Valentine's Day Memories

Valentine's Day!  <3 span=""> 

Eight years ago today, I received a match call from our adoption agency! I started the call with tears in my eyes...and, I was weeping by the time I understood that the match was for a baby girl due in just two weeks. Once the counselor and I talked through all the details, I called Dave at work. He was absolutely speechless. He finally told me that he was kneeling in the dirt at his jobsite, and he asked me to do the same at home. Over the phone, we cried and praised God for such a beautiful and gracious answer to many prayers. Emma Victoria was in our arms just six days later. We love our little Valentine to pieces and are so grateful to her dear birth family--and, ultimately the Lord--for graciously giving us the gift of Emma Victoria.  <3 span="">

My beloved Grandma Dolores passed away 6 years ago today.  <3 span="">Valentine's Day was her favorite holiday, and she always reminded us that she wasn't going to die--she was going to be born again for all of eternity! I was privileged to spend the last three days of her life with her. I held her hand and sang hymns for hours and hours. These are precious memories! I'm thankful to the Lord for scores of memories with her through so much of my life!  My sister and I had the incredible blessing of growing up just one mile from both sets of our grandparents, and we spent so much time together.  Like her, I love playing Scrabble, leaving (saving!) cold cups of coffee in the cupboard, singing hymns at the piano, looking at pictures for hours, and eating burned cookies and toast. She was full Swede, so "Children of the Heavenly Father" was one of her favorite hymns, and we are singing it in church this Sunday. I miss her deeply. Grandma Dolores' mother (my great-grandma) was also named Emma Victoria, and I'm thankful she was able to know and love my Emma Victoria for nearly two years.  <3 span="">

Kickoff to Disney World! Day 1 ~ Epcot

After a late night of packing, we set our alarms for 3 am!  The kids woke up on their own around 3:30 am, and we left a bit after 4 am.  I had a near panic attack on 114 that I had forgotten the inhalers, so we pulled off on the side and searched through suitcases.  Emma finally said, "They are in my backpack!"  I was so relieved.  It was absolutely freezing here in Texas!  Our windchill was in the teens.  We flew out of Love Field for the first time and parked at the farthest parking lot from the terminal to save a bit of money.  The walkway to the terminal (which covered 4 lanes of traffic) was closed due to construction, so we ran outside all the way to the terminal.  Poor little Josiah was in his shorts and windbreaker and pulling a suitcase--so cold!  One suitcase was 8 pounds overweight, so we quickly rearranged a few things.  I threw Dave's toiletry case into a backpack, but then when we went through security his razors were thrown away!  Oh well!  We made it to our gate just in time and walked right onto the plane.  We all slept all the way to Florida.

on the plane at 5:45 am!

We landed and boarded the Magical Express to WDW!  Yeah!  

We got to our hotel, checked in, and receive leis!  Our hotel was gorgeous!  Our room wasn't ready, since it was only 11am, so we ate at Cap'n Cooks at our hotel.  Then, we hopped on the monorail and went to Epcot! 

We had several fast passes and rode Spaceship Earth.  I had heard on the CC page that this ride incorporated much of the history that we study in CC, and it was neat for the kids to see historical events that they've studied (Alexander the Great, the Phoenicians developing the alphabet).  The ride takes your picture and then at the end flashes it up on the globe showing where you live.

We walked over to Norway and rode 'Frozen Ever After," which was spectacular!  

We also stopped at the American Pavilion and heard Voices of Liberty, an 8 member vocal ensemble! We loved their performance.  Do you see how closely Emma scooted toward them to listen? After their performance, we shared a few cookies, and then I took Emma and Josiah back to our room for a rest.  We had been up over 12 hours at this point and it was only mid-afternoon.

We were so excited to check out our room!  Our room was absolutely gorgeous!  Emma loved her pull-down bed!  We had two bathrooms (one was a vanity and a shower, and the other was a full bathroom).  We could see the castle from our balcony, and it was so fun to see how they changed the lights/colors on it throughout the evening.  We could also the nighttime fireworks at the Magic Kingdom!

The kids and I met Dave and Isaac back at Epcot.  They really wanted to try Soarin'!  In all the pre-ride warnings/explanations, they kept emphasizing that if you have a fear of heights, you should disembark.  I also thought we'd be sitting on a platform that would raise up to the screen, not individual swings.  At the last minute, I left with Josiah.  Dave, Isaac, and Emma came out and raved about it so much and convinced both Josiah and me to try it, and it ended up being a favorite of the whole trip!  We loved it!  On Soarin' you feel like you're hang gliding around the world as you soar above the Matterhorn, the African Savannah, Paris' Eiffel Tower, the Thames River, The Taj Mahal, which are all shown on a massive omni screen in front of you.  (They soar your swings up in front of the screen in three levels, so everyone has a "front row" view.)    It was so incredible, because they also added in scents for some of the rides (jasmine at the Taj Mahal, dust/grass as the elephants stampeded on the African Savnnah, salt water over the ocean).  It was phenomenal!  

We watched part of the new Epcot fireworks show, but didn't have a great spot.  But, we ended the night with amazing pastries and desserts at the French bakery over in France.  Our great friends, the Stoneciphers, told Isaac a few Sundays ago that this was the best thing to eat!  Isaac didn't forget, and we were the only ones in the bakery since it was so late.  It was so sweet--literally and figuratively--such a fun way to end the day talking and eating such delicious food!  

Pumpkin Patch 2019

How is he 10!?!

I just love Emma's smile with her missing tooth!

*note* This is how high Josiah was willing to climb on his own, until I carried him up and didn't let him go for the next picture.  :)

Josiah said, "Take a picture of me next to this gas tank!"  Haha!!

A New School Year! 2019-2020

Our first day of Classical Conversations was last Wednesday, August 21.  I am so excited to be tutoring Emma's class again this year!  I also tutored her class last year, which was the Abecedarian class.  This year, her class is the fourth oldest class and are now called Apprentices.  Isaac also has his same tutor as last year, Mrs. Sears.  

sweet friends in their coordinating (unplanned) Matilda Jane outfits 

Isaac started Essentials at CC this afternoon, which is in the afternoon.  Emma is thrilled to stay for the childcare with the other younger siblings of Essentials students!  She said it's the best part of CC day! 

We started back at our homeschool on Monday, August 19.  We changed how we do Symposium, the first part of read Scripture and a corresponding devotional, sing a hymn, read 3 poems, review the week's CC memory work, and pray.  Then, we disperse to our first activity of the day.  Emma and I complete her phonics lesson, Isaac bikes, & Josiah plays toys until I'm done teaching Emma phonics.  Then, it's his school time.  I bought a formal curriculum for this school year, and he is thrilled to be in Pre-K.  He told his siblings, "It's the best!  Pre-K is the most fun."  

Josiah is learning how to write his name.  He focuses so intently.  One afternoon while I was putting him down for his nap, I asked, "Do you love your sd "Why do you love it?"  He said, "Because I get to be with you!  That's why I love it." 

"Strawberry Girl" by Lois Lenski is our new lunchtime read-aloud book.  I didn't plan for Emma to wear her strawberry dress when we started the book!  She had another dress on that morning, but it got wet and this is what she changed into!  

Isaac is so helpful with our foster baby during the school day!  He wanted to hold him while he worked on his spelling lists and cursive.  The Lord is using fostering to grow a big heart for babies in Isaac!

One more picture--exercising with Mom before starting our school day!

Oh, I love them!