We are up and running. It’s a brand-new year. So much to be excited about. It’s hard to believe that soon this school year will just be a memory.

My Missing Photos

I have been homeschooling since 1991 and as I look back at our photo albums—yes, I used to get photos printed and put them in albums before digital—I find one set of photos missing. The photos of my children reading, working on a math problem, reading to a sibling, or doing chores.
I have lots of photos of birthdays, holidays, field trips, and special days, but I wish I had more photos of ordinary school days.

Maybe you do take lots of photos of school and chores, posting them on Instagram for the world to see. Good for you! You will treasure those memories one day.

Storing My Photos

As you go through the school year, don’t forget to snap photos and save mementos. Maybe you don’t scrapbook or print photos and put them in leather albums, but you can label and save them in folders.

I don’t print up photos much anymore, unless I am framing them, but I do label photos with the date and list the people in the photo. Sometimes I just use initials like this: “Christmas Day 2016 JR JA Dad Jim KB Rusty.”

My photos are organized on my computer, too. There is one folder for every year: 2000, 2001, 2002, etc. Then, I also have all twelve months in separate folders: Jan 2015, Feb 2015, March 2015, etc. Inside these folders are all kinds of folders: Beach 6 6 15, Road Rally 6 17 15, Mom’s BD 6 2 15, etc. These folders are descriptive, so I can easily remember the day by looking at the title.

Finding Photos

​All the Gospels in the New Testament devote several chapters to the last week of Jesus’ life.

After all, there was so much going on that final week when Jesus took the sins of the whole world on Himself and died for us.

Satan thought he won, but he lost! Jesus rose from the dead on the third day!

When Holy Week and Easter roll around, I want my children to learn about and celebrate everything!

​Besides being real history, this week is foundational for our faith in Jesus.

​So, let me give you a birds’ eye view of the last week of Jesus life and ways to celebrate with your family. 

Starting on Saturday, Jesus dined with Simon the Leper in Bethany. Bethany was where Lazarus, whom he had just raised from the dead, and his sisters Mary and Martha lived. Anyway, while Martha served, Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair. Jesus said that she had anointed Him for burial and commended her.
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Family Fun: Give one another foot rubs

(Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-9)

​On Sunday, Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The people were so excited, they worshipped Him, as well as spreading cloaks and palm branches on the ground for Him to ride over.

Family Fun: Dress up and act out the Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem
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(Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19)

​I just hosted a baby shower and we had a blast playing a brand new game, The Price is Right.

You’re right! It’s based on an old TV show with a baby shower twist.

The Price is Right Baby Shower game is the perfect game to entertain guests at a baby shower.

It’s quite fun to see your guests pricing skills!

​Everyone was laughing and having a great time while we played.

The game is easy to play, and afterward, all of the products from the game can be given to the new mom as an extra gift.

What is so great about this game?

Well, each element can be customized to fit the baby shower theme.

From the items you purchase, down to creating the handout – You can be as creative as you want to be!

Pike's Peak is one tall mountain! 

My daughter Julianna was taking a semester off work to attend Ellerslie, a Bible college out in Colorado. I decided to fly out with her a few days early so we could see a little of Colorado. 

"Let's go to Pike's Peak!" she suggested. 

"Hiking?" I asked, shuddering inside. People do hike up and down Pike's Peak, you know. 

"No, not hiking," she laughed. "They have a little railroad." 

Little railroad, as in tiny railroad, tiny tracks, and big tall mountain? 

I was nervous, so I went online to research and discovered: 

• The Mountain is Over 14,000 Feet Above Sea Level
• It is Located in Pike's National Forest, West of Colorado Springs
• Was Named about Zebulon Montgomery Pike who Explored the Southwest United States
• When Gold Was Discovered in Denver, it was called Pike's Peak
• The Denver Gold Rush's Slogan was "Pike's Peak or Bust!"
• In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the poem "America the Beautiful from a Summit near the Top of Pike's Peak
• You can see Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wyoming from the Top
• You Can Bike, Hike, Drive, or Ride the Cogs Railroad to the Top​

After 34 years, can you still slow dance with your husband in the living room by candlelight? I think so! 

My friend Felice and I just recorded a radio show on date nights and it got me thinking about our romantic dates when we didn't have enough money to go out to dinner or see a movie. 

Sometimes we would just bring a CD player to a romantic spot and dance under the moonlight. Other times we would slow dance in the living room with the lights down low. 

So romantic. 

As time goes on, you can forget to do romantic things because it's easier to go our to dinner or see a show. 

I think this month, I'll find some songs on YouTube and slow-dance with my husband in the living room. 

Here are some songs that are romantic and fun to dance to. Most of them are oldies, of course, because I'm getting to be an oldie myself. 

One of my favorite songs. I sung this to my husband in church ten years ago on our anniversary. Says it all. Not perfect, but definitely happily ever after. 

An even older song called Still the One. "Still the One" by Orleans. Can you remember Orleans, anyone? This was popular when I was in high school, or earlier maybe. My hubby is still the one. 

What’s more fun than going to a bowling alley?

Playing giant bowling!

Every month our Young Adult group meets to fellowship, get into the Word, and have fun playing different games. We always plan a dinner that tastes great, and is easy to make. We also like to have bible studies, times where we can encourage each other and share what the Lord has been teaching us lately, watch sermons.

We also like to have fun!

Our group loves improv, so many times the games are some type of improv game. However, while searching the internet, we found a giant, inflatable version of bowling, with the bowling pins and ball.

With a little brain storming, we decided on playing three different versions of bowling. We found a miniature set (the ball was the size of a marble), and used a child’s plastic bowling set (that a friend had) for the third game. It is fun to go bowling, but even more fun when you can come up with your own versions of bowling games!

Below are the 3 games we played and the instructions. You certainly don’t have to play the games exactly as we did (even we changed the games as we went), but this can be a great starting point to spark your creativity!
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These are the bowling games we decided on:

I love summer! That's why I live in Florida. We enjoy summer nine months a year. 

For those of you in other places where you are blessed to enjoy all four seasons, you are probably excited to pull out the swimsuits and plan outings to the lake, or beach. 

It's a season for all of us to stop and enjoy the Summer Joys. 

What are summer joys? 

Those delightful adventures and amusements of summer.

Let's start this delightful season by making a summer bucket list. What things do you really want to do this summer? How about your husband? Your children? Have a blast this summer!

I have some great suggestions for you. They are all simple and cheap!