If only my heart and mind felt as peaceful and quaint as this photo looks. Truth is, this front porch always sets the scene for the coming and going of the Krum family and many others on a very consistent basis. So, here’s a few glimpses of what we’ve been up to……..
Robert has been leading a Bible study for the Amherst College football players every Tuesday for the past few years which has been a true highlight of each week for him. We’ve tried to have them over for dinner after each season, and it is a fun evening. They are always extremely appreciative and entertaining. And we are always amazed at how just six of them can fill an entire room in our house! Kory and Cooper look forward to this evening so much – especially after getting to go to a couple of their games, and seeing them at church. And I couldn’t be more pleased that our boys think that it is perfectly normal to be a cool football player and serious about your faith all at the same time!
We recently participated in another Report/Presentation week for our homeschool geography class. Cooper built a “hacienda” out of cardboard and sugar cubes, and reported on the significance of the hacienda in early South American life. He compared them to the feudal system of the Middle Ages. Kory did a presentation the major historical events in South America – focusing on the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations – their rise to power and them ultimate downfall to the conquistadors. Kayla did a book report on Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osborne and made Brazilian Hot Chocolate for everyone.
We welcomed yet another new baby into the Mercyhouse family – Kaydence Faith. Her mommy had been at my house just the day before she was born, lamenting the necessity of quitting work early because of driving difficulties among other hardships common at the end of pregnancy. She left asking for prayer to deliver little Kaydence over the weekend so that she wouldn’t have to take personal days to be with her at the end of maternity leave. Well, about 30 hours later, she had her little girl in her arms and was relieved in more ways than one! Thank you Lord, for your mercy and grace!
On Tuesday we got to participate in a really neat homeschool activity – a lesson in animal skull identification and nature observation. The kids each got a skull to sketch and then a field guide to try and identify the animal from the shape and features of its skull. They learned to recognize the dominant sense of the animal as a clue to its identity. Later, a guide took them on a short nature walk and helped them to notice clues as to where an owl might live. We will even receive owl pellets in the next week to dissect!
And I am still really enjoying my Five Aspects of Woman study with a great group of girls this year. This photo is from our first “life lesson” night in which the girls each bring something that creatively demonstrates what they have learned from the Aspect we are currently studying. These projects represent the Mistress of the Domain Aspect – as in you are asked to be a steward, by God, of all things He has given you – home, education, words, body, family, time, etc. So…Tomisin sang a favorite song of hers, Stacey shared her journal, Sarah showed before and after photos of the transformation of her dorm room desk :), Lorraine showed photos of her mom realizing her dream of starting a wedding planning business in Zimbabwe, I shared the process of writing my book, Danica shared a book report on the topic of marriage, Rachel wrote key points from the lesson on a pumpkin, and Virginia did a collage expressing the thoughts and attitudes of her heart currently. Each project was so inspiring and provided a joyful evening for all of us! And, as always, I am so grateful to be able to teach a learn from this material every year!