Jenny Breaks at NC Test

During testing in November, Jenny Broke two boards on the first try. Note the deep relaxing breath before the break.

Our snow

Here is what the roads are like as of 5 pm.

another new happening

This picture is Sam's official 7th grade photo.

God is good. He brought Andy into our homeschool experience for a specific purpose for us: To train Sam and me to include someone else in our homeschool day. Starting January 30, we will be including a new person, Brian, grade 7 (same as Sam). He is the middle son of one of my dearest and oldest friends here in our area. She and I were a lifeline for each other during our children's toddlerhood and preschool years. Since then we have not seen each other much since our boys have very different interests, but we never lost that sister-like closeness.

Now, her son needs to be home educated and she is working a wonderful ministry-type job that she doesn't want to give up. So, while she's at work, Brian will be here. He'll have his list of things to do and his books and my job will be to keep him on task and tutor him if he needs it. This is all the law allows me to do. Laura will be in charge of his curriculum and etc. (receiving advice from veteran home schoolers like me). don't you like how we are obeying the law and doing what is best for this boy at the same time??

We are still enjoying our hot tub almost daily. There is a winter storm coming that will drop somewhere around 3 inches of snow that will actually stick to the ground. Everyone here is in a rush to buy food, batteries and snow shovels. We northerners are laughing to ourselves over it all. In fact, we are more nervous than we would be back in the north because if we are on the road, we have to drive as if no one else has a clue how to handle slippery roads (which is too close to the truth for me).

Happy 2008

So, we are all beginning a new year. It is a time to reflect on the past year and plan and resolve to improve the world in the year to come. Our world has improved already--we are proud owners of a hot tub. We actually got to soak in it last night (aahh, so relaxing).

I want to improve my stamina. I am stronger because of martial arts, but my stamina is terrible. It prevented my advancing to brown belt, so I'm determined to change it.

Sam will be working on self-control, whether he likes it or not. He's been acting out on his anger lately and it must stop since he knows how to hit and such from martial arts.

Dwight is just the same. He didn't make it to brown belt either, but in his case the reasons are not so clear. He and I are both going to work on accuracy. The new hot tub is in the garage (for now), so the other half of it can be a gym.

That's all for now, I'll post pictures later.