Easter 2015

First, let's compare the Finnlings from 2014 to 2015:

The biggest difference? Fuller had to be held in 2014, so he isn't in the pic. 

2015, he's running everywhere!!

As we were on the way home from church, 

we noticed many families stopping to 

take pictures on SEBTS' lovely campus. So we did the same!

We shared our Easter dinner with three other couples.

It was an amazing spread! 

Instead of giving the kids their Easter baskets first thing on Sunday morning,

we waited until late afternoon.

This allowed us to keep the "first thing the first thing",

and focus on the miracle of the resurrection of Christ.

It also helped their Sunday School teachers,
as we didn't send them to church hyped up on sugar :-)

As usual, there were a few Usborne books as well as some candy.

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Our week in pictures (week of April 13)

For fun, here are a few snapshots of our life last week:

Our friends from seminary days, Jason and Michele, now live in Wake Forest where Jason works as director of the library. This means we get to hang out a lot with their family. The Finnlings love Russell Fowler, and much silliness ensues when they are all together!

Sweet picture

Silly picture

Best buddies

I was cleaning out leaf debris and weeds under my azaleas--with my bare hands--when the leaves moved and this snake appeared.

I kept from screaming, and even managed to pick it up with a stick to try to move it.

But... it flipped off the stick and slithered back into my azaleas.

So it's still alive, and I'm probably not touching those bushes again for a long long time.

We studied the Diaspora of the Jews in history last week, and the kids had a coloring sheet of Herod's Temple. G used bright, rich colors for her sheet.

B asked if he could color fire and smoke on it. After all, it DID burn.

Also, apparently it was attacked by knights with bows and arrows, swords, and catapults.

Revisionist history

We are working on writing coherent paragraphs. G knows what she wants to be, though she didn't ask how to spell that particular job:-)

4000 Steps Walk for Life

It is a joy to participate in 4000 Steps, the walk for life to benefit First Choice, our local crisis pregnancy center in Wake Forest.

I admit that I can be quite competitive in my fund-raising, and am not above begging for money.

This year, God kindly allowed me to reach my fundraising goal of $3,000.00. Thank you so much to those friends and family who gave! Your gifts make a difference.

But more important than my fundraising was the fact that the overall fundraising goal

was $200,000.00. And it was MET!!!

This money goes directly to help women and men in crisis pregnancy situations,

as First Choice tries to help remove the perceived need for abortions in Wake County

and surrounding areas.

The walk itself is always fun. The Finnlings loved meeting Cinderella, Peter Pan, Hook, and other characters, as well as getting their faces painted and filling their pockets with candy at the carnival.

The highlights for me were the 83 balloon release (each balloon representing a baby saved this year through First Choice's ministry), the testimony from a FC client, and the many reasons why people walk (#whyiwalk).

Next year--same time, same place: won't you join me in this walk?

Clapham Academy Takes on Marbles!!

 Last week, we took a trip to Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh.

We were able to meet our former neighbors, who now live 1.5 hours away from us.

It was great to visit with Amy again (I miss our chats), and to see our kids play together.

Our science for the day: studying sound waves. 

This interactive exhibit was engaging, instructive and fun! Two thumbs up!

Few things are more fun then a huge pile of blocks, 

or seeing yourself in a mirror!

That Eleanor

Baxter spent close to an hour building and racing cars.

He's my master builder.

Georgia worked hard at sawing (in her tulle skirt, too:-)

then she moved on to fashion design, which is her latest passion

Our former neighbors, R and C:-)

Exploring how energy works

The whole gang!!

Note to local homeschooling friends: If you show your state identification card (which can be printed after you register with the Department for Non-Public Education), you can get in for free and your children get in for $4/each. This is a nice savings over $5/person :-)

Date taken: January 27, 2015