"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of the little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles until death."

~Thomas Paine

Thomas Jefferson

1. Never put off until to tomorrow what you can do today.
2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3. Never spend your money before you earn it.
4. Never buy what you don't want just because it's cheap.
5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6. We seldom repent for eating too little.
7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8. How much pain the evils have cost us that have never happened.
9. Take things always by the smooth handle.
10. When angry, count to ten before you speak; when very angry, count to one hundred.

Samuel and Meg

Poor "Machoo"

While Hansie and I were having piano lessons yesterday, Matthew cut his foot on a sharp tin can lid in the laundry room. The blood began to pour out of it, and he hurried to the bathroom the take care of it. Joe found a trail of blood from the laundry room to the front bathroom, and told Momma and Daddy. Momma found him trying to take care of his cut himself. There was a lot of blood on the floor. She had him remove the bandaids he had put on it, so she could have a look. She had him wash his foot since he had been walking all over the backyard barefoot, blood continued to gush out. After quickly drying, they put pressure on it. Daddy carried him to the couch and that's where he was read to, had dinner,watched a couple movies, slept, and waited. The bleeding was controlled as long as he kept still and kept his foot elevated. The few times he was carried to the restroom, it started the process all over again. Matthew's cut was hard on Momma, (but especially since Daddy had to leave after dinner for work for the next couple of days). Daddy had made the decision to not get stitches,but as time went on we wondered if Matthew should have had them. Momma remembered when she had cut her hand,and she had gone to get stitches they gave her the option of either stitches or super glue. We also remembered that Mrs. Van Cleve has used super glue with several of her children, so Momma called her for more details. Then we did a Google search "using super glue on cuts". We found that it had been designed for the military to use on their wounds out on the battle field! Around eleven P.M., after another trip to the restroom and more bleeding, Momma decided to use the it. It seemed to help. Around 12:00 A.M. Momma prayed with him again and snuggled him in on the couch to sleep. Momma relaxed in the recliner next to him reading, keeping a close eye on him until 4:00 A.M, (she hadn't planned on being up that late, even though she was very concerned, but was enjoying her book and couldn't see the clock and time got away from her). After waking this morning, Matthew carefully walked on his heel to his room, and the bleeding began again! Momma told him he'd have to be on the couch today. So I plan to read to him a lot and try to make him comfortable.

Joe was explaining to Lydia how pythons squeeze animals and people to death. Lydia added, "Yeah, they're so rude, they stick their tongues at you!"

Vivaldi

Last September, when our family was on a road trip, we were listening to a Vivaldi CD. Lydia was looking at the case and asked one of us who it was. We told her it was the person who wrote the song we were listening to. After looking at it for a few more seconds, she asked, "Is that his wife?!"

Starting School

Our family will be officially starting school on Monday. I'm going to be doing math, English, some science, penmanship, writing my story (which is English, writing, reading, spelling, grammar, typing, computer science, history, geography, and social studies =), music (piano, recorder, tin whistle, and violin!), reading, writing, gardening, helping with teaching the younger children (I guess that counts as school =) training Reagan, and I'm going to do a lot more cooking this year. So, although it's not too much "book learning"=), I'm going to be busy!

Starting Piano Lessons Today!

Weekend with the Hainlines

This past weekend, we have had a wonderful time with the Hainline family. They were here Friday night until nine o'clock this morning (Tuesday). I don't want to say too much as I know Laura is going to be doing a long post about our time together.=)

Here's a few pictures.

Saturday-

Making a picnic lunch for Birch Bay

Playing Empire

"My name is 'Eric the Red'"

We had a full kitchen with nine girls helping with the meals!

Looking at pictures

Cutting up peaches

Faith

Playing with Reagan

"Hello!"

Monday night, the guys offered to do the dishes.

Lydia having fun taking pictures with John H's camera

"Please, Please, Please, can I join the party inside? I'll be good!"

Everyone's purity rings around the outside and the parents rings in the middle.

Dramatic photography=)

Playing Concentration

Going on a walk

Our First Tomato!

Lydia wanted to pose with all the vegetables we picked together.