Spring Break

Spring break is just so much better when shared with family and friends! 

The end.

Saturday morning story time!

When I was growing up in the old Civil War era farmhouse in Northwest Ohio,

Saturday mornings were always my favorites.

I seem to remember pancakes and syrup more often on those slow,

leisurely mornings.

But what I remember the most was that my dad was always

sure to have our local, Christian radio station on.

My favorite program was the "Children's Bible Hour"

hosted by "Uncle Charlie" VanderMeer.

I loved his warm, friendly voice,

the joyful, evangelistic songs of the children's choir and trios,

but most of all I love the dramatized stories.

Uncle Charlie almost always played the part of the fatherly character,

and other children in the choir read the rest of the character parts.

I'm so glad I was in a place growing up where I could hear these wonderful

stories laced with the truth of the gospel, full of Bible values

to hear and learn from every weekend.

Sadly, that radio program isn't broadcast in the same format anymore,

but imagine my delight when my dad (of course!!) pointed me to 

a streaming radio station that actually plays an abridged version

of the same program EVERY DAY!!!

This station plays many favorite dramatized programs from my childhood:

Unshackled, Sailor Sam, The Sugar Creek Gang, 

Joy Spartan and the Parsonage Series,
Keys for Kids, Ranger Bill, and dramatized stories of other

well-known missionaries and great-Christians!!

The beautiful sacred music and gospel preaching encourage me

as I'm preparing meals in my kitchen or about the house

cleaning or folding laundry.

Christian radio was a big part of my life growing up in Northwest Ohio.

When I moved to New England, it was culture shock to me that

there were literally no conservative "Christian" radio stations.

Now that I live in Texas, the "Christian" radio stations don't

play those old programs anymore.

But that doesn't mean they are irrelevant or have no value.

Today, one of my passions is directing and coordinating

Christian dramas at my church.

Where do you suppose that passion grew from?

Where do you suppose I learned the power of drama to change hearts,

 and to bring stories to life of God's power to change lives?

I'm so thankful for my dad's influence

and for this memory of his love for Christian radio!

Tune in to VCY America
to hear these great old programs!!

Field Trip: George W. Bush Presidential Museum

For our first field trip of the spring semester,

our little homeschool class took a trip

 to the George W. Bush Presidential Museum recently 

on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

This place never disappoints.

I have been here at least two other times, and there

are different things to experience every time you visit.

I am always filled with awe at the multiple catastrophe's this President

had thrust upon him during his two terms in office, and the grace and dignity

 with which he led our country through them.

Did he do that perfectly?
Of course not.

He's a mortal human being.
He did do the best he knew how with the resources available

to him at the time and with the wisdom of the counsellors

he had surrounded himself with.

I am always reminded that President Bush was a principled man.
He developed these principals through his private devotion to God,

an understanding that his was a position ordained by God,
and the subsequent sober responsibility that comes with that position.

Last summer, I had the distinct privilege of walking through the collection

of the portraits he has painted of the wounded soldiers who have gone to

battle under his leadership.
Seriously??
Come on!!!
Incredible!
He learned to paint so he could capture the scars and stories

of these brave men and women who went to battle for him 

and for their country.

And he did all this AFTER he left office.

Maybe as a way to process all that he made decisions about,

maybe as a way to honor these men and women,
maybe as a way to find value in all of the brokenness.

If you ever come to Dallas, you won't regret stopping in.

Busy February Weekends

As much as I try to keep our weekends relaxed and at home,

inevitably there are places to go,

people to meet,

and birthdays to celebrate.

This month has been no different.

Many times there are multiple activities overlapping at the same time. 

Don't get me wrong.

I don't resent having friends who invite us to things!!!!
I just love staying home all day and value that time of regrouping and refreshing

for the upcoming week. 

Of quietly waking up and enjoying unhurried mornings that are less stressful.

Even though we "homeschool,"

our children go to their co-op every morning to complete seat work

and to participate in some traditional classes.

So we are leaving our home every day.

Even though we are back and grounded by lunchtime,

it's still the momentum of getting prepared to leave,

packing supplies,

getting up and doing chores and thinking about meals

and getting out the door.
Then it's the transition of everyone returning home at the same moment

hungry and needing their space.
Weekends are my day {Saturday} to catch up on necessary baking,

meal prep, and laundry.

Sometimes I'm cool enough to get all that done during the regular weekdays

along with everything else we are doing.

But most of the time.....not.

We are so blessed with opportunities for fun

and many friends that enrich our lives!!

Thanking the Lord for our busy {and not bored} days!!

I love Valentine's Day

After Christmas and Resurrection Sunday,

Valentine's Day tops my list as favorite special day to celebrate!

What's not to love about showing extra love and joy

to those around you??

This year I was pretty blitzed from coordinating

our homeschool Valentine Banquet the night before,

so I relied heavily on my stash of Valentine goodies that I always pack

away every year after shopping clearance racks.

I'm so glad for this stockpile because I relied on it heavily!!

We enjoyed a special lunch together after schoolwork was done

and that was the extent of our activities this year!

Blessings!!