Fort Chouinard

There's Fort Myer, Fort Knox, Fort Vancouver, Fort Stevens,  etc.

And then there's

Fort Chouinard...

                                    Engineered by clever minds

                                     Constructed by mighty hands

                                  Transportable, Adaptable

Can be torn down and built back up a thousand times over, (even if I just got through tidying up the linen closet!)
                         

(That would be the entire living room... again.)

Raising Patriots

We've always tried to do something to recognize Veteran's Day.  Parades, Memorials, Community Care Ministry Visits, sending packages of Juicy Fruit gum overseas, etc.   In the future, I'm wondering if I can do a little something for the men and women in our ARC who have served our country.   We have so many people to be thankful to for our freedom afforded to us in the US Constitution (click here to even have it translated to kid friendly documents, or the practical-simple minded like me!) and the Bill of Rights.  

In honor of Veteran's Day this year,  I bought the 3 oldest children a membership to this  Patriot's Club website that I came across.  It is only a one time fee of $12 with constantly updated material.  I'm sure I'll have to help Ann, but the boys will enjoy working at their own pace and having an excuse to use the computer.

Thank you to all the Veterans.

Thank you also to the loved ones that have stood by their side despite

all the challenges that come from being a military family.

Who Needs Blocks?

Books

This may be long, I'm sorry for that, but I have not been so good at staying up to date with my book list.

I can't believe we've already been moved for 4 months and  that the calendar pages have already been flipped to November!  Time just passes no matter how tight I try to hang on to it.

I've only unpacked about 3 boxes of books, mostly pastoral, from my Office.  Shortly after I carefully organized them on the bookshelf, the shelves collapsed.  The pile of books are now in neat stacks in front of the bookshelf.  I'm in no big hurry to get all the books straightened since we're likely moving again in 8 months.  Like every home I live in though, my nightstand has already succumbed to piles of reading material that regurlary get toppled over by little hands.   Most days, I can't even see my alarm clock!

I can get reading in very early in the morning and in the evening.  Reading also keeps my mind occupied on sleepless nights.  Once in a while I can sneak a few pages in during the day, but not that often. My parents are both avid readers, I think I got a double dose of the gene!

                               

"The Indifferent Stars Above" by Daniel James Brown.  Amazing historical novel about Donner Pass.  I loved it and could hardly put it down.  He also wrote "Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894" but that was so graphic and heartwrenching, I had to stop reading it.

"Prince Caspian" by CS Lewis.  I read this one while SO sick with pneumonia in early September.  Since then, I've also read "The Silver Chair" to keep up with what David's class is reading in school.  I cheated for Elijah's class. They were reading "Because of Winn Dixie", but I just watched the movie.  lol!

"Somebody's Brother: A History of The Salvation Army's Men's Social Service  Department, 1891-1985" This was required reading as part of our training.  I really liked this book, and the historical detail, but the type was small and there were a lot of words!  After Paul is finished with it, I'm going to read it again so that I can do my highlighting/note thing. 

"25 Basic Bible Studies: Including Two Contents, Two Realities" by Francis Schaeffer.   I used this as my Bible Study and accompanied it with Francis Shaeffer's historical/philosophical/Biblical thought  Video,  "How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture"  For a few years, I had heard several different people mention this "movie".  It is very good, thought provoking and really caused me to examine how grounded I am in God's way versus collective-society.   Am I going to live according to my convictions and understanding of God or be formed by worldly expectations?

"For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School"  by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.  (Hmmm... I just realized she shares a name with the previous guy, Francis.  I wonder if there is a relation.  I'll have to look that up.)   This will definately be added to my reference books.  The author piggy backs on Charlotte Mason's theories.  I really liked how I gleaned a lot of practical ideas and ways to naturally guide my children's learning.  I think as a whole, this book added to my understanding of how everyone learns, not just children. 

"Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction" by David Sheff  and "Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines" by Nic Sheff (David Sheff's son) both recommended by a friend/Comrade.   First of all, let me warn you that Tweak is a raunchy-real-life book.   I know I'm supposed to be all "Christian" and everything, but raunchy doesn't bother me that much, especially in the context of this book.  I learned a lot.  I preferred "Beautiful Boy" the most and really, really,  really appreciated the transparency that the author showed about his own life and his parenting.  That's how I want to be transparent- take it or leave it- some how God will be glorified.

"One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children to Change the World" by Julie Ferwerda. Recommendeed by a good friend.   This was such an easy read.  Tons of tidbits to spur ideas.  It really refreshed my own passion to raise men and women who will be comPASSIONate and pro-ACTIVE in helping others.

"The Radical Cross: Living the Passion of Christ" by A.W. Tozer. Have you read this???? I LOVED it.  I am reading it again and again and again.  I used this as a Bible Study.  This was written simply, easy to understand, and peirced my heart and understanding.  I can't wait to get my hands on more of his stuff.

Right now, I am reading a novel, "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri which I am really enjoying.  And I'm in the middle of "The China Study" by a few different authors.  I know my dear sister-n-law will be thrilled when I tell  her I read it.  It's a mind-altering, habit changing health/nutritional book which is always an interest of mine what with feeding a family and ever striving for my own health to be at it's best.  I want a strong body, plain and simple.  Even when I'm 90. 

Did you make it through to the end?  I would love to hear what others are reading.

OCTOBER 31

Snow White

                                                       Pink Fairy

                                                            Storm Trooper

                                                         Ninja

                                                       Ballerina Princess

We gave "treats" not tricks to the men and women at the ARC after Chapel service.  
Here we are below in the Dining Room assembling ourselves.

                    
                 
                
                



Posing with their pumpkins before we "harvested" candy from the neighborhood. 

                                             Mary

                                           Hannah

                                                       Ann

                                           Elijah

David

A very enjoyable day. 

"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;" 

-Psalm 24:1 

Including October 31st  ;)

Pumpkin Carving

There were several "pumpkin-patches" set up around the city.  We've been spoiled living in Oregon the last 10 years where we could go to an actual pumpkin patch complete with vines to trip over and everything.

I took the kids to a "pumpkin patch" in a Mall/Target parking lot because there were a ton of those air thingys to jump on.  I  bought the kids 15 minutes each to run around and play.  That was a lot of fun.  When we went to get our pumpkins, I found out they were at least $10 each, that's at least $50! 

So, we pumpkin hunted at Lucky's.  The selection was smaller, but the price was much bettter- I paid $12 for 5 pumpkins.  The kids all chose quickly (relief!) and were very satisfied.  We were cracking up that Mary kept calling the pumkins "apple" and was turning around in her seat to take bites out of them.  One other shopper said to me very nicely "excuse me, your baby is eating your pumpkins"  I just smiled and said "I know, I'll stop her when she gets to the last one"   

I love the smell of pumpkin carving. Along with the smell of homemade hot apple cider warming on the stove, our home smelt so autumn-ish and cozy.  I had my vanilla candles burning on the fireplace.  Later on though,  it smelt like vacuum and burning pumpkin seeds.

Mary was putting the guts back into the pumpkins faster than we could get them out.

By this point, I had to put the camera down, roll up my sleeves and get at it myself!

I'll post the finished results tomorrow. 

Alcatraz

"Deliverance must be searched for, because each man makes his own prison” -Edwin Arnold

View from the Dock of THE ROCK

We took a ferry ride to the island...

The kids enjoyed looking over rails.  I told Hannah (the orange coat under David's armpit) to look for mermaids. 

Daddy and his girls.

I asked one of the many people watching us, to take our picture. I've learned that I might as well put them to use ;)    We had a friendly conversation afterwards where their (typical) questions were answered, as others waiting to unload listened on.  ("Are they all yours?  Are you having any more?  Are you mormon? And to me-  How old are you?")  Mostly though, people will smile and tell us we have a beautiful family.  That is nice to hear :),  even if I do question it's validity!

Hannah

I didn't get a lot of Prison shots inside.  We were all wearing these audio headsets to hear the tour.  And of course, in good-old-fashioned Rachel style, I'm trying to keep everyone in the same spot of the audio tour, making sure we all push play at the same time and pause at the same time, while dodging the crowds of people around us and keeping track of Hannah (Paul had Mary in the stroller).  By the end of the tour, Ann and Hannah took their headsets off and were wanting to run around and were hungry and tired... and well, you know the list!  David, Elijah, Paul and I were in totally different spots of the audio tour, which frustrated my plan of how this was gonna go, Paul wasn't moving fast enough, and in the very crowded, but silent prison (everyone was listening to their headphones) all you could really hear was me in my loud whisper yelling, trying to control the situation... 

so I just gave up,

and it felt so very good.

View of San Francisco from Alcatraz.

We did a lot of walking and the girls were getting tired.  So big brothers gave them piggy back rides. 

Afterwards we had (lunch at 2:30pm!) at Red Robins.

Ann with her satisfied Cheeseburger tummy.  Sitting with Daddy. 
We don't get very much of him lately :(

I, on the other hand, have Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum on my side of the booth.

Mary was giving out hugs from her high chair left and right.

Paul dropped me off at Walgreens on the way home so I could get Elijah a pencil box and David a pencil sharpener for school.  I greatly enjoyed my walk home- alone. 

Then when I got home I took Ann and Elijah to the post office, grocery store, and Blockbuster video where we rented Escape From Alcatraz.  We watched it, piled up on top of each other, with bowls of vanilla icecream smothered in hot fudge.  It's rated PG, but we had a few eye closing scenes and "don't ever repeat that word" scenes.    By the time the movie was over, we were all so sleepy.  Paul and I went around and tucked everyone in with snuggly blankets, hugs and kisses.  Paul finished up packing for a trip and I settled into bed with my Human Events newspaper, but didn't get very far before I slipped into dreamland. 

"One of the many lessons that one learns in prison is,

that things are what they are and will be what they will be.” -Oscar Wilde