The simple beauty of standing on a sandy beach and looking out at the ocean is often smothered by a family's multitude of surf rafts, umbrella's, diaper bags, sun block, sand toys, water bottles, ect.

When I look at this photo of my husband, 5 of our 7 children, and my parents....I am reminded that less is more and simple is always better.  It is better because there is less clutter to take our attention away from true values. 

Through this pregnancy (34 weeks along at this time) we have strived to simplify our homeschool for the glory of Christ.  We have embraced the Charlotte Mason philosophies and have not looked back.  Prayerfully, we have sought our Saviour to lead us in book selections and daily schedules.  Even when decisions seemed too radical, I trusted Him and it had made all the difference. 

Simple Truths

Bringing your food in from afar...

Proverbs 31:14

She is like the merchant ships; bringing her food from afar

In trying to use this passage as inspiration to be the woman God has called me to be,

Practical Application Goal:  Have a well stocked pantry that included items that are seasonal or not local. 

For our home this includes:

Storing up enough blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, ect for a year full of smoothies and cobblers

Making enough low-sugar jams/jellies for a year of meals, entertaining, and gifts

Growing (OR BUYING!) plenty of locally grown vegetables to freeze or can for the year

Buying a side of beef and a large quantity of chicken to keep in a freezer

Growing/Buying herbs and spices to freeze/dry and keep for the year

Having a fully stocked kitchen means that we are able provide nutricious and delicious meals at a moments notice!

Photos from our Land

Sometimes, in life, we are called to make decisions that we do not totally understand. 

The first week of April, 2012....we felt, very strongly, that the Lord was calling us to close our adoption file.  I tried with every reason I could think of, to deny the absolute surety that I felt in my soul.  This is not the time for us. 

WHY?  Why were we matched so quickly.  WHY?  Why had we felt that certain decisions we had made were the ones God was leading us to?  WHY? Why cant I be his mommy?

No Answer....

Just ....No.


Billy and I grieved but obeyed.  It has been one of the hardest decisions we have ever made together. 

We are holding on, God has a plan for my Yu Zhen as well as us.  I am praying each day the he is going to find his mommy very soon!  Please join me in prayer.....

PreApproval!!

Post Edited May 17, 2012

This is our son,

He lives in China.....

He is waiting for us to come get him..

Today we received PreApproval from China to proceed!

So......now I can talk about him.....all the time!!

Tonight though, I'm getting ready for a fundraising yard sale...to bring him home, so his picture will have to suffice.

LOI To China!!

Our LOI has been sent to China!! My baby boy is Locked In with OUR file!! YEAH! I am so excited! I feel so amazingly blessed to be in this process!

LOI - is the Letter of Intent that Billy wrote to China telling them that our family wants to adopt the little boy that was matched with our family on the 15th. It is a precious letter and I am SO proud of my Godly man!

We sent our LOI to CCAI www.chinesechildren.org on the 17th of February and they have been working on translating the document and all additional paperwork needed to represent our family.

Hopefully, this time next week I can post that we have PA (pre-approval).

Please help us pray that we find favor with China and that they say YES! you can have this baby boy!!!!

Bible Copying

William's Proverbs 27:3

(I couldn't get it to flip for the life of me!)

I am very much against busy work for my kids. We only do absolute necessary workbooks and worksheets. We DO try to get them writing and illustrating anything and everything they read about or see.....Included in this workbook ban are handwriting books.

I have come up with a preferred alternative:

BIBLE COPYING

My children ages 5-13 are all copying the same scripture right after we open our day with devotion and prayer. They copy straight out of their own KJV Bible. As soon as they are finished they begin their respective Language Arts Levels. (We use Rod and Staff beginning in Level 1)

This has given all my children a desire to know God's Word and be able to navigate the Bible and they are copying proper English!