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I think I can safely say that I'm no good at this blog thing. Facebook has been a great way to get in touch with lost friends and share a few words of encouragement and prayer requests with dear ones. However, who really cares about my daily, hourly, minute by minute status?

Here are the statuses I haven't been sharing, just to catch you up, in no particular order. Starting school....doing laundry....forgot to hang the permanent press load!....ironing....dinner?....where's Jocelyn?....straw in the entryway again....shoes by the back door....is that a raisin on the floor or a bunny dropping?....just taste it, I dare you....the soup is boiling over again....who borrowed my socks?....UPS just delivered a package!....is this a dance night?....new great-grand bunnies born!....starting school again....computer crash....borrowing Jocelyn's computer....doing finances by hand!....we're out of coconut oil....bunnies for sale....guitar lesson....listening to Carolyn practice guitar....missing my dear friends....when do we stop school?....sewing costumes for the Christmas program....making cookies....watching Carolyn and Addie make cookies....tasting cookies....Most wonderful Thanksgiving dinner ever, prepared entirely by my daughters....watching history documentaries....Bible study....wishing I could buy EVERYTHING at Vision Forum....learning about the Five Aspects of Woman....Rule, subdue, produce....fighting with my husband....Five Aspects again....counting blessings....bifocals....getting old....crows feet adorning my eyes....could somebody return my socks?....Melaleuca order!....agility trial, first and Q x4....Jocelyn, is that hay in your trunk?....hold on to the coffee so it doesn't roll around the car!....waiting in line to borrow Jocelyn's computer....missing my dear friends....noodles in the bottom of the dishwasher....making cookies and pizza in a real live oven!....dinner?....are you sure you need to eat tonight?....waffles!!....Christmas movies....fighting with my husband....Five Aspects again....One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp....learning eucharisteo....thankful for everything?....I think it's in storage....no internet?!!....is that ceiling fan dust in my coffee?....dark chocolate....iodine deficiency....cold feet....I want to learn to knit socks....is the dog barking again?....I'm sure it's in storage, check the inventory list....who's supposed to be watching this skillet on the stove?....I get the bathroom next!....where's my camera?....is it a ranch day?....where is your coat?....I don't mind the smell of horses, just not on stinky daughter....Mom! I can lift a hay bale now!....Charles Dickens! Great Expectations....War and Peace....fighting with my husband....Five Aspects again....balancing the budget....Are you done with your math yet?....get your laundry done, I need the washer....Are these dishes clean or dirty?....give that bunny a bath!....found a house?.....made an offer on a house....offer rejected.....thankful for blessings given and those withheld....Do we have the house to ourselves?....Jocelyn starts her apprenticeship program, doing what she loves....Coconut Bliss ice cream!....Those are MY socks!!!

That should just about update you on the curiously strange events of the Gruver household. I'm going to go warm my feet by the fire and think about posting a Christmas letter before the New Year.

Adjusting to the New School Year

We just started our second week of school and it seems that we are still chasing the clock a bit. Last week we jumped into our new year with high hopes and what appeared to be a reasonable schedule. I had spent most of my summer break familiarizing myself with some new curriculum and meticulously planning out each day. Then the Lord blessed our girls with a long awaited opportunity to learn on an Arabian ranch twice a week, and me with the grace to learn flexibility and patience. We did our best last week to stay on schedule and accomplish all our assignments while working around our outside activities. By Wednesday we found that our whole schedule needed to be reworked. I shortened some time blocks where we were finishing early and lengthened others, splitting our Language Arts into two time blocks. The challenge has been to go ahead and switch subjects even if we aren't finished. Normally I would encourage the girls to finish what they are working on but I have found that it helps them to set something aside and focus on a new topic. It seems to serve as a break for their brain as they come back to the task feeling somewhat refreshed and ready to work. 

So far, we are enjoying our new curriculum choices and feel that even though we are working long hours our assignments have been meaningful and interesting. We don't feel like we are wasting time on busy-work which always seems to creep in to our home school. I think busy-work is a symptom of focusing on test scores and trivia. Why do I always get caught up in the popular opinion that knowing a bunch of trivia demonstrates learning? Choosing the correct answer on a multiple choice test doesn't prove that learning has taken place, or that the child knows how to think and learn. It only proves that a child has been trained to regurgitate disconnected facts. It reminds me of the agility courses that Jocelyn has trained Brinkley to run. Brinkley takes a jump because it's there and he doesn't care why. It makes Jocelyn happy and earns him some play time with his favorite toy. What good does it do a child to be able to jump through a hoop if she doesn't know why the hoop is there and what, if anything, she is accomplishing by doing so? I don't disagree with testing in general. I just believe that you have to be cautious with the focus of your teaching. The focus should be on the student and real learning, not the hoop. Like Addie says, "I just need to feel like I'm really doing something; something important." 

Christmas Letter 2010

Dear Family and Friends,
It is my prayer that this letter finds you all snuggled on the couch with your dear ones enjoying a mug of cocoa and some memories to cherish for a lifetime.

God has taken us on quite a journey this year. We have learned some valuable lessons about trusting Him in all things and I am constantly reminded of the encouragement of Chris Klicka, “God is good, all the time”. I have spent much time reflecting on the blessing of family. My daughters have changed so much and I am so thankful to see them growing in their knowledge of Christ and His grace. By God’s grace, Phil and I have grown even closer in our relationship and fall in love a little more with each passing day.

Jocelyn graduated from our homeschool last spring and since, has kept a busy schedule.
In her words:
“On May 22nd I graduated and another chapter in my life came to a close. After graduating I started working full time for my grandparents who own a Property Management Company for Homeowners Associations. I had worked for them in the past years but now that I was graduated I had more time and so could work full time. Then in July I started in Agility at Q-Quest Agility Training with my dog Brinkley! What an adventure that has been. In August we had our first trial and out of three runs we got two ELIM (Elimination) and one DNR (Did Not Run). He had run out of the ring on his first two runs and so I dropped out of the third run. This was disappointing but definitely a learning experience. After that I started working on his obedience with a friend from church. In November my dog and I competed in our second agility trial and found that the obedience training really paid off! Out of two days with three runs each we got one ELIM, one 6th, one 4th, one 3rd, two 1sts, and three Qs (Qualifying Runs)! It was great fun and I look forward to trial season 2011!”

The girls are still doing Irish dance and have had the opportunity to share their talents at many venues. Marissa was honored to join her team for an appearance with Leahy in March.
“They are an amazing group, but so down to earth. They treated us like we were very important and they even joked about wanting us to tour with them. I think they could tell that the audience appreciated our dancing. I was so thrilled to be able to dance with such amazing people!”

Marissa has had quite a year! She will graduate from our homeschool this spring and will participate in the state homeschool graduation ceremony on May 28th. Her graduation gift from Grandma and Grandpa Davis is a new smile!
“I was so excited! [The orthodontist] told me that I have about two years of work….Expansion is done and I have bottom and upper braces in. Next time I go in we will see if we can set up my herbst which will swing my bottom jaw forward so that it is where it should be.”
She also discovered at Jocelyn’s Agility Trial that she wasn’t able to see well at a distance.
“Mom set up an eye appointment for the family and the eye doctor confirmed that I needed glasses. It’s amazing how much better I can see! It was like the world was flat, like I was standing in a small room looking at the pictures around me. Now I am living in 3D once again, and everything is so beautiful!”

After working with our mortgage company for several months, making modified payments while our account was in review, we lost our home because of a clerical error on the bank’s part. Phil learned while in a conference call that there were two databases at Bank of America. One of them showed all our payments and correspondence, the other was empty, portraying that we were not cooperating. The false database set the foreclosure in motion.
Adelie shares:
“After starting school again, there came a day when we lost our house. Ma and Pa tried to see if they could keep the house for at least another month but a few days later we officially lost the house. But the Lord was with us from the beginning and provided a place for us to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Davis. Now we are all settled and have been living quite cozily. I have celebrated my fifteenth birthday and am awaiting my Christmas break.”

We enjoyed two summer camping trips. One with our church family at Cascade Lake and the other near Bonanza with our dear friends the Bain’s, the Chuck Vawser family, the Andrew Vawser family and new friends the Pirc family.
Carolyn writes:
“We had so much fun! We did some roping and I roped Matt! We also did some tomahawk throwing. I had so much trouble getting it to stick in the wood! I went with a couple of friends to catch snakes and then we played in the creek before going home and I got soaked. We dubbed the group ‘The Sagebrush Pioneers’.”

The picture below was taken after an icing fight we got into while decorating our gingerbread house on Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful celebration and we got to enjoy the company of the Edenfields this year! After a wonderful feast we had a gingerbread house, decorating contest (sponsored by Grandma and Grandpa Davis) where we competed against the Edenfield and the Andy Gruver families. The Edenfields won the contest since they used matches to “light up” their house. It was a great time with great friends!

Merry Christmas!
Phil, Tonya, Jocelyn, Marissa,
Adelie and Carolyn Gruver

St. Patrick's Day 2010

We look forward to this very busy day all year!

Our group at the Capitol!

The "Leahy" Group

On the road again!

Getting tired!

Still going!

Yeah right......Until IDI shows up!

Nascar shoe change

Picture break

Rachel practicing outside

Trying to keep warm!

The Line-up

Dancing around IDI's own Fiddler, Rachel

The Scots are comming!

Party at Fanci-Freez

Friends!

Screaming Thunder

We enjoyed a very busy St. Patricks Day season throughout the month of March with performances starting on the first. St. Patrick's Day itself was very busy! We left the house at 8:30 a.m. and didn't get home until about 10:30ish p.m. Our dance school split into 3 performing groups and our group had 10 performances alone!

Here is a video of the IDI-Leahy group performing B-Minor at the Capitol.

Spring Update Part 1

The school year is winding to a close and I haven't updated my blog in months! Here are the highlights of the last quarter or so in the Gruver household.

The Junoir/Senior Banquet was held March 12th. Jocelyn attended with her Papa and Marissa with Grandpa. Most people can't believe that a teen girl would want to attend a formal dinner with their father or Grandpa, but our girls would have it no other way. The men in our family have been wonderful leaders and the pictures from this event will be cherished for years to come. The girls will still love their handsome "dates" as they show the pictures to their own children and grandchildren and tell of the wonderful time they had.

Priceless!

Jocelyn and Papa

Marissa and Grandpa

On the 13th Marissa shared the priveledge of dancing with Leahy with her best friends from IDI. The concert was unforgetable and the Leahy family was so friendly. They even waltzed with some of the dancers backstage to calm their nerves before their first dance.

Backstage

Practice

Getting ready

Riss and Rachel in Their stage make-up

Front and center (almost)

Donnell Leahy enjoying the show

Marissa is the short one! :o)

Doug, Angus, Donnell, and.... Erin (I think)

  

Happy New Year!

Today, as 2010 approaches, I have been looking back over this year's memories. I have been amazed at how fast the calendar pages have turned! Here are some of the highlights of 2009.

Last year at this time we were just settling into our new church home. We had started attending Columbia Bible the previous October at the invitation of some dear friends. What a blessing it has been to get to know and love this congregation of believers! We have been so touched by the teaching and friendships we have found.

In the spring we filled our home with our best friends and attended the homeschool conference together. We were all touched by the message of Chris Klicka. We are so thankful to God for the life of Mr. Klicka and his obedience to our Lord and Savior. Chris encouraged us to keep our eyes on Christ and to remember that a relationship with Jesus is more important than any lesson plan. It was so touching to see him struggling with MS but so unwilling to let the disease keep him from reaching out to encourage just one more person. He inspired us in so many ways and we were so saddened, but blessed also, to hear of his home going in the fall when he was finally able to run again....into the arms of his Savior.

Summer brought many fun activities! We enjoyed filling our target with arrow holes, going on picnics, ball room dancing in the back yard of friends, and many Irish dance performances.

We added 3 bunnies to our family this year, but sadly lost one after about 4 months. Siobhan was a very loved German Angora and we were very sad to see her go. Our other 2 bunnies, Metta and Maeve, are sweet Mini Rex sisters and they are so spoiled. They get loved on regularly and I know they would purr if they could!

In August we spent a day with our church at Family Camp. The worship service was held lakeside and was followed by a baptism service. We hope to attend the entire weekend next year. It was a fun time in the sand, sun, water, and wind. The girls tried water skiing but apparently they didn't get that gene from their grandparents! They'll figure it out next year though I'm sure. I was amazed by the way the shared meals were organized! Every breakfast and dinner was shared and a new team took over the prep, serving and clean up. That meant that you were only on duty for one meal for the entire trip other than preparing your own lunches. Genius!

After Family Camp came our new school adventure. We started using Tapestry of Grace curriculum and joined the group that a handful of church friends started. What a challenging and wonderful curriculum! Our group keeps the bar raised high and we strive to meet the goals for our meetings. Some days we feel pretty stretched and arrive at the meeting on tip toe but we love our group and are so amazed at all we are learning, myself included! I have 2 dialectic students and 2 Rhetoric.

Also in August, Phil started a new position at Micron which presented itself just before Phil would have been laid off. Phil's fab was closing so he had already received his separation packet when he got the call. They told him that they had another position for him if he could accept lower pay. The pay cut is difficult but he loves his job and we are praising God for His provision for us.

Just about Thanksgiving, I discovered facebook! What a fun waste of time that is! I really have to keep myself in check because it's easy to let "just a few minutes" turn into a couple of hours! I'm not doing any of the games though.......I find life much more fun.

Because of our budget, we got creative for Christmas. Phil and I got each of the girls something special and then filled out the stockings etc. with practical things like toothpaste, socks and deodorant. No kidding, I really put deodorant in their stockings! They thought it was great! :o) Jocelyn got a Bible cover and Financial Peace envelope system from me and a trip to get her nails done from her dad. Marissa got her favorite movie, Come What May, from me and a necklace that reads "He who holds the key can unlock my heart" from her dad. He has the key and it actually fits! Adelie got Elsie Dinsmore books from me and canvas for her paintings from her dad. Carolyn got a new game called Dutch Blitz from me. It's the funnest game I have ever played! Jocelyn wins almost every time she plays though so we may have to ban her from it! From her dad she got a huge sketch book.

We have been overwhelmed with blessings this year and thank God for the joy we have in Him! We look forward to what God has for us in 2010 and thank Him in advance for the blessings He will give and also those He will withhold.

In Christ Alone,

Tonya

Paintings are: "God's Rarest Flower" by Adelie and "Siobhan" by Marissa