the party's over

Her bub has been doing some 'pallet' building...

As I was placing seventeen candles on her chocolate cake I was a bit shell-shocked.  She's seventeen.  My little girl who used to trot around the house hugging everyone as she burst with excitement over any happy event... actually, she still does that.  My little girl who used to surprise those she loves with little notes tucked in their travel bags when they would be gone overnight... hmm, still does that too.  Oh Erin, if growing up meant letting go of all your youthful giftings, I couldn't let it happen.  Lucky for you you're still the sweet, thoughtful gal you always were.  We'll just take this thing a year at a time... kay?

Grandmas, Grandpa, Uncles, Aunts, cousins, old friends, new friends...  what was supposed to be a 4 hour party turned into 5 1/2 as the weather was so kind as to cooperate.  Having an outdoor party in early May is definitely walking on the wild side in Central Oregon.  Those of us on the sidelines were often chilly.  Poor granny was the bravest of the brave as she huddled deep within her jacket to honor her great grand daughter.  I think the temperature was perfect for the athletes but when Erin viewed the photos afterward she became sympathetic and that much more thankful for the sacrifice of the elders.

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We're still looking forward to testing on the seventeenth.  Let me rephrase that lest I be misunderstood.  We are still looking *ahead* to testing.  I really don't think it would be accurate to say any of us actually look forward to it.  :)  Home schooling has been one of the biggest blessings in our life.  The ability to learn and grow together, to arrange our days around our interests and needs and to be able to center everything around the God who is more important than anything that the world deems important.  It amazes me that somehow 8 hours a day, five days a week separated from family and the workings of the home somehow became not only the norm... but mandatory.  That's not what this country was founded on and I for one am glad to hold tight to my American freedom and school where we still study the divine providence of God in our history, the truth of His creation in science, His moral character in reading and writing.  He is in everything.  He is the breath of every subject.

I may still be absent quite a bit here but I think of my dear blog friends, as well as my dear snail mail friends (who haven't heard much from me lately either) every day.  I look forward to finding the rhythm to visit here daily again but for now, I'm doin' what needs doin'! 

Blessings, Debbie