WARNING: Frog guts!

Today we had an awesome day.  We did our basics and then headed outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.   The kids had been catching frogs yesterday and put them in the little "pond" in our yard.   They immediately went to check on them.   One of them had already started acting funny yesterday and had some weird bulges and bruises on it.  Today it died.   So, Ethan decided to dissect it.   He used the a diagram to take out and identify each organ.  He loved and learned so much!  I was amazed.  I dissected several animals throughout school but just managed to get through without throwing up.  I have no interest in that sort of thing...at all.  I love that homeschooling allows us to let the kids really take off in things that interest them.  I know they retain so much more!   

The kids also pulled each other and themselves up a tree with a rope.  

Chad is also building a chicken shelter for some meat chickens.   The kids have had a blast helping him.  Moses is just obsessed with his daddy these days and always wants to be right by his side.  It's the sweetest thing. 

I've been trying to take things more the direction that Charlotte Mason taught.  So, for science we've been reading a book by Thornton Burgess.  I've been amazed at how much you can actually learn from living books.  The kids beg to keep reading everyday. 

Celebrating Christy

Today we got to celebrate Christy's 8th birthday.  It was sweet to watch her.  She was so excited and felt so special! She has been home with us for a year and a half.  I can't believe how time has flown and how much she has changed! Things haven't been all easy.  We've had our fair share of struggles and tears, but, it's all been worth it.  It seems like just now we have gotten over another little hump in the road.   It's nice to be able to stand back and look at how far we all have come.   We've all (us and all 4 kids) have had to really look at ourselves and make changes, choose to do the right thing, love when it's not easy, and then enjoy the times when it is.  Through it all, I look at these kids and I'm amazed.   If I had been through all they have, I don't know how I would have handled it.  If you forget everything else, just take into account that they left all of their friends, their home (no matter our view of it, it was their home), their culture, everything familiar and came to a totally different place, with a bunch of strangers who LOVE THEM SO MUCH but they are still strangers, different tastes, textures and smells,  new rules and expectations, a different way of doing just about every little thing, and even having to learn to talk differently.  I really can't imagine!   Yet, she has been such a trooper!   She has so much joy, a contagious laugh and a beautiful smile. 

We have been blessed!  This smile is not because of us.  It's not because she was "rescued", because we were too late for that.  It's because God made this precious little thing just the way she is.  She is strong, compassionate, and joyful and I'm so thankful I get to have her in my life.  There is so much I can learn from her!

Days like this are joyful and sweet, but, also sobering.   I cry thinking about Felicia.  8 years ago she carried my little girl in her womb, and then nursed her, and then did the best she could.  I love her so much. 

The first picture we ever saw of Christy.  This should have clued us into what we were in for! :)

Happy Birthday Christiana Renee' Naa Koshie!  I love you with all my heart.  I pray that you will know how much you are loved even though I fail daily.  I pray that you will know that you were wonderfully and fearfully made.  God formed you in Felicia's womb.  He knows your inmost being.  He loves you so.

Camping at Big South Fork

We have been trying to get to BSF to go camping for months!  Selling the house, sickness, or weather have kept us from going until this week.  We had SO much fun!  The kids said this was their favorite place they have ever hiked and camped!  We got there on Labor Day when everyone else had just left so we had the campground and the trails to ourselves. We did some hiking, swimming and lots of relaxing.   

Our favorite new camping accessory was the hammock!   It was so easy to put up and so comfy!

I think the highlight of the trip for everyone was the hike to the twin arches.  It was a breathtaking sight.  There were lot of caves, tunnels and crevices that the kids loved exploring!   They didn't want to leave!

It was so sad when we found this little fawn dead on the trail.  There was no sign of why it would have died.   

On our way home we stopped in Pall Mall to visit Sgt. York's home.  It was an interesting tour and the grist mill was beautiful.  We also went to "Ye Old Jail" in Jamestown.  The kids loved it.  It was the perfect end to our trip.

They had NO idea what this thing was....a typewriter!