Lazy Snow Day

Something that doesn't happen to homeschoolers is "snow days". (Poor grammar, but I couldn't figure out how to write that correctly.) We found out last night, to our elation, that we would have a snow day today! We have had a huge ice storm, and it is still raining.

Our street

Fallen limb in front of our house

Isn't it spectacular?!

The kids stayed up late last night, we slept in late (glory be!), and we have just had fun today playing games and watching movies. It has been a nice change of pace. Every night this week was going to have some activity, so we have welcomed this lazy day!

Close Call

The beautiful snow has turned to ICE on the streets~NOT fun! This morning as Seth, Aaron, and I headed to Seth's ball game, I got to the end of my street UNAWARE that the street was so slick. Well, as I was going 25-30 mph, my breaks WOULD NOT stop my car. It was an anxious 15 sec. or so! I was able to maneuver the car across the street into a snow bank. We weren't hurt at all, but I was really shook up. (I'm leaning toward NOT driving like Rita, Jackie, and Liz!) I later learned that the ball game was cancelled anyway. Matt returns from Venezuela today~I'm praying that I won't be the one who has to pick him up as the weather is supposed to get worse, not better. I'm thankful for our guardian angels this morning!

Photo courtesy freefoto.com

Game Day!

Yeah! Today is Game Day...and you know what that means! Oh, maybe you don't...we have 2 basketball players and one cheerleader around here. For EJ, it means dressing up in a tie and being VERY excited and pumped!

Wow! Look at him move! heehee...me thinks I need a new camera!

Sorry...blurry again...EJ is #11

For Morgan, it means (today) dressing up in the "cow" (that's what the girls call it, I guess b/c they don't like it?!). I'll have to ask them sometime why and how they came up with that name. Anyway, I think it's cute!

Later on, despite ugly weather, I'll venture out and attend those games. It's a great time! Last week, our team beat the other in a nail-biter. There was actually a buzzer-beating 3! Wish Mom could be here...

Let it Snow!

Today it snowed and snowed and snowed! I love it (although I had to grocery shop and drive in it). That part WAS NOT fun... It was so cool to be listening to "Oh, the weather outside is frightful..." When we got home today, the kids played in the snow~they're enjoying it so much.

It was interesting to DRIVE in it (how would you like that, Jackie!?), and I can truly say that I REALLY didn't like it at all! It's supposed to do more of the same tomorrow~they call it a winter mix. I wish it would do enough to cancel school, sleep in... That would be delicious~*sigh*. Tonight we're watching "The Christmas Box", a neat Christmas movie. You would enjoy it if you watched it! It's a good evening to be snuggled under a blanket...

When It's Over

It's really time for a new post! I sit here at my desk with a picture of Venezuelan friends looking at me...I love them so much! Matt is right now in Venezuela, closing up our *life* there. What a huge chapter to close, a hard one to close. We spent 11 years, wonderful (though tense due to El Emperador) ones, there in our adopted country. It has been an emotional time for Matt, wrapping up things. He says he has felt as though his whole family died and he was sorting through their stuff. He left a week ago, had a sale, gave stuff away, etc. He is now in Caracas, with our life there pretty much behind him/us. On Sunday I was very emotional myself, knowing that he was resigning from our church there (oficially) and that my darling Venezuelans were voting again, this time for their very survival! And THEY DID IT-THEY DID IT! They beat that monster, at least a round! Morgan and I stayed up very late on Sunday night waiting for Tibisay whatever-her-name-was to come out with the announcement. (I bet SHE won't be the next VP! heehee). We were just incredulous! We jumped up and down, we were so excited! I stayed up to watch the eating of humble pie. It was great. So, you ask...where does this leave us in the future? When Matt gets back and puts that in a prayer letter, I'll let you know. Wherever I go, I will always have Venezuela very much in my heart, as part of that which makes me me. Actually, every day that passes I miss it more, not less.

My Violin and Mr. Brauninger

One of the great benefits of a Christian school here is the music program. TC has a wonderful~awesome~music staff! We are privileged to have as our violin/guitar teacher Mr. Kent Brauninger. He is so awesome and he has a great sense of humor! He is teaching Morgan and Ethan, and would you believe, he has accepted me too! We are preparing to play Christmas carols at a cool mall here close. Should be cool! Have a great week!

The GLORY of it!

Having lived in Venezuela for the past 11 years, I am absolutely glorying in the change of seasons. God is so amazing in His creation! In Venezuela, we have one season: hot (oh…I forgot to mention that in Dec.-Jan., it gets about 1 degree cooler =} ). Yesterday, as I drove home from the library (another glorious American tradition—folks, you just don’t know how good you have it!), I was delighted to see autumn leaves swirling in the brisk (there’s just no other word for it!) October-almost-November breeze! Those leaves beg to be played in, and that is just what my little ones did yesterday…won’t they love it when they get to unpile raked leaves! (When someone has the TIME to do that~this American pace has us running ragged!). Have a wonderful November 1 (All Saints Day)! Praise God for my justification before Him, making me a saint!