Harry Potter 7

Instead of going out to a bookstore to celebrate the release of book 7 we opted to stay in. The kids invited friends - all of whom dressed as characters from the books. We played Muggle Quidditch (sp???), drank butterbeer (too sweet) and played HP trivia.
Gannon, dressed as "old Archie," won the trivia game. Micah dressed as Hermione, Eli as Ron, Kyra as Ginny and Rich as Moody. We had a blast and at midnight ran down to the local Wal-Mart where there was absolutly NO line and bought 3 books and the CDs. With 5 people fighting over the books - it still seems to not be enough!

Micah's Legend

July 12, 2007
1066 Jackdaw

The Legend



King William blocked yet another blow from a Saxon battle-axe. He and many other men from both Normandy and France had come to claim England from the barbaric Saxons.
Things were not going so well for William and his men. The Saxons where winning. William was trying to think of what to do next when he saw an arrow coming straight towards him.
He tried to dodge it, but his horse wouldn’t move fast enough. The arrow pierced him in the chest, followed be many others. Some just bounced off his armor, but with other arrows, he wasn’t as lucky.
William gasped in both surprise and agony. He grasped his horse’s reins, tying not to fall off his horse.
The men who had shot the arrows, those villainous Saxons, shouted with joy when they saw that their arrows had hit their mark. Soon, the other Saxons heard what had happened and cried out, saying they had won, thinking that the brave king William had died.
When William’s men heard that their courageous king was dead, they cried out in sorrow for their leader. They were immensely weakened by the news.
It seemed like it was raining arrows when William heard his men’s cries. He sat as tall as he could and, arrows still hitting him left and right, he prayed to his Lord God that no arrows would hit his face. William tore off his helmet.
When William’s men saw his face, on top of his horse shouting words of strength and still pulling arrows out of every part of his body, they thought he looked like a true leader, a true king! With sudden strength, William’s men attacked the vile Saxons who where still celebrating their false victory.

Today that battle is called The Battle of Hastings and William is called “The Conquer,” king of England.

Big News -

Last month our family grew by two!

We are blessed to have baby Hannah join us. She is just 8 months old and a wonderful addition to our family.
We also have been blessed to have Rich's niece Jesi join our family. She is 18 and received a basketball scholarship from Lane Community College.






This is Jesi playing around with Photo Booth - I am sure she will be pleased that I posted these on our blog...

From the National LDS Homeschool E-Newsletter

Making Magic


There have been many times in my homeschool experience that I have caught those magical moments. Those moments when I know that homeschooling is a gift from Heavenly Father to both my children and myself. They are amazing times when I realize that my children are learning not just because they have to, but that they are actually glorying in the learning process.
Last week my son was banging on the bathroom door just as I was stepping out of the shower. I quickly wrapped myself in a towel and opened the door. There he was wearing the proudest smile on his face.
"Here mom. I did my math. Can you check it?"
"Okay," I said, and took the only available seat as I scanned the page.
"You did great honey, 100%," I said and handed him back the math book.
His face was slightly crestfallen and I was confused.
"Aren't you going to do what you did before?" he questioned. "You know..." his voice lowered and I noticed my red lipstick in his hand as he extended it, "the heart?"
"Oh yeah," I said as I took the lipstick and drew a big heart on his page.
He was beaming as he said his thanks. He ran out of the bathroom shouting "I love math mom!" and left me to contemplate the moment.
Could a public school teacher instill such excitement in a 7 year old over math? Maybe...but I doubt it. Only a mother can create that kind of magic. Only a mother can make a child feel safe, loved, important and smart all rolled up in one - and do it all in her bathrobe.
Homeschooling is about loving, teaching and living simultaneously. We do not need fancy clothes, hair and make-up or even the best school supplies to create the magic of homeschool. That comes only from a loving mother and father who recognize that they have the mantle of authority to raise up righteous children and teach them to love and learn trough the guidance of the Spirit. That is how the magic happens - and no one else can replicate it.

Donna has been homeschooling her four children for 7 years. In 2005 she began the Veneta Home Education Network to bring homeschool families in her area closer together. Her favorite aspect of homeschooling is the freedom it gives her family to explore subjects and activities that spark their interest and love of learning. Donna and her family live in the beautiful state of Oregon where they enjoy the hobby of letterboxing and homeschool karate. She has served in the Primary organization for 11 straight years.