I’m going back to blogger. Find my blog at:

http://hopecaptive.blogspot.com/

Sorry for the confusion.

We’ve all had a kind of rainy day. After Anna’s nap (which Sofia not so gently woke her up), she came out to me in the kitchen.

“Mommy, we need chocolate. Chocolate will make us feel better.”

Today, for school, Caleb read 1 Timothy 2… one of the famous chapters about women being quiet and not teaching men.  As he read it, he looked up at me, sighed, sort of rolled his eyes, and kept reading.

After reading Bible, we read a chapter from “And the Word came in Power” by Joanne Shetler.  We happened to read Chapter 12 which tells of one of the Balangoa men reading 1 Timothy 2 with Joanne Shetler, and suddenly taking ownership of the village teaching (something she had been praying for).

Caleb looked up. We connected the two … the Bible reading, and the account in the book. Then he got very mad. “Mom, that is JUST NOT FAIR.” End of conversation. Back to reading.

  On Saturday, Marc and I culminated months of concern and frustration and discussion with the purchase of a new computer for me.  When I brought it up, I sort of thought it was in passing, and sort of felt more serious about it than I had felt before. When Marc received my suggestion with not only open-ness but also enthusiasm, I found myself in a strange conundrum.

I wanted to receive the gift, but also wanted to talk him out of it. Surely there are a million ways to spend money that a computer requires that are more important than what I use a co  mputer for.

And then I realized that that was exactly what Marc was saying. That what I do is important enough to make the investment in a reliable and up-to-date computer. That my day to day work is important and real, and worthy of the best tools.  I’m still trying to get my head around it. But now everytime I put my new computer on my lap, I have a firm reminder that my work is Real.

Thank you, Marc.

Here are the kids in each of their gardens.  Anna wants vegetables (we planted peas and peppers today). Caleb wants sunflowers.  Sofia helped me with my morning glory seeds.  All are very happy to have a great excuse to get dirty with Mommy.  (And don’t tell anyone, but I’m actually beginning to enjoy this gardening thing.)

Caleb and I finished the IOWA tests this morning.  After spending some time running errands (including mailing the said tests for scoring) we went to Gifford’s for mini-golf and ice-cream to celebrate.  It is 86 degrees on the bank clock, and the rest of the week has vacation written all over it.  We pick the girls up tomorrow and the games will begin.

In Maine, you have several accountability options for homeschooling. This year is the first year that we are accountable to the state, Caleb having turned 7 in October. We’ve chosen to have Caleb take standard tests as our method of accountability. We do not see it as a necessarily accurate assessment of his work and growth (BY NO MEANS!), but do see it as an important skill to learn – test-taking.

So yesterday and today have been our first days of IOWA tests. (I was able to become certified to test him through Bob Jones Press.) My biggest concern for the test was that he’s NEVER taken a real test before. Well, I shouldn’t have been so worried. When we got done yesterday, he was bummed out and asked why we couldn’t do more. And this morning he woke up asking when we were going to start.

One of the common Christian misconceptions is that some sin is worse than others…  but Paul is pretty clear as he lumps adultery and drunkenness with gossip that sin is sin.

This morning the kids came into our room. Caleb was all excited about a lego creation and was explaining all the details.  Anna, wanting comparable air time, jumped in when he took a breath.  Caleb looked at her, and said “Anna, stop it. I am trying to tell them about my creation. Can you please wait?”  She looked disappointed, but did wait.  He finished the description, then said to Anna, “What did you want to say?”

She finished what she had started, happily even.

I was quick on the draw. I told them how proud I was that each of them had handled that…. that Anna didn’t fall apart, and Caleb didn’t use physical force to communicate.  In trying to bless them quickly before I lost their attention, I said “punch” instead of “physical force” with Caleb.

Caleb looked at me.  “Mom, I don’t punch. I pinch, bonk, and slap, but don’t ever punch.”

Marc and I cracked up.  “I’m not a puncher mom. I’m not like THEM! I only pinch, bonk, and slap.”

And this is where it all begins.

Having all this rain has me remembering all the little poems that I learned about rain. The one I most think of it ‘April Showers bring May flowers’. Is that so true, or what? Our lawn is such a lush green now. It’s almost cool enough for me to make peace with all the rain.

As I’ve been spending the afternoon wondering at my sudden ‘blog nesting’, and moving over to WordPress, I realized it’s spring, and we haven’t moved for a couple of years. So to keep the unpredictability in my life, I changed blog services.  WOA!  Watch me walk on the wildside!