Where have the past 2 weeks gone? I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things have seemed to be so busy! As I'm finishing up 11th grade, I can hardly find time to do anything else but schoolwork (and music)! My Calculus, especially, is taking up a LOT of time and studying! Oh well, I plan to be done by next month and then hope to get back to posting a little more.
The above is pretty much what's been going on... Lots and lots of schoolwork. I was excited this past week when I got to talk to Dr. Jay Wile twice over the phone. ;o) (For those who don't know, Dr. Wile is the author of the Apologia cirriculum... the science I use.)
I was struggling on an Advanced Chemistry equation and decided to call, as he says you can do in the book. Dr. Wile is as funny on the phone as he is in his books!
And he also indirectly helped me with my calculus ;) I LOVE Chemistry, but anytime I try to explain things to the people I know they're like "HUH?" So it was REALLY neat to be able to speak "Chemistry language" with someone else!
I am also very thankful that the Lord provided a specific graphing calculator for me. I needed it for my calculus but they cost over $100! The local base high school was kind enough to lend me their TI-84 graphing calculator until I was finished with Calculus. Praise the Lord!
Today was our homeschool group park day. It felt so good, being mid 40s! While I waited for my friend to show up, I read some books I borrowed from the liabrary:
"Mathematical Preparation for Laboratory Technicians" and an SAT Chemistry subject test preparation book. I'm not planning on taking the SAT or anything but I wanted to quiz myself on the questions for fun ;) (Dr.Wile said that after I've completed my Advanced Chemistry, that it's equivalent to a 1st year college course Chemistry, so I wanted to see how much I knew :)
When my friend arrived, we took pictures of everyone: The little girls were burying their toy horses...
The older ones were playing tag, I think...
My friend and I were having fun with the camera...
The moms also were enjoying their time together... (My favorite one is marked with an arrow!)
Hee hee, I LOVE YOU, MOM!
My friend and I loved watching the dozens of robins. We tried feeding some with molded bread (kind of us, huh?)... but red-winged blackbirds came and scared them off.
Then we ventured home and my friend and I practiced a song we'll be singing soon for church. Then all of my violin 'students' gathered into my room for the lesson...
About an hour ago, my dear 5 yo sister, Beth, came upstairs and said, "I want to play my violin wits you!" So I got out my violin, tuned hers, and gave her her first lesson...
She learned E and A string. We played counting 4 Es, then 4 As. It was so cute watching her getting use to holding it and playing it...
Oh how I thank the Lord for my family! My siblings are so sweet and my parents are so wonderful! He has given me so much! I hope you all have a great weekend!
By the way, the picture in my last post was a CROCHETED HAT that I turned inside out. :)
"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant..." Genesis 32:10
Well, it's been a busy weekend and beginning of the week so far. Last week we had fun making a welcome home sign for Dad and I enjoyed playing around with the fabric markers...
I decided to embellish a plain apron that we had. Here it is half done...
And here's the finished project...
I love birds!
I was, also, excited this past week when I was able to figure out how to restring my violin! ;) I was a little nervous to take the strings off, but I did do it and now my violin sounds much better :)
Today I had an orthodonist appointment, for I'll soon be getting braces again :( , went to teach piano, and went to our friend's house. We intended on doing schoolwork together, but didn't get around to doing it. She really wanted me to cut her hair and so we had fun doing that in the bathroom...
She wanted me to cut off quite a bit, so what was down to her hips is now barely past her shoulders. It does look nice and healthy, though! Speaking of cutting hair, I, also, trimmed my mom's hair the other day. She allowed me to do my first haircut ever on her. I was thankful for the tips she gave me, they came in handy today! Tomorrow I'll be cutting my friend's 2 sisters' hair :)
Well, I thought I'd share some of my personal favorite pics from the weekend...
Mom just being herself... lol
Will's self-photo...
The girls "eating the wind" as we drove down the road with the windows down...
Also, I was having fun doodling this evening. After about 20 pages of nonsense (except my cute 'Cardinals in Alaska') and lots of scribbling out, I finally drew something that I liked...
Bread. Why bread? It just looked fun to draw.
Because it's late, I'm just a little tired and I tend to get a little goofy when I'm tired. (A family trait ;) But can anyone guess what in the world this might be?
I'll tell you soon! I saw it sitting on the table and couldn't resist changing it's form a little.
As I listen to the classical station online, hearing beautiful violins, violas, cellos, basses and double basses harmonizing together to create beautiful music by Mr. ? (one of the many classical music composers)... poor Mother is trying to finish sewing Carolynne's birthday present for tomorrow, and she just broke the second needle tonight! And I am frequently hearing 'OW!', for she keeps poking herself with the needles. She's, also, talking to the sewing machine: which, in return, is not cooperating. lol
Well, have a great rest of the day! Well, actually, enjoy the new day! (It's midnight, oh deere!)
The new year is another year of opportunity in our youth that we have to mature and grow in the Lord.
A few ways that are necessary to grow are:
1. Have daily quiet time with the Lord 2. Pray often (all day long) 3. Memorize Scripture 4. Meditate on Scripture 5. Review and study notes from sermons and personal quiet time
Listing ways are simple, while applying them can be more of a challenge. It takes time. OUR time! When we don't take the time to spend with the Lord, it is sin, it is selfish. God has something to say to all of us, no matter what our age. We cannot really grow when we aren't in His Word. Listening to the preaching (although good to do) isn't enough for our spiritual growth. God talks to us personally and changes us through His Holy Word. We, also, need to be memorizing and meditating on His Precious Word. When we are memorizing and meditating, His thoughts become our thoughts... We are armed for spiritual battle.
Another way He can grow us through trial and error. We are always failing somewhere in our life, making mistakes and bad choices but the Lord wants us to learn from our mistakes and we can... if we choose to. He also gave us parents to help us grow, guide us, teach and train us while we're still at home. But there will come a time when we'll have to make our own decisions. They are helping to train us now, so we can be prepared for those times in the future. We should heed to what they say.
2007 was a year that we can use as an example and a learning experience. The trials we went through, decisions we made, the paths we chose, and our failures and successes... the Lord wants us to learn from it all. We need to think back and see where we were useful for the Lord and praise Him. And we need to see where we can improve and grow.
How about the new year??? Let's make a goal and decide to be in His Word daily, memorize it, meditate on it, and use it in our lives to become changed more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalms 1:2
I hope you're all enjoying the 1st day of 2008! Sorry I haven't posted much for a long while. I've been very busy the past few weeks, so much that I even took, almost, the entire month of schoolwork off! :( I had to finish my mom's present... a crocheted tree skirt. I also had many, various other thing going on. A surprise... I had my hair cut on Friday! I haven't had it cut for a little over 2 years and it was down to my hips. Mom cut the dead ends off... about 6 inches! Now it doesn't even reach my elbows :( But it does look healthier and the length will grow back. ;o) This Sunday evening was our 2nd annual Youth Night Service. I thought I'd share some videos...
Here is the children's choir...
This was my offeratory...
And my friend and I sang a duet for the special music... (I lost my pick at the beginning! LOL!)
Afterwards we had a fellowship of pizza and brownies. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to next year's. (This year's, really :)
I hope everyone had a good Christmas. On Christmas morn, Mom lured me out of bed with a cup of Christmas coffee... yum! I could have slept the rest of the day but the younger ones were so eager to open presents. We read a chapter in Luke and then opened our gifts. I got a lot of sheet music I'd been wanting, a lab coat, fluffy socks, a really neat pen/pencil, a face wash, and CANDY!!!!! ;) I felt kind of bad because I wasn't able to completely finish my mom's present. I still have to sew on 11 more poinsettas!!! By hand!!!
Let's see... what else is new? I'm now teaching piano and will (this month) start teaching violin. I've also been baking like crazy. We made baked goods to send all of our family. And I was busy making our yearly Christmas video. Well, I had some extra time today so I thought I'd post. I think I'm finally able to start posting regularly again. Oh, and great news! My dad is coming home from Iraq VERY soon!!!
