The phone rang on Friday around 2 o'clock and it was my husband, "Honey, I am so glad Katie is at home with you doing Homeschool. There was another school shooting." 

As he told me the horrific and tragic news, I couldn't help but mourn for the parents left behind of these precious children that were murdered.  Then, my heart selfishly thanked God that it wasn't my Katie.  

As we find out more about these children, it hits closer and closer to home.  These children were all either Katie's age or within months of her age.  6-7 short years ago, mothers were giving birth to these precious babies within months of Katie's birth.  Did they have any idea how precious every moment would be?  

One victim's father said, “My daughter Emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims, because that’s the kind of person she is, not because of any kind of parenting my wife and I could have done but because those are the gifts that were given to her by our heavenly Father,” source

So here comes the big question.  "Why does God allow bad things to happen? Especially to these sweet little children?"   

I would encourage anyone with that question to click on this link.

It's no secret that our husband and I made the decision to teach Katie at home under God's direction.  There are so many important reasons aside from her physical safety. 


Abraham Lincoln (our 16th President) stated:
"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." 

Seeing Through a Glass Darkly

I had to share this article written by Debi Pearl of nogreaterjoy.org.  

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."  1 Corinthians 13:12

~Eternity is so eternal, so terribly final, so completely forever.  Death is not final.  By the grace of God, it is not without hope.~

Twenty Two years ago a wonderful, sweet darling two-year-old boy, whom I loved, came down with a fever.  Within 24 hours he was dead.  

During the days after his death, while the family grieved, I kept his baby brother.  I remember starting at my sweet Rebekah and feeling a sense of relief that it was not she who was taken.  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."  What I am about to say will be hard for many of you to understand, but as an older woman I feel compelled to speak. 

Death is not the worst enemy.  When I was a young mother, this truth was simply beyond comprehension.  To lose a child was my worst fear.  I avoided long bridges because I was afraid I could not save all my children if the car plunged into the water.  I carefully chose cars by the ease of opening the safety buckles and doors-just in case.  I studied medications, familiarizing myself with potential problems and learning how to use alternative medicines.  My natural instinct to protect my children, regardless of the cost was in full operation.  God gave me that instinct. Along the way, other children whom I knew died , and I continued to cling to my children, trying to guard their safety.  Yet how frail my efforts would have been if death had come calling.  

When you are young and raising a family, death seems to be the ultimate loss.  The grief is a pain you can only know first hand.  When we are young we see through a glass darkly.  As we grow older, life is not as big as we thought it was when it was all before us.  Life in this flesh is quite temporary.  I am not so old yet. Life is still precious.  Death is still the enemy.  I continue to cling to life, not only my own but to that of those I love.  Yet my clinging has changed.  

Texas Twang

Oh it's the little things. 

Well, we are Texans and there's no doubt about it!  I just love my smooth talking Texas man.  As much as I have fought to fight my Texas twang, it seems that there's no separating us.  You know how the saying goes.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!  

Yes, we should be our own country. :) But that's another blog.  

Today we were reviewing the letter U.  U as in the uh sound.  Like Umbrella Bird.   
So as part of our curriculum, I read the following sentence and asked her to tell me which word has the 'uh' sound: Jesus went back to Heaven.  

She said, "tuh"  

I read the sentence again except this time minus the Texas accent.  

"Oh.  Jesus."  she said. 

God bless all you Texans!  





In lieu of the 'uh' sound, I just wanted to brag about the incredible luck we had today at the stuffed animal machines today. First try and we pulled out this 50 cent reindeer. 

Spanking Wars

In lieu of my last blog about discipline, I decided to reveal a fun family secret we have sickly adopted.  :-) 

It all started one day.....

Daddy did something to tease Katie.  We decided that Daddy deserved a spanking.  Daddy being the most fun loving guy (and out numbered by votes) decided he would take his punishment. 

Here is the 'play by play lucky I had the phone camera near' shots! 

Batter up!  Do you see Daddy 'squenching' in fear?!

The Wages of Sin

Our dishwasher that is a little over a year old mysteriously lost power yesterday causing Katie and I to hand wash the dinner dishes.  

Our system was-I washed and she rinsed and set to dry.  We chatted about things and were genuinely having a good time. Naturally, I am a little faster than her so her side of the sink still had a few dishes to rinse by the time I was finished washing.  I stepped away from the sink as she rinsed and began wiping the counters. 

Not long after, Katie turned around standing on her little stool with the water running and called to me sobbing.  "Mom, I have been so mean to you.  I feel so sad.  I just feel so sad inside. Please forgive me, Mom."  I rushed over and held her while she cried so hard.  

School and life can be frustrating some days for us and parenting is not exactly a science.  So her and I have days that don't go smoothly.  Mostly last week and this past weekend has been a bit of an attitude struggle.  It seemed she was getting spanked quite often.  

Why we spank: 

There are a lot of negative views about spanking.  Some people were spanked as children and remember a fed up enraged yelling and angry parent.  This is by far the absolute worse way to spank your child!   There is most definitely a difference in effectiveness when you spank out of love and correction.  When you speak calmly to your child, you show them your ability to exercise self control.  A controlled parent will ensure the child they have no need to fear the parent loosing control.  Instead they fear the punishment and not the parent.  

The Bible says "Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod and shalt deliver his soul from hell." Proverbs 23;13-14 Something happens to her when I teach her constraint.  Not only is it a settling of the matter between us two, but it's also teaches her that negative action has consequences. The world us adults live in is full of consequences.  We don't get spanked anymore as adults, our consequences are much worse.  I would choose a spanking any day over dying in a car crash because I didn't obey traffic rules. 

We are their only world.  

Dooty Mitt Romney

Hey! We're back! 

Lot's of fun stuff happening lately!  

At completion of 6 weeks, we decided to take last week off to do some much needed visiting and outings! 

We visited Aunt Kelly and Katie's cousins, Jude had a sleepover, visited Katie's elderly friend George suffering from a fall, took a trip to a Mennonite farm in Kemp,  hung out with the crazy Genung clan, went on a field trip to Dallas Heritage Village with Paideia Homeschool Group, went to the Farmers Market in Dallas,  and had dinner Mormon style at Chilis!  Te he  Jeremy Fortune was the only male among a group of 9 kids and 3 women! We had some funny looks.  

What a great time we had spending with family and friends!  Now, we are winding down from a week full of energy and getting focused back on school!  

Sit by Me

Today was one of those 'let's take a holiday and get outta the house' days.  We decided on eating lunch out together.   

So we ordered our food, we made our drinks, collected our condiments, and chose the perfect place to sit.  Having the terrible habit of watching people, I usually scout out a seat where, if at all possible, I can have no one in my  view. It helps me to pay better attention to my company at the table.   

This particular side of the restaurant had only 1 lady sitting by herself so I choose to sit her toward my back so I could focus on Miss Katie.  I put Katie's food in front of my chair and she said, "Mom, can I sit by you?"  I began to reason with her sweetly, "Katie, I would rather you sit in front of me so I can see you."  

"I know Mom but pleeeeease?"