Welcome to OZ?

Piercing screams echoed through our home yesterday at 4:26pm-screams that could only be produced by two very excited sisters over a call hoped for but not completely expected for our new little actress (although she’s been preparing for this role since birth, just like her big sis). This same scream was reproduced exactly 3 minutes later as a second call rang through on our phone line, this time for our original Drama Queen. What was the excitement? Both Mo and DQ had auditioned for The Wizard of Oz on Sunday afternoon and received their callbacks! Mo was called back for the part of a Munchkin and DQ for the Cowardly Lion or the Wicked Witch of the East.
Tonight, I am sitting in the lobby of the local theater, finishing the 4th hour of waiting for the girls at that callback. I have completed 3 Sudoku puzzles, one crossword, studied my A&P, did my reading for micro and played a doodle game with Mo for quite a while. The noise level is intense making conversations nearly impossible and the internet connection is intermittent, so I’m out of things to do. Hmm, I think I might start screaming myself, only not from excitement.
In all my years of dreaming what life with my own kiddos would be like, I never quite pictured it this way. I expected to sit on hard bleachers at ball games or meets or even sweltering in the heat while watching a practice. I knew I would spend a large amount of time in my van chauffeuring the kids from one activity to another. But, I didn’t think it would come in the form of both girls acting. Granted, I know their personalities and know how dramatic they both can be (you only have to tell them to clean their rooms or unload the dishwasher once to see that for yourself), but I don’t think I actually expected them to both make it successfully in a large-scale youth theater, especially with singing parts. I am their mother and singing is not really a natural talent in our family despite our love of music. But my plans are not God’s plans and certainly my ways are not His. Thank you God for exceeding my plans and my ways for them.
Oh, and Girls, go break a leg=)

It's Official, She's a High Schooler

Can she really be old enough to start High School? Where did the time go and how did one haircut and a new outfit age her enough to actually look like a Freshman?!?!?! I think an even more important question is how am I old enough to have a child in high school? Didn't I just graduate?
Questions aside, I am so proud of her and the woman she is becoming. It is with great anticipation and with more than a little trepidation that today I released her to not only go to public school, but to high school. I know she will do well and that she has a strong mind and strong character to handle it. We are both continuing to learn to "Trust in the Lord" in all things, and I am certainly trusting Him with this. I am so excited to to see her grow in this new adventure and especially in His grace as a Child of God! I love you, DQ!

Back to School in a New Way

With my going back to school and a few other changes in our family right now, I'm sure it won't come as much of a surprise that we have enrolled the kids in public school again this year. They are unbelievably excited, although the younger two do have some hesitations about not being at home this year for school. For me it's been a bumpy journey to come to the place where I'm ready to send them. I was hoping to feel more confident about this decision, but I'm not. I know they will be fine and that I can trust God with the results and that He cares for them infinitely more that I could ever. However, I have a passion for their education that makes me more than a little concerned over what they will receive while attending public school. So, prayers are much coveted during this time of transition for us. My prayers for them are that they will take with them the conscience that we have taught them with God's spirit guiding their choices.
Nevertheless, today was a very exciting and happy day for the Hunter clan as Mo began 2nd grade and Mijo started 5th! They love their teachers and have reunited with some old friends as well as started laying down the bridgework for some new ones. I'm looking forward to knowing their teachers and friends better as well as helping in their classrooms, but I'm not sure how to handle all the time at home while they are at school. Do I finish my curtains first, catch up on some reading, finish my quilt, or take a nap?!?!?! LOL=)

A Long Awaited Break

After a long year of hard work with school for the kids and I, we finally got a bit of a break when my parents treated us to a trip to the Oregon Coast in Brookings, OR. We spent 5 days there and enjoyed every minute of it, especially when the sun broke out on 2 afternoons and the temperature warmed to about 80 degrees. I never thought this Phoenician would be so glad for a warm summer day, but when most days' high was only in the low 50's with fog and or a piercing, icy wind (notice all the sweatshirts and long pants in these pictures?), 80 degrees was heavenly! Beyond that, Grammy, Poppy, the kids and I had a blast exploring tide pools, splashing and fishing in the surf, and taking long walks in the sand. Nothing beats the smell of the ocean and the beautiful sunsets. I always leave the coast wanting more and anxiously awaiting our next trip.

Mijo's big catch-a surf perch

It took a lot of teamwork to get this kite off the ground

Mo caught this starfish while fishing for smelt. We think it was unable to hang onto the rocks because of its injured appendage when she accidentally hooked it.


A harbor seal fishing for the same smelt we were.


I was cold...very cold.