Thanksgiving Feast

Each year our CC group has a Thanksgiving Feast on the last week of the semester. We give the children the option of dressing up. They can wear the traditional Thanksgiving clothes or dress as any historical character.

This year Ethan, Andrew, and Tabitha were Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea (Bird Woman). 


 For the costumes we were able to use their Indian costumes from last year. We just added a few things to give the explorer look.

For their classroom presentations the kids all told information about their character. After our feast all the children went to the front so the mom's could take pictures. Then they sang the CC timeline song.

We had an awesome day!

Thank you Pinterest

 I love Pinterest. I wish all these marvelous ideas came to me naturally. I will happily confess that I'm not creative. So any outside sources are welcome in my home. The second problem is finding time to search out these perfect projects and then carry them out.

This is one project that I saw a while back and I actually followed through with it. This is our "Thankful tree." Besides thinking it looks great on my (still) bare walls, it has been so much fun for our little "Blessings." My kiddo's are begging to add things to our tree each day. It has been fun watching them think and tell me some of the things in which they are thankful.

This is one of my favorites. I'm talking about the "Mommy" leaf, not the "Candy Bars" leaf. ;)

Cousins was added twice, because 2 of my precious boys insisted they both put it on the tree. Oh, how they LOVE their cousins. 

 Yes, one of my children is especially thankful for guns. That same child is thankful for Jesus.

I am praying that the children remember these moments. I love making these memories with them. I am so blessed and THANKFUL that I get to stay home with them and be their teacher. This is getting me excited about our Jesse Tree.

10 things I love about our CC group

In case you're unfamiliar with the acronym CC; it stands for Classical Conversations. Our Durham group meets on Monday's at Kings Park. Our younger children's curriculum is based around the Foundations program.

I left our group today with so much joy and thankfulness that I decided to write a top 10 list titled,

"Things I love about our CC group"

10. I have accountability each week.
9. My kids have great friends.
8. I love the flexibility and the structure of the curriculum. (Yes, you can have both)
7. A break in the week from being my kids only teacher.
6  Lunch and playtime.
5. Science experiments!
4. Art projects & tin whistle!
3. The families! We have REALLY great families!
2. Our tutors totally ROCK! They love the children, they are passionate about learning and teaching, and they love Jesus!

1. The moms! Seriously, I think I would join just for the fellowship. The mom's in our group love, serve, pray, and hold accountable like no other group of mom's I've ever met. They have taught me so much. I love our friendships. I don't feel like there is pressure or competition. We laugh often, cry some, and spur each other on. The mom's in our group show me Jesus!

Taylor

My Taylor.......

She'll be 15 in a few days. *sigh* I've been thinking or reflecting quite a bit about her 14 years 362 days of life. Wow! Where did the time go? Carissa went in Taylor's box of pictures tonight. She dumped out half the box. I had them all separated by date/age. So there I sat looking through years of pictures, re-separating them, and enjoying the memories.

The first years of her life went fast. I worked a lot and went to school. I wanted to do everything "right" for her. It was Taylor that God used to truly save me. I remember taking her to church on Sundays. She was always excited to go to, "The church that had donuts." (New Horizons)

I met Martie a month after Taylor turned 2. Although he was an answer to prayer, he was not where the Lord wanted him to be. (and neither was I) However God did something truly radical with two rebellious people. He caused us to fall in love with Jesus as we fell in love with each other. We were married when Taylor was 4. They also shared vows during our ceremony.

I started homeschooling Taylor in the 2nd grade. I didn't know how that was going to go and I was scared to death. However, the Lord had showed me clearly that I was to teach her. That first year we did everything I could think of. I wanted to check off every box, attend every field trip, and make lot's of friends.

Skipping ahead... Taylor is now in her 9th grade year! We have continued to teach her at home. God has blessed our obedience to Him. Don't get me wrong, it's been hard. Whenever you're with your children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, teaching them, correcting them.... it is going to be hard. We have seen the worst of each other, but hopefully we've both witnessed the Lord's work in all those moments.

Taylor is a beautiful young adult. She is independent, responsible, selfless...I have enjoyed watching her grow and become who God has designed her to be. She is artistic. Last year she taught herself how to play the guitar. She can draw. Her cooking/baking skills blow me out of the water. Did I mention she keeps me in line with fashion?

People tell me how lucky I am to have a "Helper." I always cringe with that word. Taylor is my daughter just like my other children. She is not (necessarily) my "Helper." The things she does for me and her siblings she enjoys and does so willingly. I try to protect her individuality. She has such a special bond with each of her brothers and sisters. (That could be a blog in itself)

God has used Taylor to teach me so many things like:

1. Smile more
2. Listen more
3. Be spontaneous
4. Make dessert (Just because)
5. Rest
6. Love Jesus
7. Trust Jesus
8. Forgive
9. Have fun
10. Laugh
11. Sing 
12. Try any recipe (at least once)
13. Serve
14. Talk, ask questions
15. Pray

This will be a crazy month. She got her braces off yesterday. She'll be getting her driver's permit next week. We've planned out her High School path. As I type this Martie is researching law schools. She wants to eventually go to Law School. Taylor is focused and I know that she will and can do anything she puts her mind to. We are praying that the Lord will continue to direct her steps and that He will use her for His glory.

No matter what Taylor Alise will always be my baby girl. I am so proud of her and will continue to support her as she grows in her "Adult" life. I am so excited to celebrate her 15 years of life this month. I thank God for trusting me to be her momma.