Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7: 14

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Life aboard the USS Phoenician!!

Hello everyone!! I was looking through our old blog http://misskressantsmith.blogspot.com the other day and I came across this funny story that my sister, Kressant had written, and I knew I just had to post it on the new blog!! Hope you think it was as funny as I thought it was:)
Bethany

Life aboard the USS Phoenician By Kressant

As there are quite a few of our friends who have not yet heard about the stories of my childhood, not that they are that interesting by the way. I have taken to task to write about the origin of our family, and how we became the wacky, homeschoolin', travel trailerin'' sheep raisin', family that we are; thus providing a history as to how the Lord has brought us hither.In the autumn of 2001, our family embarked on another adventure to the Isla de Puerto Rico!Having lived there for 6 years when I was a little bit of a thing, I anxiously awaited our return and arrival to the home of my childhood. This trip however was slightly different than our previous stay, as for six years we had lived in a house like any other Puerto Ricano family. My Dad however thought that we needed a little more spice added to our life so he bought a boat, we packed up, and headed off without a shake down cruise. Having owned various other floating devices for the entirety of my short life, Daddy and Alan thought that there couldn't be that much difference in the small fishing boats that we had owned to the 41ft cruiser that our family was now abiding. So we headed off, Island hopping through the Bahamas and dodging hurricane Olga which followed us around offering a few waves here and there and blocking our escape inside the harbor of Long Island. Here we spent 4 days fruitlessly trying to escape, but each day driven back into the safety of the harbor. Finally God blessed our efforts and we were able to pass through and we continued on our way. As it would take 3 blogs to tell of all our adventures and they would probably bore you, I'll just stick to the fascinating things. I remember at the island of Staniel Cay, Mama, Daddy, and Alan went diving in the Thunderbolt underwater caves which were in some famous movie that I can't recollect at the moment. We girls hovered near the dingy refusing to enter as it was a pretty tricky entrance. If I can remember right, you had to swim against the current which had been pushed between two islands, and then between two giant rocks that you had to swim inbetween. From there Alan would haul us under water to duck under the wall of the cave and we would reappear inside a most beautiful cave! We girls huddled in the middle of the cave expecting any moment to be devoured by sharks as Alan and Mama, and Daddy explored. There was a wide whirlwind type current that surrounded the cave swirling fish and humans if you got caught, 'round and 'round the perimeter of the walls. We girls survived and returned to our boat thanking God for our deliverance. (We girls though raised and bred on an island are much 'afeared of sharks. LOL) As we girls scrambled up onto the back of the boat we turned as Mama fell into the water. Normally this isn't a problem but as I already stated there was an unusually strong current due to the fact that the ocean was forced between two islands. Mama had her mask on and her fins in her hand so she stuck her face down in the water so as to aid in putting on her fins when she started screaming and yelling "Shark!" As we peered into the crystal clear water we girls watched in horror as the enemy of our dreams swam nonchalantly beneath her. Even though it was the size of mama it paid her no mind and kept swimming for the pier. The locals have this weird tradition of throwing the well...entrails of their daily catch back into the ocean which signals sharks, rays, and puffer fish, that dinner is ready! They swarm about 5 o clock and we have video footage of the sharks and rays fighting over the bits of raw flesh. This is very interesting and exciting when you are out of the water, and we kids soon learned to exit the pleasures of the water 'round dinner time. LOL. Staniel Cay also proved to provide one more tale of which was particularly very amusing. We soon found that our mansion of the seas was by far the smallest sea going vessel out and about 'sides the locals fishing dingy's. Anyways it was not uncommon for us to be tied up beside a 100 footer all shiny and white with a crew of 5 including, captain, two hands, cook, and laundress. Our family had all of the above, yep, Rachie, Alan, Beth, Mama, Daddy and I were all the crew that our little vessel could boast. LOL. Well, we soon got used to seeing such luxury to the point that we quit running to stare at some floating hotel pass by and continued in our duties. One sunny day we noticed an elderly couple with their daughter meandering our way where we were playing on the beach. The couple sat down beside Mama and the little girl joined us in the water. As we started talking the little girl told us about all the things that she had been doing that morning. It consisted to our astonishment of sitting in a class room aboard her 180 ft yacht doing lessons with her private tutor! We girls stood stunned. Imagine, your in the Bahamas, sharks, sparkling crystal clear water, caves, and the run of a whole island to explore and she had spent her morning working at a desk! I guess that Mama thought that Marine Biology was enough for us and we had a good laugh back at the boat when mama told us what she had heard from the parents. The couple had been astounded that we were actually living on only a 41 ft cabin cruiser, and that we didn't have a cook, or a captain, or a tutor. LOL. Ahhh...homeschooling!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!

Yeahh!! We finally got our Christmas decorations up!!! Yes, I know were a bit late, okay, alot late but better late then never I suppose!!!
Us kiddies, the 'Shultz Brigade' went in the woods for greenery and stuff to put around the house. At least, that was the stated reason :) In the end we had no greenary and about a hundred pictures! We still got the house decorated later on so I'll go ahead and post our wood pictures too!! Hope you enjoy, Bethany

The lazy onlookersWally our 'Man'Out by our creek/swampYerik making a jumpThe jump is bigger then it looks. Really;)Trying to get a pic. of all the kids jumping at once And again

Wally and me jumping!!
Yuchi's cubby hole The beautiful water Part of the Shultz Brigade
Some mushroom type thingies Maud and I thought were neat looking Wally and barbwire ;)Yucho Madeks
Back at the house getting some real work done

The Deco. Crew
I couldn't beleive how many of our lights DIDN'T work!! Mauds new hairdewAnd mine!!! Does it make you think 'Wives and Daughters'? LOL!"Armani, Yerik, my brave boys"


The finished product!!!
Our Wise Men How do you like our 'Feather Dusters'?

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Master Joe-Joe

Here are a few pictures I got of sweet Joseph when I saw him last week. I thought he was so cute I just had to share them! Bethany

Saturday, December 13, 2008

How many vehicles do you need to start a truck?

Well, um for us on Sunday, 3!!!!!! yeah, it's pretty sad when your late for church cause your cars won't start :)the Lane ladies play their Dulcimers!! It was so pretty y'all, thanks for entertaining us!Playing "Take A Hike"Ki-ki trying to take my chair!!Love your enthusiasm Ansley ;)

Yup, it was chaos!!!!! had fun time y'all!


Bethy

Friday, December 12, 2008

Our 2nd Monthly Sewing day!!

Last Wednesday was our monthly sewing/scrap booking day!

It was such a joy to be able to work and fellowship with other young ladies

Mama and Mrs.Marilyn helping Maud
The Lane's table
Cattie-dear The little kids table
Creative ways to avoid the media

Trying to get a smile from Diane and Ki-ki
Come on girls, pleeeaaseee :)

Ahh, much better

Ansley and her tag-alongs

It was so good to see you again Mrs. Turner!
Wishing a "Happy Birthday" to Fiona and Caeleigh!!! Thanks for letting us be apart of y'alls birthday!
The gorgeous cake


Of course we had to dance! I bet you can guess what we danced!! ;)

Waltzing





We have so much fun at our monthly sewing (and sometimes scrapbooking) day! Come and join us. Email mom at Jacqueline@homeschooladvantage.us for information. Hope to see y'all there!!


Bethany