A Blast from the Past

In a former life Before I married John, I taught school in Texas...two years in Kindergarten (one of those was in Louisiana) and then 5 years in third grade. 

I had some truly wonderful students and some that had me scratching my head in puzzlement and on my knees in prayer. 

Let me tell you about one of the wonderful kids!  Two months ago, I got a Facebook message from a woman whose name I recognized, but had not heard anything about since 1991.  Robin was the mom whose notes to me came on a pad of paper with this quote:  "Now I know why ferrets eat their young."  :) (Robin, I'm pretty sure that was you--if not, please correct me!)  Robin's email asked me to email her daughter, one of those terrific kids from that previous life, and wish her a happy birthday.  KC is the daughter's name. 

I was happy to!  KC was one of the brightest little girls in my class the last year I taught in Texas.  Cute, cute cute, and smart and funny. 

I was lucky as a teacher:    Those kids became my nieces and nephews every year, because I did not have a family to go home to.  I loved them, and I loved teaching. 

So, for all practical purposes, KC was one of my nieces that last year in Texas.  Turns out that she and Luci share a birthday!  

Now KC is in Germany, the wife of a soldier who is deployed right now.  She is mommy to an adorable little Ellie, and guess what?  She has gone through school, to be a teacher, because she loved the year with me 'way back in Texas.  That really tickles me, KC.  I hope you have as much fun teaching the young ones as I did.

Thanks for contacting me, Robin.  KC, so glad that I got to be your teacher all those years ago.  You were a great girl and now you're a great young lady.

That's My King! Do You Know Him?

"If you homeschool, you'll be imprisoning your children at home." Oh Yeah?

Today Luci woke up and asked her usual question, "Where are we going today?" 

"Nowhere.  We get to stay home all day."

"YAY!"

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We've been busy with Friendship Center at church, going to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Daisy Scout party, karate, karate party, brunch with Friendship Center folks, library class, Huntsville Botanical Gardens tour, picking up John and Bryan at the airport, church worship, Christmas shopping trip, and that's all in the last week.  The rest of this week is busy, too.  

Unsocialized?

Sequestered?

I think not.

HOLY HUMOR

During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these:

FOUR GREAT RELIGIOUS TRUTHS:
1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's Chosen People.
2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms?"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.
Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was very nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
"Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."
"How come He doesn't answer it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?"
The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelly, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).
For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelly would say,"And all girls." This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include
this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Kelly, why do you always add the part about all girls?" Her response, "Because everybody else always finishes their prayers by saying 'All Men!"

SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
"Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother. "I don't need to," the boy replied.
"Of course, you do" his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house."
"That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house, and she knows how to cook."

Citizenship!

Yesterday I went through all of Luci's paperwork again.  Just for fun, I guess.  (Fun?  More like emotional roller-coaster!)  Anyways, this valuable paper is among her belongings...it arrived in October, 2005, about 6 weeks after our return to the U.S.A. with Luci. 

This morning Luci and I were having a discussion about this nearly-magical piece of paper:

Me:  This certificate is fantastic! It gives you all the rights and privileges of anyone born in the U.S.A.  The only thing you can't do is be President of the U.S.A., 

but you can do anything else!

Luci:  Can I be a fairy?

News from the Mission Front

We have email contact with John and Bryan in Guadalcanal.  I kept asking John how Bryan is doing, is he well, is he happy?  This email was in my in-box this morning:

Mother,

This is Bryan, I would like it if you read Matthew 6:30, it says and I quote, "O ye of little faith?". Lots of stuff happened this week, I got to pray in front of the congregation, even spoke for a minute during the contribution. I also got two girlfriends, they have my email and they're going to teach me to speak Pigeon, they also said that I, "Must come back!" Their names are (Spelling them they way they are pronounced.) Fa-feena, and Jeraleen.

Well, dad will give all the info about whats going on in his next email.

We're going to see the American War Memorial tomorrow, we're hoping we don't take too long and miss the plane.

Love, Bryan.

Oh My.  Luci is all a-gog to hear that Bryan has girlfriends! ☺ I can't wait to hear all his stories!

Belle Mont Mansion

JT, Luci and I went on a field trip today. Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia, Alabama, was decorated for Christmas and open for tours. They are only open a few times a year (sometimes only at Christmas), so we were very fortunate to see the mansion. The mansion is being restored as money is raised; you can see the progress in the photos.

Alabama’s finest expression of Jefferson Palladian architecture. Brick, U-shaped structure, built 1828–1832, was one of state’s 1st great plantation houses. Design strongly suggests influence of Thomas Jefferson. Alabama Historical Commission Property.Quote from Belle Mont website

Another free slideshow design by Smilebox

Skip the Drama, Stay with Mama

Luci and I saw the Disney Rapunzel movie yesterday--it's called Tangled.  It is a good movie!  Lots of excitement and love and a good twist at the end.  This was my favorite song --Mother Knows Best.  It is so tempting to want to keep our kids close but they need to set out on their own at some point (something I need to remember as I worry about Bryan half-a-world away this week!)  To set the scene, Rapunzel  is about to turn 18 and wants to leave the tower for the very first time.  

 

Mother Gothel:
You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...!
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower

Rapunzel:
I know but...

Mother Gothel:
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Shh!
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
The plague

Rapunzel:
No!

Mother Gothel:
Yes!

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth, and
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me
Mother's right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best
Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late
You'll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naive
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague
Plus, I believe
Gettin' kinda chubby
I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you
Mother understands
Mother's here to help you
All I have is one request
Rapunzel?

Rapunzel:
Yes?

Mother Gothel:
Don't ever ask to leave this tower again.

Rapunzel:
Yes, Mother.

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.
Don't forget it
You'll regret it
Mother knows best

 

 

When this was said, Luci got so excited--because it's what we say to each other around here.  Except we add the line, "Love you Most-est!"

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.

 

Luci wants you to know...

that she is available for shoe-lace tying.  She mastered this a week or so ago, and now we can't stop her from tying everything into bows.

And, on the South Pacific front:

John says that several girls are giving Bryan "the eye."  So they are working on getting him married off. 

John and Bryan--International Travelers

John and Bryan are off on an adventure--a mission trip to visit one of our missionaries stationed in the South Pacific and help out on one of his trips into the islands.  This is Bryan's first mission trip, and his second time to be out of the USA--first time was to go to China to get Luci.  (And the first time to travel out of the country without his mommy!  I have been nervous.  Lots of extra prayers!)

Bryan and John landed in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on Tuesday, Honiara time.  They are 17 hours ahead of us here at home.  Because of their destination, John taught a series of lessons to our boys about World War II, the Pacific Theater.  So not only is Bible being lived out this week, but also Bryan is learning and seeing first hand one of the great, tragic battle sites of WWII.

Here is the email I got from John this morning.  I kept asking about Bryan (my baby!) because John kept leaving word about him out of his emails:

Hi darling,

Bryan is doing good.  He went with three other people to a village today.  David B and I stayed here and taught Bible lessons.  Bryan is sleeping right now.  They had to hike about a half mile into the bush to reach a village.  He will be going back tomorrow.  The whole village is supposed to come out for the Bible lessons.  We are staying at the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel in Honiara.  I hope you had a good day.  Everyone is healthy.  We will leave in about an hour to start the night meeting with the congregation.

Love you
John

I can't wait to hear Bryan's stories!

Here is their hotel.  According to reviews, they have renovated some rooms.  I sure hope they got into one of the newly renovated rooms.

Luci-isms

The Wetter--what you call a clothes washer.

The Dryer--the clothes dryer, d-u-h!

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The Iron Bowl football game was on Friday afternoon.  John's Alma Mater, Auburn, vs their in-state rivals, Alabama.

Luci asked which team we wanted to win--and because she is all about fashion, she wanted to know:  the white ones or the red ones?  

Bryan:  The white team!  the red ones we don't care for.

Luci:  Yes, we do care about them, we just don't want them to win.

I'm in love with that tender little heart.

Auburn won.  So John is a very happy man.  This means bragging rights until next year's Iron Bowl.

Sunday Morning

still young enough to want 

to dress like Mrs. Santa

(and that makes me happy!)

Luci-ism for Thanksgiving

As we ate our huge lunch, Luci, who usually eats next-to-nothing, was chowing down!  Such a nice thing to see. 

Then she starts singing about her food, That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luci made her very first pumpkin pie this year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a warm day here--the weather feels weird.  It will be cooler tomorrow, and then it will feel more like it's supposed to.

Turkey is in the oven, fruit salad made, the other sides are next on the list.  We may put a leaf in the table just to hold the extra food.  ☺  

It would be so nice to see everyone today, but it's just so rush-rush and later on we can visit for an extended time.  John and Bryan leave on their mission trip tomorrow, so it's nice to be home today.  Especially since Bryan hadn't packed anything until I forced him to bring me X-number of underpants, shirts, socks, shorts and pants a few moments ago.  I can't imagine saving that for the last minute tomorrow (today is last-minute enough for me!). 

Luci is having a blast watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Just when I thought she'd find it boring because it's bands and floats and not a fast-paced Disney or Sprout show. 

It is so nice having John home this year.  We've had so many birthdays and holidays missed and messed up by his trips that most "special" days seem like just normal days to the boys and me.  It's hard to get excited over a date on the calendar (Luci is still pretty excited over December 25th, though).  The boys don't care as long as on some day they get presents.  But December 25th?  Thanksgiving?  They are just dates on the calendar.  The product of being military kids during multiple deployments, I guess.

Here is our tree full of Thanks-giving from the whole month!

Luci-isms

Luci told us this morning that Bamboo  is the plural of Bambi.

Bambi picture from here.http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxYG3BSSDP0hC6_bVhOWoeFZfWIOdW7EnxZv6AqZ85UUVyc_ynec5sUeWZ05f3_guJUBj7lRzGrwoaeQTzusVKbUez_LV2vKir79upd7bx_sKmbUqSlZ-Kq0WRXWVBLUfclJa/s1600/Bambi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://stacyssoapbox.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html&h=768&w=1024&sz=75&tbnid=2RG0IeZ9hlcMGM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbambi%2Bphotos&zoom=1&q=bambi+photos&hl=&usg=__Xvo_3TcSQppLWBNYwhEFe4ulJxo=&sa=X&ei=5CntTN7PN4KC8ga1x7HLAQ&ved=0CCEQ9QEwAA

Ahem.

Luci came to us this morning, so pleased to announce that she had on her "Birthday Suit!"

This adorable tee was a birthday present from Kenzi.   A glittery tiara and Luci's name in sparkly gems.  Thank you, Kenzi!

JT kept asking, "When can I tell her what birthday suit really means?"

Luci-isms

Gold Fish -- a card game you might know as "Go Fish."

ORD-a-mints --things you hang on a Christmas tree.  (Yes, we put our tree up already!  That little sock is one that Bryan wore in 1992.  One of his socks from today could double as a tree-carrier!  And I just noticed that I put the wrong year on his itty-bitty sock!  Maybe I dated it for the actual year it was first put on the tree?  I'm going with that.)

And, heard at McDonald's the other day:

Me, leaning down in Luci's face:  If we order a Happy Meal, you must eat the burger this time!

Luci:  If I don't, are you going to put a curse on me?

Maybe we ought to watch fewer fairy tale movies??

LaGrange

Today's field trip was to LaGrange College in Colbert County.  This is an historical park not far from home.  There are quite a few buildings that were brought to the college location and rebuilt.  Featured are a kitchen,  chapel, barbershop, outhouse, cabin, and several other buildings.  Here are some shots from today.

view from a hill...

pie safe...the panels were red from rust...

great group of homeschoolers...

on a Christmas tree...

having fun!

Channel 31 showed up to do a piece on "Christmas in the Country" that will be held at LaGrange College this weekend.  If you look closely, you can see the videographer on the other side of the sign.  Luci and several other girls kept getting in the shots.  It was pretty funny.  We saw ourselves on Channel 31 tonight!  Luci gave autographs to each of us.  Whether we asked for them or not.

the kitchen...

inside the big house....

Principal and Teacher

Cornbread's ready!

Our cutie.

and, at home, relaxing in the tree house.

Field Trip!

Okay, so I have used that title before.  It's hard to come up with something new every time.

Today we went to the Indian Mound Museum. John came with us!  Here are some shots.  (Ignore the dates on the photos, John's camera is showing the wrong date.)

Funny, how it looks like Spring in this photo.  It really is November 17th.

JT's in there somewhere.  All the other photos had him looking rather blurry.

Bryan's comment of the day:  "It looked like a big pile of dirt last year, and it still looks like a big pile of dirt."

Handsome gent:

Loved how this photo looks like the docent has the arrow going straight up her nose!  The lady was not used to homeschool groups.  Poor lady.  I'm sure she's telling someone at dinner tonight how unruly our group was--all ages blended together and none of them knew how to line up!

I mostly saw the backs of the kids.

Going up the Mound.  All three of ours are in there somewhere.

View from the Deck

I see this when I look out the back window.  Autumn here is beautiful!  And I totally love seeing Luci's pink tree house through the foliage.  This year the colors of the leaves have not been as bright because the weather has been dry.  You really can't tell that from our backyard.  For that I am thankful.

30 Days of GiveAways

30 Days of GiveAways at NiHao, Y'all!

I love her blog. Lots to learn there.