Posted in Family Time

It has been a very long time since I have made an entry. Life has changed so much since the last one and I felt I needed to update you ladies on our lives.
The children are all doing very well at school. I am working full time and about to start a second job. One major thing that has changed is I am presently going through a pretty tough divorce. I hate to inform yall of this but, I felt the need to.  It has been a long time coming and there were situations that just could not be worked through, So once again I find myself a single/working mom. I know that God has his hand on me because he has made the transition so smooth for me and the children. I refuse to speak ill of my soon to be ex husband. He is still a man of God and I know what the bible says of doing something like that. So I will just say we have too many differences when it comes to parenting styles, our main faith, mainly the discipline of our children, and what it means biblically for a man to be head of home and a wifes role too.
I love my job as a weight loss consultant. Hopefully within the next few weeks I will have a job that the hours and pay will work better with my children's school schedule.
My oldest has made tremendous improvements since the separation as well as my daughter. We all see a christian therapist to help us through this time. I am no longer teaching the women of the church due to the fact I felt it was not proper with our family situation so I stepped down from the ministry. However, I do continue to seek God in all my decisions and have found a new Home church that my children and I absolutely love. It is much larger than my former church but the Spirit of God is just as present and I love the way the pastor preaches/teaches.
I am going through a process of relearning the Word of God. I feel that much of my personal beliefs have been out of a fear (not the proper fea) of God and it takes time to learn the real meaning behind each scripture that I read. I am also planning on joining a study group at the church I now attend.
So there it is, the update.
I hope and pray everyone has a blessed Holiday season and a very Merry CHRISTmas. Just remember...."the reason for the season, is only Christ Jesus".
Love and miss you all. Oh and please do put me on any and all prayer list, my children too. This will be a very different Christmas for us. Pray that my finances be blessed also. Thanks.
Be blessed.

Posted in Family Time

             I can't believe a week has almost gone by and I haven't blogged. It's been a bit busy here and the house has been pretty full too. I have tried to cut my pc time down some so I can really study my book this time around. I know, yall are probably tired of hearing about it so I'll stop there.
Well, my 11yr old son is spending the week in Alabama with his cousin. Our niece is spending the week here with us. My daughter has made a new friend that recently moved into the neighborhood. She is only 7yrs old but loves to spend time here at our house.  My dd10 seems to get along fine with any little girls that are between the ages of 6-12.
The girls have been attending our churches VBS this week. Actually it is a Cowboy/Cowgirl Bible camp.     Something a little different then the others they have attended. They are loving it.  All of them are enjoying the horseback riding and learning to lasso with the ropes. Yes, they are girly girls and enjoy all the outdoorsy stuff too! Today the teaching was on Jesus giving His life for us!  At dinner time I had each of them tell me what they had learned from the message. They said John 3:16 and John 3:5.   My dd's new friend that lives across the street from us is attending with my dd. Her mother asked if we had a church bus, we don't right now.  I told her she could ride with us each Sunday morning and the little girl seemed so excited.  I am so glad that our  church is growing. Soon we will need a church bus.
        So what else is new? I have another teen living with us. Long story, so I'll try to make it short. We have known him and his family for about 12 years now. My oldest and him have been friends since kindergarten. He called last week, about Wednesday, and asked if he could move in with us. He has a great family. They are believers so he knows the truth. He is 17 yrs old and the parents are in their late 60's and 70's.  He's a great kid and just wants to move and the parents are comfortable with him being here instead of on his own. It is just a trial run right now and we are all taking it one day at a time. So please keep us in prayer that we make godly decisions with him and always for his good. Teens......Even though I have one I still am so new to this phase of parenting. Much prayer is needed for guidance dealing with them the way they will understand we are for them and not against them.
It has been a pretty busy week so far and it is only Wednesday!! I know God has good plans ahead for us. I have to head out now and pick the boys up from the youth service they attend on Wednesday evenings. Have a blessed evening.
Stacy

Posted in Family Time

We had a nice 4th although we didn't do the fireworks this year. My little one is still not into them and actually afraid of the noises that they make! We had a cookout and some friends and family over. I ate way too much! Paying for it this morning when I stepped on that scale and weighed 3 lbs more than Friday morning. Oh well, I will eat healthy this week .
We had a house full last week with my four children, one of my oldest sons friends and then two cousins stayed from Sat-Fri. Today is quiet with only my youngest home.My oldest went to cut a friends grandmothers yard and the middle two are at grandma's house. I love my mom. She always knows when I am in need of a break.
Am I resting? No after last week and the cook out, my house needed more cleaning so that's what I have done today. The rain has put a little damper on my laundry duties (hate using the dryer~$$$$) but I got 4 loads done before 4pm so I guess I am doing good.
I think I need to join the Monday Meandering ladies. I would have done good today . Not so great though because we are having hamburger helper for dinner. Why is it that feel like a cheater when I cook that? Though it is far and few between and the kiddo's love it, my hubby isn't the biggest fan. How can I spice it up??? Not sure what the rest of this weeks menu looks like. I need to go grocery shopping and make the menu plan. I've just been making it up as we go.
I started a new book and already on chapter 10! It's by Joyce Meyer and titled, "Conflict Free Living". Boy do I ever need that. So far I highly recommend it. I actually went to my pastor and asked if I could order more for the Ladies meetings that I will start teaching again next week. We will only be having them once a month for now until my health improves and I can do more. I read him (my pastor) an small portion of one of the chapters and he said yes. The treasury of the church gave me the $$ and I ordered them Thursday or Friday. So where I had no real study text for the meetings planned yet, now I do. Thank You Jesus! The chapter I read him a bit of is titled "The Pastor must not like me."  It covers the issues of strife in almost any relationship from marriage, church, parents and children, friends and so on.
I believe that we as woman of God need more instruction in these areas. So this is what we will be studying. I will try (no promises) to share our monthly meetings on here as I can.
I am so very excited that my two new friends have said that they plan on attending. Now where one is a SS teacher and very active in her church (just returned from a missions trip), the other does not attend church and has had a bad experience with a church so she shies away from them and "Religious" people. This is a very big step for her. I know the Lord is working in this friendship. She has really been a blessing to me and so I pray that these meetings be a blessing to her.
Oh news on my hubby's job. He landed a very big commercial contract (Thanks to the Lord). He will be busy for a while. They already have him another job lined and, well I should say, more jobs lined up... one right after the other. I feel so blessed. These are very large commercial jobs like schools, airports, gas stations, and such. He has the floors and the walls!!!! Praise be to God! I can not explain how much he has been blessing. I almost feel like I am boasting but I promise you, I am boasting only in the Lord for He alone brings the increase.
Well, I better get bk to work and cooking. The man of the house and the kiddo's will be arriving soon with hungry tummy's, so I must be prepared. I hope you all had a wonderful blessed holiday weekend and have a very blessed week in Christ Jesus.
Stacy

Posted in Family Time

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last entry. A lot has been happening around here. The children are trying to finish up for a short break. I know I intended on schooling through the summer and in some area's we will after a short 3-4 week break in June.
Mothers day was a blast here. My mom came over and we had a cookout. Along with a new friend I have made (after my son and her son became friends). She has been homeschooling now for 6 yrs and has sons that are 16 and 11. Her oldest and my oldest both play musical instruments and are into the same types of things, mainly skateboarding and music.  The younger and my younger (both 11) are working on a great friendship and are alike in many ways also. This is really good for my son as he has one friend his age in our church and so I thank God for sending this new family here.
After our guest left I enjoyed planting our new flower bed with my kiddos. This was one of the best mothers days gifts I have ever received. I also planted two Gardenia trees/shrubs . I love the smell of these flowers. Anyway, here are a few photo's from mothers day:




The children have been doing a little testing here and there

 
   as you can see, they don't like that much. This is pretty much my last two weeks with the other two children I homeschool.
In August the pre-k student that I have, J, will be headed into the local public kindergarten. He is so looking forward to it. He has attended the speech class there. His cousin that I homeschool will be finishing up her last 4 PACES this next week. So once that is done we are all taking a break.
The children and I have hit a bit of what i guess is called burn out, so before we completely burn out, I figure a short break will do us good. We will continue the Apologia Science. We really enjoy this and are taking our sweet time with each and every lesson. Also we will be continuing with the MOH1 as we are not even close to being finished with V1. We get all so caught up in the lessons and searching all the info that lessons take us longer than expected, I guess. We enjoy it and I believe that makes a difference in learning.
It is so hard for me to stick with the break but what I will be doing is clearing the bookshelves, rearranging the classroom (again), enjoying the outdoors( as much as possible), making orders for next years curriculum.  I believe I will be using the School of Tomorrow PACES with all the children and also Apologia Science and MOH1. I am still trying to figure out what works best for us. This year has been a bit of a test for myself as well as the children. We wont be starting the new year until around Sept. There will be more testing so I can see where to start the children off at that time.
So anyway here's another little glimpse of what we have been up to lately. I miss blogging but had to just take a break. Actually, I got a little sick for a while, had to take a week off from schooling and get rest (Dr's orders) and am now on medicine that my body is trying to adjust to. Where I used to blog late in the evening, now I am sleeping by 10 pm most nights.
I would like your prayers. I am fighting extreme fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains that on some days I can  hardly get out of the bed, and some other things as well. I have been dealing with this for about 3 yrs now and it has just become more intolerable in the last few months. I don't want to speak anything prematurely so I'll just ask that when I go back to the Dr in the next 2 weeks that all reports be good reports. I really do appreciate the prayers and I believe that prayer changes things. I believe that by His stripes I am healed of anything that would try and come against me. I believe that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord raises up a standard against him. I believe that if God be for me, who (or what) can be against me. I believe that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I believe that if I have the faith as the grain of a mustard seed I can tell this mountain to be removed and cast into the sea and it has to obey!
I will try to get on here to visit some blogs and blog a little myself. One day at a time right now is what I am taking and trying my best to enjoy my children and the outdoors as much as possible.
Be blessed, I love and miss you all my sweet sisters in Christ/blogland friends.:)
Stacy

Posted in Family Time

In case you are wondering why I have been blogging less, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Posted in Family Time

Three years ago my youngest child (Z) was born. He weighed 6 lbs, and was 19 inches long. Beautiful brown eyes and a head full of  hair and a beautiful complexion. He was my smallest full term baby. We were all in awe over having a baby in the house.  It had been 7 long years since the last time and now all the children were ready for another little brother.
Today we celebrated his third birthday where he wanted to go...Chuck E Cheese. He really loves that place. Even better was the fact that daddy was there to celebrate with us.  We thought he would be out of town but he made it back in time. He loves his daddy. My Z had a blast. We did not have a party, not really, but he thought we did . It was just our little family, the other two children I teach and of course my mother. I love her so much. She is always here when it counts!
Anyway, my little guy had a blast running from game to game and beating daddy at air hockey.


Ok so maybe the game was fixed . Still he felt great every time he scored, even if the puck did go in on his side and not daddy's. LOL  Here he is with his cake. I would say that is a look of satisfaction.
  
My little man. He is three and finally just in the last two days decided he was ready for the big boy pants and now only wears the diaper at sleepy time. So far he is doing great. Thank the Lord!
Well that is it for tonight. I am a bit on the tired side this evening. We had a big day today. At least I feel like we did I think I will retire early tonight and rise early in the morning. Seems easier to get my bible reading time in while the children are still sleeping and after my hubby has gone off to work.
Be blessed in Christ Jesus,
Stacy

Posted in Family Time

First off I know it is not spring yet but I was tired of looking at the winter theme on here . It's beautiful weather right now down here in the good ol' south and so I thought now would be a good time to get ready for the season that is approaching...Spring.  Okay so it rained and we had a good sized thunderstorm last night nevertheless, I am ready for a change . Thus the reason for my template change tonight.

I think I had cabin fever! So this past weekend (Friday included) we stayed outdoors most of the time.  Well first on Thursday we did our co-op with the local homeschool group. It was service/activity day and the theme  was "Free Enterprise". The children were to make something to sale at the co-op. So we made rice crispy treats and cupcakes that my middle son decorated by drawing clovres on them with green icing. The girls cut and pinned cloth napkins then I sewed them. They sold as sets of two for 15 cents a set.They each made a beaded, hand painted bracelet to sale also. The prices for each item, as I was told, was to stay between 1-15 cents. I gave them each a combination of coins equaling $2.00 and that was the budget each of them had to work with once they arrived to the co-op. They all did well but of course no one came home with extra money saved . Sugar rushes, yes . Money from the $ 2.00, no. There were just too many goodies there to spend on .
 
Then Friday we did a few lessons here at the house. We did a lesson I found on about.com about Leap year and of course everyone that uses www.aleks.com did their hour of math and then we were off to the park for our science and a little play time for the little ones. This was the start of our Great Outdoors weekend. 


Journaling for Science                              I just love that look on Z's face!


   a penny for those thoughts there!           My oldest had fun too. I love these kind of days!

 We enjoyed it so much that we have designated Friday as out Park day. We will do www.aleks.com for math and then head to the park for science and free time!
Was that enough for us? No way. Saturday we drove into Louisiana and went on a nature walk at a National Wildlife Refuge in search of the Endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker
We didn't see this bird but we sure had fun watching for it.  We did see a few other things like these turtles
 
Oh yeah and this strange monkey :

Okay it's no monkey, it's my fearless middle son. He loves to climb. When he was a bit younger he helped me to understand the true meaning of "climbing the walls'. This child loves to climb!
 
This is an excellent spot for nature journaling. I know we will go back. I tell you, this section of the Apologia Science unit has really intrigued us. The bird watching has become something the whole family has gotten into. They all want the camera, they all want to take pictures and each one is now pointing out the birds and asking, "What kind is that one?" or "Let's look it up in that guide".  Who knew something of this sort would ever bring this family together the way it has! It has got to be the Lord! Thank You Jesus!
So then what did we do once the trail came to an end? Well we headed to the Lakefront. Did I happen to mention we had been suffering from cabin fever? LOL . Really, it was a beautiful day and there was still daylight left so why waste it on the drive home? We weren't ready for the cabin yet. There's a park out there right on the Lake front so the children played, 
  the older boys loved being out by the water,
 
 
and we enjoyed the view!

 


As the sun was going down the wind picked up and it started getting a little chilly out. It was time to head home. There was no complaining as we had all had a very fun filled day outside. The drive home was peaceful. Now you must understand that a long drive with six children (my four plus two more) isn't usually a quiet, peace filled one. This one however was not the usual. The car was filled with a peace and calm that I can not explain.
As I reflect on this past weekend, I am so grateful to God for this family. For my husband and my children and the children that God sends our way. Even though we are not perfect and we have those days that seem like there is a  WW about to break out in the home, we have the Love of God here and that will prevail. I want to take the time to thank God, even though it is not Thankful Thursday, for allowing my family to enjoy this time together the way we did.
Be blessed,
Stacy

Posted in Family Time

Tonight the house is so quiet and still. Three out of the four children are not here. Two are with my mother and one out of town with family (Aunt and Uncle and of course cousins).  My littlest of course is here with mommy . He's not going anywhere without me. Well ok my mom had him for a few hours today too. Now it's a rare thing to have no children with us, so what was the occasion today???? TAXES

Yes, we had to get them done. I am not skilled in that area as of yet. Who knows if I ever will be. However, it is a blessing because after paying in we will get a return.

Anyway, so after we do taxes we head backk out to my moms to pick up the children. All but one wants to stay and of course, hard as it was , we said yes  and let them stay the night. As we were leaving, just a few hundred feet from my mothers driveway, my husband points this out on a nearby branch,

 

My husband is wanting to get out of the car to get a closer pic!!! I'm saying " No way, stay in the vehicle please!!" For a moment he listens. That is until a truck with four men in it come and then they all get out to get a closer look at this thing. Can anyone say "testosterone" ? All along my husband is informing me that this is a very deadly snake and he's a whopper. He says some call it a cottonmouth and others call it a water moccasin. He tells me how this one, that he wants a closer look at, could kill a person with just a bite . "Why in the world do ya want to get outta the car then ??" This is what I am asking him. Anyway, whatever you or science  may call this thing, I think I call it a snake and that is enough to keep me away from it . So I sit in the vehicle and take pictures with the window down halfway. One finger on the camera ready to click and the other on the control to the window in case the need to quickly put it up may come.  Can you tell I do not like snakes?  I know, I know, 2Ti 1:7  says " For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Yet I think I will use a little wisdom and stay away from those things that could, well ya know, kill me! Ya know, having a little respect for  these creatures that God created for a purpose and give them their space....far far away from me .

While I am snapping away on the camera my husband and these other men are deciding on how to "do away" with the snake. They did try, but to no avail . The thing fell out the tree and back under some rocks by the water. Even the pictures give me the creeps.

I did do a little search  tonight on this thing. Come to find out, they are in every county of this state! They are all over down here. So I might need to teach my dc about these things. Ya know, I figure since I took the pics and all it might make for a good science lesson .  I found  Cottonmouth  and Wildlife Mississippi Magazine Winter/Spring 2002 Feature among a bunch of others websites and blogs with a lot of helpful information . Even a few with coloring pages. I think I  would like to even do a lapbook on venomous snakes. I think the children would enjoy it and at the same time learn what to stay way from. To be honest, from all the Animal Planet we watch around here they probably already know most of them and I'm the one that'll be learning as we go . I love homeschooling. Now as I am no good at putting my own lapbooks together, I usually buy them from  www.knowledgeboxcentral.com or www.handsofachild.com (love both of them) I was wondering if anyone might have info on where to find a free lapbook (downloadable) on this subject?

Well, that's about it for tonight. Think I need to try and read a few blogs to catch up on the missed time lately. We don't usually school on Mondays and this week we will be taking tomorrow off seeing as all my students are either out of town or at Gramma's house. Usually I try to do cleaning on Monday but I saved it for tomorrow. What's one more day? I mean I know all that housework will still be there waiting for me just as it was today. Hope everyone has a blessed week in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

Time for a "One of those Days" post.  Today the weather was gloomy and cold and due to that I cancelled the bi-weekly ladies meeting and decided to go ahead with school.  We made it through as I had only three students today instead of five. The two older boys were not here today until late in the afternoon and they were both all caught up on their assignments.

Yesterday my three younger students were all at the table for lunch. My daughter animalfriend98 was trying to show her brother Yakistan and her friend/classmate kaybug1997 how a flamingo eats food. Well you know boys. He decided for some reason that pushing her head down onto the granite table top as she did this would be funny . So he does so as she is trying to go for the food with no hands...face first. However, it was anything but funny when she raised her head up and her two front top teeth were BROKE! I mean very visably broke. These are not her baby teeth. Now this is the story I am told. I did not witness this first hand. Lord knows, that's probably not a bad thing for my son. You see usually while they (the older ones) are eating luch I am trying to  catch up on grading, laundry, blogging or cleaning some area of the house. Sometimes even getting the next lesson ready  due to not getting prepared the night before .  Oh Lord help me to get organized.

Well, we get back to school work after luch and things seem to be going good. They were all very quiet and I was really amazed at how well behaved they were being. I should of known then...something was up. No talking from my daughter who has often been  called  "Princess Talk A Lot"! No comments to one another. Nothing but silence and pencils writing on paper or the dancing of  fingers as they type away on the keyboard answering questions without the need for help.  They just came back from lunch so ready and eager to get finished with the lessons for the day. They finish up and head off to play. A little while, maybe 30 minutes pass and  my and son comes up to me with a very weird look on his face. I think it was fear. He  informs me his little joke at the lunch table and the result of his thoughtless little joke. He does so earnestly explain that her teeth must be weak because really he barely pushed her head . OKAY.

I'm thinking to myself...I never heard her even cry and usually this girl will YELP if they so much as pretend to touch her!  So maybe it's just a little chip. I ask to see her teeth, she complies and smiles for me .... I had to pray...I needed a moment. It was bad. I looked at my son and told him to go to his room until his father returned home. This was serious and I was .  What on earth makes a boy want to do this? Why can't they keep their hands to themselves and realize that pain isn't a funny thing. I must admit at that moment I wanted to show him how UNFUNNY pain really is. Okay but I didn't. I just sent him to his room and didn't want to look at him again. This one was for dad to handle. Anyone out there have that..those "When your dad get's home.." days. Well this was one of those days for sure. Thank God we do have some dental insurance and I pray that the work needed will be covered.

So dad gets home and his reaction.....not what I expected . I mean I had the paddle ready, the belt on the door...the switch in hand. Okay that's a little overboard but you get the picture. I expected corporal punishment for this one. I was even nervous for my son although I was still angry ....yes angry..at him for the thoughtless little joke.  I could hear the cries before dad ever walked through the door.

Yet, never happened. Not in the way I thought it would. Instead dad had him look at his sisters mouth, over and over again. Each time he would try to look away, he made him fix his eyes upon the broken teeth and the saddened face that usually shines with a bright smile. He did ground him but the tears that ran down his face were not a result of that punishment. Those tears were from the thought of possibly causing his sister to face some cruel remarks, faces and words because of his thoughtless actions that day towards her.

First off I could not, still don't understand why she didn't tell me, but then she never looked into the mirror until after she told me...then she cried.  Second of all, WHY do boys have to be so rough. Do they ever grow out of it?

I had a melt down tonight here at home, (yes a screaming at everyone fit)  because all the boys, including D (my new highschooler) and my hubby were in the room roughhousing like mad men .  Screaming and yelling like bloody murder and when I walk in the room....silence . That is until I open my big mouth. Someone always ends up crying and hurt or mad. Just two days ago the boys were all roughing around and  ended up hurting each other and yes of course what are boys without blood???Why don't they learn? Why does a grown man go in there an encourage such behavior?  How can I win this battle or is it one of those that I can not win? Is it one of those that when I see it coming,  I should get the calgon out, run a very hot bath , turn the soothing music up loud and pretend that Calgon really does take you away????

Okay, I'm having a night...anyone have chocolate????

 I do thank God that He gives me the strength to put up with all these boys. I may be complaining right now but honestly I don't know what in the world I'd do in a quiet, empty home without them. Each time one leaves,even for a moment,  it seems another comes in their place somehow. So although they rough house and bleed and tease and such...they are all worth every moment of insanity and choas to me. I mean afterall, my daughter and I hate taking out the garbage.LOL  

For a more uplifting post, please read the previous. We all have our days ya know. Just so happens that these last two were mine and what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't share with yall such stories of life here in our little neck of the woods? .  Ahh, maybe the calgon isn't needed afterall. I feel better already. Thanks HSB for the outlet here.

Be blessed,

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

I have been trying for a while now to get my dd9 to willingly get her hair cut by at least 10 inches and donate it to Locks of Love. Until I took her to their site at a http://www.locksoflove.org/recipient.html  and let her read/see for herself she was not convinced. However, after she spent just a little time on their site reading and looking at the photos of the smiling faces due to people donating their hair, she changed her mind.  I had previously set up an appointment with my hairdresser because I knew we were cutting it but wasn't sure until today if she was going to go through with the whole 10 inches or not.  Well as you can see by the photo's I am pleased to say that she did. 

 

Then we had a girls day out with Grandma. It has been  a long time since just the three of us have been able to go off ALL DAY and have fun together. She got a new hat (maybe take her a while to get used to the new haircut ) and some ice cream at target.

Then a few hours later, before returning home Grandma surprised us with dinner at the Outback. 

I am thankful for today. God knows I needed just a little "Girl Time" with my daughter and He, as always, made a way! God is so good to me, loves me so much that He takes time to set days like this up for me and my daughter. Thank You Jesus!  It was a blessed day filled with Locks of Love and Lots of Fun:)

 

Be blessed,

Stacy 

Posted in Family Time

It feels so good to be home. I mean the vacation was nice but ...there's no place like home.

I have really missed bogging since I returned home. We had much catching up to do after the vacation. Not so much with schoolwork, we just started back up today with that  I needed to unpack, clean pet cages/area's, menu plan for this week, grocery shop, make laundry detergent, and the list goes on.

 We returned home late Saturday evening and really only unpacked the car, bathed and went to bed. Sunday morning came fast and believe me, I was up early and ready to head to church. Oh, how I missed my church family along with the worship services. I have said many times that I need church. It is my weekly therapy sessions. One day I'll explain that in further detail. There was a time I needed weekly therapy (you know with an actual therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist...meds) but Praise be to God, He is now my Mighty Counselor! His Word now replaces the daily medication list. I do try to take it (His Word) in more than once daily...often taking double, even triple the dosage prescribed. Anyway...that's another post for another time. 

 I'll say this of the vacation...family time. We did get that in and I thank God for it. Although, I am glad to be home and realize we can get a lot of quality family time in right here at home. Already since we have returned from our trip we've changed a few things and all for the better. One reason I have blogged less is each night we are reading the Word together again ( Praise God!). Seems like we have started this a few times then stopped but there is a difference this time. The dc are more interested, asking more questions and listening closer to what is being read. This really touches the depths of my heart. I love to know that my children want to hear the Word of God.  

Well thats all I have time for now. Oh yea, I know that I have been nominated for one of the 2007 Homeschool Blog Awards . I will post about that later this eve. Thanks to those who put my name in for it and sorry so much time has passed between entries. I'll be back on tonight for a better update just had to get  something in here. Think I was having blogger withdrawels. LOL...Just realized I missed Blogger Friend School Assignment for last week. I will try and catch up soon.

Be blessed.

Stacy

 

Posted in Family Time

I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving Day. We did not do very much today. My husband cooked us a great tasting turkey and we had all the fixins. His niece, her two daughters,  hubby ,SIL and MIL also were here to eat dinner today. It was a blessed Thanksgiving. Unusual because we are mostly at home for the holidays. After dinner I took a 2 hour nap . When it was about 4 pm the crew were all ready and waiting to go to the indoor water park to spend the remainder of the evening just realxing and having some family fun. We called the shuttle and headed down there. I'll post more pics as soon as I get home.

I have so much to be thankful for not only today but everyday. God has been very good to me and this famiy he has given to me. I thank Him today for family time.   I know this is a short post but I must go to bed. We have a big day planned out for tomorow and I know I need my rest. Only 2 more days and we will be headed home. The week has certainly passed by fast.

Be blessed in Christ Jesus,

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

All I can say is WOW! This is so much better than I had expected. I sit here this morning in awe of the beauty that my eyes have beheld on the drive here. The canvas of the Lord. What amazing artwork from thr Creator of the universe laid out before my eyes. It is beauty that at this moment is indescribable. I am so thankful to God for blessing us with this trip. I can oly imagine what we will see this coming week.

I woke up this moring to an awesome mountain view. This photo is from the back balcony of where we are spending the week. Well that is it for now.The other is of the view on the way here. Have a blessed day. Thanks for the encouraging comments left on my last post. I believe I will relax and enjoy the beauty God has set before me

Posted in Family Time

Well, the time has arrived. We are really going on this trip. I must say that I am not real good with traveling. I am such a homebody. You know, I like my home. I am comfortable here. I know where everything is ( most of the time). I am happy to go but at the same time I guess a bit nervous.

I am leaving all my animals. My sweet SIL lives only minutes from me so she has agreed to tend to the poor little guys. I am taking my laptop. Can not bear the thought of no internet for a whole week . I know, that's just aweful. We have our days planned out, but what I pray for most is family time that will count. You know, so often while here at home life is so rush rush. I spend a lot of time with the children but truth be told, we don't spend much quality time as a whole family together. Seems like when we do go somewhere there is always someone missing. One of the dc are at a friends or at Grandmas house. There are those times Dad can't go (many times) due to work. I am not trying to complain here, just hoping, praying that this will be a blessed trip.

So many people called today and asked me if I was excited. I guess they were surprised to hear my answer was "no". My stomach is all knotted up and I feel all frazzled. I should be excited. I should be overjoyed that we are going. We were blessed with 500.00 today to take for the trip. Why then do I feel this way? I can't tell you. All I know is that I am praying I'll feel better tomorrow.

I am going to go a bit further and ask that if you are reading this, you will say a prayer for me and my family. Prayer always helps. I believe that prayer really does change things. I have seen it so many times, not only in my life but in others as well.  I believe all is well and things have worked out for us to go so that is a good thing. There for a minute it looked like we were not going. God has made a way (once again) where there seemed to be no way! He is such an awesome God. He really can do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or think just as His Word says in Eph 3:20.

Well, I guess that is it for now. Next time I blog, I'll be in the mountains. Amazing how much better I feel about it already. Got to finish up the last few details here at home before I go to bed. Have a blessed night in Christ Jesus. Oh yea, I have fell short on the "Giving Thanks Everyday" . Forgive me. I seem to have gotten a bit sidetracked there so here is a list to try and make up for the days I have lost.

* I thank God for loving me everyday. Even on those days I feel unloved or unloving. His love never fails me.

* I am thankful for pictures. Memories stored on paper to share with my friends, my children and generations to come. (That is until the Lord returns for me)

* I am thankful that when I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, it did not mean it wasn't there. Jesus is the Light.

*I am thankful for waking up this morning. I was not promised today and He gave it to me anyway.

*I am thankful for stumbling blocks that turned into stepping stones.

*I am thankful for my mother. I know I have said that before but I couldn't say it enough times to really express how much I love and appreciate her. She is blessed of the Lord and I am so glad she is my mom.

*I thank God for my pastors wife. She has become such a close and dear friend to me. She is a true woman of God and I pray even now that the Lord bless her and her family.

*I thank God for my pastor. He is my counselor, my friend, my shepard, and I can trust him to pray and give me Godly council. Not judging me, or another but loving us with the genuine love of Christ Jesus. Thank you Lord for placing him in our (my family) lives.

Well , I am sure I will have more tomorrow. Gotta go for now.

Blessings in Jesus Name,

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

We have five days until we leave for our first official family vacation. We have had a busy house this week already and it is only Tuesday. Getting all the ducks in a row so that the home will be nice, clean and comfy when we return. We are all very excited and ready to get away to enjoy the holiday in the Mountains. We will be there for six days. It is still hard for me to believe that we are actually going. We have planned vacations before but something always came up and we had to cancel. Not this time....we paid for this almost a year ago. The resort stay and a few other things are already covered. Yipeee.

I may or may not be blogging while away. It is hard for me to think of a whole week and no HSB. It's hard for me to think of a whole week and no schooling. I know while we are there we will be doing plenty of nature journaling. Anyone have other ideas of how we can get a little learning in while away- that is without the books. I am not the best at coming up with things on my own in this area. I use HSB, the internet and such for help in most all my teaching/lesson planning. I am so thankful to be blessed enough to be able to have a pc and the internet. Anyway, if anyone has ideas or suggestions for fun ways to learn while we are away please do share by leaving a comment. Thanks so much. Be blessed.

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

We had a very full weekend. It has been a while since the weekend has been as busy as this past one was.  We traveled to north MS about 5 hours from home to bring my oldest ds to his grandparents. The following day he and his grandparents were headed to Ga to see his dad. My ds has been looking forward to this for about four months and was very excited to go. Seeing his heart fill with gladness brought tears to my eyes. I hate when my dc are not with me and yes, I worry about him being so far away yet I was glad to see him go because I knew that this was needful for him.

We then turned around to come back home but  had to stop to sleep. I won't go into why except to say that  my husband was driving and umm....well I fell asleep and he missed the turn and um... well thats all . On Saturday we traveled a few hours into Louisiana to go to a fair in Franklinton, La. We met up with another homeschooling family at the fair. The children had a blast. It has been a while since we had a fun day just for the kids. Here are a few pictures I took at the fair.

 

Posted in Family Time

Look what I got in the mail yesterday. My free t-shirt from the Homeschoolboutique.com t-shirt give-away. It has been there a few days but I don't check my PO Box daily. I really like it. I am headed to town today and wearing it with pride. Oops...did I say that? Well I mean happily wearing it.

 

Thanks so much to   for this great t-shirt.

Well, headed to town with the family. This is a rare treat for us so I don't want to keep them waiting. Hope you all have a blessed weekend. 

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

Today and yesterday were much nicer days then Monday. I am so grateful to those of you who left comments and much needed advice. And oh yea, Bobbie, I especially thank you for the Smile I really needed that. And the laugh to go along with the comment you left me.

I wanted to take a moment and just reflect on yesterday. I got up, prayed, and then read the Word while drinking my coffee. I then woke my dc up (after I cooked the breakfast). They ate it up and then we did the chores. I had them make their beds before coming out of their rooms, this is not a norm for me, but it'll become that. See, I have been just diving into our lessons and trying to do other things in between or after. Not a good idea for us. As Bobbie reminded me," try to do math without praying, and the day just doesn't add up." Oh so true!

I made a little book of index cards before going to bed (at 1:30 a.m.) like I had read about somewhere on the web. After breakfast and praying, I handed each of them a card with the chore assigned to them for that day and the details listed on it. I could not believe the way they just did it. No questions, nothing except complete cooperation. Praise the Lord!! It amazed me. I really like this index card thing. I know I can purchase one but I figured I could make my own and save $$. Also every household is a little different so I wanted to have mine completely customized for our home.

We started lessons around 9:30 a.m. and the day went so much smoother than the previous. My 2 yr old even took his nap right on time. The dc did math, Spelling, copywork, and Bible. We then moved outside and while the boys did P.E. (bike riding and skateboarding) my dd worked on her nature journal. We are studying insects in her science and boy, are they ever plentiful here right now.  We then moved back indoors and worked on the lapbook for MOH1. As we were studying, my ds (11) said to me, "Mom, I love Mystery of History." That really touched me. What a way to end our lessons (formal) for the day. My children let me know at the days end how much they enjoyed me being their teacher (tears of joy). Not boasting here, please do not take me wrong. Just rejoicing in answered prayers, one day at a time.

There were no chores to rush and get done, no dirty dishes (yet), no floors to be swept, no trash to be taken out (yet); only a classroom to be put back in order a readied for the next days lessons. Oh, it was a good day.  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!

Today was great as well. Very little schooling due to the Ladies Bible study which by the way continues to grow, Glory be to God. We had another visitor today that came for prayer, and said she was going to be there next Wednesday too:) I am still amazed at how this thing has continued. That's another post for another time:)

Have a blessed evening in Christ Jesus.

Stacy

Posted in Family Time

Today we took a ride north. Not to much north, just about 25 miles or so. The drive was nice and the day was just right for it. Needless to say we started school in the afternoon today Anyway, the reason for the drive was to look at a home for sale. This home was so much bigger than I had expected. It is 5 bedroom and 3 bathrooms. THREE BATHROOMS That alone almost sold me.LOL

At first the children were a little disappointed to know that we were considering selling our first real home and moving farther away from "town". Ya know where Wal-Mart, Dollar General (my dc love the DG for some reason), Walgreens, Winn Dixie, The Movies, Blockbuster, and places of the sort are. To a place that is at least 30 minutes from anything other than a gas station. For a bit of the drive all I heard was questions of "Why Mom?" Then we pulled into the circular drive lined by beautiful landscaping on all sides. Even at that point they were not so sure. They got out the vehicle and slowly checked out the scene on the outside of the home. There was a fruit tree (I believe it was Satsuma’s) with the fruit growing from the branches. Some of the fruit was still green while there were some that had fallen to the ground. A very large banana spider had spun a web across the front porch. What an amazing insect. The front porch was raised and it spread across the whole front side of the home. Safety rails to keep the toddler from falling through and getting hurt were neatly placed across the porch and my littlest one made sure he tested the area for any safety issues that may need a looking at. As we waited for the agent we peered through the windows to get as much of a peak at the inside as we could. It looked like it needed new floors. Thank God my hubby is a floor man :). There was a staircase within our view and we all wondered what was upstairs. The agent selling the home eventually arrived and we all went inside. It took no time for the dc to go upstairs to see what we could not during our wait. Now this house needs some repairs. The roof has damage from the Storm (yes, Katrina) and I don't believe anyone has lived in it since. The children started running from room to room. Excitement filled the air as they were claiming which room was theirs. They forgot all about the "Why Moms".  They looked through every door, in every room, every nook and cranny. They left no area unexplored. The excitement caught on as my husband and I began seeing the pictures that the children so effortlessly painted for us as they spoke to one another. We were sold.

Why would we move? Well, since you asked . We bought the home we are now living in about 3 years ago. We are still paying the mortgage of course. This was before Hurricane Katrina hit this area and those from the cities surrounding us moved here due to the devastation of the storm. Growth is good for the area in many ways, nevertheless, we originally moved here to be in a rural or country type of setting to raise our children. Well this area is no longer such a place. It has traffic and busy streets and even the road we live off of has become busy and high traffic since the storm. Crime rates, drugs and such have become more prevalent now due to the increase in the population of this area. So we are looking to move further out and also for a bigger home with a bit less property to keep up with. The house we looked at fits the bill so far. Not to mention it costs much less than the home we are in and the mortgage note would be a smaller one than the one we are currently paying.

Sold as we may be to the thought of this new home, I know that in God’s Word it says “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil 4:6. So we are praying about this. Trying not to be anxious and just having faith that what we ask for, believing, it shall be done.  We prayed when it came to this house and I believe that God made a way for us to be able to get this home. Without God there is no way we could have qualified for the loan on this home at the time we bought it. I know His word says that all things are possible to Him that believeth (Mark 9:23). So I believe that if it is His will for us to move then we will. If it is His will for us to be in that home then just like He did with this one, He’ll make a way. I only want for us to be in His will. I pray that we do not get ahead of Him and that when He says go, then and only then will we go. If you will,please say a prayer for us that we make the right decision in this matter. Thanks so much.

Have A blessed Evening,

Stacy

 

 

 

Posted in Family Time

Yes, I am still stuck on my anniversary. I guess the older I get the more I realize how blessed I truly am. I am reminded of God’s goodness and how much I have to be grateful to Him for. This is a photo of our first marriage in 1997, our remarriage in 2002 and our anniversary.

This is such a blessing for me to look at. I see so much as I look at the three photos above. I am reminded that the God I serve is all about reconciliation and restoration.  In a time where the church is facing statistics that show the divorce rate among believers higher than that of non believers, Our God is still a God of reconciliation. His plan and view for the family unit has not changed alongside the plan and views of this world.

I look at the photos above and I see that there is hope in every situation, I will always have hope. For my hope is in the Lord.  I read today in Psalms 130:7 “O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.” I look at the photos above and I see abundant redemption. This marriage, this family has been redeemed by the Lord.

Prayer:

Thank You God for your lovingkindness and abundant redemption. Thank You for looking down and seeing us in our state of need and having compassion for us, redeeming us. Thank You that no matter how far away I ran, You Lord was always there ready and waiting for me to return unto You and willing to forgive me and to receive me unto You again. Thank You Lord for all your lovingkindness and for Your mercies towards me and my family. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Well, I must close for now. I pray I have in some way been an encouragement to you this evening. I pray that you all have a safe holiday. In Jesus Name.

Be blessed,

Stacy

Oh BTW- this was my first real digital scrap book page. That’s exciting for me.