Hands on History

I am very behind in blogging events...life has been a whirlwind! Homeschooling this year has been a bit of a challenge to keep up with -hence the lag in blog posts! On November 8th, we held a Civil War Day for the homeschoolers in our church and a few other families from area support groups joined us as well. It was a memorable day! Even in the midst of the rain, the Lord was so kind to send mild temperatures ....in spite of the unfavorable weather, the kids had a blast. L has not stopped talking about it and laments the fact that we will not be studying the Civil War again for several years . He and Odesco saved their birthday money and purchased new Civil War guns for the big event. L has been toting his around ever since! It was great fun making another memory with our children and other families...Enjoy the pictures!
MamaB
P.S. For those interested, visit www.historicalhappenings.com for more information about hosting an event like this :)

The Matson family, from Historical Happenings, on Friday after 'setting up shop' in the barn on the property we were using.

Mrs. McG with G...she graciously allowed us to use her property for the day's events :) Here she is protecting G's eardrums from the boys and their newly purchased cap guns! This was taken Friday after setting up.

CIVIL WAR DAY: Mercy, G, Odesco, L and P with some of our friends. C was off in the woods!
Once again, Mimi came to the rescue and helped with the costumes :)

The S family joined us from their new home, out of state--it was great to have them with us...here Natalie is wearing a dress she designed and sewed herself! Impressive :)!! She decided to be a Southern Belle~

The Confederate and Union forces are receiving instruction from Isaac...he works with his parents in their family owned company "Historical Happenings" to put on these day long events. They traveled all the way from Mass. to hold this event!

These boys were serious soldiers!

Odesco in a contemplative moment~

Union soldier Daddy during target practice...don't worry, these are just 'official' cap guns!

P practicing before the rains hit...

L enjoyed the grub...corn bread and baked beans cooked over an open fire~

Earlier in the day, the soldiers also received a ration of hard tack and beef jerky!

My handsome hubby waiting his turn in the grub line~

G, Odesco, C

A very wet and cold G !!

Mercy keeping warm and dry in a poncho made by Mimi~

Mrs. Matson from Historical Happenings, giving the 'nurses' their instruction prior to the first battle~

The Union forces engaged in battle! Can you find L,C, and Odesco??

Here the Union forces (with P in the lead carrying the flag) march 'in formation' to meet the Confederates after the day of battles. Each individual battle was scored (based on a number of critereia including the # of soldiers 'wounded' and 'killed', trivia questions answered correctly in the medic tent, and dramatic performances by the soldiers and nurses) After this, the winning team was announced...

The Confederates won... not true to history but still a memorable day filled with learning!! The Union then lay their arms down and presented their flag to the Confederate Captain.

The whole gang of participants!

This is one tired soldier!! After arriving home, we all changed out of our wet and muddy clothes. The kids were exhausted...L fell asleep on the couch and the girls tried to get him upstairs...this is as far as he made it--he slept on these steps for over an hour before Daddy scooped him up to bed!

Sleep, soundly little soldier!!

Happy Birthday, Mercy!!

Mercy's birthday was on a Sunday this year...I think everyone she came in contact with at church knew it was her special day as she announced the news to anyone who would listen! Miss BAA and both sets of grandparents joined us in celebrating later in the afternoon. Due to the busyness and noise around the dinner table, we didn't have a chance to share what we each appreciated about Mercy...no worries, she reminded us the next night that we had forgotten our special birthday tradition and waited with eyes closed and hands folded for the accolades to flow!! (Actually, I was going to make sure we did this before she 'reminded' us!) Mercy has grown and changed in so many ways since her homecoming almost 2 years ago. She has quite a generous heart and is often making crafts or pictures for family members or friends. She also keeps things interesting in our busy home--there is never a dull moment with Mercy around :) It is hard to remember life before the Lord blessed us with our spicy Liberian girl!!

Happy 7th birthday, Mercy~

We love you!!!

Mimi made one of her yummy cakes again :)

Our silly girl enjoyed every moment of her special day!!

Miss BAA is well known in our house for her amazing backrubs...here Mimi is getting worked on!

"The big boys" and Miss Baa enjoying their dinner...we ran out of room at the table!

The rest of the gang and the birthday girl.

Mercy received yarn and kntting needles from G...here Grandmom B. is helping Mercy get started...

Taking a (much needed!) break from the knitting instruction~

Savoring those grace-drenched moments....

In our house, once daybreak dawns and the youngest 4 are allowed downstairs (7am), the day takes off with a running start. There are so many things vying for my attention during these hours: 'issues' between siblings, schoolwork, meal preparation ,laundry, house upkeep etc. Any of you who stay at home know exactly what I am referring to. I have realized also that many times throughout the day there are little 'grace filled' moments that I miss if I don't purpose in my heart to take notice and relish them. A perfect example happened one morning last week. I was finishing up my quiet time in the family room ...it was calm and still in the house. Luke and Odesco were sitting at the kitchen table together with their drawing sets in front of them. They were conversing about which colors they liked and what they liked to draw. It really was a precious moment to see these 2 who are so very different relating on their own terms and really taking an interest in one another. I just sat back and watched them...enjoying and savoring the moment because I knew it was fleeting. Soon enough, there was an 'issue' about sharing pencils and why one brother did not feel he should have to extend generosity to the other. Poof --the moment was gone that quickly but I am grateful that by God's grace He opened my eyes to appreciate the work He has done as they related to one another in that brief 'snapshot of grace'.

So, I started taking pictures of these 'snapshots of grace' to remind myself that indeed God is at work in our midst. Trust me, it is all too easy for my sinful heart to fall into unbelief during the abundance of 'issues' that occur in just one 24 hour period. My heart is so prone to wander and stray and to plow ahead without taking notice of His handiwork among us.
Enjoy these snapshots of grace!!
Mama B.

For her birthday from C, Mercy received 3 cool Addy puzzles that can be placed inside an antique looking frame and displayed on her dresser... Here G and P were helping her out as she willingly shared her newly opened gift :)

L goes in for the squeeze...these 2 are always all over each other!

Thankfully, this was a happy moment!

Odesco is practicing his newly acquired reading skills with C~

One of my joys in homeschooling is the interaction the older boys have with their younger siblings...I'm so grateful they are together most of the time and have opportunity to build their relationships. Many days are accentuated with 'opportunities' (aka: conflict!) -that's why this is a 'snapshot of grace'!!

One early morning I could hear the 4 little ones giggling upstairs. It was still dark and they came downstairs. "Mercy" was shuffling over to me in a strange way but I didn't think twice since she loves to be dramatic...imagine their delight when they realized they had duped me!! Odesco had donned Mercy's clothing and sleep cap and because of the dim light and my still foggy morning brain, I didn't realize it wasn't her!! They had such fun laughing about this all day!!

During the school day Odesco and L were keeping themselves busy drawing airplanes...they did this without any prompting from mom :)

L's artistic skills continue to emerge~
this in itself is a 'snapshot of grace' because the Lord has given him his own little niche to develop and grow in. In light of Odesco's natural athletic inclinations, this is God's kindness to our' little man', L

Weightlifting in the basement. The older boys and Daddy include L and Odesco in their excursions to the basement for 'male bonding'!! Can you see his bulging muscles???

This gang was having such a jubilant time together I couldn't get one picture with them all looking at the same time !! On Sunday we had the joy of keeping the L girls while their parents went to the local airport to meet their newest addition to the family through the miracle of adoption---6 year old "Sweetpea." Everyone was giddy with anticipation. I loved listening to Mercy talk about her and Odesco's homecoming...she and G giggled as they remembered how Odesco walked into a pillar as we watched before he emerged from behind the glass doors at the airport!
When you have this many children close in age together there are ample opportunities for conflict and discord. Not tonight!! This was a definite 'snapshot of grace' as Mercy and Joy were pals, Odesco, L and A enjoyed playing with army men, and E and G did their own thing and helped me in the kitchen. What a blessing it is that Mercy and Odesco are literally surrounded by church friends who also share the common bond of adoption. Growing up, I remember adoption was a bit 'taboo' and not openly spoken of. Adoption is such a part of these kiddos' world that as they were leaving to see their new sister, Joy looked at my hubby and innocently asked,"So when are you going to bring home another one?!"

Bedtime prayers and the state of my heart....

From the mouth of Mercy tonight," Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that we did not have a 'tomato' today...I pray for my tru-tru ma that you would give her all the food she needs and that she would walk in your ways. Amen" ... Precious words and a door into her heart that I almost missed.

On a typical day, by the time the kiddos are tucked into bed and ready for prayers, I will admit I am spent and selfishly ready to get on with 'my agenda'. After I read to them and Mark prays with them , they will often call for me to come back upstairs and pray for them. Sadly, my heart often feels inconvenienced as I have been 'on duty' much of the day. What an opportunity it is to pray with faith for their future and to pray about the things that are dear to or heavy on their hearts. Tonight for Mercy, it was relief that a 'tomato'(tornado!!) did not occur--they heard the warning posted for several hours this evening and both Mercy and L were struggling with fear. Mercy has also been thinking often of her Liberian Ma as the past 2 evenings she has prayed for her...when it is my turn to pray, I also lift up her Ma but I try to follow her lead and only bring it up when she seems to open the door to talk about it. Oh how I need His grace to not miss precious opportunities because of my own sinful heart.

Tonight I am grateful for fresh conviction and praying that He would grant me grace to die to myself...even at the end of a tiring 'opportunity filled' day :)
MamaB

Soccer Time...

This fall, all 6 kiddos played on our homeschool soccer teams. P, C, and G, were all on separate teams and L, Mercy and Odesco(Jenkins too!!) all played together. I was designated as one of the 3 assistant 'coaches'for the 'littles' team...a title my older boys thought was quite amusing :) I truly enjoyed these 6 weeks of watching our kiddos play. Unfortunately, because the others were all on various fields, I had to sneak a peek and get a glance of the other 3 in action from a distance. The wonderful thing about HS soccer is it all happens in one place, on one afternoon. A logistical dream for many a homeschool mom--especially for those of us with children in 4 different levels!!
Enjoy this little taste of fall !!
mamaB

This was typical L...he wore his camouflage hat to every practice and game!

L, Jenkins, and Odesco had such fun playing on the same team~

Mercy and Felicia with some soccer friends after a game...
these girlies were so content to just sit and play...quite a contrast to the boys---

The rumble& tumble boys after the game! These guys just couldn't keep their hands off of each other...

Thankfully there were no injuries but we moms called it quits before there was any blood!

Mercy and our friend Hope's daughter. We were so surprised to see her here...her team actually played C's!!

P...growing up before our eyes!

Sweet G really enjoyed soccer this year and will be playing this winter on the Salao indoor soccer league.

A special treat! Daddy took off work early to see the kids play!

C in action...--From a distance, I could always spot C with his cool socks and baseball cap!

Silly boys... just monkeying around after the game~

Fun with the Kachs...

The kids had a ball while MamaK and her hubby headed away for an overnight of solitude. Fall is in the air now and this morning we were greeted with temperatures we have not felt in quite some time. The kids anxiously awaited the clock turning 9 so that they could go play baseball in the yard...it wasn't easy to convince them that our neighbors might like to sleep in on a Saturday morning :) At exactly 9am the back door opened and the kids eagerly spilled out into the yard....seconds later they were racing back in the door, scurrying for long pants, hats, scarves and gloves!! Fall is here! After baseball, leaves were raked and piled high for jumping and then everyone was back in for hot chocolate! The bikes and basketballs also got their fair share of use today as did a few board games and the bin of dress up clothes. Big Sis J was especially excited to come for a visit because she had planned a dinner menu for Friday night and came with a full bag of ingredients. She prepared a special cookie dessert, a yummy peanut snack and delicious soup. She worked with Mercy and G and of course Miss Felicia was in the mix as well!!
Last Saturday, the Kachs bravely took on all 6 of our kiddos at 7:30am so that M and I could attend an all day homeschool conference. What a blessing it is to have friends who we feel totally at ease entrusting our children with. The kids love being together and I'm so glad Jenkins, Felicia, Mercy, and Odesco have a "Liberian connection" right here in our own town, church, homeschool, coop etc. It amazes me to consider yet again how the Lord led our 2 families down the very same path at the very same time.... What amazing grace!
With a full heart,
MamaB.

After lunch on Friday, the boys played baseball in the back yard...I think their unofficial goal was to see how many balls they could hit into the neighbor's yard!!

The Kach kids were 'delivered' before lunch and after finishing up with school we headed to a friend's house for a few hours. The kids had a ball on this tree swing...I was a little apprehensive but thankfully there were no injuries!!

Hanging on for the ride!!

Not everyone was allowed to jump off the platform onto the swing...but Felicia was a happy camper when the girls put her on the swing and pushed her from the ground. This little girl has a personality to match her adorable cuteness! She does this happy little bouncy skip when she is keeping up with the big kids. In the house I overheard her calling L, Odesco and Jenkins ," Come on dudes let's play in the basement!!" She kept us smiling :)

The girlies...future homemakers and loving the practice preparing snacks and dinner :) I loved not having to think about a meal!

The gang enjoying J's delectable dinner!! (Minus the big boys who enjoyed the afternoon and dinner at their friend's house.)

Bedtime...NOT!! We set a cushion up on the floor with blankets for Felicia however she wanted to be with the big girls....so here she is---she chattered for quite a while before dozing off...she is such a little "belonger"!!

The boys were a little put out that they did not get downstairs sleeping privileges like the girls but they settled in just fine :)

It's become a tradition whenever we have a sleepover...chocolate chip whole wheat pancakes for breakfast...kind of an oxymoron, huh??

The kiddos in their warm weather attire... quite a contrast from their summer clothes above!

Ahhh, nothing like hot cocoa on a brisk day!!

Some sweet moments with a sweet boy...

A few nights ago before bed, Odesco was lamenting that he never gets to sleep in our bed but L has. Now if Odesco senses any inequity in food distribution or privileges, he is the first to voice his opinion that,"Life is just not fair!!" I explained that L has been in our bed (infrequently!!) but it was due to his recovery after his surgery ( almost a year ago!) or a bad dream. Also, because L sleeps on the top bunk, I can not safely get him back up the ladder in the middle of the night when both of us are groggy. I assured Odesco that if he had a bad dream or is sick in the night, I would come and pray with him and make sure he was okay. I think all of this was brought up because he had a cold and was not feeling so great. Several hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, M and I were awakened by Odesco's persistent hacking. I got up and fixed his pillows, trying to help quell the coughing spells but it was to no avail. Finally I went in and told him to come downstairs with me since he couldn't sleep and we didn't want the rest of the clan awake at 2am . I gave him some cough medicine and let him sip some cold Sprite with a straw (a huge treat!!) as we snuggled under a blanket together on the recliner. Since he couldn't settle down right away he read some easy readers to me. At one point he sweetly told me to lean forward so he could scratch my back and keep me awake... totally melted my heart :) This is what the kiddos do to keep me awake during read aloud time...the longer Mommy can read, the longer they get to stay up :)!! Eventually we both fell asleep. It was a sweet time of bonding with him ...the Lord orchestrated the only time in the day when I would have special undistracted, uninterrupted 1:1 time with him. I think it was just what our little man needed to fill his heart and it was so good for my mommy heart as well. Though I was bleary eyed the next day, it was well worth it and Odesco is now fully recovered from his cold. Of course the next morning there were rumblings about Odesco getting to stay up with mommy sipping Sprite. Later he and I had a little chat about not gloating and provoking others to be tempted to jealousy.... 'Opportunities' sure do abound in the B household!!
This is a very belated post because we celebrated Odesco's 5th birthday on September 18th...Grandmom and Pop-Pop B and Mimi and Pop Pop Doyle came on Friday for a special celebration. Due to all the hubub I actually forgot to get a picture of all the grandparents with the birthday boy.... he loved all the attention and was quite pleased to receive gifts! He has grown so much in the past few months and is now almost as tall as G. Odesco is enjoying the first weeks of Kindergarten and is doing quite well with his reading, handwriting, and math skills. I think the 'osmosis' factor is at work here and I am grateful for all the teaching he has observed with the others because he seems to be 'getting ' it very quickly!! Well, I need to get upstairs to read aloud to the littles...oh, I'm looking forward to that back scratch!!!
Thanks for checking in!!
Love,MamaB

Everyone was up bright and early (even our late riser, C) to greet Odesco on his special day! Odesco's one gift request was for "Medieval guys"since he loves to play with L's set...he received quite a few of these and he and L have been staging battles ever since!

Mercy was so excited about this drawing set that she had picked out for Odesco...she told me a few months ago about her plan to get this for him so he could be like L with a set of his very own.

We were able to redeem some coupons the kids were given from the local library for free dessert at Applebees to finish off Odesco's birthday celebration.

The gang.. we actually could all sit together in this enormous booth :)!

Friday's celebration:Flat Stanley came home after his cross country adventures with Mimi and Pop-Pop.

Mimi made Odesco a Spiderman cake at his request~

And of course, no visit with Pop-Pop is ever complete without at least one game of UNO!