The Zellar Family Chronicles

2006-01-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

"Happy New Year, everybody!"

Hello, 2006!

2006-01-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

Yep, we’re still here… one of our goals for 2006 is to do a better job keeping our blog current. For those of you joining us for the first time, welcome! Your continued prayers are appreciated as Jeff calls prospective employers in the Kansas City area…seems everyone’s most interested in workers who already live there. Understandable, but difficult for us, here on the other side of the world.

Know God has just the right match in mind. We just have to find it…

Happy 2006, everybody!

First Day of School--the REAL story

2005-09-06T22:59:00.000-07:00

I thought about just posting the photos. You know, the ones where my kids are all sitting around the kitchen table doing educational activities or working cooperatively on a task. Then I could fool everybody into thinking I have really good kids and that I am a really patient mother, as well as being an excellent teacher.

But then, that wouldn’t be the truth of it, would it?

In reality, I stayed up too late getting ready for today, and then laid awake until 3:00 AM with a vague uneasy feeling that something is about to happen. (I’m still not sure what that was about.)

Of course, morning came far too soon with 4 children crabby from being up too late, one fussy baby who chose this day to cut her first tooth, and one very tired mother who lit the short fuse on her patience immediately after dragging out of bed.

Our day was charming. People cried, shouted, dawdled, complained, fell off the furniture, turned on the hose without permission and cut up each other’s papers. We had a blast exploring the concept of “original sin.”

Of course, it wasn’t all bad. When your children beg for more Bible stories there’s something very good about that. And some of the crying happened when our “official” school time was over for the day. I was also treated to several compliments: “You’re such a good teacher, Mommy” (this from the one who was complaining!) and “I love you, Mommy.” Ah, that warms the heart.

At the end of the day, we’re a family just like yours. Imperfect.

On days like this, I’m really glad that God’s love for me isn’t performance-based, and that my salvation isn’t, either. I still struggle with how to let Christ live his life THROUGH me instead of me trying to “polish up” the old Adam and let him run the show. I’m working my way through Watchman Nee’s book, “The Normal Christian Life” and finding it the most incredible exposition on the subject I’ve ever come across. Of course, I’m only part way through so I don’t quite have all the answers yet! :-)

At any rate, enjoy the pictures below. There really were a lot of great elements to our first day of school (not the least of which is God forgiving me for being a stupid turkey!)

Happy browsing…I’m going to bed.

-Christa

First Day of School: John doing "school work"

2005-09-06T22:27:00.000-07:00

First Day of School: John doing "school work"
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

John had a huge smile on his face as he sat with the "big kids" and did his school work.

First Day of School: Katie painting

2005-09-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

First Day of School: Katie painting
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

While the others were busy with more "studious" assignments, Katie tried her hand at painting.

After thoroughly sogging the page, she moved cheerfully to her next task: creep around the table, wait for the opportune moment, then covertly slice John's finished work to ribbons....

First Day of School: Eric & Emily playing "The Snail Game"

2005-09-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

First Day of School: Eric & Emily playing "The Snail Game"
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

An interesting game: 2 snails "win" in this race--the first and last place snails, which makes for an interesting dynamic as well as a subtle lesson in probability as players try to predict the outcome.

Emily, Eric, and Mommy enjoyed playing, but Katie was confused and John was just downright mad that "his" snail (the orange one) didn't get to move every time another snail moved. Ah well, life is rough...

First Day of School: Girls work together on the number line

2005-09-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

First Day of School: Girls work together on the number line
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

Actually, you'd be surprised at how hard it is to convince a 5-yr.-old that ALL the numbers should be at the bottom and the pegs on top--of course, it helps that the pieces are not designed to fit together any other way...

This picture is a beautiful example of "cooperation." You wouldn't guess by looking that, 30 seconds later, Emily would say, "Thanks for your help, Kate" and then proceed to rip out all the red pegs so she could re-do them by herself!

First Day of School: Balloons from Grandma!

2005-09-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

First Day of School: Balloons from Grandma!
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

The day ended on a very pleasant note with an unexpected delivery: a balloon bouquet from Grandpa & Grandma Zellar, who sent each child a special balloon to celebrate their first day of school...

THANKS, Grandpa & Grandma--how sweet of you! As you can see, everyone was quite delighted!

Back-to-School Party!

2005-09-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

P9050063
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

We decided to say farewell to summer with a "Back-to-School" party. The kids were thrilled to make a special dessert, get out the good tablecloth & dishes and celebrate!

Of course, it's undeniably delicious to get to have school at home...the fact that we won't be climbing on the bus tomorrow morning at o-dark thirty makes it even more worth celebrating!

Back-to-School Party: I'll take cream in mine!

2005-09-06T00:48:00.000-07:00

P9050075-1
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

Using Mommy's wedding china makes an ordinary tea party into an EVENT...

And of course, half the fun is in using the contents of every dish or pitcher, whether you need it or not!

Back-to-School Party: Mmmmm...peppermint tea and chocolate cake!

2005-09-06T00:44:00.000-07:00

P9050068
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

Eric & Emily enjoying the evening's spoils...

Back-to-School Party: Yipee! Dessert I can eat!

2005-09-06T00:41:00.000-07:00

P9050069
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

We made "Dutch Treat" dessert from one of Bette Hagman's Gluten-Free Gourmet cookbooks. It was gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free & egg-free. Yep, even John could eat it!

(And it tasted really good, even before the rest of us cheated and added some ice cream on top...)

Back-to-School Party: Isn't this fun, Daddy?!

2005-09-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

P9050066
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

Katie loves dessert and she loves Daddy. What could be better than having both?

Back-to-School Party: Finger-lickin' (plate-lickin' ?) good!

2005-09-06T00:29:00.000-07:00

P9050074
Originally uploaded by zellarfam.

Mmmm, mmmm....

Mommy & Daddy really know how to clean their plates!

Welcome to Our Blog

2005-09-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for dropping by…

Please consider this site “Under Construction” (minus the dust!) and be patient with us as we figure out what we’re doing…we’re new to the “blogging” thing.

What to expect on this site:

We’ll be uploading family pictures and publishing anecdotes about daily life at the Zellar Zoo, along with our deep thoughts about life, its purpose, our own struggles and how it’s all tied up together in the Christian walk…you know, all the important stuff. Hopefully, if we’re doing a good job, some of it will provoke you! (that’s not always bad, by the way…)

Our goal is to update the site several times a week. For all of you who want to get to know us better, this blog will be the next best thing to living here (and much quieter!) Please bookmark the site, save it with the rest of your favorites, and stop back frequently!

-Jeff & Christa (and family)