My Boys

There they are, back from a Brewer game (which, by the way, was lost.) Dad bought the boys Brewer hats, shirts and bats as well as a shirt for himself. Joe's J.J. Hardy (7), Dad's Ben Sheets(15) and Luke's Chris Capuano (39). They also got Sarah a stuffed brat from the famous sausage races at the Brewer stadium. Don't ask me why the rest of us girls didn't get anything....

" If being a Brewer fan means getting toys I wanna be one, Mommy!!"

"Wove, Twue Wove :-)"

My friend borrowed me a pamphlet called "Manners and Morals of Long Ago" that had this in the Courtship section of it. Make sure to read the whole letter before following the italicized instructions at the end:-)

*A Model Love Letter*

The great love I have hitherto expressed for you

is false, and I find my indifference towards you

increases daily.The more I see of you, the more

you appear in my eyes an object of contempt.

I feel myself every way disposed and determined

to hate you. Believe me , I never had an intention

to offer you my hand. Our last conversation has

left a tedious insipidity, which has by no means

given me the most exalted idea of your character.

Your temper would make me extremely unhappy;

and if we united, I shall experience everlasting nothing but

the hatred of my parents added to the everlasting dis-

pleasure in living with you. I have indeed a heart

to bestow , but I do not desire you to imagine it

at your service. I could not give any one more

inconsistent and capricious than yourself, and less

capable to do the honor to my choice and my family.

Yes, Miss, I hope that you will be persuaded that

I speak sincerely, and you will do me a favor

to avoid me . I shall excuse your taking the trouble

to answer this. Your letters are always full of

impertinence, and you have not a shadow of

wit and good sense. Adieu! adieu: believe me

so averse to you that it is impossible foe me even

to be your most affectionate and humble servant.

(Rather rude letter, don't you think? Or maybe not... if the reader will peruse this again, beginning with the first line and reading each alternate line,a different letter will be found. Enjoy:-)

Some photograph by yours truly.

I've been taking a bunch of pictures lately. Mostly of the gardens around our house, flower and veggie. Then there's my sticks, or sticks that are supposed to become bushes, we'll see, I sure water them enough!! So I'm not off my nut just because I 'm posting pictures of seemingly dead sticks popping out of the ground.

I set the table tonight with the dishes we gave Mom for Mother's Day, I thought it looked pretty with the flowers and all.

My new hair cut. Much shorter, but I like it.

To My Mother~In Honnor of Mothers Day, a letter to my Mom

Dear Mom
Being the sixth of your nine children people might think I'd get lost somewhere between the accomplished older ones and the cuter younger ones. I beg to differ. Through all my 16 years you've always had time to make me feel loved, different and special, although I know I'm equal to my sibs in your eyes. So far 5 of them you've schooled from kinder to 12th, they graduated with flying colors. And although I'm a dunce sometimes (you have amazing patience) I know I'll make it too, 'cause you're the best homeschool mom there is! The most important thing you've ever taught me is about God's saving grace and love. You're my role model of who I want to be when I grow up: A Godly women, wife and mother. I'm sure you're the best mom there is. That's because you're mine.
Happy Mother's Day
Lydia

The Boring Post Day Contest

The other day I had a moderately good idea. For your convience I have divided my idea into alphabetical order:

a. I post on my blog, putting forth the idea that we have a contest to see who can write the most boring post.

b. Persons 'a' 'b' and 'c' comment and say they will compete. Bloggers 'a' 'b' and 'c' all decide on a date.

c. On that date bloggers 'a' 'b' and 'c' write the most boring post they can think of, either just really boring, or hilariously boring.

d. Anyone who wishes reads the posts, and then votes on who should win.

e. The winner, lets say, blogger 'c', gets a prize from me and everyone has a good laugh over it.

Or, of course, y'all might think it's a lame idea and only "a." happens.

Sound like fun?

Happiness

The other day whilst waiting for a VERY slow website to load, a paper on the desk caught my eye. It was a copy of an article that was posted on my dad's favorite web site; http://www.worldnetdaily.com/ last Thanksgiving. The author was talking about a poll that said that 69% of Americans say they aren't happy. The writer went on to point out how fortunate Americans are compared to the rest of the world, think of it, there is more food in our Dick's Piggy Wiggly than ALL of some poverty stricken countries. We should be thankful for what we have etc. I liked the article, it was thought provoking. Anyway, I said that whole thing just to get to the fact that reading that made me think. "Am I happy?"

Last year a group of homeschoolers, under the leadership of my mother dearest, put together a small newspaper we called The Christian Homeschool Herald. A group of boys put together a riddle section. One of the riddles said "Where can you always find Happiness?" The answer was "In the dictionary." That's not entirely true by my standards (you can only find true happiness in God) but by the world's standard, that is the only place.

In today's culture finding Happiness is the goal of everyone, although it comes in different forms; fame fortune etc. that is really what people are searching for, happiness and fulfillment. Therefore that poll reveals that almost 70% of my countrymen aren't finding what they are looking for, even though a large portion of them say they are "Christian." hmmmm...

Back to my question, "Am I Happy?" Well I'm not starving, abused, or hurt. I know lots of people who love me, I have two parents and a remarkable 8 siblings, and most importantly, I know God is my Father and he loves me.

So, YES, I am happy.

High School Banquet!!

Last Thursday was my Sophomore year of our yearly High School Banquet. High School Banquet is our homeschool group's equivalent to Prom, which we DON'T do. Rather we all get dressed up, do our hair and get a bunch of pictures taken before having a fancy 5 course meal. It's always lots of fun. As I said, this year was my Sophomore year, but I was sitting right by the Freshman table so I gave them advice the whole evening, about which fork to use , not to burn the mint leaves in the candles etc.


Lillie's mom hosted the banquet so she came to our house to get ready. Needless to say, Susie had a hay day with Lillie's waist length hair.



I think it looks like Margret Hale's from North & South.



My friend Heather also came over, Debbie did her hair, we also carpooled with another family who has a Junior boy and a Freshman girl, and two other friends of mine who came for my sisters hair expertise. All are in the picture.

Along with Luke of course, who insisted on being in one of the pictures.

I wish I could show you a picture of all of the 45 homeschoolers who showed up, but, as with Pink Panther, I don't have one, I am planning on asking someone for a copy, so I'll post it later. I loved the fabric on my dress but I got it second hand so it needed some adjustments, so (drum roll please) I fixed it, by MYSELF on a real sewing machine!! Aren't you all proud of me??? I got my sweater second-hand too, it had a button missing so I took them all off and put on pearl ones, only to discover on Sunday that there was an extra button on a tag on the inside... well more sewing never hurt anyone.




BTW I started my first real job yesterday as a hostess and busboy...err...busgirl... busser, at the local Country Kitchen. I like it so far, but the first day first job thing was slightly frightening.