2008 Christmas letter

We want to send a Merry Christmas to all and our wish for God's blessings in the New Year. Here's a quick update on our family in 2008...

Ron finished his first year (and begand a second) teaching Greek, Hebrew and New Testament. He's working hard and enjoying the challenge. He has recently finished pg. 150 of the 300 pages he needs to write for his dissertation (which he needs to complete his PhD, a requirement to keep his job). He has a few revisions to do yet, so it's a long process. Favorite moment: Learning to love children's literature by reading chapter books to the kids every night. Goal: finish the dissertation by 2010.

Lisa is homeschooling 3 this year with a toddler in tow. It's hectic sometimes, but working well for us. She has a weekly Bible Study and monthly Craft Night at church to keep her sane. She and Jonah traveled to MN this summer to help with her parent's house remodeling project. We think we may have started a tradition called the "one kid trip". We also finished a chicken coop (with Dad R's help) and stocked it with 10 laying hens. Favorite moments: watching old movies with her hubby and speed walking with friends. Goals: Keep getting better at this homeschool/mom thing, exercise more and take another "one kid trip".

Jonah, 10, started 5th grade this fall. He loves to read, trap and hike but still enjoys a good wrestle or spy game with his siblings. He is a loving caregiver to our cat, Butterscotch. Favorite moments: library trips and opening Christmas presents Goal: going camping this summer.

Isaiah,8, is in 2nd grade and becoming an active reader. He's still a lego fanatic and good friend to anyone who needs one. Favorite moments: our trips to the library every other week and watching movies on Friday nights with his brothers and sister. Goal: to finish basketball well this winter.

Ella,5, started kindergarten and quickly began putting sounds together to make words. Favorite moment: family movie night on Fridays. Goal: more play time with our six year old neighbor, Grace.

Aaron,2, is full blooded toddler boy. He loves jumping on furniture, climbing on counters and occasionally throwing things in the toilet. He also has a delightful laugh and loves his blankie and thumb. Favorite song: "Hap-Birday-to-you". Goal: Independence!

With love from our family to you and yours,

Lisa, Ron and kids.

Peacemaking

I didn't start this blog to do book reviews, but this latest read is very much on my mind. I haven't been able to satisfactorily explain how it has affected me in conversations with friends, so I'll try writing...

"Peacemaking for Families" by Ken Sande talks about managing conflict in marriage, between children and between children and parents. My kids fight with each other and I hoped for an answer here. What I found surprised me. Here's a quote:

"A lot of our frustration with our children emanates from a less-than-noble source: the effect our children's behavior has on our comfort and convenience. Our kids' sinful acts make our own lives less relaxed, less peaceful, and more hectic. Or perhaps we take the misbehavior personally. It makes us look bad...The fact is, every time we have a conflict with a child, we have a choice to make: Am I going to make much of my child's sin, or am I going to make much of God's redeeming grace? It's one or the other. We will either "glorify" our child, or we will glorify the Lord."

The idea that bitterness and anger toward our children stem from our "glorifying" that behavior in a negative way was new to me. Of course, this takes for granted that we are training and discipling our children every day, it doesn't negate their sin, but teaches us to deal with it in a more God-pleasing way. Surprise, surprise. I opened a book looking for an answer to my children's childishness and found that I need to look first at my own heart. I'm humbled.

J's book review

Are you interested in survival?

Well, I am, and my favorite book in this core is Naya Nuki
written by Ken Thomasma, because it is a great example of
survival. My favorite part of the book is when a bear
attacks Naya Nuki, and she climbed a tree to escape. She
ended up staying in that tree for the whole night until the bear left.

This book made me feel more interested in traps, and I have
already built a couple. I think you might want to read this
book because it was very exciting.

Upcoming events...

look for "J's book review" in an upcoming post. J is about to complete "Core 3" of the homeschool curriculum we use (called Sonlight). This Core is a course in history from the early Spanish conquistidors to the 1850s. He has read dozens of books over the last year and will share his top pick with you soon.

Back in Time

We are studying early America in our homeschool and had the opportunity to send the boys to a day of school in a one room school house. They joined 30 other children for a full day of school, bringing their lunch wrapped in brown paper and tucked into woven baskets. Discipline was very strict. Children stood and sat when the teacher rang a bell and no talking was aloud. Each student read a short biography of a child that was a student of the school when it opened in 1917.

The kids loved it and can't wait to do it again.

Ballet dancer

Couldn't resist posting this one of "watching day" at "E"s ballet class. Ballet has been fun, but she recently told me that next year she'd rather play soccer. Sorry it's sideways, I couldn't figure out how to turn it.

Good news

Our latest good news is that Ron has qualified for study leave next year. This means he will teach half time and have the rest of his work day available to write his dissertation. He is nearly halfway done with his first draft- which means he still has several hundred pages of writing and rewriting to do. So we are thanking God for the good news and hoping that his dissertation will be officially done by Spring of 2010. Go Ron!

"I"'S TOOLBOX

HOW TO MAKE A BOW

And how to shoot an arrow...

Birthdays

I. celebrated his 8th birthday two weeks ago and, for the first time, decorated his own cake. (That's a lightening bolt in the middle)

A's birthday was today! He managed to blow out his own candles. Here's a better picture of the cake:

And A's response when I told him he couldn't have a second helping:

And finally, A's determination to get the cake (which we hid in the microwave for safe keeping). If you listen closely, you can hear him say "Happ-Birday- to you" and "Put it back in"

First day of school

E started Kindergarten in August, I began 2nd grade and J begins 5th grade! Where you see you see them seated is where they do the majority of their work. J and I in their bedroom and E in the basement at her desk (which is the object of A's envy!)

Introduction

We are family of six who have lived in Wisconsin for one year. Before that our list of address have included St Louis, Togo and Ivory Coast, West Africa, Fort Wayne, Montreal, Minnesota and Michigan.

We believe we are going to stay in Wisconsin for quite a while! We have been blessed to stay in contact with friends and family via their blogs and hope we can do the same with you.