Happy 3rd Gotcha Day Joshua!!!!!

Last month we celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of Joshua's Gotcha Day!!! Joshua has been home with us for three years now!! We are so blessed!  His actual Gotcha Day was July 4th in the United States, but July 5th in Korea, so we felt like we celebrated all weekend!!  Three years ago, while our boys were watching fireworks with our friends Tom and Sally in St. Louis....Alan and I were in South Korea at the Children's Home having our last visit with Joshua's foster parents before we headed to the airport with him to come home.

During this past Independence Day weekend, we were staying at a campground in Pennsylvania that had an indoor water park.  We had a great time swimming, floating in the lazy river, and sliding down the water slides...

We also enjoyed some time cooking out and relaxing by the campfire...

Mountain pies...yummy!

For his special day, Joshua wanted a strawberry cake...

Every Gotcha Day anniversary, we give Joshua a gift from South Korea.  During our trip to Korea three years ago, we bought several items from a Korean marketplace.  We plan on giving him a gift every year until he turns 18.  We do also have a traditional Korean wedding gift for him someday:)

This year's gift was a Korean children's t-shirt...

Later that day we went to the theater to see Despicable Me 2.  We all enjoyed it...what a funny movie!

Joshua's choice for dinner...Wendy's Restaurant! :)

He was really excited about the frostys :)

Joshua---you are truly a blessing!  I am honored to be your Mom! I have learned so much about love, grace and patience the past three years.  You are an amazing boy and God has great plans for you!!  I am so grateful that your birth mother chose life. I am also so grateful for your foster family who took such wonderful care of you for over a year until we could come bring you home...forever! Thank you God for our forever family:)

Blessings to you and yours,

Jill and the boys:)

Detours on the Road and in Life...

I haven't written on the blog lately because we had some unexpected detours the past couple of weeks.  Everyone is OK now, and I am trying to catch up on the blog...again! HA!  I feel like I have been trying to catch up on the blog for months now, but it seems like I am consistently several weeks behind in posts! I was getting caught up when I got a call from my sister that my Mom (in Texas) broke her arm and sprained her ankle.  She needed emergency surgery to repair her arm the next day.  We were all the way in Maine at the time, and my sister lives in California.   Well- we decided I would go ahead and fly out to Texas as soon as possible - I found a good deal on a flight the next morning at 5:30a.m.! YAY!  My sister came out to join me in Texas the next day.  We helped take care of my Mom and ended up having a nice visit... just us girls:) I am grateful to report that my Mom is recovering remarkably well! We are so thankful to God for His healing!

So- during my week in Texas, Alan actually drove back down to CT and stayed with my family there until I flew back.  The boys were thrilled to see their Grandpa and cousins again!!  I have to say I am so grateful for a husband who is willing to do whatever it takes to help family. He and the boys got up at 3 a.m. to take me to the airport.  He also packed up the RV, loaded the van, and then traveled down to CT from Maine (without me to help).  It was not easy, but he did it, and he did it without any complaints.  He did let me know how glad he was when I came back from Texas though!!:)

Looking back, I am so amazed how God worked out all of the details.  I am grateful that we had a flexible schedule so that I could be there with my Mom. I am grateful that I had the chance to visit with my sister and Mom, especially because I had already been missing them so much.  I am grateful that Alan could be somewhere with family in case he needed help while I was away.  I am grateful that we got another great visit in with my family in CT too.  Most of all, I am grateful that my Mom is doing so much better than we expected. Thank you to friends and family who prayed for my Mom and for us, especially the past few weeks!! We sure appreciate it!

So- now to catch you up on where we are....my last post was from PA.  After we left PA, we headed to CT to visit family, then to Massachusetts, and then Maine.  As I mentioned, Alan & the boys then headed back south to CT while I was in Texas.  After I flew back, we headed to Vermont, New York State (Niagara Falls), and now we are currently in Ohio!  I figured out that in ten days, I have actually been in TEN different states!!  I started out in Maine, then Massachusetts (flew out of Boston to Texas), my plane stopped in Baltimore, Maryland then flew into Texas. I flew out from Texas and stopped in Kansas & Wisconsin before arriving in Boston again. Then on to CT, Vermont, New York and Ohio! Whew:)

Unless there are any unexpected detours coming, I will be posting photos and updates on the blog soon!

Thanks again for your prayers and support:)

Blessings to you and yours,

Jill and the boys:)

Philadelphia, PA - Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, The Franklin Institute & A Blast From My Past!!!

After we left Maryland, we headed back north towards Philadelphia, PA.  We stayed at a campground almost an hour drive north of the city.   Our first field trip was to visit Independence Hall.

Several historical events took place right here in the Declaration Chamber.  George Washington accepted his appointment by congress as the General of the Continental Army, and the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America were both adopted & signed here in this room...

After our tour, we visited the Senate Chamber of Congress. The second inauguration of George Washington as President of The United States was held here on March 4, 1793. He finished his official career there as well when John Adams was inaugurated as the second President of the U.S. on March 4, 1797.

This statue of George Washington stands in front of Independence Hall.  The plaque in the photo below is on the ground next to the statue.  Abraham Lincoln stood on that very spot in 1861, to raise the American Flag!

After visiting Independence Hall, the boys finished their junior ranger books and earned their badges. Next, we stopped by to see the Liberty Bell.   The bell was actually originally cast in 1752 in London, England. Unfortunately, it cracked soon after it arrived in Philadelphia.  John Pass and John Stow, (two local craftsmen), made a new bell in 1753, using the metal from the original English bell.  You can see their names on the front of the bell - (PASS AND STOW).  In 1846, a thin crack began to affect the sound of the bell, and attempts were made to repair it.  The bell was then rung again for a George Washington birthday celebration. The bell cracked again, this time towards the top. The bell has not been rung since and to this day, no one knows why it cracked either time.

The Liberty Bell hung in Independence Hall (known back then as the State House) and it was rung many times for public announcements.  The bell was first called the "Liberty Bell" by a group trying to outlaw slavery.  The inscription on the bell is from the Bible verse in the book of Leviticus - "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10). The Liberty Bell became a symbol for their cause. After the Civil War, the Liberty Bell traveled around the country to help heal the divisions that were caused by the war.  It served as a reminder of the early days when Americans fought together for independence during the Revolutionary War.

I can remember visiting the Liberty Bell as a little girl many years ago. Back then, you could actually touch the bell. Today, however, the National Park Service has it roped off and a ranger stands guard to make sure no one touches it.  (The ranger is also available to answer questions as well.) Over the years as people have touched the bell, it slowly developed worn, smoothed spots on the outside.  It was decided that the best way to preserve the bell was to not allow the public to touch it anymore.

Our next field trip into Philadelphia was to the Franklin Institute.  We were very grateful that our National Museum Pass gave us a free admission! YAY!

Ever wonder what the inside of a heart looks like? We climbed through a huge heart and discovered the ins and outs of how our hearts function! Very cool!

We also learned more about the science of flight...

This exhibit featured athletes of all shapes and sizes. Micah got a "kick" out of the sumo wrestler!

The boys also tried out "surfing"...

and the science of racing...

There also was a rock wall for climbing...

Speaking of rocks, (that's a hint) we drove by this building (photo below) while we were in Philadelphia.  Do you recognize the steps from a movie scene??  This is a major "blast from the past"...

Here's another hint...."YO ADRIAN!!!!!!"

Yes...it was from the movie,  ROCKY!!! This building is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and these steps are known as "The Rocky Steps."

On another note, we actually had another "blast from the past" during our stay near Philadelphia.  One of my "bucket list" goals is to visit all of my old childhood homes.   As I have mentioned in earlier posts, my Dad was in the army, and we moved around a lot.  I have always thought it would be fun to go back and see the places I have lived. Some of my earliest memories are from over 30 years ago when we lived at our house in Warrington, PA. (Just to share one of these early memories: This is the house where my brother, sister and I caught a real live mole in a toy mailbox and brought it in the house to show my mom! Yea...she just loved our surprise:)

So--all I remembered was the street name where I lived.  We were driving around using GPS to lead us there when all of a sudden, I looked out Alan's window and I spotted my old elementary school! I gave out a delighted scream, "THERE'S MY OLD SCHOOL!"   Poor Alan!!! He was driving the car and it completely startled him!:)

The school actually looks completely different than I remember. I think they must have done some remodeling over the years.

Although it had been over 30 years since I had lived there, and I did not have the house number, when we drove down the street, I recognized it right away!!!!  The white house with black shutters!! That was it!! We actually found it!!

Another funny memory I have while living here at this house:

One time as a little girl I decided that I was going to run away from home. (I think I was around 5 years old at the time and I was probably just throwing a fit because I got in trouble for something. I was quite a pill!)  So- I know I had seen cartoons and T.V. shows where one of the characters would gather up their belongings in a bandana and wrap it around a stick to carry over their shoulder like this...

To the best of my memory, I can recall doing this (with all sorts of drama) and heading out the door of this home down the very long driveway. I remember taking it very slowly, down the very long driveway, making sure everyone knew I was upset and I was running away.  Well... after reaching the edge of the very long driveway, I stood there awhile, changed my mind and came home:)

Be prepared to see a cheesy photo of me below...This is that very long driveway! HA! It's funny that it is a lot shorter than I remember:)

It was SO fun to see my old house and relive those funny memories with my boys!  I did actually meet the owner of the house, and introduced myself to her. She was nice, but did not invite me in...bummer! Oh well! I don't blame her though since I was a total stranger and I was acting a little too giddy to be there!!! HA!  At least I saw the outside!

Our last stop and visit down memory lane was to Friendly's Restaurant!!! I remember eating their delicious ice cream as a child! On one particular visit to Friendly's as a little girl, I actually ate the cone first and was left with a big scoop of melting ice cream in my hand!!  Oh my! My poor parents!!!

Thanks for letting me share my blast from the past with you!

Blessings to you and yours!

Jill and the boys:)

RV Q & A - What does homeschooling on the road look like?

Many people have asked what homeschooling on the road looks like.  (I have actually heard it called "road schooling" from other full-time RV families...funny!) After being on the road for almost 9 months, I can say that it has looked different almost every week:) Usually, the boys did school in the mornings and had free time in the afternoon. Sometimes we did 2 or 3 days worth of school all day long and then took a day off for a field trip.  The boys have also done some schoolwork while we are traveling on the road in the RV.  They sit at the dinette (don't worry...it has seat belts!) so they have a table to do their school work on. Basically, we have adjusted our homeschool routine to fit in with seminars, field trips, visits with family & friends, and just unexpected moments in life! Because of those adjustments, (and because of our extended break while moving from St. Louis last fall) we actually did not finish our school year until mid-July. We decided to stick with our curriculum that we have always used, but then the boys have supplemented that with field trips to different science & history museums, and junior ranger programs at the national parks we have visited. At the beginning of the trip, I had such lofty goals!!! I wanted to make sure the boys were journaling everything we were doing, reading every history book before we visited the state, along with completing their regular school subjects. Then reality hit me and I realized it was WAY too much.  I met another homeschool mom one day in the laundry room, and she really encouraged me. She said her friend who was a teacher had told her to just make sure to cover the basics, and let your children be sponges and soak in everything else as you travel and experience the U.S.  I really needed to hear that!

When we were planning our trip, a big desire for Alan was to be more involved in homeschooling the boys. (You can read more about that in our very first post on this blog - written by Alan - titled Why?) He always has done a good job helping me homeschool before this trip, but he really wanted to have more time with them and he wanted to give me a break as well.  I have been a stay at home mom for over 10 years and I  have homeschooled the boys since preschool.  It has truly been the most rewarding job I could ever have.  Of course, it has also been the most challenging as well! To be honest, before we left on the road full time, I spent a lot of my time with the boys doing school and I had a hard time just remembering to "play" with them.  I know many homeschool moms who struggle with this issue as well. We are "teacher" for a majority of the day, yet we still are "mom" too. When most of your day is taken up with teaching responsibilities, it is hard to remember to be "mom"  and just play with our kids sometimes.  The past few months, Alan did most of the homeschooling and I had more opportunities to just play and be "mom".  I have to admit, it was pretty hard at first to let go of my stubborn pride and turn over my lesson plans and curriculum books!! But, now I see how much joy Alan received when he taught Caleb to read among other things.  I felt it was such a privilege to teach my older two boys to read.  I LOVED seeing the excitement in their eyes when they learned something new!  I realized this season has been an opportunity to share that blessing of teaching the boys with Alan.  At the same time, I feel like I am learning that I can spend time with my boys and enjoy them without always wearing my "teacher" hat.

So- maybe someone who is reading this post is a homeschool mom and you are feeling overwhelmed, weary and worn out and your school year has not yet even begun!?! My hope is to encourage you!  I know my family has a very unique lifestyle situation, but maybe a solution for you is that your husband can take a subject or two and teach your kids for awhile one evening a week? Or- if that is not an option, maybe you can find a homeschool co-op/support group or a friend who would take the kids for a day so you have a break every once in awhile?  I have so appreciated the wonderful homeschooling mentors and support groups in my life. God has blessed our family through them!!  My hope is that you can be blessed and encouraged too! Homeschooling is very rewarding, but it is not for every family. For those families who homeschool it a huge blessing and a huge responsibility too. I am grateful for all that I have learned from being a homeschool mom. I often say that I think I am learning more than my children are!!! It is a good thing that God isn't finished with me yet either! :)

Blessings to you and yours!

Jill and the boys:)

Mount Vernon...and The National Treasure Tour!

During our stay in Maryland, we made a day field trip to Virginia to visit Mount Vernon, home and burial place of George Washington.  

We enjoyed taking a tour of the home and surrounding buildings.  One of the interesting areas of the house is Washington's bedroom.  On December 14th, 1799, George Washington died of what now many believe was a bacterial infection.  Just 2 days before his death, Washington had been busy working on his plantation outside in the cold, wintry weather.  The next morning he woke up with a sore throat. He continued to go to work outside.  His condition worsened and although doctors tried their best to save him with the medical care available at that time, he passed away in his bedroom late the next night.  Washington's bed is still in that very room where he died.  As we stopped to view the room, we were all fascinated to see such an important scene literally frozen in time.

Not too far from the house is the tomb of Washington, where he and his wife Martha were buried.  There are also other Washington family members buried at the site.  George Washington gave specific instructions that he was to be buried on his Mount Vernon estate, the place he loved to call home.

While we were there, archaeologists were working at the original kitchen site (built by George Washington's older half-brother or his father).  In 1775, George Washington had the original kitchen demolished and a new kitchen was put in.  In the past they have found ceramics related to food preparation and storage.

One of the archaeologists spoke with us about some of their recent findings.  They have found lots of broken pieces of dishes among other things. The boys had the chance to touch some of them.

One interesting piece was actually a little arm from a doll...

Around the house were several beautiful trees. A few of them were actually planted by George Washington himself! It is amazing they are still alive and well today!

The boys got a kick out of touching a tree that George Washington touched...too cool!!

Later that afternoon, we attended a National Treasure tour! If you have seen the movie, "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" than you may remember the scene at Mount Vernon where Nicolas Cage's character (Benjamin Gates) kidnaps the president in order to receive important information to clear his family's name from false accusations.  Our tour guide gave us behind the scenes information and a tour of the basement of the house.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside the basement though :(

Here is a copy of the map of the tunnel used in the movie...

After we toured the basement and the area around the house, our tour guide showed us the area where some other scenes from the movie were filmed. This spot is also where Nicolas Cage came up from the water in disguise to join the party.

This is where the President and Nicolas Cage exited out of the tunnel.  It is actually an ice house...

Joshua was worn out and he fell asleep during the tour :) I guess being the youngest of four boys, afternoon naps just end up being wherever and whenever he can get them!  He sure is a trooper to go on so many all day field trips!

Mount Vernon is such a beautiful place.  I can see why Washington and his family loved it here so much!

Blessings to you and yours!

Jill and the boys:)