Ten things I love about...stuff.

Here's what I love right now...

That Bard and her debate partner were the first place debate team in their very last debate tournament. Things started out pretty rocky this year, and I've been praying for a good outcome. While this may not be the entire outcome, I think it's part of it.

That the chives are up. They're so green and tall and encouraging! Chives are such a dependable harbinger of Spring.

That the pig is tilling my garden, even if I'm having a hard time getting her to till that one little section of sod and rocks. I hope to have a well-tilled plot of land to enjoy when she's all done, a place where I can plunk in some more leafy green things.

That Houdin was hired as a counselor, cook and pastor at a local camp this summer. I think he'll really enjoy it, and I'm sure the kids will love him.

That things are winding down for the year. Tournaments are over. Pretty soon, classes will be over, choir will be over, and it will be time to do some serious reading, to myself and aloud. Right now, I'm previewing The Benedict Society to read aloud to Monet, Sweetheart and The Baby (who needs a new nickname now that she's five and can answer the phone all by herself).

That relationships are healing. I pray that I can keep giving them over to God and that I can be obedient and humble, no matter what He asks me to do.

That Bard made her decision about college. She received a full academic scholarship for one of her top five choices, but she wasn't sure if it was the right place for her. She decided on Thursday that it was and will begin registering for classes this week. She was even offered a job in the writing lab; a very good friend of ours is the director of the lab and was happy to offer the position to Bard.

That we have the use of a second car. We were limping along with no car, then one car, and now we have two working cars. It makes a world of difference.

That there are visitors to the bird feeders on my porch every day.

That Houdin is able to take a second look at relationships and what they mean after a breakup with his girlfriend. I'm thankful that he's able to focus on his other interests again and just be a teenage boy.

Okay, eleven things: That I have a great walking partner who encourages me to get out there and get some exercise. I'd be a sloth without her.

I'm thankful for the changes that are taking place around me, both big and small. Thank you, God, for your incredible goodness. Please help me to remember to thank You daily!

Just a little smackerel of something.

Okay, I know. I've been away forever. I'm sorry. I haven't had much will to blog, really. Yes, some of it is because I've found a new love...facebook. But some of it is because I simply have very little will to write. Actually, I have very little will to do much of anything. Maybe it's these bleak midwinter blahs. Do you get them, too? I mean, the snow is just beautiful, and I like being home more, but I just feel so purposeless, though there's plenty that needs doing. Cleaning and laundry (only always), decluttering and organizing, writing and playing and dancing and laughing and reading and walking and running and singing. But I just don't feel like it.

Still, I've forced myself to sit here and give a bit of an update, and then I'll likely go and peruse some blogs, reacquaint myself with some old friends and see if I can garner some inspiration.

In the household news: Bard just turned 18 this month and we're in the thick of applying to colleges. She has competed in a couple of scholarship competitions with possible full- and half-ride scholarships in the wings, and she has been awarded some pretty good academic and merit-based scholarships. She has it narrowed down to just a couple of places, both within a few hours' drive from home, but we won't know until all of the scholarship information comes back to us. She's trying hard to determine what she wants to do for a living, and I'm trying hard to stay out of it and pray for guidance and inspiration for her.

Houdin will be 17 this summer and has his first serious girlfriend, a sweet gal who has great musical ability and a wonderful personality. We enjoy having her around and will be sad when she goes away to college this fall. It will be a learning experience for us all.

The younger children are basically enjoying being younger children. Nothing really new there.

Bo and I have become more involved at church since the new pastors (husband and wife team) started last summer. On one hand, it's been enjoyable and energizing, but on the other hand, it's been a lot of time away and sometimes stressful. I'm hoping to strike a balance soon.

I do want to tell you the rest of that amazing story of God's provision, and I will get to it eventually. For now, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive and I still think of you.

Blessings,
TD

Life is Good

Yes, I do know how terribly boring I am. This blog is really suffering. Bah!

That doesn't mean I don't THINK about writing, and I'm still reading when I can.

But that thing called Life? Yeah. Very busy, satisfying, intriguing, entertaining. Keeps me on my toes. And away from my blog.

We've been massively busy with houseconcerts and Halloween parties, choir practices, speech and debate classes, regular homeschool meetings and classes, mini-farm life, making new friends, keeping up (as best we can) with the old ones, and just plain surviving.

New things? A pig named Frankie (get it? Frankie?), the loss of our dear dog Indiana, the end of the gardening season (though I did pull a plump carrot from the earth yesterday. Remind me to plant more of those next year...and keep the goats out of them). Oh! Goats. We sold half of our herd and are now down to three--two does and a wether. The Baby's tearin' it up with her reading lessons, thanks to Bard. We're looking forward to an awesome house concert with Jason Harrod this Saturday (he'll also be in church on Sunday, singing for prelude and offeratory). Speaking of church, we had an incredible Communion Sunday with footwashing that really spoke to me and called for some changes in my life. Bo and I are now sponsors of the youth fellowship and I'm teaching Jr. High Sunday School (resources about Fair Trade would be nice, thank you).

Kids have been doing chores around the house with more frequency, which is a big help. We instituted an allowance system, which seems to be working fairly well.

We're saving money for a new computer. I mean a NEW one that has all the bells and whistles.

And that's about it. Life is good.

Even if this blog is boring. :-)

A New Face!

I've needed a facelift on my blog for quite some time. When I saw The Circle of Quiet, I decided to fire an e-mail off to Seth and see if there was any hope for my little home on the web. After my many fickle mind-changes, Seth patiently created this lovely new design for me. I hope you like it!

Be sure to visit Seth for a very reasonable facelift for your blog, too!