Sabbath!

When God wrote the 10 Commandments and said, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," it was one of the greatest blessings He could have given me! This has been quite a beautiful, busy, productive week, but I'm happy to "rest" from it.

We sent Jacob off to camp with his friend and we bought him a trumpet. Conrad's younger brother Jan had a heart attack, but was able to call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital. He had an angioplasty and a stent put in, and will have another put in in two weeks. I praise God our beloved Jan is doing well. We continued planning our kitchen--it's all more complicated and time consuming than I thought! I think we will actually order everything on our fourth and final meeting with the designer at Lowe's. The whole family went to Orlando for my nephew's high school graduation this week in my dad's new handicap van, which enables him to scooter in and scooter back out on a ramp. My 5 foot nothing mom has been lifting my dad, so the van is wonderful. I am so proud of Nathan for graduating. He is dyslexic and worked really hard.

After church today, we're all having dinner together at my parents. Haystacks. That's the Adventist name for taco salad (don't ask me why!). My sister Margy and her husband and little girl are coming over from Zephyrhills, which is near Tampa on the west or Gulf coast of Florida. It's a special occasion--Margy's birthday! I'm never happier than when I'm together with my family. I'm sorry Jacob isn't here. I hope Margy's little one isn't too disappointed. She and Jacob love to chase each other around.

Jacob called from Camp Kulaqua last night. He didn't feel well, and was homesick. Conrad and I are picking him up Sunday morning. It's about 2-1/2 hours north of us.

Happy Sabbath!

Rolling Along Like A Freight Train

SURPRISE! Conrad and Jacob were gone only a week before they came home from the Appalachian trail. Conrad's hips hurt so badly that he decided not to continue. They hope to return in the fall with lighter packs. I'm glad they had that experience, even if it was brief. Now Jacob knows exactly what to expect from the trail. He found it was a lot of work, but he loved it. Conrad's brother, Jan, and sister-in-law, Lynn, who live in the Atlanta area, dropped them off and picked them up again (a lot of driving for them!). Conrad and Jacob had a great little visit with them. They had a fun day on Lake Lanier on Uncle Jan's boat.

I was so relieved they were safe, and it was good to have them home. However, I hadn't expected them to be here all summer, so hadn't planned any summer activities or camps for Jacob. I'm a slow thinker, so it took some time for my brain to adjust to them being home. I was thrilled that Jacob came home early enough to participate in his band's final concert, and our homeschool group's final yearbook party.

After 13 years of nagging and begging, Formica countertops cracking and swelling, cabinet doors repeatedly falling off, stove only half alive, Conrad decided to start on our kitchen remodel since he's home for the summer after all, so we are in the planning stage of that right now. The whole kitchen will be different, rearranged and walls torn down, so it's going to be a lot of work. Conrad's doing most of the work himself, but I can see this is going to take all summer. I sincerely hope it's completed before school starts! I can't wait until it's all done and I can use my new kitchen--but I try not to think about it, because I'm not a patient person.

This week we took a tour of the facility that will make our quartz countertop. After my piano lesson this morning, we're meeting with the Lowe's designer for the third (hopefully final) time. A Lowe's kitchen installer measured our kitchen and she had to make changes. I hope we order today, because she said it takes 4 weeks to get the cabinets in!

Jacob and I went blueberry and strawberry picking with our friends. I have so much respect for field workers! It was a beautiful day with a cool breeze, but I was still covered in sweat. I loved it, it so much fun. I can't wait for next year! Those strawberries started wilting pretty quickly, so I made a big blueberry/strawberry coffee cake.

This week, Jacob was invited to Camp Kulaqua in north Florida with our pastor and his wife. They are camp pastor and nurse. Jacob hung out with their son. He called once, and was having a terrific time swimming in the deep and scary springs.

Jacob's band teacher sent me a craigslist used trumpet suggestion, and that was the catalyst for my research of trumpets. Once I felt knowledgeable, it was time for Jacob to start blowing. We went to the Horn Section in Melbourne, and he tried a used Besson for $500, Bach Strad and Getzen Eterna, among others. The expensive trumpets sounded very piercing to me, but Jacob said he didn't notice a big difference in how easy or hard they were to play. I was surprised. I really thought he'd fall in love with a trumpet and we'd walk out of there with a huge payment plan. I was also relieved because I realized that at his current level, any decent beginner trumpet is just right for him, for now. I thought it would be a good idea for him to take trumpet lessons, and planned on continuing to rent, but when I got home, I started looking on ebay, and got excited about some trumpets on there. Just before Jacob went to camp, I got in a bidding war and was surprised to win a 1970 silver Getzen Capri. Utterly shocked, to be more accurate. I shocked Conrad and Jacob too. Considering Jacob's lack of enthusiasm at the music shop, I was surprised that he seemed very excited to have his very own trumpet. Conrad had to do some catch-up research, to be sure I didn't overpay. I was really happy that I had sold Jacob's outgrown clothes on ebay, and used that money to pay for the trumpet. UPS delivered the trumpet last night, and everyone enjoyed blowing on it. It sounded pretty bad, but hopefully will sound better when Jacob blows on it! It is 40 years old, and I expected it to look a lot uglier than it does. It's beautiful! We'll see how it sounds when Jacob gets back.

There are free golf and band camps next month. Next week we plan on putting Jacob back into swimming with his favorite coach, Coach Mike. Trumpet lessons start next week. I have to pick something and commit to it, because Jacob can't do everything.

Our church is having VBS on June 21, and we're going to that. I love VBS! It's so much fun!

We've been to the beach, Sea World and Busch Gardens. I'm still teaching piano (but my, isn't everyone relaxed! Including me!). I'm practicing my choir CHRISTMAS cantata like mad--it's HARD!-- and thankful I have the summer to practice it, because this coming school year looks so busy. I've found that the summer is flying by, and I am hanging on, having fun, and recharging my batteries.

Spring's Over...Already??

Summer is here...for me at least! My hubby and youngest are hiking the Appalachian Trail for the summer. They've been so excited! I get to watch their progress through SPOT GPS. http://www.findmespot.com/ It's pretty cool, and nice to have a connection. It's very touching that everyone is concerned that I'm bored and lonely without them. People have been calling me out of concern. It is nice to feel so loved, but I'm still teaching piano lessons and have two kids at home (even if they are in college), and my parents live nearby. I'm taking this opportunity to de-clutter. We have very little storage, and every closet is over stuffed. I am taking pictures and selling things on ebay. I put some things on craigslist, but no one's buying, so I guess I'll put it all on ebay. I do this every summer. I hope to clear off the back porch, but it's mostly my husband's big heavy stuff, such as the huge fish tank and huge tile cutter, so I'll work up to it. It would make me happy to use the porch again.

It's Allergy Season!

I have wrapped up our school year early! It's only April, and we got Jacob's California Achievement Test results back (he did awesome!) and my friend evaluated him. I need a copy of her Florida's teacher's certificate before I can mail the evaluation to the county school board. I hope I don't forget to send it! I also have to create a Jacob yearbook page for our homeschool group. We make homemade yearbooks every year, and they're just precious.

My computer crashed, and my wonderful husband has been working hard to find our pictures that were on the old hard drive. If worst comes to worst, I'll create a yearbook scrapbook page with photo prints, and take it to a color copier. I did that in 2008 when my computer crashed. 2008 was even worse because I was also creating homemade graduation invitations for Brent, and had to go to my parents and use their computer to make them. It was a real hassle and very time consuming, but they turned out beautifully. Still, this kind of deja vu I could do without!

My digital camera started taking streaky red photos after I deleted pictures off the memory card, so we bought a new memory card and it seems to be okay. I'm so relieved I don't have to replace the camera! I know how to work this one.

Jacob turned 12 on April 13. We had a fun little family party (12 of us) at my parents house. One of Jacob's friends was able to celebrate with us, and they jumped on the trampoline, drove the golf cart and went swimming. The following weekend we had a small sleepover with two of Jacob's friends. The boys were noisy and energetic and didn't want to sleep, but they were good kids. They were respectful, obedient, and got along with each other. Conrad did a lot! He cooked supper and breakfast, took them for a long walk in the dark, and stayed up with them long after I conked out at 10:00. We took them to my parents for the trampoline, golf cart and pool. It was a lot of fun.

Jacob and Conrad are spending the summer hiking the Appalachian Trail. I have a hole in my heart when I think of how much I will miss them! We want to replace our old van with something newer. I hoped to find something that they could drive to Atlanta, but since Conrad doesn't seem interested enough to actually go look at anything, I guess it'll wait until they get back. They were supposed to leave Thursday, but Wednesday afternoon Jacob's allergies kicked off a severe asthma attack and we had to rush him to the emergency room. It was very scary, but we are grateful they weren't on the Appalachian Trail when it happened. They will be carrying meds and Conrad bought SPOT, which is a GPS locator with a 911 button. I will be tracking them every day.

Conrad suffered from allergies and asthma for several weeks, but is finally better. Even I'm taking Zyrtec because I've been so miserable the past couple of weeks. I feel so much better today that I think I'll do some treadmill. I'm a little stir crazy--bored and energetic. Here it is, absolutely gorgeous outside, but the more time we spend outside, the more miserable we are. I want to go swimming at my parents! I want to ride bikes! I want to go to the beach! Instead, I'm staying inside with Jacob today. I'm telling myself to be patient and enjoy my time with him.

Home School Is Winding Down

The balmy March breezes; Spring Break; Easter; homeschool book sales; standardized testing; evaluations; they all mean one thing: the school year will be over soon! Automatically I start thinking ahead to next year. Hmmm, what grade will he be in? What, that can't be right! But it's true. My baby will be in 7th grade. I wonder what I'm going to do with him? My mind starts to plan. We'll continue the Jacob's Algebra. We had a rocky start, but now he's doing really well with it (we both are). He definitely needs to continue handwriting because it's not good. He'll start Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). It didn't work for us in his younger years, but I loved it when his brothers were in 7th grade and up. Daddy is going to teach science. He'll read a variety of books; whatever interests him. That just leaves Bible (easy), history and fun electives (continue piano, band, art). Well, that was easy! 7th grade is just about planned already.

March Happenings

Now that it is March, the weather has become mild. I love being able to spend more time outdoors and feel the sun on my skin!

Conrad and the other parents took the Pathfinders to north Georgia to backpack on the Appalachian Trail. It was below freezing, and the bus driver, Steve Wolcott, one of the kids, and Conrad got very sick. Jacob was devastated that he couldn't go. He was all packed, but developed a fever of over 104 and had terrible asthma. I was so glad he got sick at home rather than on the trail! The good news is that they all survived.

We went to Sea World shortly after a trainer there was killed by one of the killer whales. That was so shocking and tragic. When the older boys were younger, we used to go to Sea World all the time, up until Jacob turned 3 and needed a pass. I took Jacob for free one last time before his birthday. The older boys were not interested in Sea World anymore, and I was too busy running them around to social engagements and classes, and was teaching piano students every afternoon. I didn't bother getting tickets, because I didn't have time to go. It is almost 9 years later, but I was glad to fulfill my promise to Jacob and take him back. Conrad, Jacob and I had so much fun. It wasn't crowded and the weather was perfect.

Last week, Steve Wolcott (with the blessing of the chaperone/teacher, Richard Knapp, and the camp) invited Jacob along with our church school to Camp Kulaqua for their Outdoor Education, so he was gone from Tues. to Fri. We scrambled to get the paperwork, get it notorized and get him packed. Jacob said he wanted everything to be last-minute from now on, because that way he doesn't get sick. It was hard not to hear from him and I missed him. Conrad and I planned on having a fun date-day on Wed., but it poured down rain all day and we didn't go anywhere. I was so happy to pick up Jacob Friday afternoon. He had such a rich experience! He loved Pastor Barry and learned all about beekeeping from Chappie McChesney. Now he is intensely interested in bees and wants to become a beekeeper. I'll have to find someone local who would be willing to mentor him.

That evening after picking up Jacob, I went to church to practice with the choir. They sang a beautiful song at the memorial of our friend Lillian Santana, who had passed away in her sleep the previous Sabbath morning after a long battle with cancer. The church was packed. It was very hard to get through the service. We had been such good friends, and her young son Tyler had been my piano student for several years. We didn't get the "desserts only" message, and Conrad made a huge amount of his famous hot macaroni for the reception. I don't think anyone minded.

Conrad spent a lot of time researching garage doors and getting quotes, and we finally had our garage door replaced. The house looks much more cared for!

Jacob's little parakeet died Sunday. When Jacob took it out to play Sabbath afternoon, he noticed it was subdued. He noticed its beak was really long, so he got his dad up from his nap and Conrad trimmed it. It did start eating and drinking, but I'm guessing it was too late. When Conrad and I got home from our church meeting yesterday, it was on the bottom of the cage. The other parakeet seems lonely but Jacob doesn't want another bird right now. I don't blame him. It's so sad when pets die.

We went to the beach on Sabbath afternoon, for the first time in months. It was just a perfect, beautiful day. There was a wedding on the beach. I wore a jacket and the water was chilly, but Jacob couldn't stand being so close to the water without going in, so after our walk, he changed and swam in the waves for awhile.

Last weekend my sister, her husband and daughter came over from the Florida west coast and came with my parents to our church. I appreciated that I didn't have to play the piano and could sit in the pew with my family. My mom made a huge meal, but Conrad and Jacob had to eat it cold and run off to Pathfinders. I lingered quite awhile before heading to choir practice. I've been trying to play the Easter cantata through every day. Some areas are challenging.

I love this spring weather! Every morning, a bird sings outside my window and sounds so joyful and happy. It's a nice way to wake up.

A Florida Winter Friday

When I started this blog, my goal was to catalog our "homeschool", but I've come to the realization that, for me, this is impossible (in case you haven't noticed!). Like my religion or my private struggle with my CMT disability, our homeschool is a constant part of our lives that I cannot separate and pick out, because we are learning all the time! So this blog is honestly and realistically a catalog of our lives that includes homeschooling.

One of my friends has called this winter bi-polar, which is right on! Yesterday we had everything opened up and enjoyed sun-warmed breezes, and today is cloudy and cold again. Those states north of us are expecting snowstorms, yet again. What a winter!

Now that Conrad has retired, he is doing almost all of the running around. He drives Jacob everywhere and does the grocery shopping! I don't miss any of that. I have been able to teach more piano students and still homeschool Jacob, so my life is fulfilling. We are so blessed!

Brandon and Brent are taking calc 2, technical writing and physics at the community college this semester. It's amazing they were able to get into the same classes, so they can ride together, study together, and only bought one set of books. I'm very worried about college students that get out owing thousands and thousands, and are unable to find a job. Thank goodness for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship! We've been able to pay whatever it doesn't cover. Brandon's scholarship is over and he borrowed money from his dad (interest-free), which is preferable to a loan from the banks!

I've been looking for a new sofa. I debated long and hard and listened to the preferences of my family. Brent and Jacob begged me not to get leather--just as I had decided to. So my next choice was slipcovered, but wasn't able to find the size I wanted at a price I was comfortable with. Finally, I found one on sale! So I replaced our recliner sofa with a sectional, which will be delivered today. We've been without a sofa for a couple of weeks now, and piano student moms have been scrounging seating. I hope I love it, because I bought it online based on all the great reviews from others. I take reviews into account when I buy something, and I hope I agree with them, but I'll have to wait until after the sofa is delivered to know. It's a pretty big deal for me.

I enter into this day with my outline the same as every other--homeschool, clean/laundry/cook, teach piano. It's amazing how, although that is my routine, each day is varied and interesting for me.