DEBRA'S PARENTS HERE!

We are thankful to have Mom and Dad Goertzen visiting with us this week and I thought I would share a few pictures, plus I'm due for an update anyway. Since Mom and Dad have been here, we've already done quite a bit. We enjoyed an apple orchard/farm that had a really fun play area for the kids. We went to the horse races at Keenland for the last day of the fall meet there on Saturday and got to again experience the thrill of the crowds and the speed and beauty of the horses. Tim took Rachel and Ruth and Mom to a Lexington Philharmonic concert Friday night because Ruth's teacher told us there was a cello soloist and they all enjoyed that night out. And we all went to the Lexington Phil's family concert today with Peter and the Wolf and the Lexington Ballet embellishing with some great dancing. Even Joe and Bekah came and enjoyed that, along with the orchestra "petting zoo" beforehand. Now we have a busy school week ahead, but Mom and Dad should also get in on a little recital Rachel and Ruth are playing in this Thursday afternoon before heading back to Minnesota on Friday.

As far as a general update on how life is going for us, I don't have much new to add from previous posts. We've had a little girl sleepover and and a men and boys' campout, a women's retreat and Shaker village where I led the musical worship, a recital Ruth played in, more piano students for me, more computer work for Tim, more stress with home-schooling and discussions on what to do next year, plans to possibly rent out our house in Minnesota and put selling on hold for a while. . . and obviously this is only to name a few things in our lives! (and I don't always have pictures for everything though now that I'm a blogger I think I'm supposed to somehow! We are now enjoying time with family and looking forward to seeing more of you at Christmas time. God bless!

Fort Boonesborough and more

We went to Fort Boonesborough as a family along with a few families from our kids' homeschool group this past Saturday. They had many reenactors at the fort and in an added Indian village this weekend, they shot off a real cannon, acted out a siege for us where the Indians attacked the fort, and really allowed us to experience life with blacksmiths, old-fashioned stores and clothes, and for Joe the highlight, of course, guns.

On Sunday following our field trip, Rachel played violin in her first recital. I accompanied her and she did a wonderful job. Unfortunately, my pictures to choose from for this event are very limited because Tim was trying to keep Joe and Beka quiet as we played. But it was a good experience, we went out for ice-cream with her violin teacher afterwards, and enjoyed the time. Ruth is really progressing on cello and will be playing in a recital soon, too. We are considering having her audition for a school for the creative and performing arts, in which they have most of their openings for kids going into 4th grade next year. We just went to a meeting there this week and are still praying and considering on it. It is a public school, but audition only and they truly receive an arts education which we could get excited about.

I am enjoying the cooler weather - even though it has still been quite warm. It's finally feeling a little more "fallish" and the leaves are just beginning to turn. The kids are having a lot more fun playing outside now that it isn't as hot and Tim and I enjoy our chances to get out and run a lot more.

Piano teaching is going very well. I'm really enjoying teaching this time around and still looking to add a few more students into my schedule. Tim is enjoying his worship position at Victory, creatively planning and rehearsing choir and praise teams, working with the youth and kids on Wednesday nights, not to mention other pastoral responsibilities and being the primary teacher for Rachel and Ruth on their schoolwork. (Tim has always been kind of amazing to me. Still glad I married him. :) It has its challenges and the church is not exempt from the economic issues facing everyone right now. Certainly, with our house not selling and other things going on, we just have to rely on God step by step for guidance.

We are looking forward to a visit from my parents in October, plus I am planning worship for an upcoming women's retreat. Then before we know it we'll be coming back for Christmas. Thanks to all our friends and family for your love and prayers!