This is a copy of a correspondence that I have sent to Representative Wilson regarding the "outburst" he had during Obama's speach.  I knew I couldn't stay away from politics!!!!  :)  manners are always right but President Obama didn't watch his when he launched an assault on anyone who disagree with him.  This is still a country of free speech is it not?  Since when is someone with passion who states a fact considered incorrect?  When it disagrees with Obama.  Praise God for atleast one person who was not afraid to speak the truth.

Representative Wilson,

I would like to share my thoughts with you about the "outburst" during President Obama's speach.  WAY TO GO!!

I do understand that you are under much criticism for your comment however, I disagree.  As a new resident to South Carolina, I am pleased to know that atleast somebody in this entire country is not afraid to state the obvious to the President's face and infront of other elected officials.  To me, even though the passion may have been allowed for a harsh tone, I am happy that it was said.  I am not disappointed in what you said but in what was not said by the rest of the GOP.  They will allow talking heads on FOX News to say what they are too chicken to say.

Mr. Wilson, you are welcome to stand up for truth anytime.  I am happy that you felt you should apologize for any emotion that was not shared in a genteel manner however, it is difficult to state a hard truth such as the fact that Pres. Obama is lying without sounding harsh.

How he can stand there and give a speech that severely criticizes the GOP and any person who intelligently disagrees with him while at the same time accusing us of the same thing and somehow we are wrong is unconscionable.  Where were your party allies?  Where was the outcry?  Where was the walk-out?  The taking to task?  I'm sorry but we are in a war for this heart, soul and mind of this nation, President Obama is fighting, the Liberals are fighting, the Communists are fighting, where are we?  Sound asleep under the guise of political correctness.

Mr. Obama is a self-diluded, prideful man who is leading this country down a very wrong road.  This may be the time of the Socialist Party to destroy America, I thank God that you had the courage to show your passion for this country and your citizens.

Stand tall, stand proud, and never apologize for being right.

Ok, so I thought I'd actually write something that has to do with homeschooling instead of politics.  I know, I know, don't go into shock now!  The last thing I need are e-mails from concerned family and friends that I put their loved one into the hospital for heart palpitations!! LOL!!

Ok, down to brass tacks.

For "Sock Monkey Lover" I have the following:

Sing Spell Read and Write

Handwriting without Tears

Saxon Math 1st Grade

Alpha Omega Science 1st Grade (Life Pac)

Tapestry Of Grace for History

Various Read-A-Louds

Power Speak Spanish

Draw Write Now

For "BookWorm" I have:

Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Yr. 2 4th Grade

Math U See Delta (will move up probably be Christmas!)

Apologia Botony (shared with Sock Monkey)

Tapestry of Grace

PowerSpeak Spanish

Draw Write Now

BJU English 4

Anything he wants to read, he has already read 50 chapter books this summer!! This from a kid who told me in 1st Grade he hated reading and was NEVER going to read!! HA!!!  He's reading at a middle school level and some lower High School level.  Cool!  Just decided this was the year!

So, for exercise there is karate twice a week and sometimes of Friday for extra sparring classes.  There is Scouts once per week for social and skills.  We also take part in other homeschool group activities field trips as they come up and regular visits with friends for church and fellowship each week.  The boys also like to jump on the trampoline and ride their bikes when it's not quite so hot.

So far it is a good year.  The boys are doing well and we are managing to keep decent time despite being interrupted by 20 mo old "Sharky".  That is his own nickname! I love it!  he likes it.  We always call him Pie or as my oldest says, the P.I.E. but he says, "No Pie, Sharky!"  He doesn call himself the Pie Man though.  I always know when he's being naughty as I'll hear him in the other room go, "Oh Pie!" in the way a parent would when they sigh after finding the dirt out of the plant and all over the floor.   Not that it's happened or anything.......LOL!

Now you know for all you inquiring minds!  Field trip to a great garden place the other day, learned to identify angiosperms and gymnosperms, vascular plants and seedless vascular plants.  Lots of fun.  Did I remember my camera?  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! argh!

This article is copied from a ONE NEWS NOW e-mail.  The article was written by Marie Jon.  I really loved how succintly she put it.  I would add that we must also fight this battle for the hearts and minds of the people the same way they are fighting it; from the foundation up.  Please go to Answers in Genesis website at www.answersingenesis.org  and watch the video by Ken Ham (it's free).  Until we begin to unite and pray and work on our neighbors and community, things will not change but keep sliding full speed into what our ForeFathers died to keep out. ~B

Many clear-thinking Americans believe that Marxists are in control of our country — and that there is no reason to believe they will ever give up their power. The question at hand is: What can be done to remedy the situation we as a nation find ourselves in?

Dare to be a Daniel
The answer is clear. The strategy for survival of any society is repeated throughout the Holy Scriptures and must be applied today. We need to enlist this vital strategy to preserve America's freedom and strength. People of faith need to persuade decent, patriotic, God-fearing Americans to turn their hearts to God and live in a manner worthy of His intervention.
 
Christians must dare to be a Daniel.
 
Daniel stood firm when facing what seemed to be insurmountable challenges and circumstances. Believe in your heart that America is still reclaimable. Like Daniel, we must set a godly example, and give primary emphasis to seeking God's will in our own lives.
 
"We The People" must also take every opportunity to encourage others to do the same.
 
Because America was established by God to be a beacon of freedom, we must also promote peaceful, law-abiding citizen activism on an individual level. As our forefathers were ready to take on the responsibilities of "participatory" citizenship, so should those of us who demand nothing less than the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
 
I believe God will hear the prayers and pleas of the humble and righteous who are willing to get on their knees and ask Him to spare our country.
 
Whole armor of God
If you are attending a church that does not have a daily Bible study guide to feed your soul, then it's your responsibility to buy one. Make sure you purchase a study plan that is age-appropriate for your family.
 
We can no longer be complacent and unaware of our spiritual condition. Rededicate and revive your faith. Don't become like the church of Laodicea. Listen to words of The Almighty. (See Revelation 3:14-21.) He offers you both praise and rebuke.
 
Many of God's people feel worn and weary because they are not wearing the whole armor of God. Every day, we see our cherished liberties disappear. They are being stolen from us as we tremble unnecessarily. We know that, eventually, our pastors and the churches will be muzzled and undermined with unjust laws. Prepare yourself. Have a prayer on your lips to offer up to heaven.
 
Communist policies
Public hate and disdain for people of faith have been allowed to fester since this administration swept into Washington. In fact, it is promoted by the "progressive" ideologues within our legislative halls, public institutions, and the biased liberal media.
 
Excerpts from "Top 7 Marxist communist policies being implemented by Obama today," by Hal Licino (found at hubpages.com) —

Throughout history, communist leaders have seized power by promoting themselves as populists, and often completely hiding their own ideology. Indeed, in a poll taken after communist Hugo Chavez' first election victory in Venezuela, only three percent of the electors believed Chavez to be a socialist, let alone a communist. Currently 32 percent of Americans believe Obama to be a socialist.
 
The initial stages of communization of a country invariably begin with seven basic steps:
 
1. Seizing control over the free flow of the nation's money
Obama has stated that he wants to convert the stock the U.S. government now owns in the nation's banks from preferred stock, which is the case currently, to common stock. This modification in type of stock may seem irrelevant at first glance, but under further analysis it is the single greatest communist policy the U.S. government has ever adopted: It means that the federal government will control all of the currently publicly traded major banks and financial institutions in the nation which are currently in the hands of individual shareholders. Not only will the current shareholders' rights be trampled, but the control of the nation's flow of money is the first keystone of communism.
 
2. Stripping capitalists of their assets
According to U.S. bankruptcy code, secured creditors such as the ones who have outstanding debt against Chrysler and GM have to be paid before unsecured creditors. That is the law. Obama has ignored this law, and seized the vast majority (89% in GM's case) of all "asset value" of the automakers and taken direct control or given it away for free to the unions. Karl Marx's theses were all based on the workers owning the means of production, and thus communism takes hold in America.
 
3. Changing the structures of government to suit
Obama has given the GOP until October to approve his health care plan, which many experts have shown would be as socialized as Cuba's. If the Republican Party does not meet his demands, the Democratic Party will simply change the very rules of the United States Senate to pass their legislation through simple majority, instead of the 60% which has been required by the Senate through history. Changing legislation to suit the leader is another common tactic of communist leaders from Chavez to Castro.
 
4. Taking advantage of a crisis to impose communism
Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel published a book entitled "The Plan" which would require (yes, require) young Americans regardless of their political stripe to serve in a direct copy of Hugo Chavez' red-beret local militias. "The Plan" also promotes massive taxpayer-funded programs as universally-free university tuition and health care, as well as tax reform to ensure that the middle and upper classes are crushed by the enormous new government expenditures. Obama has already admitted such a 'soak anyone making over $250,000/year' punitive tax policy. Emanuel is famous for his quote 'you never want a serious crisis to go to waste....[it's] an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before,' which is the prototypical process whereby communists seize power — witness Lenin, Mao, Castro, Tito, et al.

'Thy will be done'
The man in the White House is being unfaithful to his country and to God. President Barack Hussein Obama thinks only of his own earthly ambitions and pernicious ideology — Marxism. We are admonished to pray for our leaders. Please place the president and his full Cabinet on the top of your prayer list, and pray for God's will to be done. (See Matt. 6:9-13.)
 
It is time for every born-again, traditional Christian to network. All churches should plan a day to bus into Washington, DC, for a full day of prayer and repentance before the Lord. Ask Him to once again set the "captives free" and "heal and restore our land":
 
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Ok, so this is not a country I want to support or be identified with. Time for the US to step out of the UN.  Check out these websites and look into this, your future, your family depends on it as well as our brothers and sisters in chains.

www.freegao.com

www.parentalrights.org

Sign the petition, pray and do whatever can be done.  Even so, Lord Jesus, Come.  Quickly.....

OK, so I finally put some different music on here.  I figure Christmas is waaaay over and you all might be sick and tired of it by now.  I just so much enjoyed the intrumentals.  But, on with reality.  I hope you enjoy this and perhaps will keep it playing in your background while you work on other more pressing issues.  That's what I do, open the page and minimize so I can listen to the music while I work! :)

Enjoy!

B

Ok, so I'm reading another useless article from Yahoo on their homepage.  It is about England and the list of people who are banned from visiting there.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'd like to ban some of these folks too, skin-heads who want to insight people to hate and to kill, well I don't want them.  Islamic terrorist leaders, well, you can keep them too.  However, a right-wing preacher who is ani-gay?  What is he going to do?  Preach in the streets?  Since they are so liberal there, no one would listen!  UGH!  Or someone who is Pro-Isreal?  What is the worst that he will do?  Wear a beanie and pray?  Talk about how God blesses those who help this country?  How stupid can you get.  If you can find the article you should read it, you can hear the liberal hatred in her voice through the type as she (the woman who posted the list and is the head of the Home Office) spews about these extremists.  Like I said, anyone who is a terrorist or has ideals of murder and blowing folks up is completely understandable, though I think in the USA they'd get a medal, but those who have beliefs that are more conservative?  I think that becomes a bit extreme.  I don't agree with all "faiths" out there but if they are not exposing hatred or killing or breaking laws or participating in lewd acts or violence, who am I to tell them they can't meet or come to my country?

I know, lets not let any Brits to America who don't like eating squash and if they eat ******s (a type of food) they cannot come here either! After all, we don't want to offend our homosexual citizens.  Or perhaps they still think that we should have a House of Lords or that we should still be under British Rule, don't let them come. Or worse, they don't believe in the freedom of speech or the right to bare arms, keep them away.  Maybe they don't believe in church, oh wait, most Americans don't either!

I am so sick and tired of this stupid PC ideal that is sweeping the world!  We are striving to become a meal-mouthed feeble society where there is no male or female or anything.  ACK! BLECK!  You can be what you want and it's not your fault.  Anyone else getting sick of it?

The UN is trying to get the "Rights of the Child" passed and Mrs. Clinton is all in favor.  Remember it takes a village to raise a village idiot?  Well apparently it takes a world to decide that you and I are not qualified to raise our kids and discipline them correctly.  You can read more about this at www.parentalrights.org  This isn't a RIGHT or LEFT issue, a homeschooling parent's issue, it's an EVERYONE who is a parent issue!  If you have children and decide to punish them for comin home late or doing drugs, you can loose custody of your child just for grounding them for it!!!  This has actually happened in Washington State. 

Oh folks, we are in it up to our eyeballs and no one wants to talk about it.  It's too easy to sit back and let them do what they want.  No wonder why Jesus said the Laodicean church was so detestable.  When will Americans both Christian and others who just love Freedom wake up?  When will our voices be heard?   When will we put down the remotes and step out of our SUV's and SPEAK UP???  Write to your Senators!  Write to the Editors, call local talk shows!  BE HEARD!! Maybe no one agrees, maybe you'll catch flack!  Who Cares?  It isn't really you they hate, it's freedom!

Also, what good does it do to say if it gets that bad you'll move to another country?  Where will you go?  The rest of the world is worse!!!  WE're just finally catching up.

What a slap in the face for all the soldiers who have risked and faught and died protecting freedom so we can just give it away..............as though it were worthless and their blood meaningless......

That's my thought for the day.

This morning as I listened to some great preaching online, I was doing a little e-mail search and something from the Voice of the Martyrs caught my eye.  It has been 50 days since Attorney Gao Zhisheng was abducted from his home and is being held for defending the rights of Home-churching Christians.  Antoher former soldier who was at Tienamen Square in 1989 (do you remember this?  I do, I watched it on TV) was recently abducted by armed soldiers from his home.  Why?  Because he wrote a letter expressing his regret over what had happened that fateful day.  He is now missing.

Folks, I am sorry to say but I honestly believe that we are the living church of Laodicea.  For a long time I have thought perhaps there was a chance that I am wrong in this but never has this been so prevalent to me that we are, in fact, that church age.  Mind you, that doesn't mean that all Christians are that way, far from it.  I know there are many who passionately love the Lord Jesus Christ and are not ashamed of His word or testimony.  Still, the "spititual atmosphere" of this country is amazingly lukewarm to deceived. 

We have moved from New England to the SouthEast.  This is supposedly part of the "bible belt" of our nation.  True, you will find a church on every corner, heck, maybe three or four! What you mostly do find though is not depth.  Many here will openly use the terms God and Jesus and be all about going to church, you will see businesses that when posting their hours have on the bottom, Never on Sunday.   While I commend the desire to protect strong christian values, I notice that it is somewhat useless if the intent is for the value only.  When there is no heart behind it and it is only to make a statement for the sake of aligning oneself to an ideal then what purpose has it served?  Better to open the doors on Sunday and not sell but have a worship service or a gospel time. 

I have come to see that cultural christiantiy is HUGE down here.  Everyone wants to know what church you attend and if you tell them one or one you have visited, if it isn't theirs or their relatives or close friend, they will inevitably tell you what is wrong with it and what is right about the one they go to.  There are even billboards on the sides of the road promoting each church.  One even says, "This is MY church!".  Ok, great, it's YOUR church, can God come too? Everyone has something to sell, why not church?  Then we can attend and they can tell us how we are not good christians because we aren't giving enough and they twist scripture to manipulate the congregation into doing whatever the the Pastor has come up with. 

Look, not every church is like that but most are.  It is so sad to me.  Yet, do we blame the church?  How did this get this far?  It is our fault.  We are the ones who allow such foolery.  We sit in our seats (don't even think about moving, this is the same pew my great great granddaddy sat in and I'll be darned if I should move elsewhere to make a new person feel comfortable!) and agree!  We don't open our Bibles, we don't read it for ourselves, we don't make sure that what we are being told is the whole truth.  We swallow whatever is given to us and we don't dare to question.

so, how long will we play christian?  This doesn't mean that we are to be perfect, well, we are supposed to be perfect but we will sin on this side of Heaven.  Instead of justifying it or excusing it, we are to confess it and repent.  If it seems too strong for us then we must go to ur brothers and sisters for accountability.  Before you go running off to your best friend, make sure you know if they are truly Believers.  Not everyone that calls Lord Lord will be one of His.

Yes, we say we are rich. We are.  That should bother us if we are trusting in those riches and not in the Name of the One Who makes us rich beyond earthly measures.  I hope today that you will read your Bible like never before.  Make sure what you are being told is really what it says.  Not christian psychology, feel good messages or those that make us so introspective that we can't see a darn thing.  We are to take note of sin and deal with it.  That's it.  Not to keep harping on it.  If you are saved today, you are not  a broken unworthy vessel any longer.  You are now a new creation, a royal priesthood, sinless and blameless before God.  No need to keep beating yourself up over the past.  God has forgotten it and so should we.  May He lead us so.

Keep your eyes on Him, pray and for heaven's sake do what you can.  It may not seem like much.  Most of us will not have an opportunity to use big words or write for a paper or host a TV show.  Most of us will not be listened to by the public; we are lucky to get our blogs ever read.  However, if we are loving our spouses, loving our children and teaching them the True word of God and about Jesus, then we will have done something even more important.  When given opportunity to speak to others about Jesus, do it.  When given the opportunity to write or speak about our government and sin, do it.  You don't have to be eloquent or have many words.  I think God has had something to say about that!  Just speak the Truth.  Plain and simple.  Some will seem to talk circles around you and many will listen to them and you may feel stupid but honestly, that doesn't mean you are.  There may be one heart or one mind that will listen and the words you speak and the works you do will draw them to Jesus.  His word never returns void.  If not, don't "cast your pearls before swine" (don't worry about it, don't keep arguing) and "brush the dust off your feet" from them.  If they want to continue to follow their flesh then fine, atleast they had an opportunity.

Just my randome thoughts for today.  Go to www.persecution.com to read more about Mr. Zhisheng or to China Aid's website.  Go to www.nogreaterjoy.org to hear some great teaching of scripture.

DH took us to the children's museum.  We had such a great time!!  We had lunch together and spent the day in educational bliss!  ha! No, it was both, educational and fun!  The kids loved it!  We had so much fun we stayed until the museum closed, it took forever to get through the exhibits.  The State museum is there as well and we never had time to get to it.  DH and DS #1 will be going there for a Scout campover at the end of the month so they will enjoy it immensely!  The childrens museum was awesome! 

We had dinner out on the way home and just had a really enjoyable day together as a family.  The museum is over an hour away from us so it gave DH and I a chance to chat on the way there and home.  So nice.

I hope you all had a great V-Day.  DH had bought me some bath soaps and smelly stuff (even though I told him not to).  He told me I deserved a nice soak in the tub.  I gladly took him up on that  but not until Monday night.  How fun!  I told you every day is V-Day around here.  He is always doing sweet things for me and is learning to give me time to relax.  He went golfing Monday with some friends from work so we both had a great weekend of time with eachother, time with kids, and some time for ourselves.  *sigh*   I do love that stinker! :)

~B

I told him this week that I really didn't want to celerate it.  I had read this great article I believe by TOS' own Deborah Wuehler about her views on Valentine's Day and I had to admit, I agreed with her whole heartedly!!  So I told my DH the same thing!  This is what I told him (in a nutshell!).

Valentine's Day is not a day that I wish to get over excited about.  Every year it's the same thing, like Christmas on a much smaller scale.  The commercials are all geared toward women and what is the "guy" gonna do to "wow" his woman?  What exotic jewl?  What exotic place?  How about both?  And in the end if your "man" doesn't come through or up the anty from last year, he is a loser and you are a sad woman.  How on earth did this day become a day for women to become so self-absorbed?  How about some commercials that show women doing things for their hubby's?

 I can see it now.  An overworked loyal husband coming home from a dog day at the office, he's worn, he's tired, all he wants to is get to his family, he is beaten down and feeling haggard.  It's Valentine's Day and he knows he has forgotten to get something for his wife.  He's been on the road and flying from meeting to meeting, place to place, no time for anything other than work, work, work.  On the ride home he is desperate, he tries every store that is possible open but having had to catch the red-eye nothing is open.  He slumps into his car dejected.  He rides home waiting to get blasted from his wife for not bringing her anything.  What does he get greated with?  The porch light is off, he's thinking, "Oh man, I'm in the dog house."  But when he opens the door, she's there with a HUGE smile, dressed up, make-up on, hair fixed nice (the kids are either in bed already or at grandma's).  Since it is late she of coarse made hime his favorite, grilled steak, mashed potatoes!  She even has the BIG GAME recorded for him to watch while he eats!  But that is not all!!  She takes his hand as he drools over the big meal and leads him to the garage where she had a garage design team some in and re-do the ENTIRE garage for him!  Everything is PERFECT!  New tools, new holders and organizers!! Oh it's a feast for a man's eyes! he looks at his wife with a tear of gratitude in his eyes and then remembers he didn't get her anything, he immediately crumbles in his countenance and she says "What, what's the matter?  Aren't you happy?" as she searches his face, he admits that he tried and couldn't get her anything, she smiles a wry smile and says, "I already have the best, I have you."  they smooch, teh screens goes dark.

Ok.  So it probably wouldn't win anyone over to run to Sears or to GarageTek but honestly, since when is Valentine's only about women getting what they want?  We have men!!!  What about them?  I told my precious DH that I already had what I wanted, a hard-working, devouted hubby who loves me unconditionally and believe me, I can be a crab and a half!  Not always but let's face it, we all have those days, He does, I do, all of us.  However, he still loves me; he always has my best interests at heart.  I told him that I don't want a gift or fancy dinner, I just want dinner at home with our kids.  Our own little family Valentine's Day together.  I think he was happy!  Honestly, we never have done anything BIG for V-Day, usually a nice dinner out and a movie when there is anything worth seeing.  There hasn't been in years.  So we just enjoy each other anyway.  He brings home flowers and then we go out.  I usually have had my folks watch the boys and make them a nice Val. feast with decorations and everything.  NOT this year.  My folks aren't anywhere nearby anymore and honestly, I don't need a contrived evening out.  I always enjoy my DH's company and going out with just the two of us is WONDERFUL! However, we do that from time to time anyway and trying to make it more than what it is is uncomfortable for both of us.  We have Valentine's Day all year round!!!

My husband is such a great man and I am so in love with him that I feel like it's V-day all the time!  I don't need jewelry from him to win my heart, he already has it!  I only wish I could do the garage over for him but we don't have money for that or precious gems!  Heck, I only end up losing them or my kids break them or lose them.  I'm a house-working girl with boys, what on earth would I do with diamonds?

So, that is that.  I plan on loving my DH on V-day just like I always do.  I plan on making it fun for my family with a nice home cooked meal (like we have most days) and probably will do something different but fun.  I will decorate, we'll laugh and enjoy eachother's company!  Maybe play a board game and watch a great family movie.  Maybe you think that is dull but it's not the activities that make a day, it's the people that are in it and laughing with you that makes every day.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day.  If you can, try to think of your DH and what he would like, most likely, it's just you, happy.  Most men just want to know that their wives are happy and pleased with them as men and husbands.  Perhaps yours has moments where you'd like to strangle him with a string of hearts but you know, I'm sure he has felt that way about you too once in a while.  Instead of being self-absorbed this V-Day, try imaking it about him.  let him off the hook, atleast for this year.

Post your special V-day ideas and I do hope that it is filled with the most important Love of all, the love of Christ.  That too is another thing you have all year, why not give Him a special V-Day gift too, yourself.  Gee, that's two who just want you for their V-Day and every day.  Sounds like you could be very busy that day!! :)

Enjoy! ;)

My apologies to any papers or persons who are not properly credited for this content.  I only have the following information from an e-mail from a friend.  My DH read this article also as it appeared in another print. 

An editorial from the London Daily Mail (A British View)

Ok, so I'm sitting here thinking about the "stimulus" monies being poured into the economy (corporate comapnies) and this is my thinking.  When you go to the bank and take out a loan, does the bank come to your door and tell you what you can and cannot do with that money?  NO!  You are taking out a loan and you must pay it back or your collateral, whatever it was becomes theirs and THEN they can decide what to do (most likely liquidate you).  So why is it that our Government thinks that they should be able to dictate ever last nickel and cent that is given out to these companies?  Smells like government take-over to me.

I know that it is good to have a committee perhaps to oversee, can you imagine if the greedy CEO's of these companies took the monies and left for a Villa on a tropical island (heck bought the island!).  However, businessmen our government is not.  I do not think that micromanaging loans that these corporations must pay back is right.. 

Please folks, don't listen to Obama and his cronies,  do the right thing.  Listen to O'Reilly, listen to Laura Ingraham, Listen to RUSH!, get on FOX and listen listen listen!!  Do your homework (I know, aren't we too busy assigning homework?).  Just start listening, start talking about it.....

Can we say hello Communism?  Socialist agenda anyone? 

Have you noticed that since Obama has entered office, his ideas are supposedly the only *right* ideas?  Have you heard his comments?  If the Replublicans don't agree with him and his party they are being considered problematic????!!!  Um, since when is caution and commense mean stupidity?  Since when is his way the only way?  Baically what he is saying is "my way or the highway".  Also, with all the "government bailouts" for corporate America, Obama is now telling these companies what they can and cannot buy.  Do you get this???  This is GOVERMENT TAKEOVER!! Since when does the President have the ability to tell corporate America how to run itself? 

If he really wants to go after anyone for silly spending, how about Hollyweed?  How about our sports figures?  I have read the Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (when they were together) would frequently fly to spend $1,000 on a meal (that was a grand each not to mention the flight, etc).  Hmmm.......do you think he has stopped?  Do you think it's any of our business?  I mean come on!  If you earn it, it's yours to do as you wish.  None of the government's business.

I'm sorry folks, what we are witnessing is the collapse of this country.  I guarantee you that if we don't wake-up and speak out and tell this President he works for us not these liberal selfish interest groups, we are sunk.

I'm getting out of debt.  I'm reducing my costs.  We are settling in and going to bunker down.  It's coming folks.  by the way, if this link works (you will probably need to cut and paste) ask yourself what is down the road for us?

www.youtube.com/?v=VLOK_uLvm4c

Or you can just type in "FEMA camps".  Maybe I just am a conspiracy theory nut but hey, maybe I'm not alone and maybe, just maybe, we're on to something.  I'd like to think that this is not anything to worry about but, don't you agree the Lord must be coming soon?

Please folks, get reading, get speaking, get blogging, get telling.  Oh, PRAY!!!!!!!!

May Jesus come soon!!

Logging onto the internet bright and early this morning, to send my poor DH the phone number for our new dentist, I had an unfortunate news headline great my still sleepy brain.  "Athiests Want God Stricken From Inaugural Oath." Also in this were sub headlines on the fact that these Atheists were suing to have What President Elect Barrack Obama wanted added to his Oath of Office and about a gay Bishop to give the prayer.  What is the fuss over?  Mr. Obama wanted to add, "So help me God" to the end of his oath.

Ok, it is very obvious to me that all this is is politics.  Mr. Obama is only interested in building his legacy and the man isn't even in office yet.  I must give him credit though, he is very methodical in his approach.  He will be a great president no matter what happens and he will see to it that it is kept that way.  He kept his campaign one of, well, nothing.  No original ideas but don't let the public know that.  He appealed to each group he needed to.  He said what needed to be said in order to get what he wanted and came across as intellectual, spiritual and whatever was needed.  The sad thing is that most people bought it.  Even when those few, and shamefully few, who brought up his voting record and the questionable people whom he has aligned himself with for YEARS, were ignored, no one wanted to believe it.  We were lulled to sleep.  It appears that we as a nation are either idiots or don't want to be bothered.  We have swallowed the "Live and Let Live" slogan to the point of not standing up for anything.  How is it that someone like Michael Newdow, the athiest in this case, can speak for all of us?  How is it that no one is saying a word about a gay bishop leading prayer?  Where are the outcrys?  Where are the Christians saying I'm sorry, but that is wrong?  How is it that we even have allowed a gay person to be a bishop in the first place? Because we compromise, compromise, compromise.  Standing up for what is taught by God as right and for what He says is wrong does not an evil or judgemental person make.  We are told to do it.  It also doesn't mean hurting the one in sin, we are never told to do that.  However, apathy and ignorance is just as bad is not saying anything at all.

I don't hate gay people, I don't hate atheists.  What I hate and despise is the lack of outcry from folks like myself.  I have such a passion for Truth.  I want to be heard.  Do I always get it right? No, of course not, the Bible says I won't but I always ask to be shown how to change.  What makes me upset is that I am just one person who doesn't have a Talk Show, or a media outlet, a column in a newspaper or any other form of 'getting it out there', except for my humble blog.  BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO!!! I'd like to be a very rich person so I can fund more airtime for them and get them into every home just as the liberal agenda has done.

We are in a war folks, like it or not.  A war of ideals, a war of morality and common sense.  There are many who want to take it from you.  You must become aware.  I am not a gifted writer, I am much better verbally.  I don't have patience for writing (or typing).  I tend to be more brief in type and my thoughts don't flow very well.  I can't type as fast as I can talk and I tend to get it jumbled.  Perhaps I'll have time to come back and edit this in the future and put some links and such but honestly, if you really want to know what is going on, you can find out on your own.  To me, that is better. EAch person when given information should see if it is true or not.  If folks had done that, perhaps we would have better candidates and not someone like Mr. Obama being elected.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a McCain fan either.  I am just so sad that we as a nation have fallen asleep.

Ok, that's my morning soapbox.  Time to let the dog out.  Check out about the atheists, check out another interesting fact.  The UN is looking to pass a law for "children's rights", a closer look at this and you will wonder if you as a parent have any rights at all.  You wonder how that will affect you?  Think about it, the USA is part of the UN and therefore subject to it.  Don't think for one minute that our laws will protect you, not in this liberal day and age, no sir.

Ok, that is for another time.....

B

Well, we made it to and from CT with just a few scars.  JJ.  Actually, the drive up was horrendous!  You know how it is, there is always the 'rush' of last minute things that need to be done before you can leave.  This made a delay in our getting on the road and we left about 2 hrs later than we wanted.  I didn't know but there was an ice storm that was going to be north of us.  Yes, you guessed it, we ran into it in North Carolina.  Only slowed us down for about an hour and a half and we kept moving the whole time but VERY S-L-O-W-L-Y.  Then around 4:30am we stopped for gas (ok, we left at 3:30pm on the 23rd and didn't get to the middle of PA until 4:30am on the 24th, from there it took us until 3:30-4pm later that afternoon to get to NE CT if that gives you any idea of our situation!!!)  as we jumped onto the highway, we drove about 2mi and hit a dead stop.  There was an accident where some truck driver going too fast for conditions ended up hanging from a bridge.  We sat in the same spot for 6hrs.  We did not move even 1/10th of a mile during that time.  It was icy, cold, and we were beat!!  DH and I had been awake for 24 hrs already at this point and we had been on the road now for 15hrs.  During this time, the boys were angels and didn't complain once!  DH and I were the crabby ones.  The highway patrol turned cars around at some point but left about 8 of us on the road to "wait it out".  ARGH!!!! After I called the patrol again, we were moving within a few minutes.  So onward we pressed and then by around 3:30-4pm on Christmas Eve we arrived.  Oh were we beat.  DH and I were alseep by 7:30pm.  We wanted to go to sleep right away but didn't want to wake up at 2am and not be able to sleep.  Fortunately we had a MUCH better ride home.  We made it home smooth sailing in 14hrs! PHEW!

So after much Christmassing with family and friends we came home and it took a week to recover!  All the late nights and rich foods we were tired.  We had our little Christmas together as a family and it was nice.  I am currently un-decorating our home.   DH is out putting the trampoline together we bought our boys and we found that we are 2 springs short of a complete round! OYE!

We also added a new family member to our home last Monday.  We have a dog!  She is a mix of Lab and something else.  Not sure what.  She's 1 1/2yrs old and a really sweetie.  She is getting used to us now and I think over time she will be a wonderful addition to our family.  She is attached to me like crazy and everywhere I go, she goes.  We named her Sadie but should have called her "shadow".

So, busy weeks, busy stuff.  All wonderful and a great blessing.  Now, we can wait for the next adventure.  I hope it doesn't involve being stranded for 6hrs on the highway!

So Happy January to all you folks and keep warm!

We are anticipating our return to our home for Christmas to be with family and friends.  This time next week we'll be deep into food and family love.  *sigh* I can hardly wait!!!  All these years it is easy to take for granted the same old routine but then, life steps in and things change, we can then see how wonderful the "same ol, same ol" really is!  Bring on the family!!  Even if we get a little crazy!  There's no place like home!

It will be quite the drive though.  That I am not looking forward to.  bleck.  If only airfare wasn't so expensive!  It is so we are driving.  Dh and I will take turns so we can arrive alive!  The boys will snooze most of the way as we will be driving through the night.  This is good as otherwise it gets REALLY long and boring.  Our butts will be permanently molded to the car's seats no doubt.   Then with all the rich foods we're sure to come back with a more "pear" shape.  That's awesome!  What a blessing!

I hope that in the midst of the festivities though, we will manage to keep a perspective.  The food, the fun, the gifts, these are all outward expressions (and sometimes worldly) of the greater good, the greater blessings in life.  To remember that Christ came into this world (though not on this exact date) to redeem us.  He came and GAVE to us a gift that never wears, never goes out of fashion, never breaks or needs new batteries or upgrades.  It's a one size fits ALL for certain.  No need to return or exchange.  It's always the right fit and it does even more!  This gift is LIVING!  It doesn't grow with us, it helps us to grow.  This gift is what gives us the very thing we lack~LIFE!  It is an all encompassing gift.  It meets all needs we could ever have, want or think of.  No, it can't grind the wheat or make pancakes but it can fill us to overflowing.  Abundant overflowing joy!  This kind of filling is what we so yearn for even though we may not admit it.  We spend a lot of time trying to fill this with other things.  We try to fill it with the things we'll find under our trees next week, sometimes we try with work, careers, credentials, civic groups, clubs, activities, bars, friends, music, TV, and even things that are destructive to ourselves.  We have all sorts of reasons and excuses for not accepting the GIFT.  Yes, we think we can do it on our own.  Even when we receive it we think we can manage it without the Manual.  We play at christianity wondering why we don't get anywhere.

I don't know, there are many things to write about in this topic but for now, this year, I am grateful to have received this free and wonderful gift from God.  I am thankful that when I opened it, it didn't need batteries (usually not included!) and it wasn't written in a language I can't follow.  It didn't have directions that go on and on and on and you need a degree in physics or engineering to even figure out step one.  No, this gift is not easy but it isn't something I have to worry about.  This gift is a person.  Jesus.  He told me to believe and take on His yoke.  That's it.  Heck, I don't even know how to put a yoke on (though I have worn many that have been heavy and hard) He promises to do it all.  How simple is that?  All I have to do is rest.  REST!!!! Can you believe it!?  I'm not there yet.  I do believe, but I don't know how to rest.  That is a topic for another post but let me ask, will you receive His gift this year?  You don't even have to wait until Christmas!  There are no bags with sirens on them and it's already available to you.  If you don't know how to receive this gift, ask me.  I'll tell you what He says, "whomsoever shall believe in me shall not perish but have everlasting life."  That's it.  That's all.  Nothing else to it.   Then, rest.  Let Him work His work and Himself into you.  That's what He wants to do.  You will grow faster and fuller and stronger if you read the Bible and pray.  Without these two, you will starve.  See, that's the only catch, you have to feed.  You gotta eat!  So how?  No, not pizza, though I wish it were that easy, no you have to read the Word.  Don't worry if it 's all weird at first, He is there and He will sort it out with you.  If you have questions, there are many believers around who will help.  Remember though, He is your first source.

Ok, so that's my thoughts for today.  Merry CHRIST mas.  May He evermore increase!!! 

Here we are!  We are moved in and unpacked and even have Christmas decorations up! Like I felt like upacking one more box! (actually several, Christmas is not just a tree and a wreath around here!).

Now that all is settled, it's time to make our real messes.  You know, the daily stuff.  We have been upacked and settled into our new home for quite a while now.  Funny how you can have more space and still make a mess! I guess it doesn't help to have 4 men under foot. My DH being the chief messer-upper!  I can make the kids clean up but how do you punish a grown man?  Maybe disconnect the computer or the TV! lol  Take away his golf clubs?

Anway, it is nice to have things in place.  In just two weeks we'll be heading home for Christmas.  I am looking forward to it.  I am asking family and friends to come to us though.  I do not want to drive 14 hrs and then spend a week driving all over to see everyone and then drive 14 hrs back home.  Forget it.  It's once a year and I should hope that any family and friends will want to come to us.  I guess if not then they really didn't want to see us.  With one family exception.  We will be driving to my in-laws for the K-Christmas.  That is a no brainer.  I am looking forward to it and to catch up with family.

Everyone else can drive to us. hee hee.  No really, I can only think of one family that it may be tough for.  They too have a little one and will also need to work the next day and we are like an hour from them.  I am thinking that maybe we will meet halfway for lunch or something.  We'll see.

I also have a friend who has a large family and we will go to see them.  I am very much looking forward to this as she has been a friend and spiritual mentor to me.  Her friendship invaluable, a rare gem.  They are an hour south of my folks so that will be a trip.  Oh well, time well spent to be lifted up with strong believers and enjoy sweet fellowship.  So that is only two days of driving and thankfully not back to back.  No way around it.  Just glad to have about 4-5 days between. 

I hope we can find Christmas in the chaos.  It will be interesting. a long drive from the 23rd to 24th just isn't my idea of fun.  On the other hand staying here in SC and not having any family or friends to christmas with seems lonely.  We will have to do Christmas with the boys here when we get back.  It gives us something to look forward to.  I won't have enough room to pack up our gifts and then the ones they will receive from family and our luggage in my small Forester so we will do it when we return.  Anyone else have this issue with Christmas?

Ok, lunch is over. Back to school!  Kids need to finish up!  Today we are going to make snowflakes.  This will be a GREAT intro to our science for the week.  We are going to study snowflake science.  This should be fun!

I may be unpopular today for my entry but I am really sad that a sworn Baby killer, Enemy of Israel, Homosexual supporter and otherwise all around Liberal has been elected.  Not that I'm a huge McCain fan either, I have often said this election was the lesser of "two evils".  I had just hoped the American people actually had enough brains to see through Obama's facade and to see him for who he really is. 

This new President is dangerous and mark my words, will do more to undermine family values than we ever imagined.  Get ready to have your wallets emptied and be supporting illegal immigrants and also to help those who need to be bailed out of their mortagages because they borrowed too much to begin with and should NEVER have been given a loan of such proportions.  Yup, if you can say "it's so hard, you know" or blame someone else for your problems, you can get a government handout as well.  That is unless you make over $50,00 a year combined income, then you are considered rich and will be taxed to high heaven.

I am much dismayed today.  We have a elected a man that morally is bankrupt.  Oh and let's not forget his associations to terrorists and those of questionable alliances to the USA.  In other words, they hate us but he loves them!  Go figure.  Oh, and his "church".  You know, the one he said he didn't really believe in?  Yeah, the one he has attended for 20 years and raised his kids in?  Yeah, that one.  the Black suppremecist church.  They hate white folk!  Why?  No clue.  I guess we are all guilty of slavery even though none of us or our grandparents were alive during that time and for most of us, our great grandparents arrived in the early 1900's. 

Yup, America has voted.  America is in a very dangerous place.  America is bankrupt in it's ethics, it's morality, and is out to please it's flesh.  How can we say times are tough?  We are paying less for gas now than in the past 5 years!!! 

America is selfish.  America doesn't know how to work.  America needs to get a clue.

These are my condensed opinions.  Feel free to disagree, if you think voting for a man who 3TIMES voted against a bill to provide medical care to babies born alive in botched abortions.  America needs to do it's homework.

It is October already and I can't believe it!!!  Time is flying away as it normally does.  Just so hard to believe how fast it does go!  We have purchased a new home here in sunny SC and will move in at teh end of the month!  We actually close on the 24th and can move in that weekend.  Just 4 days until my N's Birthday.  I imagine us having cake and ice cream while sitting on boxes!  It will be fun no matter what and what a great way to kick-off moving into our new home! With a party and our first memory! Sounds great to me!  I am going to buy the paper goods today.  I am so looking forward to getting into this home.

We just signed last night and tomorrow is our home inspection.  You know, this house is so beautiful I can't really believe it is going to be mine.  I feel guilty because it is so pretty and so nice.  The area is great, the house is great, *sigh*.  THANK YOU GOD!!!  I'm nervous though.  I don't deserve this house but that is the beauty of God, He often blesses us with the things of this world that we don't deserve.  I do not know for how long we will have this blessing but I plan to enjoy it while we do.  It is truly from His hand and I am grateful for this time.

My dad was here visiting last week.  So nice to share our new home with him.  I wish my mom could have come but she had already booked a trip to Russia long before we ever knew we were moving.  We will not see her until around Christmas.  She is really sad about that as she misses the boys so much.  We were invited to my Aunt and Uncle's house which is about 7-9 hrs from here for ThanksGiving.  My parents and brother and sister-in-law and my gram would meet us there, it's about 6 hrs from them.  I do not think we will be going.  We will barely be in our new home and if we are to be able to drive to CT for Christmas a month later, we are going to need the time to get as settled as soon as possible.  It's also a heck of a drive!!! With three kids, 8,5 and 1. Bleck!

Ok, so was ready to finish this and N just hit the keyboard and erased the whole thing. ARGH!!!!!

I am looking forward to these kids getting outside and getting rid of some of this energy! I only wish I had a smidgen of it.  If I could sell it I'd be rich!  We are on a 2nd floor apartment and there is nowhere for the kis to play that is convenient.  We have a nice place right now, more like a condo than anything and DH's company is paying our rent!! WOO HOO!! There just is no place without hauling everyone to play.  It's in the sun too so for the past few weeks it was not a place to be when it is in the upper 80's to 90's and humid kwim?  Now it's in the 70's and I imagine we will be heading over to that park area this afternoon.  If K will finish his math.

Off to Walmart soon. 

Well, I am now officially a transplant to South Carolina.  We arrived last Friday afternoon and unpacked the U-haul into our executive housing.  Sound so "official" doesn't it?  Sounds better than an "apartment" but that is what it is.  We are on the 2nd floor with 3 bedrooms.  Actually, these are very nice.  Each bedroom has a big walk-in closet and ours has a master private bath.  The kids and the spare guest room has a bathroom on that end.  There is also a laundry room, dining room and kitchen and living room.  Not super huge but overall very cozy. 

The ride down was long but once you get past NY and NJ it is a beautiful ride.  The mountains on the way down were just so BIG! Very lovely!  We were just down this way in May/June for our family vaca and loved the views then.  Funny how it all looks different when you are leaving family behind.

We have been house hunting and I must say, you folks (y'all) love your housing developments that's for sure! There are no zoning laws so a development is all that can protect you from ending up with Walmart in your backyard.  Some are more stacked than others and some just have no yard to speak of.  There are stately homes and what we call McMansions.   Some of the developments are VERY nice but also very expensive, especially if you want any kind of land with it.  Still, we have managed to find 6 houses that we are going to see.  I went out this week with our REaltor and looked through atleast 10-15 or so and we have narrowed it down to 6.  I have also been hunting online since June when we first decided to move.  So all in all we been hunting through several hundred houses.  My head is swimming.  My DH has also been out to view quite a few before we got here so I feel pretty good about the ones we will see together this weekend.  I so hope we can move forward.

So, I'm here.  I don't particularly like this area (Duncan/Spartanburg).  Perhaps it will grow on me.  I have always lived in New England so this is also a climate adjustment.  New England is just pretty, this is, well, not.  Landrum is nice, very nice with mountain views.  We are looking at a house out that way and though it doesn't have views, the ride out to it is really pretty.  The houses with the views are $700K- a million, not exactly my budget!!! HA! rotflmbo Wish it were.......oh well, that's what hikes are meant for right?

So, for all you SC folks, I hope you are not offended, I'm sure there is still so much for me to see and get used to.  You are VERY friendly though!  I called to make a hair appt. and ofcoarse I have no clue where this place is and you know, the woman there just talked and talked, you would have thought we'd known eachother forever!  I find that most places and it is really nice to feel so welcome to a place you have never seen or known before so THANK YOU!!!

Whenever you ladies who happen across my blog are out and about in your day just remember, that person you smile at or say hello to might be a transplant who needs to feel welcome.  They may be someone who left behind their loved ones and friends and feeling a bit overwhelmed and a bit sad and you may just be the one to be a ray of sunlight in their day and in their transition.

We just returned from our trip to Cape Cod and now the craziness begins!  The movers are due tomorrow and so is everything else in my life it seems.  Have you ever had one of those moments in life when you looked at everything around you and thought, Ok, so when does it get better?

I won't get into details but honestly, my heart is broken for my family.  Most of them are not saved and those who say they are really make me say, hmmmmm........  not a whole lot of evidence you know?  It just grieves me so.  Sorry folks, my heart is just really heavy tonight.  Hormones and stress not a good combo.

Happier note! We had a lovely week with plenty of sunshine.  We had quite a few family/friends come up and see us this week so it was busy but nice.  We have been going here for 12 years and this place is AWESOME!!! For $1,000 for the week ($500 for us as we share with my folks) we rent a 5 bedroom home with large living room, dining. kitchen, laundry room, big deck with grill, Private back yard, long driveway that goes through woods and connects to the bike trail and the Lake across the street!  We are literally 5 minutes from Coast Guard Beach and from the best sunsets on Earth at First Encounter Beach (think history lesson ladies~).  This has been such a blessing!!!  I know we will try like mad to keep this place in the years to come but it will take some doing as the commute is a bit much!

Wonderful week and wish it wasn't over.  The last few days just flew!  Now we begin our next adventure....stay tuned!

B

Well, sort of.  We "verbally" accepted an offer tonight.  The relocation company will now step in and buy it from us and they will sell it to the buyers.  I do not know how quickly this happens but it is in the works.  I am not sure if it is after the home inspection but that should happen in the next week.

Wow!  I never thought that would happen.  I mean, I knew the house would sell but it just was wierd.  Thinking of someone else calling this place home and using MY cabinets and things is just, well, weird to me.  I mean I'm happy because this couple is young and will really build their memories here.  She also loves my gardens and and how I've decorated.  (hmmm....I like this woman! lol!). They don't have any children yet so this will be so great for them to have a home and begin a family....*sigh*.  That is where we were.  When we bought our home our firstborn was just a few months old.  He was 6 mo when we moved in.  I've had two babies here since. 

I know, I'm probably over attached to this house.  I am very sentimental about places and I very much am a homebody.  I love being home and really making it HOME!! To me home is where your truly hang your heart.  I work hard to make our home inviting and relaxing/comfortable.  Finances don't always allow for all I'd like to do but it amazes me how God has consistantly provided for us over the years and how we find things on sale or are blessed with money as gifts from family and we just put it toward something we really would like or need.  There have been so many times over the years that have been God moments and they have all happened here.  So many prayers and so much growth.  I know you always take your memories with you and it doesn't matter where you live but that God lives in you that makes all the difference but still.......

Anyway, we are set to leave the first week of September and the new owners will move in shortly after.  So very strange.  I hope they will be a good fit for our neighbors.  We have the world's best neighbors here and I wish I could pack them up too and keep them where we are going.

So, until next time, keeps those fingers safely tapping and honey, I'll be up late tonight, I have Blogs to catch up on!

Well, in just a couple of weeks we will be leaving for a vacation to Cape Cod and then down to SC for good!  Well, atleast until God tells us otherwise!  It's coming so fast!  No news on selling our house here.  I think the market is slow in most places.  We may need to drop the price again.  Someone is going to get a steal on this house!  Oh well, it belongs to God anyway and if He wants less for it then that is His choice.  I know He will provide for us.

I was listening to The Pineapple Story by Otto Koning.  If you have not heard this before you MUST listen to it!  Funny but so very profound!  In the first disc he is talking about surrender and how really everything we have belongs to God, everything.  From this I have learned to realize that my house belongs to God too.  I don't need to stress over the sale of our home and how are we going to afford a rental home and the mortgage on this one, etc etc.  It will all work out!  God has a plan and it all belongs to Him and if He wants to be bothered with paying for 2 places that will be up to Him!  I have so much more peace!  Don't get me wrong, I still find myself going back to being concerned but then I remind myself of that truth, it is God's and He will work it out.  This doesn't mean it will be perfect or easy for us, it very well may be hard but we will not be crushed by it.  That is the key.  God promises to feed us, clothe us and take care of us.  I also happened to believe that when we put Him first, He has a way of blessing us beyond our wildest imaginations.

So, we are moving the beginning of September-ish.  We don't have an exact date yet because we don't have a rental yet.  Should by the end of next week and then we can line up the moving company and all that stuff.  YIKES! I am so grateful though that we will have a moving company do all the work! Oh this is going to be exciting!!!  I'm sad to be leaving our friends and family but I'm also happy to move on and see what the Lord has in store for us.  It truly is a big adventure!

Hope you all are having a blessed summer!

I just entered a contest to win a Planner.  Not just any planner! Those are a dime a dozen, this is the "do it all for you", cannot live without, homeschool planner of the year! (maybe century?).  The Old School House Store has it and you know, it really does look great!

I have always wanted to use a planner but cannot seem to find the right one for my kids.  It was easy for me to wing it because my children are so young and in CT there are no rules for keeping track of anything I do with the boys.  However, that is about to change! In South Carolina, I will be needing to show what we do, how often, how much, etc etc etc!  This little baby would make my life soooooo much easier.  I hope I win!

So, if you need a great planner, a one of a kind, do it all for you to keep you sane! Enter in the contest section.  All you need to do is leave your blog link and write a piece about it! Like me!

So, what I want to know is since this thing can organize the disorganized, can it mop my floors too?

We are officially at the start of summer, well by a few days anyway!  Today Pie turns 7mo old!  I can hardly believe it!  He's so cute and LOVE LOVE LOVES icecream.  I let him have a tiny taste here and there buy man does he want the whole thing.  Actually he wants everything we eat, potatoes, steak, all of it.  I've started him veggies, pulverized, you know how stage 1 or 2 are, liquid.  I make most of my own but you should see this kid.  NO STRAINED FOOD FOR HIM, HE WANTS Filet mignon! Oh well, I keep telling him when he has more than two teeth we can talk.

My other guys are doing great!  Lots of activity over the past week.  Friends, get togethers, etc.  It's been really busy but very nice.  This past Sunday was my husband's son's wife's (ok, did you keep up with that?) 30th Birthday party.  They have a son K's age and from what my DH said these boys didn't stop the entire time!!! my two guys were wiped out by the time they got home and into the tub but they had the best time!  I had another committment that day and couldn't make it so I missed out on the fun.  I ended up with a bad cold and cut my day short anyway, oh my throat was sooooo sore!  Now I'm feeling better but can't wait for the nasal congestion to go away!  I was glad to be able to stay home in the late afternoon with Pie and just rest.  A cup of tea and some rest were just what my cold needed.

Today has been scrubbing floors and cleaning out closets.  We have an Open House coming up and I want people to be able to open closets without having to sign a waiver! LOL  Oh the junk one can accumulate!  I think someone moved in their junk into my house when I wasn't looking.  It can't really all be ours can it???  Yup, guess it is.

So, as soon as the house sells we are outta here!  See Ya! Hasta la vista baby!  Gonzo, adios. Later Dude!  I'm looking forward to this great adventure.  I can't wait to see our new home (when we find it and buy it).  I also can't wait to meet new friends.  I will miss my old ones.  I know we will keep in touch and friendship never ends, it just changes.....the friends I have now will always be there for me and I for them.  I have one who I have known since childhood and she's in the Bahamas.  We STILL talk and chat and keep up with everything.  As a matter of fact, she called me the other day when I emailed her about us moving and she was floored because they may be moving to SC as well!! They will be about 2 hrs from us but STILL! compared to the Bahamas, it's like right next door! YAY!!!

I will miss so many others though.  I know they will come down to see us but it's not the same. 

Ok, so much for the sob story!  Lots to do!  K has day camp coming up in a few weeks, he is sooooo excited.  He had the best time at scout camp last year and can't wait for this year.  I will take N on some exciting trips that week so he feels like he's getting something special too.  No one is doing day camps for little guys that week, too bad or I'd sign him up.  I'll keep looking.  Perhaps a good VBS will pop up.

Hope you all have a FAB week!

Our home is officially on the market!  Waaaah!  I love our home!  Someone is going to buy a really great home!  We met with 3 Realtors this past week and I think the one we met this Saturday (today) is the one we are going with.  She was really nice and has sold every house that she has marketed in the past 4 years.  She was very professional, local and just an all-around nice person!  I had such a good feeling when we met today that our home would be represented truthfully, honestly and rightly.  I felt that she would be really great at showing our home and also to the potential buyers.  She really knew her stuff and was happy to point out all the positives of our home.  There really isn't anything negative about our home.  I wish I could post pics.  Perhaps DH will do that but in the meantime, as soon as she has it on her web-site I'll post a link so you can see pics there!

So, we will be hopefully having folks come out to see our lovely home over the next few weeks.  I hope it sells quickly.....we need to be heading to SC in August the latest!  All in God's timing.  He is never early and never late.

We've been looking online at realty in SC and OMG!!! So many beautiful homes!  For those of you there all I can say is WOW!  Except, you need to stick with hardwoods and forget Fuscia!  That went out in the 80's!!!  So many homes with Hot Pink walls!! Ewwww!!! Sorry for those of you who really like it,  Neon pink is not a color I like!  On the other hand, Cranberry and dark colors for contrast can look really nice!  I like earth tones really, guess I'm partial to those. 

Anyway, I'm happy to get the house listed and I do hope it sells fast.  It will be hard to say goodbye to everyone but I do believe this is God's calling on us.  Not sure why yet but it will all be revealed in His perfect timing too.  I look forward to church down there too.  I am excited to think about the friends that God will place in my life and in the lives of my family. 

Til later!

It's official! We are movign to South Carolina!  Boo hoo! No snow! That I will miss so very much!  We will be in the Upstate (as I've come to learn it is called, oh I'm sounding like a local already! LOL).  This is going to be a wild ride.  That is all I'm going to say on that!

We had a great vacation.  We visited with family and also went to Gettysburg, Luray Caverns and Punxsatawney!   We saw beautiful country and very remote places in mountains that never seem to end.  it was a great week and travelling in an RV was awesome!  So very nice to have a house on wheels.  We did a small one (22ft) not the big bus but it was perfect!  No buses needed!  This was cozy and just right!  I can see us doing this again for sure.  Although, the gas was not so good.  A pull behind would be ideal and I think with the boys being so young, we would do less miles and just enjoy the various campgrounds and activities more.

Raining today and hot weather on the way.  Summer is ready to get underway for sure.  It's our June heat wave on tap for the end of the week. Yuck.  Lord, are you sure You want me to head south? 

First, Ryan's Dedication day went perfect!  We had such a nice crowd of family and friends at our home and though it was strange at first gathering on our patio instead of at a church, it ended up wonderful!  We prayed together and a precious couple we have befriended shared some scriptures with everyone on parenting and how the Lord views families and the roles of parents and Dads.  It was such a pleasant day and the sun came out too!! It was supposed to be showery but it turned out beautiful!  I was so grateful to God for that and ofcoarse for being there with us and blessing me with such beautiful children and a faithful family and friends.  *sigh* "smile!"

So life has been going with the flow and we are planning a vacation to points beyond! Not sure where we'll end up but it will be great just to be together as a family and enjoying eachother's company.  My DH has been traveling quite a bit and after his last trip to SC, it looks liek we MAY move there.  They have offerred him a job there and it would/could be a great opportunity for him.  The cost of living is a heck of a lot less than here too.  He's looking into it and I'm feeling mixed feelings.  It's funny, when we looked at moving to VA I was really nervous but that seemed to end up being just a dream and financially not in our best interest but this, this is the real deal!  I'm nervous and scared but also excited too.  Hard to explain.  I am not wanting to leave our families though.  It will be so hard on the kids as they are joined at the hip to my parents.  My parents are going to have a tough time too.  Oh I don't look forward to that conversation!!!  No more ocean, no more summers at the Cape. *SNIFF *SNIFF.

My DH thinks it would be good to separate from them and have a chance to grow but at the same time, I reminded him how nice it is when the chips are down to have family.  We will have no one but eachother.  I hope my folks will consider moving down with us or in a year or two.  We'll see.  I really like our home here.  I will obey though.  If DH really thinks this is what is best then that is what is best.  EEK!  Not to mention they really limit their homeschoolers. YUCK! I know, for those of you who live there it's probably no biggy but for me, I have no regulations at all whatsoever!  I do as I please! No reviews, no testing, no nothing!! I like that!

So, that's that.  We are going to have a great time with our vaca and have lots of summer activities planned with scouting and stuff.  It will probably go by REALLY fast!

I am currently re-doing the classroom area for the boys and hopefully will be able to post pics when done.  I still can't figure that out.  I know, I know.  I'm so seriously behind the times. It's sad.  I wasn't always like this but computers and programs are just too hard for me! 

This Saturday is R's Baby Dedication!  I had put it off for some time due to us not having a home church to attend and host it at but in the end, we are doing it here at our home with friends and family.  I realized that if I never had him dedicated it would be just fine as it is not in the Bible to do this.  That was another reason we held off.  I didn't want to just be religious you know?  So, we are doing it here where those who love us and our kids will be here to pray with us and agree with us in prayer for our family and to ask God for His favor upon our family in raising little R.

So far the weather is supposed to be beautiful so I will be having it outside! YAY!!!  I am really looking forward to it now but have been so busy that I haven't even cleaned the house or put the menu together! EEK!  It will come together soon enough.  No point in stressing over it too soon as if I clean the house now it will be destroyed by Friday! lol and food has to wait until Friday anyway.

So, I'm thinking outloud and hoping for a great day. 

B

Well, I said I couldn't wait but I wish I had! No really.  I now know that I am exactly where I need to be.  As a result of this post and other things that should remain private, someone found something I had written anonymously on another board.  How they found it was not really the right thing to do but in the end they found it and I am responsible for what I said. 

I had said some very unkind things about these people (family members) because they had hurt me.  My pride was dented, my feelings hurt and instead of walking in the Spirit, I did what all of us humans do, I walked in my flesh.  I did not call them and tell them I was hurt, I went somewhere and vented.  I vented so much that really everything I posted had nothing to do with what had actually taken place.  It started out with that but ended in saying things just to be hurtful and get others to agree with me.  It was wrong and I am ashamed.

When this person sent it to me they were very upset, rightly so.  I do not blame them for being shocked that I would say such things.  To be honest, I can't believe I said them either.  As I re-read my post it was like some crazy person took over my mind and said things that I truly don't feel toward them.  It is a terrible thing to see when we can see our flesh so clearly after the fact. 

Now, this was a year ago and when I posted all that, I was spoken to very clearly by a good friend.  She corrected me and I had truly let it go and I knew that it wasn't true.  I had said that later but that doesn't matter.  I never deleted the post.  Oh I wish I had because it was deleted from my heart and from my mind but you know how it is, when something is in print, that remains.  I am not very computer smart and never thought that someone would find it, after all it would take someone to not just search my name but to try possible usernames.  I also knew it was just a rant and a vent and it was not taken serious after that.  Now, a year later, it was found and I have had to apologize for it.  Rightly so.

So, why am I putting this here?  So that if you read this you will hopefully learn what I have needed to learn and hopefully you will not  have to learn the hard way like myself.

First, in James we do indeed read:

12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

 21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

 13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace

I did not bridle my tongue.  Instead of taking my hurt to the One who can truly help, and if I had initially and not after the fact, none of this would have happened.  Instead I walked in my flesh and tried to work it out in my flesh and the result was definately not good.

Then we read in 1 Corinthians 13:

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 8Charity never faileth:

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

I was not being loving or any of the things that love requires us to do when we feel hurt or slighted. I was clanging brass. I was going through a very rough time emotionally then, I was very depressed and it was evident how far I had gone away from the Truth by my posting my feelings and the things I had said.  One of the worst things is that these two people whom I hurt have been seriously hurt by others in their lives.  In this one moment I did something that reminded them of the very people that they loved who hurt them so deeply for so long. I dredged up the hurt that they carry around and instead of being a balm in their lives, I was salt on the wound.  Instead of showing them Jesus, I showed them flesh.  I know this side of Heaven that will happen but I am still so very sorry it did.

So, I know that being saved does not mean we are instantly perfect. I know that this is a process that involves learning and in my case, sometimes learning the hard way.

1. Job 5:17
   Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
   Job 5:16-18 (in Context) Job 5 (Whole Chapter)
2. Proverbs 3:11
   My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
   Proverbs 3:10-12 (in Context) Proverbs 3 (Whole Chapter)
3. Hebrews 12:5
   And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
   Hebrews 12:4-6 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter)
4. Hebrews 12:7
   If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
   Hebrews 12:6-8 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter)
5. Hebrews 12:11
   Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
   Hebrews 12:10-12 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter)

So, God took it seriously too and you know, back when I wrote that, He saw that there was unrighteousness in me.  This did not catch Him by surprise.  After all, that is why He died for me.  He knew that I would struggle in this area because of my own unresolved anger and pain.  He knew that I would need to be taught and corrected.  He has brought this out for a very distinct purpose.  To chasten me but I see something else here too.  Not only have I been in bondage to fear and insecurity, so have these two wonderful people.  They too have been wounded and they were starting to trust me.  Trust is a HUGE thing to them as they have not had many people to trust in their lives.  I just gave them one big huge reason to not trust me.  I gave place for the Devil and boy is he running with it!!

So, to de-fang the Lion whom seeks to devour your soul (and mine!) I have learned that I need to be on my guard more.  I need to let this be a time where God's Word has it's perfect work because I neeeeeeeeeeed this.  I do not want to allow this again.  I'm sure I will as I am human and will never be perfect this side of heaven.  All I can do is to keep reading these scriptures and asking God to work this into my life. Then apologize when I get it wrong.

Like Corrie Ten Boom, in my own strength there is nothing:

Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death

Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Romans 7:17-19 (in Context) Romans 7 (Whole Chapter)

Romans 7:25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:24-25 (in Context) Romans 7 (Whole Chapter)

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-3 (in Context) Romans 8 (Whole Chapter)

Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit

Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Psalm 143:9-11 (in Context) Psalm 143 (Whole Chapter)

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Proverbs 1:22-24 (in Context) Proverbs 1 (Whole Chapter)

Proverbs 11:13
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter

In the Spirit there is everything.  I cannot change myself, only God can change me and I know that is why this is brought about.  With Him, there will be change and hopefully, Satan will get it stuck in his eye!  I would love to see Redemption occur and complete forgiveness from them toward me and me toward them.  I can only do my part.  My part was to apologize, which I did and to now ask God to forgive me, which I did and His answer is Yes.  Now I can only pray that God will help me continue to learn as He teaches me and that He will also help them to heal.  I pray for them all the time.

So, that is what it means to be real.  That is what it means to be transparent and upfront about shortcomings as an opportunity arises to do so.  Like I said, I share this excerpt from my life with anyone who may happen across it as a warning to not let your flesh get the better of you, though it will because you are human too.  BUT! When you do, apologize and ask God to help you grow in this area.  I pray that we will all see the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives as we yield to our flesh and give it no more place in our lives. 

Now is the time to put away childish things and to grow up.  I didn't realize how much I needed to do this until this time.  Now I know, and now I will be wiser.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man

Matthew 5:37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil

Ok so did you ever notice how 15 min. can seem like forever?  lol I sat down to do my Bible reading time and wow 15 minutes sure drageed on.  I don't mean that disrespectfully, it actually reminded me of how much I have taken the scriptures for granted and how familiar we can think they are.  Some countries would love to have 15min. with the Bible and they would consider it the best 15 min. of their lives.  Shame on me.

The second thing I got out of this time was that I really need to be in James.  I started in John and now through a series of events, I realize I need to bridle my tongue (and my heart).  I have recently volunteered for an assistant position in Scouting with my son's group.  The Cubmaster is moving on after many years as her youngest is now moving on to Boy Scouts so she is going to volunteer her time in that capacity.  I had thought last year of taking over her position but then found out I was pregnant so I decided not to do anything with that.  Now, it is time for someone to take her place and another person who I know very well has stepped up to take it.  I have volunteered to be her assistant.  Now, the Committe Leader, the Retiring Cubmaster, current Den Leaders, etc all think I would be great in this position but when speaking to the person taking over, she is hesitant.  I have tried to figure out why but instead I found myself in a place of pride trying to convince her that I should be the one she picks!  I didn't intend for that to come across that way and long story short, I really feel that I might have come across very arrogantly.  I apologized to her but her response was not very endearing.  I feel bad.  I never meant to come across that way and I told her this but you know how it is, once you "open mouth insert foot" it is very hard to get it out!

So, here I am realizing I'm a jerk and have not behaved rightly, have apologized but did not receive a very enthusiastic acceptance and I cannot seem to let it go and forgive myself! UGH!  I still think I have another person to apologize to as well as I might have broken a confidence indirectly.  Boy, in one moment my pride made me a really yucky person.  I know that it overall is not a big issue, thank goodness! But I really want to be trustworthy you know?  I have been a person that others can count on not to break their trust and feeling like I might have done the very thing I value most, makes me feel horrible.

So, bridling the tongue and heart are what I need most to re-learn right now.  I think it is a very good lesson.  I just wish I didn't have to learn it the hard way.  I just can't believe I acted like that.  What a creep.  I guess it is an indication of how much I am lonely these days and feeling very insecure. 

So, that is Day One.  Gee, I can hardly wait to see what happens next. Really. Sheesh! Bring it on though, change is good, reproof is good.

B

I keep getting from DH that my son is not the same as other boys his age in academics.  I consider my son to be very bright but lately it seems as though my DH is falling into the hopeless pit of comparison that I have only recently climbed out of.  He has been commenting on my son's handwriting and ability to reason and such.  He hates writing and he is a warehouse of useless information! Like me! lol  Really though, he is very smart about stuff and mostly and most importantly knows Jesus!  how much better is that???  He has asked to be saved at the tender age of 7 and is very much about God and faith.  That is the best thing.  I count this as the best knowledge of all.

2Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

This has been a verse that I have turned to recently and remind myself often.  I know it to be true but I can feel the tug by my husband's desires and my own pride to take matters into my own hands. UGH!  Please Lord help me to only measure myself by your standards and your commands.

B

I came across this challenge through ilovemy3angels blog.  You can get there via my friends link below as I have no clue how to do the link thing in my typing sorry.  I so need a smiley that does a *sigh*.  ANYWAY!  A friend of hers is issuing a challenge, well, not really a "challenge" per se but a really good way to reap a wonderful, positive habit of reading the scriptures on a daily basis! 

I spend time in the Word with my boys most mornings before we begin our school day however, what is missing is my own time.  Three boys, a household and life leaves me with not much in the way of time or energy.  Mostly it's an energy thing.  My mind is mostly mush by teh end of the day and in the morning it's not much better!! lol! Nighttime feedings are getting old here.

So, if you are like me and need something to hold you accountable, why not sign up for her Month of April Bible Reading Make a new Habit ?  She will have a drawing at the end of the Month and will give a prize to a random name drawn out of a "cyber hat" but in the end, we are all winners as we will have a new gift of discipline with reading the Word.  Hopefully during that time we will all not only have just a new habit but a new intimacy with Jesus that will change our lives.  That is a prize for eternity!

Give it a whirl~I am!

B

Well, have you ever had one of those days?  I know.....you have, we all get them sooner or later.  This week started with a HUGE frustration.  We ordered a new couch for our den (yay!) only when they delivered it, it didn't fit through my interior doorways (ACK!)  the width of my doors is 29", and yes, so is the couch, exactly.  So, in order to get the couch in we must rip out our door casings.  Why is it that one simple thing leads  to another MAJOR PROJECT????  Don't answer that.

SO! I have a couch in my kitchen.  I mean smack in the middle.  I really don't have anywhere to push it aside either (small kitchen).  I'm thinking it's comical now. "Hi, would you like some tea? Here have a seat on the couch!"  "Would you like to stay for dinner, have a seat on the couch, wait, better yet, it's a sleeper sofa, you may crawl in under the covers and I'll serve you dinner in bed!"  Actually, I thought if I could open it up in my dining area I would and let the kids have "breakfast in bed".  Anyway to make it funny.

I was really upset Monday.  DH was out of town and you know, everytime that man leaves something breaks or goes wrong.  So this was the dilemna.  Now, it's not a total loss, we needed to replace the trim around the doors between the ktichen and down to the den but had put it off because it involves 9 doors! Yikes!  But now it will all get done.  CHA-CHING!$ and the two "doorways" that are from the kitchen to the office and then the office to the hallway are really not doors, they would be considered archways.  Instead of having them cased like doorways, we are going to just have them plastered.  It will be a bit cheaper for that with the cost of wood and such.  Then we will never have to worry about this again as we will gain an inch or so on the width after.

So that is my little drama. Oh, and the washing machine broke tonight, the dryer isn't drying well and the dishwasher is going on the fritz.  Anyone offering a giveaway for new appliances? Hmmmm......

So, I'm in a better mood about it all, hormones, gotta love 'em.  They either make you want to strangle the world or hug it!

B

Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE! 

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports. 

To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff!

I can hardly believe how the time has gone!  No real exciting news or announcements but just living.  That is actually encouraging! I am not complaining! Praise God that I have nothing to write that is tragic or what have you, only the wonderful happy news of living the blessing of life!

This is Resurrection Weekend and all week I've been drawn to the Cross.  The contemplation on Christ, the questions of His great Mercy toward me.  I don't think there are words that I can express.  I have just finished reading Tortured for Christ by Wurmbrand.  If you haven't read this book, you must.  You can find it at most Christian Bookstores but you may also find it and other books by the him and others at Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.org).  I was moved beyond words and emotion at what this man and others endure.  It is truly foreign to me living here in America where I am free to worship and speak as I please.  I was amazed that they could endure such hardships as our minds cannot know and yet FORGIVE!!!  Freely forgive.  I have a hard time forgiving someone who has hurt me or made me angry.  I have two such people in my life who have lied about me, maligned my family, taken us to court (we have won but still, time money and fear!), they have broken up my house (literally) and put my family in jeapoardy.  We also are related.  Yet, I can hardly bring myself to forgive and to LOVE.  How do you love someone who is unloveable? I now see that compared to what Christians face who are being tortured, my life and these two individuals are a cake-walk.  i have no right to not both freely forgive but to love as well.

In his book Wurmbrand makes a distinction though between loving the persecutors of our lived and speaking out about the unhealthy ideals that have caused it.  In his case it was Communism.  He spent his life warning about Communism and speaking against it  but loving the Communists.  I hope that in my life I can learn to speak about the illness and not the ill.  As we all so often quote, "Love the sinner and hate the sin".  But do we? Do we really love the sinner?  Do we really forgive them?  I wonder.

May God work His perfect work in us that we may truly be His children and love and forgive completely.  I am not rightly able to confess that I have this down in my life.  I pray to see through His eyes and with His heart toward others and circumstances that are not in my control but affect deeply my life and comfort.  I also praise Him this day for allowing me to be free and to learn these great lessons not from a prison with illness, pestilence and beatings beyond comprehension for just calling upon His name, but to learn from the comfort of a house church, regular church, the street or park or wherever I please to worship Him.  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you!

B

Go to this site and check it out!  You can teach science by singing!!  This is an amazing giveaway!!!

www.mamaarcher.com  (you'll need to type this into your web bar as this direct link is not working for some reason)

When you get to tge site scroll down a bit and you'll see the giveaway. 

I hope this works!  I am so blog illiterate!

B

Ok so it's Monday.  Enough said.  Actually, I'm having a great day so far.  I was able to clean the house this weekend so it's in pretty good shape, oh if only it could stay that way!

I am behind in my stuff for today but you know, I don't really care.  The sun is shining which we haven't seen in a week but it is oh so cold today.  Windy and 20F for a high.  Not too bad for February but the wind just makes me freeze.  The bright sunshine and the Blue Sky are such a tease!  It looks very inving outdoors but I know if I step out, WHAM! the cold air is going to take my breath away.  UGH, my son has scouts tonight,  you know what that means!!! Brrrrr......

So this morning we doubled up on English, finished History 1 and will begin History 2 tomorrow.  We had a great time in the Word this morning and spent a bit more time there than I had planned but oh well, that's the sweetest place to be.  We still need to get through Math and our reading of Pilgrim's Progress.  That should do it for today.  Science test tomorrow and spelling words to review for a quiz on Wednesday.

Now, my concerns.  Back in the Fall my husband had spotted a great little business for sale in Virginia.  I mean  the middle of nowhere VA.  He is a professional with his MBA and a fabulous worker and bread winner.  We are not rich by any means but we are doing well.  He works and I am able to be home with my boys and we have a nice home.  No Mc Mansion or anything formal, we have a nice Cape and it is very cozy.  I love our yard and where we live and that even though we are a bit rural, we have so many conveniences nearby.  I can be at Walmart, Stop and Shop or several other grocers or bigger name stores in 5 minutes or 15 at the most.  I can also be at a mall in less than 20 minutes or a major mall or city in less than an hour.  I can easily access Boston, Hartford or Providence in no time and I can be at Cape Cod in 2 1/2 hrs.  So what am I going on about all that for? Because we may move!!! My husband has been very unhappy at work.  Not because the job itself, he like what he does and he likes who he works for.  The problem is the time it requires him to be away from his family.  He is required to work really late most evenings so basically he sees his sons on weekends only.  I get maybe two hours each evening.  He wants more time and so do we.  So, being self employed is what he desires.  He has actually talked about that since we met 10 years ago. 

So, we may be heading out this weekend to check out this area.  My problem? I really like our home and this set-up will give us a large dwelling above the business but it's not a house.  Our land would be very small, basically a tiny backyard.  The living quarters need MANY updates that we would not be able to afford after purchasing the business.  I must say that the surrounding countryside is gorgeous from what I have seen in pics.  The town itself is teeny tiny and there are NO conveniences, besides us.  Our business is the Do-It-All for the surrounding neighbors. There are about 1200 people in the town, that's all. 

Now scenario number two is a business in VT that is along the same lines but the living is in a house!  The land sounds lovely as does the area BUT who wants winter 9 mo of the year?  If only I could combine them.

The biggest problem I have though is family.  Both our families are here and I am exceptionally close to mine.  My dad is 82 and long story short, these are the only grandkids he'll ever have a close bond with.  Who knows how long he'll live and to take these kids from him will break his heart. My mom is in an uproar about the whole thing.  I have told her what can I do?  She has basically told me I should tell my husband no.  I can't do that.  I believe the Bible is clear that I am to submit to my dh and let things be.  He knows how I feel, he loves my family too and he loves his own but to stay here and watch his boys grow without him is more than he can bear.  We would love to do something here but there aren't any opportunities that wouldn't be the same situation he is in already, just for less money.  The goal is time together as a family, to work together and be together.  These business opportunities provide work and living on the same premises so even when long hours are required, he is only a few steps away.

I am really torn up about it.  On the one hand I would love to have an adventure and to be together as a family like that.  On the other hand, I hate leaving my family and what if we end up hating it?  It's a big risk and it scares me.  We are too old to keep starting over.  Almost 50 will be tough if he can't make this work.  Not to mention we'd have no health insurance.

Ok, so that is the jist of where I'm at.  Yikes!

Today we were able to get so much school stuff done quickly! WooHOO I love these days!  Our day started with Bible then English where K did his Cumulative Review, History which is almost done (!), Math Review of lessons learned, and to make his astronomy notebook, so we got in some Arts and Crafts!  Sigh, if only all days went this well.  K received a 100% on his history test and did really well on his mathmatics system review.  We are using the Professor B's math program as we were really bored with BJU Math.  Much of this disk is review for K but that never hurts!  He enjoys it as it is computer based and has a notebook for reviewing and to further the lessons.

N worked on Seasons today.  He seems to understand but we will review next week.  He tends to identify the seasons by what weather occurs, for example instead of Winter he calls it snow season, Fall is leaf season and summer is beach season,  Spring is rain time.  I really want him to grasp the differences because we have rain in all seasons and snow sometimes in 3 of the seasons but sometimes not much at all.  You can see the confusion?  He is able to know it as in common knowledge but I want him to grasp it firmly so we will review next week.  He has finished with sequencing and he has also been writing.  He has learned to write his name but needs reminding of the letter formation and order.  I am more than please with this as he is only 4!!  I must admit that I felt compelled to teach him sooner as my girlfriend's daughter who is only 3 is writing her name and it is LONG!!!  I know, I know bad momma.  I'm glad though as it brought me to a scripture about comparing and the Bible says it is not wise.  Still, it let me think on some other skills to work with him on.  Now I approach it with a better attitude and if he isn't getting it or if he is struggling or not showing interest, I can let it ride and just offer him encouragement instead of feeling like he "must get it and get it right now!". 

R is doing well.  He is my little chunky muffin.  He napped all through school time and I took some pics of him sleeping.  He is a thumb sucker!!!! HA! just like his daddy.  Well, like his daddy used to be.  I should probably calrify that so no one thinks he still sucks his thumb! LOL I wish I knew how to post pics or I would.  Someday I'll figure it all out!

Well, it's off to get some house cleaning done and get these banshees working.  Right now K is pretending to be a bad doctor and is pretending to poison his brother N.  He just told me he's looking for the "tube" that leads right to the heart!!! Only he would come up with something like that! Honestly, where does he get it from???? Well atleast he's trying to revive him now. Sheesh! 

Til next time! Keep your kids away from the Science Channel!lol

On Ground Hog Day every year we have a party.  I set up a card table in my Front living room (the "pretty" room) and I use my formal linens and table wear.  We light a fire in the fireplace and set the ambiance with a glass of wine and candles.  Then I make Hamburgers and hot dogs and homemade potato salad, chips the works! We have an indoor BBQ! Then after the food we watch "GROUND HOG DAY" with Bill Murray.  Hilarious!  It's lots of fun and the kids get a kick out of it.  I sometimes have them make table favors for everyone.  One year it was groundhog bookmarks, another year it was groundhog pins, another sunglasses for eveyone from the Dollar Store.  this year we all bought little somethings for eachother and had to agree to keep it cheap.  It also had to be a summer theme.  My mom bought the guys (dad and dh) brightly colored disposable razors and bought the kids plastic cups with a beach scene and candy (like they needed that!),  For me she bought two little dishes that are starfished shape to hand onto for summer cookouts on the patio.

I bought her a little jar candle in watermelon scent, a crossword puzzle book for my dad to do outside on their deck, and for my DH I bought him a Snickers bar for after his run during lunch break.  Now he runs all year but oh well. It was all I could do on the cheap.

So, it is a lot of fun. If you haven't started a Ground Hog Day tradition with your family do it for next year!  My mom started it 12 or so years ago one winter when we were feeling blah.  I came home from work (was living with them then) and she had started dinner and when I walked into the house I was like ok, so you cooked tonight but where its it? She told me to go sit in the living room.  I was like huh?  There it all was.  We had so much fun we do it every year and sometimes we don't do the formal thing but use paper plates and the typical picnic table cloth.  The point is to make it fun and change it up from year to year.

I hope someone here will do it next year and post about it.  I'd love to hear of your adventures with Ground Hog Day.  Happy Spring!

Today we started our day with Bible time then moved into history and English.  K had a spelling test today and he passed 100%.  He worked on writing while doing his spelling test as I gave him different paper today and it required him to use smaller letters and to really watch placement.  We skipped science today and math.  I had too many interruptions.  Normally I don't allow it but today was "one of those days". 

N worked on sequencing today in preschool.  He has done very well and in some ways could begin Kindergarten work but I prefer to review and make sure he's really ready.  He just turned 4 in Oct. and so I will let him work slowly.  He has learned to write his name and though he needs reminding in technique, he does very well.

I'm feeling the winter blahs now.  I so can't wait until Spring and we can get outside in the air.  It will really be lovely the first day we get out without coats and OH when I can open my windows and let air in!!! AAAHHHH!!!  We will be going to a nearby Greenhouse soon so I can't wait!!  They have the loveliest plants and even have giant citrus trees!! the lemons on one are the size of softballs, NOT EXAGGERATING one bit! They have many exotic plants in bloom and I just need to sniff "green" stuff. kwim?

Tomorrow K is camping over at a nature center near here and should have a great time.  I can't wait to get some scrapping done!  Well, once I get my table cleaned up.  That may take all night to do.  Oh well.  Looking forward to starting!

I hope you all are staying warm where you are if it's cold and if it is sunny and warm where you are, I don't want to know about it! lol Or else I may track you down and visit!  Put the kettle on!

I had so wanted to write before Christmas but time got away as usual.  So I am writing in the "Tweener Time".  New Years is just a day away yet Chriustmas is long spent, atleast it seems to be long gone yet the wrapping and gifts are prolific throughout my house!  I thought I had everything squirrled away and dealt with however, a box belonging to some unopened treasure makes it's way into the house and plastic wrap and styrofoam seem to multiply larger than the item itself.  Let's not forget those twisties from the myriad of toys my sons were given.  Good grief!  Do they really think that every part of the toy needs to be secured to the point of not being able to be played with? 

Anway, I will not go on about the woes of the holiday explosion, after all that is not what the Holiday is about.  The gifts, toys, gadgets and gizmos that befall our homes are blessings.  They are a wonderful and exciting part of living in a culture and economy where we can afford the extras and enjoy them.  No, Christmas is not found in presents as the Grinch found out, it is found in the wonder of God's love.  Our salvation was secured that day for no one could stop what God planned to do. Our future fate sealed either to believe or to ignore what God promised would come to pass through the Word and through His prophets and host in the sky who proclaimed it was begun.  The plan of salvation started long before that night in Bethlehem, long before Mary met Gabriel.  It began in the beginning of creation when Adam sinned.  Perhaps even before the first star was made, God knew.  Christmas is a reminder that God sees all from beginning to end and has a  plan.  He's already aware of our sin, our shortcomings.  He knew and died anyway.  He knew our heartache and pains over other's sins and the fallout of those choices in our lives.  He knew that we would also be victims of sin and  injustice so He sent His Comforter, The Holy Spirit to uphold us when we can no longer find a way to breathe or wonder if we should. 

Yes, Christmas is all that and more.  When I think of Christmas I think of the past, the plan but in motion in the very first moments of time and space that we know of.  I also see the present, my life and it's unfolding and God's plan made just for me!  Praise Him!  I also see it for my children and anyone I meet.  It is real, it is now, it is waiting!!!  I also see my future and that of others.  How can we look at the manger and not see the cross?  How can we not see the Resurrection?  How can we not see the Soon and Coming King????  Yes, I look at Christmas and I see the future of the Rapture and the SEcond Coming, I also see souls not willing to bow before Him.  My heart breaks for the lost at Christmas and always but more so at Christmas and Easter as this is the time when it is so obvious, so open, so "Out There" practically screaming BELIEVE BELIEVE!!! yet they will not listen.  Oh silly, foolish souls! Don't wait another minute! Why waste such precious time?  I did for so many years and now He is here in my life, He is my best friend, He is my everything!  Oh how did I live before?  I didn't, I was dead.  The walking dead only I didn't know it.  Now, oh life abundant!  Prayers heard and answered, my heart of stone changed!  A gift of Mercy!

I do so hope that amidst your explosion of wrapping and gift chaos you too will see the precious gems given to you!  Salvation, family, children, home, food, love and holding this all together is Christ!  On Christmas my father almost died from a blockage in his heart.  We were blessed to have it taken care of on Christmas Eve and he was home with us the next day! What a gift!  I have had a Christmas time of loss though, and I can say that it was more painful than I care to remember.  In it though was Christ.  He held my hand and my heart and carried me through the pain.  He has left in its wake a deep compassion for hurting people.  He is the one who gives and takes away but yet, He always gives again.  He never leaves us empty.  He has given me more children in the place of the one taken home to Him but He gave me more than this, He gave me compassion, mercy and strength to now give to others.  I will see my child again and what wonders that precious soul now already sees! 

Life is full of happy times and awful times.  Some of us seem to get more of one type than others do.  I hope that if this finds you in any extreme of joy or sadness you will think on the Coming of Christ in all of it's forms and what that means for you.  1st Coming was to show us His enormous love for us, His authority over this world and His great compassion toward us in wanting us to know Him and to die for our sin.  He would not and could not leave us in our state of death and separation.  The second coming/Rapture is also to benefit us.  We, when we become His own, are not appointed unto wrath and so He will come for us before the terrible time of tribulation.  The actual Second Coming is when He will set up His Kingdom and put an end to suffering once and for all and send each soul to the place of their choosing.  Mind you, the choice is made in this life, not in the one to follow.  So, what does this mean to you?  I guess that depends on your point of belief.  If you don't believe, it is mere dribble, nothing that soothes your heart or pain or purpose.  If you are a believer, than you can be encouraged by remembering your destiny.  If you are seeking, than you have a choice to make.  You must choose which camp you will join.  The scoffer or the destined to Heaven?  If you don't know what it means to have a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to e-mail me and I'll help you get to know Him.  If you already know Him, then I hope this Holiday season between Christmas and Easter finds you blessed and growing in your walk with Him.  I hope that you too can see the reminderof why He came and did what he did and to reach out to those around you who can't.

On another blog I entered a contest and had to write about my sons.  I wanted to post it here as I think I want the world to know how much I love being a mother and having my boys.  Enjoy!

Oh my. I have looked at this for so long in their catalog. My sons and I received a Vision Forum catalog this past year and all we have done is drool! Not only are the items they carry quality and enriching, their committment to the ideals behind them is astonishing in this day and age. But, enough about Vision Forum, this isn’t supposed to be an add for them though I could do that quite easily.

You asked us as mother’s to write about what makes our boys so precious to us. To “win” this item we must write about our sons. Well, I have not read through the other responses that are here and seeing as this is Thursday morning, I hope I am not too late.

If you visit my blog, you will find a post there that speaks on how angry I was with my sons. I have three now, at the time I was pregnant with my 4th child. Yes, one baby is in Heaven rejoicing with Jesus. Anway, on that particular day my sons had about driven me over the edge. When I re-read my post I cringe. Not because I don’t believe we all have those days, but because I didn’t take the time to give the whole truth. We do all have those days but the truth is, our children are such a marvelous blessing to us. I also have a step-son who is now 20 years old. He is living independently and it is a joy to see him thriving. You see, he was adopted and his biological mother was an addict. He has had many years of “problems” and the physical harm he has put us in has been really scary at times. Through those years of dealing with his mental illness, I thought surely God didn’t intend for us to live like this and would intervene. He did, but not how I thought He would or should. Instead, He worked in me. He has shown me how to love a person who is difficult to love. He showed me that love is not always sappy feelings but is a choice made moment by moment in each situation. Love is choosing the good for another even when they hurt us, use us or even abuse us. Love is setting boundaries for our safety and sanity but also for the one who is in the wrong. Love is willing to forgive even when there is no apology or repentance. Love reduces our pride and teaches us humility. In this, I have seen God redeem my stubbornness and has delivered my step-son. He is so happy now. Happiness is not something he knew growing up. His particular illnesses and conditions don’t allow much true joy, now, he is learning to stand on his own two feet and that he is worthwhile and does have something to give this world. He is exploring his gifts and faith and seeing that he too can be a man of integrity. How different from the many weekends of bringing him to hospitals trying to find help for him, the institutions, the meds, the dark days of seeing him thrashing about on the floor or destroying the house because he didn’t get his way. Now, we have peace in our home when he is here. Why? Prayer and obedience to God’s word. Even when I wanted to run away and give up on him, I bent my knee and bowed my heart before God and submitted to His way. It is never easy to do this in such extremes, but it can be hard even when we don’t have extremes. Humility is a tough road and not always easy but it is so worth the trip and the rewards are life-altering. That was my first experience as a mom, not even to my own flesh and blood, but well worth it. The lessons learned there are what teaches me now with the boys God has further given to me. I will continue to write on them as they are the ones in my sphere at present.

My sons are beautiful, handsome, creative and fun! They have the best senses of humor! Kyle loves to talk to others and is so relational. He is innocent in his understanding and amazing in his ability to communicate to others. He is sensitive, sweet and oh so very charming. I wish I could put a video up of him to show you how delightful he is. Nathan is whom we refer to as “A Party Waiting to Happen!” that is his personality to a “T”. He was born prematurely at 33wks and has lived on the edge since! Oh the stories I could tell!! They both live this life with a twinkle in their eyes and a smile on their lips. I smile just sitting here thinking on them. Let’s not forget my newest little bundle either! Ryan is just coming up on one month of age and he is already fun. The smiles and the coos, the quiet times nursing (when we get quiet moments! lol). To hold a little baby again and to have him is more than I can express. I never thought I’d be blessed this way again but God had different plans and I am so grateful that He did!

But is this all there is? I could write all day about our adventures, our fun times together, our simple daily laughs and yes, also our darker moments. The disclipline, the whining, oh the whining! The areas of struggle they have with obeying, getting along, responsibility, etc. The usual. My boys are 7, 4 and 1 month, they are still learning. So am I.

That is where the real blessing is. My boys are many wonderful things but I at times am not. God has trusted me with raising these sons to become men. What do I know about being a man? Nothing really. Yes, I have a wonderful husband who will take the charge but at these tender ages and being the one they spend the most time with, I bear the load. To create men of Faith, honor, integrity, courage, truth, wow! It is down right daunting most days and I tremble before God with that load. In this my weaknesses are exposed, I lay bare before God with my sinful nature and my selfishness wrapped around my like a garment. I can only beg Him for help as these are His future men, His precious creations entrusted to a woman who by her old nature could do much harm but in God’s Grace is learning differently.

To me, having sons is a great challenge to understand the mysteries of another gender. To learn to accept those differences on many different levels. When I want to save the ant or caterpillar and before I can catch it, squish happens. When I want to get domestic in the kitchen they want to make it into a science experiment! When we are outside and I figure they can play in the sandbox while I read a page or two only to be interrupted by some forsaken creature being dangled infront of my nose or two sand-monsters infront of me (how there is even any sand left in that box is beyond me, it must surely be in my septic by now after all the stuff removed from their heads!). You know, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even on our really tough days when I feel overwhelmed, exhausted and alone. Those grubby little hands that reach for me will one day reach out and take another woman’s hand and forge a life with her as his one and only lady, they will one day be the hands that will make decisions in the world of careers, they will comfort their own children and also be the ones to bring correction, they will fold many times in prayer to God for guidance and ultimately leave this earth to take His hand in Heaven. *tears* Am I grateful? You bet. Am I scared? Absolutely!! Do I love them? More than you or anyone will ever know.

They are only 7, 4 and 1 month. Life is just unfolding for them and for me. They want to make their way in this world and find out who they are, I too want to know who I am. How to be their mother, how to raise these boys to the calling that I have been given. Only through much prayer and humility will this happen.

You know, I’m so glad for your contest because in reflecting on this subject, I am blessed already. I am truly a blessed woman. To be a step-mom and mom and see God’s hand is more than a reward. Thank you!!!!

Blessed Christmas to you!

Bethany

Ryan Frederick was born Friday afternoon, November 23rd at 1:48 pm. He weighs in at 7lbs. 1 oz, 21 inches long. He has a full head of dark hair! Momma, Daddy and Big brothers are so in love and thankful! He shares his big brother Kyle's Birthday!!

I went in Friday morning at 8:30am to be induced. My OB had hoped to just break my water and then labor would happen on it's own however when she came in at 9:30am to check me, his head wasn't down enough and she was really afraid that if she broke my water the cord would slip into the canal and that would be life threatening. She started the pitocin to get me contracting so he'd move down more. I was still 5cm but with the polyhydramnios (extra fluid in the uterus) she felt once he was down, it would be quick. Let me set the stage!!!!

UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The dosage of pitocin was small and they would gradually increase it over time. I never had the awful evil contractions with it during this time and we laughed and joked through the whole thing just me pausing every few minutes to breathe a bit through a cx but it was not painful.

THEN! All heck broke loose! My OB had left and came back at 1:15pm. At 1:30pm she examined me and said I was dilated to 7cm and about 100% effaced. She went ahead and broke my water. The very next thing as soon as she stood up was a HUGE awful cx tg=hat made me want to scream (didn't) followed by another one that made me ask for anesthesia!!!! The anesthesiologist showed up a few minutes later and while he was getting things ready I began having another cx only with this one all of a sudden

HE CAME OUT!!!!!!!

No kidding! His head came flying out and with the next cx his body. People came running out of nowhere, My OB couldn't get gowned fast enough!! In 18 minutes I went from 7cm to holding my son and nursing him!!!!!! I was whipped! My body literally exploded this kid out! The dr had to throw the anesthesiologist out of the way! My DH had just picked up the phone as it was one of my SIL's calling to see how things were going and as he said, "well they just broke her water....." I gave the gutteral cavewoman war-cry and he flew out! The phone went flying, everyone came running and he had to be caught! I'm still in shock! They couldn't get the bed broken down fast enough or my feet in stirrups! He was here!!

So that is my crazy story! Absolutely inredible!

We are all doing fine and I hope to find my strength this coming week. Hoping my milk will come in soon.

My goodness how time flies!  Between Dr appt's and life I haven't been on here in a lifetime it seems!  Ok here's the scoop!

I have been seriously changing the way we do homeschool and I must say the freedom we have is incredible!! What a yoke we were under! Well-Drained Minds is what we had and workbook overload!!  Though we've been taking a break since my printer broke and now that I'm at the end of my pregnancy, I have much higher hopes for more peace when we resume.

On to the Baby News!!  Yesterday was my 37 wk appt (I'll be 38 wks on Friday the 23rd).  I asked my OB to check me and after the lecture on how I may not be that far along, blah blah blah (she wanted to induce me on Monday the 26th) she checked and I am 5cm and VERY THIN!!  EEK!  She sent me over to Labor and Delivery for some monitoring to see if I was having any contractions.  I had some but not enough for her.  She sent me home.    I was a little disappointed because I am really ready to have this baby BUT I know my husband's schedule this week is crazy and if we can get him through yesterday and today it would be best for his sanity. 

So tonight we are bringing out the parsley, oregano and pineapple to get my contractions going!  I really think the oregano works.  I ate some Saturday night and all Sunday afternoon I had contractions like crazy.  I think it really helped! 

So that's the news that's fit to print.  Oh, if I don't have this baby sooner, I will be induced Friday on my oldest Son's birthday!  They will share a birthday!  If I have this one on Thursday then my oldest and this one will both have been born on Thanks Giving Day!  Weird!

Bethany

Being in the final weeks of pregnancy is so slow!  I am so ready to be done with it!  I know we need to go another three weeks to get to 38 wks and that would be ideal but man the wait!!  My hips are killing me!  The ligaments to my legs ache so bad and I cannot get them to stop throbbing, not to mention my poor back! Oh the joys!  Actually, it is all worth it but this is the first time I have felt this poorly in pregnancy.  I always felt my best in the third trimester.  I suppose age has done me in!

So the count down continues!  So far baby has been fabulous, my body is a wreck but baby is doing just great!  Teh only decision left is to induce or not.  I figure that with my risks I will let them induce me but only when my body begins to show signs that it is ready.  I want to be dilated to atleast 3cm before even thinking on having pitocin.  OH I hate that drug!  I guess time will tell. 

That's all the news that's fit to print as they say.  Everything else is status quo.  Boy's Birthday parties are tomorrow.  We're having a surprise party for them at our local bowling alley and then back to our house for the family party.  I don't think they have a clue! I love surprising them! This is going to be fun.  My girlfriend is taking them for the night with her family and so when they come to the bowling alley they'll think they are just going with her family for some family fun, when they arrive, their friends will be there and yell surprise!!!  Can't wait!

Gee, 7 True things about me.  Only 7? Ha ha!  I actually had a moment (while feeling like I'm going into early labor EEK!) so thought I'd think on this.  I will probably have more than 7 but atleast you'll know me better!

I am a Believer and have been Born Again, I belong to Jesus!

I love solitude at times, quiet moments, I am comfortable being alone, especially in my home.

I am very loyal.

I enjoy learning new things.

I smile, alot! I like to be friendly.

I am an encourager.

I don't like eggplant, brussel sprouts, lima beans  or succotash. EWWWW!!!! Oh and anything raw except veggies and fruit!

I love my family.

I like to sit under a tree in Autumn when the leaves are orange or yellow.  It feels warm to me and relaxing.

I like to read.

I like to scrap and stamp. (not great at it but I enjoy it!)

I can't knit or crochet to save my life.

I am a good counselor to my friends and those who are hurting.

That's it.  I don't really know what to say about me.  I usually am telling someone else about themselves! I do like my sense of humor.  I am silly and see humor in lots of things.  My kids and I do laugh a lot together.  I think I am kind and teachable.  Though not always so.  God has truly transformed my heart.  Is this what you ladies were looking for?

B

Good Grief!  I am really getting to the end of my pregnancy!  I am down to weekly appointments (yay!) and I start NST's next week to monitor baby.  I will go to Labor and Delivery twice per week for these tests and I also will see the OB every week.  WOW!  Three appointments each week!  I hope this makes the time go by really fast!  On the other hand, once this little Prince is here, I know I will miss all those jabs and roles.  This will be the last time I am pregnant in my entire life.  That's a lot to take in so even though pregnancy has not been very good to my body, I will miss it terribly.  Weird.  I will be glad to be able to bend again though! lol and hopefully find some energy again.  I kinda miss me.  My family misses me too, but it will be so worth it!!!  I am just so excited to see this little guy and get to know him.  I think he is going to look like his brothers.  So far my boys have all looked alike and it will be really cool to see if the trend continues!  This is the easiest way to have triplets! Several years between each child!! lol

So, between the three appointments I will have each week until this little one arrives, I will also have an ultrasound every other week and I need to see the dietician and a cardiologist.  All this in about 4-5 weeks time! So some weeks I'll have 3 appts and other weeks 4-5!! That's if it all stays stable!

My OB mentioned that with the extra fluid in my uterus that when I get to 37 wks she may go ahead and check for lung maturity and if the baby is ready, she would induce me then.  I'm not sure I like that idea, I was able to have my first naturally and the second I went into labor on my own but because he was premature, they gave me Pitocin to hurry things along.  That was torture!!! I hate pitocin!! They gave me enough to birth an elephant and the kid only weighed 4 lbs.  In retrospect, I should have declined but in the moment with him being a preemie and the worry, well, you do what you've got to do to get them here safe.

This one is the same thing.  They are worried that with the extra fluid if my water breaks the placenta will separate from my uterus or the umbilical cord will slip into the birth canal either scenario killing the baby and putting me at risk for bleeding. UGH!  So, I hope the levels will go down to normal range and I can have this baby naturally.  I guess I'll do what the DR thinks will get him here safely.  Anyone ever have this happen and have a happy result?

I hope I have the energy for all these appt's!! Atleast the time will go by a little faster with them!

I absolutely love my family.  I adore my DH and my boys.  Homeschooling is not always so easy and I have really been trying to cut myself some slack with it.  I know my son will have times when he is lazy (don't we all) and it will be a battle to get him to do what he needs to do.  I do not mean if I vent about the trials and tribulations of homeschooling that I don't love him.  How that connection is made I will never know but some people think that just because we get annoyed about someone that it means we don't love them.  PLEASE! I get annoyed with my DH but I still think the world of him!   Heck, I get annoyed with myself but I don't hate myself!  I just don't like what I do sometimes or the attitudes I have or those of my family.  We are human and these moments will happen no matter how hard we try to keep it light or how hard we try to honor one another.

Today for example.  My oldest (the one who hates but loves school) has an assignment in English that he just doesn't want to do.  He is acting like it's killing him.  Really, the drama is quite amusing.  You'd think I was making him carry a 60lb rucksack through the desert with no water or food and scorpions around his ankles.  Do I let him out from under this "burden"? No.  We plod along and he takes all day to get it done. *sigh* these are the moments that make me sigh because it takes so much redirection and cueing.  I have another little boy running around too and looking for something to do and I'm pregnant (would rather take a nap).  So this is the time that my frustration kicks in because I end up with it form both angles and I don't really feel like dealing with it all.  Does that paint a picture of lack of love?  Or can many of you mom's relate?  It is a phase, it will pass.  I know there will be bigger battles but for now, thank goodness it's only over English.

I love this boy.  Even when he's a pill.  Even when he's lazy and doesn't want to cooperate.  I love his brother who is curious and a trouble maker (he is, in a fun way.  We call him our "party waiting to happen!").  I also love their sense of humor, their creativity, their love of just being boys. I love that they love me no matter what.  When I have a bad day and feel grumpy, they still love their momma.  They also want to please me.  I am the most blessed mom in the world.  It doesn't always feel that way and sometimes I get overwhelmed with my expectations and goals but feelings don't always make Truth. I love it when they cuddle up to me even when I'm pulled in 12 different directions and they look up at me with their sweet hazel eyes and say, "I love you mom".

As for my Dh, well, he is just wonderful.  I could use my entire blog site to go on and on about how wonderful he truly is.  He is so patient, loving, encouraging and supportive.  He listens when I get to the point of frustration and he always makes time in his day if I need him.  He gets so busy and work burdens him in so many ways yet, he is always available and just makes time for me and my "trials".  I do not take advantage of this because his time is the company's time and if I call him and bug him all the time then I'm really stealing from the company.  I also want him to have peace in his day and know he can trust me to take care of his home and children while he is away and providing for us.  I want his trust, still, it is nice that when "those days" happen, he is there with encouragement and a smile. 

I must be the most blessed woman in the world.  I thank God all the time for my family and I know how much I don't deserve them.  Thank goodness we don't earn our families or I'd still be single! 

So, to my family, I LOVE YOU!!!! I want the world to know how blessed I am.

Ok, so here is the update on my baby!  My mother had a surprise Mother-to-Be Tea for me yesterday with our close friends and family.  It truly was a surprise and I had NO CLUE!! I was given so many cute things and was really excited.  A beautiful day and great food! Move over Martha Stewart my mom can throw a party like you wouldn't believe and make everyone feel like they ate in a gourmet restaurant and she does it on a shoe string! Great lady! I was so blessed!

Then! Today happened.  I was scheduled for an u/s at a high risk hospital to check my fluid levels as my OB discovered they were a bit high.  While there the Perinatologist came in and basically said what the March of Dimes web-site says and left after telling me that if my water breaks and I go into labor, which can happen early with this, the placenta can separate and cause a massive abruption and kill the baby, not to mention make me bleed to death OR the umbilical cord can slide down into the birth canal and kill the baby.  "Have a nice day and good luck.," was all she left me with.  I was in shock.  Dh wasn't  there, I was by myself.  I waddled to the parking garage and then my brain decided to return.  I called my OB when I returned home but she isn't in today. So needless to say I am beside myself.

I'm trying to be rational about this but let's face it, when you have had a loss and then a preemie, you tend to not be very rational.  Especially when it's your baby!!! I feel like they are playing Russian Roulet with my baby's life.  The Peri said that they can't tell who those things will happen to or who they won't so basically wait and see. Wait and see? For what? To find out what statistic I will fall into???? GRRRR.  So I will hopefully talk to my OB tomorrow and get some better input.  I know she is pressed for time but I'm freaking out!!!

so, if you happen across this post, will you please pray for this little boy.  I so want him to live and just want him here safe and sound (me too!!).  I"ll update as soon as I know anything! Thank you in advance.

Honestly, I know Dr's must tell patients everything but sometimes I wish they wouldn't or atleast be sensitive about it and explain the likelihood of these things.  In this sue happy world I do understand their point but sheesh, to just say this to someone with no compassion or anything is just not right to me.

Bethany

Ok folks.  I received this link from another Mom on this blogging place and after reading her comments and reading the article, I knew I had to post it on mine!! (Thank you ThriceBlessed!!).  This information is too important to NOT share and make people aware of. If it happened in California, it can happen anywhere.  Not that California isn't known for experiments in schools systems and for being  Liberal Central BUT! This is just outrageous.  Try the link or cut and paste it and see what you think.

http://www.worldnet daily.comdaily.com/ news/article. asp?ARTICLE_ ID=58130

Do you agree that this crosses the line?  I think many lines have been crossed in our liberal society but to see this happen is sickening.  I guess the people of California need to send a message loud and clear to their government.  Stop electing people because they've done a few flicks!! They are just people for crying out loud!! They are not larger than life, they are not as smart as they like to get you to think they are.  THEY ARE ACTING!!! GET IT???  It is high time we conservatives stand up and start using their tactics to gain the hearts and minds of people.  Rhetoric and lies is what they use, let's change the rhetoric to LOGIC and get the Truth out there!!

Arnold, I'm sorry, you have blown it.  I always knew you weren't conservative but this, may it haunt you daily until you do the right thing.  I don't know who you were trying to gain favor from but to do it at the expense of our children is sickening.  Not only shame on you but you need to read the scriptures that say, "if anyone should offend the least of these (children) it would be better that a millstone were hung about his neck and he were drowned."  Sir, you just placed yourself on the opposite team from God. 

Ok folks, it's now your turn.  I know why I homeschool and despite our tough days, I won't second guess myself again.  I would love to delete that post but you know, I'll let it stand.  Some days are not easy however, nothing in life worth doing is ever truly easy.  The best things I've done have taken hard work, tears and dedication but the rewards are priceless and eternal.  Take up this cross with me and let's get the word out.  This is shameful and I want it known that I vehemently stand against it. 

After my week with the boys, I have given it over.  I don't have any great spiritual wisdom but I have looked at my alternatives and the fact the I don't want to give up.  My children are too precious for me to just throw in the towel. I will continue to homeschool them and try to figure this whole thing out.

Some things I have thought on are:

I have tried to do too much in my day with the kids.  I think lightening up on the load is necessary.  At this age, training is more important than accomplishing test book pages.  I need to spend more time with them as MOM and teaching them the important things in life.  I need to bake with them, clean with them, laugh with them and just enjoy them.  These years will go by so fast and there will be time for heavier work loads later.  Developing character in my boys is more important. 

I struggle with doing the above because of my insecurities as a parent who is homeschooling.  I'm afraid that my boys will fall behind, not be up to par or will be stupid.  I worry about their academic achievements and don't want them to be behind or lacking.  I want to see them excel.  I feel torn between not wanting them to fail and feeling pressured to see them do better than the run of the mill. UGH! This is all stress I put on myself and not reality.  Simplicity is key and seeking what God wants me to accomplish with my family is more important than my own agenda and the world's rediculous ways.  Still, this is my struggle.  I tend to be black and white, all or nothing.  *sigh*

So, now that I know the problem is ME and not really my kids, I am trying to formulate a plan.  My children will only be what I train them to be.  Good or bad.  I feel the weight of responsibility very heavy and I guess when I perceive my failures, I want to give up.  I can't believe God trusts me with these precious children.  EEK!

So that's all I have for now.  No real plan, just taking each day as it comes.  I hope God will enlighten me soon, I don't want to drop the training ball anymore. 

Bethany

Well it's our first official end to our first official week of *school*.  We've made it 7 days and we have all lived to tell about it!  Actually it went very well.  I am just today getting attitude from my soon to be 7 year old who thinks he is an adult and should make his own decisions as to what he will do in school time and what he won't. Yeah right!  My soon to be 4 year old who wants to be older can't wait for school each day and is eager to do anything I want even though he isn't quite ready for too much.  Oh well, can't win them all.

I have decided to alternate history and science each day so that we aren't doing it all in a day.  The day gets to be too long in my mind and at this age play is still huge!  I think that doing one on one with them it shouldn't take 5-6 hrs to do school!  It just gets long and they lose interest.  So do I for that matter!  I want more time for play and fun!!! Not to mention the housework that needs tending to and the fact that I'm pregant and TIRED!!!

So we've made it. Phew!! Glad to be doing it but boy I do get lazy too.  I'm already looking forward to weekends and our time off at the holidays when the baby is born!  Is that bad?  Do other mom's feel this way or are you all just so gung-ho that you eat sleep and drink homeschool?  Hmmmmm..........maybe I'm the bad mommy of the group?

Hope your year is off to a great start and the kids are happy happy happy!!

B

Ok so I am not able to do links.  I apologize.  I'm lucky to have figured out how on earth to even sign up for this blogging stuff at all!!  OH well! The world needs people like me, I think.

Anway!!! If you haven't heard there's a cool contest!! Go to www.hskubes.blogspot.com  they are having a contest in which they are giving away some art supplies and a FREE SUBSCTIPTION TO BIRDS AND BLOOMS!!!! That alone is awesome!  Check it out! You've only got until tomorrow!! HURRY!!!!!

Bethany

Well I committed to starting the kids off for the "year" on Monday the 10th.  I'm actually nervous! Weird. I've been looking forward to it for some time now and was excited but then, the reality hit and all of a sudden I'm beginning to panic!  Why? Who the heck knows? Hormones maybe? Insecurity? All of the above? Yup, sounds like me! I am really still trying to de-program form the public school ideas and live the homeschool ideals! I keep telling myself my only goal is really to raise these kids to love and honor God, the rest is gravy.

I mean really, am I going to raise an idiot? I will if I don't tell them about Jesus and live what I believe.  Academically they will do fine no matter what.  There's no way you can go through curriculum and have your kids be dumb.  Maybe they won't be rocket scientists (then again, neither am I) maybe they won't even make zillions of dollars (then again, we don't) but they will be able to read, write, communicate and articulate and most of all have all the foundation for a relationship with God who has His own plans for my kids.  I think His plan must outweigh my own!

Ok, so that's my pep talk to my self.  I'm still nervous but can laugh at myself now.  Silly me.  I guess I like to torture myself with insecurity. DUH!

I hope for all of you who have begun your year that it flies smoothly and wonderfully for you.  God bless your endeavors to teach your children safely and in wisdom of Christ!

Bethany

It's funny how when we really need to learn something, God makes great efforts to keep that topic coming up!  I had been reading in Debi Pearl's book "Created to be His Helpmeet", about how reverencing our husbands, respecting our husbands, needs to come out in various ways.  One of the things I was reading was about our words.  I don't speak horribly to my husband but when on the phone with a girlfriend, I do tend to talk about his laziness and how much needs to get done around here and why can't men be a "LITTLE" neater????  I will occassionally "men bash".  It's very common amongst women, especially today I think.  It's socially expected and accepted.  I felt challenged by God to remember that to honor my husband, I must honor Him and speaking ill of his shortcomings does little to help or honor.  In essence, I am actually tearing him down.  He may not know I have these conversations with others, actually, I'm sure he doesn't.  Satan hears though and if I persist, that gives him a victory in my heart and robs me of peace and love toward my marriage.

I began to mull this over in my mind when later yesterday the phone rang.  I was just in the middle of "venting" to God about my husband and another person who has been really difficult for the past 9 years.  I was on a roll when the phone rang and interrupted my tale of woe.  My girlfriend who is going through a difficult time in her marriage called to chat and ask me about some advice someone had given her.  She also was telling me about something I said to her that I thought might have been from God on Sunday at church that it  was indeed a message she needed to hear but didn't know until this week began to unfold.  Then it hit me.  The same lesson she is needing to learn is the same lesson that I need to learn and apply in my marriage.

As we spoke about the matter, it was evident to both of us that we have daily choices in our marriages and in our relationships with others.  We can become Peacemakers or we can fuel the battles and keep open the wounds.  Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."  Am I acting like His daughter when I say negative things about  my husband? No.  Even if I am "venting"?  We must demonstrate self-control (Prov.25:28, 29:11,Romans 7:5, 8:6) we must bridle our tongues and refrain from speaking evil of anyone (1Peter 3:10).

I realized that if I want to cultivate peace in my home, in my marriage, in my walk with God, in my children and my life, I must first obey God.  To restrain my lips from evil will bring life, if I do not, then I invite death.  Debi Pearl goes on to say that when we speak these things it carries in our attitudes, it is often in earshot of someone, if not our husbands than our children. She brings up that if our husbands hear it they will believe it and in the end we facilitate their actions and so in essence, we are to blame.  Men need to hear how great they are and how they do good things.  I do praise my husband often and it is right but my heart needs to begin to praise him and be truly thankful.  How will our children be persons of respect if we do not show them how to give respect even when we are right.  I am right by the way.  I have legitamate gripes. My husband hurts my feelings and does not do some of the things I think he should. That however, is not the point.  God is telling me that He is the vindicator but only when I do what I am responsible for.  My husband my never change.  He may go through life the "typical male" and I may not ever see fruit, but doesn't God tell us to store our treasure in Heaven?  Oh what fruit in MY spirit can be tasted and declared sweet here on earth and made abundant in Heaven!! We are to have no expectations on people to perform or to change just because we see the need for change within ourselves.

I think that I expect to have immediate results.  I want God to zap my husband and change him because I suddenly am doing things as I should.  I also expect that my husband will notice my change in heart and attitude and will be grateful, thankful for my hard work, more motivated, etc. That would be really nice and we do want those things and I know God wants it too however, I am not Holy Spirit Jr. and it is in God's timing that these changes may occur.  They also may not.  My husband may never "change" or "get it" or do any of the things that I'd like to see but that does not excuse my responsibility.  I am to obey God and do in my marriage as He commands regardless of the outcome.  I am not responsible for that, He is. Do it as unto the Lord.  He who sees in secret will reward you openly.  I want to be the Prov. 31 woman is is called blessed.  Maybe it won't be by my husband, perhaps not even my children though that is the promise, I may never get my name in lights and others in my circle may not "get it" either but my FATHER sees, He is pleased and that is what matters.  I want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant".

So for me, will I choose to cultivate fruit and peace into my life and the lives of others or will I seek to kill that fruit and the weak sappling God has begun to grow in my heart?  I tremble but I choose to cultivate.  It will not be easy, temptations abound.  I was tested last night and again this morning.  I blew it, naturally.  Praise God I can repent and try again! I cry out to God to set a seal over my lips and my heart (Song of Solomon 8:6, Ps. 34:13, 45:2, 141:3, Prov. 4:24, 5:2).  May I learn to only speak positive things about people and circumstances and let the broken things be fixed by God's perfect hand.

Have you ever had a friend who kept complaining over the same issues all the time?  After a while, though she means no harm, it really gets boring.  I have been that friend to others and have had friends like that in my life.  Council is good, but we often call "venting", council. It is not council when we don't do as we ought.  It is in it's right definition, complaining, whining and contention.  I'm learning to set aside my grievences, to tell my Father and leave it there.  Does God need to be reminded of our hurts? No. I think He's got that covered.  I want to be a sweet fragrance to others, a breath of fresh air.  I don't want to be that phone call that makes people cringe.  Sometimes we need to let things rest.  That friend I told you about, she really is in a sticky situation.  She has a marriage that is in real trouble.  She works diligently to learn to be the wife God wants us to be, to respect, to honor, to give kindness.  The problem? She has become so consumed with her own actions and looking for his reaction that it is not motivated from a pure heart.  It is drudgery without reward.  I say that often it will feel that way, if we put our eyes on the earthly things here.  If we fix our eyes on the eternal and on loving Christ, it will be as natural as breathing and as peaceful as a summer breeze in our soul.

Those are my thoughts for today.  This is the lesson I need to apply. Victory is already mine because Christ died for my sin and nailed my stinkin' flesh to the cross, I pray I walk and live that victory.

Bethany

I really need someone who is clever and computer savvy to help me!! I want to maek my blog look so nice and I have no clue.

I went to the help section and to the settings and to the area where you can make changes and I have no idea what they are talking about.  % signs, arrows.  What on earth?

How do you gals do it?  Where do you put stuff?  AGH!

I can't even change my background. *sigh* another challenged individual attempting to make it in the blogging world! ;)

Bethany

Well, I am getting ready for the new school year.  I actually enjoy this time! Call me crazy but I like to prepare the resources for our year ahead.  I find it exciting and I anticipate the learning my children will accomplish and how much joy there is in seeing them achieve new goals and new ideas.

Ok, that being said, I also am FRIGHTENED!!  I wonder each year if what we're doing is right or enough. EEK! My oldest is only going into 2nd grade and if I were going the public school route I would have had the option of holding him back and then he would only be in 1st grade.  I'm so glad I started him when I did; he'd be utterly bored in 1st grade.

So, as if I didn't have my work cut out for me with trying to find the right balance of "normal" curriculum (whatever that is) I have decided to add in a more classical approach.  I have purchased the book the Well Trained Mind and I am intimidated because I do not feel that my own is very "well-trained".  Actually, I don't think I have a mind anymore.  I believe it became lost between the stuff you seem to find under the couch and the rest under the beds and kitchen appliances.  Somehow the dust-bunnies and cobwebs of my home have seeped in to where the was once a brain and now like Pooh, I am just stuff and fluff! :)

I am on the hunt for books.  I am building my son a library and hoping for the best.  The problem? My son hates writing, hates reading and oh yeah, if it isn't science, don't bug him! Stinker!  This should be an adventure!  I will have to post my curriculum when I have it all put together and maybe some pro's out there and critique me!

Wish me luck!

B

For those who happen by my blog and have noticed the lack of update info, I apologize!! I was sick for so long that just existing took all I had with two boys under foot!!  Now I am back and hope to be more "chatty".

I am in my six month of this pregnancy (22 wks). I just had my BIG ultrasound and we are having another BOY!!!! Yes, the u/s revealed twigs and berries and so we must come up with another boy name! I had really hoped for a girl but God indeed does have a sense of humor and guaranteed other plans!  Like my 6 yr old said when I asked him what he wanted, "I think I'll just trust God with that one!" *sigh* sometimes you just want to smooch them don't you?

So, here we are creaping along in this long journey of motherhood.  I've had some issues with bleeding and cramping and very early contractions.  No real medical intervention needed yet but I am being monitored closely and have been told to take it VERY easy.  Yeah, right! With two boys already??? Hmmmm......

So onward we press awaiting the arrival of our sweet little new bundle.  I'm due December 7th but am hoping to go a little early.  Not as early as DS #2 who was born at 33 wks! Just a week early or so would be nice.  I was 10 days early with my first so that would be about perfect.  I guess we'll find out when we get there!

Summer is waning (thankfully) it is not my favorite time of the year.  Fall is approaching and so is the start of school.  I am really fearful about schooling this year as I don't know how on earth I will accomplish this while preggers and then with a new baby! I have mini panic attacks anytime I think of it!  My older boy is beginning 2nd grade, my youngest is in preschool and I'm going to be a wreck! oh well.

How do you squeeze into a day all the schooling, housework and baby stuff that needs to be done??? I need a plan............until the next blog!

Bethany

Oh I am so green!  I have been feeling the "greens" coming on for a while with nausea but as long as I ate it was fine.  Now, I had a really bad night last night and I'm queezy today.  Oh how I hate this part!  I'm trying not to think of it but let's face it, it's not so easy to just "forget" you feel like throwing up.

Went to the Dr. yesterday and she did some blood work.  The other Dr. in the practice wanted me to take a baby aspirin twice a day and wasn't interested in checking my progesterone.  He is very "old school" according to the Ob I saw yesterday.  She is young and seemingly up on everything.  She stated that in absolutely no way was I to take an aspirin as I hate lots of bleeding in my previous pregnancy and this could really aggravate things.  She also said that if I had a coagulation problem, they can test for that and it wouldn't be a baby aspirin to take but women who have this go on heparin.  So she stated that the other doctor was "showing his age".  Wow, that's a harsh statement.  I thought her ideas were more sound in logic and that He never even remembered my history when I spoke with him and she was looking at the big picture.  She did test my progesterone, anitcoagulation, HcG levels and thyroid (I had a problem with it last time). 

Then I went to the Lab and they messed up my draw and I had to go back for more after driving all the way home.  So two sticks later and a total of like 10 vials of blood, I am waiting for the results.  I tried to remind the Tech that blood-letting went out in the 1700's.  She didn't find it humorous.  I did but was somewhat serious too.

I'll keep you posted!

Bethany

I am really struggling with this whole pregnancy thing.  I want this baby so bad and yet it doesn't look like my hormones will cooperate.  I feel like I'm waiting for judgement.  A friend councelled me to realize that I must let this baby go into GOd's plan and pray not my will but His.  I want to do it but it hurts so much.  I know there is the possibility that things could be ok but then He may decide to let me walk the road of pain again.  This is a walk I don't want to take.  I've done this before and it's taken me three years to finally come to the place of wanting to talk to God again and really pray in faith. I just can't stand the pain and anxiety.

I only wish He would speak to me on the matter.  He has spoken to me only a few times directly and when not reading scripture, each time it was right and came to pass.  I just wish He'd do it again.  I need hope but I don't want false hope. 

I'm raw, I'm hurting, I'm afraid.  I just want this child so badly.  Do I stand in faith that all will be well or prepare for the worst?

AGH!

I am pregnant!  I just found out yesterday morning.  My husband and I are shocked! He is not happy.  I think more or less he's just shocked!  We are not exactly spring chickens, though I am closer to Spring and he's getting well on into Summer!

My Ob/Gyn did tell me that the levels are very low so not to get my hopes up.  UGH! I had a miscarriage at 9wks between my boys and my youngest was born at 32/33wks premature.  I had every problem known to man during that pregnancy it seemed.  So we are scared.  Please pray for us and our unborn child.  My oldest (6) is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!  My parents are thrilled!

I have this strange sense of peace but I know it is the Holy Spirit.  I had this same feeling when I was in the midst of losing my little peanut. I've been asking for everyone to pray and I guess the rest is in His hands!  Oh to be all the way to my third trimester already....I'll keep you posted on a due date.  I won't know until the end of April when I go see the doctor.

AGH!

Bethany

Oh how the Lord is so gracious to humble us!  I am really pathetic!  On Monday morning, still bemoaning my hair cut, I had to face the ugly truth.  I was to blame.

The hairdresser did ignore my requests and I hold her accountable for what she did but the worst realization was my lack of humility toward my husband.  Before I got my cut I had spoken with my husband and he said he liked it the way it was.  I said I didn't and wanted a change.  Right there.  That's where I blew it!  It's not wrong to want a change-up and I was VERY specific about the length thing but had I humbled my heart and pleased my husband, this never would have happened. 

My husband is the only one I should want to please and if he likes me the way I am then that should be enough!!!! My insecurity, my "not feeling attractive" is what ruined me.  I shouldn't care if there isn't one person on this planet that finds me pretty, it is my husband that matters!!!

I asked him to forgive me and he did.  I was more upset than him. I am to be his helpmeet and I rebelled against him putting myself first.  If we rebel against our husbands then we are really rebelling against God. 

Too bad I can't get hair extensions for quite a while. *sigh* I wish I wasn't so stubborn!!

So then, after I ruined my weekend, rebelled against my husband, cried for his forgiveness, we received some very surprising news!!  Stay Tuned........................................................................!!!

Today I awoke and faced the day with a full schedule.  I innocently went about my day thinking about what needed to get done by when and how I was going to get to the hairdressers on time.  Well that right there was a mistake.  I should have skipped it.

I wanted to get a trim and a little bit of change, the hairdresser began to snip and cut and when she finished, it was a bit funky but do-able.  I commented that the sides could use to be a little shorter as I thought it wasn't blending well.  Much to my dismay she turned me away from the mirror and when she turned me back, I was a stinking Fuller Brush!!  I could impale someone with the short spikes that are now all over my head!!!  Yes it's modern, yes it's sassy but I AM NOT!!!!  what went wrong??? I tried not to burst into tears but when I got to the car I was in shock.

When I got home my poor husband gasped!  I thought he was going to need a paramedic, maybe I do too.  Even my parents don't like it.  My poor mom tried to be supportive (aren't mom's great!) and I have spent the day in tears.  I know it's just hair and it will grow, I know that vanity is not becoming of a woman of God but neither is THIS HAIRDO!

I am doomed for another year to get back to where I was.  What makes me mad is that she completely disregarded my wishes and took off 3 inches all around when I asked only for a bit on the sides. I feel bald.  I am thinking of getting a wig or hair extensions.  I wonder how big of a loan I'd need to get that done?

Anway, it's been a while since I've blogged and this is what I've got to talk about.  Maybe I should start posting and we can create a pool on how long it will take to grow out?

Bethany

Today is an icy, rainy day.  I do not feel like the weather!  Today I am reminded that not every day is going to be beautiful and warm!  There will be raw, cold and nasty days when raising children.  Instead of running from them we must accept them as a necessary part of growth both for them and for us.  Just as the snow and rain are needed so my gardens will grow this Spring, so too adversity will help my children and I grow.  Ice and wind are the result of the change in the seasons that is coming upon us this time of year.  Instead of seeing it as misery, I can see it as a promise.  Yes, the very wonderful promise of Spring!  Without the fluxuating temperatures, there would be no gradual thawing of the ground, no gradual ease into warmer temperatures.  This would actually stress my plants that are deep in the ground and not help my crocus' and tulips that will be wanting to come up.  Actually, right now under the snow and ice, amazing things are happening!  The trees have their winter buds but they are no longer small and frail!  They are swelling with each passing day getting ready to finally put forth the small little leaves that will, in time, give me shade and respite from the harsher summer sun.

Let's not forget the maple syrup!  Living in New England, we get a little pretentious about syrup.  No Karo for us PLEASE!  If it isn't 100% pure maple syrup forget it.  We must have the warmer days and cooler nights to make the sap rise and fall.  Too warm too quick and the yield from the trees will not be as good or as tasty.  Did you know that there is not only a difference in the color of syrup that correlates with the time of the season it is harvested in but also the taste!  I learned that last year when we visited a local "sugar shack", as we call them.  I forget which is which but the sap harvested in the colder part of February tends to be a lighter color and flavor and the sap harvested later when it is closer to the end of the season is darker.  Perhaps that is vice versa but you get  the point.

SO, in thinking of my children I have come to the conclusion that they are very good kids.  They are good kids that do bad things.  My children will change and challenge at various times because they are changing and each new area of independence means an opportunity to see if the previous rules still apply.  They do.  My children though have to figure this one out.  Just as I have many influences in my world trying to get me to disobey, disrespect, gossip, and be otherwise nasty (bitterness, unforgiveness, judgemental), so too my kids face it as well.  Why can I be so lenient on myself but so harsh on my kids?  So, I am not advocating giving up discipline, on the contrary, I know now more than ever how important it is.  I will not spank myself or send me to time-out ( though time-out sounds nice!), I will not take away any priveleges for myself, though maybe I should.  I am thankful to be able to do this with my children.  Loss and deprivation can be a great teacher.  When they can come to the place of seeing how much their sin cost them, perhaps they will be less apt to do it next time.

If I take the time to discipline them now, perhaps when it is time for them to come into the full bloom of adulthood, they will not be stunted or warped but in full regal bloom having weathered the disciplines of earlier times.  When a privelege is taken or a swat meets their leg, perhaps to them it feels like the cold winter, bleak and gray.  I have the honor of teaching them that it is not the case, but necessary to bring about good fruit so they can once again enjoy the blessings we have been given.  I want to cultivate strong plants.  I want to reap a harvest in my children that was almost lost in myself.  I want not only a legacy but I want my children to want it too.  I want them to see the value of a disciplined life and the weeding out of sin.  I want them to clearly understand the consequences of sloth, lying and disobedience.  I just don't want them to have to live it as an adult.  I want them to see it now while they are young and pliable, graftable, tender.  I don't want weeds to take over their little hearts, I want fertile soil for the very best plantings of character and Christ's love.

I hope this perspective helps me to have grace and purpose when handing out the punishments for the "crimes".  Guilt can deter many a parent from doing the right things when it comes to discpline.  I'm learning too. Praise God for His Word that tells us to discipline so we can be sure it will be right.  Thank God for Mercy that shows us how to be merciful when we do need to correct.  I hope that as I learn to train my kids they will respond accordingly. 

May God bless all of us as we raise our tender plants and give us wisdom.

Bethany

I don't know if it's just that we've all got cabin fever or what. Today I am seriously thinking (again) of giving up homeschooling.  I can vent here because no one is reading.  I feel like I could complain about the whole world right now! AGH!!!!!

I'm calling a private school and getting an appointement.  I'll spend my days scrapping.  Scrapping and stamping and eating chocolate.  Sounds like Heaven?

Pity party here! Anyone want to come?

Bethany

I was thinking this morning.  Yes, I know, the combination of "thinking" and "morning" are really an oxymoron!  Still, I was doing it!  Hooray for me!  I can think and make my bed at the same time! Ok, enough of the sarcasm!  ANYWAY! I was thinking about fossils.  My son is in 1st Grade and for his science class we are learning about fossils. I had gone to the local library to find resources on fossils and also was looking for museums of natural history to perhaps take a field trip to see some fossils.  I expected to see things like "millions of years ago.." and yes also the dreaded "Evolution" word.  What really surprised me was the lack of anything that states Evolution is a Theory.  Yes my fellow 70's (and older) folk, when we were young it was still a theory, now it is a FACT!  Seems like overnight, a theory became a fact without proof, evidence or compelling information.  It is all perspective, personal beliefs and the desire to have anything other than a loving Creator. 

I am not naive in that this has been slowly occurring in our schools and such, thus one of the myriad of reasons I homeschool!  However, I am so disappointed with how bold it has become.  What's worse is all this "No Child Left Behind" and the pull of some groups to make homeschooling obsolete or at the very least extremely difficult.  So, I am supposed to send my kids to school and call it a fair and reasonable education when Creation is scorned and taught as Folk Tales or superstition yet Evolution, which cannot be proved, or even substantiated is taught as fact!  To me this is rediculous!

I am not advocating taking on the school systems per se´, however, I am thinking that maybe I need to have a better arguement when the conversation presents itself to make others think.  Why not atleast have both?  When I was in school we did.  I can remember in Second Grade we had a unit on the dinosaurs.  It was very typical however, we talked about Creation first and Evolution second.  Evolution was taught as an idea, a "Theory" and we talked about what a theory is and is not.  To the praise of my teacher, she defended creation, though not vehemently.  Today she'd probably be fired here in New England and in California they'd probably want her remanded to some prison where she'd be "educated in the reality of Darwinism".  Sorry, no offence to anyone on either coast or anywhere in between.  I'm sure there are some schools who still actually teach Evolution as a Theory.  I think their days are numbered on that issue.

So, even though I believe in Creation, I can accept that some don't, won't and can't even stand the idea.  They get just as riled up about Creation as I do about Evolution.  So why not teach both? Why not teach each as it was originally outlined, in it's entirety and talk about those who designed them?  On one side we have God: Divine, Love, Peace, Perfection, Forgiveness, Giver, Healer, Helper, Creator.  On the other we have Darwin: Human, sinner, lustful, prideful, prejudiced (oh big time!), Evolutionist/Big Bang THEORY! NO EVIDENCE. (I hope to write an article on the truth of Darwin at a later date, you won't believe teh truth about this man! YIKES!!)  Why not let kids know the truth?  Why not teach who some of these Evolutionists are and what they really believe?  Had they done this to begin with, the world would be up in arms.  They'd be thrown out on their ears before they had a chance to brainwash enough generations to where it is just accepted and we all say Ho-Hum.  Even Christians today accept many of the ideas of Evolution or don't get upset when their children are being taught that in school.  We don't even take the time to fully teach our children to refute the claims of Evolution.  Sure, if we have to enroll our children in school for whatever reason they may have to learn it to pass the grade, however, that doesn't mean they can't debate it in class and present the Truth.  I say if we want to claim a well-rounded education, let's give them both.  I plan on teaching my sons to be able to know what Evolutionists believe so they can refute it and be able to give an account for the reason for the hope that's inside of them. 

If you want to be able to do the same I can recommend Answers In Genesis.  You can look them up on the web.  They are opening a new Creation Museum in June 2007 and we can't wait to go! This web-site is a wonderful resource to get the wheels turning in your mind and your family's.  Let's be able to give an intelligent rebuttle for Evolution.  Let's teach our kids to stand up for Truth.  Let's challenge these Evolutionists and our Educators on the facts and to get them thinking about their bias.  Let's tell them they are wrong to teach Evolution as fact and leave out Creation.  I dare any scientist to show me concrete evidence that Creation is a myth, a fairtytale and is wrong.  Go ahead, prove your Evolution, show me proof!  You can't!

There are other Creation rescources on the web and I encourage you to get involved.  This is not really one of my favorite topics however, it is crucial to have even a basic understanding of what Evolutionists really believe and how it is influencing our culture today.  It is not just a difference in millions or billions of years.  This is a frontline attack on our very foundation of our faith.  Without a Creator, then there are no morals, no absolutes, no principals on which to exist or live.  Life becomes what each individual "feels" is right for them reagardless of how it affects others. No conscience, no moral compass; only depravity and human waste.  Everything would be justifiable, murder, lust, fornication, pornography, abortion, pedophilia, etc.  Do I really need to spell it all out?  Look around our cultuer now.  Look at the places in the world where religion is practically non-existant.  See where they are?  Bankrupt and on the border of lunacy.  Is this where we want to go?  Not me, no thanks.  I may not stop the world but I can do my part!

Just my morning thinking.  Probably this is disjointed and needs some polishing but, right now, it's the best I've got! 

Bethany

Oh yes!  It's SoapBox time!  No really, if you happen across this blog there are some things you need to know about the HPV vaccine.  I hope you will read and forget the rhetoric you've been hearing.  Think through this logically and leave the fear out and see if you come to the same conclusions that I have.

My first disclaimer is that I don't have any daughters.  I hope to one day have a daughter but so far God has seen fit to give me sons (and they are awesome!).  So for my future daughter and for those of my friends and you who come across this, I write. My second disclaimer is about content.  I have searched this as best to my ability and the information contained here is almost all directly quoted from the CDC's own Web-site.  I also included information from www.thetruth.mysite.com.  I am not affiliated with this site and do not necessarily endorse anything else they have written or believe in.  This is just one site that I visited that had a small amount of information that I thought was important.  You must understand that the information I have posted here is not intended to treat or prevent any disease or what have you.  I just did the searching for you.  You must choose to either take my word for it or search for yourself. With one click of a mouse you can have all this information and so much more! Almost everything here is from the CDC with the exception of the monies given to certain political parties, the blurb on VIOXX and about hte adverse reactions reports.  Those have come from other sites.

According to the CDC (and you can go to their web-site and get this information) In June 2006 the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the 1st vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and "other diseases" in females caused by certain types of HPV (human papilloma virus).  Gardisil protects against 4 HPV types which together cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.

The FDA licensed this vaccine for use in girls/women ages 9-26 yrs. old and it is a 3 shot series over a 6 month period.  They claim that this vaccine has been widely tested around the world and is 100% effective though it is unknown how long the length of immunity is. Let's look a little closer shall we?

When we say "widely tested around the world" what numbers tend to role through your mind?  For me I expected millions or at the very least thousands of girls in the various ranges of age.  No.  It actually was only "more than 11,000" girls between the ages of 9 and 26 from the entire Earth.  Can you imagine!?  I hardly think that slightly over 11,000 constitues as "widely tested".  Let's keep digging shall we?

The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV or genital warts.  There are 100 strains of HPV and the vaccine only protects against 4 of them.  So mathmetically speaking, this means that 30% of all HPV that can cause cancer are still lurking and can still be contracted.  Women still need to get regular PAP tests to detect these other non-covered types of HPV and 10% of genital warts will not be deterred either.  Why have I underlined this and highlighted it, you'll see in a moment or two.  Keep reading to find out why this is important.

So, what happens when a woman/girl gets HPV?  First, HPV is only transmitted via sexual encounters.  Once contracted, MOST HPV infections will clear up on their own.  The HPV virus causes changes to the cells inside the cervix of the infected female, if left alone, they can continue to grow and become precancers, if the precancers are not dealt with, they can become cancers and turn into full blown cervical cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) most HPV infections do clear on their own.  The ACS estimated that in all of 2006 there was the potential for 3,700 cases of cervical cancer.  We're not talking staggering numbers here.  This is a very small minority of people.  They also site that most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer have NEVER had a PAP test or haven't in 5 years previous to diagnoses. The ACS also states that mortality from cervical cancers has been steadily declining over the past several decades due to to prevention (not vaccine mind you) and early screening.  HPV infections are common in healthy women and only rarely result in cervical cancer.  Most cervical precancers develop slowly so nearly all cases can be prevented if a woman is screened regularly.

BOTH THE ACS AND CDC SAY THAT MOST OF THE TIME HPV GOES AWAY ON IT'S OWN AND THE CELLS GO BACK TO NORMAL.  It takes a long time for the cells to develop into cancer and it CAN BE TREATED!  The real issue is getting PAP tests!  This is why that statement above is so important.  The CDC and ACS both concede that regular PAP tests and follow-up can prevent most cases of cervical cancer.  PAPs detect changes in cells before they turn into cancer cells and it catches them at early curable stages.  For women 30 and over there is a HPV DNA test available in conjunction with the PAP test as part of a cervical cancer screening.  It can tell if you have an HPV in cervix though it can't tell which kind.  The treatment is the same.

The CDC also states that abstinence and monogomy still are the best methods of protection.  Hmmm... I guess Merck can't make money off that message can they? Condoms are also one of the "other best methods" for prevention of most STD's (sexually transmitted diseases). 

Other things you need to know.  Governer Rick Perry (R-TX) who has received campaign money from the drug company MERCK who makes Gardisil (HPV vaccine) and for this contribution he  issued a mandatory order to force all girls to be vaccinated.  He bypassed TX legislative process, overrided parental authority and ignored issues relating to vaccines that are used to prevent disease or infection from sexual intercourse or contact. Also, the organization called Women In Government (WIG) who also has received monies from Merck, is pushing for this to be mandatory in all 50 states.  YIKES!

Ok, who is Merck?  Do you remember VIOXX and the deaths that have occurred with this drug?  Yes, VIOXX was made by Merck.  Merck will make billions of dollars from the administration of Gardisil if it becomes mandatory and let's face it, in light of the lawsuits and money lost over VIOXX would that hurt Merck?  I don't think so.  They might get back in the "black" as accountants would say. 

From July 2006 to January 2007 there have been upwords of 82 reports of adverse reactions to the vaccine Gardisil.  The reports have come from 21 states and all but 3 reports occured within 1 week of vaccination and 60%in the first 24 hours. Women who have become pregnant within a month of vaccination have had babies born with serious birth defects.

Please, let's think this through.  A vaccine that really hasn't been "widely tested", can't be sure how long it will protect for or how much of a difference it will make considering it protects against so few HPV strains, is really not very necessary and fights against and STD.  Give me a break!  It seems to me we'd do better to give women free PAP tests and teach them how precious they are and to stop selling out their bodies for fleshly desires.  Stop letting every Tom, Dick and Harry have his way with her.  Start demanding more of herself and the men who may seek to come into her life. 

Unlike Measles, Mumps, Polio, etc. you cannot catch HPV form coughing or sneezing on eachother.  It must be via sex.  We don't even make the vaccines mandatory for these more serious illnesses yet we want to push for an STD one?  Girls will not be allowed to attend school if it is made mandatory and they don't receive it.  I believe this is a gross interference on parent's rights to decide what we will inject our children with and where the line is drawn.  Since when does "Big Brother" tell me how to raise my kids and what they will learn, be exposed to etc.??!!  Not this time.  Not this family and hopefully not yours.  Take the time to write  to your Representatives and Senators.  Write to your papers, families and friends. Call talk shows and get this information out there. E-mail if you can!  This is important.  This sets the precedent to dictate who knows what to us and make it law.  I guess if you have enough money you can make your own laws. It's time to take our country back!  Let's start with our kids.  Tell them why it's important to wait until marriage for sex, it won't kill them to wait.  Let's teach them to want more than a "quickie".  To get their focus off of instant gratification and onto more important things.  Let's take our kids back and stop feeding them to "The System".

To your health!

Bethany

Today my 6 year old woke me up excited to tell me it was President's Day.  As I shook the groggy sand from my eyes and realized that 6:30am is just too early on a day off, I thought, "Wow, 6 years old and he's thinking about President's Day!  I  guess this homeschooling is paying off!"  Naturally what followed was the reality check.  As I happily said, "Yes! Very good!  What does that mean?"  he said, "It means that Dad is home today!"  With that my thoughts of a genius child well-versed in History and knowledge sank to oblivion as he sprang from the bed to go find Dad.  *Sigh*

I must add that upon finding my feet and getting them to the floor waiting for the circulation to get going (and my pulse), I stepped into a house that looks like a bomb went off in it.  How do they do it??  I go to bed and it's clean, I get up and the 3 men of my house have managed to destroy it in a matter of seconds!  From upstairs to downstairs, Tornado Alley!!!  I hate long weekends but yet, I'm glad to have the guys around.  Bitter-sweet I guess. 

I'm a "Thirty-Something" stay-at-home Mom of two very rambunctious boys.  I homeschool them and they are in 1st Grade and Preschool.  It is very difficult to find the time to school both boys and I spend most of my efforts now on the 6 year old.  I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the second.  My younger boy is only 3 and so I have time!

I have been married for eternity, just kidding.  We've been married for 8 years this May and I really married my best friend.  I love my husband although today he is not my favorite person so far! :) The great thing is that he will help clean up by the end of the day and inbetween we will laugh and have some fun. 

I hope to post here often and even hear back from a few of you other moms out there.  I've never "blogged" before and this my first!  Hooray!  Have a wonderful President's Day and I hope your tornadoes whatever their gender and age will go easy on you!

Bethany