Photography Practice

November 29th, 2007

As mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been practicing photography with our digital camera, to produce better (at least decent looking) pictures, and so all don’t have to put up with my commonly blurry, grainy ones. Well folks, I’m happy to say I’ve been true to my word, and have faithfully been grasping many opportunities (too many opportunities, my brother would say) to test my skill on the camera and snap pictures.

I’ve take rather a fancy to photography, and although I have no desire to become a photographer in the future, I genuinely enjoy my practice (more like ‘fiddling with the camera’) very much. I begin to observe my surroundings with new eyes, searching eagerly for a neat camera angle, or a sunset to capture. It really is a fun hobby! Plus the fact that I can now share pictures with friends by posting them on the blog has a lot to do with my interest too… :-)

These are a few pictures I took over the past weekend. I must say that the cloudscapes are my absolute favorites. There’s something so magical in the few moments before a thunderstorm – I just love it! But see for yourself which ones you like best.

Clouds: they can be so beautiful! It’s in times like these that I’m so awed by creation, and the Creator. (makes me want to add a Psalm to the captions) How good He is to allow us to enjoy His awesome handiwork.

-Kasie

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Posted in Photos | 9 Comments »

Hair Design – Julia Style

November 26th, 2007

A bundle of hair, bows, clippies, a ton of hair bands and barrettes in the hands of a four-year-old girl and you get…

THIS!

A kid’s way of thinking (or at least Julia’s): the more the better!

She insisted on doing Katrina’s hair also:

I’ve never worn so many barrettes and bows in my life!

I think we look very becoming, don’t you? :-)

-Kasie

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Posted in humor | 15 Comments »

Game Day

November 25th, 2007

It is tradition among the Willi (and their extended family) to officially declare the day after Thanksgiving as “Game Day”. It is a day dedicated to, well, playing games! This year the games came in all shapes and sizes – cards, boards, charades, and even xbox.

It is my opinion that Game Day should be declared a National holiday! (At least it’s a better name than “black friday”, right?) :)

Enjoy the pictures!

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Posted in Family News, Photos | 9 Comments »

The True Story of Thanksgiving

November 22nd, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

A New “Home”

November 21st, 2007

It was late Saturday night when the Willi entered Virginia; and a few minutes later they were safe and sound at their future residence. One mini van burdened with canoes and bikes, one large moving truck hauling a trailer…a nine hour road trip = one, very tired family. :-)

“Welcome Home!” Karlyn greeted us at the front door.

I smiled; Jeepers! I had forgotten that Jason’s house would be our home for a few months! :-)

Since Saturday we’ve successfully unloaded our things into their proper places, and for the most part have settled in with my brother’s family. The kids wrote us welcome signs and posted them all over the house; isn’t that sweet? (for those of you who don’t know, my brother Jason has seven children; don’t worry, I’ll post about them:-) We’ve been given two bedrooms and a bathroom all to ourselves, kitchen and cabinet space, and storage in the garage and basement. Have you ever heard of such hospitality?

Funny, it seems to me as if we’re still on vacation – a very long vacation – and really haven’t moved at all. Even though I know in my head that we have indeed moved, it doesn’t exactly feel like it yet. A strange sensation at that…. Hopefully as the weeks go by and we go back to school, reality will ‘hit me’ (so-to-speak) and I’ll be able to adjust.

In the meantime, we’re having a ball with our family! The weather’s been great (yesterday was incredibly warm), we’ve been spending time outside or carrying on our tradition of card games, watching movies together, and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

Here are some pictures from our last few days.

Well folks, that’s it for now. It’s time for me to make some apple pie for tomorrow!

-Kasie

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Posted in Family News, Moving | 11 Comments »

Saying Goodbye

November 19th, 2007

(written Friday, November 16th)

“Let us not say ‘goodbye,’ but as the French have it, ‘au revoir‘!”

-Mr. Whickham to the Bennett family in Pride and Prejudice

Not even a ‘goodbye’ or ‘au revoir‘ for that matter; I prefer ‘Until we meet again!” because I know in my heart that even though we’ll part for a time, (Lord willing) we will indeed see our dear friends again: this is not the end.

The hardest part of moving for me has been leaving our dear friends, family, and extended family. I and all my siblings have lived in 14 Malstorme Rd. for all of our lives (Mom and Dad for even longer), and over that seemingly short time God has blessed us with a glorious circle of wonderful friends; it’s not easy saying goodbye to them.

We spent our last few days in New York mainly with our friends, visiting from house to house, saying our farewells to everyone. I know I will see them again someday, but that didn’t make the parting any less difficult.

We’ve shared such grand sweet times together, haven’t we? So many memories; memories that I will keep close to my heart forever.

We love you guys so much, all our wonderful, dear friends! We will never forget or replace you. Keep in touch; drop a note, email or phone call. Until then I look forward to the time when our paths will cross again.

May God bless you!

-Kasie

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Posted in Moving, Uncategorized | 14 Comments »

“It would rain…”

November 15th, 2007

“All right Dad’s home! Hurry! Let’s load the canoes on the van!”

An  “early start” was  later than expected, so we scrambled round trying to make up for lost time. All of us were  bunched at the Kruse’s front door, causing quite a ruckus while donning various shoes and jackets appropriate for the weather.

Weather? Did anybody say weather?

Five heads peered out into the gloomy, steady drizzles, groaning over the the miserable packing day ahead of us. “Uhm… ” I reached for my rubber boots with a sigh. “It would rain!”

(Unfortunately I didn’t actually say that – but it would have been brilliant if I did!)

Sloshing, splashing, wading my way through the puddling mud was adventure in itself. Feeling the soaked nylon jacked cling to my skin brought back many memories of camping in the Adirondacks! :-) “Roughing it” today didn’t seem so appealing…

But the plan? And the people who offered to help? Could we switch to the next day? *Gasp* we daren’t go against THE SCHEDULE!

As the rain promised to pelt relentlessly all today, the Willi has abandoned “Operation Pack Thursday.” Necessity has determined that we refocus our goals for “Operation Pack Friday.” :-)

God is in control! Praise God for His Sovereignty over our lives! Please pray for dry weather, wisdom for the packing, and that everything would fit in the moving truck neatly.

God bless and keep you all!

-Angie

Posted in Family News, Moving | 6 Comments »

English Country Dancing – The Extreme Version

November 15th, 2007

Only for the hardcore……

Actually, it reminded me of some super-fast square dances we’ve been in! As Dad always says, “Those Homeschoolers – they just don’t know how to have ANY fun!”.

Posted in humor | 13 Comments »

Fun With the Thomases

November 14th, 2007

Our trip to Massachusetts would have been incomplete without the glorious fellowship we enjoyed with the Thomas family. It was a pleasure to get to know the ones who “won the gold” from the Jamestown 400 treasure hunt. The Thomas’ generous hospitality was evident 4 months ago- just minutes after the award ceremony – when the Willi found the themselves invited to stay with them on their tentative trip to Plymouth! Although our conversations were very brief in Jamestown, we made up for it this past weekend. :-) Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Thomas, Michael, Melissa, Melanie, Matthew, Micaiah, and Marscel for blessing us so much!

I shall take this moment to praise God for one of the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. One in particular…er…uhm… it may have been evident so some of you blog-readers (yes, I’m talking to you Kenny) that Angie Willis has not yet posted a thing. I could list excuses, which are actually true, like loosing and forgetting my password, but really I haven’t had the courage to chronicle any thing yet. This has changed! Three cheers for my very first blog post!

During our visit we were privileged to see Thing 1 and Thing 2 in action, live and personal. Yes their fame had proceeded them. This comic duo places Abbot in Costello to shame. It is our personal opinion that they should get into professional comedy!

And no one “despised cards” “and had no pleasure in anything else.” :-) A couple new games were added to the Willi repertoire among them Nerts and Mr. President. Nate was (surprise surprise!) The undisputed champion of Nerts a loud variation of Squeak. Amidst the slapping and flipping of cards you would hear shouts of…

“7 of spades!”

“8 of spades”

“NERTS!”

Along with a love of playing music we were thrilled to discover that our families common interest in English Country dancing! Oh those homeschoolers… don’t they know that “It would be much more rational if conversation rather than dancing were made the order of the day.?”

“Perhaps more rational Caroline, but it would be nothing much like a ball.”

Yes we had an elegant impromptu ball! After our last dinner meal, it was decided that we would learn a few of the Thomas’ dances. Us girls were whisked away and offered Regency dresses to wear instead of our (sniff sniff) packed Pride and Prejudice costumes. Before we knew it the boys had disappeared and returned decked with tailcoats, top hats, and ties that contrasted rather comically with their blue jeans! With a roll of the carpet and a shift furniture, the ball had commenced and we were ready to dance! Well… after 15 minutes of straight laughing and snapping photos we were ready!

God bless and enjoy the pictures we took! Please take some time to visit Michael’s great blog!

[Admin Note: You know the caption/description routine, blah blah blah.. :D Make up your own clever captions for now!]

Posted in Family News, Photos | 13 Comments »

Exploring Plymouth

November 14th, 2007

Saturday morning found us in the town of Plymouth, treading the ground of our forefathers, and freezing in the cold. But when does a mere chill stop the Willi? :) It actually made us move faster to stay warm, and get through the sights quicker!

We boarded the Mayflower replica, wandered about the monuments on Cole’s Hill and Burial Hill, and “stepped inside” 17th century Plimoth Plantation. (No, that is not a misspelling). At Plimoth Plantation, we found reenactors a cut above your typical ones. Each man and woman portrayed a real-life person living at Plymouth in 1627, and their actions, demeanor, and philosophy were shaped accordingly. It was so neat to pull up a chair to the hearth, and engage the “pilgrims” in conversation!

For you Jamestown 400′ers, we had the privilege of speaking with “John Howland”, and have collected several pictures of monuments/plaques that might come in handy in 13 years……

[Admin Note: As always, captions/descriptions coming when we get a chance.....]

Posted in Family News, Photos | 6 Comments »

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