halloween (which is REALLY reformation day...)

i've shared before what prompted our family to dive into the halloween tradition.  it isn't that we love it so much (and i'm astounded every year by the way grownups with no kids around get so into it!), but that were convicted a few years ago that we would leave our home on the one night when all our neighbors were guaranteed to visit.  we don't generally get to share the gospel, but we build relationship, and it makes my heart glad.  and it's a time when we totally let go and say "have at it!" for as much candy as they feel like... uggh!  :)

some might say they're too old, but we wanted to let them be kids as long as they can.  the four oldest sewed their own costumes from patterns they found online for a dumb cartoon they all like.  :)

we did meet one family while trick-or-treating who said, "we call it reformation day..." which led to a sweet moment of fellowship.  in discussing it with our oldest, he said, "mom, did you notice we never say 'happy halloween,' but rather, 'merry Christmas' or something like that?"

How about you - what do you do at this time of year?  Hide out, reach out, or just hang out and let it all ride on by?



silly and fun...

love the crazy-laughing-in-the-wind that only happens at the beach... a was helping with a session and very nearly got blown across the gulf, i think!  :)

art and passion {fine art children's photography}

for a while, i've had a desire to take some of my portrait work and infuse scripture into it... i also had a desire to try to sell some art pieces in the local Christian bookstore.

dear martha invited me to bring in some pieces, and when i brought her some florals (which i thought were unique and original) she gently said, "this isn't your passion.  why don't you incorporate your babies and your children's work?"  out of an inspiring conversation came a vision for what i'm calling the warrior series.  i pray that these pieces will be an inspiration to those who see them, and to us, when i hang these pieces on the wall as a reminder of how small we are, and how big our God is, and how large we become in the universe against darkness when we are in His will....

now, lest you think my photographers'-children-models are perfect and well behaved all the time, i present an outtake.  this ain't nothin' compared to the faces he made while the waves lapped at my clothes and the lighting malfunctioned and i acted oh-so-human and very nearly forgot the passion and vision with which we'd tromped to the beach to create these images.  :)

oh yes, and love the swim trunks hanging out.  he's wearing big brothers trousers because in our mad rush we forgot anything besides the orange floral swim trunks, and can you tell how happy he is about that wardrobe impediment to his preschool freedom of creativity?

..."i have hidden your Word in my heart, that i might not sin against you..."

my heart longs to hold onto your truth, Papa, and yet i focus on the little things of this world that distract.  i want your word before me...

it's an awards contest! {homeschool blog awards 2010}

oh my goodness!  i'm jumping-up-and-down excited... someone reads me!  despite my photography blog getting waaaay too much attention over the fam one (this one, duh!), my online heart-sister (whom i'll meet in heaven someday if not here) emailed me today to say she'd voted for me at the homeschool blog awards.  i didn't register that i'd been nominated - but whoever did it, THANK YOU!  (i am quite sure i missed an email somewhere...) 

and on that note, if you are a voting-kind-of-person, i'd love if you take a minute in your busy day and vote... since i'm nominated, and all.  just click here to visit the site!  scroll down and click " best variety blog" and then select dancing with my father (well, if i'm your fave in that category.  :)  )

go, now!  check out all the fabulous blogs that've been nominated... it's a feast of inspiration that will be sure to fill up your bookmarks list... enjoy!

(and vote for me... weeee!)

e.

i love you, little-boy-who's-not-so-little.  mommy has long roads to walk to learn more patience and a gentle spirit... and you are a precious gift Jesus will use to help me get there.  your smile takes my breath away.  your forgiving spirit and your quiet "go-with-the-flow-ness" are a priceless blessing for our home and our family.

you are growing, and soon you will be taller than me and i pray i can keep up, because you have places to go, and things to do, and people to see.  and they will love you, because you are wonderful.

love, mommy.  :)



just one...

a while back we did maternity portraits for a good photographer-friend.  as the last moment, when the sky was so beautiful it took our breath away, karen snapped a sillhouette of me and my favorite two assistants.  i love you, guys!

precious days... {homeschool projects}

i once said i'd never co-op again, after experience led me through some very hard times, and after a season where i realized i was spending more time managing parents and their issues than tending to my own children's experience and education.  for the last year-ish, we've found a solution that works very well for our family. 

our dear friends have the same number of kiddos and a very similar age lineup, and very comparable curriculum and style/ heart for our children's education and spiritual growth.  it's been a natural fit to spend a day a week together doing special projects that line up with what we're doing in our  own homes, and using our combined resources to give them a richer teaching.

i think it works for us because we respect each other's individuality, while learning from each other.  i only hope my friend and her students gain as much as i know our family does!

this year:

preschool time.  we alternate weeks to teach.  we're loosely building from early education at home, a book first given to me by a homeschool mama about 10 years ago when my oldest was a little guy!

history.  we both use tapestry of grace and are on the same schedule, so we take turns leading a project or two and /or teaching time on our current subject/time period of history.

science for our "middles."  beautiful feet history of science was our choice (i'm doing apologia's anatomy with mine as well). 

the "big two" are working mostly independently in their second year of the one year adventure novel.

the "second born" for each of us is working together to do a stop-motion film project.  if they can stay focused and on-task.  otherwise they'll be assigned a more supervised project.  ;)

we alternate weekly between my hubby teaching woodworking when we host, and the other momma teaching art.  there are some cool projects lined up for these subjects!

these moments are precious to me because i know it's a choice and a sacrifice for us each to give up a day of our own school, but it's a dear gift that helps me get done projects i always wanted to, and it provides encouragement and accountability for my children and myself!  (plus it's super-cool to see my hubby teaching something he enjoys as well!)