Cherry Grove 2015

On the 7th day, the Lord rested.  And if He was anything like us, He also swam, walked the pier, boogie boarded, and took a whole lot of pictures.  We had a great time on vacation this year!

Parenting in Post-Christian America

My article which was published on SBCToday:

http://sbctoday.com/parenting-in-post-christian-america/?fb_action_ids=1491485301148924&fb_action_types=og.likes

North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro

 We just had a GREAT time at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, which is only about an hour away.  It was a beautiful late-summer day, and we practically had the place to ourselves!

 My favorite part of the day was watching the seals be trained.  The trainer had a whistle in her mouth which would communicate with the seals, who could do 70 commands!

 Go Herd!!!  (Marshall University Alumni here.)

 Yes, Anna found a carousel...

...and Christopher found a screen.  Everyone was happy. :)

Aging Rockers - Tim Hawkins

From time to time, I like to post something from our family's favorite comedian, Tim Hawkins, just to make you laugh...

-Kara

Day One of School

 Today was our first day of school and things went great!

 John, our 6th grader:

 Anna Jean, our 3rd grader:

 Christopher, our 8th grader:

We have so many subjects to learn this year: math, English, science, history, Bible, Greek, spelling, piano, and reading.  And ontop of all that, we have a homeschool Phys. Ed class at the YMCA and a Science Club filled with labs that the Discovery Place in Charlotte is doing for Rowan County homeschoolers at the Salisbury library.  Christopher will have art and guitar lessons, Anna will be in a dance group and be taking violin lessons, and John will be playing basketball.  Whew! So we're gonna need to get to bed tonight and get rested-up, because Day Two is coming bright-and-early in the morning!

And here's a little study music for our first day of school.
This is going to be our BEST YEAR EVER!

A Big Day for A Little Girl

Anna Jean had a BIG day turning 8 this week!

Mommy and Daddy gave her a few gifts, including a new carousel charm for her charm bracelet.  The little horses actually spin around.  (Anyone who knows Anna knows how she LOVES carousels.)

And Anna was very happy to take her spending money from Nana and Papa to Concord Mills, the biggest mall around.  It is one mile to walk all the way around Concord Mills: in two hours, we only made it through about half the mall. She sure had fun on her birthday evening shopping!

Anna used her birthday money to buy a pink unicorn at Build-A-Bear which she named "Polly," then renamed "Nichole," then renamed "Samantha."  The poor unicorn is so confused it doesn't know what its name is.  

Anna also bought high-heeled shoes for Polly/Nichole/Samantha, along with a hairdryer to dry its hair and a phone to call it on.  

And on the way to and from the mall, Anna got to ride in a car without a carseat in the front seat.  She was sooooo excited!  North Carolina law lets kids out of booster seats and allows them to ride in the front at age 8.  For the first time in 13 years, Tim and I do not have a child in a carseat!

Anna was also SUPER stoked to receive three new Thea Stilton books - her very favorite book series in the whole world - from Mike and Kathy Geers.  Thank you Mike and Kathy for remembering and celebrating Anna's birthday with her!

And thanks also to everyone for the cards and Facebook wishes that were sent to Anna.  She read them all on her "big" day.  She had a GREAT 8th birthday!

p.s. - And thank you to Mamaw and Papaw for sending Anna's card.  She had a great time at Walmart!