The Storm of a Lifetime

Last Wednesday, the biggest storm to ever hit the DC area hit while Hannah and I were out shopping. We were "trapped" at Whole Foods while a tremendous storm blew through, knocking down trees and power lines. Roads were closed everywhere for days as crews tried to clean up fallen trees, many homes had trees that had fallen on them, and power was out for days in the hot, humid 95 degree weather. The boys were calling us with reports of how many trees had fallen on our lot (around 10) but thankfully, none of them hit our house. Two of them smashed into our fences...

This is the view of our backyard after the patio crew abandoned everything and ran to their cars for shelter!



This is one of the smaller trees we lost...



This home in our neighborhood was one of several that had a tree fall right on it! It was just a shocking, awe-filled experience to drive around and see the damage that occurred.

We were reminded of the awesome power of God, and it put into perspective what really matters. We were all okay, and so was our home. We have many huge trees that could have fallen on our house. We are very grateful for God's protection over every detail of our lives.

Jacob's Exciting Milestone

Earlier in the year, Danny and I decided to challenge Jacob during his twelfth year as he turns thirteen, to read the Bible in a year. We also decided to provide incentive by offering a reward if he finished in a year - a lego robot that he has been wanting for a very long time. Not only did Jacob eagerly accept the challenge, he far exceeded our expectations. He actually finished the entire Bible in 107 days!!

Words cannot describe the sweetness we felt as we watched our son grow in his love for and knowledge of the Bible. We would go into his room regularly and find him reading the Bible. He read for hours every day. He read late into the night, every night. He read in the car, he read in his room, he read in the study, he would go places with me just to be able to read more. We quizzed him along the way to be sure he was retaining - and he was. We know that the habit of Bible reading is the most important habit he could ever attain - and he did. Our hearts are just bursting with pride at how he set a goal for himself, and worked diligently to achieve that goal. Reading God's word was the plan, but he also learned a life lesson along the way - a lesson in hard work, diligence, persistence, and of not giving up when it gets hard (like in Leviticus!!!)

Jacob is a wonderful young man. We are so grateful for him, and for the example he is to his younger siblings. He is faithful to the tasks he has before him, and one of his strengths is self-control. He is fun to be around, and he is just getting funnier all the time! I know that the teenage years are right ahead of us, and we pray that he will continue to be a joy to us, responsive to us, and continue his respectful attitude and obedience to his parents and to God. Many temptations lie just around the corner - and Lord willing, Jacob will move gracefully through these years, relying on the Lord to be his strength and joy.

Jacob, we hope you have many happy hours building and creating with your lego Mindstorms!! We were SO happy to give it to you - you absolutely earned it and deserve it! We love you son!!

A Little English Garden

This Memorial Day Weekend was full indeed. Our main project was to do something with this little patch of dirt in our front yard right by the front entrance. It was always an odd-shaped little piece of land and we didn't know what we would do with it when we moved in. A few bushes were planted, but we had vision for so much more! So, Hannah and I went off to the nursery for some flowers, and we worked hard for almost three days to complete the project. Danny and Ryan were a huge help to us though, and in the end, we think the completed project looks beautiful. We had a vision for an English Garden... and this is how it went.

This was what we started with. Kind of boring...

Then we went to the nursery and brought home tons of plants and a couple of planters.




Hannah did almost ALL of the hard work of planting - she planted 42 flowers! Okay, that means 42 holes that she dug! She is most definitely a diligent and hard-working young lady.

You can see Danny and Ryan in the background. Danny laid all the stepping stones and spread all the heavy bags of mulch, with Ryan as his assistant. It was so much fun to work together on a project!

Of course, all this work and heat meant a trip to 7-11 for big gulps!!

These are the pictures of the finished product!! We think it is "rather lovely", and look forward to the day we can put a bench out there and just sit and have our tea! Hannah will probably sit out there with a sketch pad and draw all of the flowers and bunnies. She loves to draw, especially things in nature.

Bravo Hannah! Hannah not only did all the work of planting, but she also designed the beds and planted them. I am so proud of her! She certainly did NOT get her love of gardening from me. (Maybe her grandparents, but not me!)

Besides the flower garden, this weekend was full of wonderful memories, such as a baseball game in DC, a stop at the mall , a bonfire, and a swim and dinner with our dear friends. It is also the weekend Jacob reached a milestone - but I will save that post for tomorrow. Oh, and we even finalized our summer vacation plans - we are headed up to Stillwater, Minnesota to visit my family. That will be fun- and hopefully maybe cooler than Maryland in August!!

Midnight Showing of INDIANA JONES

For Jacob, this came first:

For Danny, this came next:

Then came MIDNIGHT!!


Danny and Jacob left around 11:00 PM to see the midnight opening of INDIAN JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL!!!! They returned around 2:30 a.m. They had a blast. Today, Danny needed even more Starbucks and said to me secretly "I don't know if I could ever do that again" while Jacob said to me "I can't wait for the next movie worth seeing at midnight to come out!!"





Hannah didn't go to the movie, but this morning this is what she thought of the whole thing... (note Jacob's eyes)



And a good time was had by all!!!

A Visit to Jamestown

We found ourselves in great need of a little break from everyday life, and so my thoughtful husband planned a weekend get-away for all of us to Jamestown, Va. We really had a wonderful time as a family, but it was a little bittersweet as Matt was unable to come with us due to work. I am still trying to adjust to this transitional season where Matt cannot always do everything with us as he used to do, and five will never feel like six... I always miss his presence. Having a "grown" child puts us in a whole new chapter of life. Does a mother ever get used to one of her children growing up and taking those steps into independence? This mother will not, I fear.






But we truly had a great time! First we went to Jamestown and walked the museum and the grounds where the first permanent American settlement was established. We had studied it in depth for history this year so it was very captivating for all of us. After that we went to Great Wolf Lodge where we surprised the kids with a really neat room, and they were able to spend some time in the waterpark before we headed out to dinner. We went to Olive Garden and learned that if you put your name in, get a "buzzer" and decide to drive away (just to check out other restaurants) the buzzer threatens to explode like a bomb! It plays an obnoxious song over and over until you get back in range. We ended up having Ryan sit on it to muffle the sound! After dinner we played a round of miniature golf at Pirates Cove and then back to our room to rent a movie! Whew! What a full day!



The next day we visited several gift shops, went out for breakfast, and decided to stay another night. Williamsburg is a lovely town with so much to see. We have traditionally gone there at least once every year, so we have all of our little favorite spots to visit. The next morning we had a quick breakfast and drove home to meet Matt at the theatre for the ultimate ending of our weekend - PRINCE CASPIAN!! It is an awesome movie and we absolutely loved it. Huge fans.

Hannah on board a ship at port in Jamestown

Ryan REFUSED to let me take a picture of him the entire weekend. This was the best I got. Ryan, someday you will wish you had let me take your picture more often!!

Oh, yeah, this is Danny living out his true fantasy - preaching at the church in Jamestown. He actually looked quite natural up there!! (only because he was actually "preaching" to the kids!!)

Help for Feeling Overwhelmed

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path" (Psalm 142:3)

As I survey this week and the weeks to come, I am tempted to feel completely overwhelmed. I needn't go into great details, but trying to finish out the year with homeschooling, having company here, planning for the summer, overseeing projects in the home, having just the normal, everyday responsibilities of life, can just make one feel "hemmed in on every side".

I found comfort the other day in something someone else wrote:

Nehemiah must have felt just like this as he stood surveying the huge task ahead of him. Looking at the rubble of Jerusalem's walls that stretched on for miles, I'm sure he must have wondered where and how to start. (Nehemiah 1-2) Fortunately, Nehemiah had prepared his work with prayer, and God answered by helping him begin. Moving King Artaxerxes to offer his support, Nehemiah left his cupbearer job in Shushan and returned to Jerusalem to rally the people. In addition, God also encouraged the hearts of the Jews who were living there to help repair each gate and rebuild every stone that had been torn down. In just fifty-two short days, Nehemiah and the people repaired the walls that had abeen lying in waste for seventy years.

As a homeschooling parent, you may be facing too many "assignments" in your life. Cleaning, cooking, ministry, and homeschooling leave little time for spare moments. Every task seems important, so where do you begin? If you're feeling overwhelmed and procrastinating under the weight of your responsibilities, learn the lesson that God taught Nehemiah. Pray for strength and wisdom, pick your task, and just start working. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when the Lord is in it.

"Lord, your word says in Ephesians 1:19-20 that the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to those who believe. Father, I claim Your promise and ask that You empower me today to accomplish every task You have given."

Happy Mother's Day Charlene

Charlene with her son Sam

I wanted to take this opportunity on Mother's Day to honor the woman who has had the most significant influence on me as a mother (besides my own mother). This example has been before me for almost fifteen years, and there isn't a day that I am not thankful to God for putting this woman into my life. Her name is Charlene Vigil. She is an amazing mother, wife, daughter, and friend. She has also served over the years as a caregroup leader, home-school advisor, science fair adminstrator, and so many other things that I know even if I tried I would neglect to mention them all.

She daily puts her family first in her heart and life. She rises early in the morning (and by that, I mean 4:30 a.m.) to spend time with God and cry out to him for her every need. Her dependence on the Lord is the first thing she has modeled for me as a mother. She takes everything to God in prayer, and this is evidenced in her life by an amazing faith during trials (and they have been many), and wisdom that surpasses anyone else I know. She has wisdom for any and every situation, and has shared her wisdom with me faithfully, on everything from how to care for my sick children to how to organize my homeschool! She has taught me so much about homeschooling that I could type an entire novel about what she has shared with me. She is so thoughtful to share her insights and tips or new websites she has discovered with me so that I can benefit as well.

She serves her children so amazingly - she constantly sets short-term and long-term goals for them spiritually as well as practically, taking her summer to invest in teaching them life-skills. She has had her girls in 4-H, they have taken sewing lessons, they have grown gardens and planted flowers, they have learned to serve their father and brothers in preparation for motherhood and marriage, they have learned to cook, clean, and so much more. The girls have interests in animals - and Charlene has sacrificially allowed them to have pets - and I do mean pets - they currently have three dogs, two rabbits (who just gave birth) and a bird. They have had hamsters, fish, you name it.

The average person who had all these pets would have difficulty maintaining a clean home, but not Charlene. Her home is immaculate, clean, and very homey. She has invested much time creating a welcoming, warm environment so that her children will love their home, and they do. She has excellent taste in decorating and does it within the confines of a budget that her husband gives her.

She is submitted to her husband in all areas, and I can honestly say that I have never seen a woman as committed to this area and as faithful in it as her. She truly places her faith in the Lord which allows her to joyfully submit to her husband. This is one area that I can strive my whole life to be like her, but I fear I shall never be half as faithful and obedient in this area as she is. (But I am trying honey!!)

She heroically serves outside her home as well - she is always counseling someone, taking a meal to a family, watching a friend's children, hosting a shower or party for someone, visiting the sick, etc. She has "adopted" an elderly lady who lives alone and has spent many years taking her Thanksgiving and other Holiday meals over to her. She visits this lady and the kids make cards and gifts, and have truly loved her as their "adopted grandmother". Charlene, however, would say that it is an honor and a privilige for her to learn from this woman and her cheerful attitude. Another example of Charlene's amazing humility.

She is a loving, kind and gentle mother to her children, as well as being fun! She makes everything fun, and has made COUNTLESS memories and traditions with her family - as well as for my children!! My children have been the recipients of balloons and candy when they are sick, or sad from losing a pet or breaking a bone or needing stitches (yes, I am talking about MY children) There is always m&m's for school bingo, ice cream outings for special times, her girls have regular dates with their mom out for breakfast. I cannot think of a moment that Charlene isn't thinking of her children, how she can invest in them, bless them, make memories for them, train them, teach them, love them. I often look at her children and see just how BLESSED they are to have her as a mother - I cannot wait to watch them grow up and see what kind of mother the girls will be under her influence.

She has come alongside me in my mothering as well - she has encouraged me with specific scripture and timely encouragement, she has cried with me, laughed with me, removed ticks from my children, put band-aids on their wounds, come in the middle of the night to check them when they were sick and I didn't know what to do, she has taken me to the emergency room when my husband couldn't because we had a child at home sick, she took me to the hospital when my Dad had a heart attack and stayed and prayed for and encouraged my whole family. There was a time our dog had a nasty ear infection which needed to be cleaned out daily (a very gross task) and she offered to come and even do that for me! Charlene has a nursing background and I have always made her my first call! She is my first call for any crisis in my life, and I have asked her before how many friends have made her their first call as well! She won't admit it, but I know the number is countless - she has so many friends who love her and rely on her.

Charlene has been through every major event in my life for the last fifteen years. It started with choosing my husband (another story for another time), and extends to being at the hospital with every one of our children - one of which was born on her birthday! She has lovingly confronted me when I needed it, she has encouraged me when all hope was lost, she has prayed for me, cared for me, been happy for me when something good was happening, I could just go on and on. She has worked through very difficult issues in her life with incredible grace, patience and faith. She has had seasons in her life where it seems God was pressing her in on every side, but she always remained cheerful and her faith sustained her through every one of them.

As I go through life, I watch her example in so many areas, and there are times when I face a decision and I really should be saying "What would Jesus do?" and instead I say "What would Charlene do?"!! (I am working on that one Lord...) But I am so thankful that God has given this woman to be my friend, my mentor, my example, my Titus 2 woman... and as I have described her, and believe me, soooo much has been left out, you will probably say "She sounds just like the Proverbs 31 woman" and you are right. She is the living, breathing, real-life Proverbs 31 woman.

Thank you Charlene for all that you are, all that you have done, and all that you have meant to me. Thank you for your example as a mother and wife. I am humbled by and grateful for your friendship all these years. I love you. Happy Mothers Day!!