Core G, Week 17 "D" Middle Ages, Christmas Week!

Core G, Week 17 “D”

Middle Ages

Dec. 20-27, 2015

Christmas Week!

Here is the wild beast...Agnes.  No matter how hard we try, she manages to get up into the tree and create havoc...what a kitty.  She looks like such a sweet cat, but, boy, does she have a mischievous streak!

Hello Friends!  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas this year!  We woke up on Dec. 24^th with the power off; it must have been off all night as our humidifier was still full of water. 

 There were fierce winds that knocked out the power to some 170,000 Michiganders (“Michigander” is the term for people that live in Michigan.). 



 We found a restaurant in town for our breakfast and then headed off to purchase a generator for our house.  We had already decided we needed one back in the summer as all our neighbors told us to expect to lose our power in the winter storms.  Dh had already done his research and discussed with his father exactly what we would need, so we were one step ahead of the game.  We did fine with the generator for the 2 ½ days without power. 

Can you see Agnes?!

After Dh working 60 plus hours each week, so far in December, it was wonderful to see him for FOUR days!  Both He and I only wanted to see each other for our Christmas gift.  When you are away from each other for so much time you realize how much you miss the other.  He worked more hours than anyone else at his work place for weeks now…I’d appreciate him not winning that honor!

We had hot dogs and S'mores cooked in our fire place, due to the power being out.

Our first Christmas in our new home was very memorable!  We ate outside on our deck table….we grilled chickens on our grill outside.  Christmas Eve we roasted hot dogs in our fireplace!!  It was really a very funny holiday!

Merry Christmas!  Our generator gave us light and heat so we could enjoy our special day!  

The Lord blessed us with fairly warm temperatures, so we weren’t too cold.  The only really scary thing from the whole ordeal was that our fire alarm went off three different times on Christmas Eve.  We believe it must have been the monoxide building up in the house from the exhaust of the generator outside our window.  We had to keep opening our windows throughout the ordeal.  We are going to try to figure out a better arrangement for when this happens again, so we won’t poison ourselves.

Heather gave me this gorgeous tea cozy that she made...she had ironically given me this tea pot too!  So thankful for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and love!

We were so thankful to my mom and Heather (the “L” family) for the Christmas gifts we received.  Being in a new place, far away from family, made those loving gifts even more appreciated than normal.  I’m so thankful for the friends and family that share their love with us, as we go through so many new things now.

Heather mailed Dd and I some amazing books and gifts for Christmas.  I'm speechless at her kindness!  Dd was beyond appreciative for all the LOTR materials!  Thank you, Thank you!

I was able to make Dh his Christmas gift this week---I made him a pair of Goldfinches out of felt.

I thought this sunny moment would be a good time to take pictures of the pair, but you can't really see the color b/c it is washed out...I'll have to try again later to show the birds.  One male--bright yellow, and one female--with light brown, subtle colors.

A bit of good news:

Last week I had the EGD, upper scope, and the new GERD doctor prescribed Panteprazole to replace the Rabeprazole that had turned my tongue black.  Unfortunately the Panteprazole DID NOT work, and left me miserable for a week.  Then (here is the good news) I got a message from my primary physician saying she finally got my Dexilant medication approved!!!!!!  I am so thankful to be back on medication that served me well in years prior.  I am hoping for improved health---I’m not free of the reflux and GERD issues yet, but am improving.

 Some Christmas photo's:

One of the gifts for Dd from my mom!

Heather made this incredible owl out of green, yellow, and red crochet...plus buttons for eyes.  I'll have to try again to get a better photo as this one is washed out...  I LOVE it!  so talented!

Another bit of good news:

I guess this good news depends on which one of us you ask—I am very pleased with the local church we have been going to, but Dd is very “un-lifted” from the services.  You know how sometimes you go to a church, and the sermon really shines a light on something in your heart, and helps you feel more connected to understanding the Word and Way….well, Dd hasn’t felt that at our new church.  I really hope that her heart will be lifted, and soon, for her experience at this friendly church.  I have felt VERY comfortable and can easily feel the love emitting from this congregation.  My MIL told me we needed to find a church that was “loving” and I can’t argue with that regarding this group!  So kind, and have opened up to us so easily.  One senior member, a grandmother to a few people in the congregation has asked if she could invite us over for a dinner at her house to meet another homeschooling family in our congregation.  There are a few homeschoolers in the small church, and also some that put their children in to a Christian school once they were high school.  All I can say is that I feel HOPE with this church, and I haven’t felt this hopeful in a long time!  It has been my hearts desire to find a family church to belong to—as I am in need of a family---and a church family can be more loving than some family that are blood. 

Health wise this was a hard week, I was having a migraine week plus the first part of the week (until Wed) I has having such problems with my GERD.  Dh and Dd went to the movies together on Tuesday to see the new Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2 movie while I stayed  home with an abundance of acid.  I had to stay up, sitting up until 2 am—normally we go to bed at 9 pm, but I was just too miserable!  But, by Thursday I would be back on the Dexilant!

Our Lessons this Week:

 

Bartholomew's Passage: A Family Story for Advent

Aug 25, 2009

by Arnold Ytreeide

Advent: Bartholome’s Passage---we finished this book on Christmas day—I really like these books and am thankful to Christie for sending this one to us.

History Reader (SL):

Hidden Treasure of Glaston

The Hidden Treasure of Glaston: Completed

*we really enjoyed this book VERY much!*

Math:

Math U See: Algebra I:

Lesson 7 A, B, C, D, and test…

Dd did not pass the test again for this lesson.  She did better on the workbook pages, but still hasn’t been able to fully process the whole lesson.  I’ve given her the option of me buying her the Teaching Textbooks Algebra I, but she says she will try to figure this out with the help of Khan Academy.  Khan Academy is a bit of a touchy subject in our house, as I LOVE it, and Dd has some strange aversion to it.  She said she was willing to give it a go---so we will see how that turns out.  I’ve asked Dh to work with her on this lesson too.  He is so very busy, so we will see if that can happen.  We are really struggling with math this year…we have been on this same book for months now.

Music:

This has really been a PIANO week!  Dd seems to be figuring out things on her own, and I am so glad!  I’d love to get her piano lessons in the future.  She spent more time on the piano than sax this week.  She is playing some of the Mockingjay music, and Emma music.

Fun Reading:

Dd has been reading:

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 1: The Sword of Summer

Oct 6, 2015

by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase by Rick Riordan: in process

The Book Thief: in process

Dd has been enjoying doing her looming, she got two new looms for Christmas so she can make more things!

Art:

This has been a major “Manga” drawing week!  She has really been enjoying drawing a lot this week.  Her good friend also likes art, so this has inspired her.  She has also been enjoying getting back to her loom bands! 

This is the drawing that Dd gave me for Christmas.

She made me a wonderful drawing of a Red-Bellied Woodpecker for my Christmas gift---that is what I asked from her for my gift.  She has been crocheting me a shawl too.

I was laid up for the part of the week, but managed to hang up some paintings and start on my project to hang as many photo’s of us (and family) in our basement stairwell.  This has been a lot of fun!  I’ve opened at least five boxes this week….we are still unpacking!  So nice to see our family photo’s again, after so long!!!!

We plan on starting back slowly again next week.  My prayer requests are for my driving around Michigan in the ice and snow…so scary and I am so inexperienced in these conditions—a ice storm is scheduled for tomorrow, and snow every day of the week...Eek! Prayers Appreciated!

The top of our tree!