Dec. 16, 2009
Countries of the world I've been to.
I'm carrying on the theme of pointless blogging and posting another map. This time it is of all the countries of the world I have been to. 
Not as impressive as the last map but still not bad for a little girl from New Jersey, huh? LOL!
So, where have you been? And Shani, I would LOVE to add Arizona to the map! I'm kind of hoping that when you move it will be one of the states that I've already managed - that way there is a greater chance of getting there next time we fly in! 
Gotta go, cookies to bake!
visited 13 states (5.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World
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Dec. 16, 2009
In Greenville
Sorry for the lack of updates - I didn't have internet access in the Abbeville hospital.
It's about 1 in the morning right now. Noah was transferred to Greenville Children's Hospital by ambulance from Abbeville about an hour ago, and we are waiting to see the doctors here. While Noah's strep seems to be resolved, he appears to have an infection around his central line. This is a serious enough issue to require transfer to this much larger hospital.
Noah is looking OK - he does not appear really sick at all. Our prayer is that if there is an infection, we've caught it before it could hit his bloodstream. We are also obviously praying that this can be resolved quickly without the need for a new line.
I'll update again later when we know more and once we've gotten some sleep - hope those doctors come in soon! If you are awake and reading this now, please pray that Noah either won't need labs drawn from a vein and that if they do need to stick him that it will go easily. He's exhausted and certainly not back to baseline from his strep throat - a drawn out treatment room visit would not be tolerated well.
Blessings,
Kate
It's about 1 in the morning right now. Noah was transferred to Greenville Children's Hospital by ambulance from Abbeville about an hour ago, and we are waiting to see the doctors here. While Noah's strep seems to be resolved, he appears to have an infection around his central line. This is a serious enough issue to require transfer to this much larger hospital.
Noah is looking OK - he does not appear really sick at all. Our prayer is that if there is an infection, we've caught it before it could hit his bloodstream. We are also obviously praying that this can be resolved quickly without the need for a new line.
I'll update again later when we know more and once we've gotten some sleep - hope those doctors come in soon! If you are awake and reading this now, please pray that Noah either won't need labs drawn from a vein and that if they do need to stick him that it will go easily. He's exhausted and certainly not back to baseline from his strep throat - a drawn out treatment room visit would not be tolerated well.
Blessings,
Kate
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Dec. 15, 2009
A Christmas Card for you
I feel so unprepared this week because I am full tilt into my Christmas preparations as well as the general middle-of-the-month busy-ness, so I don't even have a comic strip to post. Never fear! I did at least get the majority of my cards in the mail, so I will post the ecards here for my online friends. I will post one today and one on Friday, that way if I still don't get my act together, I have something to put up.
Of course, crazy artist that I am, I hand colored the cards I sent out. Marina helps me with that, which is nice. I used to send out over one hundred cards, but now the list has whittled down to around fifty. I want to thank the computer and the internet for making my card sending a little easier. I scan my designs onto the computer to do finishing touches and to print. This year I also let the computer do my lettering, which saves a lot of time and frustration, especially since my pen usually decides to drip an ink blob at the final word. My husband also saves me time by printing out address labels for me. I haven't enough patience to learn this label-printing skill, and it helps him feel like he's part of the process.
Checking through the addresses this year was difficult. We suffered several losses over the past year. I find myself hesitating over the delete button. It's hard to watch another name disappear from my address book. It feels like I'm deleting a part of myself. Maybe it's just me.
Feel free to use this card. I will make it public on my Flickr account, where the original version is somewhat bigger.
Of course, crazy artist that I am, I hand colored the cards I sent out. Marina helps me with that, which is nice. I used to send out over one hundred cards, but now the list has whittled down to around fifty. I want to thank the computer and the internet for making my card sending a little easier. I scan my designs onto the computer to do finishing touches and to print. This year I also let the computer do my lettering, which saves a lot of time and frustration, especially since my pen usually decides to drip an ink blob at the final word. My husband also saves me time by printing out address labels for me. I haven't enough patience to learn this label-printing skill, and it helps him feel like he's part of the process.
Checking through the addresses this year was difficult. We suffered several losses over the past year. I find myself hesitating over the delete button. It's hard to watch another name disappear from my address book. It feels like I'm deleting a part of myself. Maybe it's just me.
Feel free to use this card. I will make it public on my Flickr account, where the original version is somewhat bigger.
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For my family it is because of the economy, I work part-time cleaning other people's houses. I really miss being home full time with kids, having all the time I need to do fun activities and experiments, but at this time working is necessary, so I am finding ways to make homeschooling work in this less than ideal situation.
Recently I have not been managing my time as well as I should, and often things have been left undone. I don't worry about it too much if its a subject like Science or History, because my kids get those subjects at co-op anyway, I mean, we still try to do them at home, but if we fall behind its not that big a deal. However, when it comes to Math and Phonics I feel it is vital to do them at least 4 days a week, and lately I've been letting phonics slip more than I'd like. Math is easy, because my little girl works well alone, and my son uses Teaching Textbooks, so I am not really needed much for that subject. However when it comes to phonics and reading, I need to be there. My son is dyslexic, and needs to do his phonics lessons regularly, he also needs my supervision to check his accuracy as he reads. This has been the issue lately when I work later than expected and return home tired. I have chosen to skip phonics a few times, and then of course feel guilty about it.
Well today, I got up at 5:30, I worked out for 1 1/2 hours, then I got ready for work and left. My husband had the kids do Math while I was gone. I didn't get home until around 4:30, and was tired and hungry, so I rested and had a small lunch. Then I rested more, I was extra tired because I am still regaining strength after being sick, I just couldn't seem to get the energy to do anything right away. Later, after I had dinner on the stove, I realized that I needed to do Phonics. So we did it then, and got done at 7:30, then we ate dinner. At least I got it done today. I know that I have to start doing this daily, no matter how tired I am, and I guess today was a good start, I showed that I can do it, even after working an extra long day while suffering fatigue from the H1N1 I recently suffered through.
So I guess the point of my post is that while its difficult, homeschooling can work even if the parent has to have an outside job, but it takes commitment and perseverance. It takes determination, and sometimes it takes just going through the motions to get it done, even when you don't really want to. I am sure I'll post more on this subject later, as I am trying to work out a good schedule to follow to allow me to always get the things done I need to do.
Dec. 15, 2009
Homeschooling and Working
JESUS IS COMING SOON! MARANATHA LORD!
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Hi friends, if you need to silence the music just hit the play/pause button on the player in the right sidebar, just below the black horse and the copyright notice.
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Being a Stay-At-Home parent is the ideal situation for homeschooling, but sadly we do not live in a ideal world, and some of us have to work outside jobs to make ends meet. This could be because of the week economy, or because someone is a single parent.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi friends, if you need to silence the music just hit the play/pause button on the player in the right sidebar, just below the black horse and the copyright notice.
***********************************************************************************
For my family it is because of the economy, I work part-time cleaning other people's houses. I really miss being home full time with kids, having all the time I need to do fun activities and experiments, but at this time working is necessary, so I am finding ways to make homeschooling work in this less than ideal situation.
Recently I have not been managing my time as well as I should, and often things have been left undone. I don't worry about it too much if its a subject like Science or History, because my kids get those subjects at co-op anyway, I mean, we still try to do them at home, but if we fall behind its not that big a deal. However, when it comes to Math and Phonics I feel it is vital to do them at least 4 days a week, and lately I've been letting phonics slip more than I'd like. Math is easy, because my little girl works well alone, and my son uses Teaching Textbooks, so I am not really needed much for that subject. However when it comes to phonics and reading, I need to be there. My son is dyslexic, and needs to do his phonics lessons regularly, he also needs my supervision to check his accuracy as he reads. This has been the issue lately when I work later than expected and return home tired. I have chosen to skip phonics a few times, and then of course feel guilty about it.
Well today, I got up at 5:30, I worked out for 1 1/2 hours, then I got ready for work and left. My husband had the kids do Math while I was gone. I didn't get home until around 4:30, and was tired and hungry, so I rested and had a small lunch. Then I rested more, I was extra tired because I am still regaining strength after being sick, I just couldn't seem to get the energy to do anything right away. Later, after I had dinner on the stove, I realized that I needed to do Phonics. So we did it then, and got done at 7:30, then we ate dinner. At least I got it done today. I know that I have to start doing this daily, no matter how tired I am, and I guess today was a good start, I showed that I can do it, even after working an extra long day while suffering fatigue from the H1N1 I recently suffered through.
So I guess the point of my post is that while its difficult, homeschooling can work even if the parent has to have an outside job, but it takes commitment and perseverance. It takes determination, and sometimes it takes just going through the motions to get it done, even when you don't really want to. I am sure I'll post more on this subject later, as I am trying to work out a good schedule to follow to allow me to always get the things done I need to do.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Latest baby updates on facebook...
Just to let you know... I will be giving the latest updates on our new facebook group... so feel free to join and hear the latest on when the newest addition (who WAS due the 13th) will FINALLY decide to enter the world! :)
Click on the following link: THE VERLENNICH BABY'S COMIN'!
Click on the following link: THE VERLENNICH BABY'S COMIN'!
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Dec. 15, 2009
For today.....
Outside my window: cold, cold, cold! The sun was shining so that's good. But looks are deceiving....warmer tomorrow hopefully....
I am thinking: how hungry I am getting, need to get supper going.
I am thankful for: the Christmas season! And for the means to bless our family with a little more than usual this year.
I am wearing: the infamous jean skirt again! Ha ha! And a striped sweater and pink socks.
I am reading: a hilarious book called Fancy Pants. A girl has to dress up as a boy until she turns 18 to avoid being sent back to an arranged marriage. Of course she ends up on a ranch and the men decide she needs to be taught to be a man!
I am hoping: I get my house cleaned thoroughly this week.
I am praying: for a new convert (named Savannah) at church
Around the house: uh....do you want to know?? at least I decorated for Christmas today!
From the kitchen: nothing right now--we'll see what happens shortly! I need a magic wand!
One of my favorite things: reading by the fireplace on these cold evenings.
From the learning rooms: Yes, we are still having school! Today we focused on the 3 R's and called it good though.
I am hearing: mostly silence, children are reading or playing a computer game
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And yes, we do have another snowsquall warning.... but today the snow has been falling steadily with everything from huge flakes to small ones. Right now it is coming almost straight down, and it looks so very pretty!
A lot of last week's snow actually melted, with temperatures being above freezing for a couple of days. However we got enough, that the only places you actually see bare ground is on the roads.
Life otherwise has been moving along as rapidly as usual, but relatively smoothly. We're still doing school at the moment, and won't be taking off until just before our visitor arrives next week. Then school will be rather hit-and-miss for a few weeks with holidays and birthdays just around the corner.
Evenings have been quite fun for me, although I am missing my regular walks. I've been making headway on listening to old conference audios, and working on my cross-stitch. I took out the portion that I made a counting mistake on, and re-did it, and now it is coming along nicely. It is amazing how easy it is, once you've figured out where the mistake is. I have taken to coloring in my chart (a copy of the original) after I've stitched an area. I just started last night. Not sure whether it is due to my age, possibly needing new glasses, or just that this chart is more difficult to follow than the many I have used before. I have found it very frustrating at times, and made many more errors than I usually do.
Time to get back to afternoon lessons.
Dec. 15, 2009
Gentle Snowfall
And yes, we do have another snowsquall warning.... but today the snow has been falling steadily with everything from huge flakes to small ones. Right now it is coming almost straight down, and it looks so very pretty!A lot of last week's snow actually melted, with temperatures being above freezing for a couple of days. However we got enough, that the only places you actually see bare ground is on the roads.
Life otherwise has been moving along as rapidly as usual, but relatively smoothly. We're still doing school at the moment, and won't be taking off until just before our visitor arrives next week. Then school will be rather hit-and-miss for a few weeks with holidays and birthdays just around the corner.
Evenings have been quite fun for me, although I am missing my regular walks. I've been making headway on listening to old conference audios, and working on my cross-stitch. I took out the portion that I made a counting mistake on, and re-did it, and now it is coming along nicely. It is amazing how easy it is, once you've figured out where the mistake is. I have taken to coloring in my chart (a copy of the original) after I've stitched an area. I just started last night. Not sure whether it is due to my age, possibly needing new glasses, or just that this chart is more difficult to follow than the many I have used before. I have found it very frustrating at times, and made many more errors than I usually do.
Time to get back to afternoon lessons.
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My toddler was NOT playing in the toilet this morning.
I did NOT think his hands were wet from the dog water, and hold him on my lap for awhile.
It was NOT half hour later when I heard the splash splash and realized he was playing in the toilet.
I did NOT suddenly realize why his hands were wet earlier.
I did NOT discover it was actually an unflushed toilet ... and he did NOT have two toothbrushes in his hands.
I did NOT loudly exclaim that he should NOT be putting 14 yo A's and 12 yo R's toothbrushes in the toilet.
They did NOT hear me, as I did NOT intend ... and they did NOT become very grossed out.
It was NOT actually the 1 yo and 3yo's toothbrushes instead of theirs, and I was NOT teasing them.
I did NOT enjoy hearing them say Eeewwww !!
Click on the banner to visit My Charming Kids blog to see what others are NOT doing today (as soon as she makes the post for others to link up with today).
Trusting In Him,
April
Dec. 14, 2009
Not Me Monday -- Toddler Style
My toddler was NOT playing in the toilet this morning.
I did NOT think his hands were wet from the dog water, and hold him on my lap for awhile.
It was NOT half hour later when I heard the splash splash and realized he was playing in the toilet.
I did NOT suddenly realize why his hands were wet earlier.
I did NOT discover it was actually an unflushed toilet ... and he did NOT have two toothbrushes in his hands.
I did NOT loudly exclaim that he should NOT be putting 14 yo A's and 12 yo R's toothbrushes in the toilet.
They did NOT hear me, as I did NOT intend ... and they did NOT become very grossed out.
It was NOT actually the 1 yo and 3yo's toothbrushes instead of theirs, and I was NOT teasing them.
I did NOT enjoy hearing them say Eeewwww !!
Click on the banner to visit My Charming Kids blog to see what others are NOT doing today (as soon as she makes the post for others to link up with today).
Trusting In Him,
April
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Monday, December 14, 2009
A First Corinthians Christmas
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
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Dec. 14, 2009
Map of states I've been to
This was kind of fun and pointless - so I did it! I've had such a ridiculous week last week that I needed to do something pointless, if you know what I mean?
So here is a map of all the states in the USA that I have been to. Not bad since it covers over half the states in the USA. Since I have lived outside the states for almost 16 years this is quite an accomplishment!
visited 27 states (54%)
Create your own visited map of The United States