Soccer Star Sydney!

Tonight was Sydney's first soccer practice. She's one of two girls on a team of 7 kids. She had a great time, as you will see in the pictures. She took off with the ball during drills and had a blast playing with the other kids. The field was just minutes from our house, and it was nice to have something close to us for a change! Her first game will be next Saturday, and Ethan's first practice/game is this upcoming Tuesday night.

The Team With Coach Doug
Learning to stop the ball
Water Break!
Learning to block the goal
Goalie Playing a practice game

Sydney's School Uniform

Sydney came downstairs in this outfit one morning last week and announced she was dressed in her school uniform! The polo and vest are Ethan's, but they do look pretty cute on her! If she were attending public school, today would be her first day of kindergarden. Wow...it's really hard to imagine what this day would be like if we had sent her to school.



Today has just been a normal day in our house. A lot of people are asking when we are starting school and what we'll be doing. I've been teaching Sydney to read all summer, and she's doing a good job. Teaching reading is pretty easy with a good program, and I'm really proud of her progress. We started math two weeks ago and handwriting last week.



On September 8, we'll begin Classical Conversations. Sydney will be in a class of 8 other kindergardeners and will receive instruction from a tutor in the areas of science, history, art, music, Latin, and some grammar. I will reinforce those subjects throughout the following week and continue to do all of her instruction in reading, math, and writing. I will get to take part in class with her, and Ethan and Reid will be there with us too. I'm so excited about our whole family taking part in this!


Grammy & Papa came this weekend and outfitted the kids with some clothes for fall and their soccer gear. Here are S&E excited about their new cozy jammies! They also treated us to dinner at Bonefish Grill- yum!

Tyson Chicken Scandal

If you've ever bought meat or dairy that claims to be hormone/antibiotic free because you care about what you put into your body, you need to read this post on my dear friend Trish's blog. Companies will do anything for a buck!

Me In A Wheelchair

I received an email from my Great-Aunt Trish with the following message and video:

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'

The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes. '
They went on to complete the marathon together.

Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes.'

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer)ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180 .2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .

Father and son went on to complete the race together.

Watch their video below...




As I watched this video, it really hit me that I am that son in the wheelchair. He did nothing to complete the race...nothing of his own strength enabled him to complete an ironman. It was all about his father. It was all his father's strength, love, and committment that brought them across that finish line. So many times I resort to living life out of my own strength. I look to my own goodness or righteousness, forgetting that the righteousness and goodness I do have comes from being clothed in Christ. I will win the race, not in my own self, but with my strong, caring, loving, perfect Heavenly Father pushing my wheelchair.