Jill's Crumbs

Technology

2010-04-19T20:27:00.002-04:00

I bet you expect me to say how much I hate technology and wish we were back in the horse and buggy days. Jesse asked me just today if gasoline is "rare". I think he was contemplating its high price. When I described the process of refining oil drilled from rock to get gasoline he thought it was complicated and suggested going back to horses if we ran out of gas. I imagined the mess it would be if everyone on the little stretch of road I was traveling were on horseback instead of in cars, not to mention the amount of hay and oats it would take to fuel all those horses!

No, I'm writing to tell you how much I am appreciating technology tonight. Why? I remembered looking at airline ticket prices online so that Pop and Stephen can fly to Missouri for Nate and Katie's wedding. (Pop teaches on Tuesday nights in Philadelphia and I need to leave Tuesday morning for the two-day road trip.) I remember making reservations at the hotel. I remember booking a flight for Stephen for spring break. But I could not remember booking the flight for Pop and Stephen to Missouri. I knew I meant to, but I couldn't find a receipt, a confirmation email, or paper ticket. Hurray for online banking. I was able to scroll through a BOAT-load of debit purchases and find a paypal purchase of approximately the correct amount. Then I went to paypal to identify my purchases over the past three months (only 4 this time). How do you spell "wha-la"? Hurrah! Now I just need to find a confirmation number to check the itinerary, yikes! I hope I emailed a confirmation to Pop.

Where are you Mom?

2010-04-17T12:30:00.001-04:00

Since I haven't posted anything since icicles at Christmas,(and since the flowers and trees are now blooming in the warm spring sunshine), you should assume that I am either too busy to write or that nothing exciting has happened in my life since then.

Crum Christmas Chronicle

2009-12-23T08:43:00.009-05:00

Dear Ones,

I did not write a Christmas newsletter this year to send out with our Christmas cards. I was just glad I got some cards sent! But after reading Ginny Youmans' family update online I decided to return a brief message to her of the lastest happenings in the Crum family. I got it all typed out, but didn't want to push the "reply to all" button shown. In my search for another option, the message was lost--at least I couldn't find it (which I realize is not the same thing). So I decided to compose a new chronicle, post it on my blog, share the address on facebook, and let all interested parties come here to read it. If you've completed this long, and unnecessary, introduction, the newsletter follows.

"Although there were no marriages or births in the family this year, it was by no means uneventful. Others in the family may want to add their own highlights, but the following are my top four.

1--David and I enjoyed a fantastic vacation in Great Britain this summer.

We had fun planning and anticipating a life-long-dream trip. Finally we were off to spend several days each in London, Edinburgh, and Wales, but our home base was a delightful farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Will and Rebekah Shermer with their children, friends from church here in Catonsville, live in a converted cow barn on a working farm near Pateley Bridge. They graciously allowed us to use their home while they were here in the States on vacation. I'm still trying to sort through all the pictures we took. (Do other people's digital cameras mix the photos up?--I was counting on their chronology to help me recall what all the photos are.) But, even this sorting process is a pleasure as I get to relive the memories of the bustling cities and the pastoral countryside.

2--In August, shortly after returning home, I had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

My dear sister Beth, Jonathan, and many from church kindly helped me and the family through my hospital stay and recovery. I expected to be back on my feet with a full recovery within two weeks, but my brain (and the Lord) had other plans. My right arm and leg were not at all cooperative at first. Beth had me writing the alphabet in the air, and soon the strength, mobility and coordination returned to my arm and hand. My right leg, especially my ankle and foot, took much longer and required 20 sessions of physical therapy, but I am glad to report that I am almost back to "normal". I notice a slight limp and find climbing stairs challenging when I am tired, but I am able to drive, cook, teach, read, write, and do all the things I really want to do. I was able to begin homeschooling Elisabeth, William, and Jesse in September, as planned, and also to tutor Biology twice a week at their homeschool tutorial program, Heritage Instructional Services. Having the Heritage assistance in their education this year has made life a lot easier for me.

3--David and I were thrilled to have the entire Crum family home for Thanksgiving.

Peter and Jess with Jude, Ashley and Aravis flew in from Colorado. Peter works in construction while Jess has been promoted to managing an office which places home health care workers. The children are in 4th, 3rd and 1st grades, and Peter and Jess became homeowners for the first time this year. Matthew and Emily live in Bloomington, IN, with their new puppy Chipper. They, too, bought a home this year. Matt is a copywriter for a medical supplies company and Emily is a speech and hearing therapist in the local public schools. Benjamin and Michal also live in Bloomington with their sons Daniel and Zion. Ben works for a self-publishing company while Michal is a hard-working stay-at-home mom. Jonathan and Nathaniel are both students (also in Bloomington), Jon in education and Nate in art, and both live and work as care-givers for Bob, a deacon in their church, who has cerebral palsy. Thomas was a furniture delivery man in Bloomington until two weeks ago. He and younger David have enlisted in the Marine Corps and report to boot camp on January 4. Thomas will be in the reserves and will return to college in Bloomington after completing his training this winter, spring and summer. David will be serving in the infantry on active duty for the next four years. Stephen is a junior at Catonsville high school and is also talking about joining the Marines after graduation. In January, David, the elder, will celebrate four years as pastor of Bishop Cummins Reformed Episcopal Church in Catonsville, MD.

(Please note this disclaimer--I may not accurately have described anyone's job. The only one mentioned that I have ever held is Michal's, so I know she's hard-working. Please post corrections in the comments section.)

4--Although there are currently 21 members of the Crum family, we learned yesterday that Katie Killingsworth of Missouri has agreed to become member #22 when she and Nate are married this summer. All of the Indiana Crums had already met Katie, (in fact, Ben and Katie's brother Jody introduced Nate and Katie) and the rest of us were delighted to meet her at Thanksgiving. She will be a welcome addition!"

We wish all our family and friends a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year

filled with the wonder of our Savior's first coming as a humble baby

and the anticipation of His triumphant return.

With love from,

the Crums

Thanksgiving

2009-11-12T16:57:00.002-05:00

I am thankful that my whole family will be together for Thanksgiving. They're a lot to be thankful for!

Driving

2009-10-13T11:57:00.002-04:00

I drove for the first time about a week and a half ago. It was Saturday morning. Pop had gone to his office and was planning to pick William and Jesse up from their soccer game at about 12:30. They would come home, eat lunch quickly, change clothes, and go to the Navy vs. Air Force game in Annapolis. Ordinarily, Stephen would have walked them to the soccer field for their match, about 3/4 of a mile away, but he woke up with a terrible cold (headache, sore throat, aches and chills) and could barely crawl out of bed. I can't walk 3/4 of a mile yet, but I didn't want the boys to walk by themselves--there are a couple of busy intersections to cross. So, without the doctor's approval, I practiced driving in the neighborhood and then drove them to their game. It was tiring, but not as difficult as I had expected. I particularly thought that swivelling my foot from the gas to the brake pedal would be hard. I didn't know if I could control the pressure of my foot on either pedal. But, I was successful!
The following Monday I asked the physical therapist, and she approved short distances. Since then I have driven to school (same location as the soccer fields), church, and Ellicott City (twice). This afternoon I'll drive to Aldi to do the grocery shopping.

And the last bit of news--the physical therapy doctor says he expects me to get back close to 100% of my mobility! Hurrah!

I'm Thankful for the Things I Can Do

2009-09-13T23:09:00.002-04:00

I can't wiggle my toes.
I can't walk in my Earth shoe sandals because my toes can't grip them and hang on.
I can't roll my right foot from heel to toe when I walk.
I can't drive.

I can type. I can think. I can talk. I can sing. I can cook. I can teach. I can understand jokes. I can watch movies. I can read. I can go to church. I can talk on the phone. I can go grocery shopping (if someone else drives). I can follow directions. I can taste food. I can hear. I can take a shower. I can dress myself. I can make a pot of tea. I can draw. I can cut with scissors. I can walk, slowly. I can pray. I can write. I can remember. I can sleep. I can play games. I can see....

I am much more thankful for all the things I can do than I am bothered by the things I can't.

Surgery Scheduled for August 19

2009-08-17T07:58:00.004-04:00

My surgery is scheduled for late Wednesday morning. However, I need to be at Johns Hopkins at 5:30 am for a final MRI. The doctor will review the results of this scan before operating. If all is as it was earlier, the precedure should involve creating a dime-sized opening on the top of my skull and removing the grape-sized tumor that is sitting there on top of my brain. Pop will take me to the hospital and stay during the surgery. We know of at least one friend who will be with him during that time.

I do not know how long the surgery will last nor the particulars of my recovery, except that I will need to sleep with my head elevated at least 30 degrees and may not lift any weight over ten pounds. I don't know how long I will be in the hospital. I don't know how soon I'll be able to drive.

According to an acquaintance who had the same surgery about six months ago, she had a bad headache the day after surgery but no pain after that. She felt extemely tired for about two weeks, but felt back to normal in about a month. I am hoping for a similar result!

Jonathan is here, and will be here until Saturday. Aunt Beth is driving up today and will be here through Thursday. Then she and Heather are making a quick trip to New Hampshire to run a triathalon on Saturday (or maybe that's a trip to NH to run a quick triathalon)! She'll come here again after that, but I don't know how long she plans to stay next week. Thomas will be flying in this Saturday to attend a friend's wedding on Sunday. He'll be returning to Indiana on Monday. Ladies from church are providing dinners (every other night, in case of left-overs) for two weeks beginning this Wednesday. They have also volunteered to do laundry, shopping, cleaning, etc. All this is to say that I have plenty of help for the remainder of this week and into next week. I'll know better after the surgery what other help I may need.

Jonathan will be staying with the younger children on Wednesday. Pop will call him with periodic updates. So, please log on to my Facebook--I'll have Jon update there, or call Jon's cell phone or the home phone to check on my status.

I really appreciate your concern for me. I am glad to tell you that I am not apprehensive about the surgeryalthough I can feel the tightness of tension in my shoulders. I hope if you begin to feel worried that you will immediately pray--for me, for Pop, for harmony and peace among the children at home, for the doctor, the nurses--(you'll think of something), and trust that the Lord is absolutely in control.

I love you all.

UK Continued

2009-07-26T14:23:00.002-04:00

The drive to this lovely farm on Friday was a difficult challenge for Pop. Will Schermer had given us his GPS and it had admirably directed us all the way from London to Pateley Bridge, the nearest town. However, just to make things more interesting the GPS fiendishly charted a course over the hills and down through Wath rather than suggest the shorter, flatter route. The road we were on was narrow to the extreme--one lane with stone walls on either side. The views were astonishing, but the road was treacherous with many blind curves and the possibility of sheep in the way around every corner. We didn't meet any errant sheep, but we did come upon three sheep dogs with their shepherd.
Because of the challenging driving on Friday, Pop decided not to drive anywhere yesterday. Instead we explored the area around the farm where we are staying. The Nidderley Way--a 53 mile scenic public footpath--goes right through this farm (and many others, too) so we took a short hike down along the Gouthwaite Reservoir. There are several American families living in converted barns here on the farm. Two of the couples invited us for dinner last night. It was warm enough to eat out on the patio, but not uncomfortable at all. We had steak, salad, potatoes, and a pound cake to beat the buttermilk variety I make.
We looked for a church to attend this morning, but found many closed. We had a delicious roast (beef and pork) dinner at a pub and later had tea at Bettys (no apostophe) in Harrogate. We found a church there that we hope to attend next Sunday.
Tomorrow we're spending the day with British friends of Mr. McKenney, Rick and Vera. They'll show us some of their favorite sites/sights in the area. Then we're off to Edinburgh on Tuesday. I'm glad to report that even with the winding roads I have been virtually headache free for most of this vacation!

Touring the UK: Part 1

2009-07-25T06:54:00.004-04:00

It is Saturday, almost noon, and I feel like I've lived a lifetime between Tuesday and today. Did I really think I wanted to skip London? I loved it. The city is big but not too tall. It's not as overwhelming as New York, but just as interesting. How much can you do in two days there? We took a tour of the city on a double-decker bus--sitting on the top even in the rain. We took a cruise on the Thames from Westminster Pier (across from the Parliament building and St. Stephen's Tower--which houses the bell called Big Ben) up to Tower Bridge near the Tower of London. We ate at a wonderful pub--twice, and had tea there, too. We went to the National Gallery and attended a concert at St. Martin-in-the-field. We took the Underground, a lot, and it was so easy I could have done it by myself. We walked until our feet and legs were sore. We did the London overview. Now I'd like a few weeks there to tour all the historic buildings we only saw from the outside.

Yesterday we got our rental car. It's a Vauxhall. I only remember seeing one other Vauxhall in person. It belonged to my Aunt Flo. The drive from London to the Yorkshire Dales is long. Most of it is on interstate-style freeways which were crowded around London. The terrain in the south was flat but green, and we saw lots of hedges and wheat fields. As we approached the north we saw our first castle, many hills, and the quilted landscape with hedge or stone-fence bordered fields. The drive over the hills on a one-lane road, through quaint towns, brought us into another world. If you've seen photographs you only have a hint of how beautiful it is. The stone fences, barns, and houses really do look as if they've grown out of the hills. Everything seems so lush and tranquil. They grow sheep and rocks here, although I think the sheep are more economically profitable--and rabbits! I saw a crowd of rabbits in a field last evening. I guess they were just nibbling grass. Jon, what do you call a group of rabbits; a warren? a hutch? a parcel? Of course, you see the blemishesof the countryside when you get up close. They seem to have an abundance of spiders.

Paradox

2009-07-05T00:07:00.003-04:00

Bright lights and loud noises give me headaches.
So why do I love fireworks so much?

The Bucket List--Revisited

2009-06-25T20:14:00.002-04:00

In a previous post from this year I wrote about the tendency of middle-aged folks to reflect on the things they wish they had done or hoped to do before they die. At one time I guess I composed such a list in my mind although I don't remember ever writing one down. It would have included things I would like to be able to do (such as play the guitar or fly an airplane) but to which I have absolutely no intention of devoting serious time or effort. But a brain tumor is a very helpful device for drilling closer to the center of priorities. My bucket list suddenly got much shorter and turned to focusing on things that "need" to be done. So for the first time, at least in my recall, I am writing my list:
1. teach Elisabeth to cook,
2. read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings into an audio recording machine of some sort-- maybe that's selfish: I would like my children and grandchildren to remember my voice,
3. meet Katie--I know that one's selfish!
4. I'll be glad to go to Great Britain and to teach biology in the fall, but those will just be bonuses.

My External Hard Drive

2009-06-24T08:09:00.003-04:00

For the past ten years or more, according to Dr. Olivi, my brain has been harboring a small, benign (we hope) tumor on its surface. As it has gradually grown, it has pushed the brain aside to make room for itself. Now, the brain is fighting back with edema; it has swollen near the tumor, which is on the top left side of my brain, just about in the middle of the top of my head. Because of the location, near a major vein and between two "tributaries", the doctor believes it is best to remove it sooner than later. There is a clear definition to the tumor which should make it easier to remove without damaging the surrounding brain tissue. Pop and I have been planning a two-week trip to Great Britain, as you know, and the doctor says that may go ahead as scheduled. I need to be careful to rest when tired (when have I not done that!) due to a slight possibility of seizures. So, we leave for London on July 21st and return home on August 6th. I will be scheduling the surgery for the week of August 17th, if the doctor's schedule allows.

I'm Still Here

2009-02-09T18:56:00.005-05:00

Since I haven't posted anything recently on my own blog I thought I'd put up some pictures taken after the most recent snowfall. I wish you could see the details of our neighbor's tall pine tree silhouetted against a mottled grey sky. The snow was beautiful, looking as soft as liberally sprinkled powdered sugar. I wish I could capture the subtle textures and contrasts with pencil on paper.

We were reminded in the childrens' message on Sunday that our sins are washed as white as snow by the blood of Christ. I hope I remember this truth each time it snows.

The Curriculum Guide for "Cooking"

2008-09-27T13:49:00.001-04:00

Proverbs 31: 14, 15 (ESV)

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

This course would include the topics of:
menu/meal planning
food budgeting
shopping
food preparation
serving
nutrition
food preservation

It would also address hospitality and stewardship.

Yellow Legal Pads

2008-09-27T13:26:00.002-04:00

Yellow legal pads are one of my favorite things. I've got a stack of them with notes on different subjects. I even like the black band across the top that holds the pages together, but if it were a lighter color I would use that space for giving each pad a title. These pads are a good tooth for either pen or pencil (my preference), and I don't mind tearing pages off if I've made mistakes.

I keep notes on Bible studies, school studies, and future plans. I've had one plan simmering in the back of my mind which I thought was for the future. When all the children are gone from home, or at least a bit more independent, I'm hoping to organize a "Titus 2" school for young(er) women who want to be busy at home, loving their husbands and children in a godly manner. The school would have a practical emphasis with a theoloogical foundation. I've been taking some notes on the classes to be offered, recognizing that I am not qualified to teach many of them--any of the sewing classes, for example. I even have a faculty "dream team" in mind, including Anne Wegener and Leslie Taylor.

Schools do not organize themselves, nor do the curriculm and lesson plans write themselves. There's no reason why I couldn't be working on those things now. I realized. A curriculum guide would be a good first step, followed by the particulars for each class. Therefore, this blog will be taking on an expanded focus. It will still present my thoughts for my children, near and far, but now it will also contain the seeds of this developing curriculum. While this may not be of interest to my sons, I hope that others who occasionally visit will benefit from any practical wisdom (and will offer helpful feedback). Up first--Cooking.

School Schedule

2008-09-16T13:32:00.002-04:00

I was just browsing on Mrs. Johnson's blog, saw her curricula choices for this year, and thought someone might like to see what we are studying at Covenant Academy this year.

William and Jesse get up at 6:50 with time to get dressed, make beds, and maybe eat breakfast before taking Elisabeth to the Benners' at 7. On the way home from the Benners' we've been listening to a Geography CD, learning the states and their capitals.

After Morning Prayer for families and a reading from the Gospel accounts--we've started with Matthew--we have Family Reading. We just finished The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We'll continue through the rest of the Narnia Chronicles and probably go to The Hobbit from there.

15 minutes of math instruction for each boy come next [Saxon 76 for William and 54 for Jesse], followed by Shurley Grammar--the 5th grade level. (Time to complete math assignments is scheduled later in the day.) We're using Latin for Children, Book A for both boys. This is a review for William, who did the first half of Book B last year, but it is the essential starting place for Jesse. I have the Latin reader (Libellus) that corresponds with their history, too.

I made a recitation booklet that contains math, grammar, a 5 page Latin chant, the History and Bible songs plus pop-ups I wrote for each, and a number of other poems and documents related to American history I want them to memorize. We sing and chant for about 15 minutes before studying our History and Bible. I'm using the Veritas program that presents history in chronological order from Ancient Egypt in 2nd grade through Modern American in 6th. Both Jesse and William are studying American History: 1450-1815. We'll be doing a lot of field trips in this Revolutionary War/War of 1812-rich area of the country, and will use other, primarily library, resources. The Bible curriculum is also chronological. We are studying the Life of Christ through the Gospel accounts.

We're using the Excellence in Writing curriculum, which I worked on modifying this past summer for the needs of St. Stephen's. We outline our history cards and then rewrite and improve them. Will and Jesse will each also write a research paper on a famous American Founding Father later in the year, and we'll do some creative children's story writing, too. In addition, back by popular demand, writing and drawing-for-the-brothers-who-no-longer-live-at-home will be a feature of our writing curriculum.

Most of the required reading for the boys will supplement the history we're studying. They'll read Johnny Tremain, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and Seaman--a story of the dog who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition, among other books.

Science may not be on the agenda this year. What science we do may be tied to drawing-from- nature--which I hope to do in Indiana. William and Jesse are enrolled in weekly P.E. classes, and each one is on a rec soccer team, too.

I don't envision any co-ops in our near future. For now, we're enjoying a slower pace and very flexible schedule.

Unexpected Turn

2008-09-08T01:34:00.002-04:00

Our lives have taken an unexpected turn in the past month. Blithly, I had spent a good deal of time and energy this summer preparing for this school year. I attended a classical education conference in Lancaster, PA, I took a three-week Latin class, I wrote lesson plans and a curriculum guide. My goal was to finish my preparations before going on vacation in August, and I met that goal. Then, just a day after arriving at my cousins' family reunion, and less than two weeks before teachers were to report for work, I got a call from the headmaster. St. Stephen's is in financial straits and I was being called upon to help. I was presented with the options of staying on full-time at a significant cut in pay, teaching half-time (also with a pay cut) or not teaching at all. The short version of what followed is--although I was willing, and even enthusiastic, about the prospect of working half-time, the pay would barely cover my expenses, so I resigned.

Although the school board had offered to allow each of the children to remain at the school, tuition-free, this did not seem to be the best choice. So, Stephen has been enrolled at Catonsville High. He finished his first week of school there and seems to be settling into that routine nicely. Elisabeth is at St. Stephen's, commuting with the Benners. William and Jesse are being homeschooled. The preparations I did for the classroom are serving me well for teaching the boys at home. The loss of income has me worried--and I do constantly remind myself that I shouldn't be, but that's the reason I'm up at this hour writing on my blog--but I'm also very content and happy to be busy at home again.

The Bucket List

2008-08-04T05:01:00.002-04:00

Middle-aged people often make lists of things they want to do before they "kick the bucket". I suppose young and old people do the same thing. I've made that kind of list myself, in the past. Now I'm realizing that making such a list might be depressing. In fact, I'm resisting the temptation just in case I get discouraged by all the things I think I'd like to do and realize I don't have the time, energy, money (or any combination of the three) to accomplish.

So my question is this--will I be able to do those things in heaven? Will I get to learn new languages? Will I be able to take viola and guitar lessons? Are there airplanes to learn how to fly, horses to ride, whitewater rapids to navigate, new countries to explore? I hope so. But, if not, will it matter to me then?

Sleepless Nights

2008-08-04T04:42:00.002-04:00

When I was a (much) younger mom I had my share of nights of interrupted sleep. 2 a.m. feedings were always my responsibility--did I really do close to 2000 of those? I don't remember much about them except that I often brought a warm, hungry baby to bed with me at those times. I didn't resent babies who needed to be fed. I don't remember children keeping me up at night, so I rarely felt tired in the morning. I slept well when I slept, and was able to fall asleep quickly after being awakened.

Now I am experiencing the sleepless nights I thought I had bypassed. If I nap in the afternoon I have trouble falling asleep at night (think "impossible"). If I drink any caffeine, I suffer with sleeplessness. I find my mind racing when I go to bed. I may have a Latin chant circling in there, or the design of a home that needs to be measured and rendered. Scripts and songs and lesson plans, lists of things to do, all compete for my attention like no child ever did at night. This is a new experience for me, one I do not particularly like. I don't mind entertaining some of these thoughts, but I would prefer sleeping.

I think I need to apply the advice of Chaplain Cunningham's wise wife, Marjorie. She told me that if I had difficulty falling asleep at night while Pop was away I should pray. Either the sleeplessness was from Satan--his effort to make me a cranky mother in the morning--or it was from God--who had someone for whom He wanted me to be praying. In either case, the answer was to pray. Satan would rather let me sleep than pray, so he would leave me alone. God would give me the rest I needed and the grace to carry on the following day.

A Mid-Summer's Night Dream

2008-07-20T01:23:00.002-04:00

I don't know the official mid-summer date. I would probably be depressed if I did know. But, from now on, my birthday will be the unofficial mid-point of summer. I don't like summer. I never have. It's hot, and there are bugs, and I don't like summer clothes. There are a few things I like about summer. I like to swim. I like to canoe. I liked Frontier Town. I like fireworks. But I don't like a summer birthday. Nobody is around to come to your party. Autumn clothes (ie: sweaters) are not in the stores yet, so you can't buy one with your birthday money. You can't take brownies to school to celebrate with your class. But, since my birthday is now, unofficially, the turning point of summer, I can finally now see autumn up ahead.

Now, of course, as a child there wasn't much difference between the front half and the back half of summer. I didn't buy my own school supplies, and I don't even remember shopping for school clothes. Perhaps we picked out fabric at some point which Grandmother then made into the school clothes, but that would have taken a day (buying the fabric, I mean, sewing the clothes took longer). However, as an adult, I am evaluating my progress toward a new school year as I anticipate the coming cooler weather. Am I half-way to being ready for the first day of school? Well, I have completed three weeks of Latin studies, and I think I am ready for teaching that. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the coming week I will be attending a classical schooling conference in Lancaster, PA. I know that will inspire me to complete my other preparations. I'll have about three weeks to get my lesson plans --overview for the entire year, and specific for September --ready.

Then, I'll be ready for the things I like about summer. We're taking a few days of family vacation at a cabin in West Virginia. Before that I'll go to New York for my cousins' reunion. There's swimming and canoeing and kayaking--and lots of fun cousins I haven't seen in three years. We'll go to Frontier Town--a ghost town now, but full of fond memories. I don't think there'll be fireworks, but we might be surprised!

Summer Thoughts

2008-06-09T17:38:00.002-04:00

Summer has become the time to manage projects that I cannot do during the school year.

Today I began the process of obtaining a passport. I found out that the certified document I thought was my birth certificate is only a certified copy of the registration of my birth. Until 9/11 this would have been sufficient, but now I need the actual birth certificate, so I have ordered that online. After waiting several weeks until it arrives, I will then complete the application for a passport and wait a while longer for it to arrive. (Pop and I are going to a church council meeting in Victoria, BC, in October, so I need the passport by then.)

Organizing my study is the major project looming. I am a procrastinator by nature, and the size of this job seems so overwhelming that I don't even know how to begin. I feel as if I'm moving piles from one side of the room to the other. I always look for something else to do rather than tackle this task--and I can always find something.

A third task, not really a high priority for me, is the possible acquisition of a dog. I'm thinking that a dog would be a good companion for Pop. It could go to the office with him each day and accompany him on his daily neighborhood walks. But, I don't want the responsibility of training, walking, tending, and cleaning up after a dog. I've spent many hours online looking for a suitable candidate, but I haven't fallen in love with any I have seen--and the "adoption" process seems unnecessarily long--fill out an application, wait several days, submit to a home inspection (yes, really, for a dog)--and expensive. Gone are the days of walking into the shelter and letting a dog steal your heart, I guess. But, if this process allows us to avoid the mistake of taking a "Ditzie", then I suppose it's for the best.

Finally, (and this is the motivating reason for this post) are our plans for a summer vacation. My cousin family reunion is mid-August. I attended the previous two unaccompanied, but this year seems like a good time to combine the reunion with our family vacation. Pop and I are considering driving north to Boston and then to Maine for about a week, and then we would drive west to Paradox Lake for several more days of camping with the reunion at the end. Gas prices are causing us to reconsider. We may shorten the vacation to a week at Paradox Lake.

I've often wondered why Grandmother and Grandfather never bought a vacation home for us to share. Perhaps they didn't want the responsibility. Perhaps they didn't want to be tied to one location for vacation. Perhaps they didn't want a bunch of rowdy Crums depreciating their property value. But, for me the ideal vacation boils down to three things--family, books, and water. I want to be with my family for vacation--especially those I don't see often. I also want a retreat where I can read all day long in (relative) peace and quiet. I want to be able to swim, and I think water also provides a great recreational distraction for children that allows me the peace and quiet for reading when I want to. I've given some thought to what it might take to acquire a family vacation retreat of our own. And, I've given even more thought to where that might be. Until several days ago I assumed it would have to be somewhere east of Indiana and west of Maryland, but nowhere in between appeals to me much. Then I began to consider making Bloomington our family vacation destination. So, here's the challenge--help me think through the feasibility of this. When Nate and Thomas consider buying a home in the Bloomington environs, could they find a large piece of property (say 8+ acres) with a residence or two--and a creek or pond? They would live in (and fix up, if necessary) their house. Then, they could--with the help of the other brothers--build (or refurbish) the house that would become our vacation/retirement home. We would add a great big swimming pool. All the Bloomington Crums could use the pool any time they wanted. The Maryland kids and I would come for a month each summer. Pop would come for his two or three weeks of vacation. Peter and Jess could then move to Bloomington and live in the house while building their own home (on the same property, if they want). The same for any of the others! Of course, I haven't considered the financial aspects, or the vacation ideals of others--I'm just dreaming for myself! Could this work? I'm serious about considering any and all insights.

Looking Forward

2008-03-01T21:44:00.004-05:00

I am looking forward to the coming week.
I will be teaching for three days this week, and the children will be participating in the school speech meet. It's fun to see the little ones, especially, say their pieces and take their bows.
I've added a "recitation" period to the 5th grade schoolday--25 minutes of non-stop History and Bible pop-ups, songs, Scripture and poetry recitation, with a little review thrown in. I'm looking forward to seeing if this will free up my remaining class time for more projects and biographies, while helping the students better memorize their chronological orders.
But even more than a short week of school with an entusiastic new focus, I'm looking forward to Matt and Emily's wedding on Saturday. I'm looking forward to being with the entire family (for the first time). I'm looking forward to seeing Peter, Jess, Jude, Ashley and Aravis, Matt and Emily, Ben, Michal and Daniel, Jonathan, and Nathaniel. I'm glad Nate and Thomas will have time together before the crowd descends at the week's end. I'm looking forward to Emily joining our family and Matt joining hers. I'm looking forward to seeing extended family and friends again. I'm looking forward to worshiping at Church of the Good Shepherd.

DVDs and VHSs

2008-02-23T14:01:00.004-05:00

Rather than send copies of this to everyone--and a new copy or update every time it changes--I will make an attempt (and succeeded with David's help) to put a list of the DVDs and VHS movies we own on the blog. Periodically I will update it. If some show up in blue, those are the ones I would most like to have on DVD.

DVDs
Aladdin
Annie
An Affair to Remember
Back to the Future 1-3
The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne Ultimatum
Cars
Casablanca
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Cheaper by the Dozen (Martin)
Collateral
The Court Jester
Dave
Finding Nemo
Finding Neverland
Forrest Gump
George Lucas in Love
Ghostbusters
The Great Mouse Detective
Groundhog Day
Hercules
Hoosiers
Ice Age
Ice Age Meltdown
IQ
The Incredibles
Jurassic Park
Jeremiah Johnson
Karate Kid
King Kong
Letters to Iwo Jima
Like Mike
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Little Women
Lord of the Rings (extended version)
Luther
The Majestic
Manchurian Candidate
Madagascar
Marx Brothers
Minority Report
Monsters, Inc.
Moonstruck
Muppet Treasure Island
Ocean’s 11, 13
Oklahoma
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Out of Africa
National Velvet/Black Beauty/Sea Biscuit
The Natural
The Parent Trap (Lohan)
Phantom of the Opera
Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2
Pride and Prejudice
Princess Bride
Return of the Pink Panther
Robin Hood (animated)
Rocky
Romancing the Stone
Sabrina
Samurai Jack: season 1
Sandlot
Sense and Sensibility
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Sleepless in Seattle
Shrek 2
Star Wars 2
The Sting
Superman Returns
Swing Time
Top Gun
Tora, Tora, Tora
Transformers
Twelve Angry Men
A Walk to Remember
War of the Worlds
West Side Story
Wit
You’ve Got Mail

24: Seasons 1-4
The Eagles
Lost: Season 1

VHS
Children
101 Dalmatians (live action)
Aladdin
Anne of Green Gables
Babe
Beauty and the Beast
The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion Returns
A Bug’s Life
Chicken Run
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The Emperor’s New Groove
Fantasia
Heidi
Homeward Bound
The Jungle Book
The Great Muppet Caper
Mulan
Pinocchio
The Prince of Egypt
Snow White
Swiss Family Robinson
Tarzan
Toy Story 1, 2

Adults
African Queen
Apollo 13
Ben Hur
Bourne Identity
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Braveheart
Captain Blood
Chariots of Fire
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Dances with Wolves
Full Metal Jacket
Forrest Gump
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Independence day
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The King and I
Landyhawke
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Men in Black
The Hunt for Red October
Fiddler on the Roof
For the Love of the Game
Mission Impossible
My Fair Lady
Narnia
Lion, Witch, Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
Silver Chair
Nutcracker
Oliver
Pearl Harbor
Pirates of Penzance
The Sound of Music
The Making of Star Wars
Star Wars: 1, 4, 5, 6
Singin’ in the Rain
The Man from Snowy River
Return to Snowy River
That Thing You Do
Tears of the Sun
Top Hat
The Trip to Bountiful
The Truman Show
Vertigo
What About Bob
While You Were Sleeping
White Christmas
White Fang
Willow
Young Frankenstein

The Internet---and Blogging--are Wonderful Things

2007-11-11T17:39:00.001-05:00

My dear friend, Roben, found me on the internet!
The last time I saw her was when they visited us in Elizabethtown, PA. That was before Stephen was born!
Now Roben and Joe are living in Virginia, and Jeremy is attending Bible college in Maryland. I hope to see her soon.

If not for the internet we would likely never have reconnected and renewed our friendship.
I know I don't post often, and often don't think I have much to say, but today I'm thankful for the internet. I read several blogs regularly--Kim's, Anne', the Bayly brothers', and the Colorado Taylors', and of course, the Crum Familys'--so, if there are other friends who find me--from high school, college, and beyond I'd love to hear from you, too.

I've Been Tagged

2007-08-31T21:11:00.001-04:00

Remember playing Hide and Seek in the house in Elizabethtown, PA? There were lots of great places to hide in that old farmhouse--including in the drawers turned upside down--but I always got found because Caleb would come sit beside my hiding place.

Now Mrs. Johnson has tagged me to participate in a blog game! I'm to post personal character traits that begin with each letter of my middle name. Mrs. Johnson didn't like her middle name growing up. I disliked my first name for a while, but felt my middle name fit with Jill. In fact, as you know, I often call myself Jill Anne when I've done something foolish. But, when I married I gave up that middle name to keep my maiden name as a more direct honor to the family in which I was raised. So, my present middle name is Moir (pronounced Moyer).

M--Mom! the best job in the world, especially when you have such wonderful children (and
even a couple who drive me crazy).
O--organized? People tell me I must be to manage the family God gave me. I used to be super- organized to the point of rigidity. Now (at least I hope this is true) I'm more mellow, but
I still can write a to-do-list with the best of them--and get it done, too.
I--interested. I really do like to learn about new things. Some things are more interesting to
me than others, but I find I'm a lot more interested in a lot more things than when I
was younger. I used to avoid anything to do with physical science, but I'm actually
looking forward to the hands-on projects about electricity and machines this year.
R--redeemed. Ben, I've been listening to the Good Shepherd Band album in the car recently.
First of all, it's wonderful to be able to sing my favorite hymn (O, the Deep, Deep Love
of Jesus) with you any time I like! But, what a wonderful collection of music to remind
me of my Savior's love and what He has done for me. I am deeply grateful that He
would extend His reconciliatory grace and mercy to me.

Mrs. J says I have to tag someone else, so although I think Jonathan's middle name would offer the greatest creative challenge I'm not sure he's still alive in the blogging world, so I'll tag Ben.

Fun in the Sun

2007-08-04T11:05:00.001-04:00

We got home last night from a night and a day at the shore. Rev. and Mrs. Francis Tennies kindly gave us the use of their condo on Chincoteague Island, VA which was just a short drive from the National Seashore on Assateague Island. Here's William enjoying the waves!

(I hope these pictures are in sequence--I've spent too much time trying to figure out how to include multiple images.)

O.K.--I've checked the blog and they're not in order, plus--what's with all the space between this post and the next? I need help!

Colorado Crums

2007-07-28T18:02:00.001-04:00

Here's a photo of Jess, Peter, Jude, Ashley, and Aravis taken behind their home in Colorado Springs on our recent visit. With beautiful weather for camping, the two tents in the backyard accomodated the boys from Jonathan down to Jude, while the other adults and the girls slept in the house. Meals were eaten in shifts, at times, and often al fresco. Jude is entering 2nd grade this fall; Ashley will be in 1st grade; and Aravis is looking forward to Kindergarten!???

Three Generations of Crum Men

2007-07-16T20:01:00.001-04:00

Here, apparently oblivious to the historical significance of the moment, is Daniel Peregrine Crum with his father Benjamin William and his grandpa David Alan.

Grand Tour Road Trip II: Summer 2007

2007-07-16T17:15:00.001-04:00

The first Grand Tour Road Trip began in Florida and took Mom, Elisabeth, William, and Jesse to visit all the brothers living away from home at the time. That was three years ago this October. We visited Nate at his Air Force school in Texas. Spent a long weekend with Peter and his family in Colorado. Ben took the train to Colorado and drove with us to Indiana to see him and Matt. Then we headed south again and saw Jon at Covenant College before returning home to Valrico.

The Second Grand Tour Road Trip began in Maryland this June and took Pop, Mom, Thomas, David, Stephen, Elisabeth, William, and Jesse to see all the brothers living away from home. We drove to Indiana where we saw Matt (now engaged to Emily, hurrah!); Ben and Michal with their first-born son Daniel; Jon; and Nate who had ridden his motorcycle from Louisiana. After a short week in Indiana we, along with Jon and Nate, drove to Colorado to see Peter, Jess, Jude, Ashley and Aravis. Here is a photo of the Colorado contingent (minus Jess who was working) at the top of Pike's Peak.

top row (left to right): William, Jesse, Ashley, Jude, Aravis, Elisabeth, Jon and David

bottom row: Nate, Pop, Mom, Stephen, Peter, Thomas

Experiment in Adding Images

2007-07-11T14:32:00.001-04:00

Pop and I spent two days in Annapolis at the end of May, celebrating our 32nd anniversary. Here he is on the campus of the Naval Academy.

This is my first attempt at including pictures on my blog!

When I have figured out how to transfer my vacation photos from his computer to mine I will post some of those, too.

If this works, I'll have to explore the other buttons at the top of this page to see what other amazing effects I can add!

Dear William

2007-05-14T20:21:00.002-04:00

Now you are ten. No more single digits for you. I trust that as you enter this new decade you will carry into it all that is sweet and endearing, and leave behind all that is childish.
New adventures face you in the 10s. You will become more independent of your parents, and yet I trust you will learn to be more dependent than ever on your heavenly Father. You will begin to make decisions on your own, and yet I pray that you will always seek God's guidance. I pray that, like Jesus, as you grow in age you will "increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."
Happy 10th birthday.
Love, Mama

Mother's Day

2007-05-14T20:13:00.001-04:00

Dear Sons: Peter, Matt, Ben, Jon and Nate,
What a treat to talk with each of you this past weekend. Each conversation is different and a gift. I'm looking forward to seeing each of you soon.
Love, Mom

The Countdown

2007-05-09T20:19:00.001-04:00

My first year back in the classroom is drawing to a close and I am exhausted, physically and mentally. I've poured a lot of heart and energy into this class! We finished up the Bible curriculum with a brief look at the trials of Job. We have several more history cards to study--presently we're learning about John Calvin. For the first time in their careers, the fifth graders will be completing their math book. We're on lesson 134 of 138. When we finish our math exams sometime next week we'll be playing math games until the end of the year! We've finished grammar, but will continue writing. Right now, each one is writing his autobiography. One student is tracing his family tree back to Adam and Eve! After that we'll study short story writing by examining what I consider to be a model short story--"Peter Rabbit". They'll each write and illustrate a children's book of their own.

To celebrate the successful conclusion of the year we're having a party next Friday. There will be two plays, written primarily by the students themselves: the boys on Daniel, the girls on Esther. (I'm sure that sentence is inaccurately punctuated.) We'll also present a guided tour through the history of art from Egypt to the northern Renaissance in our museum of original works. A spelling bee pitting parents (and other visiting adults) against the students should be entertaining. Finally, in celebration of completing the math book, we'll have an ice cream sundae social.

The last day of actual classes will be May 25. Then, following a long Memorial Day weekend--happy birthday, Matt--happy anniversary, Ben and Michal--welcome newest Crum--there will be a Field Day of fun?? and games on Tuesday, and a half day on Wednesday, the 30th. I hope to have report cards done soon thereafter.

Then, SUMMER VACATION--hurray!!! Look out, Indiana and Colorado. Here we come!!!

Miss Ruth

2007-05-09T20:11:00.001-04:00

Some of you may remember a kitten, named Miss Ruth, we had for a short time at the Kirby Road house. She was named for a dear friend from St. Louis who had been my midwife when David was born. Since then Miss Ruth (the midwife, not the kitten) has gone to live in China. Now she is in the States and has come to visit friends in Baltimore. Ruth is no stranger to the area; she lived in Baltimore while studying at Johns Hopkins before moving to St. Louis, and loves this area. We hope that when she retires frome her work in China she will move back to Baltimore.

p.s.--The kitten went the way of the Ninja.

Spring Break 2

2007-04-16T19:53:00.001-04:00

Well, Spring Break wasn't what I had expected. It began well. We took our time getting to South Carolina. We left home on Monday morning, stopping at the new Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. It's really well done. Pop's photo is front and center on a display of an ontos in a Vietnamese village. He wanted to show it to someone, so turned to the man who was behind us walking through. Although presently an advisor to NATO, at the time he was a Russian advisor to the North Vietnamese and knew men on the opposite side during the Tet offensive in Hue. Wow! Face to face with "the enemy" and he wasn't Vietnamese!

We spent that night (Monday) in High Point, NC--furniture Mecca, USA. There were so many furniture stores and so few cars and people on the streets! It seemed almost deserted. We had a very friendly waitress, Crystal, at a local barbecue restaurant. On Tuesday we visited Grandmom in Winston-Salem and drove through the Wake Forest campus on the way to Simpsonville, SC. We arrived in time for supper at Grandmother and Grandfather's. The well pump broke shortly before or after our arrival (could have used Peter's expertise) so we spent the night at Aunt Beth and Uncle Scott's.

Wednesday was cool and rainy--not at all a day for swimming. Kindly Aunt Beth took people to do some of their favorite things--David and Stephen went to Franky's Arcade while Elisabeth and Sarah went to the local arts and crafts supply store and later to Target. The kids had pizza for supper and the adults had Chinese. The pump had been replaced, so we headed to spend the night at Grandmother's. About midnight we got a call from Aunt Pam telling Pop his sister Barbara had died that evening.

Thursday was a glorious day--sunny, breezy, and comfortably warm. William and Jesse went to the pound with Aunt Beth to play with the kittens and puppies. Pop went golfing with Uncle Scott and we celebrated Grandfather's 80th birthday (belatedly) with a cook-out. After considering our options we decided to drive to Kentucky for Aunt Barbara's memorial to be held on Friday evening. We drove several hours before stopping for the night and continued the 9 hour drive the following day. Aunt Judy and Uncle Al with their daughters Diane and Mary (with some of their children), Aunt Debbie, Aunt Pam, Uncle Bill and Aunt Joanne, and Grandmom were all there. It was a most unusual "service"--held at the local Moose club with one brief testimonial of Barbara's love for her friends and the Moose, and then the regular Friday night Karaoke, Pop was politely asked NOT to speak. It was an interesting look at a different sub-culture. I know how the evangelical church does funerals--singing of hymns, readings from Scripture, a gospel sermon, and a meal prepared by the women of the church. Singing in celebration might be a good thing to add! I'd like the Beatles, Eagles, show tunes from Oklahoma, 7 Brides, Pirates of Penzance, etc. if you're compiling a list.

We stuck around for some of the singing and then began the 16 hour trek home. We took a long-cut through West Virginia (which was beautiful) and arrived home at about 9:30 on Saturday night. Needless to say, I didn't get much photography or blogging accomplished, so I'll put that back on the back burner and try again in June! It was far from a restful vacation--but with only about 7 more weeks of school left in the year, we're in the home stretch and I'm eager to finish well.

Spring Break

2007-04-03T19:27:00.001-04:00

There are two more days of school before our Spring Break begins. We will, of course, be staying close to home for the weekend. There is a communion service on Maundy Thursday evening; an afternoon service on Good Friday; a sunrise service and then the regular service of Morning Prayer on Easter. In addition, Pop and I shall attend the wedding of William's teacher, Miss Snyder, on Saturday. She will then be Mrs. Bauman.

So, after a busy week both at school and church, we will be ready for a restful vacation. We are heading south to visit Grandmother and Grandfather, Aunt Beth and Uncle Scott, and Aunt Marty and Uncle John, Sarah, Trey, Bobby, William, Jeffrey, and the newest addition, Rebekah Rose. We will leave on Monday morning with a stop in Quantico, VA to see the Marine Corps museum which opened there in November 2006. We plan to spend the night in North Carolina and arrive in Simpsonville around lunchtime on Tuesday.

If I knew how to add pictures to my blog I might send pictures of the various activities--Grandfather's 80th birthday party, swimming at Aunt Beth's, etc. Perhaps Aunt Beth will show me how to do that!

The Wisdom of Children

2007-03-07T17:44:00.001-05:00

This year we have been free to choose (or not) to give up something we value for Lent in order to devote that time to prayer, and reflection on our sinfulness and the great sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.
The younger children and I discussed the various choices and discussed why "vegetables" or "homework" were not suitable. I have chosen a fairly straighforward, standard choice--sweets. No desserts or sweet snacks (with the exception of sugar in my tea) for me. The first real temptation to give in came on Monday evening when someone brought a lemon meringue pie to the St. Stephen's women's meeting at which I was speaking.
But, the choice made by Jesse is, by far, the wisest and most spiritually beneficial "giving up for Lent" that I have ever heard of. He decided to give up talking. Now this is not an absolute vow of silence. He has devoted only a small portion of time each day to silence--the time spent traveling to school each morning. His reasoning? Giving up talking will help him say fewer bad words. But, the benefit has extended to the rest of us as well. The others are generally silent for the trip, too, and I use the time for prayer.
"...and a little child shall lead them." Thank You, Lord, for the things You reveal to young children.

Christ(mas) is Coming

2006-12-15T20:03:00.001-05:00

Even without looking at a calendar I would be able to tell that something exciting is afoot just by the behavior of my students. Fifth graders are not noted for their self-contol under ordinary circumstances. With Christmas coming they have been more boisterous, talkative, restless, unfocused, (and even giddy) than usual. They have been a wonderful object lesson for me of my own restless heart.

Of course, we are busy with the preparations for Christmas. I am excited to pick just the right gift for each one. (Thanks to Ben I know how to shop on the internet and have bought many of my gifts on-line this year.) We are all looking forward to the return home of brothers we don't see as often as we'd like. The excitement and anticipation can catapult each of us past self-control.

But, I was glad for this reminder from Pop on Wednesday evening. Advent is the time of preparation for Christ's coming. Certainly, we can prepare for the celebration of His first advent by buying gifts and attending parties. But, even more, we should always be prepared for His second coming. The call to worship during advent focuses on being prepared for His return.

"Therefore stay awake---for you do not know when the master
of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the
cock crows, or in the morning---lest he come suddenly and find
you asleep." Mark 13: 35, 36

Remembering both His first coming--and celebrating that with joy--and being prepared for His second coming---wanting that, and anticipating it as much as I do the visits of Matt, Jon and Thomas--has helped me stay focused on the tasks at hand, and has given me uncommon patience with my overly eager students.

Fun Guy

2006-10-22T17:09:00.001-04:00

Actually, I just wanted to capture your attention with that title. I'm teaching high school biology at St. Stephen's and we're on the fungi module. Perhaps you're blase, like most of my students, to these fascinating creatures, but you should stop and consider what may be going on beneath your feet--probably not at this very moment, unless you're blogging on a nature walk--but in your yard and all around the woods. If it weren't for these remarkable saprophytes the trees would have choked in their own leaffall long ago, fallen logs would clog the woods, and recyclable nutrients would still be trapped in their originally bodies.
One morning, on the way to school, we saw a live, but dying, tree with a ladder of pumpkin-orange shelf fungi spiraling up its trunk. Over the course of a week or two the color changed from orange to gold to yellow, and finally faded to tan--as brilliant as the turning of the leaves. At school, in the bark mulch near my classroom I discovered striated birds' nest fungi. They look like miniature spiky puffballs until they pop open. Then they resemble tiny bird's nests complete with spore sacs that look like four tiny eggs. Most people would simply pass them by without noticing them, but now I've got the high schoolers and my 5th graders on the lookout for fungi! The amazing thing is--those are not the bodies of these "plants", they are actually the fruit. The real organism is a network of threads below the surface--imbedded in their organic dinner. These filaments may stretch for yards and are among God's decomposers. They break down dead plant material, like leaves and twigs and fallen logs, returning the nutrients to the soil to be used by other plants to grow.
God's designs are so amazingly intricate, yet practical--and beautiful, too. Enjoy!

Ships Passing in the Night

2006-10-12T21:08:00.001-04:00

The first month and a half of school have gone by in a blur. It could be worse--I could have lesson plans to write every night in addition to papers to correct. I don't have to write lesson plans every night because I have to write and submit them for a month at a time. I decided to make mine more comprehensive than required so I would know what to do for review, instruction, and homework each day before the month begins--sort of like the monthly menu rotation at home! I finally feel like I'm getting into the routine, but the school day still ends long before all the material I'd like to cover has been touched.

I finally felt confident enough in my class that I could prepare lessons for them to do with a substitute in my absence. So, this past weekend I went on a denominational women's retreat in Williamsburg. It was a long drive down on Friday--about six hours in rain and heavy traffic. But the conference was good and I got to spend Saturday afternoon in the rain touring Williamsburg with Katelynn who goes to school at William and Mary, just about across the street from the historic restored village. The drive home on Sunday was more scenic, less hectic, and much drier.

Pop left on Tuesday morning to spend a week in Indiana. He was returning Jon's car that had broken down here when Jon came to visit, but Pop had actually planned to make the trip even before that. He will go to Midnight Madness (IU's first practice of the season, I think) with Matt on Friday night. On Saturday they'll go to the IU vs. Iowa football game. He's visiting many of our friends and spending as much time with Jon and Matt as he can.

But, I'm feeling like he and I have hardly seen each other in the last month. I'll be very glad when he gets home.

Alive and Well

2006-09-18T21:51:00.001-04:00

After spending the first two school weeks with either a headache or a head cold, or both, I am finally well! I made it to school every day of those two weeks--and even managed to enjoy it!

The new menu rotation plan seems to be working. We had four weeks (or more) in the freezer from the Sam's shopping in August and I just went to Sam's again last Wednesday. It took me over an hour to fill the cart completely. The cashier "allowed" me to repack the cart myself and commented that she would not have believed it would all fit if she hadn't seen it for herself. I got home just in time to serve dinner. Afterwards, Stephen and I spent a couple of hours grilling chicken, browning ground beef, and packaging meat into meal-sized portions. Now I should be good for the next four or five weeks. If this month is a success I will post the menu next month.

I cannot believe the fast pace of the school day. I don't have enough time for any class, but particularly Bible and History in the afternoons. There's so much more to say than is printed on the students' cards and we're trying to read Beowulf, too! We just finished a round of projects on the various Barbarian invaders of the Roman empire, and the Vikings. The 5th graders did remarkably well, so I will try it again in the future. I think part of the success was in giving them reading material with worksheets they had to complete. Then they could use their imaginations in presenting the material to the class. (When they have to find the material and present it, too, the presentation gets all the work and the educational value is almost nil.)

Elisabeth is on the volleyball team. Their first scrimmage was on Saturday and she was a starter. They lost all four games in the match (I don't know the correct terminology) but contested closely. After only two practices, I think this was very good. They didn't make a lot of stupid mistakes, but saw how important team work really is. Poor E didn't get a single serve over the net, so she needs some coaching in that, but she did well otherwise.

Stephen's Bible teacher was discussing Pharoah's refusal to let the Israelites go. He asked how many students thought Pharaoh could have let them go if he wanted to. Stephen was the only one to stand on the side of Pharaoh's inability to let them go, and gave a reasoned explanation of God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart. A couple of students were persuaded. The teacher, who had loaded the question for the opposite answer, was very pleased that Stephen stood his ground and defended his position well.

William and Jesse are each struggling with the workload, but enjoying school, nevertheless. I'm glad they all made it through without being sick, and hope we'll continue with good health for the next 8 1/2 months. Pop hopes so, too.

Exhausted!

2006-09-06T19:26:00.001-04:00

Yes, I'm exhausted! The first two days of school have sped by and I haven't accomplished all that I set out to do in those two days, but there are many more to come and I'm hoping soon to get into a good rhythm. I'm enjoying every class I have--math, grammar/writing, spelling, biology, history/literature, and Bible. I still feel like I'm in homeschool co-op mode--I'm surprised every time I say good-bye to a class that the next time I'll see them is (not next week, but) tomorrow!

The Lord graciously gave me what I had not felt free to ask--complete relief from Latin! I was working at learning it and asked the headmaster for help--which he was willing to provide, but it was the upper school humanities teacher who gave me the best gift. He exchanged his fourth grade spelling class for my fifth grade Latin III! He now teaches back-to-back Latin classes while I teach back-to-back spelling. I hope he is as content as I am.

Stephen, Elisabeth, William and Jesse have made an easier transition than I expected. Each one likes his teacher and classmates. Jesse was happy to get a check plus on his first math paper. William likes math best, but he also likes reading Grimms' fairy tales. Stephen told his teacher everything but math is his favorite subject. Elisabeth will enjoy the competition--and the friendships.

News from South Africa

2006-08-27T16:44:00.001-04:00

I published a short account of my phone conversation with Ben today on the Crum Family Blog. If I can figure out how to post it here, too, I will. Until then, let me encourage you to go there to read it. (And if anyone can walk me through the steps of posting it here, please do so. Thanks!)

Happy Birthday to Ben

2006-08-13T22:30:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Ben's 25th birthday. It felt odd all day knowing I couldn't pick up the phone, call him, and sing "Happy Birthday" as is our practice. I couldn't even send him a birthday card, not yet having his address in Africa.

It was encouraging to know that he is there with Michal to help him celebrate, and they are doing just what the Lord has called them to for this time. What a gift to us, as well, that their travel preceeded the recent restrictions! All is in His gracious hands.

We love you, Ben!

Overwhelmed but Motivated

2006-08-09T17:50:00.001-04:00

I've just returned home from the second of four days at a Classical and Christian school conference in nearby Millersville, MD. The amount of information has been overwhelming, and very helpful at the same time. I have been motivated to get busier with my plans--on many levels.

Each of the conference speakers has been careful to remind us that our mission is to train and equip the next generation for God's glory. What an awesome task! Which of us is qualified for that? and yet God does call and equip. His strength is made evident through our weakness, so I anticipate seeing a great deal of God's strength this coming year.

I have been using this week as a testing ground of "mothering" through with the additional responsibilities. My morning prep time must allow me to get out of the house to meet a schedule. Dinner is still my family's expectation at 6 pm. The Lord has graciously granted refreshing sleep, the stamina to stay alert in all the sessions, and hot meals on the table. I will be taking some cooking short cuts, I must confess, and have worked out a new 4-week menu with a modified "cook ahead" approach that I hope will streamline meal preparation while still satisfying our needs.

Countdown to Africa

2006-07-24T14:38:00.001-04:00

Ben and Michal leave for Africa in two weeks. I'm sure this will be a harder farewell for the Bayly family than it is for us since they have enjoyed having them nearby.

I am so excited about this opportunity for Ben and Michal. They will be working with an mission agency, helping to develop self-sustaining orphanages in South Africa and, possibly, Zambia. They will be listening to hear if the Lord is calling them into this work full-time.

Ben and Michal, I wish we could see you before you go so that we could put our arms around you and bless you on your way. But, you know you go with our prayers and blessings to discover God's future for your life. We entrust you to His never-failing care and providence with our love.

Procrastination

2006-07-24T14:22:00.001-04:00

I've had my school books for the coming year for several weeks now. In bits and spurts I've been working on "classroom procedures and policies" and lesson plans. I've come to the conclusion that there is no way for me to be amply prepared for September. I need to get up to speed on Latin; select the key people and events of the Middle Ages and Renaissance that I really want to highlight (beside famous artists); learn how to teach Shurley grammar; and write 3 lectures for each of 16 biology modules. So, am I motivated by all this work to get up early in the morning and burn the midnight oil? Do I work all day long, studying and preparing?

I have discovered that what I suspected all along is true. I am miserable at making myself do in advance what needs to be done for the future. My unspoken motto has been "Don't do today what you can put off for tomorrow."

I wish there was a positive, spiritual message to end this post. I wish I could tell you how I have pulled myself up with determination and self-discipline. But, the message would be false. So, instead, I will confess my sins and faults; ask you to pray for me; and resolve, with the Lord's help, to pick myself up and do the next thing.

A Humbling Experience

2006-06-11T21:52:00.001-04:00

I was recently reading the blog of a dear friend who credited me with pointing her in the right direction in her thinking about God. Oh, Kim, you don't know the mix of emotions that welled up in my heart all at once. Some, of the more prideful kind that I try so hard not to cherish and stroke, but others, like fear, that give me (proper) pause to consider the value of my speech.

"O, LORD, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Let my hearers remember only the things that are True and point them to You. Keep a guard over my mouth and give me a humble heart. Forgive me for the times I speak in haste, or only to hear myself talk. Let my words be Your instrument to build others up in the faith. For Christ's sake."

Painting

2006-05-21T17:20:00.001-04:00

Pop and I spent most of the day (and some of the night) Friday painting the living room of the new home. We chose the same mocha color we had used for the living room in Florida. We find it a soothing, relaxing color that really sets off the artwork well. We didn't know if it would be too dark here, but find there is actually more light in our Maryland living room than in the Florida house. The white molding at the ceilings and around the windows and door makes a nice contrast, too.

At some point in the afternoon I noticed my right hand was beginning to cramp, but I didn't feel tired and I had been painting at a steady rate with no interruptions!! , when I began to ask myself "Why do we paint, anyway?" Certainly there is reason to finish the interior walls of any home to offer security and insulation from heat and cold. A finish coat of paint to protect the surface of the walls from grease and dirt makes sense. But why had we chosen to devote an entire day, with all the aches and pains of painting in our dotage, to recoat walls that were in generally fine condition? Were we justified in our investment of time, energy and financial resources?

A home is a small world of safety and comfort. The family is blessed by surroundings that calm. Looking at the world God designed we see He selected colors that relax, sooth and calm. The greens and browns of the landscape are easy on our eyes. What a relief that the sky is ordinarily blue and not a shocking shade of red. And yet, there are remarkable accents in the world around us, too. I saw the flash of a goldfinch in the yard yesterday. The first daffodils and tulips of the Spring overwhelm us with their beauty. God could have limited Himself to a contrast of blacks and whites but instead chose to use an extensive palate to decorate the world.

Not everyone is going to choose "dull brown", as we have done. Some will be content with their favorite shade of white. Others will be bold enough for orange or purple walls. But color is one tool we have been granted by the Creator to re-create, on a small scale, the world He has entrusted to us.

Google Video

2006-05-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

Google Video has an amazing short film in the Top 100--"Amazing Juggling Finale". I don't know how to create a link for you to go there directly, but it's worth the time to google the web site. Peter, in particular, will enjoy it.

Also available is a video I put on the Google Video site. Ben, this is not the film I thought I was submitting. My final cut has better transitions, and music, but when I tried to upload it yesterday it wasn't in an acceptable format. I used the same editing program for both. Can you advise me how to correct this.
Anyway, if you want to see the original, soundless, version you can type in "Crum" and pull up my video as well as some of Ben's and Peter's.

The Next Chapter

2006-04-28T19:40:00.001-04:00

When we first visited Bishop Cummins I saw a notice posted near the pastor's office door advertising the need for teachers at the sister Reformed Episcopal church school, St. Stephen's Classical Christian School. The opening that interested me was for secondary humanities--history, Bible, literature and writing. I applied for that position, but did not get it. Instead, I was offered and have agreed to teach 5th grade, and possibly secondary level Biology, beginning in September.

Stephen, Elisabeth, William and Jesse will attend the school, so this will be a new chapter in their lives, too.

I am hoping to have the stamina to sustain the course load. I will probably be teaching history and Bible (integrated with writing and literature), grammar, math, and Latin daily, (plus science less regularly) if I have "only" the 5th grade. I don't know what will drop from that schedule if I am teaching Biology, too. Most fifty-three year old teachers are looking forward to retiring, not just beginning their classroom careers!

Please pray for me as I begin writing lesson plans this summer, and for the younger children who are anxious about whether they will survive in the new environment.

Homeowners Again

2006-04-28T19:21:00.001-04:00

Not long after we moved to Maryland Maria, a woman from Bishop Cummins, told us that another friend from church, Gail, had been thinking of selling her house. Maria knew it had four bedrooms and thought it might suit us. I asked if she would make a phone call and see if that was still the plan. Meanwhile, Gail was wondering if the new pastor's family would be buying a house and if they might be interested in hers. She received the phone call from Maria that same afternoon. Pop had already seen a number of houses, none of them as well-built and maintained as Gail's. We made an offer shortly after seeing the house, but have been waiting for Gail to find a new home of her own.

Finally, the wait is over. We signed all the paperwork today, so the house is now ours. The closing went smoothly and even cost us less than we had anticipated.

Gail closes on her new home next Friday and moves on Saturday, so we should have possession at the end of next weekend.

Some men from church are going to work on a few projects for us before we move in. Space in the basement will be walled off and painted for a bedroom for David. Shelves will be added to the broom closet in the kitchen to convert it to a pantry. A storage shed will be erected in the back yard. We're allowing Monday and Tuesday (the 8th and 9th) for that. We'll begin moving the light-weight items from our present house on Wednesday, and a local moving company will pick up the heavy furniture and all that's in storage on Thursday.

William will be the first to celebrate a birthday in the new house--on Sunday, May 14.

Haiku and Birthday Snow

2006-03-08T20:50:00.002-05:00

Reading back over my recent posts I realize I need to update two more things.

It snowed on Pop's birthday--making it a perfect day. In fact, it began snowing on his birthday and snowed overnight with an accumulation of over a foot! The snow's gone now, but it was wonderful while it lasted. (And, of course, we enjoyed snow ice cream!)

Ben thought he was reading an update haiku, but was disappointed.
Here is a haiku that may satisfy.

Hurray for Aldi.
Feed the whole team for less and
Get the quarter back!

Maryland Update

2006-03-08T20:22:00.001-05:00

I rarely get online these days since we are not connected to the internet at home. The younger children take a gym class on Monday afternoons that gives me about an hour "off". If Pop is not using the computer or counseling in the office he lets me use the computer there. As I check everyone else's blog and read the Baylyblog the time slips away.

Tonight after Evening Prayer I again have free time in the office while Pop is in a meeting and the children are still in their classes to post a quick update.

We have located a house we like and have begun the process of purchasing it. It has four bedrooms with space in the (finished) basement that can easily be walled off to make a fifth. In addition, it has a small den that I will be able to use as my own study! There is a living room, dining room, kitchen, one bedroom, a full bath and the den on the first floor. The second floor has three more bedrooms and a full bath. The basement has a family room, half bath, open room for a fifth bedroom, and a large laundry room with storage. It is about a five minute drive down the main street of Catonsville to the church and convenient to the Beltway (695), too. Financing it will be the biggest challenge, but Pop is working hard on all those details and, thankfully, leaving me out of it! If all goes well we expect to close at the end of April and could be moved in at the beginning of May. The home is beautiful and needs no work that we can see (the home inspection is scheduled for tomorrow) and has a very nice yard, too. Not big, but in a nice, established neighborhood.

I have interviewed for a teaching position at St. Stephen's Classical School in Eldersburg, MD, about a 40 minute drive. I had hoped to be considered for a logic or rhetoric level humanities position, but those have been filled. Instead, the open position is for a 4th or 5th grade class. I have not been offered the job (yet), but I did have a very productive interview last Friday and will be teaching a class this Friday on the art history of the American Revolutionary War era--primarily miniatures and other portrait work. If I am offered the position it would allow the four youngest children to attend the school for free. This is the education philosophy I most admire but have been unable to sustainably teach at home. The first year would be particularly difficult for them since the curriculum would be more rigorous than they are accustomed to, and a lot of work for me as well, so I appreciate your prayers as I consider this huge step.

We are looking forward to having company during Spring Break next week. Matt and Thomas will arrive early on Monday (after stopping in Pittsburgh to watch a Penguins vs. Flyers game). We expect Ben and Michal later in the week. I haven't heard if Jon is coming. He recently began a new job that he loves, but I don't know if he's free to take the time off.

Transitions Update

2006-02-06T15:06:00.001-05:00

We are in Maryland.
It hasn't snowed.
Pop preached from Jonah in his inaugural sermon yesterday.
Stephen is enrolled in the local public middle school.
Elisabeth, William and Jesse are playing street hockey at a homeschool gym class as I type this.
I forgot to put blue dots on the box containing the napkin rings. I have the cloth napkins, but no rings.
Hurrah for Aldi.
I have missed blogging reading your blogs.
I hope to be connected to the internet at home soon.

Love, Mom

Transitions 2

2006-01-07T19:40:00.001-05:00

A few days ago I was feeling claustrophobic. This was not the comfortable hedge surrounding the believer--God's protection and security. It was a confusing, chaotic lack of focus with a sense of pressing demands that left me feeling trapped. I knew there was so much to be done and I had no way of determining what to do first. I am grateful that that feeling passed and today the momentum toward moving day feels more like a steady march than a headlong plunge. God's hedge of protection is never stifling; there is always sufficient breathing room as He calms and gives rest. I am thankful for the Sabbath. I will greatly enjoy a day of rest and refreshment.

The children have packed their duffle bags with the clothes they'll need while staying in SC, and backpacks with "entertainments" for the trip. Their underbed boxes are packed with the toys and comforts they will most want in the temporary house in MD and have been labeled with blue dots. Blue dots are on all the things (or containers of things) going to the temporary house. All other household boxes and furniture will be going into storage. I've put blue dots on pictures and furniture. There are blue dots on the kitchen cupboards and bedroom closets containing things to be packed for the house, and a table with "blue dotted" items in the dining room ready for packing. I'll need to go around first thing Monday morning to make sure everything that needs a blue dot has been taken care of. That's when the packer, Bob, and his assistant will be coming to finish getting everything into boxes.

Pop got the garage almost completely packed up before he left for Colorado. He's having a great time, from the sound of his voice, but suffering a little from altitude sickness. It's hard to drink enough water to stave it off. He returns late Monday night.

Transitions 1

2006-01-03T19:49:00.001-05:00

Now that Pop has accepted the call to be rector of Bishop Cummins Memorial in Catonsville, MD we are in the process of preparing to move. There are so many levels of preparation it is easy to lose focus, and I find myself more easily rattled than usual. I melt down at a lower decibel level and need refuge more often.

A big part of moving is the packing. We did a good preliminary job of getting rid of lots of "junk" but we still have an estimated 10 1/2 tons of furniture, books, clothes, pictures, etc. that we will be taking to MD with us. We have done some of the packing already, and I am glad that we will have the movers finish up, but the difficulty is in packing some things for storage and others for use in our temporary home. The house we're moving to is 1/2 (or maybe only 1/3) the size of our home here. Every room is smaller, and there are fewer rooms. I need to separate the essentials of kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and classroom and figure out a way of organizing and storing them in a smaller space. In addition, we will be helping Thomas pack and move his things to the Pattons before the weekend is over.

The second challenge is in preparing to say goodbye to Thomas. Parents and students usually have several months' advance notice when their high school graduates are heading off to college to make that transition. We have had only two or three, and the time of our departure is rushing upon us. I remember the evening we said goodbye to Matt, Ben, and Jon when we left Bloomington. That was so painful, I'm not looking forward to doing it again.

Our schedule for the coming few weeks looks like this:
Thursday--Pop flies to Colorado to spend a long-weekend with Peter's family
Sunday--the children and I will attend Westminster for the final time; Thomas will probably be moved in to the Pattons
Monday--the packers come to finish packing; Pop returns from CO
Tuesday--the packers come again, if necessary
Wednesday (Jan. 11)--the moving van arrives and is loaded; we say goodbye to Thomas and begin driving to SC
Thursday and Friday--we stay in SC and sign the papers for the sale of our house in FL
Saturday--we leave the children in SC and Pop and I drive to Catonsville, MD
Sunday--Pop preaches at both morning services and we meet the congregation at a reception between
Monday or Tuesday--our shipments arrive; we unpack in the temporary house, deliver Pop's books to his new office, and place the rest in storage
Wednesday--we fly back to SC
Thursday--we drive to MD and begin to get settled

We'll have the following week to get David and Stephen enrolled in their new schools, get new driver's licenses, register the cars, etc. The current interim pastor will preach the final two Sundays of January and Pop will begin work the first week of February.

Church Search Update 7

2005-12-22T16:29:00.001-05:00

We are back from Baltimore after a most emotionally overcharged two days. Our flights were uneventful, non-stop, on time. We were met by George, a member of the search committee and vestry, who took us for a comprehensive tour of the communities surrounding the church. After lunch we had more tour, then a brief respite before dinner. The dinner at church was followed by a more informal interview than the last--this time with the vestry. They adjourned to the pastor's office and ten minutes later asked Pop and me to join them. Then and there they offered him the position of rector (senior pastor). I was completely surprised, having expected negotiations of terms and longer deliberations. Pop did not give them an answer without having opportunity to pray about it and discuss it with me, although he made it clear he was honored and humbled.

I was exhausted by the long, full day and slept soundly. We had breakfast with about a dozen vestry and search committee members; a tour of the house we have been offered rent-free for three months while house hunting; and more community sight-seeing before a quick lunch and return to the airport.

My head was still reeling and I was very glad for the distraction of John Grisham's The Broker on the plane but I could not even begin to come to grips with the speed of the whole process. Even now my mind is racing with all that needs to be done before we leave, and all that we will need to do to settle into a new community.

Pop is preparing to accept Bishop Cummins call. I am still pondering the "what if's" of Kentucky, but am content with Maryland. It is nice to have Matt, Jon and Nate home and to switch gears to Advent and Christmas again. Keep praying.

Church Search Update 6

2005-12-15T12:25:00.001-05:00

The vestry of Bishop Cummins (Baltimore) has invited Pop and me for a social visit. We will be flying north next Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, and returning on the afternoon of the following day--the same day we're expecting Matt, Jon and Nate to arrive from Indiana. We have already met 5 members of the vestry who are also serving on the search committee. There are about 10 we have not yet met. The vestry is the committee actually charged with calling and hiring the pastor.

If they like us they will almost certainly invite Pop back to preach and meet the congregation in the near future. If we like them, he will agree to go.

Pop had a phone interview with a PCA church in Danville, KY about a week and a half ago, but we have not heard from them since.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose....

2005-12-15T12:19:00.001-05:00

A male elephant is called a bull. A female elephant is a cow. This holds true for a number of other animals, too. If, however, you were referring to any elephant in general you would call it---an elephant.

Now, regarding the animals we commonly call cows, what kind of animal are they anyway? There are (plural) beef cattle and milk cattle--both cows and bulls. But what is the singular of cattle?

A Memorable Weekend

2005-12-12T21:50:00.001-05:00

We celebrated Grandmother's 80th birthday over the weekend.

I flew to South Carolina on Thursday. Grandmother, Aunt Beth and I went out to lunch at a sweet tea room and then for a tour of the Biltmore House on Friday. If you have never seen this estate in person I highly recommend a visit. Rent the audio tour; it contains interesting information about the many rooms you'll see, and helps keep you moving at a good pace. My favorite room was the library, but the whole place was fascinating.

Aunt Sandi and Uncle Bob arrived on Saturday morning, so we spent a good part of the afternoon shopping for groceries and party decorations. We found a fine "tiara" for Grandmother which read "Older than Dirt", and party hats for the rest.

The celebratory dinner was held on Saturday night, beginning with appetizers at 6:30. Aunt Sandi presented pretzels and vegetables with a selection of dips and an outstanding Brie en croute with a raspberry hot pepper glaze. The second course was a cream of carrot soup with seasonal herbs (prepared by me). Aunt Beth presented a salad of baby spinach leaves with corn, craisins and glazed pecans dressed with raspberry vinegrette. The main course was pot roast with gravy (prepared by the birthday lady), mashed potatoes, and green beans with toasted almond slivers. Uncle John baked a classic New York style cheesecake for dessert which was served plain or with strawberries. Gifts were presented during dessert and the entire evening was complemented by songs and stories.

On Sunday I went to church with Grandmother and Grandfather. Later in the afternoon Sandi and Uncle Bob flew home and I had supper at Aunt Marty and Uncle John's, topping off the evening with the season finale of "Survivor" at Aunt Beth and Uncle Scott's.

I flew home this morning and was met by Pop, Elisabeth, William and Jesse. Lots of fun, but glad to be home and ready to head off to bed.

Church Search Update 5

2005-12-06T17:22:00.001-05:00

Good news! Our house has been sold. We placed it on the market on Thursday and signed a contract yesterday--5 days from start to mid-way finished. The closing will be on or before January 16, so there is a chance the buyer may change his mind. But, he put down a deposit and has a good reputation for financing, so unless the house fails the inspection--in some major fault about which we are unaware--we have sold the house at a good profit.

Pop has a phone interview tonight with a PCA search committee in Danville, KY. The church is about 4 hours from Bloomington (but only about 45 minutes from Lexington--do we switch allegiances to UK?), in a small college town, with quite a large, active college group. This position appeals to me on so many levels--close to children, small town, ministry to college women (and I've even found a house I like, online, only .6 mi. from the library)! I continue to remind myself that God has had our futures mapped out since before He set the foundations of the world in place, so I can rest in His unfailing love.

Still no word from the church outside Baltimore. Pop spoke with one of their search committee members yesterday. They are still contacting references and will meet this Thursday. Patience and wisdom.

Church Search Update 4

2005-11-23T10:30:00.001-05:00

We're back from a long weekend in Philadelphia and Baltimore with progress to report. We arrived in Philadelphia at about noon on Saturday. Later that afternoon Pop had a productive meeting with Bishop Hicks of the Reformed Episcopal Church and Jon Abboud, archdeacon (assistant to Bishop Riches, whom Peter may remember, having enjoyed "preaching" along with him on Sunday mornings as an infant). Being satisfied with Pop's answers during their three hour long meeting the bishop is able to approve of his candidacy in the REC, and Jon has added his recommendation. On Sunday Pop preached at St. Matthew's (Jon's church) in the morning and in the evening we attended a supper and evangelism training at the church.

On Monday we visited the REC seminary in Blue Bell, PA. Although classes were not in session my former pastor, Dale Crouthamel, was in his office so we had a very happy reunion with him. Philly cheese steaks for lunch and then off to rent a car at the airport for the drive to Baltimore. It began to rain just as we got our luggage in the trunk and rained the rest of the day. But the trip to MD was uneventful and we arrived before dark which made finding the church easier. It's a large brick building, not terribly impressive on the outside, but with an attractive sanctuary and many classrooms, plus a small gym. We met for three hours with the search committee, spent the night with one of the couples, and had breakfast with a good number of the search committee members before returning to Philly for the flight home. The breakfast meeting, being very informal, was a good conclusion to a rather tiring weekend.

The search committee will be contacting Pop's references and we expect to hear if he is being recommended to the Vestry (the church board which hires the pastor) within the next couple of weeks. The next step would be to revisit the church to preach and meet the congregation after which we would expect them to vote.

Things went very well and we're confident the Lord will lead us clearly to the place He wants us to serve Him.

Church Search Update 3

2005-11-14T17:52:00.002-05:00

Pop received notice from the church in Anchorage that he does not match their profile. While any rejection carries a sting--"They don't want us!--there is great consolation in knowing that the Lord is not asking us to move soooooo far away from our family.

Pop and I travel to Philadelphia this coming weekend. Please continue to pray for wisdom.

Thanks, Peter!

2005-11-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Peter I have been able to move photos from my CamMedia albums to a file where I can find them and post them on my blog!

Have a guess at this gentleman's identity.

Church Search Update 2

2005-11-07T21:47:00.001-05:00

There are two developments to report:

First, the church on Cape Cod is currently considering two other candidates as their top choices for that position. Pop is in the second tier with a number of other men, but they are "on hold" until the first two choices have been thoroughly explored.

Second, there is a new prospect in the Baltimore area.
A couple of weeks ago Pop attended a pastors' conference sponsored by Ligioner Ministries (R.C. Sproul's group) in Orlando. While there he heard a couple of men mention Reformed Episcopal Seminary, where he received his MDiv, and engaged them in conversation. They are not pastors, but on the staff of Bishop Cummins Memorial Church, an R.E. congregation without a pastor, in Catonsville, MD. In briefly discussing the type of pastor they are searching for Pop thought he might be a good prospect for them. They exchanged names and addresses and he sent them a copy of his ministerial data when he returned home.
The R.E. denomination is the one I grew up in, from about 4th grade through high school. When Pop began attending Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia we attended a R.E. church in Jenkintown where Leonard Riches was our pastor. Pop switched to the R.E. Seminary in Philadelphia for several reasons, and pastored a small R.E. church during his final years of seminary. He was ordained in the R.E. denomination and they were his endorsing agent when he was in the chaplain corps. When he left the Navy and investigated returning to the R.E. church there were a number of factors that pursuaded him to enter the PCA instead.
Pastor Riches is now the presiding bishop of the denomination and his assistant, called an archdeacon, is Jon Abboud, Pop's best friend from seminary. Pop has been in contact with Jon about the pastoral position in Baltimore. But a dialogue about the changes in the R.E. church and Pop's own views is essential before determining if that would be a wise choice for us. Consequently, we have been invited, he and I, to fly to Philadelphia on November 18 for a long weekend. On Saturday (19th) there will be a meeting with another of the bishops--fact finding for both parties. On Sunday Pop will preach at Jon's church. Members of the pastoral search committee of the Baltimore church will be invited to attend and we will be able to meet with them on Sunday afternoon. If the bishop approves and the committee desires it, we would then drive to Baltimore on Monday to meet with the entire committee and members of the church staff, returning home on Tuesday.
Please pray for insight, wisdom, and clear direction for all involved. Certainly we want Pop to find a new position soon, but there are a lot of questions we need answered before returning to the R.E.church. And they would need to know Pop's views, too.

The Peter Crum Family

2005-11-02T11:34:00.001-05:00

Jess and Peter with their children, Ashley (3), Aravis (1) and
Jude (5) taken in October 2004.

Grand Tour Road Trip 2004

2005-11-02T11:18:00.001-05:00

Last year the three youngest children and I took a three-week road trip to visit all the brothers who do not live with us in Florida. We saw Nate in Texas, Peter (and his family) in Colorado, Matt and Ben in Indiana, and Jonathan in Georgia.
This is a photo of William taken at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO last October.

Thomas' New Car

2005-11-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

In an effort to learn how to post pictures on my blog I will send out a variety of family photos. Here is Thomas with the used car he recently purchased.

Palm Tree in a Hurricane

2005-10-29T20:36:00.001-04:00

"Palm Tree in a Hurricane"
Original artwork by Jesse
2005

A Macaroni Day, Hurrah!

2005-10-26T10:35:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was autumnally cool and the temperature this morning was in the (high) 40s. This is cause to celebrate, so in honor of the event I am cooking macaroni and cheese to take to Crock-Pot Family Night. Here's the recipe for any who want to reminisce with us.

1. Cook 4 cups elbow macaroni according to package directions--about 8 minutes. Drain, but do not rinse.

2. Melt 1/2 cup butter in the cooking pot. (or 1/4 cup oil, 1/4 cup butter)

3. Add 1/2 cup flour and whisk until flour just begins to turn golden. Use low to moderate heat. If it burns, throw it away and start again.

4. Add 1 tsp salt, pepper to taste and 4 cups of milk. Whisk continuously until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir for 1 minute.

5. Combine 2 (or more) cups shredded cheddar cheese--or combination of cheeses, cooked macaroni, minced onion (if desired) and sauce in a casserole.

6. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

This recipe can be halved or multipied. Adjust the baking time.
I'm not trying it out in a Crock-Pot. I'm afraid it will become dry or rubbery. If you try that with success, let me know.

Kalie Sets Record

2005-10-26T10:30:00.000-04:00

Kalie scored twice for the Lady Scots in Covenant College's soccer game yesterday. The first goal tied the school record for goals in a season and the second goal set the new record--22! Go to the college website to see her picture and read more about the match.

Church Search Update

2005-10-22T18:50:00.001-04:00

Pop received his proposed severance package from the Session this week. He will be preaching only three more weeks, but will be paid through the end of December. His final Sunday will be November 6. In addition, the money we owe the church on their no-interest loan for our house down-payment has been forgiven. That is equivelent to almost two months' salary.

This is comparable to the financial arrangement I hoped for, but the impending closeness of his final Sunday took me by surprise. Questions, primarily personal, flooded my mind. What will I do about teaching the monthly evening Circle Bible study on November 8? (Pop says "teach", that's his final official day--the Presbytery meets then and will approve, we assume, the severance.) Will I attend the weekly Tuesday afternoon Bible study? I don't think so. Will the children be able to continue with the youth group activities? Yes. Do we continue to co-op with the other homeschoolers? Yes, at least through the end of the first semester which ends before Thanksgiving. Second semester doesn't begin until January.

Within the next couple of weeks we will determine when to put the house up for sale. We have already begun Phase 1 of a four phase packing schedule. Phase 1 is de-clutter. We are removing any unnecessary furniture, decorations, etc. from all rooms to present the house to its best advantage. Stuff worth keeping is packed neatly in the garage. Nice stuff we choose not to take is given away. Trash is ruthlessly discarded. I actually enjoy this phase--it's challenging!

We heard a week ago from the Cape Cod church, that they expected to be reviewing Pop's "package" this past week, but we have not heard anything further. We know the church in Anchorage has received his ministerial data and sermon CD, but we do not know if they have contacted any references yet. This week Pop sent his application to a PCA church in Danville, KY and received an e-mail saying it had arrived. So now we are in the "sit patiently and wait on the Lord" stage. I think we are all feeling quite calm and secure in His kind intentions.

I'm Puzzled

2005-10-22T11:51:00.001-04:00

Why, if fire is spelled f-i-r-e, is fiery spelled
f-i-e-r-y?

Why do we spell the number 4, f-o-u-r, but spell 40, f-o-r-t-y?
44 is spelled f-o-r-t-y--f-o-u-r!

Peter's Birthday

2005-10-19T10:03:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is Peter's 28th birthday.

I woke up in labor in the wee hours of the morning, (breathe a sigh of relief here, since you'll get no more detail about it,) and we were on our way to Booth Maternity Center in Philadelphia in the dark before daylight. He was born about 7 am on a Thursday.

Pop came to the maternity center every day to visit when he was not working or in classes. Then, after church on Sunday morning he came to take us home. The trees in the park along the Schuykill River were at their most riotously glorious! It was as if all creation was celebrating with us.

I had always liked Autumn best of all the seasons, but that confirmed it for me.

Happy Birthday, Peter. We love you.

Inner Landscape

2005-10-15T11:14:00.001-04:00

As I get older, I'm more and more inclined to suspect that each of us has an ideal internal landscape. This is the pattern [the sights, the sounds, smells, even feel (perhaps imprinted while we were children)], that defines for each of us what climate, topography, colors, angle of light, style of architecture, fragrances, and other features create our ideal environment. Perhaps it is shaped through the places we have lived or visited.

Never was this idea of an inner landscape such a strong impression to me than this summer at my cousins' family reunion in the Adirondacks. It seemed like home to me there. I did not grow up in that house, nor in that neighborhood, except for the several weeks we spent camping in that area when I was young. But the shape of the hills (which seemed more mountainous before I saw the Rockies), the angle of the summer light, the smell of the trees--which were of a familiar kind, the presence of sparkling lake and river water, all contributed to a sense of comfort. My childhood home and surrounding neighborhood in New Jersey had many of the same features.

Now I realize there were other factors at work this summer. Being there without the responsibility of children, meals, laundry, etc. was itself relaxing. Being with my favorite sister in the whole wide world, and my favorite cousins, all contributed to a stress-free weekend. But the sense of inner contentment from the surroundings was overwhelming, especially in contrast to the landscape of Florida.

I have been able to identify some of the essential features of my own inner landscape--rolling hills or low mountains, even high mountains, opposed to flat land where I feel exposed; water, especially rivers or streams, followed by lakes, then ocean; trees, a mixture pine and deciduous--essential for autumn color, which is almost as good in its anticipation as in its reality; seasons, with the welcome cloudy days of winter; low-angled sunlight, dappled through leaves and sparkling off water, rather than harsh and direct; and architecture with some history (laughable by European standards, I realize). All of these combine to give me a feeling of safety, comfort and rest.

I wonder if people who have lived in one place all their lives even realize they have an inner landscape. Some may have been born into a landscape that doesn't suit them and are restless until they find it. I'd be curious to know from my children, born and raised in a variety of landscapes, which one feels most like home to each of them.

Getting Started

2005-10-10T07:45:00.001-04:00

Since you children all know my technical ineptitude, you will not be surprised that I have been struggling to figure out how to begin blogging for several months. My first difficulty was in getting to the blog I had registered back in January. I could not remember the particular details of its title (if that's what blogs have) and address. Even now, I'm not sure if I've created two more blogs in an effort to revise my initial title, and I'm guessing the only way to find out (at least for me to discover this on my own) is to give it a try.

But my larger difficulty is in actually committing words to print. It's so much easier spouting words out into the air by phone than to have the discipline of writing them down and taking responsibility for their existence. I do reserve the right to retract foolish remarks, and hope you will forgive and forget them.

I decided that in order to "blog" I must have a stated purpose in mind. I am writing these thoughts for my scattered children--in Colorado, Indiana, and Louisiana. In particular, I want to keep a journal of my thought and reactions to the events of the new adventure upon which we are about to embark. As you now all know, Pop has resigned his position here and is looking for a call--preferably in a (much) cooler climate. Writing my thoughts down will allow me to share the daily developments in our search for a new "home" while, I am hopeful, keeping me from complaining and gossiping.