Could it be???

Could it be???

Check out later for the update...

Don't you just love these guys?

Nature Study

"Nature Study" Photo by Julie Ann Paine

I added a watercolor effect to a photo of RaeElise and Reese discovering treasures at the seashore while we were at Whidbey Island last weekend. I just love the shadowing

and the pink sky...priceless little people doing what they do best...

Sonja update

I am Sonja's older sister, Kristina, and I would like to let you know how she is doing. I spoke with her for the first time yesterday, since she had entered the Women's center. As she had just come out of her two week, "blackout" period. We had a fifteen minute phone call, as was her allotted time. And I am happy to let everyone know, that she is doing excellent! She hadn't sounded this happy in years, literally. I can sense already a dramatic change in her, like she has already experienced major break-throughs. I know that God is at work within her. I will be able to visit her this coming Sunday, as she gets to have visitors every other weekend.

I would personally like to thank everyone who has prayed for Sonja, and who have given of their finances to help support her. Please be assured that her life is being transformed, and that we are deeply appreciative of everyone's help! With warmest regards, Kristina.

Free IQ Test (This is your life, are you who you want to be?)

Take this free IQ test. Here is a tip, at the end, if you sign up for info on skin cream you can get the whole report for free! http://web.tickle.com/tests/uiq/index-pop.jsp?sid=2005&supp=search_iq_test&z

I got a 133! My intellectual type: Insightful Linguist

Report back on your scores!

Kangaroo Farm (PWO Wildest Dreams Tour)

Here are a few pictures from our trip to the Kangaroo Farm in Arlington, WA. It is an amazing place to visit. As you can see, it is much more involved than a normal peek-thru-the-cage type of zoo. My children were allowed to pet the animals and feed them grain pellets and bread. It was quite special. http://www.christmastreesandroos.com/

Holding Two Joeys (PWO Wildest Dreams Tour)

Photo by Riley Paine

Have you ever held a joey before?? Here I am at the Kangaroo Farm in Arlington, WA, holding a true to life joey...And my little joey is on my lap and another of my joeys is taking the photo! What a day out of a story book...Better than my wildest dreams could have imagined.

Rebecca Stands Alone (PWO Celebrity Profile)

Photo by Julie Paine

Out of all my kids, Becca is the one that I least worry about making it in this big, sometimes scary world. She has this amazing ability to stand alone. She is like a wireless device. Able to function without being connected directly to any power source. We call her the family generator. When she is gone, spending the night with one of her 100 friends, the house is so quiet. It is not even that she is loud...She is just a buzz of energy. She is a force to be reckoned with. She is like the sun. Glowing, sometimes extremely hot and passionate, but ultimately holding many things together in her orbit.

I do worry about her stopping to smell the roses. Blinking too fast and missing the simple pleasures. I worry that she will only see her circle of life and miss out on intercepting with the lives of others in deep and self-sacrificing ways. I worry that no one will be able to capture her heart long enough for her to forget about Becca and her dreams, and maybe make the adjustments needed to blend her life with another.

She is just so capable. And she expects so much of herself. She can't quite understand when she lets herself down...She can't quite accept defeat or personal mistakes with the grace she needs to be truly flexible and pliable. She is a bit her Dad, a bit her Grandfather, a bit her Grandmother. She is so "other" than me...Did she really come from my body? Yes, she did. And I will probably discover later in life, that she is more like me than I realize.

One of the many amazing things that I just love about Rebecca is that she still needs me. This independent, capable, stand alone girl desperately needs her mom and I am so willing and grateful to be there for her. Watching her grow into a young lady will be a delight. I feel sometimes that I am observing the expert at work. The girl who can take this growing up thing by the horns and tame it and perfect it and be like Pecos Bill, riding his tornado into adult town without a broken bone or even a bruise. She is a bit hero-esque...A girl born to do and be all that is great and wonderful. Oh, and did I mention she was mine? Excuse my pride, for just a moment, but she is one amazing little person, and I am in awe that I had anything to do with her existence.

The Busy Bee and the Artichoke(PWO Wildest Dreams Tour)

Photo by Julie Paine

Reuben the Mature (PWO Celebrity Profile)

Photo by Julie Paine

Ahh, my sweet baby boy

So quick to grow up

First born of five

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Adult company preferred

Drawn to all things older

Cups of Coffee on the weekends

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Lingering ears

Forgetting bed times

Avoiding the "kid" table

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Yearning for more

Discovering responsibility

Basking in privilege

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Siblings declare injustice

"He's so spoiled"

Separation from the pack

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Front seat priority

Lights out later

Adult meals at restaurants

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A childhood half expired

Soon the college dorm

To the alter or board room

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My Sweet baby boy

Not quite grown

Not quite ready

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My Mother's Heart

Not quite ready

Not quite broke

May I introduce Miss Charlotte Mason

Are you in need of a refreshing new curriculum for your homeschooling year? Would you like to enhance your public school student's year with a valuable supplement to his/her normal course of study? I am hosting a mini-Charlotte Mason informational meeting in my home Tuesday, August 16th from 2PM -3:30PM. Children are welcome to play in the backyard, all that I ask is that you RSVP using the comment section below or through my email Mom2th5rs@hotmail.com . I am currently following Miss Mason's methods via the AmblesideOnline Free curriculum. I am not selling anything, and have nothing to gain (accept a few friends) from this meeting. I just thought I would share what has worked wonders with my family. Check out the website before you come, if you like. www.amblesideonline.org I will have some printouts for you to take home.

Some key elements to Charlotte's teachings:

Children are not empty slates, but little people with amazing powers of reason and understanding

Narration

Nature Study

Copywork/Dictation

Art Study

Composer Study

Living Books

Handicrafts

Bible

Short lessons with attention to detail

Folksongs/Hymn Study

Ample time to play and explore

Makes-Sense-Act of Kindness (Your Chance to Make a Difference)

I received an email from a dear friend who has a dear friend in need. Do you have a stamp? Do you have a box of cards in your home? Do you live near a Hallmark or a grocery store? Come on, shock a stranger with a bit of kindness and prove to all the pessimists out there that people truly are good and loving towards their fellow humans, even when there is nothing to gain but joy.


I am writing to ask you all a big favor.

Jim, my dear friend Heidi's husband just got diagnosed with ALS. Although it's fairly early in the course of the disease, it is a devastating diagnosis. Both Heidi and Jim are in shock. (Heidi is the Heidi whom my daughter Heidi is named after...)

Jim is a gentle, loving man, adoring husband and devoted father. He's been a clinical psychologist for all of his working life and has helped countless people (especially children) with his kind, wise ways. I would love to see some of the kindness he has shared over the years come pouring back his way. Jim greatly believes in the power of humor to heal and the power of the human heart to overcome grief and life challenges.

My idea is this...If we could all mail a funny card (or two, if you feel particularly inspired) to him and a note of well wishes, I think it could do wonders for his spirit as he adjusts to the severity of the diagnosis...And the thought of the long-term limitations this disease brings as he gradually loses motor function.

His name and address is: Jim Read
5531 Lynwood Pl.
Boise, Idaho 83706

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at pattipitch@aol.com

OH...And if you like this idea, it would be totally awesome if you would pass this email around so we could rock the cyberworld a little and send a little mountain of cards to a wonderful man.

Thanks for you help!

Patti Pitcher

PS If you know them...shhh, it's a secret...

Photo source - email attachment- unknown photographer

37 Years Together (A PWO Celebrity profile)

Edwin Leo Schoolcraft married Jeanette (Jeanie) Margaret Miller

On a very hot, July 27, 1968.

They lived in King County, WA, for most of their married life.

They now live anywhere their Alpine Coach travels.

They love one another uniquely, voraciously, and comfortably.

They fight sometimes.

They disagree occasionally.

They get miffed.

But ultimately, they return to the love that brought them together.

They look upon each other with care and devotion.

They stand by one another, when no one else is around.

And they live in less than 400 sq. Feet...

Quite an accomplishment.

They love their two daughters with a powerful intensity only

mirrored by mother bears in the wild.

The kind of love that holds one hand, with fingers crossed behind his back

when promising to give them away at the alter,

hoping he won't really have to let them go.

I guess that their daughters are their common ground.

Their life's work.

And what is their paycheck?

Their retirement interest accrued?

Seven Grandchildren who worship the ground they walk on.

They all feel the great power of their love.

And each one walks in the security of their 37 years together.

Inheriting all their good,

And blinded to all their not-so-good

For all of their days.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

~Your, Julie Ann

The Man of my dreams! (A PWO celebrity profile)

Let me introduce you to the man of my dreams...Blake Allen Paine came into my life over 13 years ago and he has given me so much in such a short time. He is my biggest cheerleader, my ardent defender, my gentle critic. He keeps my feet on the ground while encouraging me to reach for the stars. He loves me so completely. In his love I can escape the demands and pressures common to every woman. I don't have to fret over whether I am the right size and shape, whether I have the right homemaking skills and the right image to present, he loves me for me. In this love, he releases me to be confident, industrious, grateful and free from all worry. He lifts me up with this love. He sees all my faults, never reminds me of my past failures, and believes the best for me, expecting to see only my good side shining forth. But when I fail, he never seems shocked or put off, he never makes mountains out of mole hills, he gently holds me as I cry and picks me up with his smile and his belief in who I am. In a word, he makes me strong. If I could, I would FedEx God a dozen long stems and a box of Godiva's for sending me this man. Our life is so full, so beautiful, so rich. I wish all women could find a man as amazing as my B. Allen. Though far from perfect, I believe he loves me perfectly. I believe that he can see the Julie that is just beyond her selfishness, her sin and her other stuff...And I can see him in the same way. I think we live in a perpetual state of Grace. When we are at our best, we truly walk in this Grace. When we are weak, it is harder, we tend to feel life's wounds more distinctly and we may lash out at the very one we cherish. Grace is tenacious...At least to us, it always returns, always shows us how to serve up a generous portion to our mate. And Blake is the five star chef of Grace souffle'. Thank you, honey. You do make me strong.

What we all seek (Ah-Ha Moment of the week)

Photo by Julie Ann Paine All rights reserved

We are all searching for two things

The perfect and the imperfect

The perfect to worship,

To adore

To dream about attaining

The imperfect to ease our minds

To comfort us

A peace in knowing we are not

Alone in our humanity

We are not alone in our struggles

~Julie Ann Paine~