Our summer vacation was really a big field trip!
Points of Interest Visited:
Creation Museum outside Cinncianti, OH
Colonial Williamsburg, VA
Yorktown, VA
Jamestown, VA
Naval Museum, Norfolk, VA
Toured USS Battleship Wisconsin
Experienced the loud thunder of the Air Force jets taking off and landing in Virginia Beach
Walking/Driving tour of Washington, DC
Drove though the underwater tunnel in Norfolk
States traveled through:Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,and District of Columbia
Courses covered on our big field trip:
Bible, Science, Government, History, Social Studies, Math, Accounting, Geography, Architecture, Arts, Music, Logic, Home Economics, and life skills
Life Lessons Learned:
People should strap their suitcases down tighter to the roof of their cars so...people like us down get hit with them when an SUV in front of us runs them over and kicks them up into our car. Instant Heart attack! $1200 damage to our car.
Even if you check the brakes before you go, and throughout your trip, you may still end up with a brake problem in the mountains/hills. Our calipers hung up and eroded our brakes right out. We had to have new calipers, brake pads, and rotors installed on the rear of our car in PA, on a Sat. afternoon, at the tune of $625.
Don't leave your camera sitting on the toilet paper dispenser in the bathroom at Colonial Williamsburg, even if your three year old daughter is counting down the seconds until she will open the stall door way before you will be prepared for that to happen. Don't trust old people, families, foreigners, or bathroom attendants to do the right thing-to turn in an item lost, so the family of the lost item can have returned to them their property. The security office where we had to go to file a claim was quite the walking hike to get to and was a fruitless effort! Priceless pictures from our first several days were lost. It made me cry! Cost of new camera: $200.
Staying on Budget is critical and you should have a cushion to work with just in case. Our unexpected trip costs:$2000.00.
Learning to navigate a busy schedule with a 3 year old was mastered by the end of the trip. Learning how to make history fun for a 13 year old who hates history was also mastered by the end of the trip. We survived tribulation - hahahaha.
Overall, we had a great time. We are thankful we had the opportunity, for the means to cover the unexpected costs, and for the safety we enjoyed during the journey.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Are you rich?
Would you consider yourself rich?
Before you answer, let me share some statistics with you from our Pastor's sermon yesterday.
1.4 billion people in the world live on less than $1.25/day.
2 billion people in the world live on less than $2.00/day.
If you earn more than $25,000/yr, you earn more than 90% of the people in the world.
If you earn more than $80,000/yr, you earn more than 99% of the people in the world.
I was humbled by this and I hope you find yourself humbled, as well.
Are we thankful? Content? Are we giving to others? Are we spending what we have wisely? Is our money being used to help others or to horde for ourselves? As a Christian, am I giving abundantly to God's work?
This week, my bible study will be focused on these things. I invite you to do the same.
Before you answer, let me share some statistics with you from our Pastor's sermon yesterday.
1.4 billion people in the world live on less than $1.25/day.
2 billion people in the world live on less than $2.00/day.
If you earn more than $25,000/yr, you earn more than 90% of the people in the world.
If you earn more than $80,000/yr, you earn more than 99% of the people in the world.
I was humbled by this and I hope you find yourself humbled, as well.
Are we thankful? Content? Are we giving to others? Are we spending what we have wisely? Is our money being used to help others or to horde for ourselves? As a Christian, am I giving abundantly to God's work?
This week, my bible study will be focused on these things. I invite you to do the same.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
I Am Persuaded
I Am Persuaded
Kelly Crawford writes a blog called Generation Cedar. Kelly's family lost their home in the tornado outbreak in Alabama. Here is her response to the tremendous outpouring of love her family and others are receiving from the body of Christ.
Kelly Crawford writes a blog called Generation Cedar. Kelly's family lost their home in the tornado outbreak in Alabama. Here is her response to the tremendous outpouring of love her family and others are receiving from the body of Christ.
A Poem About How To Live Your Life
Not – How did he die?
But – How did he live?
Not – What did he gain?
But – What did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man,
Regardless of birth.
Not – What was his station?
But – had he a heart?
And – How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready
With a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to
Banish a tear?
Not – What was his shrine?
Nor – What was his creed?
But – Had he befriended those
Really in need?
Not – What did the sketch in
The newspaper say?
But – How many were sorry
When he passed away?
Anonymous
But – How did he live?
Not – What did he gain?
But – What did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man,
Regardless of birth.
Not – What was his station?
But – had he a heart?
And – How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready
With a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to
Banish a tear?
Not – What was his shrine?
Nor – What was his creed?
But – Had he befriended those
Really in need?
Not – What did the sketch in
The newspaper say?
But – How many were sorry
When he passed away?
Anonymous
Friday, April 29, 2011
Has it really been that long?
It's been two months since I last posted something on my blog. I didn't realize it had been so long until a few friends commented that I must be busy because when they check my site there's nothing new there.
First of all, I'm humbled to know someone cares about what I think and have to say, or have been touched in some way by something in my blog. Thank you for your ear and compassion toward me.
With that said, "Life sure is busy sometimes!" Isn't it?
Let's see what have I been up to lately. . .
As you know, our family got a little bigger this past February with the birth of our granddaughter, Aubriana. I've written and erased many lines here trying to convey the events surrounding the transition in our home and I still can't put my finger on how to relay those things to the public yet. It's been a challenge, an adjustment, but also a huge blessing.
Our youngest daughter started speech therapy in our home twice a week. There was an evaluation process to go through, doctors visits, school visits, etc. to get her in the program. She's doing great but it's another thing that has to be done.
We're still homeschooling and it was that time of the year to begin to think and plan for next year. That required a lot of time, thought, and prayer - above and beyond.
My daughter who is trying to complete her senior year while being a new mom was taking an on-line course which meant she had the computer more than I did.
My husband has been traveling a lot this year for work but we were able to take a wonderful trip to Chicago for a four day weekend by ourselves - no kids. That was much needed. I'm waiting for him to come home from Baltimore today.
In addition to my women's bible study, I began mentoring a friend of my daughter's who is searching for answers to questions like who is God, etc. The birth of our granddaughter has brought many people into our home and has opened up a lot of opportunity for us to share the gospel with others. I am amazed at how God brings people to us, we don't even need to leave our home.
On top of all of that, my mind has been mush lately. There is a lot going on in our lives and sometimes I can't take another thing into my brain much less formulate a clear statement on something for my blog. We've had a long winter here in Wisconsin and have been cooped up inside too long. I need to get out and get some exercise and clear this brain fog.
No excuses - just explaining what has been up in my life and I hope to get back in the swing of things soon.
I hope all is well with all of you. I'll be back soon - don't give up on me!
God's Blessings!
First of all, I'm humbled to know someone cares about what I think and have to say, or have been touched in some way by something in my blog. Thank you for your ear and compassion toward me.
With that said, "Life sure is busy sometimes!" Isn't it?
Let's see what have I been up to lately. . .
As you know, our family got a little bigger this past February with the birth of our granddaughter, Aubriana. I've written and erased many lines here trying to convey the events surrounding the transition in our home and I still can't put my finger on how to relay those things to the public yet. It's been a challenge, an adjustment, but also a huge blessing.
Our youngest daughter started speech therapy in our home twice a week. There was an evaluation process to go through, doctors visits, school visits, etc. to get her in the program. She's doing great but it's another thing that has to be done.
We're still homeschooling and it was that time of the year to begin to think and plan for next year. That required a lot of time, thought, and prayer - above and beyond.
My daughter who is trying to complete her senior year while being a new mom was taking an on-line course which meant she had the computer more than I did.
My husband has been traveling a lot this year for work but we were able to take a wonderful trip to Chicago for a four day weekend by ourselves - no kids. That was much needed. I'm waiting for him to come home from Baltimore today.
In addition to my women's bible study, I began mentoring a friend of my daughter's who is searching for answers to questions like who is God, etc. The birth of our granddaughter has brought many people into our home and has opened up a lot of opportunity for us to share the gospel with others. I am amazed at how God brings people to us, we don't even need to leave our home.
On top of all of that, my mind has been mush lately. There is a lot going on in our lives and sometimes I can't take another thing into my brain much less formulate a clear statement on something for my blog. We've had a long winter here in Wisconsin and have been cooped up inside too long. I need to get out and get some exercise and clear this brain fog.
No excuses - just explaining what has been up in my life and I hope to get back in the swing of things soon.
I hope all is well with all of you. I'll be back soon - don't give up on me!
God's Blessings!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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