Basketball and Burial

The beginning of March found us a couple hours from home at a homeschool basketball tournament. Our games started Thursday at 8:30a.m. and lasted through Saturday afternoon.

Mature Miss graced the court a few minutes as a sub, but mostly enjoyed watching her teammates play tough. They placed 5th out of 8 teams in the Jr High Girls A Bracket.

Our Young Man got a little more playing time during his 3 games, even popping off a shot or two. He is more of a nimble, intense player... after he admires the fancy shoes of all the ball players! ("You know, the guy with the such & such brand and certain colored sneakers on?" "Um, no...didn't notice that, I guess.") The Jr High boys also placed 5th.

Their 1st year playing as 7th & 8th graders has been a little rough in regards to adolescence, comparing skill levels, and fitting in. However, our whole family enjoyed the interaction with the other team families at games and at this end of the season Hurrah.

Pizza party and two nights at a motel with a pool makes everyone happy! And if your friends are there...double delight! The littles got in several times throughout the course of our stay, and even the big kids swamped the hot tub the second night. Never mind that it was not heated and out of order! 

They learned a fun new game called link and generally congregated in the courtyard to enjoy each other's company.

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I regret to type that a few days before the big tourney we experienced another miscarriage. Just 6 months after our 4th little boy arrived too soon to survive. For some strange reason we had chosen not to tell our children about this pregnancy, and so it wasn't quite as devastating for them, initially.

At the risk of being misunderstood, I'm showing a picture of our miniature Titus Accepted fully developed around 11 or 12 gestational weeks. We have seen all 5 of our miscarried babies, cords, and placentas. We are still puzzled why we continue to experience this, but greatly reverence God's miracle of birth and just how perfectly He forms each soul in the womb.

We placed tiny Titus under the ground in the canopy of the cedar trees. Waiting for the day when we will meet him and see him as God designed him to be. 

It's been a sad time for us, 

but we rest in knowing God will work it all out each faith step of the way.

Fleeting February

Roses to adorn the bedroom mantle.

A Valentine surprise brought home to me from hubby!

Worship banquet with fellow homeschoolers.

Soups, salads, and cookies to decorate, following singing with guitar accompaniment and a devotion entitled "The Fire of God". Plus plenty of time to chat and play ball on the court.

Big C went on a date with her daddy to the Kansas Bluegrass Association event in the nearby big city. She played a song in the Junior Showcase and has been fiddling away ever since (though she loses her sheet music binder quite a bit)!

The occupyings of young active minds...bedroom revamped into a pretend clothing store.

Sledding after the snowfall.

We received a couple of good snowfalls at the end of the month close together. 

 Flipping Saturday breakfast sourdough cranberry muffins.

(We avoid heating the mammoth oven too frequently by "baking" on the griddle.)

Other things that happened in February

Riley emptied his animal freezer and sold to the fur buyer for an end of season clean-out.

He also took the driving test and now has a farm permit allowing him to drive all by himself!

All five children were down with fever, sore throats, etc. for more than half the month. We missed some Bible studies, basketball games and practices...but did make it to a couple pizza parties and overnighters.

We rested and sipped lots of steaming tea

.......in February!