Our Neighborhood

The buildings are very small and big. The people on my street are very, very, very, very nice. We have neighbors from Arizona. One neighbor, Emily, has two cats: Cheddar and Gatsby. Our other neighbor has a dog named Conny. I love our neighborhood. I also love our neighbors.

Jenny and I

Christopher had to write a compare/contrast essay for English class. Here is a typed version of his report that he did on posterboard, complete with pictures, stickers and decorations. This is just the report that he wrote:

Jenny and I

Jenny and I are very much alike. She is my sister and my friend but we fight.

We love each other. Both of us go to Calvary Church. Jenny and I are very tan. We love to eat delicious mac and cheese. We also love to swim.

I have my own room, however, she has to share a room with Bex. I am in 5th grade but she is in 7th grade. My favorite color is blue, hers is orange. I have chocolate brown eyes, she has pretty hazel eyes.

I love Jenny so much. She plays with me. She also takes care of me.

Christopher's Journal Entry 9/4/09

Uuugh!

My bad thing that happened to me was I was sitting on my back porch and fell out the window. I went to the hospital and stayed there for 2 days. My other injury was when my sister Becky hit me in the head with a bat while we were playing. God healed me and I believed more in Him ever since that happened.

The End.

Assignment was to write about a bad experience and why or how God used it in your life.

An Awesome Summer

My family went to a Bluefish game. My Grammy came down for a visit. So did my cousins. I like to go in the pool. I like to cook on the grill.

The End.

by, Christopher R. Schwarz

This was Christopher's first journal entry for Spelling this year. He was asked to write about his summer.

Slide Show of Day 1

We're BAAAAAACK

Well... we have begun... for better or worse..

On the "better" note... we do love the BJU video's and were very excited to start. The kids said they will enjoy the different teaching styles this year.

On the "worse" side... we had nothing but problems with the online streaming. One delay after another so we had to call it a 1/2 day. Spent an hour on the phone with BJU and got no resolution. Chris will have to look into why the videos' kept freezing tonight. Hope he can fix it. Very frustrating.

Today is Chris's 43rd birthday. Jenny is making him a strawberry cake right now.

From Jennifer

I am having a great summer and don't want it to end. But I am excited about Bob Jones.

From Christopher

I am having a great summer and don't really want school to start. I am happy we have Bob Jones now though. I think it will be fun.

School 2009

Well, we are wrapping up our summer fun and preparing for school to begin. This will be a different year for us than in the past few:
1. We have switched curriculum from ABEKA to Bob Jones. The kids have gotten their books and organized their school desks and love them. They don't want to necessarily start school yet because we so enjoy our time off in the summer but they will be ready when the times comes.. (Aug 24). They are excited about the switch as the BJU videos look like they will be fun along with the learning process.
2. For the past 2 years we were blessed to be in a team teaching environment giving the kids the joy of having 2 friends over every day to do school with us. I would teach 3 days here and then for 2 days, the kids would go to a friends house and she would do the teaching. We had been using DVD school for all 4 so it was do-able for us. We loved that. We will miss them but God has led us to use the BJU and she is doing ABEKA and this year she is unable to do even the DVD version without which, makes school hard to do together. We will miss that. It was amazing and a shot in the arm for both families. But... God knows what He is doing so we trust Him. I am actually excited to have just my babies with me this year. (My babies are in 7th and 5th).

While my oldest is entering her sophomore year in high school I still have my "babies" with me. I miss having Rebekah home but she is really blossoming in high school. I was a nervous wreck about sending her "out there" but wow....did God ever use her for her freshman year. I am ever thankful for her strong character and belief set.
She is right where God wanted her. She is such a joy that not having her here leaves an empty spot but since we are beginning to look at colleges I think God is preparing me AND Becky. I needed it. She is my first born and it will be hard to see her go anytime she leaves but God has really made her into a strong, strong, girl.. I admire that.

My next two... well, I guess I baby them too much.. I can't help it.. I feel truly blessed to be their mom and have them with me every day.. What a privilege.