First Day of School - 2021/2022 School Year

Back to school 2021-2022!

How can I do this post with any less than 3 students...well, I can't, so here we go with student #1, our college freshman, Krypto!

He was super gracious enough to use the sign I printed for him and send me a "1st Day of College" photo. I LOVE this kid! So awesome in every way!

Here is a list of his classes this fall semester:

English 101 - Composition and Rhetoric

English 215 - English Literature I

History 201 - History of Europe to 1648

Bible 105 - Old Testament Survey - Honors Course

Religion 105 - Intro to Biblical Worldview and Contemporary Moral Issues - Honors Course

University 101 - Foundational Skills

Inquiry 101 - Research Skills

AFROTC 110 - Heritage and Values I

AFROTC 001 - Leadership Laboratory

He also sent me a photo of his lunch...his first Flames Pass swipe to eat at Hey Cow! which is the local burger place, in the Montview Student Union (aka, it's not the dining hall).

If you are interested in sending him mail or packages, here is his mailing address.

It will be good for the whole four years he is at Liberty as they don't change their Flames Box number.

Caleb Stamp

1971 University Blvd.

Flames Box 162709

Lynchburg, VA 24515

This morning, we started school with our Junior and our Sophomore in high school!

Gwangi is our junior, our 11th grader.

He is studying the following courses -

Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 (the 20th Century) as a Rhetoric student. We'll cover History, Literature, Geography, Worldview, Philosophy, and Government in detail.

Apologia Physics

Math U See Pre-Calculus

Analytical Grammar review and Wordly Wise

The Potter's School - Website design and customization - HTML and CSS

Udemy computer coding courses

Homeschool Psychology 

Russian review for our return to Kyrgyzstan

Sissi is our sophomore, our 10th grader.

She will be studying the following this year - 

Tapestry of Grace, Year 4 (the 20th Century) as a Rhetoric student. We'll cover History, Literature, Geography, Worldview, Philosophy, and Government in detail.

Apologia Chemistry

Math U See Algebra 2

Analytical Grammar and Wordly Wise

Russian and Japanese

The Potter's School - Psychology and Counseling from a Biblical Worldview

Guitar

Yep! We love school and it's going to be a great year!

Sissi's #14 birthday

And, our youngest is now 14!

This year, since we were in the US, she wanted a retro roller skating party with her Youth Group friends. It was really a fun time for them all and we're so thankful for our friends at United Family Church in Lewisville that made Sissi's birthday such a special day.

The roller skating derby group.

Some of the girls.

Skating around the rink.

Then, they all came back over to the house and Sissi changed into her new dress that she had wanted for her birthday and we enjoyed Red Velvet cupcakes and snacks galore while opening up presents.

Blowing out the candles on her cupcakes.

My sweet girl!

All the friends, enjoying cupcakes and snacks.

Opening the cards and the presents.

We bought her a couple of dresses she wanted and a necklace with her name on it.

A personalized mug from her friend, Morgan.

Fire pit and time for S'mores.

Then, on her actual birthday, we went to Carowinds down on the NC/SC border.

So, so many fun roller coasters.

There were really no lines, the park was so empty on a Monday when everyone is heading back to school. We walked onto pretty every ride we wanted to ride.

Is it possible to do too many roller coasters...well, when you do 6 in about 2 hours, your tummy really tells you it's time to take a break.

So, we did some of the more fair and carnival type rides.

I used to love this ride at the fair in Iowa when I was growing up.

Indy, loving the old truck.

Another one of the crazy roller coasters. All of the themes were really cool.

Krypto and Sissi coming off the ride.

Indy went on this one with Krypto and Sissi. I stayed off and took the pictures and videos.

When the rain hit and most of the rides were closed, we got Sweet Frog.

And then, just as we were getting ready to leave, they reopened the Fury 325 and so Krypto and Sissi got another chance for a super fun roller coaster ride.

It was our first time and we loved it. Carowinds, we'll definitely recommend you and we'll be back.

Just some of the beautiful magnolias in the park....

because I love flowers and I couldn't resist not sharing.

A trip to TN, MO, and AR

A couple of months ago Isabel contacted us about a surprise birthday party for my dad over the 4th of July weekend. We started making plans and were able to fit in a visit to Grandma Jackie in Nashville and a day trip to Silver Dollar City in Branson as well. Then, we arrived in Searcy, Arkansas and it definitely surprised my dad!

Family visit with Grandma Jackie in Nashville!

We had to leave Krypto behind because he was working at Sonic for the summer.

Then, we drove over to Branson and visited Silver Dollar City for a day!

Sissi loves, loves roller coasters so she spent a good portion of the day on those. Sometimes she rode with Indy, sometimes with me, and sometimes with a stranger.

The new Mystic River Falls was excellent.

Krypto would have loved the Time Traveler. Sissi and Indy did it together once and then she rode it again with another "single rider".

Very cool theming throughout the ride.

Sissi has always wanted to get into LARP'ing - Live Action Role Playing.

She loves hats and costumes and dresses up pretty regularly.

Then, we made it to Arkansas. Here is Isabel, working at the grill and preparing food for my dad's birthday party.

Good, old- fashioned bbq birthday foods.

Dad and Isabel in their new home in Arkansas.

Indy and Gwangi in Arkansas.

My dad's birthday cake.

My brother, Ben, and Lynsey were able to come up and visit for the birthday party. 

It was so great to see them!

The birthday gift that we brought for my dad.

Some of the guests at the birthday party.

Family, all together.

Isabel set up for Indy and Sissi to go out with them on a horseback ride. 

They loved it and have missed being in the saddle in Kyrgyzstan.

That night, they did fireworks in the back yard.

And then, it was time to head out. Our van was having trouble and so Dad and Isabel graciously allowed us to borrow their truck to drive back to North Carolina for some events that we just couldn't move around and they got our van fixed and then drove it back out to North Carolina for us. Such a sweet gift and kindness that we were so thankful for...we appreciate and love you guys, so much!