MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas Eve!!! :) So here I am doing that... well anyways, that's pretty much all i really wanted to say but i guess i could add something else. I'm writing on center right now so everything i write is centered. Teehee! 

But anyways, I'm writing a story! For part of language arts, i am writing a story.

(mom and dad don't read this part pllllllease!!!)

This is the part mom and dad can't read...

I'm giving the story the mom and dad when i'm done it! But who knows if they read this or not i don't really know if they saw a little part of this but whatever. It'll just be there fault they ruined the surprise. :)

Ok mom and dad you can read again.

We are going to a Christmas Eve service tonight, (also known as a candle light service but i don't call it that.) and our grandparents are coming over. What are you doing on Christmas Eve? Comment and let me know! You don't have to, I know for some people they would rather not share what they are doing to other people so thats fine but if you want to i'd love to hear what your doing! :) 

So have a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and Boxing Day whoever is reading this! 

jAmesA eNsiNg

(You know once I wrote 'james' instead of 'jamesa' and i was so ticked at myself! And yo know what's funny... well its not really funny, but to some people it might be, but it underlines 'Jamesa' in red squiggly, but not 'James'. Its veeerrrrrrry annoying if you name is Jamesa.) 

Greetings...

Christmas Blessings from our home to yours.... wishing you unending LOVE, uninhibited JOY, uninterrupted PEACE, and unfathomable HOPE that comes from knowing JESUS as LORD.

Love from ALL of us Rockbluff Ensings...

Winter!

So we have definitely stepped into Winter here in Victoria...frosty mornings and chilly nights.  I love it though.  It has been a beautiful week with the sun shining!  I love it!
It was a bit different this year anticipating the "break".  With the kids not in school, the leading up to Christmas vacation time was a little anti climatic for them, although they are enjoying getting up in the morning and being able to play rather than getting to work.  I certainly am enjoying getting away from the work part of my computer.  It was a full on term with hosting the MarketDay learning camp and Liam being in the Lego League.  Lots of time and mental energy spent on both of those things but also very worth it!  Jamesa and Liam learned so much from the MarketDay and Liam was stretched in the Lego League.  His team is advancing to the next level of competition and will be going to Vancouver next month.  From there it could be St. Louis or Germany!!  Imagine that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p12L5Aq3FME
Here is the link to the MarketDay you tube video...Enjoy!


Seasons like Christmas sure change each year as the kids get older...As I write, Jamesa is baking and Dominique is sewing...Evan is surfing Christmas you tube videos and Liam is in Vancouver with Duane for an indoor soccer tourney.   I gotta say, I am enjoying the hands off times as the kids take ownership of things like baking and shopping for each other.  This year they all took it upon themselves to give gifts to each other.  It has been fun watching them sneak away into their rooms to make or wrap gifts and then slide them under the tree when no one is looking.  It will be fun to watch them give them and be surprised at what they came up with!

This last week was filled with outings, carolling with friends,  and what will become an annual event...building a gingerbread house from scratch.  Designer Dad created the house and the kids had fun decorating it with every candy known to man!  One for me one for the house....two for me one for the house.... It was midnight before they were tucked in and sleeping that night.

I was reminded the other day to "be present", be in the moment and don't let your own agenda stand in the way of God's...sometimes they are not the same.... :) Especially at this time of year, allow God the space in your day to day happenings to direct your steps, thoughts, and words.  When we follow Him, it will always be for the better.  I am learning daily to let Him take the lead in my life.  It's worth it!!

Signing off for now...

Trish

Hey there again!

So, whats new with you? You can answer me later... I'll tell you about MarketDay in the mean time. 

MarketDay was awesome, it went really well. Just so you know... standing for 6 hours is really tiring. My feet were really sore afterwards!! But anyways, i sold almost all of it. All my mints went! Oh, maybe i should tell you what i did. Would that help? And maybe i'll tell you about what MarketDay is because i seem to have forgot that too. Silly me! 

Well MarketDay was a 7 week homeschooling course i took with i think 23 other homeschoolers. We learned about micro-finance and business. During that time, we  all came up with a product to sell at MarketDay on November 29, 2011. Mine was beanbag games and little mints that i made. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but i thought they were really good. They were the kind that melt in your mouth. Yum!! 

Moving on, i also had single beanbags, and you could also get it gift wrapped for an extra dollar. But no one seemed to want it gift wrapped. I think 2 people got it gift wrapped. But thats okay. The prices of my games were $5 for a beanbag game that includes 3 beanbags, (all homemade), and a list of things you can do with them. Like games and challenges. $2 for a single beanbag, but if you already bought the game, it was only $1. I also had homemade mints as you already know, for $0.25 for 5 all wrapped up pretty in a package. :) I sold out of those. So all in all it was a success. For me anyway, i don't really know about anyone else. 

What to say, what to say.... Oh! Well you can tell me what's new with you now! Go ahead i'm listening. ... ... ...                                 Hello?? Are you still there? I know, you're too speechless about what i said to say anything your self! Well that's okay, i understand. Most people are speechless after i talk. :D (i'm pretty sure most of you know that i'm kidding, but just in case you don't, i'm just kidding.) :) 


I better go, so it was nice talking with you!! 
Ta ta for now! 
jAmesA eNsiNg

PS. By the way... did you like the picture?? Comment if you like it!!! I like it so i guess i'll comment too. :) 

howdy all!

Hey guys
how ya doing? Because I am good homeschooling and all.
its going well love to here back from you.
keep an eye on us :D




Thats me by the way
liam :D

Serfing in the Kingdom

People keep asking me: “Duane, how the homeschooling going?”.

“Great”, I reply with a big smile on my face, “cuz I’m not the one teaching it”. 

Fact of the matter is that everything you do, your kids learn to do. So unfortunately there’s a lot of body sounds and faces that occur - yes, even at the dinner table. But all of this is a in a fun environment and is done in a way that we can act on an ‘outcome’.  Dog sitting? There’s an outcome. Making dinner? Outcome. Watching a movie? Outcome. Grocery shopping? Outcome. Thanksgiving? Black Friday? Cleaning the floor? Scrubbing the toilet? Outcomes. In each one of them. Market day and Lego league? Definitely learning and outcomes.

We the King and Queen, are trying to develop our little feudal kingdom here to include honouring each other, specifically amongst the little kingdom serfs and their land right-issues that arise on each other’s respective ‘turf’, and with the peasants that interfere in the said affairs of the minute.

Ah, but I digress. I love this little system and the mini-serf, peasants, villains,  merchants and lords under the king and queen’s reign. Each day is different, each fight fought valiantly, and grace and mercy most often prevail. (Serious crimes were heard by the King’s court , all other crimes were punished by beatings or having their hands and feet were tied together and they would be forced to eat worms or cooked tomatoes, or both)!


Mwwaaaahahahah *insert evil laugh here*

Hello Again!!

Hey I'm back!! Sorry i just had to add that picture. I'll probably add a picture every time i write just so you know... :) 

I don't really know what to write but i felt like writing because no one else has since i did last so i shall again! But anyways, i'll just tell about what type of yogurt i'm eating! I'm eating frozen cherry yogurt. Frozen yogurt is amazing. A lot of things are amazing. 
So right now my siblings are putting on a 3 minute play where you have to pay 2 cents for a muffin and 1 cent for a ticket to come, "follow the signs! Sit where your name tag is." I just went to watch it and it was really cute. It turns out it was actually 2 cents for a ticket, and 1 cent for water. You get ice cubes if you pay an extra cent. Life these days, you have to pay for everything!! :D

I forgot to mention a few things before that i was doing also, i babysit on Fridays and we also go skating on Fridays with a bunch of homeschoolers. It's pretty fun seeing and talking with everyone there. 

I can't wait for winter!!!!! Partly because Christmas and my birthday are in winter, but also because i love snow. Some people don't like snow but i have no clue why, it's so white and fluffy and shiny in the sun. And cold... but  still. :) 
I have to go now, we're going skating!! It starts at 1:40, but Dominique and Evan want to be there early so they can have full time on the ice. I don't think they know how early they're going to be though seeing as its 1:10. 

Toodles everyone!!! 
Talk to you later
jAmesA eNsiNg

Gee, i can't think of a title so this is it. :D

                                                                                          Hiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!

I would like to start with a bunch of funny pictures, but i will only start with one so as not to overwhelm you. :) (photobooth is mamazing just thought i'd say that)

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet, this is Jamesa speaking. :) So, how's life? Whoops i guess you can't answer that but i can answer it!

My life is stunning at the moment. We are doing this MarketDay workshop every Tuesday where we are learning about micro-finance and business. And on November 29, we are selling a product that we made. ANNNNNNND, we have to come up with a business plan... :( its hardish. (Hardish as in its sortive hard, but i'm tired right now so it might seem harder that it is at the moment. You know what i mean?) 

Homeschooling is pretty cool, we get to do more extra-whatchamacallit things like: I might/probably/am half leasing a horse named Madonna!! A girl named Taylor at PCS is also half leasing her. I also get to do fitness classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays which are interesting, and dance on Saturdays and Thursdays. And as most of you know i am also doing drama at PCS on Mondays and Thursdays. 

Plus GEMS girls club on Wednesdays. So my life is pretty busy. Its definitely busier than i thought it would be. But that's okay as long as i have time for my school work. Which right now i do, so hooray! 

This is getting kind of long... so i shall wrap it up in pretty wrapping paper with snowflakes on it and a nice blue and white bow. If i could which sadly i can't.... so instead i'll just say have an awesome rest of the day and you'll be hearing again from me soon!

jAmesA eNsiNg :D

Fall!

It has been an amazing Fall in our beautiful province and city this year.  We are privileged to have a lovely view from our living room window that shows the dramatic change of colors.  This year has been especially vibrabt.   Maybe I'm noticing more because I find myself home a bit more these days.

The other night Duane and I were out on a date...yes!! a date! :) and we drove up Mt Doug to see the city at night.  As we drove down Mt Doug rode all we saw were carved pumpkins lining the road.  It was such a great site to see all these perfectly in tact beautifully carved pumpkins!  The view from the top is also spectacular and we stood there for a bit like we used to do when we were dating staying out as late as possible.  We thought it would be fun to go home and pick up the kids to come and drop off their pumpkins and walk up to the lookout at the top of Mt Doug which we can see through the "far lookers" from our house.  The kids thought we were crazy pulling them out of bed and telling them to put on their shoes and a warm coat and to grab their pumpkins!  They were definitely intrigued!  It is amazing to me how something so little had such an impact on them!  They kept saying how fun that was and they keep talking about it.  When we tuck in Evan and Dominique they often ask, "Can we go on another adventure tonight??"  that is just one of the perks to homeschooling...the spontaneity and flexibility.  Having said that... there is often the other side of those great things too.  Having too much flexibility can be tough for someone who tends to procrastinate.   I do have moments when I think we are not going to get done what we set out to do!  I had a dream last night that it was the end of the year already!  I guess my sub conscience is thinking more about this than I thought...

All in all thought I think we are moving along at a good pace. The kids all say that they are having a great year when they are asked how they like this so that is good.  It feels very normal to me.  I am amazed really at how normal it feels.  Someone said that when we step into what we believe God is calling us to do then it will feel normal.  That makes sense to me and I am grateful that we are all feeling the same way!

We have begun to seriously look into mission trip options.  It is a bit daunting to start this process knowing how much there is to it...where to go, how to get there, language barriers, medical considerations, and more!  Somehow I have an inner peace about it all though.  Is that another confirmation of stepping into what God is calling us to do or is it just pure ignorance?? I don't know for sure right now...I do know that if we are meant to go and we continue to put ourselves in the position of going, then God will will take care of it!  "Trust and obey, for there is no other way..."

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying God's faithfulness in your lives.  He is faithful.  His mercies are new every morning.  This is something I need to tell myself daily at times.

Blessings,
Trish

following the road ahead

Although the title indicates a following of the road before us, and really this is what’s happening, it really could just as easily be called “four monkeys jumping on the bed”.  No wait, that was something completely different.  ”Life is like a box of chocolates…”, nope. “You are free to do as we tell you.”, uh, nada. “Fun and mental is fundamental.”, although that sounds, right it’s not what I was looking for.

The family path we’re on is an ever changing diorama in the shoebox of life.  As the light changes and hits the tissue paper covering our family box, we find a new breeze of learning blowing over our path. This is a new year of learning for us, on many levels. So our intent is to spend a few moments sharing a bit of whats going on in the ROCKbluff world. Join us. Enjoy the ride.

“I just know, before this is over, I’m gonna need a whole lot of serious therapy. Look at my eye twitchin’.”    -donkey, from shrek

duane ensing

Here we go...

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the Rockbluff Ensing's Blog!  You'll have to come and visit us to understand why we call ourselves the Rockbluff Ensings...our door is always open!

We are embarking on a new adventure this year and wanted to share it with you.  In my line of work as an online homeschool support teacher we are encouraged to keep up with technology so this is my attempt to do so.  I have also been hugely inspired by a dear friend in Holland... :)

What is our adventure?  Well after 2 years of working as an online support teacher we decided to take the plunge ourselves and homeschool our 4 kids.  Over the last 2 years I was unconsciously preparing for having our 4 kids home for a year or???  We presented it to them and they were all on board!  Part of the hook for the year is that we also have a dream to go spend some time doing some kind of missionary work.  That is something that has also been on our heart and we see this year as an opportunity to do it!

You will hear from all of us on this Blog... the kids are eager to write themselves!  and the bonus is I get to check off writing outcomes when they do... :)

I look forward to sharing this year with you.
Trish