2007 in review

Our family started out 2007 with making a big decision. After much prayer and seeking advice we decided to move south. Rex was offered a wonderful job working for a Christian friend. We had been praying for a couple years for a job change since the work he was doing did not have a future. It certainly seemed like an answer to our prayers. We put our house up for sale in February and it finally sold in August but not until we changed realtors. We moved in Oct. but first Rex had ACL reconstruction surgery. We are currently attending the Reformed Baptist Church here.

Rexford is still working for a major retail chain. He became a black belt in Taekwondo. Rexford is still playing chess and playing the keyboard. He loves video games and is a very generous brother. Rexford took the ACT in Dec and scored in the 99th percentile in the United States. He is still considering a career in law with the hopes of becoming a judge. One of our friends is trying to talk him into going into medicine We will be busy this month applying to colleges. He has already been offered a full scholarship from a college.

Ethan is also working for a major retail chain. He also became a black belt in Taekwondo last year. Ethan has his driver’s permit. He is studying for the ACT that he will be taking this year:) Ethan continues to sculpt with clay, he also is still working on his pastels. He is currently trying Chinese brush painting. Ethan got a book on bonsai and is looking into growing one. Ethan will study up a lot of the any subject he is interested in before jumping in to it.

Isaac became a black belt in Taekwondo last year. He grew so much last year that he literally grew out of his eye glasses. Isaac is dabbling in Wing Chun, another martial art. He continues to take care of his dog Wing Chun (Winnie) since we moved down here and she is an outside dog now. Isaac draws so much. One of his drawings I made into a t-shirt and have sold more of his design than any other t-shirts I have sold so far. He got a bamboo digital drawer for the computer for Christmas:) Isaac has shuriken and loves to throw them at targets.

Lilly has been a black belt since 2006:) She was part of a taekwondo demonstration team in 2007. She currently likes to skateboard and she loves to play tennis. Lilly also likes to knit. Lilly had her first babysitting job and certainly has a knack for it. She likes to play with spy gear and helps me out around the house. She is always trying to get her hands on soda.

Danielle became a black belt in Taekwondo this year. She loves to play on the keyboard and read as many books as she can get her hands on, especially Nancy Drew. She also loves to play video games. Danielle has started to cross stitch this year also. Danielle also likes to knit and play tennis. Danielle likes to help me in the kitchen and made Chocolate Italian Pitzels for Christmas!

Geneva misses Grand Master Kim from Taekwondo class, he was like her Grandpa to her. He played with her all the time. She loves to dance and do her taekwondo in front of an audience. Geneva is beginning to read and loves school. Geneva lost her bottom 2 teeth and looks as cute as can be. She also had her first hair cut, if you can call how much I cut off a haircut:)

Rex turned 40 this year! He broke his foot the day after we moved down here and the doctor told him last week that it is not healing. He is currently staying off his foot in hopes it will heal up and he can avoid surgery! He is taking to his new job very well and it looks like he will get his own truck and be on his own sooner than we expected…assuming his foot heals. Rex has taught S.S. a few times and recently he taught class sitting in the Pastor’s chair up in front of the church because he can’t put any weight on his foot. Rex lost his Grandmother in December and we were able to attend Margaret’s funeral in Iowa.

I am still homeschooling the children and can hardly believe Rexford will be graduating this year. I could not imagine sending him off to school when time flies by so fast and it feels like I haven’t had enough time with him as it is homeschooling him. I am enjoying the South and getting to know people down here. I am still struggling with my weight and determined to lose the rest of my fat in 2008.

All of the children except Geneva are professing believers in Jesus Christ. Praise God for His goodness to us. No black belt or academic award could ever be as important as Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praise God for all of His wondeful blessings to us!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We were invited over a friend’s home for the day, it was nice not to have to do all the cooking but then I usually don’t cook for Thanksgiving. This has been the first Thanksgiving that we have not gone to my mother’s house that I can remember.

Ethan starts his first job next week, he didn’t have the hard time that Rexford did up in MN finding one. Rexford and Ethan are studying a lot for the A.C.T., Rexford takes in it Dec. Right now Rexford is very busy with work and school, I guess that well be his lot for quite a few years:)

We will start baking cookies and babka bread next week. For years I have made cheesecakes also to give out. Not many people in my family like cheesecake so I guess it good I give them away, or I might be the only one eating a whole cake..:) Last year I broke from our traditional Christmas Eve meal and started a new one!

We are having school on Saturday’s to get caught up. The weather here has cooled down and the leaves on the trees are turning beautiful colors. We take the Natchez Trace Parkway a lot and the drive is an absolute pleasure. http://www.nps.gov/natr

Psalm 128
1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.

2 When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Shiver me timbers

Next week turkey day. Hooray! This year is about over. We are behind on school but are trying to catch up. Rex went to the doctor on Monday, the first time he was able to drive himself! I went with him though. When we got home the kids had put the chalkboard up with a count down ‘till Christmas and gotten out our Christmas blankets that we use on the sectional in Dec. They also had Christmas music playing.

Cumberland has a really nice 2 set cd on sale: Messiah http://www.cvbbs.com/

“Shiver me timbers” is what the weatherman said last night when he announced the high today was going to be 59, Rex and I just chuckled. The cold spell should be over by tomorrow and temps will be back up into the 70’s. A couple weeks ago when I was out in the evening I witnessed a woman walking with ear muffs, it was in the 50’s that evening also. They actually sell scarves and mittens in stores. I know it will get colder here, probably not ‘till winter though.

My father came for visit last week, we had a really nice time with him. He lives about six hours away so I will see him a lot more living down here. He really liked our church and is looking to visit a Reformed Baptist church in his area.

We had a young couple over this week, I made eggplant parmesan, anyway when Geneva saw the eggplant I bought she decided it was going to be her baby so she carried it around like a baby all night, it was so funny. You really don’t need to buy $50 baby dolls just give your girls some fruit and vegetables! She said she was taking it to the doctor and got a toothpick and poked the eggplant she said the baby needed acupuncture.