Winter Fun

What a perfect day for tubing! All of the snow we have gotten this year made tubing conditions absolutely perfect. The runs were pristine!
Julia and I whizzed down the hill at breakneck speed!

We enjoy "together-time"

A Christmas Recital

Kristen and her piano instructor

Music filled the Concert Hall today as several students performed in a Christmas recital. I played Sonata in C-minor Op. 10 No. 1 by L.v. Beethoven, rousing sleepy adults from Saturday afternoon slumber. (If you have heard the piece, you will know what I mean.) How wonderful it was to have my family there to cheer me on!

Kitchen Time!

Grandpa and Grandma are here for the weekend, and what a great time we have had! This afternoon Grandma taught the girls how to make Swedish peppakaker cookies. Delicious aromas of sugar & spice filled the kitchen to greet the boys when they returned from a CAP event. Mmmm . . . nothing like baking with Grandma!

Skating Season Begins!

It's the season we have eagerly anticipated! Tomorrow we will enjoy our first skating party of the year on Langhaven Pond.

Good News!

Dad, Steve, and I just found out tonight that we have been accepted to go on a medical missions trip to Lima, Peru with a local church group. We are so excited! Lord willing, we will be traveling in February. With the missions trip experience we had in Mexico last year, I am looking forward to what God has in store for this trip.

Now that this has come up, I am really glad that we did our Unit study about Simón Bolívar and the independence of South America. Funny as it is, we seem to skip over these type of events to go on to more pivotal occurrences in history only to end up regretting it later. Last year, we skipped studying the gore of the Mayans and later found ourselves in the Yucatán Peninsula ministering to people who were Mayan and spoke the Mayan language. Even before that we zoomed past the material covering ancient China and then traveled there to adopt a little Chinese girl not too long after. All that to say I am glad we did our homework on this one! For once I may get to lecture my history-buff-of-a-brother on the history of Peru while in Peru!

The Scribe

Check out Langhaven Academy's new BLOG

Great Is HIS Faithfulness!

This is my heart's cry.

Time has gotten away from me these days. Life continues to remain quite busy. (Some may ask, "Isn't your family always busy???") However, in these times the Lord has been showing me his faithfulness. We have done so many things in the past couple of weeks, some of which have caused me to feel pressure in getting school assignments completed on time. A week from last Monday I found out that the PSAT was in two days. Upon hearing this I immediately thought in frustration, "How am I going to get everything done?" So many interruptions! Other times I have felt tired and unwilling to do the daily tasks. Such situations have caused me to learn to cast my burdens on the Lord and trust. And He has shown His grace towards me. He has given me success in everything I have set my hand to--even in the assignments where I felt pushed for time! I praise and thank HIM. It gives me comfort to know that even the piddly worries of my heart rest in His hands.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

-2 Corinthians 9:8

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:19

Happy Birthday, Julia!

Julia turns six years old today! We love you, Julia!

Fall in all its beauty ...

I love fall! With it comes lovely, crisp weather and gorgeous scenery dappled with bright, beautiful colors. Ahhh.... so wonderful....

Time Flies!

Life continues to have its busyness . . . as probably shows since I have not posted for two weeks! We have finally fallen into our school routine, and our event schedule keeps us running. Oh, the joys of a full calendar! Also, we survived the constant hammering and sawing that comes with having a new roof installed!

It's the first day of Fall! Already we notice the vibrant color of the trees as we drive down country roads . . . so beautiful. I only wish fall could last longer.

This past weekend, we enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship with some friends of ours. They took us to the Cheese Days festivities, an event our whole family looks forward to. We had some yummy cheese curds and watched the best parade ever -- a full two-and-a-half hours long! We can't wait for Cheese Days to come again!

Reflections...

It's time to sit and reflect on the last summer days ...

I have delighted in these past few weeks of relative solitude. Here and there events have called us to other places with friends and family. Not long ago we spent a refreshing weekend at a Homeschoolers' Retreat and continued to strengthen lasting bonds among family and friends.

Me and a few of my lovely siblings!

Smiling girlies!

Carpetball pals

Happy camper!

On Labor Day a portion of our crew went to a baseball game with some friends. We had a great time cheering and showing team spirit despite the heat of the blazing summer sun. Yes siree, it was a hot one!

The gang!

For the past four weeks, I have jumped back into Tapestry of Grace history curriculum to get a good headstart for the year. I find it more appealing to ease into academics rather than having it all thrown at you in one day. This week, however, will begin the full rigors of school with the commencement of all of my other subjects, including classes with the Potter's School. I anticipate a busy and challenging school year with several involved classes as well as the prospect of Driver's Ed in October. Wow.

Last night we enjoyed an impressive firework show by our small local township. I saw it as a great way to usher in the beginning of an exciting school year, fireworks and all!

Kindred Spirits

Allison, a kindred spirit and dear friend of mine, passed along this award to me. I was so encouraged!

In turn, I would like to give this award to several kindred spirits I am continually blessed and encouraged by:

My dear mom

Pollockfam

Sarah and her mom

Thea, Michelle, Kirsten, and Sari

You are a blessing!

Black-Eyed Susans

Sending you a bouquet of sunshiny flowers to brighten your day!

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD.

-Psalm 96: 11-12

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!”

- Psalm 70:4

Poems from Amy Carmichael

I have been reading A Chance To Die by Elisabeth Elliot, which is a biography of Amy Carmichael's life. I never realized how many poems Amy Carmichael wrote. One of my favorite things has been to read the poems included in the book, especially after understanding the background and circumstances which caused them to flow from her pen onto paper. What meaning they have! I enjoy using them as my own personal prayer as well.

I loved the last stanza of "A Song for One in Like Temptation":

Give me Thy thirst: kindle, O Christ, Thy fire,
Passion of fire, and love's sincerity;
My wild wind-harp, take, make of it a lyre
Whose music shall win men to turn to Thee.

And another:

Strength of my heart, I need not fail,
Not mine to fear but to obey,
With such a Leader, who could quail?
Thou art as Thou wert yesterday.
Strength of my heart, I rest in Thee,
Fulfil Thy purposes through me.

Summer Sewing Project

My mom discovered a neat website called Lazy Girl Designs. They sell a bunch of cute and amazingly easy patterns for little purses, pocketbooks, totes, and more! Their products remind me of Vera Bradley type purses. Mom got their pattern for the Veronica Pocketbook, and I zoomed away on the sewing machine and produced this beautiful handbag on my own. I love it especially because it is the perfect size to carry the few things I bring along on any day trip.

It goes so well with denim!

Two pockets are included inside the bag.

The pattern was very easy to follow. I found it very helpful that the directions had a color photograph pertaining to each step of the way. Another pattern we have done from Lazy Girl is the A-Door-Able -- Mom made a bunch of them for our ladies book club and we filled them with goodies for each participant.

Check it out and be inspired!

Summer Projects

Aren't snuggly blankets wonderful? . . .

Some of our friends have these fun, fleece blankets that look so soft and heavenly. Mom and I just couldn't resist, and raced to the fabric store to purchase some fleece (on SALE!) for ourselves. I made mine in an afternoon -- since it is a no-sew pattern it really comes together quick, especially if you have another knot-tier helping. It's reversable too!

The Beginnings of a Scrapbook

For some things, blogging does not suffice. Blogs can't last forever, can they?

This summer, I have started my first real scrapbook. I wanted something that I could safely keep -- something I could flip through over and over again. Although it has taken time and effort, as I put together this memory album of the trip to Sweden I can also reflect and remember the blessed time God granted us there. While I look at the pictures, cut, and paste, I think more about the whirlwind trip we had and each individual aspect of it. It makes me just realize how much we did in only a week and a half!

To Summarize the Feelin' Feminine Week . . .

Last Saturday, I finished up my week-long, Feelin’ Feminine Challenge. For those of you who may wonder what the Feelin’ Feminine Challenge is, click the icon above. I found it so refreshing to take part in this seven-day commitment to wear skirts and dresses. When looking back on last week, I felt much more feminine, fresh, and put-together in my appearance. Also, I sensed more maturity when dressing in a lady-like fashion as compared to wearing jeans or capris. I am continually realizing what a true delight it is to dress in a feminine and modest way—something that we as ladies are privileged and blessed to do, and also honor our Lord in the process. Doing this challenge has been an inspiration and also very fun! I would highly encourage ladies to take up the Feelin' Feminine Challenge. You will not find it disappointing.

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" - 1 Timothy 2:9

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

- 1 Peter 3:3-4

Feelin' Feminine, Day 7

The mirror trick strikes again!

Feelin' Feminine, Day 6

Full Bloom!

The lilies have unfurled their lovely petals to proclaim the joys of summer with bright, sunny orange colors!

I also have my own little "garden corner." It always brings me great excitement to see my flowers grow and bloom!

My Bee-Balm flowers have brought a nice splash of color to my garden. As you can see, the bumble bees love them! Their leaves have a sweet, herbal aroma.

The red Bee-Balm plants have become quite prolific! Their flowers remind me of little fireworks.

Feelin' Feminine, Day 5

Feelin' Feminine, Day 4

I was so desperate for a picture that I used the bathroom mirror as an aide. And . . . it worked!

Feelin' Feminine, Day 3

Here's Day 3!

I found that it is a quite a challenge to take pictures of your own hair . . .