And then he was 12...

Isaac turned 12 on the 26th!!! I almost have two full blown teenagers!Grandma's homemade cakes. Always a hit. Alex & Colleen got their pie as well. Sans butter. Ask Colleen. ;0)That is Shandy the new addition at the grandparents' home. I think he wore her out! I know she wore out our dog, Phoebe. Isaac is a sweet and precious fella...and a big pest (a dominant Corcoran trait). That is Shandy again-going into Colleen's hair.

Is it genetic or environmental? Age old quandary. A more serene moment in the week.

Honorable mentions!

My Dad turned 79 on the 24th! For his birthday he got to go to the hospital with a blood clot in his lung. Oh the fun.

Breanna turned 18 on the 22nd! She is like family so she gets to go in the blog. :0)

A fine time was had by all.

I do hope you all had a LOVELY Thanksgiving. Don't we have much for which to thank our Lord?! Even if your holiday did not look like a Norman Rockwell painting- the Lord has offered you eternal life thru His Son's death for you on the cross. It doesn't get any better, friends.

Political Activism-1

We heard Gov. Sarah Palin speak today. Wow! She is every bit as good as Obama on the stage. I was very impressed with what we heard. Very. Finally. Most of it anyway. She talked about balancing the budget in 4 years. FOUR. And she ended with a strong push to take care of disabled/handicapped children. Now I wish we had gone to hear Barack Obama last week as well. Great experience. Easy to get there, park and get out. Wow! 

The unprepared Boy Scout. It was cold out in the clouds and wind. Brrr.


Jaime and Abigail Schechter went with us. Hubby Andrew picked up the tickets yesterday and Abigail got us VIP entrance due to having a stroller. Thanks Abigail!!!  Note the freezing Alexes who did not bring a jacket or sweatshirt. Brr again!

People were hootin and hollerin most of the time. It was very energetic. The opening band was the Bellamy Brothers. They were good. It was country music though. Not very multi-culturally sensitive. Felt sorry for the brothers that were there.

What a neat experience. Isn't homescholing great? We got to GO TO government class today. Hands on Learning!

Quick Updates

Hello All!

Today Alex and I and another Alex go to the Creation Museum, then run by the Boy Scouts store. 

Then I leave for a ladies' retreat where I get to lead us in prayer times- fun but scary!!!

Then Alex leaves to help cubbies on an overnight Cub Scouts camp. He gets to assist the reptile guy Saturday. You KNOW he's loving that!!!

Isaac has soccer on Saturday and he and Christopher are on their own tonight. Well, Phoebe will be with them. :0) Maybe they'll go to the double feature at the drive-in with the neighbor. Maybe stay in for pizza and a movie? Who knows. I am sure junk food will be involved!

KINDA nervous about Alex's first overnight in the big huge tent with NO ONE that we know. Will he be safe? Will he be nervous? Will he be a good and responsible helper? Will....

Praying Psalm 27 last night and tonight. 

1The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear? 
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When evil men advance against me 
       to devour my flesh, 
       when my enemies and my foes attack me, 
       they will stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army besiege me, 
       my heart will not fear; 
       though war break out against me, 
       even then will I be confident.

 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, 
       this is what I seek: 
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD 
       all the days of my life, 
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD 
       and to seek him in his temple.

 5 For in the day of trouble 
       he will keep me safe in his dwelling; 
       he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle 
       and set me high upon a rock.

 6 Then my head will be exalted 
       above the enemies who surround me; 
       at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; 
       I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; 
       be merciful to me and answer me.

 8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" 
       Your face, LORD, I will seek.

 9 Do not hide your face from me, 
       do not turn your servant away in anger; 
       you have been my helper. 
       Do not reject me or forsake me, 
       O God my Savior.

 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, 
       the LORD will receive me.

 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; 
       lead me in a straight path 
       because of my oppressors.

 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, 
       for false witnesses rise up against me, 
       breathing out violence.

 13 I am still confident of this: 
       I will see the goodness of the LORD 
       in the land of the living.

 14 Wait for the LORD; 
       be strong and take heart 
       and wait for the LORD.

School Begins!

Alex and I begin homeschooling today. That meant getting up much earlier than usual for summertime. Isaac gets to begin his school schedule this week as well (tho he doesn't understand WHY). So I did let them sleep in until 7:30AM, but then it was up and at em! 

I am looking forward to this year. I have not had time alone with Alex for almost 12 years. I look forward to getting to know him better. Heart to heart. I pray that this year will be a time of renewal and of drawing our hearts to the Lord and each other in a deeper way. 

Of course I also want him to excel academically, but his heart and character matter more to me than just his mind. One of the challenges will be what to do with Isaac all day. :0)

If all goes well we get to go to a friend's house this afternoon. Lord willing!!!!

Oh did I mention that I still haven't figured out how to finish staining the built in book shelves- where all the homeschool stuff is supposed to go, and that Christopher left for Newark- he'll be there every week for 12 weeks? Oh well. Moving on....

The Faces of Missions

My firstborn just left for his first mission trip. I am excited for him, and a tiny bit nervous. I guess it is a mother's right. I have some picts from the team getting ready to head off to The Happy Church. 

Here is their website:  http://www.thehappychurch.org/

Let me know if you want the Hope Church Jr. High Blog address.

Great friends giving Jesus to the wounded at heart!

Can you find yourself in these picts?!

Excited Kids...

Proud Parents....

No, really, WHERE are we going to put all this stuff?!?!?!

Our fearless nurse and leader, Nina.

We are SO excited, Jesus Rocks!!!!!

Um, is that holy laughter?

GO TEAM!!!

Praying...

Leaving!

Wait, is Nick screaming something?

May God go ahead of them and with them!

Musical Instruments & Surgical Instruments

Wednesday night Alex had his last band concert school. Yea! He did a great job. You can click on the movie below to hear a few seconds of a song. When we begin homeschooling in the fall, we will have to find a musical outlet for his clarinet playing. He will continue piano lessons, of course.

Today I went to Isaac's school for the year end picnic. 20 minutes after I left he was hit in the head with a bat. needless to say, I hear, there was a lot of blood. Christopher was closer, since I was at the back of Costco, so he got to ride downtown in the ambulance. After a neighbor helped me pick up his car at school, and another neighbor picked up Alex, I drove downtown, through Memorial Day Friday traffic, and arrived just in time for the stitches.

Now I am of the belief that a hole has to be gaping before it warrants stitches. Really gaping. When I saw that the hole was deep enough for a quarter to go inside, I accepted that he truly needed stitches. Poor guy. Isaac handled it REALLY well. Usually I make Christopher take him for all shots because he screams so loudly that he becomes glassy eyed and incoherent. Thank the Lord for the prayer cover over him. I believe that alone enabled him to be so calm and tough.

It doesn't look like much now, they did a great job sewing him up...

So, I've been inundated with instruments of sorts the last couple of days. May I be an instrument of righteousness and glory for the Lord!