This Happened Yesterday

Hannah passed her test and received her learner's permit.
Clint let her drive home.

George and His Canine Companion Bulldozer

George's head lives in our freezer. We bring it out and add more snow each year it snows enough. Before he can fully melt, we put him back in a bowl labeled "George's Head" in the freezer. 

George is somewhere between 27-30 years old.

Clint, Emily, Hannah, and I gave George a body and set him free of the freezer for a short time. Emily and Hannah thought he needed a buddy, so they built him a dog named "Bulldozer."

Big Day!

Both Emily (16 years old) and Hannah (15 years old) were enrolled in college today! Penn Foster was happy to give them both a waiver since they are under 17 years old. 

Caleb is purchasing a house that needs some repairs. He moves by June 1. He is having a carport delivered to his new home this week. He will renovate the 4 BR 2 BA brick house to make a home for him and his sweet Elora.

Hannah's Graduation Photo

Hannah graduated at 14 years old in December 2023 if you go by the completion of her course. But, due to some issues on the school's part, she graduated at 15 years old in January 2024 if you go by the date the paperwork was finally finished.

She doesn't care one way or the other. She's happy to be finished!

She has been working on her driving coursework for the last several weeks.

Soon, Hannah and Emily will start college together as was their plan.

Hannah Graduated!!!

Hannah, 14 years old, completed her high school course work yesterday! 

We are very proud of her for working so hard to get it completed early so she can take college courses with Emily this spring!

Sleeping Beauties

I saw this coming...

because their float choices were drastically different.

Hannah took it good-naturedly. She even asked for it to cool off.

These two have such a beautiful and tender relationship that I would never have imagined possible if I had not witnessed it.

While all of my children are close to each other and love each other's company (something homeschooling fosters), this one supersedes those.
These two can barely stand to be away from each other. I have not heard them argue since they were toddlers/preschoolers..and that was rare. I do not believe there is a such thing as a perfect relationship between two humans on this earth, but this relationship is about as close as it can be. I am thankful I have been able to watch a relationship this close between siblings. Their deep love for each other covers all offenses. I pray the Lord will protect and nurture this as they grow older.

Hannah is teaching herself to knit.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,

Psalm 139:13-14

This is her face when...

I let her know I saw her looking at the young man who was looking at her.

LOL! :-D

My days are filled with joy! I tend to lose sight of it from time to time amidst the work and busy schedule, but it's an abundance of joy. I am truly thankful to God for answering those heartbroken prayers of a 15-year-old Wendy and bringing me to this place.

There is a trouble on the horizon!

Hannah picked out the comfy relaxing pool recliner.

Emily picked out the tank with the spraying water cannon.

Emily has a fun-loving sense of adventure.
I see a conflict in their ideas of how to use the pool. :-)

This is going to be fun!

Timmy!

Emily and Hannah with our good friend, Timmy.

His mama wanted a boy named Timmy.

His daddy said his name was James. His mama said she didn't care, she was going to call him Timmy. Before long, even his daddy was calling him Timmy. LOL!
So on official documents, he is James. To everyone he loves, he is Timmy.

It's One of Their Happy Places

Many years ago, we started taking our children to ethnic grocery stores to introduce them to foods from around the globe. Emily and Hannah say we do not take them nearly enough. On our last visit, Hannah broke a $100 bill she had earned. :-)

#6 of 7 has her learner's permit!!

Emily passed the test for her learner's permit yesterday. She told Clint as she drove home that she had been waiting for that moment since she was seven years old. She drove our suburban. Then, Joshua let her drive his SUV home from Brandon's house. She is as happy as she can be, and the rest of us are all happy for her!

#6 of 7

We have homeschooled driver's education for all of our children so far. It is state approved and very, very thorough. Clint received his driver's instruction from the public school he attended. Mine was through a private instructor. Neither of us received the in-depth classroom or behind-the-wheel training our children have through the homeschooled programs we have used.

Emily

I forgot to add that in addition to Emily Joy earning her high school diploma at 15 years old, she also earned a certificate in Automotive Repair!

Way to go Emily!!

As of last week, Emily, 15 years old, has finished her homeschooled high school and has a state-accredited diploma. Way to go Emily!

What they turn into..

We cannot continue to send our children to Caesar for their education and be surprised when they come home 

as Romans. 

-Voddie Baucham

Christian Leadership Course

 I received this today and thought some of you may be interested, so here it is:

Dear Homeschool Parent,

Our students are not growing up in the same world and job market you and I grew up in.

As a young man, if I wanted to learn something new, I had to go to the library, pull the catalog, check out the book, take notes, etc.

Now, our kids have answers at the tap of a button in their pocket.

The world has changed, and the skills needed to learn, work, and live well in that world have also changed.

Employers are not just looking for able students. They’re looking for leaders who know how to ask the right questions and put the answers into action.

I’d like to invite you to get more information about Unbound’s Ascend program. This program helps students like yours learn Christian leadership skills, build strong community, and put their education to work in the real world.

We’re so confident in Ascend’s value for young people that we’ve included a job guarantee you can read here.

REQUEST INFORMATION

Take the next step in equipping your student for the changing world by getting more information about Ascend today.

Jonathan Brush President & CEO, Unbound

I won't chew one of these again...

I apologize for the sideways picture, but it is another day of "controlled chaos" at Contentment Acres. I am in the middle of quite a bit, but I had to document the story contained herein.

The bowl has turmeric roots soaking before I plant them. I added the moringa seeds later. Soaking seeds or roots will help provide the moisture necessary for germination which can speed the process up.

I try to grow something different every year, and this year it is moringa. They grow fast and tall. The plant can be used as food, medicine, and livestock feed.

I read that in Africa, they chew the moringa seeds. I bought these to plant so I can get the leaves of the tree for food/livestock feed, but I thought I'd try a seed. 

Shew! The seeds have a very strong bitter licorice with something else taste that I just wanted out of my mouth. And, it hangs around. Emily and Hannah laughed at me, so I offered them one. After chewing hers, Emily said my advice not to chew it was top-notch. I did enjoy seeing the expressions on their faces and hearing the ring of their laughter.

Clint chewed one when he got home. Then he chewed another. He can't taste the strong taste the girls and I can. He said they only have a slight licorice flavor.

Dear Reader, I love trying new things and new foods. I look forward to trying the moringa leaves and seed pods, but  I won't be chewing a seed anymore. Blech! I'll swallow those whole if I decide to partake of them. What new foods and things have you tried lately?

Big Leaf Big Smile

He is like a tree 

planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit 

in its season, and 

its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, 

he prospers. 

Psalms 1:3 

 Emily loved finding these big leaves on the Appalachian Trail. That leaf is from an American Sycamore tree.