Well, so much for my good intentions of writing more on here! The summer is flying by much to quickly. Especially the last month or so, with my aunt and cousins being here.
Hmm, I'm wondering what to share.
We took the kids to Science City this week, where I tried to overcome my fear of heights by riding the bike balanced on a tight rope (need I mention there was a good four hundred pounds of bricks strapped to the underside of the bike?). It really wasn't bad at all, being there was also a net underneath in case I got the harebrained idea to see if I could get the bike to flip for me. Keeping my full skirt from getting tangled in the pedals kept me to busy to come up with anything unusual or crazy to do.
With my uncle being Jewish (he married my mother's sister, in case you are wondering, since some people have commented "That would make you Jewish too.". That would be lovely, but is, sadly, not true) , the kids wanted to do a Shabbat tonight, complete with the prayers in Hebrew. We did one with them many years ago, so it should be fun to refresh my memory on some of the traditions. I've always found it all interesting, but my friends/family who are Jewish seem to never know a whole lot out side of the basic.
Oh, and Ronny (our Israeli friend) came back "home" for a visit and brought his new girlfriend to meet us. lol. I guess he considers us poster children for homeschooling.
My aunt is all into Bob Dylan at the moment, so she bought one of his cds for our listening pleasure. I can't speak for Bethany (who isn't much for bluegrass/folk in the first place and was stuck in the car today with us and his music), but I am really enjoying some of his songs! Anyone else a Dylan fan out there?
Lili has decided she wants to take us home with her, which is the cutest. She decided that the bakery wins over Paris (which they visited earlier this year when my uncle was over there for business), where she originally wanted to move when she was 18. Who can compete with bake goods and cool cousins? Well, the cool cousins is debatable, but she seems to think we are so.
Being competitive can be a good thing. I managed to convince the kids of doing the library reading program and it turned into a competition for the two boys. The last list was totally filled up, all twenty places.
I've started writing a story, something I haven't done since high school. I'm sure it won't be anything special, nor will any of you see it , but it is such fun to think up. Makes me wish I were truly amazing at writing.... But, then it wouldn't be something I had to work at, so I probably wouldn't appreciate it.
If you could have one gift, one amazing talent, what would it be?
And, on a totally different note, what is grace to you? The question has been bouncing around in my head since Sunday morning.

We have water again! Our pressure started acting up (we are on well water) on Monday night when I was trying to take a shower (so I kept hollering at the boys to shut off the other water, since you can't run the washer machine or water animals when someone wants to shower), but they didn't have water on. So, that started the fun of trying to figure out why we had pressure for about two minutes, then it would dry up for several minutes, before we would get another two minutes of water, only to not have water again for a while, and so on.
One of the guys from church came by and recommended a plummer, which wound up being a blessing, since then we found out that one of the pipes leading to a hydrant that is no longer in exsistance was rusted out. Another church member lent us a back hoe (or something of that sort. Don't ask me! Its big) to dig up the drive way. Now, we have a huge muddy pile, but at least we have running water again. (I could do four minute showers in Australia, but two minute showers????) Its funny how you take something so common and seemingly small for granted until you no longer have it in abundance. Kind of like other things in life...

Wow, were has the last month and a half gone? Where is 2008 going, for that matter? Life is sheer madness at the moment. I don't know why I'm even trying to write about it.... Busy doesn't even begin to describe it! What was it Danielle said about her life lately? Ants rushing in and out of the anthill? Sounds like a apt description. Something I can relate too...
I guess the biggest news is that Luke is graduating from high school. So, its been a mad rush to get his announcements out in time (since he isn't as motivated when it comes to writing. Obvious by his xanga), with his open house the first Sunday of next month. (June. Lets not talk about that!) I took his senior pictures and decided that it would probably be best to take a class or something before I try that again. lol. It was a good learning experience. Like, be sure not to cut his spiky hair out. lol. In my dreams, I am a great photographer.
Dad has been out of town a lot, between work and then helping Uncle Dan, who recently had a kidney transplant.
There is so much I wish I could put into words, but I won't try at the moment, since Luke needs the computer. I will say that I found it is better to open your heart to love, whether it be in the romantic sense or friendship, and run the risk of getting hurt in the process. Its much better to have loved and learned from that person, even if you get hurt when you lose them in the end.