OK, if girls are unreasonable human beings, boys are just stupid. Thinking about the flaws of the females made me turn to the flaws of the males. They are so competitive and all about power that they just do stupid things. Who can jump off the roof into the pool? Who can make a parachute and jump out of a tree? Who tries to wrestle people three times their size and expects to win? Who absolutely has to climb the hitching post and won't relax until a method to do it is discovered? The answer: All of these were done by males that I personally know. I got the results back yesterday from the boys' standardized tests. They are required to take it here in NC. I was very pleased with their progress from last year. I had reason to be concerned. It seems the third grade boys during testing had a race against the girls to see who could finish first. At break time another mom and I were told about it and were proudly informed that the boys were winning! We quickly put a stop to that, but I was unsure what damage was already done. It seems we are safe. Thankfully they aren't too stupid.

I had the church college group over last night for pizza. Afterward the group of guys stayed a while to shoot some hoops. I watched for quite a while, probably making them nervous. I was thinking about the future and how this will be a common sight in my driveway in a few more years. I can well imagine my sons and their buddies playing ball in the driveway. It is going so quickly, this walk of motherhood. I had a discussion yesterday with a friend who has 3 grown sons. We were discussing the joy of having sons vs. daughters. I liked her words, "Boys are reasonable human beings; girls are not reasonable." I know that sounds horrible, especially coming from a woman, but it does ring with some truth. Having spent time in the schools and in youth ministry, I have to say, girls are often unreasonable. That being said, I still pray for the women my boys will marry some day. I pray that they are being raised to know and love the Lord, that they are seeing a godly example of a wife and mother, and that they will fully commit to marriage when the time comes. I suppose I ought to also pray that they will be reasonable human beings too.

Got back yesterday from Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. It was a great trip, though a bit cold at the first of the week. This year we chose to go to Dollywood and the Dixie Stampede. I am not positive, but I think the kids liked the Dixie Stampede best. Dollywood offers attractions for the whole family- which means the kids had to do some things they didn't care to do, but the adults liked it. We also ventured out to Cade's Cove for a day. The weather was perfect and we all had a great time. The kids played in the stream and on the rocks while the adults watched and played Sudoku. We had a picnic and took lots of pictures. I managed not to step on the snake that was right at my feet so my brother-in-law found another, just in case I wanted to step on it I suppose. #2 fell in the stream about 3 times and then we quit counting. He had a fabulous time jumping from rock to rock and crossing the stream on logs. Later he said he wished I would have brought 3 pair of pants for him to change into (I only had 1 extra pair!) and I told him I wished he wouldn't have fallen so much. His response, "I choose to ignore balance, Mom." I don't know if this is the highlight of the week, but it is a memory I will always treasure. Son #1 wanted to prepare a church service for the family and so he worked on it the week before. His dad helped type it up, and I think made a few suggestions, but mostly my boy did it on his own. He made an order of worship and then presented a lesson on the gift of salvation. Certainly he messed up a few points and he could have ordered his thoughts better, but it was an eye-opening experience of how this little boy is growing up. At 9 years old he has a strong faith.

The boys and I walked through the field yesterday evening to meet the neighbors in the new subdivision. Two families have moved in so far and they seem nice. One family has a couple of older kids and one has a toddler. Hopefully soon the other houses will fill with lots of children to play with. I am trying to look at it that way so I don't just despise their presence in my quiet space in the world. We took eggs to the neighbors, fresh ones from our chickens. Lee said he likes hearing our rooster in the mornings. I am pretty sure he would change his mind about that if he lived a little closer! Anyway, they seem very nice and genuine and my boys are glad they are here. On the walk back home through the field lightning bugs lit the way for us. They were out for the first time this summer. The moon was full and bright. Summer is starting off so well.

Today was the used curriculum sale for our home school support group. Last year didn't go so well for me; I didn't sell much and I didn't find a thing to buy. This year I thought the sale was better and I found several things for my children. As I was talking to another friend about the sale I discovered that she thought it was the other way around- last year was better than this year. That was because she was looking for curriculum- which was sold last year- and not "extras"- which seemed to be for sale this year. I, however, like the "extras" and not necessarily the curriculum packs/sets. It has taken several years to figure all of that out, which may seem odd given that I was a school teacher before the children were born. I really enjoy the freedom of reading lots of books about a subject and not just what the text says. We go to the library weekly and we read a lot. I use the Core Knowledge Series for each grade and see what I am supposed to cover for the year and then check it out at the library. 4th grade looks like it will be a lot of fun, Medieval History and King Arthur, Knights, and Magic. We will repeat 2nd grade with Ancient Greece, mythology and gods. Great stuff for boys!

I had a great compliment this evening. Today was our last day of school for the year. Next week the kids have spring break and the week after that starts their summer vacation. I know that means that really they are starting summer vacation now, but they really want that spring break in there. Anyway, when my husband came home about 8:30 this evening, we were lighting sparklers to celebrate the last day of school. He said, "You are the neatest mom." It evidently didn't occur to him to celebrate. I guess that is because he isn't the teacher! The kids are thrilled that summer is here and "no more lessons, no more books". I am excited because the fun part of school happens this summer. We are going to travel a good bit and see a lot of the history that we have studied the last couple of years. Hands-on learning, up close and personal; the best school days are yet to come- just don't tell the kids!

The boys and I picked strawberries at a local farm yesterday. There are several places nearby to do that here. Today we had strawberry shortcake for lunch. I know, my mother's best judgment wasn't kicking in there, but I had my reasons. About a year ago my grandmother died. She was the grandma that braided my hair before school, always had time to listen, never condemned me, made buckwheat pancakes in the fall, laughed until she cried, loved her husband and children ferociously...She was wonderful. Grandma was a flower lover much more than she was a good housekeeper. She never dusted or swept if it could be helped, but she always had flowers growing, inside and out. For her 50th wedding annivesary her children gave her a rose bush for each child- 13! Papaw planted them out front of the house and each was a different color. She tended them and he dusted them. Roses remind me of Grandma. When she died we planted a rosebush in her honor in the front of our house. So what does that have to do with strawberry shortcake? One of Grandma's favorite stories was about the time they loaded the kids in the back of the truck and drove from WV to Michigan to visit relatives. When they got to an older aunt's house the aunt was concerned about what to feed all of them. Grandma had noticed the large strawberry patch and said if it was alright with her, she would make a shortcake and they could just have strawberry shortcake for dinner. She said the kids were never allowed such a luxury at home and it would certainly be a treat to them. So that is what they did, strawberry shortcake for dinner. So today, knowing it was not the best nutritional lunch we could have, my children and I enjoyed a special treat; they strawberry shortcake and me, a good story with my grandmother. I miss you.

Keeping up with the Joneses is not normally a problem for me. I don't much covet what others have, I'm not jealous of other's wealth and possessions. I have a fabulous life and I know it. I really am grateful for all that God has blessed me with financially, but my thoughts are more often turned toward what God has given me that has no monetary value...my husband and children, the opportunity to be a home schooling family, great extended family, a happy childhood, land and space to enjoy the beauty around me, a church family that loves the Lord. But sometimes the Jones family creeps into my thoughts. We went to a music recital of a friend from church on Sunday. He did a great job and has accomplished much by his study of music. Afterward, his parents had a reception at their house to celebrate his success. I was asking the father about how they got into doing all of this musical activity and he told me the kids never really loved it. Their mom made them do it. So I went on to ask why would you force them to do it if they really don't enjoy it- it is a very expensive activity. He thinks it is good for them to have something that disciplines their lives and this is a good intellectual way to do that. Enter the Joneses. I started to wonder am I wrong to not push my children more when they hate an activity? Should I force them to continue, even though it means arguing and punishing, paying out money? I guess it may not be the "Jones Syndrome", maybe it is insecurity as a parent, but it flustered and frustrated me. I have made the children finish activities they start and don't enjoy. If I have paid for something you WILL finish it, whether you like it or not. They have learned some discipline by that I suppose. Then I started to think about my childhood and to ask my husband about his. We are both very bright people, always at the top of our classes. We are fulfilled adults with a healthy perspective on life. Neither one of us had a "discipline" as a child and we turned out fine. I finally have decided that it is the American Ideal creeping in on me again that has upset me so. Let the children explore what they want to explore at the rate and pace they want to explore it. They will follow the path that leads to happiness just as their parents did.

Dinner conversation the other night: 7 year old says, "I'm not going to go to college." Father says, "That's fine but what are you going to do, because you aren't living with us." Son answers, "I'll live with my grandparents until I'm 35." Father, "Then what?" Son, "Then I'll be the first president who never went to college." Where does he come up with these? I started cleaning out curriculum for a used sale at the end of this week. I thought a couple hours at the most, boy was I wrong! I worked on it about 9 hours Saturday and still need to do a bit more. I am getting more of a taste for what I actually do and teach (we have been at this 3 1/2 years now) and so even though it is hard to part with some things, I know it is for the best. It looks like next year will be a fun one though. We get to go through the Middle Ages and Medieval history. Lots of knights, castles, and magic; should be interesting. Repeating 2 grade next year too and I remember all of the Greek gods and mythology was really interesting as well. Talked to an old friend for half an hour today. We haven't spoken in about 7 years. My boys and I will be visiting her in Philadelphia this summer. It is always such a joy to have a friendship that picks up where it left off. The rest of that trip will be to visit a friend in Canada and it is the same type of friendship. It should be a fabulous summer. Next week starts our summer, though it is officially my children's spring break since they didn't get one this year. We will be meeting up with family in the Smokie Mountains. The kids have talked of nothing else for weeks; they had so much fun there last year. After that they will go home with their grandparents for a stay and summer break will begin. They have been double timing school the last couple weeks so that they will be allowed to go. Great motivator!

Father of Creation, Just like you did for Adam and the Israelites, you have provided what is best for me. You have protected me, fed and clothed me, and you have searched for me in the cool of the day. And just like Adam and the Israelites, I have failed you. I have tortured those around me with fear and humiliation. I have looked down on those around me and held them tight in a yoke you did not fasten. Perhaps the worst thing I have done, though, is to refuse to meet you in the garden of your delight. You have watched for me and I have turned away. Help me to daw close to you now. Plant my feet firmly in your ways and never let me dry up or be overtaken by weeds. Let me produce the fruit of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Calvin and Hobbes strike again. Sunday at church I heard my youngest say to one of the elders, "I know where babies come from." "Oh you do?" the elder asked and continued to stir his coffee with a look that said 'I hope this conversation isn't going any further.' "Yeah, you get them at Sears. But my brother came from KMart. He was a blue light special, real cheap." We were all relieved. Yesterday I was working in the garden when I heard #2, 4, & 5 talking about a snake. I thought they were pretending and went on with my weeding. Then I heard, "Wow look how long it is! It's really alive too." That's when I took off running for the toy shed yelling, "Get out of there! Is there really a snake?!" Well yes there was really a snake and they were having a great time looking at it and watching it crawl around. I got them out of the shed and onto the porch and yelled for my hero hubby to come take care of that horrible thing. It was a harmless field snake and he took it over to the property beyond ours. I am SO glad I am not a guy! We had lettuce, onions, and radishes from our garden this evening. I love growing a garden!

Today I will write several things that have been on my mind to put down on "paper" but just haven't gotten to it. I guess I am still having trouble with that New Year's Resolution to slow down. Some friends and I were trying to find a time that we could all get together and it was into June before we might possibly be able to. How did this happen? Anyway... The bluebirds didn't hatch. We waited past the due date, not being sure when they had been laid, but they were evidently duds. There had been 5 eggs and one day there were suddenly 2 missing and the parents didn't come back. So maybe the parents took 2 eggs somewhere where they wouldn't be checked so often by humans. My sons enjoyed holding the eggs that were left, but I strongly enforced the rule that they remain outside. I took the old nest out as was suggested and the next day a new bluebird was there building a nest. I haven't seen any eggs yet, but maybe we will get a chance to see babies after all. The garden is growing well now. We finally have been getting some rain. We have been in drought conditions most of the winter. I was thinking this morning that it is amazing that I can try to make the garden grow by watering it myself, but when the real rain falls it takes off as if I had been doing nothing. Sort of like trying to grow as a christian can be done only so long without God and then He has to take over for real growth to happen. A girl that studied the Bible with my husband when we lived in TX called a week or so ago. Her family is Hindi and she had never committed to Christ before we left. She called to say she was baptized last September and she is preparing to go to seminary to become a christian counselor. Her family is not allowed to speak to her, though her mother and brother do on the sly. She has given up much more than I to follow the Savior. The following 2 prayers have been my devotional prayer the last several months.

• Grant us grace, O Father, not to pass by suffering or joy without eyes to see. Give us understanding and sympathy, and guard us from selfishness, that we may enter into the joys and sufferings of others. Use us to gladden and strengthen those who are weak and suffering; that by our lives we may help others to believe and serve thee, and shed forth thy light which is the light of life. -H.R.L. Sheppherd
• O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others; open my ears that I may hear their cries; open my heart that they need not be without succor; let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love, and faith, and hope are needed, and use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen. -Alan Paton

Another answered prayer: Monday we woke so very tired, my husband and I. It had been a busy week and we weren't looking forward to beginning yet another. So during my morning prayer time, I asked God to somehow give us rest that particular day. 2 of my 3 children that I care for were sick and didn't come. So it was a slower day for me that included a nap when the little one napped. My husband had a meeting cancelled and got to come home for a nap. God is so generous.

I forgot this treasure from my 7 year old. Coming home from Easter lunch he asked, "What is a new gli gee?" A eulogy? I tried to decipher. "New gli gee" Neurology? Use it in a sentence. "You look ravishing in that skimpy negligee." Immediately shock and hilarity ran through my mind. "Where did you hear that?" "It was in Calvin and Hobbes." My husband collects those. I told him this was all his fault, but he reminded me that I bought some of them for him. That was before I was the mother of two sons!! I will have to find a way to hide those books; they're learning too much!

Well, the Easter candy has a big dent in it, but there is still a lot left. I think the Easter Bunny had better not shop at Sam's Club any more! My husband did the shopping this year. I just didn't at all feel like it was Easter and couldn't get in the mood for it. He even gave me some peanutbutter eggs and a new candy by Junior Mints that are caramel, Mmmm. Honestly, baskets and candy had not even entered my mind last week. So we didn't have a home cooked meal with pies for dessert. I have been working so hard on other things, I just couldn't find the energy to do a big meal too. We went to Golden Corral, where we were sure to have limas ( a must for Easter in my husband's mind) and home made rolls. We took a woman from church who would have been alone otherwise. Fairly uneventful, if I say so myself. However, two things made it a memorable Easter. First, I have waited many, many years for my children to wake in the morning and secret themselves out to the baskets (or Christmas tree) and check out the loot. My children have often had to be awakened and reminded of the goodies that await them. I had so looked forward as a mother to the holiday morning excitement and had been so disappointed. THIS year, the younger son rewarded me. He sneaked out to the baskets and then raced back to wake his brother. "Wake up! Wake up! The Easter Bunny came last night! He even brought us a present and yours is too big to fit in your basket and I won't tell you what it is but you are going to love it HURRY UP!" excitedly whispered in one long breath. That was truly a Mom Moment. The second was also provided by the younger son. We were on our way to church and discussing that this was the best day in the history of the world. "Do you know what happened on Easter?" asked Mom. "Yeah, Jesus rose from the dead." said in a monotone voice of a preacher's kid who has heard this once too often. "And what is so wonderful about that? What happens because of it?" Mom continued. Here is where the excitement entered his voice, "No school!" I suppose when you are 7 ressurrection and eternal life just can't compare to a holiday.

Tomorrow is the "official" tax date, although we get a break this year and next since the 15th falls on a weekend. Monday will likely find long lines at the P.O. and this holiday weekend may not be so restful to those procrastinators! I wanted to share another of God's little miracles in my life. Every time we move, the first year is difficult financially because of new surroundings and costs, unexpected happenings, and because we are unsure of local tax policies. This move was no exception. We have paid our quarterly taxes, giving to Caesar what is Caesar's, but it has drained us and we have tightened the belt a few notches at times. The last several months have found me praying, "God, we just need 6 or 7,000 more to make it." I had no idea how to get it. I knew God had always provided every need and many desires so I put my trust in him and went on. Well, guess what! Our refund this year is $7,000! We were drastically overpaying and the money was there all the time, but the fabulous thing is that God provided what I needed before I ever asked or even knew that I needed it. He so very specifically answered my request that it could only be his reassuring voice, "Your Father knows that you need these things. Only seek His Kingdom and all these shall be taken care of." (My interpretation/translation.) Praise to our Generous and Abundant Lord!

My spiritual discipline this week has been to start each day with 10 minutes of good thoughts- taken from Philippians 4:8. It seemed like wasting time at first, but it does put your mind on the right track for the day. Sometimes it starts slowly, how many times can you think the same good thought?, but then I start to think of new things and the wonder and wonderfulness of my Lord make the 10 minutes suddenly fly. The other activity for the week has actually been on my "to do" list for 3 weeks now. If I hadn't done it by tomorrow night's group meeting I think they would have strung me up by my toenails! I was to bless each room in my home. That doesn't sound too hard, walk through your house and pray, but it is hard to find time alone when I am still energetic enough to talk to God about things. So on this, my night off, I had my husband and sons leave so I could have some quiet time alone at home. I did bless the house and all of those who live in it or pass through its doors. What an amazing way to see the Lord's Hand of Blessing in my life. The friends, the memories, the quiet times with my lover, the cozy times with my children, the abundance of food and clothing, the blessing of land and animals...taste and see that the Lord is good. Try it yourself this week and see what a generous Lord we serve. ------------- Also as I walked about asking God to bless everything, I passed the bluebird box. I peeked in to see the same eggs, but also to hear a slight rustling and moving. I imagine they will be hatched tomorrow! May God bless that little family as abundantly as He has mine.

Once last summer I was working on a project at the house and a friend commented that I must work really slowly; it was taking a long time to get done. Yesterday I hired a kid to help me finish preparing the garden and get a fence around it so that I could get some plants and seeds into the ground soon. I felt a little badly hiring help when I am a stay-at-home mom, but as the afternoon went on I felt like it was justified. Child #2 had a stomach virus. Child #5 got a splinter the size of a tree. Child #4 had to tell me several times about #5's splinter. # 4-5 wanted a snack. #3 wanted a snack. #1-2 wanted gum, then #3 wanted candy. #5 needed a diaper change. #4 continued to tell me of the need for a diaper change as well as updates on the splinter. I cleaned up #4-5 since they were "helping" in the garden and got them down for a nap, along with a clean diaper and band-aid on the splintered finger. #1 had finished mowing the yard and was about to start helping to hoe when #2 came out to find me and threw up all over the yard. The rooster charged #3 and sent him into tears. If I hadn't had a helper for the afternoon I would still be out there clearing the weeds. As it is, the garden was cleared and nearly fenced by the time my helper left. I was able to finish the fencing and today got in strawberries, onions, peas, beans, spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes. Next time someone says I work slowly I will send them to this post!!

My father-in-law likes to sit on his deck and watch the birds in the morning. He knows several individual birds by sight and has named them. My boys like to sit with him during visits and share that special time with Pap. Sometimes, between visits, they talk about birds on the phone. There have been bird books, houses and feeders for presents. Thursday morning my older son told me he saw a bird fly out of the bird box. We looked inside and there are 5 bluebird eggs! I have been noticing the bluebirds lately, but didn't know they had anything "going on." Actually I have seen more birds this spring than I remember from last year. I have been wondering if it is because there has been some logging and development growth close by this year. We have also been seeing deer and never had before. So I did a little research and found out that bluebirds are in danger. Their numbers have been significantly decreasing, by 90%, in the last 150 years or so. NC has a bluebird conservation society, as do other states. The former owner must have known that because there are 3 bluebird boxes on our property. (I did not know they were for bluebirds until I started this research.) So we took some pictures of the eggs and nest and plan to keep a bird journal of what happens. We will also clean up the other two bird boxes and see if we can't attract some more couples. What an exciting thing to happen to this bird watching family!

I haven't posted in a while because this past week I was practicing the discipline of taming my tongue. I am in a spiritual growth group and once a week we choose an activity to practice a disclipline. This week I chose to "only speak when necessary". It has been extremely difficult for me. I felt like that included email, blogging, snail mail, and speech. So I have tried to only respond to inquiries that required a response. Here is what I learned:

• I like to talk, NEED to talk, more than I realized.
• I was more aware of what I was saying when I was talking.
• Failure is a learning process. At the beginning of the week I would say something and think how I had failed, because what I said was not necessary. But as the week went by I was able to hold my tongue more.
• Talking wastes a lot of time.

One funny thought...I was working in the garden on Saturday and wishing my youger son would come out and talk to me so I could talk as well. The funny thing is, I often wish he wouldn't talk so much!

"That was so much fun, Mom!" What a wonderful thing to hear from your child. My 9 year old really enjoyed flying kites this weekend. He loved being better at it than others; the boost of self-esteem that he needed so badly this week. He liked seeing the kite soar so high that you couldn't see the string any more. He liked the bright colors against the blue sky. And, he said, he liked the feeling of control he had over something. He could make the kite fly higher or lower, change it's direction, even make it dive. Then he said something that has been in my mind since, "But you only feel like you are in control. If the wind stops or changes there is really nothing you can do about how it flies." Isn't that Life? You can go along for quite some time feeling like you are in control. The colors are pretty against the sky, you go where you want and do as you please. Then the wind changes. You are thrown out of kilter and there is nothing you can do about it. You aren't in control after all. A lesson to learn at any age.