Claire

I love the Jonas Brothers. They are the best band ever you should try to listen to there music it is the bomb.

I got another bag, it is black with the Jo Bros faces on it. I got 6 more buttons so altogether I have 12 buttons.

I got tickets to the Jo Bros concert but I am going to sell them because the concert is with Avril Lavigne. But I hope I can get tickets for a different Jo Bro concert that doesn't have Avril Lavigne.

TTYL, CLAIRE BEAR

Olivia's vacation

Hey everyone I'm glad to be back from vacation not that it was bad, I loved it I just really missed Ernie my baby well there were a lot of things we did on vacation we went to the Mariner's museum it was about the ironclad ships that faught in the Atlantic i'm pretty sure and also we went to williamsberg (a very historical place) We went to Jamestown (about Indians, Explorers,and ships.)We also went to the Virginia aquarium it was fun cause we got to touch an aligator and see otters, seals,a lot of different types of birds, frogs, snakes, fish, sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays.I'll post pics soon of our vacation

Feel free to leave a comment:)

He has risen indeed!

Wow what a beautiful Easter. We had such a special time in the Lord's presence at church and the Lord started stirring in me passions that he placed a LONG time ago. I can say I'm anticipating what is coming and felt it all was layed before me today in a beautiful way.

Encouragement is such a wonderful thing. I pray in all I do I am known as an encourager. I realize in my life how much it has meant to me. Just someone believing in me can cause my heart to stir and rise to their expectations and seemingly to God's all at the same time. Can God send others to us for encouragement? I think so.

What would happen in our lives if we spent out time encouraging our children, husbands, neighbors and co-workers? Encouragement is not necessarily opposed to discipline. I believe they can walk hand in hand. Encouragement to reach one's own potential is a great gift and requires us at times to be straight forward and honest.

Being a person who always says yes and agrees with everyone around them is not an encourager. They are a PKAAC. What is that you may ask?? A peace keeper at all costs. The very cost sometimes is someone else's maturity and love in the Lord. When we are children we don't fully understand adult love because we have not experienced a life long enough to go with love and without it. Real love cares about all parts of me. Hurting my feelings sometimes is part of that love. Bringing into alignment my will with God's is "encouragement"

I love you God and praise you for what you have done and what you are about to do.

Dawna

Divisionals

WE SURVIVED THE WEEKEND OF DIVISIONALS AND LOVED IT. JACKSON REALLY HAD A GREAT TIME. HE RECEIVED A FIFTH PLACE FINISH IN THE 100M BUTTERFLY AND AN EIGHTH PLACE FINISH IN THE 50M BUTTERFLY.

I PUT THE PICTURE ON THE WEB BECAUSE HE JUST ABOUT PASSED OUT WITH EXCITEMENT WHEN THEY PUT HIM ON A PODIUM AND HUNG THOSE MEDALS AROUND HIS NECK.

I WAS SO HAPPY FOR HIM. SEEING HIM ALL GIGGLY AND SO PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND KNOWING HOW HARD HE HAS WORKED TO GET THERE. I BELIEVE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN LOOKS DOWN ON US IN THE SAME MANNER. WHEN WE RECEIVE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR HE MUST HAVE GREAT DELIGHT. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ACCEPTED IN A HUMBLE GRACIOUS WAY. THANKS GOD FOR THE CONTINUED LESSONS.

HAS GOD SMILED FOR YOU THIS WEEK? I HOPE SO.

DAWNA

My house is a mess!

Hi Everyone

Well this week has been a good week for rest. With the schedule we have had these past few weeks I have been just wanting to nap the time away. We've had a few good school days and co-op was good however today I'm just wanting to do NOTHING!

Have you had those days where you just wake up and stay in your pj's all day? I'm having more and more of them as I'm gearing up for the night's activities.

Yesterday I was faced with one of the more challenging things of my past decisions. I've been asked to serve on the Titus 2 homeschool board. Most of you would see why as I seem to be willing to do just about anything and work hard at it. What I wasn't expecting were the other gals. They were super sweet and wonderful and then they started talking about their backgrounds as we were each asked to share five minutes.

1. PHD and a physician and her husband PHD and a Vet
2. PHD and a pharmacist
3. Masters Degree in Education
4. CPA
5. PHD in molecular biology or something like that

Then there was me... I smiled and said I started college majoring in accounting and had scholarships in music. I start finding this so comical as I'm telling them that I was in beauty pageants, did commercials, plays and owned a modeling agency. Is that hilarious or WHAT!!!! I felt like the most uneducated person in the world however realize they need me because I bring a little balance, humor and fun to all of that education. They will be teaching all of the upper level classes while I work with the kiddos teaching them how to talk in front of people, critical thinking and speech and debate. Good Fit

I'm still working through the areas of my past that I so regret however God really turned beauty from ashes in a lot of ways in my life.

My house maybe is still in the ashes but our sweet family and wonderful experience with homeschooling outshines the laundry and left over blue and gold decorations!!!

This weekend Jackson qualified for the Divisionals on his club swimming team! I will post how he did. Take a look at the t-shirts that Grandpa Jay made for all of the family fans of ours and the neighbors the Mendez's!

Dawna

BUSY WEEKEND (aaaaaaahhhhhhh)

WHAT A GREAT DAY. WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS WEEKEND HOWEVER WE ARE ALL EXHAUSTED.

LAST WEEK A GOOD FRIEND CALLED (HI KATHY!) AND ASKED IF THE GIRLS COULD HELP IN SELLING SHIRTS AT A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT! $6 PER HOUR. THEY WERE COOL WITH THAT WHILE I WAS THINKING $6 PER HOUR????? WHO CAN LIVE ON THAT. TO MANY MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS I GUESS. ANYWAY SHE AGREED TO LET THEM SELL THEIR HEADBANDS THAT THEY MAKE WITH GRANDMA JAY AND GUESS WHAT? EACH GIRL MADE ABOUT $28 PER HOUR AFTER SELLING THEIR HEADBANDS. YES THE ENTREPENURIAL (SP?) SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR HOME.

SWIMMING: OLIVIA DID A GREAT JOB AND CUT QUITE A BIT OF TIME. SHE ENJOYED HERSELF SO MUCH. I LOVE THAT OLIVIA DOESN'T HAVE TO WIN TO REALLY ENJOY A SPORT. SHE IS TRULY HAPPY WHEN SHE CUTS TIME AND ENJOYS BEING AT THE POOL WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY CHEERING HER ON.

JACKSON ON THE OTHER HAND DOES LIKE TO WIN AND HE'S PROVING HIMSELF TO BE A PRETTY GOOD SWIMMER. HE HAS QUALIFIED FOR EVERYTHING AT DIVISIONALS EXCEPT THE 50BREAST. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE IN NOBLESVILLE ALL NEXT WEEKEND CELEBRATING A GREAT SEASON. SUMMER SWIM BEGINS IN FOUR WEEKS AND THEY WILL BOTH BE PARTICIPATING.

CLAIRE WENT TUBING WITH HER SOFTBALL TEAM AND THEY HAD A BLAST. SHE WAS EXHAUSTED AFTER SPENDING FRIDAY HELPING DECORATE AND EXECUTE JACKSON'S BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET FOR SCOUTS. THEN OFF TO THE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT TO WORK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME HOW WE DO IT. I ALWAYS WONDER HOW NOT TO DO IT. WE ARE AT HOME MOST DAYS SCHOOLING AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES DURING THE EVENINGS AND ON THE WEEKENDS. I PRAY THAT OUR KIDDOS ARE LEARNING WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A LIVING. THE SATISFACTION OF WORKING HARD TOWARD A GOAL AND ACHIEVING IT. FINDING OTHER HIGH ACHIEVERS TO HANG OUT WITH INSTEAD OF TOO MUCH TIME TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

SCOTT AND I ARE PRETTY COMPETITIVE AND I PRAY NOT IN AN UNHEALTHY WAY. MAYBE MY FRIENDS WOULD DIFFER????? I HOPE NOT. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT LIKE HOWEVER IF WE WERE GOING TO INVEST TIME AND ENERGY INTO SOMETHING LET'S DO IT WITH EXCELLENCE. THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OVER IN MY LIFE AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT QUALITY THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH. I'M SURE OTHERS ARE CONFUSED BY US AS I AM AT TIMES BY OTHERS LACK OF INVOLVEMENT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS!!! OLIVIA DANCED TODAY AT AN INNER CITY CHURCH AND SHE REALLY ENJOYED HERSELF. I ASKED HER HOW IT WENT AND SHE SAID IT WAS VERY EXCITING WITH A LOT OF AMENS. SHE ALSO ENJOYED THE SERMON AND SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD. I WANT TO BE MORE LIKE THAT. ALL PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING ME AND NOT JUST A FEW WHO UNDERSTAND THE APPROPRIATE CHRISTIANESE LANGUAGE. HA HA

HUGS
DAWNA

Snow

We love it and it's coming down hard and fast. Had a great day today at co-op and thinking about starting a new co-op with a few of the gals. They have asked us to come along. Still praying about it. The personalities are different however we all have the same goal of providing our kiddos with the best education we possibly can.

Thoughts for today??? Grateful would be the word. As some of you know Jackson has been slow at reading for some time. He has worked so very hard however he just was not ready to put it all together. We have had a few incidents where he was called upon to read and he just about passed out with shyness and fear of failing. Today was incredible for me as his momma. He stood up in front of the Early American History class and read an entire paper in front of the class without being shy. He was proud of himself and I was just about to break out in a praise song to the Lord.

Tomorrow night is our Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts and he wants to read a poem about MOMS?? We will see. I love cub scouts. Jackson has one more year in Webelos I and then moves onto to II and then off to Boy Scouts. I can't believe it. Time flies Any good memories of scouting out there??

God continues to reveal to me how complete his forgiveness is in my life. As much as I try to fix things myself he continues to teach me through his word and prayer that I just can't go back in time. Nothing can be changed but he can change my future and I can move on without guilt. That's tough for me because I want to make everything right. Be a fixer. Impossible with some things. He's sooooo good to me.

Good Night and sleep well.
Dawna