After two days of recovery I've finally lost most of the anesthesia fog and I'm getting a little clearer.
My tummy looks like I'm pregnant with a painted on smiley face where my incisions are. I have four of them, with the lower one hurting the most. I spent part of today searching for sweat pants onine that will fit a 6'2" woman. I'm not sure when I'll be able to button jeans again.
For all of you brave women out there who have had C-sections I sympathize with you in a way I could never before. Boy, am I sore!!
Because everyone was so happy with my results I don't have a clear picture of exactly what was done on Friday but hope to talk to my Dr. tomorrow. I do know I have all my parts and pieces and that makes me smile.
God is so good to give us things we could never even imagine. Of course I'd figured out the three or four options I was going to be faced with and just like HIM he hands me one far better.
Something that seems to really irk me is people who complain about money. I don't mean those who have none for real, I mean those who have it and just blow it on nothing!! My husband was talking with a man who makes in two days what we make all month. This man was upset because he couldn't make it!!! The man has a family, a house payment, and bills just like we do and we make it just fine on little more than minimum wage at a part time job!! It just really irks me that this happens all the time!!! And he's not the only one. I have a couple of family members who brings home in one week what we make all month. This one has only two kids compared to my 4, but still has rent and such. His wife is now working part time to help meet their bills, and all I hear is complaining about how hard it is to make it! Just makes me wanna scream!! Here we are making it on something that puts us way below the poverty level and yet we are still making bills and other things. It's just so unbelievable what people think they have to make!! I guess it just goes to show you can't buy happiness. We are doing wonderful here, well, enough to get by with anyway. We may not go and do all kinds of running around, and shopping but we are fine. We have yet to turn the heat on this year either. I realize that it's almost December but if we can feel comfortable in sweats and long sleeves why use the heat if it's not neccessary!!! We have learned real quick what we think we need and what we really do need. I have found that a lot of our "needs" have actually been wants and we can survive without them! Imagine that!! I don't really need a new vacuum when my old one still works and then again, I do have a broom that will suffice! We only have one room with carpet in it so a new vacuum is not a necessity. I guess my rant it over! I just need to get that off my chest!!
This past week has been extremely hard for me. I lost my Great Grandpa, who I was very very close to. I can honestly say that he was THE best grandpa I've ever had. I am so thankful for the last 5 years of being able to grow closer to him, of course, it wasn't as long as I wanted, but I am very glad I had them. It was wonderful! It was wonderful to grow as close to him as I did.
Over the past 5 years, he really opened up to me about his WWII experiences which he hadn't shared them at all before. When I presented him the Armed Service album I made for him at his 65th anniversary, he was moved to tears. I knew that all the efforts and the sleepless night I spent on it was so worth it! Getting to know him was truly a blessing to me. I pray it was to him also. Since I did that for him and grew closer to him through it, I have a very important place in my heart for the armed service men. When we took him to the cemetery, they gave him a beautiful military salute with Taps and a 21 Gun Salute. I bawled through the whole thing. Knowing that his service was important to him, and that was so very important to me because of him. It was very hard to sit through for me.
Sitting in his funeral service remembering all the times we had together, the tears just flowed. We would color when I was younger and as I grew up, we would sit on his front porch and play cards. He taught me to play rummy, war, slap jack, and more. One of the last times he played cards he was 87 and got down on the floor with the Littles to play go fish with them. It wasn't easy for him to crawl on the floor but he showed his love to his family by doing it. He truly was a family man. That was all he was worried about: his family. He made it known that his family was all that was important to him.
I truly miss him. I miss his hugs. I miss his smile. I miss his playing cards. I now found myself crying when I pray because he is no longer on my list and it reminds me he is gone. I just miss him! But he lived a full and meaningful life. A life devoted to his family. I praise God that Grandpa knew our Savior and that I have the hope to once again see him on Resurrection Day. It hurts and its hard to have to wait for that day, but I know that the day is drawing close. OH, what a glorious day that will be!
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever. Adonai ELOHIM will wipe away the tears from every face, and he will remove from all the earth the disgrace his people suffer. For ADONAI has spoken.
Revelation 21 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."
As we have approached the middle of our "school year", it is time to evaluate what we are doing, what is working, what is not. My first instinct is to panic as we are halfway through but have not learned nearly enough! But then I remind myself that learning continues whether the calendar says we are in school or not. Technically there is no real end to our learning. As long as progress is being made, then we are successful.
Now for the details:
Bethany (12)
I have seen great improvement in Bethany's work ethic this year. She knows what is expected and gets most of her assignments done on her own. She has become more responsible with her cleaning and pet care chores. She has also become a big helper in caring for her sisters.
Academically, she is flying through 7th grade math, a grade level ahead. She has spent many hours reading and researching information on small animals. While there has been significant improvement in her spelling, we could definitely focus on getting it even better. She still needs to learn to spell many of her sight words.
Andrew (8)
Andrew has shown a softened spirit this year as he has begun to understand how his actions affect those around him. He is adjusting this year to being "in school" while the younger kids play. He is an avid reader, so for Science we have been reading Magic School Bus books. This is a double bonus as we get to snuggle up with some great books AND we are learning some great science. He has been slow to write and still has plenty work to do, but has shown some improvement. I will start teaching him to type and practice his letters and numbers with free printable Kindergarten handwriting sheets I found online. Shhh... he doesn't have to know that. It is all about progress, not grade levels.
Emily (6)
I did not start formal lessons so early with Andrew, but she is ready. She showed no interest in learning to read early in the year but would follow along in our hymnal at church each Sunday. Now she is reading everything she sees except for books not written by Dr. Seuss. Emily is my child that will do it when she sees fit to do it. She has taken a liking to clipboards, so I am able to put a couple worksheets with writing or math on one and she works diligently. I think it makes her feel important! One thing I need to work on with Emily is her independence. She still wants me to do absolutely everything for her, and nobody else's help with do.
Lily (4)
Lily has been the easiest preschooler I have had. She has always been very good about entertaining herself or lying down across my lap and falling asleep during our school time. She is only four, but has recently decided she wants to do "her school". She doesn't come every day, but when she does, she joins in, does her worksheets that I give her, and proudly displays her work afterward. She is beginning to read letter sounds and put together matching words. Lily is the opposite of Emily in that she wants to do EVERYTHING by herself and adamantly refuses any help. This makes for lots of messes, but she is making the effort to grow up.
That wraps up my mid year evaluation. Surely it is easier to guide their learning after looking at where they have come from, what they have accomplished, and where they need to go. It is time to press forward and let the learning continue!
At Christmas time, people sing the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," but few know of the rich Christmas symbols behind the words of the song. They often think that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as the days preceding the Christmas holiday. In reality, Epiphany is the time of the Christian celebration that starts December 25 and lasts until January 6, a duration of 12 days. This marks the Church's celebration of Jesus as the Light of the world and its remembrance of the pilgrimage of the three wise men.
Beginning December 25 until January 6, each day was a part of the Christmas celebration. As a time to show mercy and compassion, each day was spent by doing selfless acts of giving and loving generosity. Other cultures show that gift giving was not entirely done on a single day, but in fact, as the carol goes, spread throughout the entire Christmas season. The Church in England was prohibited from practicing their faith openly or in private from 1558 until 1829. It was then that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song was written to be sung in public without fear of imprisonment. It became a type of catechism. The words to the song are an allegory with two meanings: the literal meaning and the figurative meaning known only to Christian followers.
Each word in the song represents something in a religious context. God is represented as "true love." "Me" symbolizes the members called upon to receive these gifts as a Christian. The partridge in a pear tree given on the first day as a symbol of Jesus Christ coming to save mankind.
Try and discover the meaning of the remaining days as you go over the words to the song:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
How did you do?
____________________
Copyright Stephen Beck, 2009
You have permission to reprint this article as long as you don't make any changes and include the bio below.
But life got in the way and I woke up this morning realizing my surgery is tomorrow morning.
I've had a lot of peace.
Until today.
But time with HIM this morning gave me back my peace and put my focus on HIM and not my circumstances.
Keeping my focus on HIM is harder today than it has been. My tummy is a little up and downsy!
Ok, now I'm making up words.
Pray for me.
Surgery is at 8am to remove left ovary. A biopsy will be done. If all is well I get a few stitches and come home to recover. If not, it's a more involved surgery and a two-three day hospital stay.
Education is not just sitting in a schoolhouse.
Education is learning, and that can be done
anytime and anywhere - as long as the mind is willing."
~ Mentor Graham
I am
"Dianna is a self assured, independent thinker whose rational thought processes are best utilized when she is teaching or philosophizing; as she is a developer of people and ideas with a compassionate, caring and generous approach to selfless behavior patterns. She has a high degree of untapped creativity, and tends to be hard working when it comes to worthwhile causes. A leader that will never admit her leadership expertise." ~ Jim (husband)
The man has a family, a house payment, and bills just like we do and we make it just fine on little more than minimum wage at a part time job!! It just really irks me that this happens all the time!!! And he's not the only one. I have a couple of family members who brings home in one week what we make all month. This one has only two kids compared to my 4, but still has rent and such. His wife is now working part time to help meet their bills, and all I hear is complaining about how hard it is to make it! Just makes me wanna scream!! Here we are making it on something that puts us way below the poverty level and yet we are still making bills and other things. It's just so unbelievable what people think they have to make!! I guess it just goes to show you can't buy happiness. We are doing wonderful here, well, enough to get by with anyway. We may not go and do all kinds of running around, and shopping but we are fine. We have yet to turn the heat on this year either. I realize that it's almost December but if we can feel comfortable in sweats and long sleeves why use the heat if it's not neccessary!!! We have learned real quick what we think we need and what we really do need. I have found that a lot of our "needs" have actually been wants and we can survive without them! Imagine that!! I don't really need a new vacuum when my old one still works and then again, I do have a broom that will suffice! We only have one room with carpet in it so a new vacuum is not a necessity. I guess my rant it over! I just need to get that off my chest!! 
Yes, this is a shameless plug on behalf of my familia...I'm sure y'all have heard that the Home School Blog Awards are going on... if not... they are. :) Well I would like to present to you where my votes are going...
