Classical Conversation field trip: nature walk - exploring local trees

We have a great CC chapter and it was so fun to do this weeks special outing. Our chapter has been very sick [H1N1 has hit locally as well as all the other fun regular seasonal stuff of life] so we actually didn't do our regular meeting. I had decided to make Lily a nature kit. Whenever we go on outdoor adventures I love that she gathers specimens and treasures. However, how to carry and manage that and still be hands free. Plus I wanted to add a notebook for sketching and writing observations. I was able to get a bunch of composition notebooks themed after Sasquatch and nature for really cheap. Then I decided to gather scrap fabric and make my class students each a bag equipped with a magnifying glass [$1 store], a pencil, ziploc for specimens and notebook. Lily helped me design the nature kits. She suggested a pencil sleeve within the pocket, picked the fabrics and we guessed the size of the strap. I was very happy with the way they turned out and hoped that the kids would like and use them.



The weather for our hike was perfect. No rain and actually a warm fall day. We met the local tree guide on campus. He knows everything and offered to do an hour walking tour of various local trees. The kids were able to listen to good information, to explore and to awaken their senses. All of this while in the community of their peers. It was really one of the best class trips I've ever been on. Very low maintenance and we ended it with a trip to the art museums cafe for treats and refreshments. Here's a glimpse of our journey that day.

Autumnal Family Evening Walk

I am coming to a full circle moment in my life. Almost a year has passed since my accident. This season brings so much life, so much adventure, and so much awareness of how grateful I am for every day and every moment given. We don't live in that state of gratefulness as much as we should. It would make me a better person if I did. But when it is remembered I am reminded of the creator of all things. The beauty of this life amidst even the hardness. And how simple pleasures like an autumn evening walk with my family are goodness.



I was just reminiscing over a poem from one of my favorite poets...

John Keats. 1795–1821

627. To Autumn

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, 5
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease, 10
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind; 15
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twinèd flowers;
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook; 20
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barrèd clouds bloom the soft-dying day, 25
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; 30
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies."

Homeschooling in community

For those of you who homeschool I hope that you have found kindred spirits to encourage you along the way. At the very least, I hope your children have found kindred homeschooling spirits. That is one of the things that I am thankful for in our experience. Lately we had a chance, and we have had many over the years, to do some homeschooling with my godson Evander [Van as we call him]. He and Lily are a year and a half apart and a grade apart in school. They are both in a homeschooling class that is teaching them about grammar and writing. We were working on key word outlines and how to learn how to correct/check your rough drafts. First of course we needed to have the accoutrements: numerous highlighters, pencils, silly post-its, a tricked out pencil case and, of course, finished rough drafts. Then we went to one of our favorite cafes by the university and commenced our lesson. I love the age they are at. You can set them down, walk through the instructions, have a conversation and then let them loose to work on it. They did a great job despite the distractions of a fun college cafe. After that we went to the local used bookstore and then our lesson was done. I am so excited about this stage and learning and can't wait to see how it continues to unfold.

As we dropped him off it was fun to see his grandmother [Grandma Judie] and watch the kids gather together to play a bit more before we parted. I so appreciate these good times, very simple and sweet. God is good.

Homeschool Fridays Art: October

I love when things happen organically. Circumstances and people all fall into place to allow gatherings that are really quite delightful. We have tried this year to have a very simple schedule. The temptation with homeschooling is that there is always so much you can do and it is easy to have a very full roster of activities. That may be the case with public school situations but I don't know since we homeschool. I have found that if we don't schedule carefully work doesn't get done or we get overscheduled. All that being said here and there moments are carved out that still allow for fun in the school day. On Fridays we do modern dance and then I try to fit in art time. Today we had a few girls with us and I loved the art and chattering that ensues. These kids work so hard through the week it is fun to see them play creatively. And again...I love love love the different ages all hanging out in an encouraging and nurturing environment. Wilder loves it and it is good for the older girls too. I also snapped a few pics of the mothers with their daughters before they left. I can see my prayer that my girls and I will have a good and nurturing relationship echoed in my fellow homeschooling parents. Again, I am not saying this is not the universal prayer of parents to have good relationships with their children. I think since we are the main teachers for our children 24/7 sometimes I worry about the intensity of our relationships with our homeschooled children. It all seems to work out in the ebb and flow and that is good to see. Anyhoo, on this rainy October day I loved having all this cozy life all gathered in my house for a bit this morning. It's a good thing. Now onto the rest of my day - carpe diem.

fall right now

It is Tuesday evening and we are almost done with our day. I have not posted for awhile because I have had some computer software difficulties with my photo organizer and have been too busy to fix it. Lucky for me Mister had a moment to help today and all seems back in order.

A summary seems in order. The pregnancy is going well and we are very grateful. All ultrasounds seem to indicate a healthy baby boy growing and a very active one too. Below is a picture of my friend Meg [who is also pregnant and due this spring too] and the girls at the orchard.


Pregancy this year seems fraught with a little more difficulty with all the H1N1 flu issues flying around. I am doing my best to make good choices and keep as healthy as possible. There are still so many dr. appointments with my physical therapy and regular OBGYN appts AND the specialty appts for baby. That combined with regular life seems to have me at a doctors office at least every week if not every other. It is a time to be grateful for a hard working husband who provides us with the resources for health care. After hearing so many stories, personally and indirectly, it makes one thank the heavens for blessings given and pray for those still in need of good health care.


Homeschooling in this season has been a blessing. Watching Lily grow into a learner has been amazing. Watching Wilder learn with her has been double amazing. I often think that we don't know where this life will take us so live it well now. We are doing our best. It is still a struggle to balance the toddler and the 9 year old but we are working through it. I love the books I am reading and podcasts and lectures that all encourage me to nurture this learning environment. We are not putting Wilder in preschool, instead we are exposing her to a learning environment as much as we can.



It is so interesting to see how this learning environment is soaking into her thoughts. She loves watching her sister at her dance classes. She mimics the art, and the writing as best she can. She floats in and out of the order of the day. I feel as if it is one of my biggest opportunities to learn how to adapt to both levels.

Again, I am grateful for how our homeschooling community nurtures the children playing at all ages. It is humbling to see the patience and love they extend to each other. I see how the little ones soak up with confidence the love given. I see how the bigger kids grow with the responsibility of leading and helping the littler ones. It is grace in action.

I am hoping to write more about my experience with my Classical Conversations community. I need to catch up on the blogs I write for them. Mostly, I know it is one step at a time. Every day keeps us moving forward and it is with joy I embrace this season. It has been almost a full year since my accident and I live in the moments thanking God for the health I have and the mercy shown. We do not travel these hard roads alone. I pray for those in need now that they may be lifted up and that they will feel the love and grace around them. God is faithful. Carpe diem.

walk down memory lane

I am finishing getting ready for tomorrow's full day of teaching school. My portable schoolhouse is not yet packed but I'm close. ---I should say that if you are reading this and don't want to read any gushing talk then skip this blog because I am full of thanks today for a marriage that I never knew I would have. I can't help but be distracted with memories of 18 years ago. This weekend Mister and me have had a great couple of days together - alone and out of town. The girls and the pug were being watched by various lovely people. We don't often get away but it is good when we do. Especially after this last year where the vows of "in sickness or in health" really came to play. We are both just so grateful that God has led us through these years and continues to lead us in our marriage. I don't mean that in some euphoric way - I mean it in the way of people who have been through the fires. I am grateful to have had chances to stand by my man and for he to do so with me. I am awed by the years of mundane life still meaning so much. I say mundane because although there have been high mountaintop experiences and deep low valleys there is always, always the everyday. And I am grateful for the mercy of still having him love to walk through the door each day and for me to love having him walk through the door. And then to share it with our children is such a blessing.

After going through the death of our second daughter amidst the holidays of Christmas and the New Year, I remember how much we clung to each other, to our faith. How much we were lifted up by family and friends in prayer and support. Most of these same people have walked with us since the beginning of our relationship over 20 years ago. I met Tucker when I was 18 and just out of highschool. I was not interested in a relationship, let alone with a man who was 5 years older than me [it's funny how that was such a big deal when I was young]. But we were really good friends and continued to just really get along and like each other. We got engaged 5 months before we got married. It was an interesting courtship and a fun engagment. He proposed to me on one knee under a golden dome in a museum courtyard. I had never in my life thought I would ever have that experience. He has brought that thoughtfullness to our marriage and taught me so much about how to love. I pray that I have grown to be a good wife to him.


It was the 90s and the fashion was not so fun. Looking back I realize that I really didn't have a clue as to what to do with a big wedding. Luckily I had lots of help in the decisions. I know I would make different choices now about colors, clothes, etc.. but in the long run...it doesn't matter. It was just a wedding day and we enjoyed it. The marriage has been the work that has been a thing that over time becomes beautiful for all it's imperfections. Two, broken and flawed people coming together to learn to love each other - and to stick to it. I pray my girls find men like my husband. I hope my son will grow to be like his father. That is the blessing that God has given me after all the hard things in my childhood and youthful years. A man who I can love and want to grow old with. This morning before he went off to work he said to me that he was glad he had married me 18 years ago. That is what I hope he will say even many more years from now - God willing.

For book club this month I chose a book we have loved. "Secrets of a Very Good Marriage: Lessons from the Sea" by Sherry Suib Cohen. We stumbled upon it in our second year of marriage and it has been a good friend.

adventures in the sisterhood

As a mother of siblings [after years of having an only child] I have been encouraged that despite the frailties of our humanness that somehow, grace of God, my girls are learning to be good friends, good sisters, and hopefully siblings that will be there for each other beyond their growing up years. It is the plight or gift of the younger sibling to follow, often running, after the older sibling. I love how Lily consciously or unconsciously is learning to be there for her sister. And how Wilder in all her joie de vivre brings unabashed love, affection, and adoration to Lily. That is not to say there are not those times when they can't seem to agree. It is more to say that they are working it out and that the process is beautiful to see. It brings out the best and the worst in each other. But day after day they are coming together and making loving choices. I would say that our children our one of God's best gifts for us. And also that having siblings is one of the best gifts they can have. So, I say God bless the sisterhood. It is beauty, life, mess, joy, adventure, companionship and so much more in the making.

These pictures have been taken in the last month. The first was at a beach trip. Lily had galloped off to her favorite sand dunes. Wilder soon followed, but as you can see the distance was quite far. I decided not to rush and hover but to watch and see. Soon I saw Lily notice her sister and come and greet her and take her on her adventure up the dunes. Later they walked back with treasures in hand. The next group of pictures is Lily climbing up a wall to explore. Wilder wanted to get up that wall so badly that she stood in water trying to climb the wall. Lily after a bit of exploring came down and helped Wilder climb in a safer spot. Again, for me it was a bit of the practice of letting go. Letting Lily try to judge what would be safest and most doable for her and Wilder. The last set of pictures were at an orchard. Again, big girl running ahead and littel girl following. But still within minutes they were playing together. Especially after my accident last year I treasure these things as gifts to be seen. God is good, His mercies never ceasing.

it's been awhile since I've done a wedding

Tucker and I used to photograph weddings together years ago. It's been awhile since I have photographed a wedding. Earlier last month I was asked by a friend of mine to photograph a wedding for her niece. It was a week before the wedding and the aunt had heard that they had not hired a photographer and felt that later they would regret it. I had already turned down offers to do weddings earlier that summer. I am on a very amateur status these days. My focus is the work of raising and teaching my girls and being there for my hard working husband. But I could not resist jumping into this worthy cause and offered my services. Albeit I was a little nervous as I had not met the couple but since they weren't paying me and they turned out to be so darling and gracious it was a great time! And I really am opposed to the idea that wedding photography should cost a lot. The wedding is really only for a day and the marriage for a lifetime. I would rather people go on longer honeymoons. However there is a lot to be said for at least having some memories and images to cherish of this special day. And I do think there is a place for professionals but I do not put myself in that category at the moment.





So, with my trusty little assistant Lily at my side, we went and spent about an hour or two and photographed this very darling couple - Tommy & Jen. Here are a few pictures - I didn't edit much as this was a bare bones operation. It was set on a golf course with a great supporting cast of men and women and amazing family and community. Truly a heartfelt celebration!

lava and the mountains

Summer is fading and Fall has blown in. I am happy. Last weekend we had a marvelous time on a sunny coast with good friends. Camping with toddlers is a challenge, well and camping while pregnant is not so easy either but this was a best scenario if you are going to. But that is another story.

I am catching up on my life. The house all though vastly more improved in the deep crevices of organization is still in need of resettling as I figure out where to put things and how to make it work. That is a theme as of late. My girls are working out schooling together. We don't officially school Wilder and yet in a learning environment learning will happen. I admire Lily's patience in working with her sister's age. It is hard to reason with a 2 year old especially if they are as quirky as our Wilder. But it makes for a funny little life.

A few weeks ago we escaped up the mountain. Life has been too busy and it was nice to run away even for a day. We stopped by a lava field and had fun exploring the crazy rocks. Lily is still into running everywhere and Wilder is on her heels. If Lily is climbing then Wilder is climbing. Tucker is so good at explaining the significance of things. Truly he is one of the best teachers I know. It is an awesome privilege to live with such a great conversationalist and learner. He is voracious in his interests and we all learn with him. The girls soak it up and I have taken to calling Lily a mini-Tucker. They are peas in a pod. Anyhoo, I love the narrative of this collage and how it shows the girls real life interactions and Tucker's walking them side by side. I am grateful for this season and for the recovery after this long year. We are almost to the one year mark since the accident and it truly makes me grateful to be alive. Carpe diem my friends, carpe diem!

I love this quote:

"You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet."
- Charles Jones

pumpkin girls

The fall is surrounding us with falling leaves and a cooler air. The girls have loved the changing season. They are fortunate to have grandparents who grow pumpkins and it was fun to see the lovely orange balls lined up in a row. They sell their pumpkins to a local store. I am happy to be heading to the coast this weekend. School has been good and I am excited for another respite of beautiful scenery, good friends, good good food and the beach. Happy Fall season day to you all!

Oh Boy!

This modern technology is amazing! We went in for an ultrasound to check on the baby's progress - it was at this time during Coco's pregnancy that we found out about her heart issues. So far everything looks good and the baby looks healthy and up to the marks. We were also hoping to find out about the sex of this wee baby! The first ultrasound tech [an intern] quickly scanned over and said that the baby's position was not favorable for finding these things out. Then the actual ultrasound tech came in and gave us so much information about the health and in no time had concluded that the she was 80-85% positive the baby was a boy. Then with more looking into it she concluded almost 90% that it was surely a boy. Then the doctor came in and after asking if we were ok about knowing the baby's sex - told us he was sure it was a boy.


WELL...honestly it surprised me how much joy I found in the news. I think I have just been accustomed to being the mother of girls that having a boy just never really occurred to me. Tucker told his parents that "the testosterone levels in our household are rising." He is a funny man : ). We are all really excited for a new baby adventure and well -a boy baby adventure. After Tucker and I found out the news I went to tell the girls and bring them to meet Tucker for dinner. Although, Wilder was beyond tired we made it through dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Lily's reaction to the news that she would be having a baby brother was pure joy and excitement, she actually almost cried with happiness - very sweet. Wilder is a little bewildered. She really is attached to the idea that she is having a baby sister. Anyhoo, it is all good in this little household. We are praising God for a healthy pregnancy so far and for the miracle of a baby boy to look forward to!

first day at Classical Conversations

Homeschooling in this day and age is so varied. Last week was our first week of our second year of Classical Conversations. It is a one day a week homeschooling group which meets one day a week for 24 weeks of the school year. I am tutoring again this year and have a great class of 3 girls and 6 boys ages 8 to 9 years old. This schedule allows us to do this set core curriculum and then also do our other curriculum. Lily has other core classes at home: math, history, grammar..etc. but then also supplemental classes like ballet, modern dance, chess, swimming, Greek, and hopefully if I can find her a new piano teacher, piano. It is honing my skills and redeeming my education. I feel my brain is being awakened in ways that I had forgotten and it really is awesome!

Suffice it to say it was a very busy day. Wilder is usually with her grandparents at the farm but this week she was being watched during classes at our CC school. All things went smoothly and at the end we had ice cream to celebrate.

I am grateful for another year to have fellowship in this journey for me, for Lily, and for our whole family. I am glad that Wilder too is getting glimpses of homeschooling families that are really fun, inspiring and nurturing. She loves her new friends.

During Lily's afternoon class [ which I was not teaching - I teach the morning class] I got a very tired Wilder to fall asleep and was able to be in class with Lily for a bit. [Can I say again that I love the BOB Revolution stroller? I still can't believe they sent us a new one. I'm still a little fearful about streets with busy traffic - but I am working through it and so is Wilder.] I loved taking in watching Lily enjoy being with her peers in a safe environment that challenged her and inspired her love of learning. God is good. Carpe Diem.

embracing this right now life

I found myself a little grumpy this morning. Our little family is in the midst of adjusting to our new fall schedule. We just came back from some fun visits and the house is in an uproar as we do some maintenance projects. I realize how much chaos in one's living space effects your attitude and health. I am not one of those people who can block out noise that well - visual or audio. Don't get me wrong - I love getting the work done and creating a better moment/space to live. But sometimes [ha] the journey to that better moment overwhelms me. Luckily I have a husband who is my true best friend and reminds me what is loving - sometimes gently and sometimes with the vigor needed in the moment. It is good to have the mirror. It reminds one of our need for God. We are working on all sorts of projects but I am trying to not neglect my favorite ones [my bloggy and its ongoing story of our life]. These pictures are from our visit with Tucker's sister Summer this last weekend. In so many ways they capture nuances of the girls right now.

As I am organizing my house I found this quote I had kept...it seems apropo.

Embrace this right now life while it's dripping, while the flavors are excellently woesome. Take your bites with bravery and boldness since learning and growing are here in these times, these exact times. Hold and kiss them because it will soon be very different. - Jill Scott

my girls with the boys of summer

We have had a nice quiet summer that is slowly coming to an end. It seems appropriate that it is a rainy day when I am writing about one of our latest sunny adventures. Tucker is out running a race in the rain as we girls catch up on our beauty sleep. We have a fun adventure planned for today and tomorrow and then next week starts our Classical Conversations schooling and my teaching.



One of my favorite things, and one of Tucker and my goals, is to get the girls out in nature in adventures. When we get to do that with friends it is even more of a blessing. After my accident this year I was blessed with finding a physical therapist who really has been a tremendous help in my recovery. As I am now pregnant I am so grateful for her continued help as my back is not yet healed.




We had been talking since the spring of visiting her in the country. She has a river at her back door and three adorable boys to play with. As the summer slipped away we finally made a date and went out to visit her. My girls had so much fun in the river. The boys helped find petrified wood and rocks, explored under bridges and up the river. Lily learned how to paddle a boat and also how to paddle with toddler passengers. The two youngest kids in our group looked like twins with blond curly hair - one boy and one girl.

I am reminded again of the good that has come in these hard years. I am reminded of these moments of sun and play and it pushes me into seeking the joy and the work of the present days.

late august play

I am blessed with some inspiration in my life. Women who have walked beside me for years. Living their lives with good intention. One of my dear college friends has been an inspiration for years and a comfort as we homeschool in different cities but of similar mindsets. Our strengths are different but we find solace and inspiration from each other and well, balance. To have women be good friends is a blessing. To have families be good friends is grace and mercy and joy. My girls love playing with their boys. The husbands have found interests that connect them and it truly has been a good fellowship.




We just got back from a visit from their house and I was again inspired by their commitment to a life of faith, discipline, love and homeschooling. There is more but Tucker and I talked about the life they were building and how it reinforced and encouraged our commitment in our lives to good work. Edifying is a word that comes to mind. They have created a home that encourages a love of learning. Fosters a brotherhood and a family. A home atmosphere that builds character while allowing for grace and love. A home layout that enhances good playtime. It may sound idyllic, and in some ways it is. But it is real and fraught with the difficulty and joy of real living.




I am inspired by the glimpses and I hope you will be too. They are real down to earth people, working hard to carve out a life that is worthy, full of love and joy of living, and open to wisdom and that permeates the whole home.

sans photos

As I type the girls are doing their lunch chores. Lily has fallen in love with a Swiffer wet jet and I am fine with that romance. She got hooked at a visit with our friends. They did their chores and she was asked to swiffer and has not been the same since. They gifted us with our very own so she has taken over sweeping and mopping duties - and like I said I'm fine with that : )

Meanwhile she is training Wilder on "sweeping" while they listen to some audio schoolwork. It's quite funny to hear Latin being sung while they sweep and mop.

My post title has to do with a little glitch in my computer at the moment. It's not recognizing my camera or iPhone when it's plugged into my ports. I tried sleuthing it out and may have solved it but I think I'll wait for the big dog to come to my rescue - pretty please w/sugar on top. I have so many adventures to record and share. Especially my latest homeschool and Shakespeare forays.

Next week starts school so we are working on getting accustomed to a new homeschool schedule of getting up early and getting in a different mindset. I'm working on finalizing our schedule and putting together Wilder's preschool activities. My goal is to have things running smoothly by the time baby 2010 is born so that Wilder and Lily will have a good vision of a school day. I have been gathering tools for our educational goals and am so excited. We start our 2nd year of Classical Conversations and I will be teaching Lily's class.

For now I am tackling my own to-do list and trying to make the days count. Tucker and I have some great goals for this fall. I love this season and hope to embrace it fully. Wish us luck!

the running of the bulls/homeschool public registration

Now how can homeschooling have a public school component? That is the question I have been asking these past few years. However our community has a homeschool resource that has worked with a local district to create classes that homeschoolers can enroll in. These past few years it has been going through some major changes.

Today was the registration that happens at the beginning of each school year. After this afternoon/evening's experience I knew I had to write about it. First kudos to the people who set it up. They did a lot of hard work and tried their best for it to be fair and accommodating as well as more efficient. That being said, when they changed the time to show up to one hour later and then put yellow caution tape up to block all potential gate crashers - well it was the beginning of a more stressful experience. They even asked people who came early and ignored signs to leave the premises. I've talked to many parents and this style of sign up was like the old college arena registration examples. Lots of lines, lining up, waiting, then paperwork, then moving to a new line, even bull horns were used. To get to the beginning we had to walk a long corridor that reminded me of being coralled into our respective lines. To top it off I had to go to the loo at least 5 times so I confessed to being pregnant so that people would know that I was not trying to get in early to cheat and sign up - just trying to use the loo.

My main point of writing this was to speak to the experience of the stress of trying to fit these schedules together for our families. Schedules that would still allow for us to do our homeschooling at home. There is no perfect answer but the yellow caution tape made me break into a panic and as I looked around and saw the answering panic in other people's faces I just wished for another way. But the lady in charge was right. We would all make it through all right and it would be just fine. It just didn't feel great along the way. I don't know how long we will do this, but I do know we will take it one year at a time and try, yes try, to enjoy it along the way.

Afterwards a few of us homeschooling mamas went looking for a good margarita [mine was a virgin drink] and then carried the party over to a local sweet patisserie to get more visiting time. I am glad to have a good schedule lined up and hope it all works out smoothly. School is soon upon us and I can feel the chill of fall in the air. It is the excitement of a new year. And after today another reminder to Carpe Diem.

nature girls

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. "
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lily got to spend some time with some girls this summer from our church. They have known each other I think almost their whole lives. Lily is the youngest but these girls are all homeschooled and we find often with homeschoolers that they are age friendly. It has been awesome to have connections with girls who have such an adventurous and fun loving personalities, and yet still have a wholesome outlook. These are a few of the little women that are a part of Lily's girlhood and make us feel blessed to be in such a community.



I was only there for pick up and drop off. I had more trips out to the country than I had planned as the first night Lily was there she got sick. Fortunately it was the momentary sickness of not eating well, laughing and exercising so much that a little sleep and some food perked her back up enough to go back to play. It was on the day she went back that she built a fort around a tree that really was magical. She worked about 4 or 5 hours on making it with the help here and there of the camp mother and some of the girls.



When I picked her up she was tired but invigorated and I drove home thanking the Lord for opportunities like this for my girl.

family reunion at the beach

This year we met up at the beach with my family again. Last year it was with my brother Dave and family, this year my brother Ed and his family joined us. It was 6 adults and 8 + children at a beach house for 4 days - can you say play play play!!



I love my girls out in nature they run and explore. We had an amazing walk with my nephews Isaac and Quinn. We almost got stuck on a sandbar as the pelicans chased after the fish. Then the Lily, Isaac and Quinn raced through what they called "sand dune city" and then played chicken with the waves. On our way back to the cabin we saw a beached shark.
Each day we had family meals and family outings to explore the beach near us and to revisit favorite spots. I love the time when the fathers get to play with their children. They carried them through many walks, climbed the dunes, played in the water, explored the caves, so many fun things. Each night we had a great meal cooked by one of the couples. Overall - it was good to visit the siblings and let the cousins get to continue to know each other better.

portabellopixie skirts and a glimpse of the married James & Jessinah

So I learned a lot about this pattern after whipping out a few skirts. It is a very full skirt. I made Wilder a size 3T and it is long. I think I need to tighten the elastic for her skirt and I know I need to on Lily's because it was too big too wear. Also it was fuller than I think she likes her skirts. I will have to go back and do some modifications to make it work. I am still planning a few more skirts and pants. My skirt went ok and I have received quite a few compliments but I think I will find a pattern before I make another one.


Here's a glimpse of James and Jessinah as they walked out of the wedding in the meadow. It was a very lovely August afternoon affair. I snapped this photo by chance as they were leaving the ceremony. I snapped a few more but I like this one because she looks like she is happy enough to wink. The preacher's talk was so edifying. I wish I could hear it again. Overall a very lovely wedding.

I have been working on my photo management and really my computer memory management. I think I am onto a better system. I have a lot of photos to post so we'll see what I can do before we leave to go meet my two brothers and their families at the beach.

i HEART iPhones which record voice memos

If you haven't guessed already I love my iPhone. After the accident last year I needed a new phone since my pda had been blown to smithereens by the crash. It really has been one of the most enjoyable devices I have ever had. I use it all the time and find it to be so innovative in so many ways. The latest way that just gives me ooooodles of joy is the voice memo function.

My example for today is that I was at my first obgyn doctor's appointment and we were listening to the baby's heartbeat for the first time. Wilder was with me and as I was lamenting not being able to share it with Tucker and Lily and then I realized that I could. So, the doctor let me grab my phone and we recorded it on the voice memo. I now can listen to it anytime. Is that not the cooolest???? I lurve my phone!!

to live content

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear on cheerfully, do all bravely, awaiting occasions, worry never; in a word to, like the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
-William Ellery Channing

sewing, fabric stores with toddlers in tow and dreamy tweens...

Mister has been out of town for a few days and I have gotten into a bit of mischief. I love days that roll from one fun impromptu moment to another. This weekend we discovered a new boutique fabric store in our town. I was with a friend and her daughter and that turned into a godsend as Lily and her friend started dreaming of starting their own business making clothes for themselves, for their dolls....They walked around picking different fabrics chattering about. Meanwhile I was working on getting some fabric for some skirts and pants for some new Portabellopixie patterns that I found. Absolutely whimsical, fun and AAAdorable skirt ideas and pants. I decided to throw in a skirt for myself and thus my mischief took me. Where during all this was Wilder???

Wilder was in the middle of the store, speaking loudly about everything and "helping" the lady who was cutting our fabrics. It was quite amusing and Wilder won herself a new collection of admirers. That girl can make friends with anyone. We finished off our little foray with lunch and then later that afternoon I commenced "Operation Portabellopixie". Did I mention in this story that I decided to make skirts for a wedding that we were going to the next day??

Now sewing is something I learned from my mother. I am not a perfectionist, more a wing it and swing it chica. That works most times but can be a little tricky with deadlines. The girls skirts turned out nicely and they even fit, although Lily's could be a little less "pouffy". She's more of the simple girl. They both picked out the patterns and Wilder's was pink and Lily's black and white with a bright green. Both floral patterns but modern in their aspect.

My skirt had no pattern as I could not locate that Amy Butler pattern I've been waiting to sew. Oh, well so I winged it but as Tucker is out of town one random thought, a thoughtless cut and I was in high water. Let's just say I saved the skirt but it's not exactly what I had planned. I will show pics later from the wedding. Anyhoo, Mister is back today and my sewing of pants will go better with another pair of hands to distract my little play dough girl. Sewing is a art that needs concentration which can be difficult in such a loud house as mine. : ) all fun though - carpe diem

my reading girl

taken with my iPhone
This picture was taken yesterday when Lily and I were reading on my bed. She was reading her book and I was reading mine. I glanced over and just had to soak in the moment. She is going through a series that she asked me to read with her. She's reading and finishing a book every week or so. Depending on how busy we are. But every time we turn around she is reading. If she is not reading she is talking about it or carrying it with her to read when she has a moment. Someone asked me the other day if I asked her to read each day or if she just did it. That got me thinking about this whole thing. At this point she wants to read at any moment she is not playing : ). I think our goal would be an active life for our children of mind, body, and spirit. We try to balance her time of reading with activity. We try to be outside as much as possible, but even then there is always time for books.

Our girl has been a reader since kindergarten but in these last few years that reading passion has blossomed just as I imagine any parent would hope. She reads a variety of things. The point that we are loving is that she reads a lot. I was thinking about her journey to reading. In particular because I would love for Wilder to love reading as much as Lily does, but also so that that love of reading will continue. We are not experts in this field, we are just bumbling along as we learn, but these are the things that I remember that we have done along the way:

- read to her every day: for example during the day we would read picture books and educational books and at night Tucker would read the bible and they would also read through books - even at an early stage they read through so many great novels.

-model reading: Tucker and I are avid readers!

- have books around: our house is teeming with books we see them as an essential part of our lives. We have books ranging from children's literature to non-fiction. We have them in her room, in our study, in the art room, the living room, the kitchen....you get the picture. I've been thinking we need to go through and organize them and streamline. Maybe that will be one of our projects this year.

- go to the library often: we try to go at least every one to two weeks depending on our needs

- read with them: I still read out loud to her still even though she can read, now she asks me to read some of the series she currently is reading. Some of the books I will read so that we can dialogue but some I will just listen and have conversations with her about.

-readers and kids who are read to make great writers: We have heard that thought before but it is turning out to be true in our home. Lily is a great writer with a cupboard full of ideas gleaned from years of stories being told. Her imagination and scope are wonderful.

-continue to foster that love: I think kids often read when they are younger but with so many other media options that love can be lost. I don't know exactly how we will try to continue to nurture that love but I do know it is a priority. I had a friend once tell me "buy books over clothes".

-be discerning about what they are reading: I will read some of the books she is reading or Tucker will read them out loud to her so that we can dialogue about the issues or concepts in the book or if the book is not ultimately appropriate due to mature themes or content, we can steer her clear of them or direct her to other options. And honestly I take this thought seriously as Tucker and I have noticed that juvenille literature is quite adult in it's themes.

There are more things I could list, but bottom line if you love reading, they will probably at least model it, especially if you limit the other media's that can dominate your home like TV, video games, or computer time. And if you do watch movies have them watch foreign films every once in awhile and read the subtitles. We've been watching My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle and both are in French and she loves them.

Wilder is on her way, even at age 2 to love books and hopefully, love reading. It challenges us to have to rethink how we got Lily started on this road. It changes when you have two or more children but I think if it is a family philosphy it will succeed. One book I am reading a book now called The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. We already know that Lily and Wilder will be different in their styles of learning. I am keeping my mind and methods open to the new roads ahead.

Do you have any tips about nurturing the love of reading?

a reunion jumble weekend

This weekend was my 20th high school reunion. I was debating whether or not to go but with the pull of some of my friends and the tug of curiosity I decided to go. The first night was a mixer at a local bar. It was a surprise to see so many people there. The organizer did a great job of doing the party. I was looking in particular to see 4 people. One I knew lived in another state and was not coming. The others 1 was a for sure show-up, she was the one who persuaded me to go. The other had just had a baby and was in the midst of a remodel and would most likely not show. And the last was not reachable to confirm. Summer weekends are precious family time so I was trying to figure how to juggle a "me-centered" activity with family time. Being pregnant helps because my stamina is not for late night partying and heavy drinking [ nor is that generally my modus operandi]. I left just as the party started heating up and getting a tad more on the wild side.

The next day Lily and I went to the tour of the school. That was fun to see for nostalgia's sake. Lily being a homeschooler has only had a brief 2 week stint in a public school so it was interesting for her to see the setting. As high schools go my high school is a nice one. It seems now it is more a campus type style that is geared towards helping you move quickly to adulthood. One of the rooms housed 40 - 60 kids in the classroom. It was modelled after a college class room. All in all it was very interesting to see the current school setting. I went to this school when we moved from South Korea. It was in the middle of my freshman year. Most of the kids had known each other since birth or early childhood. My niche in high school was with my athletic sports and with my church youth group kids. I was grateful for how nurturing my experience was considering the circumstances. The tour guide talked now of homeless students and security issues and the need for funding. Very sobering and real. He also talked about the excellence of their sports programs.

The heat has continued to blaze through these weeks. A little lessening. We went down to a local block party to see our friend's band Science Heroes. It was a nice turn out. Wilder loved dancing and Lily loved observing and staying cool. Tucker caught up with some of his buddies. Snow cones at the street faire were wonderful treats on that hot day.

Last night was the reunion dinner. I was happy Tucker came with me. It was good to have a good conversationalist with me and also we were planning on sneaking out for alternate fun if need be. I was pleasantly surprised that another few of my friends showed up and it was good to connect, however brief. Some of my high school mates knew Tucker from work experiences so he had some visiting to do. I laughed when I turned to see him surrounded by a bunch of my female classmates. That man has charm : ). There was a group picture and then Tucker and I called it a night. Probably people stayed to mingle and maybe dance but I had done what I had wanted to do. It has been interesting to think about what reunions are for. I much prefer the intimate reunions but there is a place for things like this.

I am now listening to Tucker explain to the girls about cooking and Julia Childs. We had a scrumptious breakfast of challah french toast and bacon and fruit. Now time for some true relaxxxxing.

moments with my daughters & the homeschool year prep

For those of you who have more than one kiddo you know it can be easy to let time slip by before you have special "dates" with your children where they get time alone. We were parents of an only child for 6 1/2 years before Wilder was born so Lily got plenty of that kind of time. Now as we realize that once again our family dynamics will change I was excited to have a little time alone with Wilder this morning. She's such a hoot to me - and a joy. Lily and I are having great conversations about life and growing up stuff. I am reading books that she is interested in so we can talk about the things she loves. For Wilder and I it is still the getting to know and appreciate who she is. Lily has been such a great mix of Tucker and my personalities. Wilder however is a whole different chick. Lily and I don't wake up easy, Wilder wakes up all sunshiney and smiley. She usually comes down the stairs with a yell of "good morning!" My nickname for her is sweetheart because she is such a lovey. But don't be mistaken, this girl knows what she wants and has no qualms about telling you. On the one hand I love her strength but on the other, Tucker and I want to help her find appropriate boundaries. It is reminding me that this parenting is an ongoing learning process - and a humbling one at that. We are stewards of these little lives for a short time. I am grateful that it is a day by day process and that love, grace and mercy abound.

This morning while Lily was off doing some homeschooling stuff, Wilder and I had an early morning city date at one of our favorite coffee spots. Then we walked downtown and did a few errands. It's blazing hot around here but in the early morning it is bearable. It really was so much fun having a Wilder moment that I was reminded to make this a priority, not only for myself, but for my girls. This is precious time to get to know them and build a great relationship outside of the mundane routines of life. A chance just to get to play and be with them without schedules. As my big girl Lily grows into a busier schedule I have a picture of what the future will look like so it reminds me to celebrate and steal the moments now.

On another note, I am heading into my final prep before the homeschool year officially starts. My goals are to do as much up front prep for my stint as a homeschool teacher for Classical Conversations as possible. I am still working on finishing my Homeschooling Methods posts.
I was distracted by all my homeschooling tangents on Charlotte Mason and some books by the Bluedorns [ The Fallacy Detective, and Teaching the Trivium]. This whole process of being a homeschool parent is fabulous in how it continues to encourage me and my husband in the process of learning and teaching. This year Tucker is going to spearhead Lily's math curriculum. I am so excited. It is not my forte and I know that Lily will love the conversations with her papa. Part of our goals in homeschooling are to help grow our children into people who love to learn. I know I can not do it alone so am very grateful for the mentors and nurturing homeschool community we are a part of. I can't believe we are heading into our 6th year of homeschooling if you count preschool : ).

a small part of my journey to my family

Here is a bit of my story: I was born in the Philippines almost 39 years ago. My birth mother was a young native Filipino who had already had one child out of wedlock. I have been told that my American serviceman birth father was going to marry her and adopt my older sister. I was also told that 2 months after I was born he was gone. My half-sister and I were both put in an orphanage at very young ages. She is about a year and a month older than me. Less than 3 years later another half-sister was born and then a half-brother. By then my birth mother was ready to marry another Filipino man. I heard that she offered my little sister as a peace offering to her relatives but they encouraged her to let her children finally be adopted.

I think I remember the first time my adopted parents say they saw me was on a ping-pong table singing "Jesus Loves Me". They already had two birth sons and were looking to adopt one girl. They had already narrowed their wishes on my older sister but when they heard about me they decided to adopt two girls. I was 5 when I was adopted and my sister 6. I remember all during my childhood my sister and I both had dreams of one day being mothers and one day hoping to give our children a good home and loving family.

When I met my husband we both dreamed of a big family. We were open to starting young in our marriage. We soon began to figure out that we were meeting quite a few obstacles. We tried a few years of fertility intervention but stopped after the cost of emotions, money and time began to wear us out. In the year 2000 we were approached with the offer to potentially adopt a baby from a young teenage mother about to give birth. Within months our whole life and perspective changed and we were parents of a baby girl that we named Lily after Tucker's grandmother. We were there at her birth, Tucker cut the umbilical chord and we took care of her from the onset as her parents. It was a beautiful story and still continues to unfold as it is an open adoption. After years of heartache we felt so blessed by this child and she was showered with much love. The gift her birth mother made for her was one of the hardest a woman can ever make. It is one of the many reasons I strive to be a good mother to my girls.

In about 2005 some of my health issues came to a head and we were encouraged that this was our last chance possibly of fertility w/assistance. We met with a new doctor and started carefully on the path. We were able to conceive and became pregnant with a baby girl we later named Coco. That pregnancy was hard from the start. It led to bed rest, numerous hospitalizations and finally a premature birth via emergency c-section. Coco was fighting against the odds and somewhat winning. She had been born with a serious heart condition and at 32 weeks she had to have heart surgery. As she was healing certain complications led to her needing a pic line and it was then that she got bacterial meningitis from the hospital environment. She lived a total of 29 days. There are so many hard things about that whole experience but we are grateful for so many other things. We got to know her, hold her, be there for her and hope somehow she knew she was a loved child.

In 2006 we were told that our best chances were soon after Coco's birth/death because I would be more fertile. We decided once more to try. It was hard to go to all the doctor appointments but we pressed on knowing that we wanted to give it our best and last try. On the second round of our fertility efforts we got pregnant this time with Wilder. People often joke about Wilder living up to her name but I remember praying secretly that she would be strong and live. Her pregnancy was relatively smooth. After numerous ultrasounds we were told that they could not see any heart issues. Ironically in 2007 when she was born they found a heart murmur on the day she was born. She is now 2 1/2 years old and despite still having the 2 heart issues present she is thriving and strong and we are grateful. We have felt blessed beyond our imagination with these two girls. It has felt enough.

In 2008 as Wilder and I were out on a walk [she in a stroller] we were hit by a most probably drunk/drug influenced driver in an SUV. My pelvis was broken in two places and I was essentially hospitalized for 2 weeks as I learned to just do the normal activities of sitting up, walking to the bathroom, etc. I was in a hospital bed at home for the rest of that year and then began to learn how to walk with a walker, then a cane and finally on my own two feet. My body is recovering thanks to God's mercy in my life and to great care by friends, family and a fabulous physical therapist.

So imagine our surprise in 2009 discovering that we are without any medical assistance having not an unwanted, but definitely unplanned and in our minds even inconceivable moment of being pregnant again with what I am calling for now baby 2010. We are stunned, amazed and happy. Many friends have reminded me that of the many trials one could have, this is a good one. I know it may not be a perfect journey, but I know today God has given us this little miracle in our lives. We saw it's heart beating and I was reminded how precious and strong the will to live is. This road of motherhood is making me a better woman. It is knitting my family strongly together. My husband and I have travelled hard roads and it has taught us to value and cherish each other and this life. God is faithful. I hope and pray that this may in some small way encourage others who have struggled similarly. I hope it will encourage my girls to trust God with the story he is writing. It's been an amazing journey so far and I am just in the middle of it. I pray and have faith I will live to see so much more -for now I celebrate the day and praise God. Some might wonder why I am sharing this- maybe it is too intimate...and yet it is part of keeping my family record and learning to write my story, but it is also in the hopes that it would encourage others in their struggles as I have been encouraged myself.

The above picture of the pregnancy test stick was from this last week as we confirmed that we are indeed pregnant.

summer heat

taken with my iPhone slide time

It is hot weather around here, even with air conditioned moments it is hot. It makes doing anything and everything just a little more something. We are enjoying many water moments and it has brought out my lilies in the garden. I can't believe we are almost through July. August is our busiest vacation month. All I can think of now on these hot days is how great it is to live in such a beautiful country, how these seasons do go fast. My girls are loving the summer days. Lily takes breaks amidst her playing outside and about to stick her head in a book for hours. She is studying Greek this summer and reading a series that ties into all things Greek. She has been swimming every week 2-3x a week for practice. It is a new summer rhythm for us.

Wilder is continuing to find her place in our family. She is so ready to learn anything and loves to sit and chat and read books and play - anything as long as she is in the middle of the party.

Tucker is biking to work and enjoying the ride. He has had a few crazy incidents that remind me that it is not safe to talk on a cell phone and drive. Twice two women have almost run him over at crosswalks while they chatted on their cell phone. It makes me feel more accountable to be safer. He says he found a study that equated talking on your cell phone while driving as equal to drunk driving. Scary!! Anyhoo, he has been inspirational and healthy in his habits this summer.

Me, well I am enjoying the lazy dazy days.. I am meddling in my house. Soon I will attempt what I am calling a "whiteout" painting fest. My 20th high school reunion is this August - unbelievable. Overall, I am just grateful for the good days. Hope your summer is going well and that you are keeping cool as a cucumber. : ) carpe diem

adventures in llama land & at the ocean and more to come

We have been jumping from one landscape to another. That is the story of summer living. Last week found us at a llama farm. I haven't even had time to sort those pictures and then we left to the coast for the weekend. Now back in the hot valley it is sometimes easy to forget I just had sand on my toes and the wind at my cheek on a sunny day. Needless to say, I was reminded that I try to keep my bloggy updated as it is our family memory keeper.

It was a few magical evenings - some images like this of Wilder running from our campsite to the beach within minutes were so enchanted. We had a great visit with friends old, and new. The weather was superb and truly ranks as one of the best vacations ever. We made a newer friend a better friend. She is magical with children - shares her love of adventure and nature. Got to visit with friends, one whom I have known for almost a quarter of a century.

The girls loved being out in nature, discovering new things. The llamas and the rock quarry were fun sights and there was lots of laughing. The house we visited was full of art. I will have to post that separately. Amazing hosts. Lots of art - handmade glass lamps, prints, sculptures, it was a lot to take in. I loved seeing such a beautiful collection of interesting pieces.

At the beach the girls ran unfettered as did the pug. Both girls looked for agates and swam with a starfish.

Mister is such a great model of soaking in the moments. He carried Wilder through many beach walks this last week. She is fearless in her explorations always trying to run after her sister. I was pondering why it was so easy to get pictures of Wilder these days but not Lily. It is because Lily is a girl in motion. She comes alive in the outdoors. What more can a parent want.

Last but not least, today was an amazing day in it's mundaneness - is that a word? But time will tell if there is more to say about changes to come in our lives. God is amazing and is authoring it all. It is days like today when miracles happen that one knows life is a gift. A beautiful awesome gift.

Carpe diem.

visiting with real blog friends - Mt. Hope Chronicles & Travelin' Nan

Had a fun visit this last week with my friend Nan and with our friend Heidi who happens to also be a blog friend. It was fun last year when we went to visit her in person. We have been trying to arrange another play date but circumstances have thwarted us. In fact, if I remember it correctly we were going to visit with them in a few days last November but then I got hit and obviously that plan fell apart.

Anyhoo, we planned a travelling visit. The first stop was at Nan's for lunch. She has such a great party house for kids and adults. We had a wonderful lunch while the kids played. And then, just when it couldn't have gone better we went to a local park and had popsicles and ran about in the sand and water. Then to cap it off we trekked back to my house and had dinner and more visiting. It truly is a delight to get to meet people and form friendships. My husband and I enjoyed talking to Heidi about homeschooling, parenting, etc. I am grateful for the kids getting to meet new friends and it was a picture fest. Emma took a lot of pictures while we women ate and talked. I took some but it was fun to see the gathering little friends busy playing. God is good.

lunch @ nan's

Leif & Wilder [both 2 and full of zest] and the lovely Miss Emma

outdoor play ROCKS!

dinner @ my house - I had to take the fun photo of Heidi actually in person on my couch - blogs are fun : ) but real friends are better : )