I am so blessed and so thankful for my family.  At the end of September, just days before our 15th anniversary, we found out we were expecting our 8th child.  Many months before we had picked a name for a boy, if God was going to bless us with one.  That name means God is my strength.

 We waited about 4 days to tell the other children because with the last few we have come up with a special way to tell them.  Once we played charades and I acted out that I was pregnant.  Another time we made donuts in the shape of their first initial, with an extra one for the baby.  The donuts tasted pretty good, but professional donut-maker, I am not.

Well this time we decided that since the children have called themselves Alphabet Soup and like super heroes, I would draw little sketches of the Alphabet Soup-er Heroes. All the Heroes are things that make great soups.

So we have Arracacha.

And beefy Beef. 

Carrot.

Daikon radish, purple of course.

Then Eggplant.

And Fennel.

The Book Blast is a non-profit, volunteer used curriculum sale held at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, SC. You do not need to be a member of Community Bible Church or of CBCCA in order to be a Book Blast participant. It is free to participate, but you must register.  If you wish to sell, there is a $5 fee.

The Book Blast will run on Friday, June 13, from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Register for the Book Blast online here.

How do I become a seller?

After you register for the conference you can click here to register as a seller.  You are not required to register to start entering your items online, but you will not be an official seller until you have registered for the Book Blast.

The last day for people to enter items into the Book Blast system is Tuesday, June 10th at midnight.

What can I sell at the Book Blast?

Our focus is on curriculum.  In addition, readers of all kinds, manipulatives, science stuff and educational supplemental materials.  Bibles, devotionals and educational aids are also welcome.

Please keep in mind this is not a yard sale, but a place to sell the kind of things YOU will be looking for to use in your own homeschool next year.

Our mission is to encourage all homeschoolers, but keep in mind we are a Christian homeschooling group.  We will not be able to sell items that conflict with our Christian values.  Please use discretion.

What are the selling instructions?

After you are registered as a seller, books and materials must be properly labeled.  We have two methods for labeling items:

Bar Coding Labeling

This system enables sellers to easily track sales.  It also streamlines the sale for buyers and sellers.  Added bonus?  You will get your money back much more quickly!

Book Blast Instructions 2014

Manual Labeling

You may also manually label your books.  There is an additional 10% processing fee for using the manual system.

Click here for Manual Labeling Instructions

When do I drop off my books?

Thursday, June 12 from 1:00 – 7:00 pm, at the start of the Intro to Homeschooling Seminar.

Where do I drop off my books?

You must use the SIDE ENTRANCE of the CBC Children’s Building.  (The doors under the awning.)  We will have signs directing you.

Do not enter through the front entrance, back of the building or the Atrium.

What do I need to bring with me to the book drop off?

• Properly labeled books.
• If you are bar-coding – your inventory list.
• You should be already registered for the book blast 2014.  If you are not registered, you will need to fill out a registration form.
• $5.00 seller fee.
• Self-Addressed, stamped envelope so that we can mail you your check.

What happens to my books after the sale?

Please plan to pick up your unsold books after the sale between 4:00 – 6:00 pm.

We have no place to store unsold books.  Make arrangements with a friend or come yourself to get your unsold books.  It will be your responsibility to check and see if you have books left over.

Items not picked up by Friday, June 13th at 6:00 pm will be donated.

What if I have stuff I want to give away?

We will have an area for free items in a separate room.  You may leave free items in the designated spot at the registration desk.  Please separate your free items from items your selling and clearly label them FREE.

What if I have more questions?

Call May at 575-2309 or email may@tonyandmay.com

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!

Thursday, June 12th – Saturday, June 14th.

This year is the first time in my homeschooling career that there will not be a CHEC conference.  I was a little saddened when I heard the new, as CHEC has always been an encouraging, fun time to connect with other teaching mothers and wonderful chance to soak up wisdom from the speakers in the workshops.

But I am thrilled to be able to announce it will still be a busy weekend at Community Bible Church in Beaufort!

Thursday, June 12th

Book drop off for the Book Blast: 1:00 – 7:00 pm

Seller fee: $5.00

Intro to Home Education Seminar, by Pastor Carl Broggi: 7:00 pm

Fee: $5.00 per person

Friday, June 13th

Book Blast, used curriculum sale: 9:00 – 3:00 pm

Free to shop, so come, buy used and save!  And please register so we have a head count. :)

Saturday, June 14th

Refreshing the Heart for Mothers, by Audrey Broggi – special application for moms who home educate: 9:00 – 2:00 pm

Fee: $12.00 includes box lunch, $5.00 – bring your own lunch

ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON

Please share this with people who may be interested in home education!

We are expecting our fifth child sometime around the beginning of May 2013!

We haven’t gone to the midwife yet, so we don’t know the exact date.  I am guessing about 4 -5 weeks.

When we were sure, Tony gathered the children together to tell them.  He said something was going to happen in 9 months then asked if they knew based on that.  Benjamin, in a sort of questioning voice asked if it was a baby.  When Tony confirmed, Benjamin looked over at me and said, “Your pregnant?!  Congratulations!”  He had so much enthusiasm in his voice and sounded so much like a close friend who is truly happy for you!  Oh he almost made me cry with happiness.  I loved hearing his joy over a new sibling.

Each year I am frustrated as I try to make a store bought planner work for me.  This year I decided to take a page from a friend, so to speak, and make my own.  I think the hardest thing has been figuring out what I really wanted my planner to be.  I knew I needed to be able to have all 3 children currently being home educated on one page.  I also wanted the studies we do together to be in one place so I wasn’t writing and rewriting for each child.  So I came up with this…

In our garden, we have hay.

Hay attracts bugs.  And not the nice bugs either.

Bugs are not my favorite…  I had a nightmare where suddenly my home was over run with bugs from the garden, but I digress.

I have been very brave and dealt with the bugs because I wanted my garden, small as it may be.

Then one day as I am working in the garden, I realized I didn’t see to many bugs.  So I did something out of character…I started looking for the bugs.  I dug around a little in the hay to see if I could find some.  And this skink is what I found instead!  This picture really doesn’t do her size justice.  This thing is at least 6-8 inches long!

You know we made a science lesson from it!

Since this picture we have found another large skink and at least 3 babies…and very very few bugs!  They live in my potato patch, and I am completely content to have them stay there.  :)

As our school year has drawn to a close this year, I find myself preparing for next year.  There is something fun about picking out curriculum and creating a planner.  Organizing our “education room” for the coming year (also known as our dinning room) and putting away the keepsakes from the year that has just ended.  But getting ready for the new year is more than physically being prepared, it is also about being mentally prepared.  For me that is seeking God and growing in my relationship with Him so that I can better guide my children to become images of God.

The children are selling these beautiful handmade Christmas wreaths for a home school project this year!  We love to support American companies, and this was a great opportunity to teach some small business skills.  My little ones plan to split any money they make 3 ways and use it on Christmas presents.

They are working so hard, it is really precious.  Benjamin has every price memorized and Alexander is more or less the spokesman of the group.  The boys gave Carolyn the job of holding up the brochure and smiling really big.  (A job she personally loves!)

If you would like to order one, please let me know.  There are two ways you can order.  Either the children can sell to you or you can go to https://www.wreathsofmaine.com/wreaths.  When buying online, be sure to use their seller id, 4876, so they will get the credit.  In person orders are due by November 28th and online orders December 16th, but don’t wait as they are handmade and take time to make.

So I have been thinking for a while that I wanted to learn how to make hair bows and clippies for my daughters to wear.  I know a few women who make them, but I just can’t bring myself to spend the money on them, no matter how cute!  (I am SO cheap!)

A couple of weeks ago, I ran across some free tutorials on how to make ribbon art.  After reading some over, I decided it didn’t look to hard for me to try.  These are my first attempts at making clippies.  I think they look really cute and the little ladies really like them too.

How is this possible!!  My 6 month old baby girl is pulling up all by herself!!

Wow, sometimes life just gets away from me.  So much has happened since the last time I posted. Instead of trying to update in words, I will use pictures.  After all, a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

Meet Danielle Liana.

And here she is 3 months later.

Alexander working on his flag football skills

My other footballer

Benjamin's idea of babysitting

Carolyn with a homemade puppet

Benjamin in USC gear

Alexander in his...Go Gamecocks...

Danielle doesn't seem to like USC. Go Razerbacks!! ;-)

Carolyn loves this doll

I love you so much, I can only hope that you have a great day!  Looking back at this site and realizing it’s two years old in July;  we should focus more on this site to update our families.  Anyhow I love you so much!!!

It is so great to say those words.  This has been the longest time in our family not to have picked a name.  I was starting to get concerned we would be holding the baby LONG BEFORE the name!  D has just been a difficult letter.

Well, as I said, we have picked a name.  Her name is Danielle Liana (pronounced lee-AHN-ah.)  Danielle means God is Judge and Liana means my God has answered, so her name literally means My God is Judge and He has answered.  Naming Danielle this was so appropriate.   In April, some dear friends had been praying for some minor health related issues I had been having.  Out of the blue I suddenly developed an appendicitis, and the x-rays revealed the problem believed to have been causing my issues.  And after that, everything seemed to fall into place.

God was so gracious to have given us this blessing, that we really felt He deserved all the glory.  We are blessed.

I found these cute pumpkins on a friend’s site ages ago.  I liked them then, but with life being busy I didn’t have the time to even think about making them.  At the beginning of October we went to her house for a Harvest Party, and there they were, hanging in her dinning room looking so festive.  So I finally decided to make them.  The hardest part was finding brown construction paper.  I had to improvise and use brown paper lunch sacks, but I think the end result was great.

This past Wednesday Alexander’s choir sung.  Alexander did great.  All week he told me he didn’t know the words to the songs, but when it came to standing up there, he sang his heart out.  He even “tapped” his foot to the song.  I was really proud of him.  He even picked his clothing!

It is so exciting to realize God is blessing us with another little one to train up and care for.

We decided to use the trip to the midwife as a field trip day.  The tech was nice enough to explain some of what the children saw, although I think Benjamin was more interested in finding out the sex of the baby!

After leaving the midwife we went to the mall to celebrate our little one.  (We also used this time to multitask and get some work done on the car.)   Tony and I allowed everyone to pick anything they wanted to eat from the food court at the mall.  With much debating, Alexander and Carolyn finally chose Chick-fil-a and Benjamin chose pizza.

When we finished eating we decided to take a train ride around the mall.  The children had a blast and waved to everyone we passed.  I wish I had remember to bring my camera!

Then we wanted to wander the mall while we waited for our car.  We went to Build-A-Bear to look around (as none of us had ever been in one) and decided to let the children each build a toy.  We also built one for our Darling D (we haven’t decided on a name, so if anyone has a suggestion, you are welcome to leave a comment.)  Her first toy is a snow owl.  Alexander built a camo bear with a soccer uniform.  Benjamin built a velvet pup and gave him a Star Wars uniform.  Both the boys gave their pals a Star Wars sound.  Carolyn built a pink princess bear.  She gave her bear a heart beat (we also gave one to D’s owl.)  I was very impressed with the Build-a-bear staff.  I also love that if anything happens to the pals we can bring it back to any Build-a-bear Workshop, and they will fix it.

Everyone insisted on carrying their pals to the car.  When we got to the car, Carolyn promptly fell asleep.  All in all, we had a GREAT day.

Wow, has it really been a year since Tony created this site for me!  Where has the year gone…  So much has happened, but here are a few of the highlights.

We’ve had good times,

And rest.

We’ve goofed off,

And enjoyed guests.

Over all we’ve been very blessed!

I love you, Tony.

This is almost 2 months late, but Alexander deserves a special post to celebrate when he turned 7.  He is such a gift from God.  Alexander has a caring spirit, truly living up to his name, defender of men, wanting to care and watch over others in his life.  My matter of fact child is very dear to his family.

Here are some picture to recap the day…

This is late, but I wanted to post it anyway.  We had a great time with family and friends.  Carolyn enjoyed being the center of attention.

God’s creation is AMAZING! While I was in my backyard this morning, I found a hawk has made a nest at the back of our yard.

UPDATE: I have since realized the hawk did not make a nest in the backyard, it was just the way the trees grow together.  The hawk just happened to be sitting in the tree hunting or eating.  But it was still an awesome teachable moment for me to share with my blessings.

Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south? –Job 39:26