Fruitbearers

1. My husband got a new job with a new work schedule (getting every other Friday off). 2. We’ve been volunteering/serving with ISI (International Students, Inc.) and hosting game nights for the international students from a local university. 3. My brother finally received his green card and was able to come to America after waiting for over 10 years. 4. We had a fabulous 5 day vacation at Sunriver in Bend. 5. My husband and I celebrated our 16 th anniversary and our "Half-a-Billion Second" Anniversary ! 6. My daughter won a Playstation 2 from mathmovesu.com, 2 $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards from Pixlit.net, and $10 gift certificate to the Old Schoolhouse Store & publication on their next year’s Father’s Day issue from a Tribute to My Dad writing contest . 7. My middle son won a Haiku contest . 8. My youngest son won 1 st prize (a sweater valued at $39.98) at a local Barnes & Noble’s guessing contest and 1 st prize ($25 Target gift card) on a colorin

We had a white Christmas!  The snow was a very nice surprise.  I don’t know if my kids were more excited about the snow or about the presents . Another surprise is not so nice.  I got Strep throat (just found out today).  However, I am so thankful that I was well enough on Monday to have a wonderful Christmas Eve with my family and others at my mother-in-law’s house.  I kept feeling weaker and totally exhausted by the end of the day (started to have high fever).  The Lord gave me enough strength to enjoy Christmas with my family at home yesterday with lots of bedrest in between.  Today, my throat hurts so bad that I can hardly talk.  Swallowing causes me excruciating pain.  I got antibiotics now so I should be getting better soon.  I am so glad that CHRISTmas is all about CHRIST.  We can rejoice at our Savior’s birth and His redemption even when unpleasant surprises may come our way.   Because of my extremely painful sorethroat, I have been mute most of the time today

Janne at Janne’s Jabberwocky is having a contest which is part of  the HomeschoolEstore ’s 12 Blogs of Christmas Promotion.  Since I already posted about one of my favorite CHRISTmas memories, I will just repost it here .   When my daughter was 8 years old, she made this card at Christmastime. Inside she wrote, "Thank You for giving us the Bible.  I am glad You came to die for my sins.  Thank You so much.  Thank You for always answering my prayers.  Thank You for giving me loving, caring Christian parents.  Thank You for all the wonderful things You’ve given me.  Thank You for all Your love for me."  On the back of the card, she drew (in pencil) a picture of Jesus on the cross.  I just love how she poured her heart into that special card for Jesus!  Very precious to me .

1. How many children do you have / homeschool?      I have 3 precious blessings and I am blessed to be able to homeschool all of them. 2. How long have you been homeschooling?      I have been homeschooling for over 9 years. 3. Have they always been homeschooled, or did they ever go to public/private school?      My younger two boys have always been homeschooled.  My oldest girl went to (half-day)kindergarten and a few months of the second grade at a public school.     4. Do you plan on homeschooling until graduation?      Yes, Lord willing. 5. Do you belong to a co-op?      Yes. 6. Do you school all year long, or use some other schedule?      We take every other Friday off (because that’s when my husband is off).  We also take holiday breaks and summer break (about 2 months).  7. Do you use textbooks only, or do you like to supplement with other materials?     We use variety of resources including tons of great, wholesome books, Christian textbooks, unit studies, gam

Last night, we went to a nearby church to see "The Christmas Post," a musical comedy based on illustrations of Norman Rockwell, written by Deborah Craig-Claar and Robert Sterling.  We enjoyed it.  We had lots of laughs .  A friend and her boys were in the play and they did a great job.  After the play, I picked up a free handout near the door that is thought-provoking.  It is a Christmas version of the Love chapter:-                                                                                                           If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.           If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.           If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and gi

Tiany is hosting Holiday Open House 2007 .  This is a fun opportunity to make friends and share ideas.  I’m so glad you stop by here.   Welcome!  Please make yourself at home and enjoy a peek into our life during Christmastime .  Please join us in celebrating Christ’s birth!  Relax and rejoice! On Friday, our family went to a Christmas tree farm nearby. Our hunting-for-the perfect Christmas tree journey lasted for about 2 hours.  We finally did find a perfect tree (all 5 of us voted "yes") . The kids excitedly helped put our ornaments on the tree.  Ornaments we use either represent the true meaning of Christmas or are meaningful family keepsakes (eg. ones that the kids have made, ones that are custom-made for the kids mostly given by their grandma, ones that have the kids’ pictures, etc.) We have cherished our family traditions.  Please click here and here to read a few of them.  Every year…a few days before Christmas, we make yummy goodies and then give them t