Fabulous Fall!

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come

Longing just to bring
something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve

Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
It's all about you

It's all about you, Jesus

T2CHK Ezine is Ready!!

The
T2CHK Fall/Winter Ezine is up and read for download!! It is packed full and in it you will find such things as:

Devotional: The Lord is My Portion
Pastor Appreciation Month: October
Fall Reflections
Preparing Your House for the Winter
Homeschool Curriculum Review: Mystery of History
Bread Making 101
Homemade Tortillas
Best Sewing Tips
…and more!

Go on over to Titus 2 Christian Homekeepers and check it out!

Celebrating the Last Blooms and Fruits...

"Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,,

who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it; you enrich is abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing."

Psalm 65:4-13

Lovin' the Library

The kids and I have been really enjoying the library lately. This year, it just seems to work with our schedule to get there. I have even been returning my books on time! WOW! ;) We have been supplementing our school books as well as getting some school books there.

In our state, funding for the library increasing when people take out more books and decreases when you take out less. Since many homeschoolers frequent the library, our library has figured out that if they buy books that our popular with homeschoolers, then traffic will definitely pick up!

We are currently studying Medieval History. When we arrived at the time of St. Patrick I found this beautiful picture book telling of his life. There are no four leaf clovers or leprechauns in this book! It is his *real* life and is full of gorgeous illustrations! I find that even though my kids are older, it is still fun to read picture books from time to time and to enjoy the lovely artwork in them!


Since we were waiting for "Leif the Lucky" to be returned so we could start our next Upper Grammar Lit. assignment, I decided to let my youngers spend their extra time reading "The Minstrel in the Tower". Each day they read a chapter and then give a short written narration. It's another great book.


Today I picked this book up for Tyler. Robin and I read this years ago and loved it. There is pirate violence in the story, so this is one to preread before you decide to let your own teen read it.


Fall is such a great time to start to slow down and spend time reading good books. Winter will soon be upon us and then the reading and quiet hobbies really kick off! I love wandering around the house and seeing everyone engrossed in a good book!

Maybe We'll All Stop and Smell the Roses

Economic hardships are everywhere. So many people are really struggling. It seems there are lots of people on our prayer list that are looking for jobs. The country is on edge after the recent "bail-out" decision. I fight fear when I think about the fact that our government has bought the lie that more debt is necessary for a *stronger* economy.

I certainly don't have all the answers. But, as I think of all of us tighten our belts and our budgets, I wonder if maybe...

If maybe we'll spend more time at home playing board games and popping popcorn...


...maybe more time taking walks...talking...


Perhaps we'll spend more time praying and seeking God...more time helping each other...


Perhaps we'll invite friends over to eat supper with us and sit by our campfire and roast marshmellows because we can't afford to meet them at a noisy restaurant...


When we can't afford packaged foods, maybe we'll make our own soups with leftovers and our own soup stock and fill the house with delicious aromas...


Maybe we'll be okay after all...maybe we'll be better than okay...

Rachel's New Favorite Book

Hello, readers!
I just read what I call it the best book ever written! It's about a girl named Lily who in this book is learning about real God-like beauty. If you want to find out more about this, it might be on www.zonderkids.com, but I'm not sure. It was written in 2000, so its an old book! If you want to see at least a little bit of it, here's a paragraph from the book: "What do you mean, a club?" Reni asked. "Like some kind of secret sorority or something?" "Aren't those against the rules?" Suzy said. "Would you guys just listen?" Lily said. Three heads nodded. "Okay-I say we should form a group. Let's call it a group. A girl's only group-absolutely no boys allowed." "I like that part," Reni said, frowning toward the basketball court. "And no mean girls, either," Lily added. "Like Ashely?" "Or Chelsea?" "Like anybody who hurts people's feelings," Lily clarified. "Right now I think it should be just the four of us." "why us?" Asked Zooey. Lily gave her a long look and then nodded at the basketball hoop. "I get it," Reni said." We're the ones Shad and those guys pick on." "Right," Lily said. Well, I'll have to check if the book series is still out. In the meantime, bye! P.S: This was typed by Rachel Twombly. Yes,mom let me type this!!!

P.S.S. Here is one of mom's favorite parts. :)
"And then she began to pray. 'Father,' she began, 'we have one of your little ones here who has forgotten how much you love her. Will you please reassure her? Will you fill her with your love and your forgiveness? Will you help her to see past her shame and her guilt and run to you with open arms again? Will you hold her on your lap and let her know that she's beautiful-inside and out-because you made her? Please, kiss away the fear that makes her want to hide under the covers. Bring her out into the light again, Lord, where she can see you everywhere she goes. In the name of Jesus, we pray.'"
"Lily didn't hear the 'amen.' She was crying too hard."

Answering a Couple of Questions...

Family Love



I have been asked a couple of questions and I thought I would answer them here:

Lyndsay asked if we are using Tapestry of Grace Year 2. Yes, we are. However we are taking our time. My husband suggested that we make it our goal to get through half of the curriculum so that we might soak it all in and that is what we are doing. If we go further great but if not that's great too! I have been homeschooling for 10 years formally and I can tell you I have rushed way too much!

Robin asked if I borrow the books from the library. To be honest, I hate relying on the library. BUT this year it is a necessity. So, I bought the Teacher's Manual first. Then I looked to see what I could get from my library. Then I decided what I would purchase.

Some years, I have only bought books I wanted to keep and used the library for the rest. Right now, we have a book on hold that we are waiting for. Someone got to it before me! :) So we are reading a book of my choosing while we wait. I do love the convenience of having every book on the shelf but when I can't do that, the library works too...if I am patient! :)

Right now we are on Week 3 of our curriculum but have been schooling for 5 weeks.

Narrations

Right now I have Rachel and Christian reading "The Ministrel in the Tower" by Gloria Skurzynski. I have asked them to read a chapter and then write a short paragraph decribing what they have read. Today Rachel's (she's 10) especially delighted me so I thought I would share it here:

"Kidnapped! Our heroes, Roger and Alice, STILL trying to get to Bordeaux, run into a huge, century-old tower. Yet apparently, out of the blue, two men (not the fanciest at all) kidnap them and turn them into servants. How will they escape? Find out in the next chapter!"

Of course I am not at all objective, but I thought this was so cute! Perhaps she'll write those exerpts on the jackets of books...find out in HER next chapter...LOL!