We are overcomers!  The book of Revelation tells us that to him who overcomes there are incredible rewards waiting.  We resonate with this idea, not just in the church, but in our culture.  We love a story of an overcomer, and I have a great story of one for you.

A few weeks ago two of my boys were asking for something.  They really wanted this thing and mentioned it a couple of times.  I said to them, and included Sophie, that I would get it for them if they memorized the book of Titus.  Sophie, being so quick witted, said she didn’t want that thing so she wasn’t going to memorize Titus.  I made a different offer to her, and she said she still wouldn’t do it.  She was intimidated by the task.

Sophie has dyslexia.  It is a challenge for her to read, so memorizing that much is a huge challenge.  Jill and I encouraged her, told her she could use her Kindle, which reads to her.  We told her that we would help her and give her some tips on memorizing.  She began to get excited.  She began to believe  that she could do it.  She was on her way.  She also refused to use her Kindle because no one else was using one.

Today Sophie completed the task!  She not only memorized the book of Titus, but she also beat everyone, including me.  Sophie is beaming, knowing she overcame a huge obstacle to accomplish this task.  She is ready to move on to the next book.  An appetite has been created, and we intend to feed it!

I tell you this story not to brag about my daughter, but to encourage everyone in two things.  First, if you are looking at a seemingly insurmountable task, push on.  Sophie gave up before she even started this task.  After a little encouragement and the promise of a little help, she gave it a shot.  She found some success early and discovered that she was capable of doing something she was sure that she could not.  But she overcame!

Second, I tell you this story so that you too can be encouraged to memorize God’s word.  We don’t do this just for the sake of memorization, we do it to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2)  and so that we hide God’s word in our hear that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).  I hear people all the time tell me that they can’t memorize.  People tell me that their mind just can’t do what it used to do.  I say those are excuses and you are to be an overcomer!

This October was the LONG AWATED “Gospel Center Marriages for a Glorious Church”, AKA marriage conference.  The kids gave Daddy a “vacation” to this conference as a Christmas Present last year!!!  10 months later……..WONDERFUL, simply WONDERFUL!!! We can’t think of a better way to take a “vacation” AND teach our children the glorious picture of marriage that God has designed.

To learn more about the Marriage Conference, or to order the DVD’s from the event go to this link here:  ”Gospel Marriages”

We asked everyone what was their favorite event…

Daddy- all of it,preaching on Ephesians 5, and especially Church on Sunday

Mommy- Paul Washer- simply the BEST gospel presentation EVER EVER EVER- I could listen to it over and over and still be amazed at the power of his word choice!

Jacob-speakers Doug Phillips (Jake said “it just makes sense when I listen to him”) and Paul Washer

Sophie-meeting Abigail in the “resource/book area” (a young girl her age with similar interests and personality)

Josiah- speaker Kevin Swanson for SURE!!! (any of you reading who know our JOsiah and know Kevin S. are CLEARLY drawing the connection!!! )

Jamie- lunch with a LOT of friends and hot cocoa in the hotel room

All the other kids LOVED it, but mostly hanging with friends they know.

Here are the kids enjoying our room with a view at the Conference Center:

We met a wonderful new friend, Tiffany, whose family is built by birth and adoption as well!  We had a LOT to talk about.  Then, she led the kids in a sing-a-long on her “gee-tar” …she’s southern We look forward to keeping in touch and maybe even planning a visit….maybe those southerners would like a home-school field trip to see “New England”.

On our way down to the conference we stopped at our friends the Thrash’s.  The are so very hospitable and welcoming.  We had savory meals and sweet fellowship.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed their chicken yard. I am pretty sure Sarah was ready to move in and leave us behind! She LOVES the Thrash family!

Then, on the way home……well, that’s a whole other post because we got “side tracked” due to a snow storm in CT and ended up in GA (right next door)…more on that in the NEXT post.

So, on our way home to CT, we stayed at our friends the Halbach’s in VA. Meg and Chloe prepared delicious meals for all of us (thanks girls!) and the kids had fun playing games with the Dads outside. We had a wonderful time just talking and enjoying each other and sharing music together (you should hear those Halbach’s sing, and Meg & Chloe on the piano- I thought their fingers might fall off they were so fast!)

Then, we decided to head a little more north to NY to see Jill’s family. Nat’s dad had recently passed away and there was a memorial service, we pulled in just in time to change and head out the door to the church.  The church was the same church that Sean and Jill got married in, that was fun for the kids to see.  They had a great time just hanging with Nauna and Nat, then we all went to the Syracuse Zoo.

Then……….we finally got home to CT after two weeks!  The “state of emergency” after the early snow storm was an amazing sight to behold! It was like flash-backs to living in KC, MO after a tornado! More on that in ANOTHER post!

Recently Sophie, our “teacher of wisdom”, hit the DOUBLE DIGITS.  Drum roll please…………….

Tradition #1–On the actual day of their birthday they open a special “Double Digits Box” from Uncle C-Dub and Aunt Emi.  It’s loaded with double yummies.  Like double stuff oreos, double mint gum, double sided markers, –you name it, if it is double it is in that box!

Tradition #2– Nauna & Nat take the kids on a special day when they hit the double digits.  Sophie chose to celebrate her special outing when her Aunt Emi and new little cousin, Hudson, were in town.  This made the day DOUBLE great.

Sophie’s new goat (that she got from Dad and Mom for her birthday) went into labor just days before the special outing…..and you know what she had…twins!! Twin girls–of course!!!  Double the delight. Can you guess what she named one of them….Oreo The other- Truffle.  ”Midwife Sophie” helped deliver them at 2:00 AM!!!

The day of her outing, Sophie went to The Butterfly Museum and the Yanke Candle Factory.  If you are EVER near by you MUST MUST MUST visit the Butterfly Museum (Magic Wings Emporeum). It was the most spectacular event- awe inspiring.  The picture tell the story.

Another boredom buster…..

Dandelion Jelly

It tastes just like honey, really it does.  Now I know there a just a few “bee lovers” reading this blog entry, so I challenge you to make some and do a taste test for yourself!  Let us know your thoughts.  As for us, non-bee loving folk, we think it tastes like honey!

Directions for fun:

Set children loose in dandelion infested lawn (free from little doggie piles )  Arm them with clean buckets and instruct them to attack all dandelions in sight.  Grabbing only the “head” and pluck with all your might!  Fill buckets.  Return home.

Ok, Now take them inside and cut off the little stems.  We just held on to the pedals and snipped off the stem that holds them together.  Place all the pedals in a large pot, add 5 cups boiling water. Cover and let “steep” (to make dandelion tea) over night.  Overnight is good because then it is stronger. Extra tea can be used as….tea! Just add sugar and serve over ice.

The next day, drain the tea .  We put a large coffee filter in our pasta strainer.  Discard the pedals, keep the tea. You need 3 cups of tea in the end. Proceed to making the jelly by combining tea, with 5 cups sugar, 2 Tbsp lemon juice (don’t skip this or your pectin wont work- pectin needs acid to set up), 1 box powdered pectin.  Now I doubled this recipe.  I made one big pot of tea, but then divided it to make the jelly in two batches.  For some strange reason every time I try to double jelly recipes they don’t set-up as well. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Put into jars, process ten minutes in boiling water canner.  Or stick it in your fridge and pass it out as a fun gift.

Two things.  First, I found the recipe on www.simplycanning.com  they have tons of great ideas for summer fun.  Second, although they are not pictured here, the boys did participate. They ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and collected some dandelions along the way

Some days need a little spice…..fun spice.  Around here when the temperature rises our children begin to melt!  They loose all ability to enjoy things and begin to moan… “It’s hot and sticky”

After a good dousing with the hose or sprinkler, comes CREATIVITY to the rescue!!!

Could they be octopus? A squid? Tails of some odd creature? How did they get there? How did she do that? Oh, I love to watch their wheels churn.  In the end, I finally told them how it was done. Easy peasy FUN!

Here’s the creativity secret………….drum roll please……………….

spaghetti stuck through a hot dog! Not rocket science, but brilliant (I found the idea on line) Boil and enjoy.  No need for butter, the hot dog “juice” takes are of that. Adults beware- the pasta tastes like a hot dog too!!!  See my one step tutorial below

I have an immense love for systems, not because I am organized, but because it helps me to be organized!  I have sent copies of this planner I use to many people and figured it was about time to post it for all to enjoy.

It is a monthly planning template to use with each Wisdom Book.  It notes when I lay out each section of the Wisdom Book, when I use journal pages that are in the WB, as well as journal pages I have modified to use with kids who have different learning abilities. (see link to your right listed under recommended resources  or click here:

http://martinpalooza.com/2010/09/29/wb-journaling-page-links-2/

This way each month looks the same in our house.  I know what to expect and so do the kids.  It reduces my stress level because it is all planned out..ahhhhhh I love that.  That way, on days I am tired or very “full” I don’t end up skimping on rich, wonderful learning.  It blesses my kids no matter the day and in turn that blesses me.

Enjoy!

Much Love,

Jill