Well we are still here...we are going to pick up our pop up camper today...it is repaired with a new white roof...Stephen says it looks funny since the bottom is not so white anymore!

I don't know what else is going here but I bet we find something to do! I know tomorrow, Friday, we are headed to Chicago for some fun for the weekend. I have to say I am really ready for a hotel...these camp showers are only fun for so long...I can't seem to get my, or the kids, feet clean!!

The weather is still very mild. I think we could even wear jeans and be comfy.

Dale and I did some school yesterday...he did great...me well let me say I need to make sure I am on the correct assignment!! I think I skipped ahead like 6!! O well he can now write and recognize the V and sounds of short i and short o with it!!

Love to all...stinky feet!

Okay so after 3 days in the car we are here...let me say I am loving the cool weather! I think it was 72 when Stephen and Dale dropped me off at the "Shipshewana Flea Market" this morning. We are in a little cabin in the woods with no bathrooms, well they are about 50 ft from us...but is in wonderful and fun and I am about to take a nap!

Amish country in very pretty and CLEAN. There is something to say about the slower lifestyle they have chosen. I know they work really hard, the yards and farms prove that, but most things close at 8p.m. We read a children's book about the Amish and it was very good, helped with the staring this morning! It is "An Amish Year", it is by Richard Ammon and the pictures alone are worth checking it out! The story was good too, Merideth was still for the whole book. The food is okay, very rich and surprisingly expensive. We ate family style last night..fried chicken, green beans, potatoes, noodles, gravy, and chicken dressing. This was all followed by pie, and I know this will shock some of you, I didn't like it. I didn't even finish it all! I think that b/c they are so busy in the yard or field they make take shortcuts in the kitchen!! Anyway today has been fun, we got cheese and meat from a local place and are going to eat that with fresh bread for supper!

Tomorrow I think we may drive to Michigan to check it out. Our camper will be fixed so we are free to go anywhere until Friday and then it is to Chicago for the weekend. Then on to Oshkosh for a week. I don't know how much I can blog but I can check our email..hint hint!

Love, E

The first photo is of the kids playing at a camp ground...notice the play doh..it is the ONLY time they get to play with it...when we are camping!
Merideth LOVES smores!
My 3 favorite people!

OK so I really wanted to blog but I should be doing about a million other things here is a quick update...

We leave in the morning for a camping trip, we will be going a little over 2 weeks. Please pray it is fun, restful and that we make some great memories. We are headed to Indiana, we are getting our camper fixed, to see some Amish country. Then it is to Chicago for a few days. Then on to our destination of Oshkosh Wisconsin. We will be there with our shirts on...literally trying to get more business for Stephen's wing cutting business. I was teasing him today that at least we weren't wearing "angel wings" like my family always did at trade shows. Oshkosh is a huge airshow/fly in. We are looking so forward to it. We went five years ago. Well I am off to finish a dress and make a bow..oh and pack some too!! I will try to post while we are gone and yes we are taking school on the road!

Love, E

Please go and read this post by my friend...it is worth the time.
http://deuteronomy6.blogspot.com/

Evidently many people felt moved by this conference...another example is of a woman who came home, quit her job and is now going to home school her children...
http://emily0305.blogspot.com/

Moving mountains people that is what is happening...I certainly want to be a mover so as not to be caught up in the end calamity!

Press on Friends,
Elizabeth

Home school update from today:
1. It goes better if you do work in the morning!
2. It will go better when we start with prayer...yes I know I should have thought of that already!! I, myself, am still learning!
3. Tell Dale that he is learning to READ, he gets really excited.
4. Remember WHY I am doing this...GOD TOLD ME TO!
5. My Texas drawl has got to go, short vowels are hard enough to say without that!
6. Have fun with it!
7. Do it everyday, well most everyday!! Yes we are taking the books on our 2 week vacation!!
8. Draw hearts when he does good, or not...he loves hearts.
9. So what if he can't write a baby a yet!
10. Do home school tomorrow!!

Random thoughts...be warned! It will be long and might have some errors in it...

So it is funny to me that as I begin on this journey of home schooling Dale, and Merideth for that matter, I am met with defeat. Some days I just get all warm and excited just thinking about what all I am going to teach them. How he will be reading by August and how he will do long division by December. Then reality hits me...#1 I have to actually do the lessons with him and #2 it is REALLY hard to home school. Some people make it seem so easy. Not that I don't see them struggle some. I wonder if there is frustration when their kid doesn't know the difference between a long o in boot and a short o in log. (don't correct me here if I am calling it the wrong thing, they sound different OK!) So I have come to the conclusion that I DO NOT need to compare myself or my kids, I should have had a V8 moment I know, and he will learn at his pace...(when I do the lessons)...which is the beauty of home schooling in the first place. I have just finished a great book "A Mom Just Like You", Vickie Farris wrote it. This book was great, freeing and WONDERFUL. I really recommend it. Some of the things I got from it are:

This is just a season...press on! Keep in mind that right now my priority is to raise Dale and Merideth, to teach them, train them, and love them. These verses help me to decide what "extra" stuff we can do...really makes me think before I say yes, or no, to anything.
Psalm 90:12, 16-17
(12)"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom;
(16)let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children,
(17)let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes establish the work of our hands!"

Die to self
John 12 :24
"Truly truly I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls onto the earth and dies it BEARS MUCH FRUIT."
My death to my own "self fulfillment" can bear more than I would have alone. I am not the grower, GOD IS, I am the sower! GOD GIVES THE INCREASE.

AND
Press on Keep on
Galatians 6:9
"And let us not lose heart in doing good for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

Okay so there it is...me...out there...BTW thanks friend for the advice today on blending!

Love, E

Blanchard Springs Arkansas...With Dale and Merideth going it is the fourth generation, of Stephen's family, to camp there.

My Sweet friend made it to Korea...Pray for the cultural transition! I love you Red Headed Friend!!

So it feels like nothing has been going on here but actually a lot has. We spent a week in Arkansas. Then Stephen and Dale went to San Antonio. Now we are preparing for a trip out to Wisconsin for Oshkosh airshow. We will head out early for a week in Indiana...weird detour but we are getting a repair done on our pop up camper. It was less expensive than having it mailed here and then getting the work done by a place locally! Man this economy...

One of my dear friends posted a blog for me a week or so ago. The headaches have gotten better. After an MRI, and a trip to the ENT the sinusitis they thought it was is a common thing that "90% of the population have"! So why the headaches...well about 2 years ago I had a car accident, I was rear ended and then sandwiched, needless to say I should have gone to the Doctor then...So they think the headaches is due to my shoulder and back injury...Whew...so still some headaches...getting better with medicine.

Well I better go get busy now! Lot's to do to get ready for camping for 2 weeks! We are really looking forward to it!

Love, E

As I type this my sweet little red headed friend is boarding a plane to another country. One she will make into a home for the next 11months and 2 weeks, not that I am counting! She is taking with her two precious children and one privileged dog, his name is Mr Beasley. The flight is a 17 hour fun fest! I am praying that the 17 hours will go so fast it is only explained divinely! I am going to miss my calls, the long ones, and her sweet nearness, funny I now consider Alabama close!! They are headed to Korea to meet up with the husband/Daddy. I know he is so excited to see them. Please pray for them as they transition. Also for the first year of "official" home schooling they will begin soon. I know she is going to do great and what a wonderful place to begin since there is no Target to distract from studies!! Cam I love you and am praying you there...and back! I hope to talk to you soon!! Love you, E

I will update more later...

HI!!! This is a posting hijack to show E that he blog is working. I hacked in to see if it's all straight at my computer and just had to post! E hasn't been feeling 100% - so please pray for her to have a speedy recovery from her sinus junk and lots of great rest. She is such an AWESOME mom, wife, friend, sister, aunt, neighbor, and MORE that she could use some rest! Love you, E! You are the best!!

A friend loves at all times... (Prov 17:17a New International Version) and you are a true friend!