October 31, 2009 7:19 a.m.

One of the many exciting parts about having children, is that they really live. Everything to them is fresh and exciting, and worthy of extensive reflection and retelling. Nothing is "ho hum". Everything is an experience worthy of their entire heart and attention.

Yesterday, the children had an opportunity to perform their violins at a nursing home. Their teacher, who is in her 70s, has her mother (age 97) in a local nursing home, so she organized a concert there with ten of her students, all playing violin or piano. There were perhaps 20 or so people in the audience, and it seemed the concert took place in one of their dining halls. Oh, and this was a lovely, pleasant facility, and all of the employees we came into contact with were wonderful.

The concert lasted about a half hour, and both children played just fine. I was especially thankful for this opportunity because I love when they play in nursing homes. Also, they had not performed for an audience since May, so I wanted them to get in the groove again. Baby Girl played "O Come Little Children" and Little Son played two pages of the Accolay violin concerto he is learning, a six-page concerto overall. Did I say they both played great, as did all of Miss S's students?

Anyhow, the best part was the conversation in the car afterward, including the kids' retelling of the event to Self-Reliant Man over the dinner table. Here are some snippets I recall, in no particular order:

BABY GIRL: That was a good audience, because they really can't get out places.

LITTLE SON: Mommy, I liked performing there. It was fun.

BABY GIRL: They had a parakeet and a lovebird in the cage there. Weren't they cute?

LITTLE SON: That lady with the blanket over her legs shook my hand after.

BABY GIRL: Some ladies liked my dress.

LITTLE SON: Those people seemed fine, just like the people at Mimi's [assisted living].

BABY GIRL: The really bad off ones were probably still in their rooms.

LITTLE SON: This was a chance to share our gifts with others and serve Jesus.

Yep, you got that right! That's exactly right.

October 31, 2009 7:02 a.m.

This past summer, I finally finished Baby Girl's adoption lifebook. I had finished Little Son's book a good six or seven years ago, and Baby Girl's weighed heavily on my mind, as I had not carved out the time I needed to finish her book for quite a while!

An adoption lifebook is a retelling of your child's life story, from birth onward, at least through the time he or she became part of your own forever family. It is a useful tool for breaking the ice about the subject of your child's origins and the circumstances that led up to he or she becoming your son, or daughter. Writing it enables you to explain the story thoughtfully, and at your child's level of understanding, while choosing the most appropriate and affirmative words for telling it.

While Little Son has showed minimal interest in his book so far, Baby Girl picks her book up from time to time. Of course I read it to her directly a couple of times, but as she is already a competent reader, she numbers this book among her favorites to pick up and read on the fly.

A few days ago, we had planned a dip in the pool, when rain suddenly arrived and changed our plans for the afternoon. About ten minutes later, I found her on the futon, still wearing her swimsuit, reading her lifebook.

On another occasion, she had inspired Little Son to read his lifebook, too. So there they were, both children, reading their own books on separate sofas.

In passing, I caught snippets of Baby Girl's explanation to her big brother of why she is here, and not still in Korea. Although I will not repeat her special story here on the blog, she threw out phrases in a matter-of-fact way like "so my birthfather went bla bla bla" and "my birthmother couldn't yada yada yada" and "so if a b c and x y z, I wouldn't be here. I would still be in Korea." In fact, the lifebooks had sparked a great discussion between the children about their circumstances, and I listened in to see how it went.

Yep, that worked out fine. I didn't have to clarify anything for them. Another good processing experience. My daughter had explained everything just right to her big brother, as a teacher would explain fractions and decimals to her student.

I would have to say that the lifebook got finished just in time. I will still listen carefully to those conversations, though.

October 25, 2009 7:09 a.m.

I suppose in some families, Adoption Day has always been an emotionally charged event. So far, that has not been the case in ours. This week was Little Son's Adoption Day, a day he eagerly awaits and talks about for weeks in advance because:

1. He gets to do or go someplace we normally don't go, just for fun and

2. He changes his mind about a dozen times about what this activity shall be, and even has trouble deciding between two or three ideas, right down to the last week.

So, this week, he was trying to decide between:

Choice A: the beach, because the water is warmest in October;

Choice B: ice skating, because he has never done that before;

Choice C: a local, rather unsophisticated amusement park, close to home, that we shall call Flu World (for obvious reasons). And in our area, when it comes to theme parks, we have the best of the best.

Looks like Flu World won this time. And I have to say that we had a pleasant time, as Flu World exceeded my expectations for low budget fun.

Now as far as what adoption, and being Vietnamese, means to my son, perhaps it can be summed up in this way. "I am Vietnamese, and proud of it, and happy to hear good things about Vietnam. The staple food in Vietnam is pho, and I love it, and will settle for any kind of soup that I can get that resembles pho or at least is salty. And Mommy and Daddy, I would love if you would take me out to a Vietnamese restaurant, but if we cannot make it there, I will settle for nachos someplace else."

Yes, life is simple for Little Son.

So this weekend, he learned that he doesn't like the Scrambler or the Tilt-a-Whirl, but he loves Bumper Cars, especially at Flu World, where he is tall enough to drive them. Some highlight photos (and it is very hard to take a digital picture of your family on the Tilt-a-Whirl!)




Another highlight of the day was a free dog and bird show. And I have to say, ahem, that this show was worth every cent we paid to see it. Well, the best part was getting to pet the dogs after it was over.

The day was topped off by a visit to a local fast food Mexican restaurant, where Baby Girl and Little Son were able to enjoy their nachos. All in all, this Adoption Day celebration fulfilled all of Little Son's hopes for the day.

The pastor at the church we attended for five out of the past six years received shocking news last week. After suffering some unexpected injuries and symptoms before and while serving in the mission field, he got checked out medically and learned that he has a very serious form of cancer known as multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma cells. He learned that without treatment, he has months to live, while if he seeks out the best treatment available in the U.S. he can extend this out for between a few and a handful of years, depending.

This man is 52 years old, married, with no children. He has a vivacious personality, extremely articulate, full of energy, wit, creativity, and passion for the Lord. He was in the middle of transitioning calling from being pastor of the small church we attended to working full time in the mission field, overseas.

Now his energy, thoughts, and prayers are directed toward the many decisions that must be made ~~~ quickly ~~~ regarding his treatment options.

There are, perhaps, thousands of folks praying for him and his wife right now. Please join that number if you can; I'd appreciate it very much.

Also, amidst all of this, he is choosing to gift us with his thoughts, prayers, and daily reflections of this journey through the valley of darkness. If you would like to read his daily meditations, you can find them here. As I said, he is an incredibly articulate and prolific writer and preacher, and I am sure you will be blessed by his writings. I know there isn't a big "crowd" of readers of this blog, but if you can, please pray for his church as well, as they are in the midst of making some big decisions regarding their future, too.

Thank you!

October 21, 2009 1:50 p.m.

This movie looks like it will be super. I would like to see it. Check out the trailer.

October 19, 2009 12:38 p.m.

FOR TODAY...October 19th

Outside my window... picture perfect weather, 65 degrees , clear blue sky, windows wide open. This is what I wait for all summer long!

I am thinking... that this cool season, just beginning, will be easier and more pleasant than last year, since there is not a major project to be done (see earlier post on tractor engine rebuild).

I am thankful for... my children's love of learning and their enthusiasm about everyday life.

I am wearing... dark blue twill pants, athletic shoes, striped shirt, and a snuggly fleece pullover that was a souvenir from Fall Creek Falls and that I was longing to be able to wear.

I am remembering... the adoption of Little Son in Ho Ch* Minh City, Vi*tnam, which occurred nine years ago this week.

I am going... to plan a fun Saturday activity for the family, to celebrate Little Son's adoption day.

I am reading... When the Soul Mends, third in a series by Cindy Woodsmall, but I have not gotten very far into it, yet. We also are approaching the end of our family read-aloud, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne.

I am praying... for friends near and far who are experiencing all kinds of illnesses, both routine and quite serious.

On my mind... and this is a happy thing: the joy that the children have in finally being part of a children's choir.

From the learning rooms... Little Son is learning how to add fractions with unlike denominators, and Calvert has made this task very painless (much better than I remember when I learned it as a child). Baby Girl is in the First Grade home stretch (I can't believe it!) and the children are on question 23 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Noticing that... despite our attempts to live simply, we continue to spend just about everything we earn and we need to find other areas to cut back.

Pondering these words... "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26.

From the kitchen... potato and corn chowder is cooking in the slow cooker, and it will be served up with grilled cheese sandwiches for supper when we return from violin lessons today.

Around the house... are the same papers covering the counter that were there last Monday, I think. Only there are now more of them. I need to make it a bigger priority to sort through this stuff.

One of my favorite things... is having all the windows open throughout the house with gentle cool breezes flowing!

From my picture journal...

To participate in this meme, please visit The Simple Woman's Daybook here.

October 13, 2009 9:12 a.m.

FOR YESTERDAY...October 12th from Peggy's Daybook

Outside my window... Crystal clear blue sky and 75 degrees, heading for a high temperature in the 90s again.

I am thinking... that we are in the home stretch with the children's lesson work, and I am looking forward to their completion of grades 1 and 4 (within a month or two)!

I am thankful for... our family combatting and surviving H1N1 flu, and hopefully putting that chapter behind me (and hoping that I still don't get it).

I am wearing... khaki pants with drawstring waist, and a turquoise golf shirt.

I am remembering... my junior high, high school, and college years due to the new radio station that plays old songs from the 1970s and 1980s.

I am going... to take Little Son and Baby Girl to "Saints": the homeschool Phys. Ed. program that they love so much. This should be the last "hot" week for the season.

I am reading... nearly finished reading When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall, and thoroughly enjoying it.

I am praying... for renewal of heart, and the desire to make my life a living sacrifice of gratitude to the Lord.

On my mind... that we must prepare the children for various violin performances coming up in the next month: one at a nursing home, one at a celebration dinner for the 30th anniversary of the music school

From the learning rooms... Little Son is on lesson 132 in Calvert's fourth grade, and Baby Girl is on lesson 145 in Calvert's first grade. Lessons are going smoothly these days. We also began again our catechism lessons after taking a break from them over the vacation / flu interlude.

Noticing that... the weather is on the cusp of becoming cool and autumn-like. This always happens on or around October 15th, and I find myself counting the days until this week arrives. Beginning with this Friday, we are entering a sixth month period of cooler, more comfortable weather that I look forward to very much each year.

Pondering these words... "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5.

From the kitchen... Pork chops sauteed with glazed pears for supper tonight

Around the house... is clutter, clutter, everywhere. I need to get motivated to pick things up soon.

One of my favorite things... is eating supper out at the breezeway table when the weather is cool and crisp.

From my picture journal...
To participate in this meme, please visit The Simple Woman's Daybook here.

Truly, some bloggers write the most incredible posts. Take this one for instance, which describes so well what happens when we apply our limited human wisdom to God's words and use it as an excuse for disobedience.

October 8, 2009 6:28 p.m.

This flu is keeping me guessing. Little Son seems to be all over it, since Tuesday morning, except for an occasional cough.

I really thought that Baby Girl was over it as of Tuesday morning, just like her brother. Except her temperature never really went all the way back to normal: it kept hovering in the 99 degree range. Also, she was complaining about pain in the back of her neck and legs. But she was okay, otherwise.

Now today, she is coughing more, and ba-da-boom, she has a fever again, up to 102 at times. Combined with a headache, it was enough to make her very miserable this afternoon. But now it is over four hours since a dose of acetaminophen and she seems much better. Called the doctor's office, and they told me that many kids' bodies are taking as long as seven days to fully get rid of the virus. We are only on day five, so I will not jump in the car and bring her back to the doctor yet. Other than her frequent cough, she doesn't appear to have any breathing problems.

Self-Reliant Man, although he keeps going to work, has reported to me all the classic symptoms of the flu except fever.

As for me, I have managed to escape this illness so far, and I am extremely thankful for that.


I have to close by saying that even our state has the flu. It is experiencing a fever as well. Here it is, early October, and the temperatures topped out in the mid nineties again. Surely this cannot last much longer...... can it?

I am so ready for autumn to begin.

FOR TODAY, October 5, 2009..1:53 p.m.

Outside my window...it is sunny, warm, and humid as summer is uttering its last gasp for the year this week.

I am thinking...that I will never be a dog whisperer, nor will I ever be able to figure out what is going on in my dear dog's mind, or how to keep his body "regular" and his doo-doo outside where it belongs...sigh...

I am thankful for...the fact that my children seem to have rounded a corner with the flu. Little Son's temp is staying below 100 today, after four days of fever, and Baby Girl, hopefully, is just behind him in her recovery.

From the learning rooms...Little Son is working through lesson 127 in Calvert fourth grade. He just received back his Test 120, and he did very well. He also wrote a terrific factual composition last week entitled "The Beautiful Butterfly". Baby Girl has a day off her lessons today due to her illness. She also just completed Test 140 and scored nearly perfect.

From the kitchen...For dinner today, I plan to make chicken breasts baked in apple cider and soy sauce, with red potatoes and broccoli.

I am wearing...my pink "Lake Placid" T-shirt, green shorts, and tennis shoes. I am quite a sight.

I am creating...nothing in particular right now. I am just trying to restore a peaceful environment of order and quietude in my home.

I am going...to stay put at home for several days so that we don't spread our germs to anybody. I love staying home for several days, I really do (unless I will be missing something special, like tonight's homeschool mom's night out....).

I am reading... When the Morning Comes, by Cindy Woodsmall. It is the second book in the series.

I am praying... for our family to get healthy again and stay healthy, and for our friend Raymond, who just got home after a heart transplant, for him and his family to stay healthy, too.

I am hearing... Baby Girl sniffling as she lies on the futon reading Little House on the Prairie to herself. She often stops reading to share funny details from the book with me.

Around the house... we did some grass cutting and some fence patching on Saturday. I need to tidy up, vacuum, and sanitize the house this afternoon.

One of my favorite things... the orange and gold colors of the golden rain trees in our area, the only trees that turn color in October here.

A few plans for the rest of the week: try to stay on track with the children's homeschool lessons so that we can earn a long break during the Christmas season.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Gorge at Fall ~ Creek ~ Falls ~ State ~ Park, Tennessee

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October 3, 2009 9:41 p.m.

Well, as of this evening, we have two sick children in the house. Little Son just finished up his third day with a fever and cough. Little Son never gets a fever. I can't remember the last time he had one. Baby Girl just began to have a fever this afternoon, and she has been coughing since yesterday, too. I took Little Son to the pediatrician on Thursday and they are following the CDC guidelines, which means not to dispense any antivirals to anybody who is not considered "high risk", or hospitalized. I was advised that he has the flu-like bug that is "going around the community". The trouble is, we haven't been "around the community"; rather we have been traveling through five states in the Southeast where H1N1 is widespread, eating in restaurants (including buffets), visiting restrooms, museums, a theme park, etc. So you can guess what my conclusion is about my kids' illness right now. I don't think any doctor will actually tell you that in all likelihood you have H1N1, because they aren't going to write a script for an antiviral anyway. Therefore, it will merely be referred to as the flu-like bug that is "going around the community". That way, you will still come back and get the vaccine next month (even though you won't need it anymore but you won't have any way of knowing that).

I checked out the CDC website, and a high percentage of flu-like persons who are tested are coming up H1N1. Specifically, if you have been told you have "type A" flu, it turns out that 99% of type A is H1N1. A friend of mine has a neighbor who tested "type A", right after passing it on to her family. The flu went through 5 members of her family about a week or two ago. So I know it is definitely around.

So that's where we are right now. As for me, I plan to hit the supermarket tomorrow morning and stock up on food for a week, before I get sick, too. Self-Reliant Man is doing okay, except he said something about feeling some mild cold symptoms. I hope things turn out better than I expect right now! I am thankful that we are at least not considered in the high-risk category, anyway.

October 1, 2009 1:26 p.m.

We returned from our camping vacation in the South, and I have decided to simply leave you with short, delicate, literary sketches of our trip. I learned from last year that it is too cumbersome to attempt an exhaustive description of the experience. Those of you who read last year's account will probably agree [insert mischievous grin here].

You may recall that our weather forecast upon departure was not good. In fact, we did dodge raindrops throughout almost all of the trip, but amazingly, it did not really interfere much with our plans. We were still able to do and to see almost everything that we had planned to. This, despite a historically wet and "floody" September in much of the South.

Quick summary of trip: Three nights at a KOA in west Florida while visiting my in-laws. Then a night stop at a campground in Gadsden, Alabama where we dined at a recommended restaurant - Top O' the River. Next, a couple of nights at a KOA near Chattanooga taking in some sights there. Next, three nights stay at the Fall Cre*k F*lls Inn, one of the prettiest state parks in Tennessee. Then a couple of nights at a campground in Pigeon Forge to visit a well known theme park in that location. Finally, we made a stopover at a KOA near Savannah, Georgia before returning home.

We camped in four states and drove through five states. All camping nights were spent quite comfortably in our 23 mpg diesel van.

Whenever we are on the road, we always try to stop at Cr*cker Barr*l. It is always consistent, always good. Food is good with plenty of variety, service is always good. We have never had a bad server at a Cr*cker Barr*l. We probably stopped at six different Cr*cker Barrels on this vacation. I remember living up north as a kid, and the only time I ever saw one of these restaurants was on the highway signs whenever my parents took us south of New Jersey. We never stopped there because we never knew they were restaurants. The signs say: Cr*cker Barrel Old Country Store, so we thought they were stores! Sigh.. All those wasted years.
Hand sanitizer was our best friend during this trip. We went through a bunch of the stuff. I used it obsessively, and tried to get my family to do the same. Since we were in theme parks and museums, the children were forever touching surfaces touched by lots of folks. Unfortunately, as of this afternoon, Little Son reports a fever of 102. I cannot remember the last time he has had a fever. I am going to have to watch him closely. Baby Girl is starting to sneeze now, too. Right now, I have them both sequestered in their rooms reading library books. I hope they don't get too sick. I am always thinking about H1N1 these days.

Now is the part where I scatter some photos with captions and comments.


Before we left, Little Son came up with a nifty invention to solve that awful problem of being hot and thirsty while hiking.

Here we are somewhere on I-10. The children have gotten to be excellent travelers over the years.

There were those days when it was too wet to play mini-golf, but not too wet to do a puzzle. Like I said, we had our fair share (or maybe more than fair) of rain, but it didn't really get in our way. Just slowed us down a bit, so we could keep the trip somewhat relaxing.


Here we are eating fried seafood at Top O' the River. Baby Girl thought it was the "funnest restaurant". Maybe it was because we could see turtles in the lake just outside the window.


Here is Little Son and Baby Girl just outside the entrance of the Ruby Falls attraction. We never did get in to see Ruby Falls, though. It was closed due to flash flooding.

We did get some decent reading accomplished at night when it was too wet to stay outside at a campsite. Baby Girl read all of Little House in the Big Woods. Little Son completely read Redwall. Breezy Point Mom finished When the Heart Cries, by Cindy Woodsmall, (a novel set in an Amish community) and Self-Reliant Man read portions of The Ultimate History of BMW by Andrew Noakes.


This was the view from the top of the Incline Railway on Lookout Mountain.... moments before the clouds rolled into view. I have to say that the uppermost portion of that railway was a little scary for me (steep!).
Wow! The sun is out! Making the best use of it by playing tether ball!

A truly great attraction was the Tennessee Aquarium. And yes, they had a wonderful butterfly exhibit. Who knew?

I was surprised and impressed by their amazing jellyfish exhibits.


We answered the call to "See Rock City!" We had a good time there, too.


Like I said earlier, Fall Creek Falls was a beautiful state park. I highly recommend it to anybody visiting eastern Tennessee. I'd like to go back there some time.
There were a few too many of these types of swinging bridges, though. They gave me the creeps.


The Cane Creek Cascades were cool and pleasant, and we found we wanted to spend a lot of time there. See the swinging bridge above the cascades?

During the hikes, Baby Girl got in plenty of climbing up rocks. She loves to climb.


And this is the theme park we visited in Pigeon Forge. In case you hadn't already guessed. We were blessed with beautiful weather on the only day we had in our schedule to see this park! The day before, the rain had been torrential.


As an aside, we discovered why, when you camp at a place called "Creekside" RV park, it isn't always so great to have a creekside site. Especially when there are flash floods. In four hours, the creek had become a rushing river, and then a rushing lake! We checked in the hour the flash flood warning was announced, and fortunately were able to change our site assignment to a high and dry site. Within a few hours we discovered why we needed a different site.


Here are Little Son and Self-Reliant Man at the top of the ferris wheel.


This was the exact smile that was on Baby Girl's face throughout every ride. Our kids spend about one day every two years at some theme park, so it is a big deal to them. This park was very nice.Unexpected surprises.... baby and adult swans born and bred at the KOA in Savannah. Little Son was trying to snap some pictures of them with his camera.


A vacation well done! Baby Girl and Little Son finally relax and sleep during the final legs of the trip. And yes, Bear Blanket is always on hand where Baby Girl is concerned.

And finally, I wish I had a picture of this one, but I couldn't get one. A sign, in front of a Baptist church outside of Pikeville, Tennessee. It read: