New Blog Address

Kerrville Homeschoolers is now located at http://kerrvillehomeschoolers.com

Please visit me over there!

5 Field Trips I'll Never Go On

There are just some places in the United States that I have ZERO...some even less than zero...desire to go see and "experience".

1) San Francisco
2) Chicago
3) New York City
4) Las Vegas...I've been but don't want to go back.
5) Miami

Now tell me, why would I want to visit any of those places when there are so many AMAZING destinations??

My top 5 places I can't wait to visit/revisit:

1) Jamestown Settlement in Virginia
2) Branson
3) Renaissance Festival (we go every year and L.O.V.E. it!)
4) Yellowstone
5) toss up between the cities of American history (sites of civil war battles, Philly, Boston, etc)

Honestly, there are only so many "field trips" that one family can feasible go on. We must discern between mediocrity and greatness. Sure all of my "no-go" cities have great food and picturesque sites (well maybe not Chicago) but who wants that when you get so much garbage with it?

One of the many benefits of homeschooling is protecting your children's young eyes from the glaring sin in the world today. It's not possible, nor advisable, to shelter your children from all evil all the time. Certainly one would agree though that explaining practical nudity (Las Vegas, Miami) and homosexuality (San Francisco) to a 3 year old is ridiculous.

A former pastor of ours said something that has always remained in the forefront of my mind:
"Sometimes you have to say no to the good things, so you can say yes to the really good."

Of course, we don't know at the time we choose to say no that right around the corner is something spectacular. God is always testing our faithfulness to his Word.

EDIT: Einstein just reminded me that I have been to Chicago...not even 3 years ago. Wow. That is really sad that I couldn't remember that. Oh well, he also reminded me that I did in fact enjoy the food and shopping.

A rare sight

Nickname Explanation

Recently, God made a few things apparent to me. 1) Anyone can find out most anything about my family on the internet. 2) There are actually people who don't like families with many children, especially if the homeschool. 3) Protect for what the future may hold not necessarily the present. Clear as mud?

Basically, I have chosen to keep my children's names private on this blog, yes I know they can be easily found elsewhere. But, it's a start.

Where did the names come from though??

Cha-hisser. When she was a wee lass of a few months I was reading Miss Spider Gets a New Car. My husband came in the room as I was reading the sound of one of the cars they were test driving. "Chahiss". Our first born then became Cha-hisser.

Jack Jalapeno. I have no idea. It's a pretend name given to him by Cha-hisser, they use it everyday.

Grace. Another name bestowed by Queen Cha-hisser. Can you tell Cha-hisser is a typical first born?

Ter-Ter. Our baby doesn't really have a nickname but jokingly we sometimes call him this. So it is now his internet name...until I think of a new one.

Ling-Ling. I'm laughing just typing it. No reason other than Einstein said it and I love it when my hubby comes up with cute names.

Einstein. My husband is a genius and my lack of on-the-spot creativity landed him with the name that everyone in the world associates with high intelligence. Forgive my cliche moniker.

Autumn. That is really my name...well sort of. Many, many people choose to call me Amber. I can't quite explain that one.

They really get it!

Jack Jalapeno is playing soccer this season. On Saturday his coach asked him the name of his school (He never talks to "others" until he sees fit to do so). Jack Jalepeno's response was heard clearly across the field by his very alert aka nosey sister Cha-hisser, "I'm homeschooled."

Cha-hisser quickly announced it to us and everyone else in the stands and we sat very proud. This is the first time Jack Jalapeno has actually said he's homeschooled (he's 5 so technically this is the first opportunity).

Later we learned that the response by the coach was:

"Oh, so you are going to be really smart!"

So see, non-homeschooling parent DO get it. We homeschool for many reasons but the outcome is almost always the same- an intelligent, logical, well socialized young adult.

5 Things You Must Teach Your Children

Have you ever stopped and thought about 5 things that you must teach your children before they leave home? I say "must" because these 5 things will probably be so important to you that you couldn't imagine NOT teaching them to your children.

One of the beauties of homeschooling is being able to look back over everything you were taught, not taught, and life experiences and compile a list of "must-knows".

Einstein and I discussed some of the waste of time topics we were taught in every school we attended (middle school, high school, undergrad and doctorate!). How about the Kreb's Cycle? Ya, I've referred back to that a whole bunch in life.

Or how about the fact that every stinkin' math teacher in response to "when will we ever use this?" reduntantly repeated "oh, you'll use it every day." True, I use math in some form everyday but it's never the way they taught it. It's in the form of fractions (cooking) or the basic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

I don't often (all though I have) solve for some unknown variable or compute the area of a nonagon.

Knowing what it is that you want you children to be equipped with as they leave the nest is hugely important. Perhaps I may sound like I have had this list filled out for a while now...no. Last night Einstein asked me and I was forced to thoughtfully come up with an answer.

Here are the 5 topics my children will learn from me before they graduate:
1) How to persuasively write.
2) How to defend their position on anything (debate).
3) How to create a healthy, balanced menu and cook those items with little effort. (girls)
4) Reasons why our family makes the choices we do: homebirths, breastfeeding, chiropractic, awareness of environmental toxins, ... Teaching them these things is probably my #1. They not only affect them but their children and so on.
5) How to budget. We follow Dave Ramsey and they are already familiar with him.

Einstein's list is similar, here is his:

1. About God. This includes prayer, what the Scriptures teach us, the Gospel, theology, and NT Greek to read the original NT language.

2. Love for learning through books.

3. How to start, grow and run a business successfully. (Preferably a home-based business.)

4. True health. How the body works and heals, and what can be used naturally to assist it's healing.

5. How to write and speak persuasively. (The better one is at this, the easier it will be to accomplish #3 above.)

6. Family Values. Includes marriage, kids, modesty, etc. (basically a subsection of #1 above.)

I didn't include a thorough working knowledge and understanding of the Bible in mine because I thought it was too obvious. But it is the #1 priority we work towards every day. ;)

I encourage you to prayerfully create your own list. It's never too early to start working towards those goals. Actually it makes them much easier to accomplish the earlier you start.

Wordless Wednesday: Always Learning

Yummy baked goodies

I loooooove to bake. Not just the occasional batch of cookies. I'm talking every day- cookies, cakes, brownies, anything!

I say every day but that is really my wishful thinking. My husband has limited me (meanie). He would be happy, as would his waistline, if I baked only once a week. I can usually squeeze in a good 3 desserts.

When one loves to bake and one has a limit on the number of times this hobby can be practiced, one has to be more creative than baking the nightly dessert . So, this morning I made homemade pancakes with homemade chocolate syrup. So lovely.

None of that Bisquick bunk. Bah! Would I dare lower myself to buy Hershey's chocolate syrup. Nay!

Only real sugar in this house lol.

Being a lover of all things baked I tend to be a bit selfish. Not just in eating the goodies but sharing my kitchen to create them. I've had to pray that I will be more open to allowing my children to bake with me.

Like many moms, that thought "I can get it done quicker if I just do it myself" always infiltrates my mind. But this morning when Cha-hisser said she wanted to make the pancakes because she "loves to cook", I was happy to indulge her desire.

They turned out fabulous if you don't count the fact that I couldn't remember the exact oil measurement so they were a tad dry. But who the heck cares when you have homemade chocolate syrup!

Along with the chocolate syrup I pulled out the honey (what we usually use). When Einstein asked everyone what they wanted I laughed at the thought of anyone refusing chocolate!

The chocolate syrup recipe I used was from Hillbilly Housewife. The pancake recipe is one my mom taught me and if I shared it with you I'd have to ... well maybe if you beg I'll share. After all, every kid deserves real pancakes ;)


Cooking with your children is an excellent way to incorporate learning into everyday living. Cha-hisser understands that 3tsp make a tablespoon**, 4- 1/4 cups equals a cup, and so on.

It is so much more impressionable when a child learns measurements and fractions in a fun setting as opposed to sitting at the table with felt pie pieces (just an example).

**Cha-hisser did not learn this lesson until she made homemade cornbread the other day. I told her to put in 2tsp of baking powder while I went out to do laundry. Afterwards, I asked her why the Tablespoon was out. I made her figure out how many teaspoons she actually put in. The cornbread was still plenty good!

Who's teaching your kids life lessons?

Homeschooling isn't just sitting down with your children and teaching them math, reading, science and history. As a matter of fact, in our schedule there is no math. Nature is our science. And reading and history are combined in a fun way.

Homeschooling means you, the parent, want to be the one to teach your children about life. Not letting them wander aimlessly into a large classroom with 12-18 other children under the supervision (hopefully) of a teacher that may or may not be a pagan, homosexual, or a pedophile yet to be "caught".

Oh, I know, not all teachers are bad. True. But, I'm not willing to take that chance especially when I don't have anything better to do ;)

Besides, you can only ask so much of a teacher who is paid between $30k-$60k to work ALL day with a bunch of children (some prepubescent, some rebellious teenagers, some drugged up, some who have never been disciplined, some abused... you get the picture). I can imagine it's hard just teaching them one little concept, much less valuable life lessons.

I went to public school. Where did I learn life lessons? Where did I learn about modesty? sex? drugs? money? honesty? integrity? character? logic?

Sadly, I learned them from the world (or didn't learn them). Now, I had great parents. So, this isn't a "poor me, I was cheated in life" blog post. I feel that my parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had at the time.

Now that I have children of my own these life lessons are approached with extreme care. You only get one chance to expose them to something for the first time. I'll never forget when Cha-hisser was reading a history book to me and came across the Scopes trial. Before Scopes, creationism was taught in schools and after evolution was.

Cha-hisser had never heard of the word evolution before. When I explained it to her, a confused look came over her face and she said, "that's silly." Yep.

I can't imagine Cha-hisser coming home from school saying, "today, my teacher told us that men should be able to marry men." The stress and emotion that would arise from that situation is crazy to even imagine.

How about modesty? Is that something I'd want Cha-hisser to learn from "the real world"? NO! Please, Lord, protect her eyes!

A month or so ago our family was convicted of our modesty. The Lord placed it on our hearts that myself and our girls would wear skirts only. Wearing skirts has been a huge blessing to our family. Sounds strange, I'm sure. But, it has helped teach our girls about being feminine. And it has helped me be more submissive to my husband. For me, wearing jeans made me feel equal to Einstein therefore I saw no need to submit.

Our family does so many things against the norm (really now, who wants to be normal? normal is abuse in every other household, over-medicated kids and parents, spending more than you make...) why add one more battle? Why choose to be on the defensive when you can play offense?

Homeschooling has already created an unbreakable bond between our family- and we've only been doing it for 3 years. Every thing we do is a learning experience.

My goal is to not have moms around me praise me as being some kind of super mom. HA! I only wish they understood that homeschooling is choosing to live ALL your life with your kids. That's it! Yes, you have to spend a little time formally teaching but trust me TRUST ME, if I can do it anyone can.

If you aren't currently homeschooling, here is my challenge to you: Write down the top 5 reasons why you don't want to/don't think you can/refuse to homeschool. Pray about those reasons. Ask the Lord to place people, magazines and blogs in your life that will either negate or solidify your reasons.

I pray this blog post motivates all moms to protect the eyes and ears of their children. It's much easier to teach them the right way first than having to undo bad influences.

Wordless Wednesday

School Pictures

Sometimes I'm a little slow *blush* Last week I saw a blog hop that looked fun. It was hosted by Life With My 3 Boybarians.

The name of the blog hop was Not Back-to-School Hop: Student Photo Week. So, as they say, better late than never :)


Cha-hisser: If you need a poster child for all that is good in homeschooling she's your girl. Very sociable ;) Extremely intelligent. Loving. Creative. Perseveres until you force her to stop. Just a complete blessing.






















Jack Jalapeno: Funny. Observant. Emotional. Active ALL THE TIME.





























Grace: Quick learner. Lovable. Compassionate. Independent. Witty.

Are you smart enough?

You are not required to have a degree to homeschool your children.

Having said that Einstein and I have quite a bit of advanced education. Einstein is a doctor and possibly the smartest person I will ever meet (say any ancient civilization or geographic region and he will give you an in-depth explanation in 10 minutes that will surpass all your years of schooling!). I have a lot of 1/2 advanced degrees :P plus that little bachelor's.

Now, you'd think with all of that we'd know the answer to just about every question our children would ask us. Nope.

"Is a whale a mammal?" Einstein really could not fathom that a whale nurses. I assured him that I had seen videos of this occuring.

"When did dinosaurs live?" I still don't know but Answers In Genesis is teaching me :)

"Who won the Civil War?" *sigh* I'm sorry. I blame my ignorance on the public school system.

"Do dirt daubers sting?" I don't think so but that's just what my mommy told me.

"What is the definition of truth?" Ah, my sweet Cha-hisser. So deep. But, really try to articulate this simple, yet profound word.

"Who wrote (insert any book of the Bible)?" 3 months ago I couldn't have answered 90% of the books. But, after much study I can quickly answer!

There are so many more that I can't recall. The point is no amount of public education is going to give you the answers to your children's questions. Homeschooling isn't just for the children.

I've learned SO much by homeschooling. I'm learning Greek for crying out loud! I can recite Psalm 23!

Recently I listened to a Vodie Bauchum (the one called Answering Objections..) audio and loved what he said about teaching your children the catechism:

...when a father gasped at the vast weight of teaching ALL of these to our children Vodie said he whispered the secret to this father..."you just have to stay one day ahead." (I butchered the quotation but you get the point!)

Basically, learn it the night before and the next day you look like genius to your children. We don't have to know it all.

Can't wait to learn something new tomorrow!

Greek, anyone?

Since June our family has been learning how to read Greek (Biblical Greek). It has been such an amazing experience! It's something we ALL do together. Yes, even the 2 year old!

We do everything else together so why not Greek?

When we started out we simply made notecards and memorized the symbols. After we had a good knowledge of them we began with the worksheets. We use the system by Harvey Bluedorn. Besides disagreeing with Harvey on the pronunciation on many of the English words, I am very pleased with this program.

Einstein prints out the appropriate pages for him, me, Cha-hisser and Jack Jalapeno. I then change the Greek letters to a corresponding English letter for Jack Jalapeno. That way he is involved and learning English first ;) Grace "writes" her ABCs on paper while begging for her own praise.

We are only up to Lambda, but already we feel so intelligent! There is something about learning a foreign language to boost your self-confidence.

As far as schedule goes, we were doing Greek after dinner and before family worship. But, that was making the evenings so crunched. We've moved it to after breakfast (and the reading of Proverbs) and it really sets a great tone for learning with all the kids.

I am so proud of Cha-hisser. She is the most brilliant 7 year old I've ever spoken with. She keeps right up with Einstein and I and often corrects me.

Our long term goal is to read the New Testament in Greek. I can't wait!

Field Trip: Farm

Recently we started drinking goat's milk after we finally faced the fact that Jack Jalapeno is sensitive to pasteurized cow's milk. We had a feeling but when it got worse the more he had, we knew.

Thankfully, we found a sweet young family with 2 extra gallons of goat milk we could buy each week. The kids loved the tour of the "farm": mingling with goats, petting an hours old chick, visiting a whole bunch of chickens and riding a horse.

It was definitely a day to remember for them.

The next day we drove 1 1/2 hours to a ranch to purchase a 1/4 cow. Sort of a sample pack to see if we like their meat. Really though there isn't any chance we won't like meat from 100% grass fed, no antibiotic, no hormone cows!

While visiting the Shudde Ranch the kids got to feed the chickens and horse while sweating profusely in the 100+ heat. Ugh! It was miserable and fun at the same time.

We took the scenic route home from Shudde Ranch and saw the most amazing views! We are truly blessed to live in the Hill Country!!

Do You Have 2 Heads?

2 Heads? For sure! I mean I must if I homeschool, right?

That's certainly what many people think when you tell them you homeschool. It's interesting that the fact that we homeschool always comes up after they've raved incessantly over the local schools.

Ever noticed that everyone who sends their kids to public school resides in THE top school district in the state? Fascinating.

I try to smile as they give me this golden nugget of information then, because I would hate for them to leave with the wrong assumption ;), I politely say "we homeschool".

The funniest response I have gotten to this statement: "Oh, well, if you ever decide to not homeschool anymore Kerrville has amazing schools." This man, the pest control man at that, had already bragged on the schools 4 times!

What is so funny about this statement is that he (and most other people) believe that to homeschool is some flippant decision we up and made one day. Like it's on the same level as deciding what color underwear to wear today.

It's actually quite insulting to the intelligence of homeschoolers to assume that it's a decision made lightly.

I remember very clearly when homeschooling became a part of our lives. Einstein was driving home from the practice when he heard James Dobson talk about how detrimental the public school system is for boys. This one statement was enough to flip a switch in Einstein.

We had been discussing homeschooling but weren't sure which way was best and what God wanted for us. Hearing Dobson was just confirmation that we were heading in the right direction. From then it wasn't a question but a matter of how and what.

I was almost 100% NOT on board. I mean really, what mother doesn't dream of the day she gets some "free time"? Who doesn't wish they could read a book at 11am, take a shower at 1pm and bake cookies for the kids as they arrive home from prison daycare school?

Once I got over those insanely selfish feelings...3 years later!...things have actually been fun.

It wasn't until this year that we were "really doing school". We'd been teaching since Cha-hisser was 3 1/2 and her intelligence was praised by many. But as far as having a set plan, 2009 was the start.

We knew that Classical Christian teaching was our future plan but we weren't sure where to start with a 7yo. So we purchase Adventures in My Father's World. After a couple of months of doing that Einstein read Teaching the Trivium.

Talk about confirmation! Teaching the Trivium put into words everything Michael thought and wanted for the education of our children. It gave us resources, schedules, ideas, and support that we had been craving.

My previous post talks more about that.

I can say that 80% of the time I enjoy homeschooling Cha-hisser, Jack Jalapeno, and Grace (on a good day Sterling is napping). If you've figured out how to not be selfish 100% of the time PLEASE let me in on the secret!

My favorite part of our day is reading a good book. I say "good" because not all of the books I read would I consider good. Sure the kids love Hank the Cowdog but ...

I really do love to see the raw excitement that the children have for Greek lessons. They honestly love it and so do Michael and I. Our family is so close. We eat every meal together, read together, have Bible reading 2x/day together, take walks together, drive in the country together, learn together, live life and LOVE GOD together!

That is what homeschooling is about!

Our Daily Schedule

Over the past few weeks, life in the our house has changed dramatically. I am so humbled by God's ever present hand in my life.

For years we have known of the book Teaching the Trivium by Bluedorn. We knew of this book because we homeschool using the Classical Christian approach.

After seeing it go on sale I purchased it for Einstein and once he cracked the book life as we knew it changed. It's not like we were living a bad life, God just had bigger plans for us.

Have you ever known that you believed in something or knew something but couldn't quite put it into words? Then when you read it in print the huge lightbulb flicks on and you have that moment of suspended motion. A moment when you say "finally! Someone else thinks like I do."

Well, Teaching the Trivium provided that moment for Einstein. I love to see this fire in my husband. He can't stop devouring new information (if you know Einstein you're probably thinking that he's always been this way. he has but now it's multiplied exponentially!).

If you are completely clueless on what classical christian homeschooling is or what the heck Teaching the Trivium is about, here is a synopsis:

The Trivium In a Capsule

The Trivium consists of the first three formal subjects of the seven liberal arts: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. This is the formal Trivium in the classical sense. This formal Trivium is an academic reflection of the more basic Biblical Trivium, the mental capacities of Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. (See the list of references at the end of this article.) The classical style of education is built upon these three mental or intellectual capacities:

1. The first, for receiving and gathering up information - Knowledge.


2. The second, for arranging and connecting the information in a logical order - Understanding.


3. The third, for putting this gathered and ordered information into practical expression - Wisdom.

Children are continually developing in Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. Though these three capacities are mutually dependent upon each other, and the capacities are developing in the child from before birth, nevertheless, children pass through several developmental stages, or levels of learning, where one capacity experiences rapid growth. We will describe these stages below. Keep in mind that our age divisions are not meant as nice neat little cubicles. They are only arbitrary approximations, and they may vary greatly from child to child.

...
In summary, the capacities for Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom are not neat little compartments with sealed doors between them. Rather, they all develop at the same time from the very beginning, yet they each pass through successive periods of intensive development, until they finally catch up with each other and work harmoniously together. These ages are only approximate, and your child may be on either side of the line.

To summarize it all in one sentence: we first instruct the child in Knowledge; then we guide the youth in Understanding; then we challenge the older youth in Wisdom.

*Exodus 31:3; 35:31; 36:1; Deuteronomy 1:13,15; First Kings 7:14; Job 15:8-9; Proverbs 2:6; 3:19,20; 5:1,2; 8:12; 18:15; 23:23; 24:3,4; Daniel 1:4,17; 5:14; Ephesians 1:8,9,17,18; Colossians 1:9,10; 2:2,3; and many other places.

Peruse that site for more information on the Trivium and Classical Education.

Now, as my title eluded to, here is our daily schedule. Einstein feared I would push-back (as I often do with change) and that the kids would resist. However, like all things God designed "the cards fell into place". Life has been much easier, less chaotic and abundantly rich since implementing this schedule.

7:00 am Wake Up. Breakfast. Chores (I will add this chart in another post)
8:00 am Bible time/Family worship/Prayer
8:30-9:30 am General meeting

1. Recite memory work- Bible verses, alphabet (eng., latin, greek, hebrew)


2. Reading- children read (Bible history, Constitution, poetry, etc.)


3. Practice narration- Cha-hisser or Mommy reads, Jack Jalapeno and Cha-hisser narrate back

9:30-10:15 am Mommy reads. May ask questions to children about what was read. Can do art or crafts but must be quiet! (the littles may busy their hands but must listen)

10:15-11:30am

1. Phonics for Jack Jalapeno - English notebook


2. Copywork- minimum 15-20 minutes (Bible, history, poetry, quotes, speeches, latin, greek) - can combine w/ artwork and draw pictures of what is being copied - put in English notebook


3. History and Timeline

11:30-1:00pm

1. Prepare and eat lunch


2. chores


3. clean house

1:00-2:00pm Naps.

2:00-2:45pm Mommy reads aloud (same system as 9:30)

2:45-4:30pm nature walks, play outside, library, volunteer work, field trips, museums, fairs, workplaces, ....

4:30-5:00pm Mommy works out

5:00-6:30pm Dinner and chores. Bible reading and questions w/ daddy.
6:30-7:30pm Daddy reads. Latin or Greek work.

Where are all the homeschoolers??

Since we've moved to Kerrville (in Feb.) everyone - EVERYONE - tells us there are "tons" of homeschoolers here. But where are they???

There is virtually zero presence on the web for anything homeschool related in Kerrville. That's why I decided to start this blog. I have a busy cloth diaper blog All About Cloth Diapers, what's one more responsibility?? lol

Since this is the first post, I'll tell you a little about us: I have been married to my wonderful husband for 11 years! We have 4 beautiful children whom I will refer to as Cha-hisser, Jack Jalapeno, Grace and Ter-Ter.

We have been homeschooling since 2005ish. Cha-hisser was eager to start learning with workbooks very early. We've learned though that every child is different...WAY different. Jack Jalapeno is just beginning to learn letters and writing.

Grace is 2 and as we sit down to Greek at night she is eager to participate. Unfortunately, she thinks the english "c" is the greek "kse".

And of course little Ter-Ter is just hanging out, soaking it all in. At 4 months we think he is hands-down the smartest baby!

We began homeschooling with certain ideas about what was best. But when Einstein read "Teaching the Trivium" by Bluedorn the lightbulb went on and everything just clicked.

I will be posting a post I published a month or so ago on my family blog about our daily schedule. At first it seemed impossible but once I did it a week it is simple. Aren't all new things like that?!

About our family

We are a Reformed Christian family. We believe that as Christians we are to constantly be growing closer to the Lord, comfort isn't an option. We weren't always this way.

Although we became Christians in 2000, it was a comment at a recent dinner party that skyrocketed us into a new level of love for the Lord. We are so grateful for that comment, although that comment was not intended to lead to these changes.

We have been married for 11 years in August. We have 4 children: 7yo Cha-hisser, 5yo Jack Jalapeno, 2yo Grace and Ling Ling born 3.09.

Homeschool is not just a choice we made because of a hatred of the public school system (or private for that matter). We feel that God has given the responsibility of educating children to the parents. It is our job to raise them up. We are the ones who will stand before Lord and be held accountable for the choices we made for our children.

Recently, myself and our daughters went to wearing skirts only. This has been a very positive change for our family. We've also found that we really don't need the TV! Crazy for me to say that as I love a good movie.

If you would have told me 6 months ago that my life would look like this I would have laughed at you! But, God is faithful and his desires will come to fruition. No matter how hard we fight it, God's way is the way that will lead to joy, blessings and contentment.