Updates.....

Here at the farm, we have sure had our ups and downs....

In March, Emily was a winner in her division of the local 4H speech contest day for her extemporaneous speech.  She made it to the state level in Columbia on September 24.  At that level, they had 2 rounds, and she made it to the second (and final) round and came in 3rd.  She did an excellent job.  She was not only up against other very good speakers, but 2 of them she was up against were college freshmen and several years older.  (She is a high school sophomore, but just turned 15--about a year younger than most her classmates as I started her a year early in school).  Our family is very proud of her.

We drove part way up the night before the contest  and stayed at my parents.  It was good to visit with them and my brothers family.  While we were there, we also got to visit with my sister in law who was in the hospital for pain management for her cancer.  After the contest ended, we had a treat at Dairy Queen and headed back, stopping back at the hospital so Emily could show her Aunt her trophy and we got in another good visit.  Then, back to my parents to pick up the twins and back home.  We arrived back here around midnight.  Seems everytime we visit family we end up back home between midnight and one a.m.  Sometimes it is just hard to leave.

Just a few days later, we received word that the girls dad was not doing well.  He has been sick for several years.  So, we headed to Kansas City.  They spent all of the 29th with him.  The decision had been made to transfer him back home for hospice care.  The girls stayed with him until the ambulance took him away that night, even riding down the elevator with him to the ambulance.  Our plan was to go see him again early the next morning.   It is an hour and a half trip back home.  He made it to the nursing home/hospice center, and passed away 4 minutes later at 11:23 that night. 

So, since the girls are all minors, I have been helping them with the phone calls, making arrangements, paperwork and such.  He thought he had it all planned and ready, but none of the paperwork was where he said it was.  So, it has not been a smooth process.

The girls were expecting it, had been told by him and me for some time that his sickness was going to eventually take his life.  But knowing it was coming has not made it any easier on them at all.  They could sure use some prayers at this time.

Needless to say, some of our schoolwork has gone to the back burner for a bit, but we are getting back on track slowly.  Volleyball has proved to be a good distraction for them, they have 3 games this week and practices.

Any high school homeschooled girls up for Volleyball?

If you are in the area of Holt MO, Northern Hills Christian Academy has opened up their 9-12 girls volleyball team for homeschooled girls to join. Practices start next week, so if you are interested, you need to call now. Below is the email i received regarding the team.

Homeschool girls grades 9-12 are welcome to join the Northern Hills Christian Academy volleyball team located between Kearney and Holt. They will begin practice when school starts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from approximately 3:30 – 5:30 and games will be on week nights excluding Wednesdays. Contact the school at 320-3204 or Amy Ragseale at 510-4425 if you are interested. Cost will be approximately $35.

Emily played on their team several years ago when the girls went to school here and really enjoyed it. She is playing for them again this year.

If you are not in this area, but the idea of organized sports appeals to you, contact your nearest Christian School. It is very very common for Christian Schools to open up their sports teams to homeschoolers. Many Christian Schools are smaller and this enables them to have teams they may not be able to have otherwise. Also, most will allow you to "buy" a single class from them--such as math, or science or a foreign language. This is a win-win for the school and the homeschooler--the school gets some extra revenue without extra expense (the teacher is already in place) and it can provide a break for a homeschool parent or be used as a teaching tool in an area the teaching parent is not strong in-esp areas such as foreign language, band, music, or math. Others, will let homeschoolers tag along for field trips or school programs. So, check out your nearest one and see what they may offer!