Hi Everyone! UPDATE

I know it's been a long time since I've blogged. We've been doing tons of stuff, and I do wish it had been chronicled. But I will give you a run down in one LONG blog!

2008 has started out to be a very good year!

GOD

Our family has found a wonderful fellowship to share the weekly Sabbath (Shabbat) with each week. It is small, but full of families with children. We have made many wonderful, budding friendships there. Each week we learn more and more about the Torah and how Yeshua (Jesus) has been there from the beginning. We share wonderful music of which John is a big part. He recently wrote a song and sang it at service. We host a weeking men's bible study in our home. We also host a monthly Hebrew class. There is so much to learn from the original language of the inspired scriptures. In case you are interested, each week I post the weekly readings. The ladies get together once a month and share scripture and fellowship. It has been a wonderful blessing for our whole family to find this service.

FAMILY

Our famly is really settling in. It almost feels like we've been here all along. We see our relatives on a weekly basis rather than a bi-yearly basis. We share birthdays together. We "pop by" for no reason. For a while we had a standing Thursday movie night with Gram and Grandpa. We need to start that again. John and I are so blessed to have family that we can rely on to take care of our children if we want to go out on a date. Up until we moved here, I think we had 1 date or less per year. We're even getting to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversay by going to Austin for a long weekend at the end of March! Ladies, remember the relationship with your husband. It is what started your family. The chlidren will grow up and have their own families. Make sure when they are gone that you still have a relationship with your spouse!

I'm speaking to myself also!

Our homeschool is thriving. Both boys are studying American History.

Quick story - we were studying the American Revolutionary War (War for Independence) and I was explaining how the Minutemen were outnumbered by the Redcoats, or as Caleb calls them the Lobsterbacks. And Micah said with a tune, "We Won't Back Down!" So, I immediately found a youtube copy of Tom Petty singing his "Won't Back Down" song and we listened to it during the rest of our class. Now how many history classes were you in that you got to sing Tom Petty while learning about the American Revolutionary War. And I bet you don't remember as much as these kids will as a result of attaching a song! Every time we hear the song (like during the Superbowl half-time show), my kids remember what they learned about this war.

Homeschool IS cool!

Caleb is reading well and started writing cursive.

Micah is breezing through school and doing better and better at writing.

Sarah is taking off and just about ready for pre-reading.

And, you may not believe this, but I have a family full of witnesses that my 2 year old Isaac know the sounds of more than half of the letters. If you know anything about the Montessori style of learning, that is a style I have used with my preschoolers - learning letter sounds and writing cursive. Isaac still says only a very few number of words, but I think he's saving up to simply talk in full sentences!

The Dallas/Ft. Worth area has so much to offer for fieldtrips, and we have gone on several. Mostly plays until the weather warms up. We are looking forward to checking out the zoos, parks, museums, etc. We're looking forward to the Mesquite Rodeo this summer.

We recently celebrated Caleb's 7th birthday! It's hard to believe he is 7! I've included a few pics. There is one of Flat Stanley. He's visiting us from our cousins in Pennsylvania!

WORK

John's business has been slow lately. There is so much to learn with a new business. Lots of trial and error. But God has been faithful and as I was typing this entry, we received some very good news about one of our vehicle transations. We stopped to praise our Heavenly Father for the blessing. We know that He has a plan for our family. I pray that it includes my husband to be self-employed, but we will follow whereever God leads us.

We would appreciate your continued prayers.

FRIENDS

We are making many friendships. The children have friends in the neighborhood that as soon as school is out they are off to play. Most of the time our home is the "hub" or as one friend put it "the koolaid house". Everyone comes here! I LOVE it that way. John has made some good friendships with the men at our church fellowship. I have made some budding friendships with some homeschool moms, and of course, my best friend, Kathleen, lives here. I've known her for almost 20 years! WOW, I feel old!

But, alas, we miss all of friends in Tennessee more than we can express. We think of ALL OF YOU so often! I'm so thankful for email. It has made the world much smaller and more accessible. I want all of you to know that if you ever want to come and visit, our door is always open. Do not wait for an invitation. This is the invitation.

No pressure, just know that you are always welcome!

Take care and Shalom (Peace)!