belt had broken. Don't worry...just a belt.

We had a "nice" slow ride back the dock with their boat in tow. It was like letting all the air out of a balloon...sad faces everywhere.


Tonya made the best of it saying "ROCK ON" with a smile on her face.

While they were loading their boat on the trailer, we took their daughter to jump from the swing rope. She was determined and ready. The boys had already been talking to her about jumping. Of course, they were so excited to show off for her. I wonder if they thought she wouldn't jump???


Anyway, they climbed the steep bank to the stoop by the rope. Jackson went first very confidently to show her how to do it.



Next it was her turn. We threw her the rope. Suddenly the river seemed much further away to her. Back and forth she hesitated..."yes, I am going to jump, no I'm not going to jump". She was battling herself.


Okay, her decision was final..."NO...I am not going to do it". She steps back, hands the rope to Jordan, he takes off, does a beautiful swing and drops into the water. He made it look so easy and fun. "Okay, I should have done that".

She was trying again to muster up the courage to do it. I had my camera ready for the jump... ready and waiting...ready... yes...wanting to get her in the air... waiting.... okay, I am ready. Turn the camera back on and ready again. I looked away for only a moment, but that moment was long enough for her to leave the rock. Oh no...snap....

I only caught the splash. But SHE DID IT!!! She was so excited. How fun for her. All I got was the splash on the camera, but she got the satisfaction of knowing she had the courage to do something beyond her comfort zone.

Six People...Bigger boat...still Big Fun

We bit the bullet and bought a boat. (How's that for alliteration) Here is her maiden voyage on the Cumberland River. This a such a wonderful time our family spends together. I see lots of smiles from all my kids when we are on a river ride.