Travel time

We have been on the road now since Wednesday morning. Five very full days of playing, driving, shoping, biking, unpacking, hanging pictures, taking pictures.... and not enough sleep. And we're not home quite yet.
 But it is so worth it!
 It seems that not much of the world is on the same schedule that we are. Letting little ones stay up til 9 and then sleep until 8 or 9, just because we can - well, not many others can. We have been trying to get to bed earlier while we have been staying with friends. We have definitely been getting up earlier.
 Perhaps other children simply need less sleep then mine? I just know that poor Zion has been showing the signs of not getting his 12 hours!

 I have been trying to capture moments, frozen in time with my camera. When I have access to my own computer, rather than a borrowed one, I will upload some and give you a taste of some of the beauty all around us. Remember to appreciate it, even when you are rushing around, with day to day life overwhelming you. "Beauty all around you". Never let it go unnoticed.
                                                                             Blessings,

The cast party

 First things first -
 My Mom and Dad leave for India tomorrow. Dad goes every year, so sending him off, while still a prayer request because it is a long journey, isn't quite so traumatic. But Mom, Mom doesn't go as often. Now that she has been struggling with so much pain, and balance and has her cane - traveling across the world is a little more stressful.
 But, Dad has hope in a therapy there in India. Along with his usual support of the ministry he has always been involved with, visiting the people they love and bringing supplies that are needed, he is bringing Mom to see a specialist for a bit of homeopathic medicine.
 Please, pray for safety while traveling. Pray for comfort in the plane, since Mom hurts all the time anyway - I can promise you that sitting in a plane for 13  hours isn't the best thought! Most of all, pray that a different doctor looking at her MRI will see something new, and let God work through his therapy to heal her completely.
 Thanks~

 Now, on to a recap of a very fun afternoon.
 The cast party for Anne of Green Gables. Act 1 is made up of youth, mostly 12-20. Younger siblings are often invited to participate, and some of the older students who have "graduated" still come back and make a guest appearance. But the majority of the cast are usually teens. Ah, teenagers.
 Pizza -

 Loud music -

I purposely took a picture of the proud mom taking a picture of her son.
Someday, that will probably be me. 

 Dancing -

What more could you want? 

 The musicians were actually playing their first "gig". Adam, the guitarist, was in the play. 

He was jamming, and the kids were playing around. Canaan was joining in, very enthusiastically. 

 Flips, Sliding across the floor on his knees (no wonder I can't keep a pair of jeans without holes!) playing the air guitar. 

Canaan and his friend True were having a blast!

For the closing song they played the theme song to Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Canaan came up to me, his heart pounding, his eyes tearing up. 

I thought he must have sprained his ankle doing some crazy dance move - 

Instead, I hear, "Mom, this is just the coolest thing EVER!!!". 

Cool enough to bring him to tears. 

And he is only 7 (and a half, as I am often reminded).

I don't want to think about how much he is going to love music when he is 15.

 Or how loud he is going to play it. 

 At least I have Andy to prepare me now!              Blessings,

Anne of Green Gables

Just a peek back stage, where I have been the last few days....

 Stage crew, prepping the sets. 

Last minute fixing of a curtain before it complemented the stage. 

 Posing for their picture in the paper - 

"Rachel Lynde" and "Marilla Cuthburt"

(and, I've been "published" - the picture I took was in the paper! 

How exciting is that? hehe)

 Anne's hair, 

braided hair

and yet more hair "fixin".

Think we have a theme here? 

What a mess! 

 Are those not the most adorable crooked socks you have ever seen? 

I wish I could dress Canaan like that all the time! 

Old fashioned clothing. Still 21st Century toys. 

Thank goodness for Gameboy DS between scenes! 

My son, admiring  himself in the mirror? No, surely not!

Aren't they a good looking cast?

 Beautiful members of the audience 

It wouldn't be a show without them! 

Blessings, 

Just because I can

Laziness

 I got into bed last night, pulled the ancient and heavy, yet familiar and comfortable, Toshiba onto my lab and pressed the power button.
 I was greeted with an error message, asking me how I would like to restart the computer. Hmmm, good question, considering that last time I shut it down it hadn't seemed to have any problems. Well, let's just try regular.

 Not good.

 After about 30 seconds of "thinking" about starting Windows, it instead gave me a blue screen - the blue screen of death. Something about internal memory being wiped?
 That didn't sound good.

 So, I turned it off and tried again.

 Error message - let's try "start with last safe mode" this time.

 Again, 30 seconds of "let's give Bethany false hope", and again, the blue screen of death.

 Fiddlesticks.

 I was just bragging about how proud I was of that computer. Six years old, heavy as sin, but still going strong. I just had to spend $40 to fix the disk drive - because it wouldn't read disks anymore - but it was a perfect computer for Canaan to play games on, now that Andy is gone and took the "good" laptop. (that is a very loose definition of good - since we both hate the HP and will never buy another one. It is just smaller, and newer, so gets the label of "good").

 That Toshiba has been through a lot with us. Andy bought it right before his year long tour in Korea, and it was our main form of communication. It didn't have a built in webcam, few did at that time, but it was Skype ready and a free standing webcam was easy to find, so he got to watch Canaan, and my belly, grow on that computer screen.
 Just eight months after he got home from Korea he took it with him to Iraq, and once again, that web cam was the connection between us. He wrote dozens of E-mails, (all of which are saved to my E-mail "Andy" folder. Every single one.) He watched movies, and reorganized his music collection so that his I-pod would be easier to navigate. All on that Toshiba.
 It has played a huge part in Canaan learning his alphabet and how to use those letters to make words; how to count, then use those numbers to add, subtract and multiply. Many games have come and gone through the years. He has recently become addicted to "Age of Empires", and had claimed the Toshiba as his.

 But I kept borrowing it.

 For the first three years that I blogged, I ALWAYS sat at this desk, typing on my Mac. I have only gotten lazy in the last several months. But, oh, how I have enjoyed being lazy. It is so comfortable to sit in bed and blog, rather than sit at a desk at one in the morning! But it seems my days of comfort are over.

 Back to the workhouse, or at least the wooden chair, I go. Woe is me.

Buttercup? I don't think so!

We watched "The Princess Bride" tonight. A wonderful movie, and one that was quoted at our wedding rehearsal (if you can't guess what part, then you have never seen the movie) but I always complain that Buttercup really was too much of a wimp. She should have fought harder in the fire swamp, helped more, grabbed the sword and jumped into the fight. I never wanted to be Buttercup. She may have been beautiful, and desired, but she didn't fight hard enough.

 I want to be a fighter.

 I keep telling myself that I am a big tough cookie. "What is four days without a call, seriously?" I have so much to do: school for the boys, play practice for Canaan, groceries to buy, friends to talk to, family to talk about.... When could I possibly even have time to miss him.
 When?

 That question could probably be answered best by a line in a cheesy novel I read this afternoon. And yes, I read almost the whole thing this afternoon. Andy is gone, books are back. Sigh - say goodbye to sleep.
 But back to the cheesy novel -  in it the girl had experienced her first "real kiss", and it distracted her from all else. She tried to convince herself that she wasn't obsessing... "There were times when she almost forgot. Why yesterday, while helping Mrs. Kemble she hadn't thought of the kiss for a full twenty-two minutes. Then this morning, while searching for a larger hat box for poor Achilles, she didn't think about the marquis or his blasted kiss for almost thirteen minutes and a half"
 I laughed out loud. Then I groaned, because I think I am just as guilty as the young Honoria, and I can't blame young love, or first kiss or anything that flighty. I am just, still, after nearly 10 years of marriage,  madly in love with my husband. I miss hearing his voice, seeing his face, even having him tease me without mercy about the cheesy novels I randomly pick up. I miss him, plain and simple. Even after  basic training, tech school, 3 desert deployments and a year in Korea, I still miss him when he goes away.
 I have learned to live, and function quite nicely when he is away, and even to take my sword and fight some battles as needed. But golly do I miss him - plain and simple, just him.

 He finally sent a text tonight asking me to E-mail him some paperwork that he needed. He said that he isn't allowed to talk - no free time scheduled into the training yet, but he managed to sneak an "I love you" in with his paperwork request. I'll take what I can get.

  I promise I would grab the sword and jump into the fight to save my "Wesley", but maybe I do miss him just a little more then I would like to admit! Perhaps I'm not as tough as I want to be... If I have to go much longer without hearing from him, I might go tromping off into the fire swamp, just to have something to distract me!
                                                                    Blessings,

A small fit of jealousy

 I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I added a new button to the side of the page. I try to hop around the internet some, linking from place to place. In some of my recent "travels" I found this...

 A military wife, stationed in Germany with three small children. She loves to cook, and play with her camera, and with a husband who is currently in Afghanistan she has a lot of emotion to pour out onto the page. What's not to like?
 The beautiful part is that she is so much more computer savvy than I. Her page simply begs to be explored, and has so many fun buttons to push. Jealousy raged for a few minutes - but I nipped that in the bud and decided to simply like her. I'm learning, bit by bit - eventually I will have a page that makes me happy. For now, I have a place to put words and pictures... that works!
 My military bloggers - join her list. Link up and find others who are in a similar place as you. And those of you who aren't military, she has a button for you too, just to show your support.

 She is one of those who have 1000 followers or so, and tons of pictures, so her page can be a pain to load, but she has some fun things to say, and a list of people to link to that is fascinating to scroll through.
 Have fun exploring!                                         Blessings,

The first phone call - sort of...

At 9:23 tonight I got a text message.

 "I'm in. 

 May be a few days

 Love you." 

 Those are good words!
 "May be a few days" meant he didn't think he would be able to call me for awhile. However, only 29 minutes later he called, (don't you just love the digital age, in which I can go back to my phone and check EXACTLY when he called?) just for a few seconds, to give me details of the day and pass along his mailing address. He sounded exhausted, and stressed about what comes next, but at the same time - relieved. One step down. He is officially in the class.

 Now he just has to finish it!

 As always, one thing at a time.                         Blessings,

That first phone call

 At lunch after church this afternoon Mom mentioned that some good friends of ours had heard from their son, John - his first phone call home from Basic Training.
 I got watery eyed and a bit choked up, and Mary almost started to laugh. "Bethany, it has been 9 years. How in the world can that still make you cry?"
 They weren't tears of sadness, simply tears of remembrance. Sometimes an emotion is so strong it can't help but overflow just a little.

 Let me take you back.

 It was December 25, 2001. Christmas Day. We had been married for 6 months and 2 days. I couldn't bear to leave my little apartment, just in case he called, so my family crammed themselves in there to celebrate with me for awhile. But eventually we headed back to their house and found, waiting on their answering machine, his very first call from Basic Training. He had assumed, correctly, that I would want to be with them for Christmas since he was away. He just didn't know they would come to me.

 I remember being so heartbroken that I had missed my chance to talk to him, to encourage him, to make sure he was staying strong in his faith and confidence. To tell him that I loved him.

 (Why didn't he call my cell was the question Mom asked while we were remembering this afternoon - surely we had one by this time? Perhaps we had very few minutes and only used it for emergencies? Maybe I didn't keep it on me on a regular basis yet? Cell phones were still not "attached at the hip" like they are now. Who knows. That is not one of the memories that stands out in my mind.)

 He left me his address, and I wrote him that very night. I had already written him pages and pages, so was relieved to finally have someplace to send them. I wonder if he has ever read all of those letters. Probably not. He certainly didn't have time in Basic training. I have the clarity of mind to know that now, but at the time I only knew that I had to share every moment with him. We were still newlyweds, quite literally.
 I think I may have to dig those letters out and read them. What a trip down memory lane it would be to feel those feelings again. And the letters from him - those are priceless. Not quite as word filled, but each word can be felt to the bottom of my toes.

 Yes - thinking about that first phone call brought back lots of memories. A few watery eyes. And a reminder that after the first there always comes a second, and then a third - and it gets easier, at least for the moment.

 Tomorrow is a first again. Andy has his PT test at 0500. He should know by noon if he is in this next class rotation. He said that perhaps not hearing from him is what I should hope for, as that will mean he is busy moving into the proper dormitory and getting set into the new schedule. He has no idea when he will have free time again. He'll call when he can.

 So, tomorrow begins a new wait, for another first phone call.

 But it always comes. And now I have a cell phone, attached at the hip. I'm not missing one again, no sir, not me!
                                                         Blessings,

Green Eggs and Ham

 This week was Dr. Seuss's birthday. I meant to do something special to celebrate, but it sort of got overlooked. Our only celebration was a few small attempts at working out rhyming for ourselves. The Titanic was, surprisingly, fascinating for a 2nd grader - so I didn't stray too far from our previously picked subject of interest.
 However, I did remember a Seussical moment we had just a few months ago... and some pictures that I never shared with you.

 What could this be? Why, Green eggs, of course! 

 This stuff looks disturbing.

 Questionable.

 Horrifying!

The big boys decided that apparently it isn't that bad.

Maybe even "finger lickin" good! 

But Zion was never convinced! 

This Seussical event was only 4 months ago, but looking at these pictures is almost frightening. They have already grown so much. Cole, their friend who was visiting that night, was recently here to visit again. 

These handsome men are growing faster then I can keep up. 

Green Eggs and Ham... 

Would you eat them when you're seven?

What about when you turn eleven? 

Could you eat them with a fish? 

Would you eat them on a dish?

Could you, would you try a bite

Could you, would you? 

You did! Alright! 

 The things they are willing to try - this is such a wonderful age. I am doing my best to give them the ability to try interesting things. From Green Eggs and Ham, to petting a Hissing Madagascar Cockroach, to reading about Alexander the Great. Such a wonderful age! 

 I just have to grab it with both hands - while somehow keeping a hand free to take pictures for Daddy, so he can experience it too!  One day at a time.                 

                                                                          Blessings, 

Learning and laughing while living and loving

 Shortly before Andy left we had a disagreement about the educational goals for our children, or more accurately, how to attain those goals. After the somewhat laid back days of Christmas break, I must admit that we hadn't quite gotten into a serious groove with the new year. Honestly, I hadn't really tried. Andy was working on projects with the boys, taking them on nature walks, spending time in serious discussion about how and why the world works the way it does.
 I wasn't too stressed about sitting at a table and practicing times tables.

 But it came to Andy's attention that Zion didn't know all of his letters. Sure, he could sing the whole song, but there were quite a few that if you pointed to it, he couldn't tell you the name. Mind you, he is still in preschool, but he turned the magic age 5 in December, so Daddy suddenly felt the pressure. Without meaning to, he put that pressure on me.

 It wasn't pretty for a few minutes there.

 The peaceful conclusion at the end was this: He would not worry about their SAT scores quite yet, and instead let them take one moment at a time. I would, for him, give up a little of my free spirited learning practices and make them spend just a bit more time at a table doing paperwork.

 That being said - Look how much fun we had learning with our toys!

How many ways are there to sort and catorgorize vehicles from the movie Cars?

Hmmmm...

Red, Blue, Green...Tractors, Metallic, Wrecked,

 Those made to mimic other movies.

Photographers

Shall I continue?

How about listing them, then adding them? Now THAT is a math problem.

No calculater allowed, just plain and simple addition!

And the second movie hasn't even come out yet. Oh dear!

Zion's letters have gotten some attention also. I refused to push him, but if he is interested, I am not about to hold him back. Just a week before the "fight" I had started a new book with him - "Teach you child to read in 100 easy lessons." The book's focus is primarily on the letter sound, rather than the name, so

Andy might still be frustrated that Z can't tell him the name of some of the letters. But, he has learned their sounds, and how to put them together into blended words.

 

He has recently read the first three "Bob books", and is so proud of himself. It is a long and complicated project to take on a Bob book, (and they have only 2-6 words per page, and about 10 pages) but it is so worth it. The smile on his face when he reaches the end and has accomplished his goal - Priceless!

 Just for my own memory I have to type this here, so I will have it written somewhere for posterity's sake! 

He can never remember the name of N. He recognizes it, and knows it's sound. However, to recall it's name, he spells his name, out loud, every single time. Z-I-O-N - It is an N mommy.

 Another of my favorites is when he is "reading" to me from the other room, and will just be making up nonsense. Then, suddenly he will start naming letters that he sees, or even "straight line that way, straight line the other way" or "the letter after e". Then he will go back to making up nonsense as he "reads" to me.

 The desire to read is emerging. He only gives me about 15 minutes at a time, but they are productive minutes, and I try to use them to their full potential.

I love being a homeschool mommy!

Blessings,