What's new? 

Well most excitedly right now (drumroll)

I'm going to be a grandma for the 4th time! 

How exciting is that??  A new baby ... being raised by incredible parents who love the Lord and who are homeschooling their children.  My grandchildren are being raised in truth, and that means everything. And there's another one on the way!  Yay!!

My son had surgery - my 17 year old.  That is the first time I've had a child go through surgery.  He had a hernia operation, and another procedure that could have waited but was taken care of since he was going under anyhow.  I am very thankful that he is healing up really well.

We're wrapping up our homeschool year.  It's been a good year, homeschool wise.  We're using Math-U-See, and I feel it has been successful.  I think I have pulled Isaac (9) out of his "don't like to be read to" slump.  Right now we're using an old school reading book "Climbing Higher" and he just really seems to like the stories in there.  To hear him giggling along with the story instead of saying "How much longer ..." is music to my ears.

We've gone to the local zoo for zoo homeschool classes, and sometimes we are the only family - sometimes there are others.  We get hands on with the animals.  Thursday, the Robbie and Isaac each carried a container with a meatball and some catnip up to the Lynx exhibit, and the zoo worker tied the containers up high in the area they climb up to.  We watched them try to get at the containers, which we were assured they would eventually get them down.  The zoo workers call this "enrichment."  I always forget my camera!  I wish I had taken pictures.  Robbie and Isaac have really enjoyed these zoo classes, and especially when animals have been brought out for us to observe and touch.  This has been a really good thing this year.

We've also been reading about current events - particularly the cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) and the earthquake in China.  You can get science and social studies from these events, and it can become a study all it's own - as far as you want to take it.  It makes "understanding governments" much more interesting than reading it from a textbook.  I really think that reading material should have more of a human interest level - how does the government regime affect the people?  Seeing the response from the government in Myanmar is a real eye opener.  Vocabulary - juanta - military government.  We have our local Burmese population, who were heartbroken when loved ones who have been expected to join them in America were hit by this cyclone - and they couldn't even make contact.  And of course, you bring missions into it, and pray for these people.

I've been walking with my sister and brother-in-law through a legal situation that is horrific.  I'm learning a lot about New York State that is truly eye opening - and I must say, when we are commanded to pray for our governing officials (1 Tim. 2:1-4), we'd better take it seriously.  When there's a network of corruption, who do you turn to?  We must pray for our judicial system, for our governing positions, that they be filled with godly men who will deal honestly and fairly.  When you are the one going up before a corrupt system (or someone you care about is), it is suddenly very important.  But shame on us then!  Because we should have compassion on all men, and care about others who have been going before the same corrupt system for years.

My son-in-law just graduated from a school with a degree to practice ultrasound.  He is finished with academics, and has still to finish his clinical - which will be done in early August.  But the ceremony took place last weekend, and we are all very proud of him.  He has spent the past year going to school full time while working full time.  Not an easy year by any means, but it will definitely pay off.  Congratulations Josh! 

It's been quiet this morning as I sit and refect on "what's new."  I turn my thoughts to God, who has been ever faithful.  I praise Him for the new grandchild, and for children and grandchildren who walk in truth.  I praise Him for standing by my son's side as he went through surgery.  I thank Him for a good homeschool year, and the strides I see my younger boys have made this year. 

I turn to Him to pray for a country (Burma) that I am now made aware of a plight of a people who need Him.  I am thankful to know that He loves them much more than I ever could, and as I am called to pray for them, He is faithful answer prayer.  We must pray for our missionaries all over the world.

I also turn to Him to pray for my sister and brother-in-law.  As they stand before Goliath (NYS corruption) I am thankful that God is greater still.  Whatever the outcome, I know that God will work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  And my sister and brother-in-law are HIS.

I also know that ALL corruption will cease - I've read the end of the Book.  I look for that day fervantly and expectantly.  Come soon, Lord Jesus.  Even today ...