Saturday, November 30, 2013

Catch Up

I can't believe November is pretty much over!  
Maybe it's because this month was so busy that by the time Thanksgiving was over, it suddenly dawned on me that there were only a couple days left before I needed to gear up for December.  After briefing myself on the upcoming calender, I am excited to say that I am looking forward to another fast-paced month (I like things fast)!

But before that month swoops upon us, I thought I should bring our readers up to date on what went on over here.

With the days getting colder, we are back to using our wood-burning stove
While starting a fire (in the stove, of course) I happened to come across my old Geometry school papers.  I couldn't believe I was burning up all my hard work to keep everyone warm!  I mean, look at all those organized lines (yes, Geometry is so me)!

One Accord performing!
(Stay tuned for a post with some videos from this concert.)

Call me crazy, but I so enjoy working with these little geometric shapes!  I find that all the building toys I used to play with have become more interesting now that I'm older and can do more stuff with them.  ;)  I was particularly fond of this one I made to show Judah, Havliah, and Benjamin how to use them.

And then... Jordan and Daddy headed off to the National Bible Bee! 
(I felt funny about doing a blog post on an event I didn't get to go to, so you can check out Jordan's blog here and look at all the fun he had and we missed out on.  Did I just say that?!)
 We were so proud of Jordan and how he qualified for Semi-Finals!
(Let me tell you... the day dragged by as we anxiously waited to hear his results!)

 After I taught my piano students, we all gathered around--students and all!--to watch the rounds.

 Jordan did a fantastic job proclaiming God's Word with power and eloquent delivery.

The best part was when Jordan got to recite Genesis 49:8-12 and since he knew we were watching the livestream, he spoke the Scripture directly to Judah.  It was so special!
"Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.  Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:  His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk."
 The look on Judah's face when he heard his brother calling his name in the Scripture.

While they were having so much fun on the other side of the United States, we decided that we were going to make the best of it with Girl Time.
Which means... we went shopping!
 I have a fascination for our solar system and the study of Astronomy because it so amazing to see God's creation displayed so vastly and beautifully across the night sky!  While on our way to go shopping, I saw this strange light in the sky.  I snapped a picture thinking it was a planet.
The other day I found out that Comet ISON was orbiting in such a way that it was visible with the eye.  When I had planned to go out and see it the other night, by the time I gathered all my gear together (camera, binoculars, telescope, and stool) and thin layer of clouds had covered the comet.  Very sad.
Imagine my surprise when I found that I had snapped a picture of it only a week before!

Thanks to technology, Jordan called us up over Facetime and introduced me to the M. family at the Bible Bee!
We were thrilled, if you couldn't tell.  ;)


Shiloh and I played a gig together.
(I promise I was not as bored as a look!)
 
After the gig we had some Girl Time at a restaurant with the lovely B. ladies!

Daddy and Jordan arrived safely home after this busy week and we all enjoyed catching up together over ice cream bars.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the S. family.
 Group Photo!
Just don't get the shoes in there...
(Inside joke, but you probably can read through the lines on that one.)

 The S. Family.

Thanks to Ethan for getting the pictures!


 Fellowshipping with one of our favorite "traditional" Thanksgiving games!

There are lots of laughs in this group!




Although this was a busy month, the Lord blessed us in many incredible ways!

Well, that should have to caught up to speed with our life!  If you can believe it, I've already peeked ahead into 2014 to see how I can start scheduling all sorts of new plans and ideas...
I'm looking forward to December and all that the Lord has in store for us! 

Posted By:
~Bethany 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgivukkah!

That is to say, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah on the same day!!

"Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." -Psalm 100:3-4

Now can anyone guess why it's such a special day to have Thanksgiving and Hanukkah land on the same day?

and a bonus question.....

What is similar and Biblical about these two holidays?

No Internet Searching!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  שמחה חנוכה

Gobble Tov....  ;-)


Wednesday, November 27, 2013


"Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d who sanctified us with His Mitzvot and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.  Blessed are you Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, who preformed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in days of old, at this season."




"Baruch ata Hashem, Elokenu melech ha'olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.  Baruch ata Hashem, Elokenu melech ha'olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah."



Happy Hanukkah! Chag Sameach! L'shanah Tovah!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Decorating for Hanukkah!

"The people of Israel shall live"

We've been busy decorating for Hanukkah which interestingly enough is on the same day as Thanksgiving this year.... talk about two holidays to celebrate Thankfulness in!

This was fun to set up!


Eden's creative picture

Thanksgivukkah
Younger children's project: Dreidels!



More Dreidels with lots of vivid colors!!

The finished product!


Happy Thanksgivukkah!



Friday, November 22, 2013

National Bible Bee!


Jordan broke into Semi-Finals!!!!!!!!

Register at this link to watch the Bible Bee Semi Finals (and Finals tomorrow) for free!  We are looking forward to watching the Seniors and Jordan at 3:30 pm EST time.



This picture totally captured Jordan's personality.  Don't you think so?!

Thanks to Daddy for the first picture and Jon Mieczkowski for the last three.



Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Personality Pictures?

When we find pictures that really just should never appear on our blog, but then they are just too funny not to pass!!!


Hyperactivity, Boredom, Smiles.....


Here is a very, very candid shot.....  

Caption???  :D

No we are really not crazy....  we are totally normal people~ why do you ask?

Monday, November 18, 2013

Boys & Napkins

When little boys play with napkins.......



A little too young for whiskers, but...

Happy No Shave November!  I think these two little guys are well on their way. :)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Happy Birthday, Bethany Rose!

Celebrating......



Happy 20th Birthday to Bethany!!!




Bethany fainted ever so gracefully into her 20th year.....  ok just kidding.

She actually "ever so gracefully" ran into her 20th year. :)


The Lord has greatly blessed with Bethany Rose for two decades and we hope for many more decades!


1993 ~ 

::insert 20 years::


20 years~


Enjoy the picture collages below of Bethany through the years. :)


Click to make larger!


Random fun pictures with Bethany :)

Filmmaking and acting..... 


We love Apple.  Mac is the best- period.

We love to sing together!

We love dressing up!  If you can name everyone's character they are portraying in this picture 
~ you win! :)


Bethany and I (Shiloh) have always had a real sense of style.....  ;-)

Can't you tell?
We reenacted the Ugly Step sisters from Disney's Cinderella completed with singing and acting!

Bethany~

We always make time for special girl time! :)
Doing hair~


 Going places~

Bethany and her dear violin~

We're so Thankful to have Bethany in our family!



Happy Birthday, Bethany Rose!  May the Lord bless your 20th year and for many more years to come!  We love you!


Love,
All of us:

Shiloh - Jordan - Eden - Judah - Havilah - Benjamin