Oct 27, 2006
October 26, 2006 Autumn's Birthday
The kids and Andrew spoiled me with beautiful cards that made me cry, lovely lotions, silly socks with spots for my toes (the girls LOVE those, so I have many pairs) , the Casting Crowns cd with my favorite song "Who Am I", etc...plus a lovely brownie and vanilla ice cream cake. Than to top it all off we went out to my favorite Chinese Restaurant to eat General Tao's Tofu!!!
Thank you for all of the wonderful phone calls and the singing...it was a special day.
Oct 12, 2006
Makaela's violin arrived September 29, 2006!
Here is Makaela and Teacher Sink at her first lesson. She is doing really well! :) She can already play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "At Pierrot's Door." She is a delight to teach and is catching on so easily. I think all of the years of watching Samantha have made this a natural transition for her.
Sep 27, 2006
Today was a great day...Makaela biked all by herself today! She has been practicing all summer, but has been a tad cautious. However, today at the church parking lot she took off on Sofia Van Shaik's bike. It was such a sweet moment. She is so proud of her newfound freedom.
Today was also our last play date with the Van Shaik family. Samantha has claimed Chrsitian as her "best friend" for several years now. She is taking their move fairly hard. We have been praying that God will send another special friend her way. For their farewell concert, she is going to play her violin and read a letter she has written to him about all of the things she will miss doing together.
Yesterday we had a special outing at a local elementary school. A friend of ours teaches first grade and invited the girls to come and see her classroom. Samantha brought her violin and spoke to the class about it and then played a couple of pieces. The kids loved it and had lot of questions for her (many of which Makaela answered as she is also starting violin) . :) The neatest part was when the teacher asked Samantha to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," as she supposed that would be a tune the kids would recognize. Well, Samanatha said she wasn't sure she knew that one well enough by ear, so she asked if she could play "Jesus Loves Me" instead. The teacher agreed, and half of the kids hummed along while she played! :) It was precious. I didn't have my digital camera that day, but I'll post pictures of it when my friend sends them our way. (Her classroom is gorgeous). God bless!
Sep 22, 2006
Sep 17, 2006
All is well on the homefront. We are deep into our studies from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The girls mental muscles are recieving an amazing workout. It is exciting for me to see the new little "lights" that switch on in their minds everyday.
I have some teacher's assistance (puppets) that join our classes on a daily basis. There is "puppy" who comes to the couch for reading time, "Dr. Susan" is our math coach, and "Miss Kitty" usually shows up around language class.
Samantha has also started her strings ensemble with 6 other string players. She's doing very well and is always so energetic after ensemble pratice. She thrives on the harmonies of good music and the sweet attention from the older girls. She and I are currently playing The Clock, by Chopin together and I can't help but smile inbetween notes.
Our favorite adventure from last week was pear and plum picking. We picked over a bushel of pears and about 12 pounds of plums. Delicious!!! We have dried several pounds of the pears, and may can the rest. The local raccoons have also enjoyed our stash of fruit, and graciously leave their seeds on the porch. (We are saving our seeds for a little orchard we will grow on our new property).
Some favorite quotes for this week:
Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything. Eugene Delacroix
Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work. Remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die. Daniel H. Burnham
There's no abiding success without commitment. Anthony Robbins
To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed -- That can make life a garden. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake somebody. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. Elbert Hubbard
From the errors of others a wise man corrects his own. Publilius Syrus
Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity. Og Mandino
Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. John Wesley
Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life. The love of the young for the young, that is the beginning of life. But the love of the old for the old, that is the beginning of things longer. Jerome K. Jerom
P.S. I tried to post pictures of the girls at school, but something on Blogger's site is down...I'll try to post them as time allows...God bless!