School 2014

Here we go again with another school year.  This year, we will be trying something new.  Caleb and Luke will be joining the Foundations program at Classical Conversations, and Caleb will also do Essentials.  This will cover most of their school work with the exception of math and language arts for Luke and just math for Caleb. I will also be tutoring (leading a class) Caleb's age in Foundations. I am looking forward to a new adventure.

Joshua (8th): He will use Freedom Project Education for Latin (First Form), Science (Apologia Physical Science), Logic (Introductory Logic), and Economics.  He will do A+ math online, Algebra 1.  English will be literature studies (Total Language Plus) for the following books: The Door in the Wall, The King's Fifth, Crispin, The Trumpeter of Krakow, Amos Fortune, and Treasure Island.  He will complete Mystery of History, Volume III with supplementary readings from Trials and Triumph. This semester at co-op he is taking Mapping the World, High School Art, and Current Events.

Caleb (5th): He will be doing Foundations and Essentials (English grammar and writing) through Classical Conversations.  He will do math online with A+.  He will complete book 2 of Christian Studies.  Handwriting will be cursive Prescripts. Our read alouds will be based on Winter Promise's American Story Part 2. At co-op, he is taking Mock Trial, Keepers and Contenders, and Choir.

Luke (3rd):  We will finish Level 2 of All About Spelling and hopefully, Level 3 as well.  He will complete Level 3 of All About Reading and maybe start Level 4.  He will do Math Mammoth 3.  Read alouds will be same as Caleb.  He will start Handwriting without Tears, Cursive.  At co-op, he is taking Art, Keepers and Contenders, and Choir. 

Thomas (K): With a late August birthday, I am still trying to decide where to place Thomas.  I have started A Beka K for Language Arts and Math.  I plan to go at his pace.

Anna (pre-K):  Anna will be attending preschool at the high school again.  We love the program, and it gives us a little quiet time to get school work done.

The other day, we looked out and saw a mother deer and her fawn in our back yard.  We watched while the fawn bedded down in the tall grass, and Mama went off for food, we assume.  Of course, the boys wanted to go out and check on it.  We have such a beautiful view out our back windows.

Summer 2014

Our busy summer consisted of Vacation Bible School, birthday parties, Hope for the Hungry, swimming at Tallulah, Unicoi, and Grandma's, hiking at Unicoi, swim lessons, 2 Classical Conversations Practicums, Mimi's care and funeral, Trail Life trips and training, a conference for Matt, Six Flags, and the Lego Movie. I think I was too busy going to take any pictures.  Here is what I have...

Joy Anna's 2nd birthday

Watching Mother Cabbage deliver a baby girl

Happy Father's Day

Unicoi Beach

Our dear Mimi

We lost our dear Mimi on July 3.  July 4 was Jean's birthday, so the day was heavy on our hearts knowing that we have now lost two women whom we loved dearly.  I am so thankful for God's promise that we will be together again, where there is no more cancer, no more pain, no more heartache.

Mimi was a beautiful soul.  She is one of those people who would give you everything she had, if she thought you needed it.  She married young and worked hard all her life.  She had stories of running a dairy and delivering milk.  She worked as a hair dresser for over 60 years, and so many people who came to the funeral told stories of growing up in Winnie's beauty shop.  She was loved by this community.  She added electrolysis to her services, and she worked at that until about three weeks before she passed away.  She never did want to retire.  

Caleb had a very special bond with Mimi.  He could often be found cuddled up under her arm during the church services.  Mimi was always defending him when he got in trouble.  She loved all her great-grandchildren dearly, and they loved her too. 

She was 88 years old, and she amazed the oncologist that she kept on going.  

As a teenager

Mimi loved to tell the story of this picture.  When her husband, JC, when to World War II, he carried an 8x10 of this picture with him.  One day, he was on the battlefield and had to retreat quickly leaving his bags.  When he returned later to get them, his picture was missing.  Someone else found the picture and sent it back to the US to the professional photographer's address on the back of the picture.  Fearing the worst, the photographer sent it to the Salvation Army.  The volunteers delivered it to a very surprised Winnie.  Fortunately for all, Winnie had already received a letter from JC stating that he had lost her picture and that he was okay.

Before chemo, her hair was always colored and styled.

Waffle House breakfast will always be a favorite memory.

Mimi's 88th birthday in January