Our Pond - art for Feb 27, 2006 

A Living Doll

home education begins...

If asking questions and seeking answers is a good way to educate oneself, Anneke's scope for learning knows no bounds. One of her seemingly endless question conversations occurred while munching on a baby carrot:
"Why is this a carrot? Why is it a vegetable? Why did it grow? Where do vegetables grow?" To this last question I explained that they usually grow on farms, and she mulled that over a moment, than informed me knowledgeably, "But this carrot grew in a bag."

She loves to share her knowledge with Joseph by "reading" to him, or showing him how to write letters. She also tries to get him to talk, and usually has more success with him in this regard than any of the rest of us!

our sweet boyfies

(thanks R+S for letting us use your camera again!)

big bite! 

Chris having fun with the boys 

Krista, Theresa, Chris, puzzling 

their own bar-table 

Heidi giving her birthday present a ride :) 

oops 

Christmas Dinner at Luimes - what a nice set up! Great job you did Chris & Maurice! 

I'd cry too if those grimaces were made right in my face! 

what a spread! 

Hello, I'm trying to post again - some more of our early attempts at using the digital camera Maurice & Chris generously gave & sold to Dad & Mom for pajkes! Thanks again, I'm enjoying it too.  

watching Rachel's performance or the Forget-me-nots 

Chris & Maurice's fancy spa & relax basket  

Kenny checking out the supplies 

Pakjes Avond at Ralph & Sharon's 

Esther's 'tent'. Each compartment had 4 'kids' in it. 

Sarah's birthday present. 

Oma & Opa gave a fancy present to Sarah (bought by us actually :) ) and we wanted to share what we could do with it. Pretty neat stuff, eh? 

The girls made gingerbread houses. Well, I made most of the houses and they helped put it together and they decorated, mostly on their own. Took a lot of time, but it was fun and they turned out really nice. 

Our little elf. 

Josiah just loves to walk around with a head band hanging from his neck. (He also likes to wear bracelets, but we won't mention that.) :) 

The family driving in their van. 

I wonder....

Here is a poem i wrote at Christmas, and it's a little late, but here it is!

Today is Christmas day,
and a story comes to mind,
how God turned man came down to earth,
to rescue all mankind.

I wonder how it would’ve been
for a girl to become a mother,
to give birth to the Son of God,
with just a stable for cover.

and how did Joseph feel,
to be like a father to the One,
who came to save and set us free,
to make His eternal sons.

Shepherds sitting with their sheep,
on the dusty ground,
what was it like to see that light?
to hear that heavenly sound?

And wise men from the east,
why did they come so far?
how did it feel to see the Child,
or to chase that shining star?

and what a bunch of hypocrites,
who had memorized The Book,
who talk the wise men where to go,
and didn’t take a look!

Wicked, wicked Herod,
did you think you would succeed?
Does God not know your jealous heart?
your selfishness and greed?

And what if I had lived those days,
how would I have been?
Would I rejoice to see my Lord?
Fall down and worship Him?

Or would I go about my work,
like every other day,
not care that Jesus Christ was born,
to show the world the way!

But wait, what difference does it make?
if I live now, not in B.C.
Christ’s message is the same right now,
for all eternity!

My life right now, it matters,
what I think and do and say,
I can worship Christ and spread the news,
or I can just go on my way.

Lord help me to live my life for You,
to love You for all of my days,
help me to know You, to show you to others,
filling my life with your praise!