X marks the spot

We had one of our most exciting schooling weeks last week. X can be a hard letter but when you focus on its sound and use things get easier. We had two lists of words--ones that begin with the sound and ones end with the sound. The video is a crowd pleaser. We made a xyolphone out of crystal glasses and then worked on our spectrum of ROYGBIV--okay we talked about the rainbow and how to make colors from thr primary ones. The highlight was when Elijah got it to go worbaly. Then there was our exploritory, expedition to find where X marks the spot. Jessica made a treasure map with clues for the kids to go through the house. Using that base the kids then made a map for Chris when he got home. They did a really stunning job. It's interesting to see how many "inside" things they have between themselves. They have this tornado thing and hot lava. Elijah says "po-tomado" for tornado which can really throw confuse a person. Games like "suba dadda" are gone and forgotten. Rebekah and Caleb used to jump in their toddler beds and sing "suba dadda". We never found out why. While they did it even when Elijah was in his crib it's been discarded for the "hot labba" and "po-tomado" both instigated by Elijah.

If you look at the side bar under Chris and Jessica, you see an important anniversary. The best present God gave us was each other. Our meeting, dating and marriage was not by the book. As Jessica has struggled with some friendships recently, she's learning that God's way isn't people's way or cultural propriety's way. For obvious reasons, Jessica is not a guy. However, Jessica is a tomboy at heart. Jessica loves fulfilling the role of a wife and mother but when it comes to tastes, opinions, hobbies and fun Jessica is of the strong feeling that they cannot be broken down by gender. It's not on purpose, it's not to flaunt something, it's her likes and annoyances. Chris' opening "move" was to select her for the two-touch football team July 3, 1996 as their 2nd pick. The girls were inside watching a musical. While Jessica likes musicals, DOING something is so much more fun. For the record there was no incidental contact except for that fact that Jessica accidentally and unknowingly broke some poor boy's rib. While we're not cemented at the hip or fingers, Chris and Jessica enjoy being together more than being apart. Isn't that why you marry someone? You're committing to spend the rest of your life with them, which would stand to reason that you do things together that you both enjoy. This is where looks and physical attaction can't sustain a relationship. The point is I guess is that some people never thought Chris and I would make it as a couple. If we were to follow a lot of people's advice on the lines between men and women, we'd never do things together. Basically Jess would be left behind while Chris went to church to play basketball or to the Bay to go fishing. Chris doesn't go places for entertainment without Jess and she likewise. We're blessed beyond our wildest dreams with happiness and confidence in each other's love, trust and faithfulness. Now, off the soapbox....

Today, we became minivan owners. It's a used 2008 Sienna with 8 seats. We took it for a test drive and while circling back off the highway, Elijah in the middle of the middle bench announces that the car is "Macaroni!" So Macaroni (Mac for short and Macaroni'n'cheese for legal needs) joins Carbutt and Cubit in the driveway. God brought us what we needed, at the price we requested and gave us a salesman tenacious enough to find it. We stand amazed at His provision and grace to us as we continue to profess His mercies and lovingkindness. We firmly believe God is everywhere and in everything, even buying a Toyota certified used minivan.