Good "Day before Thanksgiving" morning..

  As I think about Thanksgiving I often wonder about the real history of this day... There are many theories on the "first " Thanksgiving and we all know how the story goes . But we have been studying American History this year and reading biographies of different people and one is about a girl who was on the Mayflower.  It was not as glorious as they make it seem. She lost her father on that voyage... the bad thing was it was after they landed in the wrong place. So they had to stay on that boat to move on and as they moved on and docked once  again it was still not the right place. And they finally got to the right place some of the men went off to the shore and her father never made it to his final destination. He died on one of those dockings..  The way she discribes the ship itself it would have been nearly impossible to live on it ... At one point every one was sick and vomitting and they couldn't even clean it up. There was only enough well people to care for the sick.. No one to empty the buckets and it was a rough ride so everything spilled out on the floor and they slipped and slid through it to care for the people.  How can anyone get well with the stench of that looming over your bed. That voyage was definately a very hard trip to make. The crew was a bit hostile towards the Christians... they mentioned throwing them over board more than one occasion. The captain was not against them...but definately not in favor of them either. When they landed it was already cold weather but they still needed to build shelter and find food... then there were the Indians... ( whom at that point they were not completely sure what to think , because some of the crew were hostile towards them also so was their view point accurate or were the Indians really as bad as they said ? ) It's an excellent book. We read it aloud for American History.   They are missionaries,  that we often forget.  They came here to settle this land so they could worship freely... Not have to be forced into joining a state church. Which at that time was stil somewhat corrupt.  Or to be told how to worship God... They came for the same religious freedom that is slowly emancipating from us. 

   I read a book one time that encouraged all Christians to look at life like we are pilgrims on a journey...Like the song says ... We're Pilgrims on a journey of narrow road...

 ( The song labelled "Find us Faithful " on my playlist in not this song... for some reason they have that song labeled incorrectly. It is Cherish the treasure  I tried to get this one but couldn't find it)

Find Us Faithful

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find

Repeat Chorus Twice

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

  Well I have rambled enough... Go make something count :)
  Happy Thanksgiving.

 It's almost time to walk but I thought while I was checking weather I could type a note or two.  Lots has been going on this week... We are in the midst of the final play performances... Today two performances... always fun. I have to go to town a couple of times in the same day...  Yesterday after I got home two of my children started feeling sick...runny nose, head ache... and bless them they look awful. However everyone slept well last night. So I am glad of that . But that means all that stuff has probably headed south from their sinuses and for a child with Astma that isn't good. I will have to beef her up today on her vitamins.

    There is a school auction I really want to go to tomorrow but not sure I can make it with sick children. I will see I guess.... it 's so close...yet so far away :) I Love those.

   TOday my sister will go in and have her baby. It is breech so they scheduled a C section... Of course we won't see it until it is 6 with everyone having a virus ! :( She will have to send pictures... ha ha  We 're hoping for a boy this time...

 Today will be a light school day because of them not feeling good but we will get some in. It may be my only chance of having a class that will actually set and listen . ( I know SAD isn't it... Ha Ha)

  I got a new book from paperback swap.... It is called Refined by Fire . It's Brian Birdwell 's story he and his wife wrote it . It looks really good He was in the Pentegon when that plain hit on Sept 11 and was badly burned.  They could see God in the midst even through all the pain and term oil during that time... He sustained them and they wrote to tell about it. I am looking forward to reading it. ( Martha I will pass this on if you haven't read it yet... You should get paperback swap...you would love it ! ) :)

  Well it is off to walk and hear about Dawn's day yesterday . ( She got to sub yesterday and it may turn into a position for quite a few weeks. ) An answer to prayer... AMEN

   Have a great day... It's off to run the rat race once again...with sick children. :(

 Good afternoon once again. Once again another sleepless night... I can normally handle them well but two back to back made me a bit tired :)  I wrestled with a one year old all night... trying to escape the bed and then finally at 3:30 getting up and cooking him oatmeal. He ate like a champ and went to sleep. I was afraid I would feed him and he would throw up in bed and choke or something, but after he ate he seemed to settle down a bit.  He still is determined to get outside. He doesn't care if he gets cold... He wants OUT of this house. I don't recall any of the others wanting to get out so bad especially when they weren't feeling good. 

   The principal was in this morning when we started school and set some rules and and regulations... ones which I couldn't even seem to follow... How good can school be when the teacher is sleeping setting up ?  Not good let me tell ya.

   Tomorrow we will lose the morning for the play.  I have debated on this all week especially since I had a little one sick but now he has been fever free for 24 hours and seems to be feeling fine this morning...and I think last night He was starved from not eating while he was a sick.  He is back on the move today.. Still a little grouchy but seems to want to eat everything in sight.:)  The kids are excited about going to see the play. They are usually good so we will enjoy it. :)  I know how hard those teenagers work on it so it is nice to go support their efforts.

   Well it is time to go pick up the oldest at practice so we will head out and on the move :)  I could actually take a nap... Bet thats a shocker :)

Good afternoon

    I am slow this morning,  due to circumstances out of my control... A sick one year old can change the eb and flow of the day and night real quick.  He was sick most of the night and when he got to sleep peacefully, it was almost time for me to get up.  So I am running a little slow this morning..  After my walk that is... HA Ha.   He begged to go outside all day yesterday. I have no idea what a sick child wants to go outside for but he was mad nearly all day because I wouldn't stay outside with him. He felt so good out in the air evidently.  Now he is feeling better. He was playing this morning and just seems tired and a little grouchy. But over all just likes for someone to hold him today.
   Last night I went on a mission ( with no results) to find a store that sells skirts. Not the cheesy mini ones.  Not a qualifier in my book. But no place had them... Sears...Penney's ... Elder Beerman... and then American Eagle outfitters and all those other smaller chain stores that have "interesting " clothes.  I found no skirts.  Where do you buy longer jean skirts ?  I have bought them out of catalogs... needless to say that was an interesting purchase... I ordered one "according"  to my size  in the "size chart" ...and my mom and I could stand side by side inside of it !  After we got done laughing I sent it back to the company and told them maybe they should reevaluate their size chart... Or at least stick to it ! ( I ordered according to measurements ! ) That was the most rediculous thing I have ever gotten in the mail.

    I got a new book catalog today :) I already have one "HAVE TO HAVE" picked out... It's another David Bercot book.. He is excellent by the way... The new one is called " Will the Theologians please SIT DOWN."   Please note I am not against theology... But so many churches ( and people ) can get caught up in Theology while ignoring the true words - thoughts of Jesus himself.  If we really want to know the character of God wouldn't  it be worth it's weight in gold to study those thoughts and  works of God's own son ? Let him speak ....  We can study the character of God thru the eyes of men and it will never compare to the answers we can gain from Christ himself.  What a better path to treck ?  You can study theologins in great depth.. But if their idea's don't line up with Jesus himself... Why bother ?  And they may have been very highly educated with in their church ... BUT that does not mean their idea's and thoughts are supported by scripture...and lets face it... No other book will get you to heaven. You can read some really good books, and enjoy very good works by very smart people--  some of them even leading you to make positive changes in your life... however if they don't line up with the BIBLE... you really have not gained .  You have a new idea, but it won't take you to the Father . :)  I love the simplicity of being able to go straight to Jesus for my theology.  So I am looking forward to ordering  this book.

  Neighbor brought over lunch -- So that works out well since I am in some what of a zombie state :)  And we have actually gotten allot of school work done and are ready for lunch break :)  God is so good.  Guess I'll go get lunch :)
 

The fun from the weekend is over so we now have to get back to work. I Have a messy house to start school in because we played all weekend... With the cars.   They really are enjoying them.. Ha Ha They found out the Nissan will fit thru the trail in the woods. So they went over and took the neighbor a ride..He is such a good sport... He even stayed in it after he knew it had no brakes...( with a 12 year old driver !! ) Ha  ( Don't worry... we don't drive on the road ! It is all off road turfing !)  

   The other car still isnt' running yet but it will turn over.  I think they view that as progress... I think it has bigger issues however... the transmission seems to have some gears missing...when it is in 2nd gear you can move the gear shift all around like you can in nuetral.  Hence this is not a good thing.  And last night when dad was starting it with Ether there was a little spark...( maybe not one he counted on ) that lit up a fire ball under the hood like a bomb... so they now call it the "Blue bomb."   But not to worry my husband still has eyebrows and hair he was not in front of it. And the boys were safely away... But the thought of him using Ether is not exactly a pleasant one. 

   I read about the water on the moon this morning. Not sure how i feel about that.  I think it is almost sad there are people out of work and in all sorts of situations and our govt wants to spend all that money on finding water on the moon.  If they would take that money and give it back to the taxpayers... We could find a use for it. But instead they are worried about how to find water on the moon to back some kind of theory that there is indeed intellegent life there.... If there is they are probably smart enough not to spend all that time and effort to find out what is going on here ! We might be smart to do like wise.

   This is a crazy week ahead because of the play... AMEN it is the final week. The kids are all getting excited about . All the teenagers are really feeling the crunch time... then next week they have to come down off that high and face the reality. Back to the norm.... My daughter and I had a discussion about that last week... she said it is almost disappointing the week after... much needed break-- but a let down that it is all over and the ultimate goal is reached and back to normal life seems so simple... Ha  I can't wait. :)

   Well have a good week.  It is time for school. Then off to dishes and back to town :(

 Yesterday was a busy day of sorts... ran to town in morning and then back in afternoon and did school work in the middle of the trips and last night girls all got invited to a Princess Party  ( Not Fairy tales and Disney... But God's princesses... ) and trip to the mall. That was allot of fun... The little girls all paraded thru the mall in their pretty white princess dresses. They all matched.. They thought they were pretty special . And the older girls were their "Lady's in waiting"  so to speak. THAT was priceless to see three older sisters serving three little sisters. They did fairly well... However it did seem hard for my oldest... Ha Ha  I signed up to win a smart car... They are cute but it wouldn't even be big enough for me to go get my weekly groceries... HA HA  The kids would enjoy it I guess.. Ha

   Right before we left the fella's  (and one of the little princess's )took a spin in the nissan. They got it running and both boys got to take a turn in the field ... If that wasn't the most hilarious thing.  It is a 4 speed and they actually didn't have too much trouble with the clutch. ( I think Dad helped out there )  I video taped it but was laughing so hard once I had to turn off the camera... (They would honk at me as they drove by !)    At one point the oldest one said to my husband " It's not running too bad"  and he said it was spitting - sputtering , running on two flat tires so the ride was beating them to death all the way around and was smoking a bit... so he thought that comment was to funny.  That was their fun for the evening.    After we girls headed to the mall I get a call while there and my oldest son needed my password to boot the computer up.  Mind you it was already on when I left... however as they were headlong into the new Nancy Drew game their little brother turned the computer off . He likes to set at your feet when on there and play with everything you don't want him too... The CD drive, and the printer is down there on the bottom shelf... and since he knows everyone gets mad at him for this ... he waits to seize his moment. Then he reaches up real fast and pushes the lighted button... Which he doesn't know but that is the on-off button and is not the way to shut the computer down.  So they lost all the clues and hints they had that far when he abruptly shut them down. ( I got this lesson the other day after I had worked for an hour on that silly game and was making progress !! )
    We have been praying lately about our ministry in life... Not that we feel called to preach.  My husband does not feel called to preach.  But we have seen how God has lead us for the past 15 or so years and the things we have learned from the churches we have been in. Now looking back it has been very interesting to see how he has chosen to teach us these many lessons.We have switched churches and a couple of times knowing it truly was the Lord leading us and another time we knew we needed something more than that church could give us... Not in terms of it was a bad church, but God was teaching us lessons that we needed to get and to get those we needed to step out of our comfort zone. And now looking back the ideas that we had in mind although were not contrary to God's were very different. And at the time I really was set in my thought pattern. However now I look back I see where my pattern was on the trail, but may  have not been HOT... :)  I admire people who just know their ministry...  Some people are totally plugged into it and planted upon it.. But unfortunately we're not sure about ours.  I guess until God shows us exactly what that is we will continue on the path :)  It's All good :)

  It's off to  clean house and my little guy is trying to copy Mr Potato Heads eyes in the new printer so I think he needs some attention.  I finally have a printer that works well and I have a one year old who wants to work it.... This could be it's demise ! ( Or mine !)

 Hope you all have a good weekend. 

  What a strange question I know.. But I heard on the radio yesterday that our lives are  like a compost pile. A woman was frustrated one day and she took out her stresses with drawing a compost pile and adding all her stresses , worries and sins to it.     She went on to say that the compost pile gets redeemed every year.  She dumps her garbage on it , stirs it up a bit through the seasons then to make beautiful garden plants or flowers the next year she needs that compost. Our lives are the same.... Jesus does this with us, It's called  Grace.  
    I found this analogy interesting ,  I have never thought of a compost pile being redeemed.  Nor do I think I will ever look at a compost pile the same in the future... Ha Ha   Suppose that is the way God views us... A continuous compost pile... I consider myself a work in progress... BUT don't know if I like being right up there in ranks with the compost pile.  Deserved.... Just don't know if I like that . :)  And I am hoping if we as parents are the compost  that our children stand a better chance ! :)   That somehow they got more benefit from the finished products of that compost ... HA HA  

  Journalling was another topic yesterday on the radio ( I Know I had way too much travel time !! )  I have an opinion on journaling...  But it differed from theirs. 

         Theirs was write it ALL down... When you are worried write down all your thoughts.  Keep the journals go back and reference them... Other thoughts were kind of a history type journalling ... write down your events - maybe how you feel about them but more of a history book kind of thing. Not so much a diary kind of thing.   
   I am all for journalling..  to me the blog is my journalling of sorts. It has my opinion, my thoughts, and some history in it. But even if I kept a journal I would not write  so deep and personal in it that if the wrong person got ahold of it, it could be detrimental to the relationship.   My personal opinion is that we as adults need to guard some of our thoughts , we need to find a  way to release the stress but to write a journal like a 12 year olds diary is not a good thing. We need to use more caution on those kinds of feelings and only work with God on those...   We as adults need to protect those feelings and thoughts from escalating into something that will scar us or someone else... we need to learn (with God) how to train our thoughts to edify God....and writing things so personal in the journal where it can be used against us could  promote us to harbor those negative thoughts and feeling . We need not harbor them.... nail them to the cross, give them to GOD... and LET IT GO.  To continually harbor them and journal about them...we are only promoting our own immature, sinful nature.  This is not to say we can get rid of bad feelings by stuffing them, We need to work through them... but I will leave that for the professionals.(Help me out here Cindy :)  I think to write down something that made you angry or hurt is fine... BUT  you and God know what and why this angered or upset you, so write it down very vaguely... In a way that if someone else picked up your personal journal they would know something was upsetting BUT not exactly what it was or who was involved... etc.  You and God know those details... the two of you can figure that out together ,  you need not involve another nosy journal reader :)

  My daughter wanted to have a journal and I told her " Thats great.. good way to learn to write. But DO NOT put anything too personal in it... Because someone WILL get ahold of it and read it. So if you have something you don't want to share with everyone , do not write it in the journal. "   She actually followed my advice... And some little girls went through her room one day and broke into ( It had a little lock )  her journal and looked all over for something personal. Then they had the nerve to go tell other friends how boring it was because she didn't write anything personal in it.  She was soooo glad she took my advice.   

  My Conclusion... Journalling is a fun thing. Make it a positive thing... Even a venting of sorts...  But ONLY Write what will Edify God... ( I know I am not living what I am preaching. )  Remember I SAID I was still a work in progress... HA HA

  We are really enjoying the Anabaptist history class. I am learning so much and there are quite a few schools of thought on the history of the churches... or Christianity... Or even religion ( If you want to use this word :)  I prefer to keep my ducks in a row and studying religion is not one of them. 
    So often people have emphasized only the Reformation.  I like all or none  of facts I guess and I knew there was more history than that for the Anabaptist.  And I am not a big fan of Martin Luther, or Zwingly.... Don't get me wrong what they started was noble and they have done allot for their cause... But unfortunately they caved . They never quite finished the project. Which is all part of God's plan... So I hold it not against them.  They were the beginning of change.. And you have to start somewhere. But it is hard to get a book that will tell you about how they started out gung-ho... yet pretty much caved back into the state church mentality and mindset. ( Which at that time was very corrupt )    I can respect them for their Zeal in the beginning and they were up against some giants. But this book actually presents the rest of the story... I like that. And actually in a positive way... some of those trials were very difficult and you really did have to know exactly how far to push each button with the state church at that time . And they did very well at knowing the limits. They were definately an instrument of God .  Very intersting and we are only knee deep into it... Still so much to cover. can't wait.  

      The sun is shining in bright today which always make happy children however it is hard for them to not worry about those cars they are working on out there in the barn lot.  I bought two of the biggest cans of WD40 yesterday and I (cringe) heard their dad tell them this morning to go ahead and use them up .  I said "Guess you don't really know what you paid for those two cans yesterday do you? "    He smiled and kissed me good bye and went to work... probably to pay for more WD40 !     
    As I was doing dishes yesterday afternoon the back door flew open and in walks a 12 year old laughing. I said " What is so funny ?"     "

" I have just spent an hour working on getting into the trunk of my car... I dropped the keys in there on accident then closed the trunk. "    Well hows that for luck....  Glad he found it humorous... However I don't forsee calling the locksmith out and paying him to get the trunk open on a car that doesn't run- for a 12 year old with out a drivers license. ( Not to mention there is a rust hole in the back of the trunk big enough for someones arm to go through.)  I think by the time they went to bed they had spent about 6 hours trying to get it open...because there was two little boys out there all evening with a coat hanger and a flash light trying to figure out how to get the trunk open or fish the keys out through the big rust hole in the back of it.  I only know one thing... I am not about to stick my arm in that big hole only to find a mouse or something fury on the other side handing me the keys !  Their on their own on this one.. I tried to pick the lock with the hanger... But just about the time we could get it to move... the hanger would kind of bend. It just wasn't strong enough and I guess I am not criminal minded enough to figure out how to get that lock to budge. I am sure that is on their agenda today... If they have to stick their arm in the big whole.. (just the thought gives me hives)

   I am being paged to the living room ... Someone put a pull up on the big guy this morning... (AGAINST my instructions. ) I can appreciate their help sometimes , but this is probably not one of them.  But when a six year old is so proud he is helping mom by putting a dry pull up on  his little brother .( Who needs a diaper with steel tabs and pad locks...)  It is hard to tell him he is not helping me , but only contributing to his brothers criminal activity.    Because, this is a little fella who seems to find it amusing to shuck his clothes. He loves the pull ups because he has discovered they just push off the bottom like his pants do... You guessed it, soooo easy for a guy like himself , who feels the whole bulky diaper serves no purpose but to make him uncomfortable. He is now standing in the middle of the living room screaming and laughing because he is so pleased with himself once again, his pull up in a pile on the floor !! (Probably beside his clean clothes for the day ) He knows this drives me crazy I am sure of it... Because when I show up in the other door way with an evil look , diaper and clothes , he takes off like a shot into another room.  With me chasing him all the way couseling him on etiquette,  good behavior , bad behavior...etc  Meanwhile the peanut gallery is in hysterics and he knows it's all about him. Which makes him twice as bad. I have said several times " Guys please don't laugh at this kind of thing.. It won't be funny some day when we are at the store... church... the Orthodontist office...  But they said they can't help it.   So it is time for me to go harness the youngest up in a steel diaper , pair of bibs and shoes ( just for torture) and get ready to go get a pair of glasses at the eye Dr for one child then head to the orthodontist  ( at the opposite end of the county than the first DR ) after lunch for another. And in between we will do Bible and Music... Our two favorite classes , Looks like we could end up with allot of evening work tonight with all the Dr appointments today... Have a good day

   We see God in all the details ... It is funny how the things we do or decide today will directly affect the future whether that be tomorrow or 5 years from now. They  will come back to help us or haunt us :) Ha Ha

    I have been thinking about the last 10 years or so all the things God has taught us... We get into a mindset and want the Lord to give us direction so he gives us direction and we think " Well that is completely the opposite of what I was thinking Lord" and He says just do it.   It is funny how we can't see the direct link at the time but 2 or even three years down the road all the pieces fall into place and it is so amazing to see God working. The funny thing is sometimes while we watch God unfold his plan out before our very eyes we miss it ! We don't even get it at the time... We pick up on it a long time after !

    We go through growth spirts in our spiritual walk with God and sometimes in those growth spirts we do what so many people view as wierd or even what they think is off the beaten path ! But that is how God teaches us... When we step off the beaten path or OUT of the box is when we learn the most .  Not to say it may not seem a little strange for God to call us there, But lets face it we don't often learn much in our comfort zone.  It's too easy, it's to secure....  Peter could have never walked on water if he hadn't stepped out of the boat. Which we all know was out of his comfort zone !! ha ha

   I really want to know more about fasting so I think that will be my next pesonal bible study.    I have always found this very interesting but have never , ever been in a church that did a congregational ( or some call corporate )  fast . Or even talked very much about the topic..   Or did a fast where everyone had a common goal in mind ... I think that would strengthen a church body and also strengthen the fellowship.  I really don't know much about fasting but am on the trail NOW !! :)   There are many kinds of fasts , we have done small ones in our school Bible class. We fasted from something ( at least one thing) We thought came between us and God.  The children did well at picking those things out. And we did a 30 day fast. But I still want to know more :)  

   Have you ever done a corporate fast ? Why... Leave me a post ... I would like to hear about it. What did you learn from it ? 

  Well it was a successful trip to town we got all the errands ran and on the way home drove grandma through the grave yard to look at some new monuments family members have placed. Very pretty I must say.  Actually everyone enjoyed seeing all the different stones.

   When we got home our coon dog came whizzing by us and headed straight into the garage after a duck as if to say " Welcome home..." So that immediately puts every body on high alert... The game plan begins... " You get him , you take this inside...you grab that , i'll take this -- etc. " Then we all get out and I go to the back door to get baby  " Uhhhh does anyone know why he doesn't have any pants on ? " 

 " He took them off... Was so proud of himself I didn't have the heart to put them back on him."  Well ok...lets hope he doesn't want to show off this new talent some day in  say.... Wal-Mart or church ?     When we left this morning he had jeans on two shoes...etc.... now he has one boot missing and no pants on !   On my way inside I went by the garage to see if there was anything left of the duck... the dog was running around like one of those old road runner episodes and the duck was just near a heart attack , I am sure waiting for relief.  So once again I am in one of those strange situations .... Baby with no pants on, dog gone mad after a duck , and children running around the yard screaming " ELVIS, ELVIS!!!"  in every direction. ( Good thing the neighbors know Elvis is the dog ! )  And when He finally came running at you and you think you have him... There he goes at break neck speed then turns about 3 circles and he's hot on the trail of something else once again.  Long story short after chasing him around for about 25 minutes and everyone nose diving into the ground trying to catch him , screaming his name,  we caught him. And I so graciously allowed him to drag me back to his dog house so we could tie him up. For a tall skinny thug... He is very strong. While he is dragging and jerking me all the way to his dog house I am saying " YO- U -  gu-YS- RE-ally-   n-EEd-  to - WOR-k  -w -ith -HIM- ON -Hi-S   -Hea-LiNG-... " because about every other step he nearly knocked me down jerking on his chain.   All the while our neighbor is setting in his yard probably getting the laugh of his life listening to us scream and yell and watch the dog run in circles out smarting us !   He looks like the dumbest dog out there but he can track anything...   And today you could have never proved he even knew his own name.

    I dropped some books off to a local pastor for him to look at for our co-op and picked up three sermons to listen to . I am kind of excited about that. He has been so helpful to the new co-op we are wanting to start.  The sermons will be fun to listen to. I love to listen to sermons ...  If you ever get the chance Paul Washer has some really good ones online. 

 Well It is off to locate some pants that I can keep on the baby ( This is why he wears bibs allot) ) and back to school work.  Once again we need to get back outside and finish science... then on to spelling  but with all the excitment of Elvis it will be hard to focus. 

 What a warm morning it was .    As we walked this morning a deer hunter headed out reminded us to enjoy this while we can...all to soon we will be walking in cold weather and winter coats. As long as it isn't windy cold weather isn't that bad. I even like to walk when there is snow on the ground..nothing prettier than the sun coming up with a blanket of snow.  What a workout..walking in a snow suit.

   Today we have a meeting in the middle of the day again so that will crash a bit of the school day but the play is next week so our school day interruptions should be about over for awhile. Everyone is getting really excited about it now... I don't know if we will make it to see this one. But all the teenagers are getting very excited :)  How could we get them that excited about their school work ? Ha Ha ...

  Bean harvest is done and it is time to start the corn. Half way done... I am ready for them to be done. Long evenings when dad isnt' here... The children start to really miss him. 

    Yesterday was a very nice day I am hoping today will be as nice. We can finish our tree study papers today . We started them but had to go help move trucks and things like that so we never got them fully filled out. Today we will go into the woods and do the bark papers . They love those studies where you actually get to go in the "field" to do them.  In the spring we are going to do more of a crop study since this year we are actually doing agriculture science... We know how many heat units it takes to grow the corn and have the formula for figuring it out every day so we will start when it is planted and keep a chart for it every day to see how many heat units we get in the whole season.  We started too late last year. This year I will have everything ready in advance...we may try and figure it out for beans too... The children liked it last year when my husband taught them how to figure it up.

    I have about 30 flys I need to kill... yesterday I went to hit one with the fly swatter and it flew apart on me... Have you ever tried to kill flys with a fly swatter handle ? Doesn't work let me just give you that little tid bit !  So last night we made a new "swatter" ... You guessed it duck tape... it is the sweetest piece of equipment to look at I am telling you.

   Well off to start Bible.  And someone just used a whole box of matches trying to light the wood stove so I think I better go light something before they do...  It may be the dining room !

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my barking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(repeat)

    Many know the song and I have moved it to number one on my playlist so if you don't .....go there and click on it.  But this song really makes me think .

   It is our day of worship and so often we forget that today is just that day !  Look around you... We have so many things to be thankful for. Even in the midst of our daily grind... our sorrow, our illness... our one year old throwing the telephone in the toilet and ruining it.. We need to give thanks.  We often forget that is what our life is about ... That's IT....  Only what we do for the Lord will count when we get there... Here only what we did for Christ will matter.  So I want to call everyone to keep that in perspective this week... Live for the Lord. 

    My grandmother used to say " You never know when your going to die... Eat dessert first ! "  And that she did... both my grandmothers LOVED sweets. Ha ha  I miss them :)

      Open your bible everyday, Love those whom you don't think you can, and Be excited to serve a RISEN savior this week !

 Some days seem more productive than others I guess and today I actually felt like I have gotten quite allot accomplished..However the house looks like a tornado went through.

   Had an eye Dr appointment today for one of the boys and I couldn't believe the price of the exam- glasses...  When he told me " These frames are $9.00  frames, then I can get you lenses for $29.00" I looked at him with my mouth hanging open trying not to look as stupid as I felt yesterday... I said " I'm sorry I didn't hear you... How much are they ?"  He repeated the same thing. Ok I must have heard him correctly. But is that possible. So I said " Well how durable are they ? " Because I am thinking BOY--  Broken-- Lost etc.  He took the frame and twisted it around like a pretzel... Well Ok I will take one of each...  we'll have one for each room !   So we ended up with a $38.00 pair glasses for my son. I couldn't believe it... I took my child to the eye Dr and got glasses and an exam for less than $100.00 . That is unheard of... and she was a very good Dr because we have taken the other children there also when we have needed to get them in quicker than my eye Dr could get them in.  I am still in shock and I love bargains so that is why I am posting it here... I truly am impressed with the fact that they can do that for that price.  How are they making any money ?  I have relatives that have paid over $400.00 for a pair of eye glasses ! 

  Anyway I was home all of about 5 minutes and the baby grabbed things out of the cupboard and proceded to throw them all over the floor... So I moved him into his high chair to eat and the hamburger took a thrilling ride off of his tray. We finished up eating and let him "loose" on the floor and he started dipping in the toilet again !  He was on a roll...   I couldn't believe it... Must be all the chocolate they gave him to keep him happy all afternoon.

  I got the church newsletter finished and printed on the new printer. It works much better. It is uglier than a mud fence but it makes a nice print... :) 

      That is another strange thing... I tried to get online and register it all so I could do the whole warranty thing and does anyone out there know exactly which bar code and number is the Serial number ? If you register the wrong number you have no warranty ! But could they make it easy to find the right number ? OR for that matter put simple instructions on the "EASY" warranty page from the store where I purchased the warranty from ?   They boast about this "Easy " button on their commercials...But in all reality their web site must have missed that memo ! It is anything but easy. ANd there is no where , that it tells you exactly which bar code and number is the serial number. I even went to the HP web site and tried to find out. The live chat was anything but live...  and the " Q & A " page never mentioned how to find THE serial number. I have never bought a product without it marked or that is was not easy to figure Out. ( Until now) So I need to call them or go back in and ask "Steven"  exactly which number I am to use for the registration.  Of course I was trying to do all this last night after I was tired and ready to be grouchy anyway. Good news for the family... I took it out on the HP website instead of them :)   So that is on my agenda for next week... FIND serial Number on the ugly printer.  

   Well It is time to make sure everyone has clothes and shoes for church tomorrow and start ordering them to get their "Saturday night " bath whether they need it or not :)   My seven year old said last week he only needed two outfits... He was good to go from Sunday til Wed then he could change back into the Sunday clothes and I could wash the Wed clothes..  I said " Please don't say that when we are around people. "  Because my younger daughter always brags about not taking a bath  "since... ??" When she actually has and when I point that out after she has blurted out all that incorrect info...  she smiles and says " Oh I forgot" having no idea that to say you haven't had a bath for 4 days ( or what ever )  sounds so gross.  I am just left there smiling... wanting to crawl back under my rock.

 Well I need to get busy barking orders... parenting is so much fun at times.. :)

 Hey it's almost 6:30 and we are still working on school. Those nifty little assignment sheets I made for all my scholars are proving to be valuable ! ( SARCASM! )   They are just as proud to show me one that has not been marked off as they would be if they had a completed one.  I said " Uh, I know you did this today...and this, what about that ? Were you in class this morning ?  What is this ? It looks like last years assignment sheet that went through the wash then put in the Apple Cider jug ! " And they kind of smile and do one of those little curtsy things and giggle.  I had to remind them this is to help them keep track of what they need to move on to while I am working with someone else. My idea is NOT WORKING.

   New idea... " public school ? Do school Buses mean anything to you ?" 

"    Of course they do " they say... " We want one !"  

     I called the childrens pediatrician and got their refills and Rx wrote up. When he called me back , he dropped a little bomb on me I wasn't expecting... He is moving to another practice again... Good that he told me... Bad that we may not be excepted in the new practice... depends on their insurance policies.  He will discuss it with them and see what they say. So this is a prayer worth it's weight in gold. We have been with the same Dr for 8 years now and when he went 2 hours away we were lucky enough to be able to get in there too... Although this practice is closer by about 30 minutes it remains to be seen what their new patient policies are.  It is kind of a bummer that we are considered new patients.... we are not new to him... but to the new practice.  But if that is what it takes to be able to stay with the same Doc then we would like to try.  All the children are very comfortable with him and I really would like to stay with him. He has helped us out in some pretty hard times with one of the children and always seems to be on the other end of the phone when we need it. 

    Well I am not leaving the house tomorrow morning either... I don't have to go anywhere. This could really become a habit . I like just staying at home and doing my thing here. Not like the house looks any better BUT we are making progress school wise :)

   Well prayer partners pray for the Dr situation and I will keep you posted. If he calls in a couple weeks and says this is the end of the road for " us" It will NOT BE  PRETTY.   Ha ha I will have some very unhappy children... and I myself will be disappointed at the prospects. But Lord willing it will work out one way or the other :)