Created for Care and more!!

I have no idea what God is up to.  Several months ago, I saw a post on another blog about an adoptive mom's retreat in February.  I sent my friend, Robyn, a Facebook message and told her we should go.  Without hesitation...she was in!  We have dreamed about doing something like this since I moved away...and I am still in shock that it is really going to happen...and I couldn't be more excited!  I think God's timing is perfect (it ALWAYS is) for both of us to have some time to just hang out and talk with each other and new friends...get this.... ALL about ADOPTION!!  YIPPY!!!  Mike thinks I am not going to have a voice after the weekend...oh well!  It will be so worth it!

I just took a look at the breakout sessions...and they all look amazing!!  So check it out....Created for Care Retreat! I can't wait to see what God has planned for me!  And don't you just love the t-shirt designed just for the retreat??  If you would like to purchase one..just go here.

And then just a few weeks later, I will be traveling to Illinois for another adoption/orphan conference.  Do you think God might be up to something with all of this?  And 2011 is just gettin' started!! 

I Don't Want to Waste It!

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating 2010...where, oh where, did this past year go??  James 4:14 says that we are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Our lives are short!  We don't know what tomorrow holds...but thankfully I do know the one that holds tomorrow!

2010 was a great year for the Harris family...our oldest member turned 40 and our oldest son turned 13.  We saw God's provision for our family in ways we never expected.  We were able to witness the miracle God performed with our friend's son as they brought him home from China and got him the care he needed.  We saw the beauty of sunsets at the beach with our parents and friends.  We saw God continue to bless our church and grow us through that ministry.  We had sweet fellowship with God as we walked down an unknown road to learn more about orphans in the US.  We saw God open doors  for us to visit homes all over the South and see Him at work.  We committed to walk in obedience to whatever God calls us to do in 2011...whatever!

But as we start a fresh new year....I am reminded how quickly this one will pass if we are not intentional about each day we are given.  If you continue to read on in James, you will see that he says we are to commit each day to the Lord's will.  Not ours.  God's will.  And I love the last verse "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  (James 4:17)

So my question for myself and for you is...what is it that you know you ought to do...but you are not doing it....that you need to get rid of in your life...or start doing??

You don't want to waste your life!

Whatever 2011 holds for my life and for our family...I pray that will bring God glory...that it will stretch us and push us closer to our Father...that we will fall more in love with each other and with Him.

So 2011....bring it! 

....just came across this video and loved it!  John Piper nails it!  Happy New Year, my friends!

Merry Christmas!

Teach me your way, O Lord,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;

You have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

Psalm 86:11-13

Graham H. Grade 7/8

OK...this just makes my brain hurt...but here it goes.  I wanted (for my own records) to make a list of what I hope Graham accomplishes between the third week of August and January.

When I first started homeschooling 4 years ago...I only used Sonlight!  I still LOVE Sonlight and all that it has to offer...and would certainly recommend it to anyone!  However, over these years, I have been adding to Sonlight and really developing my own curriculum based on the strengths/weaknesses of my children....as well as their interests!  We gotta keep it interesting around here, right!

So here it goes (you have been warned!!)

Bible:  Bible Study Sampler from Sonlight
           Live Like a Jesus Freak: Spend Today as if it were your last

History:  Story of the World Volume 3 along with the tests

Reading:  (not in any order)  getting all of these from our local library!
1. Maniac Magee
2.  Year of the Impossible Goodbyes
3. Peter the Great
4.  Amos Fortune, Free Man
5.  Stowaway
6.  Betsy and the Emperor
7.  Streams to the River, River to the Sea
8.  Only the Names Remain:  The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears
9.  I am David
10.  Nory Ryan's Song

We will be doing "unit study/novel study" type activities with each book to reinforce comprehension and vocabulary.  I have been spending many nights on the computer looking for ideas to download.  If you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know!

Science:  Physical Science Abeka 9 (bought this used...really cheap...hope it is good!)

English:  Finish Rod and Staff English 6 book, worksheets, and tests

Math:  Saxon Algebra 1 with Dive CD

Additional Language Arts:  Analogies 1 and Wordly Wise 3000 Book 8 (both purchased from Sonlight)

Competitive Robotics Team:  Computer class via Stanford University- cs106A (no college credit, though)
Weekly meetings to discuss class and assemble robot for competitions.

Piano and Guitar Lessons

I sure hope I am not leaving any holes or gaps in his studies.  If any of you see or know how I might add anything we are lacking, PLEASE leave me a comment!

Hope your head is not hurting too bad after reading all of this!  Blessings, Leigh Ann

Every Family Needs One

That's right...every family needs one of these....someone who loves the Lord and then loves his family, who is level-headed, who is loving and gentle, who doesn't easily jump to conclusions....

who makes wise decisions for our family, who is compassionate, who is loyal, who works hard, who knows how to relax and have fun.....

Our family is beyond blessed to have this man in our lives!
We love you, Daddy!

The Crafty One

Meet Grace.  Certainly The Crafty One in our family.

Usually her crafts involve a big mess of paper, glue, paint, play-dough, scissors, markers, etc....but lately these very simple, very clean, very neat friendship bracelets have caught her attention.

You will most often find her doing exactly this....and lovin' it!

I sure am glad there's one crafty one in this family!