Sometimes God Answers YES!

My children have been attending "Read to the Dogs" program at a local library one time per month. Sweetness is a dog lover and she especially likes Dobermans. She
told me, "I am going to pray and ask God to send a Doberman to the library tomorrow."










And of course Cutie Pie loves everything sister loves!







The star of the day is Jasmine. A very well behaved, certified therapy dog.




Jasmine's owner, Gail, breeds Dobermans. Gail invited us to visit her next litter of puppies when they are born. This will be a wonderful opportunity and learning experience for us all. I'm sure Sweetness will be praying for her very own Doberman. And I am so thankful that sometimes God answers "wait" when we pray.

All the way home we sang, Sometimes God answers "yes" when we pray. Sometimes God answers "wait" when we pray. Sometimes God answers "no" just because He loves us so. Sometimes God answers "YES" when we pray!

First Hike of 2011

On New Year's day we went for a walk and what did we see?



Let us climb up and explore!



The Indians used this place on this enormous rock for grinding!

We enjoyed the most delightful luncheon with a very special person yesterday. Sweetness asked if we could invite Hannah over for a tea party and I try and make all my little girl's request possible. Sweetness was so helpful in helping to prepare for our special guest. We decided to use our Christmas dishes and table cloth.

Hannah arrived with a beautiful bag of gifts for us to share. WE put the candle she brought in the center of our table. We all ate a delicious lunch of chicken salad, veggie tray, cheese ball, and fruit salad. The children were so very well behaved practicing the Rules of Civility we have been copying.

Hannah was homeschooled in her latter years and is an accomplished violinist. I asked what was her inspiration and motivation in learning violin. She replied she was blessed to live in a home full of musicians, that she joined an orchestra and yearned to progress to the top, and that her dad told her to always "do your best; don't try to out perform someone else, just do your best as unto the Lord not men."

We also talked of how the violin is probably one of the hardest instruments to learn and the piano would be the easiest. Hannah said that practice was really key in mastering any instrument. She said she never finished Algebra 1 as her time was spent with her violin.

We spent several hours talking and getting to know each other better. I am so thankful to God for blessing us with a Holy Spirit filled group of people from our church to encourage and admonish us.

Visiting Mt Vernon

We braved the traffic and visited Mt. Vernon on Homeschool Day. I was delighted to see so many homeschoolers turn out for this event. We even managed to see a family we knew. Unfortunately my camera was not charged, because somebody (ehem) unplugged my camera charger unbeknownst to me.

The tour of the home was quick. You could not appreciate the swiftness of the tour, unless you were the one standing outside waiting. Nonetheless, it was full of bedrooms that hosted the many visitors Washington received. Not to undermine the nostalgia of this home, but once you've seen one historic home, you've seen them all. Though I peered into Mr. Washington's bedroom I thought it rude to intrude on his privacy, although curiosity would have killed me if I were denied the privilege.

The view from the front yard was breathtaking! The home was pefectly situated overlooking the Potomac River. The autumn leaves still cast their hues upon the landscape and reflected their glory on the river. We truly enjoyed the walk around the gardens and more than a camera wished I had pen and paper to copy the beautiful, poetic, quotations of Mr. Washington. We learned that he really desired to be a farmer and had wonderful ideas like a natural fence of trees to keep the deer away.

The most treasured moment was Sweetness paying tribute to Mr. Washington by placing a red carnation at his tombsite.

We've had a really good time reading about George Washington this week. I was thinking we should have read about him before our trip. However, the visit to Mt. Vernon peaked the children's interest and now they listen tentatively and beg for more.

One thing that strikes me in our research is George Washington's education. His formal learning began at age eleven. He basically taught himself by doing copywork and reading. He spent a lot of time outdoors. Then at age 16 he found his grandfather's surveying tools and started his own surveying business. Quite the stark contrast of what we subject our youth to in today's education system.

One unsettling, undetermined question pervades me. Was George Washington a Christian? Will Mr. Washington be in heaven, well, I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't be so.

Patience Pays!

Catch of the day!

Something to Miss

Thank you Lord for a safe and fun vacation this year!

Hurricane Igor greeted us at the Outer Banks of North Carolina! Though Igor was many miles west (I mean EAST) of us the wind, waves, and high surf reminded us of its presence. But that didn't stop two very anxious kids from sitting at the edge of the tide.


















This is the view from our oceanfront beach house.



Here is Sweetness alongside Treasure Hunter! They're scouting the waters for sea shells! Look how tall she is!





Once Igor moved north we went from sipping hot tea to guzzling iced tea! I have never seen the sea so calm. Treasure Hunter took Cutie Pie on a trek far out into the ocean!












We visited the Albemarle Sound where the kids enjoyed swimming in knee deep water and pretended to be settlers making thatched roof homes.






We were estatic when we learned our friends would be vacationing the same time. We spent a day at their place and they spent a day at ours!

Here we are having lunch!


Here are the kids posing for me! Cutie Pie is exhibiting the whelk shell that he spied with his two little eyes, reached down and grabbed before the sea reclaimed it.



I prefer the beach in the late afternoon, when the house provides shade, the water reflects the sunset, and the moon is rising. The moon makes the water glisten like silver!








We decided to begin our journey home on Friday evening. We prefer traveling at night with less traffic and having all day Saturday at home. We were so thankful to be home this morning. We were reminiscing of our trip and also talking of next year's vacation. Sweetness and I discussed a mountain cabin in the cool mountains surrounded by trees with a lake where we could go boating, fishing, swimming. Geesh, we just described where we live! Sometimes you have to miss something before you realize how precious it is. There is something to miss no matter where you are!

Visitation

Our first "official" volunteer visit to the nursing home went really well. We first met Mrs. Z who I will describe as a very dignified lady. She is crippled with arthritis, but has a very good mind. She told us about her family and we were so excited that we knew her family! She even remembers their birth months. Her eyesight is failing and welcomed us to read scripture to her. I asked if she'd like to hear a particular passage, and she said, "It is ALL good." So Sweetness began in Genesis 1. I asked Mrs. Z what did God do on day 7 and she said, "Rested." We prayed with her before leaving and said we'd be back, Lord willing for church service on Saturday.

Then we met with Mrs. E. She too was eager to meet us and asked us to take her to the activities room. There we read from the book of John and Mrs. E proclaimed she was born again! Sweetness sang Leaning on the Everlasting Arms! That child has a beautiful voice and is not the least bit shy! I asked Mrs. E if she was from Madison and she said, "No I'm from West Virginia!" You could imagine the wonderful good conversation that detail sparked.

We were on our way after this visit; looking forward to Saturday.

Saturday came quickly enough and although we camped out Friday night I set my cell phone alarm so we could get up early enough to attend the church service. Saturday mornings at the nursing home with our church is quite different than our Thursday visit. You take the initiative to go door to door asking residents if they'd like to go to church.

One precious lady was sitting in the hall. I had not seen her before. I asked if she'd like to come to church and she said, "No, honey I can't. I'm going home today. My sons are coming to pick me up if I can ever get ahold of them. See I have all my things packed, because they gave my room to somebody else."

Church service was delightful with good preaching and song. Our Pastor has an amazing voice that the hearing impaired residents appreciate! The children, my two and two other precious ones, sang a song. I was soooo surprised Cutie Pie sang with them! A number of residents joined in the songs! I was amazed at how many knew all the words when I had to look at the hymnal.

Lunchtime is next and we take some of the residents back to their rooms, while others stay in the dining room for lunch. It is always sooo hard to say goodbye. Mrs. Z was thankful to get back to her warm room. And the lady who was waiting for her sons to pick her up was still waiting in the hall. I talked with her a good bit and just can't understand why she's there. She appears to be in goood health. She can walk and doesn't look that old. She told me where she lived, told me her sons names... Sweetness sang for her and we were soon on our way with promises to return again soon.

Thursdays will be our visitation day. We will visit with Mrs. Z and Mrs. E, but also ask to visit with the dear ladies we remember from church. I began this visitation for Sweetness, and again, my daughter never ceases to lead me into the greatest blessings! For I am more thankful today for a home to clean, children to feed and a Savior that will return to set everything aright once more!