Some Some Summertime!

No grand vacations this year - an over-nighter in Midland with Noni.  The usual water and outside activities.  Horses and feral hogs, horned toads and desert tortoise, library story time, playing soldier at the Fort, said Yeh-Yeh-Yeh-Yeh-Yes to Va-Va-Va-VBS, peaches and juice pops.

Spring is springing

Our front yard flowering quince.  A sight for winter-weary eyes.  I wish the picture could show the deep rich coral color it is.  Our D'Anjou pear tree is bursting with buds.  Last year it produced many hundreds of pears - if you like pears, they are so sweet.  I will be brushing up on pear recipes this summer.  Come visit and bring a big box!

High, low and in-between

That pretty well describes our lives the last few months.

We've moved back to Texas and have settled in, though we are missing "The Big Empty" of northeastern, NM.

You never know what life holds, but God is with you. And what He put on my heart long ago is a love and need for the beauty of His Creation. We may not be exactly where we want to be, don't know why He put us back in Texas. What He has given me here reminds me that He never leaves me. Walking out my door and seeing what was laid out before me everyday in the pictures of New Mexico I've posted here before, is the same beautiful creation He's laid out for me here. A glorious view of His work in the high country and range lands. He wants us to have faith in things we cannot see, and yet He still knows what I need here and gives me a tangible gift every day reminding me of His presence.

Change is in the air!

It's with this post I say we're moving back to the mountains of west Texas. As fall starts to set in on the early mornings of the high elevation grasslands of New Mexico, we'll be chasing summer south soon. Home is where your loved ones are, so I guess it doesn't matter where you live as long as you have those you love around you.

I'll miss this area of New Mexico. God's Country for sure.

Meet Olivia!

One chapter ends another begins and they all flow together to form the story of us.

I put down the last of my own dogs down a couple months ago. His name was Gunner. He was 17 years old. I bought him in 1992. Long before a husband and children were even mere specks of thoughts in my head.

Mesa had come along about the last year of Gunner's life. She'd never been without a companion. After Gunner died, she was somewhat out of sorts at being left alone. Dale and I decided to consider getting her a pal to play with again.

We kicked around some ideas on what might work for us. But mostly what wouldn't - sheds too much, nice for cuddling but too small for Mesa to play with, a puppy vs. older dog, etc. etc.

While we were busy making indefinite plans, the couple who sold Mesa to us had contacted us about a Neapolitan Mastiff/Great Dane mix who was only 1 old and already on her 4th home. Who'd have thunk as a puppy that a Neapolitan/Great Dane mix would get TOO BIG?? doh! So, as she outgrew homes and owners, she eventually made her way to us.

I'd already had an English Mastiff/St. Bernard cross years ago. All 225 lbs. of him. So I gingerly brought up the idea to Dale of adding a canine pony to the family. I think I'd finally worn him down - he's looking to downsize the animal population around here, but has a wife who'd take them all if she could.

He agreed to go see her, and we'd decide after we saw how she got along with our kids and Mesa. Well she was a pathetic site. Having been starved at her last home. Not a problem, we know how to feed 'em here. She was a little aloof and confused not knowing who or what else was in store for her. But we decided to take her as she was gentle with the kids and unconcerned about Mesa too.

Anyway, here she is. She's settling in fine - less of an adjustment for her than for us. While completely enamored at the idea of having such a unique, ginormous dog around, one thing that isn't pointed out in detail in the hopeful honeymoon phase, is the amount of DROOL they produce. Seriously. You have no idea until you've seen it in person.

Good thing she's such a pretty girl, because her personal hygiene habits leave a lot to be desired. :)

The journey begins!

After months of research, I came up with the curriculum for my daughter.

We're using:

Singapore Math and Math Mammoth
Writeshop Primary - grammar and comprehension
Starfall and Phonics - reading and spelling
Spanish phonics
Sign language
Apologia Science - this includes learning some Latin
Bible study
Read-alouds
Handwriting practice
Lots of one-on-one reading time and games that apply to all the subjects

We also use various CD-ROM's, free downloads, workbooks and have discovered the treasure trove of both early reading and nice textbook/educational books at thrift stores.

We need to play a little catch up!

After my daughter lost her sweet old mare last year, we put the word out and found a nice 13.2, 5 yr. old dapple grey pony mare. We named her Lilly. Miss Lilly. She's a sweetheart. The kids are both just starting to ride, but we hope that they come along and enjoy Miss Lilly for years to come. Picture of Jayden and Lilly to come.

Home's Cool!

After year-long consideration and nearly as much research on the subject, we've decided to homeschool our children.

There are many reasons for this. The most important reason is because God gave us these children to raise and no one can love them and bring them along like we can.

The other considerations: we're not crazy about the public school system in our area or our state. In general the school system simply can't meet everyone's needs and both the best and the brightest and the could-be-better-and-brighter both suffer for it. There is potential in everyone and the entire group is shorted when the bar isn't set high enough or not everyone gets the help they need to reach it.

Socialization can be a 4-letter word. We have raised our children with manners, values and compassion. They do not have the skills at this age to discern and handle the kind of people they need to both surround themselves with and separate themselves from.

Understanding and reaching educational goals with a heart and mind on their long-term academic future is important to us. Having the freedom to be able to teach them through various curriculum as per their talents and needs and having more time to do that one-on-one in the home is going to benefit them like no overwhelmed and unfocused school system can.

Proverbs 4:1-17
GOD - In this house we serve and honor the Lord and will bring our children up as He wants us to with the wisdom He's given us.

I won't surrender my children to this world. I will equip them to live in it.

Seasons and things anew!

Winter is turning loose of us here. Not that we had much of a winter between 08 and 09. The wind was our winter this year and since it's impossible to escape the wind in NM, we're happy to see it rise to a comfortable degree.

Earlier this Spring a friend of ours found our daughter a pony. We'd been through a couple of horses for her this past year and had all but about given up on that idea for now. Then came Lilly. Miss Lilly if addressing her formally. Will be posting pictures of her soon.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Doesn't matter what the temp says - it's always beautiful out here. We're blessed!