Sounds Nice

Sound of Music School Production

"G" was in his school's Spring play. He had tried out for this after Christmas but didn't make the cut. He was disappointed and it ended up being a great learning opportunity of resting in God's plan/will. Due to a change in plans later on he was called up and needless to say the director did a lot of work with him to get him ready for his small part of yodeling and puppet dancing.:-)

 In other schools he would have been made fun of but this school is very unique. In fact, G said to me one day "Do you know what makes Veritas different from other schools?" He said "No one cares if they are cool or not." That is a unique school. The seniors talk to the 7th graders, etc. G was even invited to one of the seniors graduation party. We were so impressed with the quality of the students that he attended school with each day. What a blessing for him to get the opportunity to be apart of this AMAZINGLY well preformed production!! He now has seen the work it takes to put on a production. He was EXHAUSTED show week but also having lots of fun. One day he fell SOUND asleep going to the theater where they performed and a friend of mine thought it was so funny how out he was!! She said her daughter was the same.

The production was like watching the movie just about. The talent was amazing.

At the post production party they gave everyone a silly award and G got the "I can sing award.":-)

One of G's foavorite teachers. She taught his Omnibus class.

A senior that the kids really got a kick out of and enjoyed watching him play the part of a na*zis in the play!!! He scored a perfect score in at least 2 sections of the SAT:-) and yet he takes time to stop and talk and laugh with little ones. Sharp and godly young man he is.

Kindergarten Graduation!

 It was time to celebrate C's Kindergarten graduation! This was our 4th kindergarten graduation party! It was so fun to finally get to this point since we had been talking to C about kindergarten graduation for a long time and he knew he would get what we call a cookie cake, which is a family tradition, for this special celebration! After talking about picking that cookie out for so long we finally got to go and buy one. We had a wonderful party! We gave him a big, made for the beach, sand shovel for heavy duty sand digging. Grandma and Grandpa J got him a Bible which was perfect. We usually buy a Bible for K Grad but I wasn't on the ball and hadn't picked one out but my parents had! C really likes his Bible and at night he has been bringing it to me and asking me to have devotions with him!! Last night listening to his prayer was so wonderful as I listened to what he chose to pray about. He is so tenderhearted and caring.

He learned so much this year. It is always exciting to see the increase in knowledge and skills by the end of the year. Although homeschooling is not easy (to me anyway) I am very grateful I was able to have C at home for kindergarten. I'll pass the baton to a classroom teacher next year though.

Up From Slavery-By Booker T. Washington

This book was AMAZING and was NOTHING at all what I expected! Mr. Washington had a tremendous outlook on life despite extreme hardship both for him as an individual and his race.  It was fascinating to hear him recount his life, his values, and the principles he chose to teach to those who came through his institute. All his accounts are told without complaining, anger, or bitterness. He allowed the circumstances in his life to make him stronger and better not angry and bitter. I think this is a must read for every person and parent. I know I plan on having my kids read it.

Some quotes:

". . . I think I began learning that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. This lesson I have tried to carry with me ever since."

Talking of General Armstrong, a man he held very high and the influence he would have on the students . . . "The older I grow, the more I am convinced that there is no education which one can get from books and costly apparatus that is equal to that which can be gotten from contact with great men and women. Instead of studying books so constantly, how I wish that our schools and colleges might learn to study men and things!"

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Lots and Lots of great thoughts, ideas, and attitudes to mimic throughout the book.

It was so funny, I told my dad I was reading this book and he was reading it too!!!! My dad works for a curriculum company and this is part of their reading for high school.

Light of the World . . . Light of My Life . . . So why don't I praise Him more?

We went to go drop some things off to the thrift store and decided to go in and look around:-/ Dangerous when what I am trying to do is eliminate things NOT accumulate!! Anyway, it seemed Providential that I came across a book called The Prayer THAT Changes Everything by Stormie Omartian (The Hidden Power of Praising God) and at 98 cents how could I pass?!

 I know I seek God's counsel and I think I even praise Him when I know things are accomplished and I realize that it is by God's grace alone  . . . but praising Him during a storm I am not so good at so this captured my attention. I have not read the book yet but thumbing through I came across this and LOVED it . . . what a great challenge. It is going to be amazing to read the whole book!

"Once you begin to see God's light in the midst of your darkest times, darkness will never be the same to you. It will never have that same foreboding. It will never bring with it the same fear. You will perceive things differently. When bad things happen in your life, you won't react with the same despair. You will be able to say, "Praise You, Lord. I worship You in the midst of this situation. I know that You are the Light of the World who lives in me, and Your light can never be put out. I know that You are with me now, and You will shine Your light on this situation. Your glory is over heaven and earth, and it is over my life today."

"IN THE DARKEST TIMES OF YOUR LIFE YOUR PRAISE TO GOD SHOULD BE THE LOUDEST {emphasis mine}. It will not only turn on the floodlights, but it will strengthen your faith and let the enemy know you're not afraid of the dark."

Excerpt from The Prayer THAT Changes Everything by Stormie Omartian (Page 152)

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Today as I was sorting through more stuff from our move I came across a postcard I had purchased I believe while we lived in England. The card was a quote from a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins and the following portion of one of her poems was quoted by King George VI in his Christmas broadcast in 1939.

"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the Year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely in to the unknown.' And he replied, Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"

Such a Beautiful Song to listen to . . .

This is one of the songs "A" has been practicing. I really enjoy hearing her practice.

Dinner at the L's Part 2! Tuscan Soup Has Never Been As Fun As This!