Another co-op semester wraps up

Posted by My Heart Song

11/26/2019


Last week our fall semester of co-op wrapped up. Our co-op lasts for 12 weeks in the fall, takes a long break for December and January, and then resumes for 12 weeks starting in February. This schedule works really well for us, as a co-op and for our family personally. We always enjoy co-op for those 12 weeks but are also ready for a break as the semester ends. 


My 16 year old daughter took Chemistry (what a relief for me, to have her taking this class with a more qualified teacher and with other students who struggled as much as she did), Show Choir, Study Hall, and US Presidents. Her Show Choir class performed at the final program. Here she is with a few of her friends.




My 11 year old son had some very easy classes this semester: Games, Gym, Arts and Crafts, and Math Puzzles/Games.


 

My 5 year old daughter loved her K-1 classes: Music, Gym, Mercy Watson, Dance.


Her music and dance classes both performed on stage, which she loved. 


And she has a best friend, Addy, at our co-op that she just adores. They also share a birthday, so their relationship is extra special.


My 4 year old son was in PreSchool. Here he is with his class at our final program, singing Jesus Loves Me. So dapper on the bottom right! I didn't realize until they were all on stage that there are only 2 boys in the class amongst all those girls! 

My 2 year old son was in the Nursery.


This was my second semester co-leading the co-op with two other moms. Both of them have been leading for many years, but this is still fairly new to me. It is beginning to feel more comfortable as time goes by.

As a co-op, we memorized the first half of Psalm 103. We plan to memorize the second half during our spring semester. I do love the fact that Scripture memory is part of our group's values. 

Each semester is a time of giving, of receiving. 
Of learning, of growing - for moms and children! 
We love our co-op!

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Just a Day in the Life

Posted by My Heart Song

11/25/2019

Here are a few pictures of life here recently. 


My 11 year old son spent a week in Wisconsin this month, deer hunting with Grandpa K. He enjoyed the time away but we were glad to have him back home.


This little girl loves to look pretty (she differentiates between pretty and cute now. Cute is too childish so she doesn't want to be told that she's cute, but she just glows when she is told she looks pretty or beautiful). So we sometimes set her hair in curlers on Saturday nights so she'll have some curl on Sunday mornings.


The curl doesn't show up a lot, but it's there. 


She took her first selfie not long ago.


The kids were asking if we could make some pumpkin pies recently. So one morning I had the energy to tackle it, with my three little helpers stirring the flour for the crust and helping measure ingredients for the pie filling. Homemade pumpkin pie goes quick at my house!


This little boy found a marker and wrote all over himself, his crib, his wall and his dresser one afternoon. Here's got the magic eraser to help clean it all up.


The two little boys together. They basically wear the same clothes now. The one is a big 2 year old, wearing size 3. The other is 4 years old, but can wear size 3 or 4. In my mind, they are a bit like twins. 


Super cute. I just love kids in hats.


While we're remodeling our bathroom, the little kids have taken some baths in the kitchen sink. A fun adventure for them. 


My oldest daughter really loves Wednesday night youth group at our church. Here's her 11th grade girls group (and their fearless leaders) at a recent women's gathering. 

Days are so full of activity, noise, and chaos. Yet I know that the days are passing quickly. So a post like this forces me to slow down a little and see the little things I'm likely to forget and to realize how blessed I am to spend my days with these people! 

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Pure Joy

Posted by My Heart Song

11/1/2019


I took this picture a few weeks ago, of my three littlest kids enjoying a jumping pad. They loved this so much! 
I can't help but smile at the pure joy on my daughter's face. 
Such delight. 
Such elation. 

When was the last time I experienced such delight? 
Do I even allow life to move me any more? I sense that I don't, at least not very much. This is an area of growth for me, to be more aware of emotions and more secure in expressing emotions. 

So I make this picture my computer desktop background to remind me of that joy can be found in the journey of life. 

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Faces of a Small Group

Posted by My Heart Song

10/18/2019


Small group. 
What do you think of when you hear those words?

For us, our small group is the place where we are known, loved and cared for. I'll pepper this post with pictures from our small group over the last 2 years.


Just as each family is different and each church is unique, so it is with a small group. Made up of unique individuals, each small group will be different. 

So this is what our small group looks like, somewhat. And it may or may not reflect what any other small group is like. 


Our small group meets together weekly - Thursday nights. Right now, we host the group in our home. It works out well, as we have young children that we can put to bed as needed (before or during group time), since we're in our own home. Another benefit is that we have kids in multiple stages, so we have toys and games and baby gear and a changing table - all of which can come in handy when inviting other families into your home regularly. 


Our group is small. We usually have 3-5 other families join us, half of whom have children that come along too. 


It is this group that goes deeper in relationships. 
Our church is large, but in any church setting, it is beneficial to have closer friends that you actually "do life with." We call that a small group. The people who actually know you more than as an acquaintance. The people you'd call if you had a need. The people who will be praying for you if you ask them to. The people who would rejoice with you, mourn with you, just do life alongside you. 


Practically, we hosted a baby shower for one family as they welcomed baby Moriah. Romans 12:15 reminds us to "rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." 

We helped a family with packing and moving during a season of transition. The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:10 "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those within the household of faith." 


We take meals to one another when there's a need, like a new baby or surgery recovery. We are commanded to "carry one another's burdens" in Galatians 6:2.

We check in with each other during the week, to encourage and pray for one another. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:24 to "spur one another on towards love and good works." 


We are told to make every effort to add to our faith and to grow in Christ-likeness, that our lives may not be unproductive and unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5-8). So we spend time weekly discussing and applying what the Bible says.


And we just enjoy time together, whether it's a play date at the zoo or a double-date or a backyard picnic.


For us, small group is a lifeline. Friends who are like-minded in their faith and desiring to live out their faith. 

We are so thankful for these people and the way God has used small group in our own lives. What a gift! 

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Field Trip: Dutch Creek Animal Farm

Posted by My Heart Song

10/16/2019

Our family recently took a trip to Dutch Creek Animal Farm in northern Indiana. What fun! 


There was a traditional petting farm area, which included ducks...


And angora goats. So soft!


And a huge draft horse, right next to a mini horse. 


Getting a close up with an ostrich!


There were quite a few peacocks wandering around the farm. Many colors and types. I've always loved peacocks and those beautiful colors. 

This place is very unique! It's like a zoo, except that you an interact with the animals WAY MORE. You can walk into cages with many of the animals. 



 There is a wagon ride where you are able to feed and pet the animals up close. Here's my husband feeding a camel from the wagon. 


Here I am with a zebra just walking by the wagon, with three camels coming up behind us. 
Felt like an African safari!


There were long horn cattle. 


Here's a Zedonk - zebra/donkey.

A very fun field trip overall!

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11 Year Old Boy

Posted by My Heart Song

10/14/2019


This boy of mine. 
I don't get many pictures of him. 
He's very active and very outdoorsy.


He's 11 years old. 


He tends to be one of the shorter kids his age, though just recently we're hearing comments from others that they see him shooting upward. My husband was also the shortest in his class for many years and then shot up to just under 6 foot. I think it's coming soon for this kid! 


11 years old looks like goofing around on the tortoise statue at the zoo. 


11 years old looks like bike rides and scooter rides around the neighborhood.


11 years old looks like being a big brother to the little ones.


11 years old looks like loving gym class at our homeschool co-op.


11 years old looks like helping when it comes to decorating the house for a sibling's birthday.


11 years old looks like loving Dude Perfect, learning trick shots, and trying things like balancing a balloon on a stick on your nose.

11 years old. 

Challenging times as he walks the line between childhood and young adulthood. But fun times nonetheless.

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Being 16

Posted by My Heart Song

10/12/2019


Being 16. I've mentioned before that my oldest daughter is now 16. She's got her first job. She has her learner's permit for driving. She's growing up.


Here are some other fun things she's into lately. 


She's been doing a lot of canvas painting this year. This was a painting she did for Grandma K's birthday. Its city lights are based loosely on the Chicago skyline. She's very creative and talented. 


She's also silly, carrying around towels on her head. But she's also enjoys playing around with Photoshop editing. 
Here's the Photoshop version of the above picture.


Funny girl.


She tends to have whims of inspiration that occupy her free time for a season (from a few days up to a month), such as genealogy research, for example. Recently she learned about a local train wreck that happened in 1859. She was fascinated with this topic for weeks, researching online and at our local library to learn as much as she could. She was able to pinpoint the location of the wreck and we drove there one evening to see it for ourselves. She loved this, feeling a bit like she'd solved a mystery.


Another whim was related to the Sears Tower. She watched a documentary that inspired her to build a scale model of the building with Legos. The colors may be off but the architecture is on point!

In some ways, the Photoshop editing and the canvas painting are also whims that come and go according to her inspiration of the moment. 

She's so carefree and creative! 

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