Observing Nature

We've been busy observing nature all around us. For Easter, Cassie got a butterfly pavilion so we sent off for the larva and we watched their amazing metamorphosis. Today we released them.

In the front yard, the kids found a robin's nest while we were gone. We keep checking in on them. Look at their feathers. It's amazing how much they change in such a short time.

Also while we were gone, the kids took a bike ride with their grandparents at Blacklick park and found this cute little snail. They put together a habitat for him and we watch him quite a bit, too.

Our Nephew's baptism

The guest of honor, Odie, Sunday morning at New Hope Lutheran Church in Adamsville, Ohio. This was a special day. Not only was it Mother's day, but it was a day that the church pastor, who happens to be the uncle (and my husband), got to welcome another child of God into the church.






It was an unique experience for us to watch Jay baptize another, but it had more of an emotional tie for him as it was his nephew he got to baptize. Odie did a great job . . . no crying. After he baptizes and blesses the child, Jay likes to walk around the sanctuary and talk about what our role as the church is to each individual welcomed to the church family. We thought maybe he'd have a harder time walking around with Odie - the chunky monkey, but he did just fine sharing his nephew with the congregation.









After church, family and friends joined Odie at his home for food and fellowship. He is such a handsome little man. Love that smile.

Jay's sister drove over from Dayton, boy she had an early morning, to Adamsville for the baptism and she brought the twins, Princess and Lil' Man. We enjoyed seeing how big they have gotten. Zack truly enjoyed entertaining Lil' Man . . . he loves the little ones.

The food was good, the fellowship was great, and the memory is forever!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I thought I'd make a cake for all the mommies in our family. I can't wait to cut it because it is chocolate cake with a mint chocolate truffle filling and mint buttercream icing.

Isn't He ADORABLE . . .

We got to spend some more time today with our favorite little guy. Isn't he just soooo adorable!!

Our Nephew's Baptism Cake

I'm trying to expand my horizons . . . I keep trying to use what I've learned in the Wilton cake decorating classes. I got the privilege to make the cake for our nephew's baptism. However, Jay is getting the privilege of baptizing our nephew tomorrow at church.

Kenzie's tadpole

It's amazing to watch the metamorphisis of this critter. We went to bed last night and he had no front legs, but when we woke up this morning he had his front legs. Mackenzie has had him for 35 days and it takes only 58 days for this African Claw frog to change from a tadpole to a frog. We have enjoyed watching him and seeing how much bigger he gets daily and how he changes.

Our Trip Up NORTH

We are home from our jam packed three day/two night courtship in North Dakota. We arrived in Minot around 10:30 a.m. on Monday and we went non-stop till we got on the plane at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. I had no idea how mentally, emotionally, and physically tiring and stressful this trip would be for me. I can't even imagine how taxing it was for Jay since he was the one being interviewed and trying to interview each congregation.

There was a wealth of information shared with us. We met some wonderful people that were very hospitable and shared their day and evening with us. We saw so many beautiful things and learned some of the history in that area.

We spent Monday in Minot. First, we were given a quick little tour on our way to the bed and breakfast. Then after we were settled at the bnb, a gentleman picked us up for lunch and then more touring of the local area. We did go back to the bnb for some much needed rest . . . a pick me up power nap to zap an oncoming headache. Then we got a tour of the church and while Jay interviewed for about an hour and a half I got to have a wonderful conversation with a member of the church. We enjoyed an evening of fellowship before calling it a night.

We got up early Tuesday morning to a wonderful breakfast and great conversation with the bnb hosts. Then a gentleman picked us up to drive us two hours to Williston. We made a brief stop at the bishop's home to met and talk with him for about an hour. Once we arrived in Williston we got a tour of the parsonage and then a couple from one of the congregations there came and took us all around the area of Williston.

It is amazing all the oil pumps working out there. They have a huge pipeline in ND that I've never heard about. We even saw an oil rig in a field drilling. Evidently there is more oil there than in Saudi Arabia, if I understood correctly, but there's just not a way to get it out (refining it). If I understood correctly, they pump it into tankers, trucks transport it and then it is shipped to refineries. The wind . . . it is so windy, we inquired about wind farming, but again they don't have a way to get it out. I guess there would need to be another power grid to get the energy out. North Dakota seems to be a very big energy state.

The landscape and wildlife are amazing. Minot is located in a valley and the area between Minot and Williston reminds us a lot of the Rocky Mountain foothills. Williston is actually on the prarie, but still very unique. We saw deer, rabbits (cottontails), antelope, pheasants, ducks, geese, and pelicans. Hunting and fishing are big in the area and one of the fish they fish is the paddlefish.

Below are some pictures of the area . . .



This is a train tressel heading west out of Minot to Williston. There are two railroad companies that pass through the area, and Amtrak has a station too.

YES . . . that is still snow on the ground!! There were patches of snow still on the ground. Evidently the air temps haven't warmed up enough to melt it all. However, the days we were there were beautiful.

A Nice Little BNB

Well, if you ever get to North Dakota, which I would highly recommend taking time to see what it has to offer, this is a great place to stay. The congregation in Minot, put Jay and I up at this nice bed and breakfast, the Dakotah Rose.

The decor was gorgeous, warm, and very inviting. The hosts were extremely friendly and the conversation was great. Unfortunately, with the busy schedule we had, we didn't get to spend much time in the home, but we did enjoy the time we did get to spend in the quarters.



The picture above is the entry way nook and then the picture below is one of the dining rooms, the one which we had our breakfast in.

These two photos show off the formal dining area.

The picture above shows off some of the neat things found through out the home.

We took those stairs up to the third floor where we were guests in the Butler Suite.

This was our room, the Butler's Suite. There is some beautiful decor here and lots of history and information in the room, as I'm sure you will find all through out the house.

This is the ballroom located on the third floor as well. In here you can watch TV, play a video game, listen and/or dance to music on the jukebox or the record player, enjoy some snack food, and play family board games.

We would like to thank the Carr family for their hospitality, good food, and delightful conversation.

North Dakota Bound

Jay and I are on our way to North Dakota via North West Airlines. He will be interviewing at two congregations, one in Minot and the other in Williston. We are scheduled to return late May 6th. So until then.

Our Family's Education

It's hard to believe we have been homeschooling for 5 1/2 years. When we started this journey, Sept. 2003, I don't think I thought it would be as challenging as it truly is. At that time Cassie was starting the 3rd grade and Zack had just started kindergarten and they were attending an elementary school in Pickerington. Cassie was bored and stalling when she should have been accelerating, but it didn't seem our concerns were being heard so we elected to home school so she could learn at her pace. The first year I thought I had to school the same time the schools were in session, but I gradually realized that flexibility is a huge perk of homeschooling. Now we home school year round and our school year corresponds with the calendar year instead of the academic year.

I have to admit the elementary grades of 3rd - 5th were not that difficult with Cassie. Number one she already knew how to read so it was just a matter of feeding her facts. It became more challenging once she entered 6th grade - she and I have more challenges now that she is an 8th grader and getting ready for 9th. Zack was a bit more challenging . . . I had to teach him how to read. At times I questioned if I was doing it right because he just didn't seem to read as fluently as Cassie. Family and friends kept reminding me that all children are different and they all learn differently. I have read several books over the years about homeschooling to see if I was doing it right. However, I don't think that any one's way is better or more right than another. It does come down to the individual child and what works best with his or her learning style. I used the same reading curriculum with Mackenzie that I started Zack on to teach her how to read and it worked with her, but it took different tools with him. Mark that down as another perk of homeschooling.

Well, when it comes to notification I have been fortunate enough to be allowed to utilize the third option rather than testing or paying an outsider to check a portfolio of work. I am not in favor of standardized testing because I don't think everyone tests well. My philosophy with the kids is if they get it we keep on moving, but if it doesn't click then we spend more time on it. Each of the kids have subjects they excel in, subjects that just grasp enough of, and others that are challenging. But another perk of homeschooling is as their teacher I can cater to their strengths and nurture their weaknesses.

Now I am faced with yet another challenge in our homeschooling journey. When we move to North Dakota, we will be moving to a state with some of the most restrictive and strict home school laws in our country. According to the North Dakota Century Code for Home Education, to home education in the state of North Dakota a parent must either be certified to teach, hold a baccalaureate degree, exceeded the cutoff score on a national teacher exam, or be monitored for two years. Well, thank goodness I have a bachelor's so that is one hurdle I won't have to jump.

The compulsory age in ND is 7 - 16 and they are required to be tested in grades four, six, eight, and ten. The current code says there must be a minimum of four hours of instruction "in the child's home" each day, for a total of 175 days, which is only 700 hours and we all know in the state of Ohio we are required to give 900 hours of education, but at least we are not restricted to the interior of our home. As we all know, the world is our classroom, learning takes place at the library, in a museum, at a park, etc.

I have to admit I am, well was, a little intimidated about the whole standardized testing. My kids can answer questions and discuss things they've learned, but when it comes to the tests at the end of a chapter they tend not to do as well as expected. Well, I decided it was time to give in to the whole standardized test and test them this year so they would get a feel for the timed test and then I have an idea of where they are academically according to these national standards.

All I have to say is . . . we were ALL ecstatic and very pleased with the results. Cassie took the 8th grade test and Zack took the 5th grade test, which I was a little concerned about since we were only in the third month of our schooling. Well, as it turns out Cassie's composite grade equivalent is 12.2. Yes, according to her results she is "a typical student in the twelfth grade at the end of the second month." I believe homeschooling works for her. Then there's Zack, who, if he could, skip school everyday and play video games or build with his Legos. He did awesome, for someone who really doesn't have an interest in school. His composite grade equivalent is 5.9 and he is a "typical student in the fifth grade at the end of the ninth month."

YEAH . . . I must be doing something right. I truly enjoy homeschooling the kids, but there were times I wondered if I was giving them everything they need. Well, I guess I can relax and trust that I am doing fine and they are learning.