I need Jesus...

Those are the words Pastor Mark ended his sermon with tonight.  They rang true to me.  He talked about storms in our lives and how Jesus is our way through.

I feel extremely blessed.  I am overwhelmed with what God has given me.  Especially when I think of my wonderful husband.  My daughter.  Homeschooling.  and so much more.

But I am also struggling.  I MISS my extended family (and some super close friends) so much.  I ache thinking about the distance between us.  I want to be in Kentucky and see my dad's smile and feel his embrace.  I want to give my mom a hug and enjoy her presence.  I just want to be with them so bad.
If I could just hop in my van and drive over and visit them....

It's not that it has been a super long time since I've spent time with them (4 months ago) and Rose and I are going back in 9 days and spending two weeks there. 

But I can Feel the distance.  A couple thousand miles is long way.

I cry at the drop of a hat. 
Rose misses her family and friends so deeply as well.
I don't mean to be mopey.  I do realize my many many blessings.

But it is still a true hurt that I feel.

I realized that me just 'deciding' to think of the positives isn't going to make it go away....or relying on my fabulous husband to take the sad feelings away.  ...It is setting my eyes on Jesus that will get me through.

I need Jesus.

Week Ten (Pumpkin Patch)

Rose is continuing to love history.  Here we made some Hasty Pudding.  (It is mentioned in the song 'Yankee Doodle' and in some of the books we had been reading.)

 We weren't expecting to like it, but it was quite good.  Our studies said it was traditional to serve it with butter and maple syrup, so that is how we tried it.

Rose's 13 Colonies and Declaration of the United States.

Rose made ink from berries

and used a feather to write with her ink

She thought it was super cool!

Rose helping out in the kitchen at Keepers Club.

We learned decoupage this week.  It was my turn to teach and Rose was the only student that had decoupaged before.

Daddy did the science experiments with Rose this week :0)

Our Field Trip this week was to the local Pumpkin Patch with some homeschool friends.

I got lost in the maze, but did catch back up with Rose and the group she was with.  We let the girls lead and they got us out.

At the Exit!

We got to pick a pumpkin, go on a hayride and see a few animals.

When we dropped off our pumpkins in the car, Rose decided to put on her Camel-back (it is a backpack that holds a big pouch of water with a hose going around to her mouth)  It is handy when we are biking, but apparently, just as handy when you are walking around on a farm.

Daddy and Rose carving a happy face pumpkin.

Week Nine (UNR Game)

Rose was working on a tedious craft and I was reading to her and she said,  "It is nice to work on a quiet activity while someone reads to you.  It is just nice, isn't it mommy?"

Rose enjoyed several books this week, but her favorite was 'Sarah Witcher's Story' by Elizabeth Yates.

She also really enjoyed 'The Sign of the Beaver' audio by Elizabeth George Speare.

Here is a picture of us doing school work in the grad student/faculty room in the UNR library.

Just thought this was a cute picture.....  Rose trying on a hat at Whole Foods.

Rose assisting daddy patching our bike tires.....

Chad is good about getting things done in a timely manner.  If something needs done around the house or with the computers, he does it right away.  I appreciate my wonderful husband on so many levels.

 We ended the week with an UNR football game....

Week Eight (with a visit from Uncle Cullen)

In history Rose made a hornbook

we made some caramel apples (a must for fall!)

 Rose is whizzing through her math.  If she keeps up this pace, she will be done with 2nd grade math at the end of November. 

Rose working on a math sheet

 At Keepers Club the girls (and moms) learned about First Aid.

Rose being an injured person during the demonstration

 This week we studied Benjamin Franklin.  I forgot to ask Rose what her favorite book was this week.  

Here is her history notebook page.

 

In Music we are studying Tchaikovsky.  Rose is really enjoying his music.

at the dentist

Uncle Cullen came in for a few days from Boise, ID.  So that was enough to call for a couple day "holiday" from school work :) 

went to the IMAX to see a movie about Sharks

We went and walked on the river walkway in downtown....

stopped to watch the ducks

Then we had the famous Reno's Awful Awful Burger...

Rose and Uncle Cullen looking at fossils

Cullen and Chad talking to their parents on the phone....their dad telling them that he retired!

Happy Retirement Grandpa Anderson!!  You know, now we expect you and Grandma to come for looong visits!!!

Week Seven (with sewing)

doing school with "BalloonE" ...just for fun

Rose LOVES books

at our weekly library visit

 Rose made Fall/Thanksgiving pillows for her grandparents, our house, and one for a friend.  Some are just knot pillows and some are a combination of knot and sewing.

tying a knot on the pillow

sewing a pillow

Some of her finished pillows :0)

Rose's favorite book this week was "If You Lived In Colonial Times" by Ann McGovern.

In history we have studied Leif Erickson, Christopher Columbus, Jamestown, and the Pilgrims.

notebook pages