Hello?

I know, I know.  I haven't been a faithful blogger.  I always think about posting something, but life gets in the way.  I know you know what I am talking about.  I am busy.  Our life is full of something almost every single day.  And, on the rare occasion when we are free....all I want to do is sit at home.

I always have a lot of things on my mind.  More than I can write.  I think about my grown children and when/if they will make me a grandmother any time in the near future.  Not that I want to be one too soon.  But, I'd sure prefer they both live closer to me when that time comes.  I think about how quickly life is flying by and the yuck going on in the world.  I think about how patient and merciful God is during all the chaos and confusion  I think about how glad I am that I live in a time and place where I can home school my children even though at times it is very hard. I am blessed.  I am so very blessed.

In August, we started back to school.  We are continuing our co-op, and it keeps us very, very busy. The girls are taking Astronomy (not astrology), History, PE, English, Young Missionaries Literature.  Jack takes Computer, World History, Physical Science, American Literature.  I do not teach in any of my children's classes and I like that to some extent.  But, I still have to teach them these classes throughout the week.  I teach high school American History again this year.  I am also teaching a 5th grade social studies class.  I really enjoy getting to know all the kids I teach.  It is a lot of fun.  It is also a lot of work.  Some things I am learning right along with my kids.

Three of my children play soccer.  The girls play on one league; Jack plays on a more competitive travel team.  Many of the games are played on the same night, different locations and sometimes even different cities.  So, Mike and I are missing someone's game each week.  Sometimes it gets tricky when Mike is out of town.

Yesterday Eva celebrated her birthday.  It was also the anniversary of the day we met.  I still remember that day so clearly and how I felt when they handed me this beautiful stranger and said she was mine.  How did I get so lucky?  I'm her mom.  At times I feel so unworthy to be a mom.  But, God let me do it anyway.

Speaking of Eva...she is still taking violin lessons and doing well.  She had her first group lesson yesterday.  I made her wear something other than camouflage.  Somehow it just looked weird seeing her playing classical music in her camos.  

Mike and Jack left the house this morning before the sun was even up.  All day soccer.  Yay.  So, the girls and I had the whole day to ourselves.  It started off rainy, but ended being very nice.  I have the windows open listening to the crickets and bull frogs from the pond.  After running errands, the girls were outside a lot.

I never know what I am going to find when I walk outside.  Many times Mike will come in the house and say, "Cheri, did you know the girls were......?"  Today they found mushrooms growing in the yard and decided to stuff them with pretty leaves off the pear trees.

I'm not even sure what to make of this stuff on my patio table.  It looks kind of sketchy, though.  Black powder, leaves, berries which look like pills, and of course, the even present knife.  Nearby, I found Eva's bag of goodies.  After six years, she still carries bags packed with "stuff".  At least she has toned it down a bit and can carry the bag instead of dragging it.

Contents:  Hand-shaped notepad, journal, Jordan's old wallet, tissues, old cell phone, magnifying glass, used caps, pencils, pin light, MY SCOTCH TAPE.  Now I know where it went.

Ivy gets in on some of the action at times.  She isn't the pack rat that Eva is.  But, she does enjoying cutting up some wild berries and pretend to make things.

Ivy is a big help in the kitchen.  I can always count on her to help me out with dinner and the clean-up.  She enjoys it.  I can even say that she thrives in that environment.  We had a fun time fixing dinner this evening.

Goofing off a little bit

So, while we worked ourselves in the kitchen, I found this going on in the living room.

Joy just isn't very strong in her left hand and has to use her feet to "cock" the Nerf gun.  Their target?

They set up the stool.  Fun times.

Mid-September....it feels like fall.  There are fallen leaves in our yard already.  The air is cool.  I'm sure it will be warm again very soon.  It always is.  One thing I hate about fall?  These things:

Well, I wouldn't say I hate them.  I hate that I buy them, eat 5 handfuls, feel sick, then say I'll never eat another one again.  I just can't resist them.