ICHE Convention

This past weekend was the Illinois Christian Home Educators annual convention. At first Daniel and I weren't sure we were going to be able to attend. We were hoping to have moved by now. However, that is not God's plan right now. The convention was held at Calvary Church in Naperville. They have finished a MAJOR construction/addition project that is amazing. It almost doesn't resemble a church. One wing looked and felt like an airport terminal.

On Friday, Sara and I got up early and headed out. I was able to hear a few speakers through out the day and do a bit of shopping. On Saturday, Daniel joined us and few listened to a few more speakers. Norm Wakefield is always one of our favorites. This year Inge Cannon came close. She spoke on the difference between schooling and educating. We like to think that we educate more than school our children. Schooling involves bringing the school home and running it as such. They are able to regurgitate all the facts that we feed them. Educating on the other hand is being a tutor - working side by side - and teaching them the love of God, wisdom, and knowledge. This is described in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your strength.

“And these words which I command you today

shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children,

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way,

when you lie down, and when you rise up.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,

and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house

and on your gates."

Besides the encouragement that we receive from attending the convention, the fellowship rates high on our list. Saturday morning Daniel and I missed a whole session. We tried to attend, but as we were walking down "the terminal", different friends kept stopping us. What a blessing it was to be able to fellowship with friends we usually see just once or twice a year.

The biggest blessing of the weekend was the fact that our children were able to stay home alone. Not only did they stay home alone, but they cleaned, did laundry, made beds, and cooked for our company and Sunday's fellowship meal. And they did it all with minimal arguing! Thanks Kids!

On Friday night we had the Bandys spend the night with us. They are from our church in Peoria and were attending the convention. The children and young adults had fun playing card games and videoing themselves, while the adults had a chance to get to know each other better.

Playing Dutch Blitz

Naomi and Cara cutting out paper dolls

Grace and Jesi playing on the violin

Emil and Sara

No Time Like the Present

This blog post combines 2 of the most encouraging blogs I read: Biblical Womanhood and Delighting in His Riches.

Encouraging article: No time like the present

Google Reader

Sometimes in the past few weeks I discovered, with the help of my dear husband, the joy of Google Reader. On my side bar I have a list of blogs which we follow. These are not all the blogs I follow, just a sampling. Google Reader allows me to follow tons of them and feeds me the updates as they are posted. So no more jumping from blog to blog to find updates. It's all in one place for me to read at my leisure....do I actually have leisure time? Not really, except for right now. Everyone is downstairs watching some Star Wars movie while I'm on my laptop with Sara sleeping next to me. What could be more leisurely and relaxing?? Well, 1 thing is...the Sunday night foot rub that begins in about 30 minutes...

Sara is growing up

Our little Sara is growing up. She is now big enough for her exersaucer......

Sara checking herself out in the mirror.

Father and Daughter

On Mondays and Fridays Daniel works from home. His "office" is the rocking chair in our bedroom. So there he sits all day with his computer and Bluetooth. You'd think that sitting there all day would make him thirsty and hungry. Well, it does. Out of concern for her Daddy's wellbeing, Cara has taken it upon herself to become his secretary. Here she is taking care of her Daddy.

Memorial Day

I know this post is a few days late in coming. It was just one of those weeks.

This past weekend was Memorial Day. David and Anna Price hosted a campout in their "orchard". The forecast was rain, but most of us decided to brave whatever the weather might dish out.

So Sunday after worship, those who were camping headed out to the Price's home. After unloading all the 15 passenger vans, tents were set up and a fire started. The young people and children played games consisting of Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, and kickball.

After they tired out, it was time to cook hot dog, brats, sausages, and whatever else cooks over a fire on a stick. There were a lot of us to crowd around the fire, but we all were able to get some food. Then came the s'mores. Now I just love s'mores. What can be better that graham crackers, gooey marshmallows, and chocolate - lots of chocolate???

Once their bellies were full of food, the young people and children went back to their games. Us older people did what Presbyterians do best - relax with a nice glass of wine and the men smoked cigars. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of that.

Finally some of us started to head to bed. Did I mention the fact that I wasn't sleeping in the tent? Sara and I took the warm and dry way out. We slept in the house! Thankfully we chose this. At around midnight the first line of storms came through. Daniel said this part was worse than the line that came through 2 hours later. A few of us sat up watching the storms come through on the computer. Jeremy was a faithful meteorologist and kept us abreast of how strong the storms were. For the most part everyone remained dry - not everyone, but most everyone.

In the most the fire was started again and things were laid out to dry. Breasfast was served. Some families brought bagels and yogurt. We bought the breakfast of campers:

As you look back through the pictures, take notice of the fathers. What do most of them have in common? Check Daniel out in this next picture. He fits in real well with the men of Providence!

To My Children and Husband....

To All the Moms....

CPC Presbytery 2008

This past weekend the Covenant Presbyterian Church held Presbytery. For 2.5 days the men, with the young men observing, met together to discuss church business. Most of the men traveled with their families, which gave the women, children, and young adults the opportunity to renew old friends and make some new ones.

Thursday morning our family left for the Peoria area. We had decided to take 2 vehicles so that neither of us would be relying on someone else to transport us everywhere. Daniel left in the van to go get gas and I took the car and ran to the bank. The plan was then to meet at the gas station in Mazon, IL. So we are on the road and I realize that I am not wearing shoes! I have my slippers on. So back home we quickly go. Thankfully we were only 15 minutes from home. That did put us a bit behind out time schedule, but not too much. We made it to just outside of Bloomington/Normal before we had to make our next stop to feed Sara.

Relaxing at the rest area while Sara eats.

Finally we made it to the Evans' home where they had a delicious meal waiting for us. During the afternoon Daniel and Bryan Evans went and picked up our camper from the McDonald's home. After that we set up camp and got ready for the Peoria Chiefs baseball game. About 90 people from our group were there. We had tons of fun despite the fact the Chiefs lost.

Sara sleeps through her first baseball game.

One of our group wins a t-shirt in the t-shirt toss.

Mathias and his "angry eyes"

(l-r) David, Jeremy, Garrison, Justin

My Beloved and I

Running the bases after the game.

On Friday morning the ladies and children packed lunches and headed over to Wildlife Prairie Park. We had never been there, so this was a treat for us.

(l-r) Jesi, Susanna, Melinda, Sierra, Adriana, Ashly

Cara on the Gullywhopper slide

Sweet Hannah

Train ride

Friday night there was an ordination service for the 2 elders that had been examined during the proceedings. After that everyone went to a local church for dinner and a dance. The dinner tasted wonderful. Thanks to all the ladies and young men who helped to prepare it! Before the dance I had the privilege of meeting 3 women. Now I have known these women through and Internet chat group, The Patriarch Wives. This was the first time I was meeting them in real life. What a blessing it was.

(l-r) Jean (CA), Stacy (IL), Heather (CA), Heather (AZ), Sheri and Sara (IL)

For the dance, a local home school family provided the music and the calling. This was our first time attending a dance like this and we had to much fun. Josiah, Mathias, Sara, and I did not dance, but it was so much fun watching those who were!

Jesica with Garrison and Ashly with Nathan square dancing

Justin with Susanna and Daniel and Cara sashaying during the Virginia Reel

Some of the Providence young adults and children singing "Shalom" to all the visitors

Saturday was a day of relaxing....In the afternoon several families got together and the Evans'. Good food, fellowship, blue grass music, and dancing were enjoyed by all!

All weekend we had been camping in our camper. The first night was a bit cold. The second night was warmer and we were exhausted! Saturday night was an adventure. The Evan's home gets a fair amount of wind, but Saturday night the wind was so fierce we thought we were going to be blown away. I just couldn't take anymore of it and began to be worried for our safety. So into the house we went, sleeping bags and all. Everything else was put into the van and car and the camper taken down. All this was accomplished in less than 30 minutes.

Sunday morning was worship at Providence. Dr. RC Sproul Jr. gave the message. We had never heard him in person, only on CD, and we were blessed. He has such a gift for speaking the truth of the Gospel. After the service I had the opportunity to meet another PW, Jane.

What a blessing this whole weekend was for our family. We were able to spend the time with like-minded families. These families share not only our doctrinal beliefs but also share in our family's generational vision. We felt part of a sommunity with families from California to Connecticut. Lord Willing we plan to attend next year's Presbytery in Tennessee.

For full photo album click here