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|   From the looks of things, it's been awhile since I last updated. Where has the time gone? Here are highlights from the last 6 (gulp) months.... - In June, Jim was the speaker for the Youth at Bible Memory Camp. Peyton was a camper again this year, and it was of course even more fun this year with Carrington there too. BMC is a highlight of the summer!
- The end of June we went to Barb & Jason's wedding in VA. Bella was a program attendant, and she was simply beautiful and did her job so well. Verba & I, along with our girls, went a few days early to help set up at the reception. We stayed at the Keener's, what a delight for our children as they went swimming, rode horses, and watched Uncle Bob land his plane right next to the house.
- From VA, we went to South Carolina to visit Jim's sister Mary & family. While there, we also spent a day with Chief Jeremy at Fairplay. He took us on a delighful hike to Brasstown Falls. Also got to see my cousin Esther & family, and Maurice's.
- And then it was time to be home for awhile!
- Our annual church campout was at Quakerhaven this year the first weekend in July. This is always much anticipated and we had a nice time relaxing.
- We did school all summer long, not a heavy load, but enough to get a feel for where each child was at, and got to see their strengths and weeknesses before "real" school starts in the fall.
- We started homeschool the middle of August. Peyton is doing 5/6, Davis is in 4th, Cate in 3rd, Diana in 1st, and Bella is in color class!
- September was filled with lots of school days, really getting into the hang of schooling at home againa after a 1 year sabbatical for me. The men and boys from chirch had a weekend "roughing it". Sheldon did a fine job keeping the boys occupied and making into a fun adventure.
- October found us on the road again, this time to visit Jim's sister Gloria and family. Ken is the director at Hillcrest Nursing Home, we always enjoy our time with them so much! We had a beautiful day canoeing the Buffallo River, although I wonder if Wes has recuperated from his navigating that day? Our boys think the world of Brandon, Anthony & Wes, and the girls think Alanna's the best! It matters not the age, you are a hero to someone!
- November - our church does a ladies day out once a year. It's a time to invite family, neighbors, friends to a day of pampering, holiday food and entertaining ideas. For photos and more info, visit www.xanga.com/yodertime
- Last week we discovered with all the summer school we did, the children will be half way through school the end of this week!!! WOW. I guess getting all that work done before real school was worth it after all!
Blessings to you all - Linda for the B's | | |
| And yes, all on the same day! Today we celebrate 20 years!!! Who can believe that? How can it be? Just days ago I was nervously walking down the aisle..........this morning Jim brought my favorite coffee drink to our room and we spent a long time talking. How did I get so lucky? To be married to the Sweetheart of my youth, never mind how long ago my youth was.........to get to live with my best friend and be romanced for 20 years......ahhh, this IS life! Today I will especially thank God for His goodness and redeeming love on my life, for Jim, a fearless leader who has such a passion for his family. Truly, once again, I am beyond blessed! Happy Birthday to Peyton! Today he's 11 years old! Very shortly the girls and I are taking fresh muffins and hot chocolate to his room, around here birthdays mean breakfast in bed, special meal tonight, and other various forms of royal treatment throughout the day! Peyton is growing into quite a fine young man, thank you Jesus for your blessing us with him! Linda for the B's | | |
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On Memorial Day we biked to Riverbend Park in Middlebury. The children splashed in the river, played in the park, we ate a picnic lunch and biked back home. A good way to get everyone to bed early!    Piano recital at Greencroft Monday night. Davis played A Mighty Fortress is our God, he was the first one to play at the recital, and did it with flair. Peyton played Immortal, Invisible in typical perfection!  
Oh Dear! Last day of school, the children are way happy - summer is here! | | |
| Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. Proverbs 23:25 For as long as I can remember, Mother's Day was a day to honor my mom, from the little coupon books with all the kind deeds I would perform, to a simple lilac bouquet to show my appreciation, I looked forward to honoring my mom. This morning I took her flowers, to honor a woman who has blessed my life in many ways. Just this week, when I was not feeling well, she took Diana to a Mother's Day party after school. Then there came a time when Mother's Day was not so much fun anymore, I was too old for coupon books, and the hope I had that I too would be a momma someday were crushed. The Dr. said, barring a miracle, we would never have biological children. Then one year, 11 years ago on Mother's Day, I was pregnant, and I was going to have a baby! What a delight! But it paled in comparison to 10 years ago when I held the little boy that was my pride and joy on Mother's Day! A year later, I was again pregnant on Mother's Day, and the following year held a very sick little boy close to my heart when Mother's Day came. So today, I want to give honor and recognition to our great God, and honor to my sons, Peyton & Davis. I love you dearly. Your mom and dad are glad, and I am rejoicing! My precious daughters, you are mine after being born to a woman I will most likely never know or meet. I think of your birth mother often, and wonder.......what is she doing, where is she now? Does she have brown eyes too? How can I ever thank her for my little girls? Your birth mother gave birth to you, your mommy and daddy are giving you a life, and leading you to the only Life, Jesus Christ. You are a blessing and I love you! Your daddy and your mommy are glad, And I hope and pray your birth mother is rejoicing. And that brings me to one more person I want to give honor and recognition to, Jim's mom, Drusilla, a woman I will not know this side of heaven. Drusilla continues to have a tremendous impact on our family. The prayers she prayed have been poured out and watered down on my husband in a mighty way. I am convinced it is the prayers of his dear momma that have shaped him into the man he is today, and so I say Thank you Drusilla Mom, for you have prayed your son through. Praising God I can say truly, your father and your mother are glad, certainly the one who gave birth to you is rejoicing! So to the mother's I have never met, I love you, and give honor to you by nurturing, cherishing and loving the the sweet souls you have entrusted in my care. I am now on the receiving end of those dear little coupon books. They are so precious, I can't bear to use them. I wonder if that's why my Mom never used the ones I gave her? What if she has stock piled them and wants to redeem them all at once, like when I'm 60??? I should have put an expiration date on them............. Blessings to you all, and to all the Mommy's, Happy Mother's Day! Linda
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| Davis was doing homework tonight, the big thing right now is mastering all the multiplication facts.....he can snap off answers as fast as I flash the cards to him. I was complimenting him on his speed and accuracy in math. He had one of those pondering moments, eyes kind of had that far away look, and then he said......"you know mom, I'm kind of the geek in my class when it comes to math. I mean, in reading I'm like way ahead of this one girl, I'm also kind of the reading geek in my class. Come to think of it, I'm a geek when it comes to cursive writing. Wow mom, I think I am just a good all around geek!" O.K. son, you said it, not me! | | |
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