Our First Gift

When I woke this morning still snuggling under the flannel sheets, a smile slowly crept onto my face as I pondered the day to come.  "This was the day," I said quietly as my strong yet sweet husband slumbered next to me.

This was the day, fourteen years ago, that began a new chapter in God's Great Book of Life.  The chapter that God has laid out for our dear, sweet daughter Catz.  For today is her 14th birthday!

Reflecting on these years the memories are like wispy clouds amid bright sunshine...her birth and adjusting to being a new mommy...her sweetness as a two-year-old when she held her newborn brother...dancing with her daddy at a friend's wedding...her giggle and sharp wit...the bond between she and I that has grown beautiful and strong just like her.

Amid the laughter and singing that is inevitable on such a special day as this is remembrance.  Scattered amongst the pile of wrapping paper and ribbon is thankfulness.  And hidden between the last crumbs and frosting on the party plates is hope.

Because out of the ashes of a devastating miscarriage, hope was reborn.  Where once there was grief and loss instead emerged the beautiful blessing of a sweet baby girl, resulting in prayers of thankfulness.  And in the everyday snapshots that a mother mentally captures and stores away over these many years are also carried remembrance of the precious, perfect gift she was given. 

One of the many ways God is awesome, don't you think?

Curriculum Spread for 2009-2010

Trying to catch up to Darcy and her awesome Not Back-to-School Blog Hop, here's my submission for Curriculum week. This year I have both kids in middle school: Catz, my 13yo daughter; and Mr.C, my 11yo son.  Some subjects they do separately, some are done together.

We have a pretty eclectic assortment of stuff. Not that I frown on anyone using a box set for it all. I say do what works for you and your kiddos.  This way just works best for us. Mulling through our choices from last year I was tempted to try something different in some areas... until I saw this year's test scores. Seems that both kids are doing well in language arts and math, while my son needs something better in reading. So we're sticking with mostly the same publishers as last year unless otherwise noted. Subjects in blue are done via computer and red are via DVD. So, here goes...

Catz :
* Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1
* Easy Grammar Plus
* Sequential Spelling {if needed}
* Wordly Wise 3000, book 8
* IEW {new this year...never used a formal writing program before}
* Sonlight Curriculum World History 1 & 2 {She's a voracious reader with great comprehension skills.}
* Apologia General Science {and listening in on Astronomy with her brother}
* Rosetta Stone Spanish level 1 {NEW}
* Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory
* Draw Today
* CS3 {NEW; learning this with me as we watch the tutorials}
* typing {not sure which program yet}
* Demolishing Strongholds by AIG {NEW}

Mr.C :
* Horizons Math 6
* Daily Grams 6
* Sequential Spelling
* Wordly Wise 3000, book 6
* Sonlight Curriculum World History 1
* Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy
* TOPS Magnets & Electricity
* Rosetta Stone Spanish level 1 {new}
* Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory
* VisionBuilder {at-home vision therapy}
* DonnaYoung.com drawing worksheets
* typing {not sure of program yet}
* Let's Make a Web Page by MotherboardBooks,
* Demolishing Strongholds by AIG {NEW}

Extras:
* Moody Science DVDs
* Greathall/Jim Weiss cd's
* Story of the World cd's
* Homestead Blessings DVDs {for Catz}


This is just the beginning of the year, so we'll see how much tweaking will be necessary. Have you used any of these programs? Are your kiddos studying the same subjects?  How did you like them?  What are you doing different? Please drop me a line...I love reading about what works - or doesn't - with other families. Can't wait to hear from you!

A B See Photo Meme: D is for Darling Dress...a la LOTR

Seeing as Catz's 13th birthday is coming up, I guess I can divulge one of my latest projects {and do the A B See Photo Meme, too}. Last summer my sweet girl requested I sew her a special dress for her special birthday. She chose this one {dress A} due to her love of the LOTR series of books and movies. And hey, it's a pretty dress!

No, I don't consider myself a seamstress. That term I save for those girls and women who can whip out a wardrobe in a week {or less}. They've got skills! Me? I feel very blessed if I can make a skirt. In less than a year.

It's not that I can't, it's that I always seem to find other things taking up my time. Like homeschooling. And making dinner. And reading all the 119 blog feeds I signed up for. I really need to prioritize.

Anyway, as you see, the pattern pouch is sitting on some of the fabric Catz chose. It's a deep olive/forest green and it is supposed to will have gold satin lining in the sleeves as well as something similar to shantung in the yoke.

For those of you who are saying "Shan-what?", don't feel bad. When I first saw the word I couldn't decide if it was some sort of fancy cutlery or a disease of the mouth. Praise the Lord I have Google to define words or I'd have to walk to the bookshelf and crack open a book. I personally think using the computer to define a word is a lot like using a remote to change the tv channel. But that's another topic...back to sewing.

In the above photo the pattern is also lying near my nasty Kenmore sewing machine. Yes, I am thankful I have my own machine. Especially when there are starving kids in...uh, wait. Wrong story. Anyway, I'm happy, even thrilled to have this noisy contraption device to sew on. But let's face it. This thing is so ornery that it often times simply refuses to work properly. It's like a toddler keeping his lips firmly shut when mom is trying to feed him. Very frustrating.

But I am determined to deal with it. So here I am. With a beautiful dress to make for my cutie. And a moody sewing machine. But I have one more thing that's even worse...a deadline.

So before I get back to sewing, I have to ask...what projects are you trying to finish?