Our sweet Jovia

   Today we received another letter from a very dear young girl who lives in Uganda. It brought tears to my eyes, and I want share part of it with you. But first, let me introduce to you Jovia Nalumansi, Jessica's twin and pen pal from across the world, and how it all happened.

After I had my last baby I went through a period where I felt the need to do something for someone else.  I felt we had everything we needed, we lived such a full life, while there were so many people who don't. It just seemed to happen more and more that whenever I went online during that time, up would come world vision ads. I couldn't get it out of my mind anymore, so I started looking into it. I searched for someone Jessica's age, and it was not hard. There were several girls who were her twins, but Jovia stood out. Her eyes were pleading at me to care for her. Even their names were sort of similar. I prayed about it, talked to Daniel and Jessica, and we all felt like we should do this. I have not regretted it since, not one bit. I just wish and hope that one day we can sponsor more children like her, as big a blessing as it is.

With Jessica being homeschooled, I saw this as a great opportunity for her to learn about other cultures. For now, this is the only 'social studies course' she takes. And because she is (so far) an only girl, I thought this would be a special way for her to 'adopt' a sister.


Here is a part of the letter:


Dear lovely Sponsor.


This is Jovia saying hullo! How are you doing? I was glad to receive your letters. Joy filled my heart and tears rolled down my eyes as my helper read word by word of your letters. 


Thank you for the gifts you enclosed there in of your family photo and lovely letter from Jessica. Send my greetings to Jessica. I loved the way she writes. I am trying to copy the way she writes. 


Then she goes on writing about the weather and her school. Actually it is not her writing, but a world vision staff who writes for her. She included her name in her own handwriting at the end of this letter, and it made me extremely happy to see she is making progress in school. Her grade marks have been pretty good so far.

It is very rewarding to know that because you sponsor a child like this, she can go to school. Plus, her family has enough to eat. One family's life is changed for the better, all because of your $1 a day that you are willing to sacrifice. Believe me, it is worth it. I would encourage more people to do this; you will not regret it.


Michael Landon Jr. has made a film in Uganda about two orphans that I cannot wait to see; here is the trailer for it. It takes place in Uganda; I believe not far from where Jovia lives.

I will leave you with two verses that come to mind right now:

Matthew 17: 5  "And whoever receives one such little child because of My name, receives ME."

Luke 16: 9 "And I say to you, Make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles".

Catching Up

Finally I have gotten the quilt done. I don't think I will attempt another queen size quilt anytime soon. I thoroughly enjoyed having all the ladies over to help me quilt it though.

 I have matching curtains, and plan to make matching pillowcases someday. For now I will pack it away.

 

 Here are the chickens I mentioned a while back. For the most part the coupe is now done. All the wood is recycled. I love recycling! The posts come from hubby's work shop, and instead of nailing a structure that can be moved, I dug holes in the ground, put the posts in and attached everything to the posts. I did not bother trying to saw those posts in any way, so I found it easier to put them in the ground till they were the same height, as the posts came in different heights. Our skill saw is down so everything else had to be sawn by handsaw. (I suppose its just as well, since I am too busy lately to exercise, but I need it somehow. :) The roof is not nailed down and can easily be removed. The door is on the north side; I used a plywood sheet as I figured this way the chickens had a little more shelter in one corner at night. During the day we open the door and let the chickens roam. It is Joseph's job to feed them before breakfast, and he enjoys it. 

Will it save us any money raising a few chickens this way? Maybe, maybe not, but when you are a parent, you start looking at things not just from a financial point of view, but how will your children benefit from the experience. And in this case I realized it is an invaluable lesson for them. Besides, its fun!!!

Goofy, spooky homeschoolers :)

Sunday Afternoon Reflections

It is time to sit down and take a break from so many things. Too many. We have been up to all sorts of stuff last week, and I will continue on again tomorrow with more busyness, but now it is time for a little breather.

On Mondays I have resumed my restaurant, so last Monday I made lots of pizza.  (Tomorrow its back to plain rice and beans with chicken, plantains and salad, the easy meal!)

Then Timothy cut his forehead, so he was unhappy for several days, complaining of headache and not being his usual self. Now he has recovered from that.


I have put up a queen size quilt in the basement a few weeks ago, but get it done ever so slowly. Just was able to get a few stitches into that last week...hope to do more this week. Anyone want to come help finish it? One of my aunts or in-laws, perhaps, or sister?  ;)

Thursday we went to piano class, and after that we headed to Belmopan for culture night at my nephews' school. It was interesting to see what all the different cultures had to display. Let's see if I can remember some of them. (These cultures all exist in Belize.) Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mestizos, East Indian, Asian, Mennonite...that's all I can remember. What I gathered from this night was that Belizean people seem very proud to hang on to their own culture, unlike in the US where you are (or used to be) proud to have your culture melted away in the melting pot. Whether this is a good thing or not for Belize I don't know; but it was interesting to see all the different dances and performances by the children. 

Friday was homeschoolers field trip day! I took the children and got on the bus with a bunch of other rowdy people and traveled all the way to Mountain Pine Ridge. I have a few photos, but not available now for showing, as Daniel took the camera before I had time to download the pics...they went on a tour on the farm we visited, seeing different trees and animals and looking at how coffee was made. They got horseback and 4-wheeler rides, and went swimming in the most beautiful little creek ever. A tiring but worthwhile day.

Daniel left for the US today on business for the shop. So yesterday and this morning we were busy with getting him all set to go. He's going all the way to our old sweet home in Tennessee. Boohoo. I wish I was with him.

Jessica's birthday was last week as well, but I felt I did not do enough to make it special for her with Timothy being hurt and needing lots of attention. Plus, her best friend's birthday was one day before hers, so I baked a cake yesterday (amidst all the laundry and dishes) and decorated it for them. It was all worth the look on their faces when they saw the cake, so I am happy I did that.

We got ourselves some baby chicks last week! Here at the hatchery close to us they have reject baby chicks they just give away for free, so we decided to give it a try. This means I have to build a cage next week. I will let you know how raising chickens turns out...the children are tickled about it, and so am I.

This week I realized that sometimes I just need to let go of the 'clean house syndrome' and make it a priority to focus on meeting our children's needs. My house is a wreck, but the children are happy. When they are all grown, and I feel guilty about not spending as much time for them as I should have, I can go back here and read these words and say to myself, I am sure glad I did that.

Have a great week, y'all! 

Homeschool Update

 This photo has nothing to do with the post, but I just feel like posting it anyway. Tennessee wildflowers that we picked when we lived there. 

 Taken in Iowa when I took her out for a little mother/daughter time. I need to do that again...

Some of you may be wondering how or if Jessica is still learning anything at home. Sometimes I ask myself that, and I almost panic, thinking, what if I am missing something important or she is far behind other children her age? As little time each day as she spends in her books, (except in her story books!) I sometimes think, shouldn't she be doing more??? She has completed Gr. 2 Math and Reading, and was only left with Language Arts and an Animal Book to finish. I know it will not be enough to keep her busy till the end of the schoolyear, and she has to keep busy somehow, so yesterday I went to a bookstore in the city. And whew! I was surprised and happy to find such a collection of different books; for Belize, that is... I found a few Spectrum books, which I have found work really well for her, so I bought her two books, Math and Phonics. My sister had a science book that she let us use. Here is the exciting thing; I realized buying more grade 2 stuff is useless for her. I bought her Gr. 3 books. So, for a mere $20 spent on books and a little fun shopping trip, our girlie is entering Gr 3 today. I can't help but feel a little giddy about it. She is growing up so fast! Besides doing those few study books, she spends much time reading Little House books, and other good children's books. I feel that alone is very educational for her, plus piano class once weekly and practice daily.

Presentations

Every now and then some homeschoolers get together and let the students present any subject they have learned about. Here are what ours did. Not that Joseph is in any grade yet, but he really wanted to present something this time, and I encouraged him to. Jessica recited the names of the books of the Bible (almost perfect) and told us about the clock, and Joseph told us his Jonah story. Enjoy!

Two Peas in a Pod

My oldest two are so friends with each other. I have been thankful for that over and over. Whatever they do together, they do well.


When I started homeschooling Jessica, I soon realized one positive aspect about it that I had never thought about before. I would feel sorry for my big little boy if his sister was in school all day long and he couldn't play with her like he does every day. He will often sit patiently beside her and watch her do her homework or do some coloring beside her, and once she is done, they will run and play again.
Washing dishes can become a very interesting chore. Although I often have to intervene, I have to smile often at the ideas that can be born when two little people stand at the kitchen sink for 30 minutes every day! This includes a lot of science experiments!

He is all up in arms about protecting his sister already. They posed this way and then asked me to take a photo, and I couldn't resist.

Field Trip to the Museum

The homeschoolers made a field trip to a Pioneer Museum. We all had a grand time.

Many of the girls decided to dress up Pioneer style, so I decided to join in on the fun. I never had the chance to dress up Pioneer style when I was little, but I still have a little girl in me, and my daughter loves it when I play dress up with her!

Last week after learning that we were making a field trip and other children where dressing up for it, I scrambled to get a pioneer dress made for Jessica. It was well worth the effort. She likes Laura Ingalls so much, and now she will be able to play Laura when she wants to!

Patiently waiting for the train.

I am sure the kitchens all look very similar in museums, but I never get tired of looking at them and imagining what it would be like to be working in them.

What I found of special interest was this cradle made out of a barrel.

I thought these two looked so cute and alike in their blue dresses and braids.

This is Grandma's glasses, this is Grandma's hat.... :)

"I gotta see what's in here!"

Giggly little girls.

After the museum trip we went to the park in town and had our lunch there and the children had a chance to play.
It's great to be a homeschooler!

Homeschooling; how biblical is it really?

That is the question I have often pondered. But then I found this article and it helped me look at homeschooling from a biblical perspective. Just to realize that God has given these children into our hands for a little while and that we are responsible for what goes into their young minds and hearts, it makes me feel so unworthy on the one hand. But on the other, it makes me want to be more like God, so that through my teaching them I will impart more of Him into their precious innocent hearts.

(If there is anyone out there who has ever wondered if homeschooling is the christian thing to do, here is an article you might want to read!)

The books are here!

"Mommy, when is that UPS truck coming? Do you think he is going to come today? Maybe he won't come..." Well, he did come! And boy, I mean girl, was she excited! Perhaps more so because her mama was. I feel like I am going back to school or something! Anyway, let's hope the eagerness to homeschool will last for a long time yet. Tomorrow its off to Walmart to buy supplies!

Canning beans, doing math

Canning beans and doing math?... Last time when I wanted to can beans I wanted to teach my daughter how to do it, but then I went one step further and decided to teach her some math while we were at it, to make it more exciting, or, because I am so lazy, kill two birds with one stone... So I got out a marker, and marked the jars with fractions.

It took me a pretty long time to learn fractions in school . I didn't learn it this practically. Jessica picked it up very fast doing it this way; it's amazing what a little real life practice can achieve versus boring numbers on paper.



In the end she had also learned that 2/4 is the same as 1/2. I think that concludes our math lesson for today. And we didn't even have to drag out those math books. Well, I didn't really have to anyway, cause she's only six...