To Everything There Is A Season...

And a time for every purpose under Heaven...

So says the song, and the chapter in Ecclesiastes.  I am having a hard time remembering that when it says, for example, "A time to be born, and a time to die," it does not mean you have to do both at the same time.  I have been struggling with so many things, lately, from how to find time to write, to how to keep my house clean, to how to teach my kids, to how to put in a zipper (but that's another story!).  It seems as there is never enough time to do it all.  If I write an article, it usually means that I have stayed up far too late, and/or neglected other things in my life.  Actually, if I stay up too late, I neglect things the next day because I am too tired to do them!  So, I'm having to learn about life's seasons, and I'm trying to decipher which season I am in, now.

As I look back, I realize that my life has been broken into sections, or seasons.  I also realize that things have happened in just that order for a reason.  I can see God's hand guiding me, and giving and withholding things as needed.  At the time, this was frustrating.  I especially think of the time it took us to have our two children.  It seemed like we had to wait forever, wondering if we would ever conceive.  But, as I think of other things that were going on at that time, I have to marvel at God's timing.

When we were trying to have Rory, I was working a somewhat physically demanding job which required driving all over the county and lugging musical instruments around, including a very heavy keyboard.  This was a part-time music therapy position, which was combined with a part-time case manager position.  I was also training for my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, after taking classes for ten years.  I don't know why I thought this was the best time to be pregnant, but God obviously had better plans than I.  First, the music therapy position was eliminated because of lack of funding.  I was upset!  How could they do that?  But, it turned me into a full-time case manager, a much less strenuous job.  Then, shortly after I earned my black belt, we found out we were expecting.  I was able to keep attending TKD classes until I was about seven months along, and was still able to teach the "pee-wee" class, but was not worried about training hard, and was allowed to modify anything I had to because of my pregnancy.  Did God know what he was doing?  Of course!  Looking back, I can see how everything fell into place so that Rory was born exactly when he should have been.

Fast forward a few years, and we were again trying to conceive.  Just as we started, we had a major structural problem with our house, which necessitated months of repair and construction.  I was getting so impatient that we didn't seem able to have another child!  But, the major construction was finished just before Lily was born, giving us an extra room just when we needed it.  I was able to give up my babysitting job, which was helping to pay for the work.  Rory was finishing Pre-K then, and started kindergarten a few months later.  As we got to the end of the first grading period, we realized that the local school was not working out for him.  I found out that he wasn't required to attend kindergarten, so we pulled him out.  That began our foray into homeschooling.  If I hadn't had a small infant at that time, I probably would have gone back to work when he started school, and we would have had a hard time making a decision like that.

So, here I am, trying to fit too many things into too small a space again.  (Okay, that's probably a metaphor born from sitting here at my messy desk, but it works!).  My challenge, now, is to recognize which season I am in, and stop fretting about the other things.  I have to remember that God knows my needs, and my family's needs, and even my friend's and acquaintance's needs, and He knows how they all fit together.  I can only see my little slice of the pie, and I'm a bit puzzled about the filling at the moment.  So, I'm reminding myself to give it to God, and let Him take care of piecing the puzzle together.  I know that everything will get done in His time.

From the Schoolhouse

Schoolhouse by morsephoto, photobucket

I'm in a homeschool kind of mood, today, so I figured I would share some of the posts from Schoolhouse at Glen Hill.  This is a blog I started recently which only focuses on homeschooling.

One of the first posts was School at Our House.  I decided to post a bunch of pictures depicting our better times at homeschooling.  It's funny, as I look back at it, because most of the pictures aren't about doing worksheets or listening to the teacher (me) talk.  These are things most of us associate with school, but when I think back on the last couple years, these are not the things that leap out to me as being important.


Probably in the back of my mind, I was thinking of this when I wrote Next Year's Curriculum.  I am trying to save money, and didn't want to purchase a lot of materials for next year, so I started scrounging around the house to see what I could find.  I've enjoyed this year's curriculum, but I am ready for a change.  It has been a little stressful for me to have to fit in certain activities on certain days.  As a result, I'm going back to designing my own, like I did for first grade.  Incidentally, I am working on developing the first grade curriculum on New York State into an elementary/middle-school aged curriculum to sell.  I'll keep you posted!


The last post I'd like to share was something that helps to explain why we have continued homeschooling.  When we started, it was more of a reaction to the difficulty my son was having at school, but as I've become more aware of the public schools' agendas, I am beginning to have different reasons.  What's Happening in Our Schools? includes a link to an article about occult influence in the schools today.  It's kind of frightening to think that our kids are taught that everything is okay, except Christianity.  "Things that make you go -HMM!"


Well, there you have it.  I hope you enjoy the posts!  

Help for Homeschooling

Homeschooling Resources

We have been homeschooling now for over two years.  It began as a reaction to the difficult time my son was having in school.  We pulled him out in the middle of the year, with no idea what we were going to do.  If you would have asked me before my son started school whether I would consider homeschooling, I probably would have laughed at you.  First, I would have asked why, and then I would have explained that I had no idea how to do it.  That was true.  It wasn't that I didn't know how to teach.  I actually have a teaching degree.  However, it is in music education.  I was pretty confident I could teach music, but reading, writing, and arithmetic?  Science?  History?  Foreign Languages?  These were pretty intimidating.  So, I started researching.  I bought books.  I borrowed books from friends, and borrowed books from the library.  I checked out every website I could find.   I found some amazing things.  Two and a half years later, people ask me if I intend to continue homeschooling, and I can confidently tell them "yes."  I have realized that there are so many resources available, there is no need to be afraid of teaching your children at home.

One thing I have found is that there seem to be as many ways of homeschooling as there are homeschooling families.  I don't know any two who do things exactly alike.  Many have found that they need to do things differently even for individual children in the same family.  I even have a friend who uses tutors for all of her son's subjects!  This is something I had never considered before, but it works for them.  He meets with each of his tutors once a week or so, and then works on the assignments at home between meetings.  If you think about it, this type of arrangement takes away some of the fear of teaching your child.  You can find individual tutors, or use a tutoring company.  Some places offer everything from math and reading to PSAT tutoring.  This can be a great help, especially for high-school-aged students who are interested in attending college.

Another option for parents is computer-based learning.  These programs either use a CD-ROM, or web connection, to deliver lessons to your children.  Some of them even give exams, and send a report card.  Some states offer their own program through the public schools, and even provide the computers and other materials for free.This can be a good option for parents who have multiple children, or who work at home or outside the house and don't have enough time in their day to teach their children directly.

Parents who have time to spend but are nervous about missing things can choose from many complete curriculum providers.  These curricula have the advantage of including everything you need to teach your child.   Purchasing one package will ensure that you are teaching everything for the proper grade level, in every subject.  You will receive lesson plans, textbooks, workbooks, and sometimes even lab supplies for a full year of school.  Some are customizable to some degree, in case your child is working at different levels in different subjects.

If you have an idea of what you want your child to learn, you can design your own curriculum.  This is one of the most flexible ways to teach.  You can tailor the curriculum to your child.  This is especially helpful for children who don't do well with workbook-type learning, or who are working at different grade levels in different subjects.  This can be done by buying a different package for each subject, or you can write your own unit studies.

There are so many options available for homeschooling, today, that anyone can find a method that will work for their family.  Most states have homeschool support groups, which can be very helpful to first-time homeschoolers.  Another great resource is the Home School Legal Defense Association, which includes the legal requirements for each state in the United States, and supports homeschoolers all over the world.  If you are interested in homeschooling, don't let fear make your decision for you.  Help is available!

Family Bible Time

My Family!

This is a different type of post.  I am asking for advice, here.  I have been trying to figure out how to start a family Bible time with my kids.  Rory has some Bible study included in his homeschool curriculum, but  it is really something he does by himself.  I am looking for a way to involve both kids - an eight year old and a three year old - in a meaningful Bible time every day.  This is not something I was brought up with.  We went to church and Sunday School, and sometimes spent time reading the Bible ourselves, but we didn't have a time dedicated to family study.  It seems that my husband had a similar upbringing.  As a result, I am not really sure where to begin.  So, I am inviting all of you to add your ideas to the comments section of this post.  If you have a blog post or other recommended reading on this subject, please include the link in your comment!  Thank you so much, and I look forward to reading what Bible time looks like in your family!

Open Spaces

Country Roads

I grew up in the country.  My husband calls it "Farmland USA."  My house was on a corner of my grandparents' 50-acre farm.  It wasn't a working farm when I was growing up, but the barn still stood, and the fields and woods were there.  I remember spending a lot of time just wandering around, or sitting by myself in the middle of a field, or under a tree, or poking around in the barn.  As I got older, my sister and I would take what we called a "block walk."  It didn't matter that the block went approximately six miles.  No one worried if we were out of sight for a while.  We were country kids, and they knew we'd be back eventually, no worse off than when we left, aside from a possible sunburn or bug bite.  

I loved the time alone.  I was, and still am, a "thinker," and I needed time with my thoughts.  I don't remember ever being afraid.  Our family wasn't rich, but I don't remember feeling deprived.  I had the whole world.  

I now live in a small house on a half-acre lot.  It is more than a lot of people have.  Behind our house is a large hill.  There is another house on top of the hill, but we can only see it in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees.  There are houses on either side of ours.  There is no house directly across the street...we are looking into someone's back yard.  Our neighbors are all friendly, and we don't really bother each other.  But it is small.  And closed.  And sometimes I want to be able to walk without stopping to turn around at the end of the lot.  I want to wander in the woods, and sit in the field.  

I took the kids to a park, today.  It is much larger than our yard.  There are swings and slides and a pirate ship to climb on.  There were lots of kids there, because it is just starting to feel like spring here, and today was a beautiful sunny day.  There are walkways going every direction, and there is a fancy pond with two waterfalls and a bridge.  It is not a field or a woods, but it is big.  You can walk without stopping for quite a ways.  We walked, we ran, we looked at the pond, and played on the swings and the slides.  We didn't want to leave.  I am the parent, and I had to make us go home when it was supper time.  I felt like hiding in the pirate ship like Rory did, so I didn't have to get into the van and drive away.  But I am the parent.  Lily kept asking to go back.  I said, sure, we could go back again many times.  After all, it is just spring, and we can go in the summer and fall.  She meant now.  No, not now.  Another day.  

So, we are home.  We snuggled on the couch and read books.  The kids are in bed.  It is cozy, here.  The puppy and the cat and the chickens are here.  My piano and books are here.  But sometimes I miss the open spaces, and the feeling of belonging to a place.  I can't let the kids go far without watching them.  You never know what could happen these days.  But I wonder how much they are missing by being so closely observed.  They are still young, and Lily is too little to be running around by herself, but Rory is about as old as I was when I would spend time just wandering.  I know he feels the loss, even if it's something he has never known.  He feels a pull toward the open spaces.  The time alone with his thoughts.  I hope he can find it somehow, even if he can't walk very far without turning around.  

Faith in Little Things

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Asparagus in Spring

I went outside (in the rain) today, and guess what I saw?  Yes!  Asparagus!  I would never have seen them, if I hadn't looked closely.  In fact, I had to move a few leaves away before I saw them.  But I was expecting them.  I know in the picture they look huge, but they are really so tiny.  Asparagus grow straight up, their ends poking out of the ground full size.  Then they continue shooting up, as if they were already formed deep inside the earth somewhere.  I know this is not the case, as the roots are not that far down.  How this happens is a mystery to me.  However, I know that soon we will have a whole row of them, shooting up into the air.  Any that are not picked will unfurl themselves and turn into miniature Christmas trees, complete with tiny red balls!

We have been waiting for these asparagus for three years.  When we planted them, we were informed that we would have to wait for two full years before we could pick any.  So, we have watched them for two seasons.  We have enjoyed their frilly adulthood until late in the fall, but have not tasted them!  Now, we will be able to harvest.  MMMM!  Just the thought of asparagus picked fresh from the garden is making my mouth water!  

Waiting for Sprouts

Lily and I planted two rows in the garden on Monday - one of lettuce, and one of onions.  None of them have sprouted yet, but I know the seeds are there, waiting.  Soon we will see tiny green leaves poking up out of the soil.  We also have rhubarb coming up, which was planted last year and, again, we had to wait until this year to eat.  

First Rhubarb Leaf 

Spring is an amazing time of year.  All of the waiting through the cold, hard winter is forgotten as the sun begins to warm the ground, the rain waters the earth, and life begins to return to the garden.  The message of new birth is so easy to understand.  Plants that seemed dead and dry last fall are bursting forth with newfound vigor.  I don't think it was a coincidence that God chose to have Christ resurrected in the spring.  He wanted us to remember each year that as the soil brings forth new life, we can also be renewed.  Take some time today to enjoy the springtime, and to let God renew your spirit as well.

                                                       Link at Women Living Well Blog!

Days Like This

Have you ever had "one of those days?"  This was one.  All of my great plans from yesterday went kaput.  Mike had to go to work early this morning, and was running late, so he couldn't take the dog out before he went.  I wasn't up yet, so he left her in the crate.  By the time I got up and got to her, she had two huge piles of poop, and had saturated her bed with urine.  She had also sat in the poop.  So I washed the dog, washed the crate, and put the bed and towels in the washing machine.  Then, Lily was up wanting her oatmeal, so I made that, and the kids and I started cleaning the house.  We got the living room cleaned and part of the playroom, and it was time to go to homeschool co-op.  On the way there, I noticed that the gas light was on in the van.  Then, I heard a beep which I realized was my cell phone losing battery power.  I shut the cell phone off, and prayed all the way to the gas station after co-op.  We did get to the gas station, and just got to the bank in time to cash my paycheck so I can get some groceries this weekend.  We went home, and got supper, and then Rory couldn't find his shirt for AWANA.  We finally found it when I remembered I had a pile of clothes which needed to be put away on the cedar chest at the end of the bed.  The whole thing makes me want to scream!

I'd like to blame a lot of things for creating this havoc, but I unfortunately have to take most of the credit, myself.  I woke up when Mike was getting ready for work, but it was more comfortable to stay in bed, so I did.  As a result, the puppy got worried about being left in her crate, and I fell back to sleep and slept too late.  I missed my quiet time with God, because by the time I got myself together, everything was already in full swing.  The house is a complete wreck because I have done a good job of ignoring it for the past week or so.  Having everyone sick was part of the problem, but I could have done more to get things back in order when we started feeling better.  If I had gotten gas yesterday when we were out, instead of waiting until today, we wouldn't have had that worry.  If I had shut my cell off when I got home last time, it wouldn't have run down.  I had managed to have Rory get his bag ready for AWANA this morning, but didn't think anything at all of his shirt.  Said shirt should have been hung up in his closet, anyway, instead of on my chest!  It would have been if I had put the laundry away, instead of piling it up all over the place.

I am so tired of living like this.  The Proverbs 31 woman is hiding her eyes, I am sure!  I know there has to be a better way.  I don't think my family and I were created to live in chaos all of the time.  I am praying that I find the way out of this mess, for me and my family.  My husband was so happy to see the living room clean when he got home.  I want to give that to him every day, not once in a while.  It would be great if he was also greeted with a clean rest of the house!  Even my clean desk is sporting a pile of papers.

I know that my heart has a part in all of this.  As I was thinking of ways to fix my problem, I could feel my spirit fighting against my own ideas.  It was like a physical pulling in my chest, with a voice in my head shouting "no!" like a two-year-old.  I have to get into a routine.  I don't know why this is such a hard thing for me, but I can feel myself rebelling against the very thought.  I guess I have some soul-searching to do, here.  There is that old saying "Where there's a will, there's a way."  I'm afraid in this case, my will is getting IN the way.  I am thinking of the words of Jesus, when he was asking if he could get out of going to the cross.  He ended his plea with a resigned "not my will, by thine be done."  This has to be my new prayer.  I am certain that the disarray in my life is not from God, as he is the God of order, not confusion.  The disorder and mess has to be coming from another source.  One of my friends has a tag on her phone that says "let go n/ let God" whenever she sends a text.  I have to remember this.  Also, the words of Scarlett O'Hara - "Tomorrow is another day!"

So, tomorrow is Saturday.  Baseball and piano lessons, then family night with pizza.  Starting with quiet time!  With God's help, I can.

Quiet Time

I Just Wanted to Be Alone!

Sometimes it's hard to find quiet time.  Since I've become a mother, I've found that my time alone, to just sit and read a book or be alone with my thoughts, has dwindled down to almost nothing.  I try to catch time when I can, but it is generally late at night when I am too tired to read much or think well.  Lately I have been going to Bible Study on Wednesday nights.  It has given me more time to focus on God, but it still isn't quiet or alone.  

As I go through my days, I realize that I am functioning in crisis mode much of the time.  Trying to get things done.  Going from activity to activity.  Cooking.  Cleaning.  Laundry.  Homeschool.  Writing.  Activities.  Shopping.  The list goes on and on, "To-do" items flying at me from every direction.  I dodge a ball just to have it bounce off the wall and hit me in the back of the head.  There has to be a better way!

Last night, our Pastor challenged us to spend an hour each day alone with God.  Of course, I informed him that mothers did not have that luxury!  He pointed out that Jesus found time when others were sleeping, going out early in the morning.  My mind rebelled.  I need my sleep!  I don't get enough sleep as it is!  I have too much to do!  

This morning, Mike had to go to work earlier than he usually does on Thursdays.  I was still in bed.  However, the puppy had gotten up and was whining for attention.  So I got up.  I made coffee, and got dressed while it was brewing.  The children were still sleeping.  The puppy was fine as long as I was near her.  I got my bible and a notebook.  I started to pray.  I asked God to be with me during the day, and to help me to get through it.  He directed me to read Proverbs 31 (ick!).  I copied verses 10-31 onto a piece of paper.  There are a lot of directions in there.  That woman's candle never went out, it says!  Huh.  

I have a long way to go.  I haven't gotten any more done today than usual, but I have noticed how much time I am wasting.  Of course, I still wasted it, but at least I noticed.  And you know what?  I'm not any more tired right now than I usually am when I sleep late.  I actually did spend about an hour this morning before anyone got up.  

No more excuses!  Spending quiet time with God is not impossible.  It is necessary.  Having children and pets and a husband and a house and..and...and... can not keep me from spending time with my Savior.  I'm going to set my alarm clock tomorrow, and try again!

Games and Activities For Teaching Musical Tempo to Young Children

Tempo, or speed, is one of the building blocks of music. Activities and games can help pre-school and elementary-aged children learn to recognize it.

Young children tend to respond to different types of music in different ways. If you have spent time with babies or toddlers, you have probably seen them relax to the soothing sounds of their mothers' lullabies, or bounce and wave their arms to a song with a fast rock beat. They are innately feeling the tempo of the music. The following cross-curricular games and activities can help children to recapture this feeling, and begin to understand it cognitively.

What is Tempo?

When teaching music to children, it is best to use the proper terminology. Even if they are years away from learning to play an instrument or read music, using the correct terms when they are young will increase their understanding later. Tempo refers to the speed of a song or musical composition. When writing music, composers sometimes use a metronome marking to communicate the tempo of the song. Alternately, they may use Italian words (adagio, allegro, presto), or English words (slowly, fast rock beat). It is fun for children to learn the meaning of these words.

Using a Metronome

A metronome is a machine which measures beats per minute. You may have the old-fashioned type, which has a weighted stick that swings back and forth, or one of the newer electronic ones. Children love to use these, adjusting them to make the ticks go faster and slower. In metronome markings (M.M.), quarter note = 60 means that there are 60 beats in a minute, or one beat each second. M.M. 40 would therefore be slower, and M.M. 100 would be faster. Traditional march beat is M.M. 120, or two beats per second. If you do not have a metronome available, you can use a clock with a second hand, or a timer which ticks seconds.

Movement Activities

Moving to music is one of the easiest ways to learn to recognize tempo. The following activities can be done while listening to music or making your own music. As the children gain experience, introduce music that speeds up or slows down during the song.

Clapping hands, stomping feet, or playing rhythm instruments along with a song help children to feel the beat.

Marching and dancing use the whole body to feel the tempo. Make sure to give the children direction, however. If they are dancing freely, they may or may not be paying attention to the tempo of the song. Demonstrate the steps you want them to do, and then dance along with them.

Ask the children to move at different speeds - using descriptive words, or even metronome markings as the basis. Try using the Italian words instead. If you don't know the proper words, some of them are written on metronomes, or you can get an inexpensive music dictionary.

Children's games such as "Ring Around the Rosie" or "Motorboat, Motorboat" help children to move in tempo. "Motorboat" is especially good, as the circle goes faster as the game goes on.

Language Activities

Some language arts activities lend themselves well to learning about tempo.

Poetry reading - from Mother Goose to Shakespeare's Sonnets, poetry has its own sense of rhythm. Reading poetry aloud to children helps them to connect feeling to the words.

Try saying words in ways that describe their meanings (i.e. "quick!-quick!" and "sloooow").

Have the children act out a particularly exciting or sorrowful part of a story, using their movements to help show the mood. Point out the connections to emotions and tempo.

Art Activities

Engaging in artistic pursuits while listening to music can help children focus on different elements of the music.

Have the children draw a picture. This works well with instrumental music. Note if their hands are moving slowly when the music is slow, and quicker when the music speeds up. Ask the children to explain their drawings when they are done.

Instead of drawing, you can have the children mold something out of clay while listening to music.

Children enjoy making their own instruments. Have them decorate an oatmeal box or coffee can for a drum, or make shakers from empty plastic bottles filled with rice or beans. Cut one-inch dowels into ten or twelve inch lengths, and have them paint them. Use the hand-made instruments for some of the previous activities.

Games and cross-curricular activities can enhance your children's understanding of music. They can also help children who are reluctant to learn, by associating music with another activity they enjoy. Refer to the article "Teaching Music to Your Children" for more information about musical elements your children should know.


Copyright Robin Wheatley

originally published at Suite101

Cooking with Kids

Rolling in the dough!

Cooking with kids is always an adventure.  I am blessed with two kids who really love to cook.  Lily's favorite thing to make is tortillas, seconded by bread.  She really loves to help me cook anything, and will pull a chair up to the counter any time she sees me getting food out.  She loves the processes of kneading, rolling, and shaping dough.  She also loves eating the results!

Artistic Presentation

Rory is the resident presentation expert.  While most of us would simply put the food on a plate, Rory's is always arranged.  This is his version of a fruit salad, shaped like a face!  As you can see, he also likes to be stylish while cooking, wearing Dad's apron and chef's hat.

Mix it up!

Rory is also the family chemist.  He loves mixing things together to see what they will become.  This has produced some interesting recipes, including "Italian Cereal," which basically includes every kind of cereal in the cupboard mixed together, as well as various other ingredients such as nuts and crackers.  In the recipe section of this blog, you can find Rory's recipes for Black Bean Soup and Liquid Ice, both developed by Rory, himself.


Cooking with kids is not always easy.  It is generally time consuming and messy, but it is definitely worth all of the trouble.  The sense of accomplishment they feel when they can tell Dad "I made this!" is worth all of the clean houses in the world.  As parents, we are required to train our children.  We should really be working ourselves out of a job!  Time spent teaching our kids to feed themselves will never be wasted, and the time we get to spend side by side with our kids, working together, is priceless.

Monday Morning Musings

Happy Monday, everyone!  I am up before the kids, so I'm enjoying a little quiet time before the day gets into full swing.  Last week was a hard, busy one for our family.  First of all, the kids and I all got sick.  We must have had the flu, because it hit full force and all of a sudden.  Rory didn't get out of bed at all on Tuesday, except to use the bathroom.  If you know Rory, you will realize how scary that was to watch!  He never lays down for that long.  I got sick at the same time, and then Lily started feeling bad, too.  Mike took the day off work on Wednesday so that I could rest.  That was a big help!  I wasn't well, but I'm sure I would have been worse without the extra sleep.  We are still all coughing and sneezing a bit, but the fevers and aches seem to be gone.

During all of this, Friday night was the AWANA Pinewood Derby.  If you don't know what this is, I will enlighten you.  It is a car race.  The kids get these little blocks of wood, and they have to make them into little wooden cars (about 5" long).  Then, on the night of the derby, a big track is set up.  Four cars race at a time, and each car races four times.  The track works by gravity.  It is raised at the starting end, and then swoops down to the finish.  There is a trigger mechanism which lets all four cars go at the same time, and an electronic eye at the other end which records the time for each car as it goes underneath.  Rory won two of his races, and came in 2nd on two more.  At the end of all of these races (there were about 40!), they find the cars with the four fastest scores, and they race for the trophies.  My goodness!  It was quite the big deal!  There were also prizes for design, and there were some really inventive cars.  Rory's favorite had Lego's mounted to the top.  Well, Rory didn't win a trophy, so he was a bit disappointed.  However, we went to McDonalds afterwards, which cheered him right up.

After the late night Friday, we all had to get up early on Saturday to go to the first day of Baseball!  Luckily it was relatively warm outside.  Rory was happy to find that he head the same coach as last year.  He really liked her!  They got their schedules, did some warm-ups, and played one "game" with each kid getting up to hit once.  Then it was over.  It was much too short for Rory.  He was having a good time.  Well, this is just the beginning.  We will be spending every Saturday there for the next three months!

Yesterday was church.  Mike went to Sunday School, but I let the kids sleep in so that they could get through church okay.  Lily still had a little trouble.  She just wasn't feeling well, yet.  I went out last night to get some groceries.

Today, it's drizzly outside.  We are staying home!  Hopefully we can all get better before the next whirlwind arrives.  We also have a bit of schoolwork to catch up on, since we missed a few days last week.  I'm relieved.  I have to submit my 3rd quarter report to the school with Rory's progress on Friday, so I need the time to get caught up.  I also need to get started on Lily's and my Easter dresses.  So, everyone have a great Monday!