Homeschoolers are among the most creative people on earth. For their hospitality, spirit of innovation and good old fashioned fun, few families surpass the Jim Zes household of St. Louis. For this Independence Day the three Zes girls (Hannah, Rebekah and Sarah)built life size wooden “Redcoat” soldiers, masterfully painted them, and next created an artillery capable of wiping out the army of British invaders they had just built. (The artillery was made of three-man sling shots and cannon balls filled with old Y2K beans.)

We gathered at the Zes home before the 2004 Uniting Church and Family conference for an evening of feasting and fellowship, but found ourselves spending several hours engaged in military combat.

A special dispensation was given to our dear girls to participate in the target practice. (Hey, they need to learn how to aim, pull and shoot for when Dad is away defending the frontier.)

Whatever you do, do it with all your might!

Recoil!

Look carefully and you can see the ball sailing through the air after being launched by Jubilee.

In come the militia.

After the battle, the Zes girls (Sarah and father Jim pictured above)prepare a gourmet meal for the many friends and family gathering at their home for a pre-Uniting Church and Family Conference dinner.

Hannah lets Jubilee help out in the kitchen.

Faith enjoys being with the big girls.(Here she is pictured with Rebekah Zes and Kelly Brown.)