Well, we went to my parent's house for Thanksgiving.  Things went pretty well.  My oldest brother only made me cry once.  My dear husband said he was surprised it took so long before it happened.  Being the youngest of a very screwed up family is not easy, even as an adult.  It would just be nice if each of my family members could be civil for just a few hours.  Oh well.  The children had a good time and it really could have and has been worse.  Being with my family just makes it clear to me that I'm doing the right thing by raising my children so differently than the way my parents did it.  It is wonderful to have such a supportive husband, when I know he would rather be anywhere but around "the in-laws".  Thank you, sweetie.  I love you!  You complete me.

Our two older boys have been doing a Bible study/Club since August.  It is called Children's Quizzing and we are studying the book of Acts.  There are two levels, red for the younger children or those new to quizzing and blue for older children.  Well I was going to start the boys off on red and move them up if it was to easy, but my friend running it said it would be easier to move down than up.  So, Saturday was our first competition and our church took first place.  This is a proud moment, it being the first time our church did this and there were 7 or 8 other chuches there.  Now the main point of quizzing is to learn the Bible.  The children quiz as individuals and get awarded by the percentage of answers they get correct.  The neat thing is everyone answers every question, it's not a race to the buzzer or anything like that, so the children are really just seeing how well they do.  Then if your church has 4 blue quizzers you can also quiz as a team if you want to.  Then someone from the team gets to answer a bonus question after every fifth question.  At the end of the quiz the total individual point are added to the bonus points and that gives you your team score.  I was so surprised that we took first, I was told we did good and might have placed so be ready to recieve a trophy.  Then after they announced third place then second place, I thought oh well, we did good anyhow it being our first quiz.  Then they called first place and our church name, I was shocked!  The kids were beside themselves and to be honest so was I.  Though I have had to remind them all to be humble and that without God we could not have done this.  Thank you God, for this wonderful way for the children to memorize your Word.  May they never forget what they are learning about You. 

Zachary lost his first tooth, one week before his 8th birthday.  Today, Ethan lost his first tooth, one day before Zachary's 9th birthday.  Though with help from Zachary.  It really was quite funny.  Ethan was proud of his loose bottom tooth and yesterday at Grandma's showed it to her.  She told Ethan that he had to eat waffles since that was what Zachary lost his first tooth on.  Well, Ethan came running to me this morning saying "I lost my loose tooth, I lost my loose tooth".  I asked what he lost it on and he said, "Zachary's fist".  Then I saw it.  It was not his loose tooth but a top tooth.  It must have been a bit loose but you could tell that it really was not quite ready to come out.  Now just for you folks who think that I allow too much violence, they were just wrestling, Zachary did not actually punch his brother.  Though he has been telling Ethan since then that if he wants, he''ll gladly knock out his real loose tooth.  Brother's, you've got to love them!

Well, that's all for now.  Bye.

We had a wonderful and educational vacation.  While we were in Nags Head we did the Junior Ranger Program for The Wright Brothers, Cape Hateras, and Fort Raleigh.  The boys loved it and it really stuck to their little minds.  They keep bringing up little bits of information they picked up while there.  I am very pleased.

We got back from the nice warm beach early early early Saturday morning.  Just to get frozen at the boys rainy football game.  They won and had a great time and I was thankful to get into the truck and turn on the seat warmer.  How did I ever suvive without that nifty invention?

Well, we must get back to school.  Have a great day!

Choosing to be a single income family comes with far more rewards than hinderances.  As you all know.  Well one of the things we don't have the money to do, is to take a family vacation.  God is bigger than any stumbling block put in our way and that includes the cost of a vacation.  We are going to Nags Head for a week!  God have blessed us with a huge beach house during our favorite time of year.  We have dear friends that own it and rent it out year-round.  Knowing that we don't go on vacations they asked what our last vaction was.  We informed them it was two years ago at their beach house.  They said, "well why don't you go this year too".  Hurray!  God is so good.  Thank you, Steve and Gay.

Now if that doesn't sound like autumn, I don't know what does. 

I am very excited about this time of year.  It is my favorite time of year.  The big boys have had a couple football practices and it has been raining the past few days.  I know, I know, I am probably the only person alive that gets thrilled at this type of weather.  But it's not really today's weather but what fall holds for me, that really excites me.  I am happy to do school with the boys, to hear the leaves rustle under foot, to smell the wonderful smells of autumn, etc. 

I hope everybody takes a moment to just, enjoy.  We even had hot cocoa this morning.  No, it wasn't that cold.  We just enjoyed having it, together.  Now, I'm going to crack open some new school books.  He he he, so fun!

We (my husband and I) are going to a leadership retreat for our church.  This has been planned since April.  I made sure that there was someone to watch the children during our trip but, oh no, the dogs!  Every place that boards is full and friends or friends of friends are already booked with other commitments.  I was able to find two different people to take the Huskies but it looked for a long time that the Husky/mutt puppy had no place to go.  Well I am happy to report that my husband's boss is an animal lover and has agreed to take her.  That certainly makes me happy, because it looked like I might be going on this retreat alone.  We are a team with what we do at church and I just felt it important to go together, not to mention that three days alone with my husband (no children) seems very inviting.  I'm sure that by the time we're back we will really be missing our little guys.

Until next time,

For years now, my church has been doing a summer fellowship.  We get together on a weekly basis and bring something for the grill for your family and a side to share with everyone.  The event is hosted by a family on the east side of the county and one on the west side.  So, if you don't mind to travel and can't stay away from good food and fellowship, you can do both!  That's two meals a week you don't have to cook.  We usually commit to one and visit the other a few times during the season.

Last night was the kickoff and we had a great time.  It was so nice to just have a relaxing time with friends.  No rushing around, just good food, friends, and fellowship.  Now what will we bring next week?  

My mother is having a hard time right now.  Her memory has been bad for the last several years.  Her mother had Alzhiemer's and she has always said that she was going to get it.  Well, it looks like Mom was right.  It is very frustrating for me, she doomed and gloomed for so long about it, that she didn't enjoy her life.  Nobody knows what the future holds and it just bothered me that she was always consumed over the what if......  I am helping my dad take care of her but this is quite a feet as I live 2 1/2 hours from them.  So, several times a week I am on the road for 5 hours.  I am tired already and this is in the very early stages.  I have to set up bondaries with Dad.  He would gladly have me handle everything, but I just can't.  I have my husband and three boys to love and take care of, I can't forget about them.  My parents had lived in the same house for 33 years and just moved to their dream farm a year and a half ago.  If this gets really bad, Dad is going to have to move back closer to me.  It is impossible for me to go there on a daily basis.  If you have every had to care for an Alzhiemer patient, your suggestions are welcome.  Also, if you feel the desire to pray for me and my family, please do.  Thank you.

I had a great weekend.  My dear husband was even off on Friday.  We did a lot of yardwork/gardening things.  Though there is still more that needs to be done.  I am looking forward to it being completed.  This morning we saw an Orchard Oriole in our garden, it was beautiful and I am hoping to see more unique birds this year.  So, with nice things happening and good things in the future, why am I so down.

There are exciting things happening at our church, we are having new growth and new believer on a weekly basis.  Yesterday, we had eight people, children and adults, baptised.  It was so wonderful.  My husband and I work with the children's church (grades K-5) and are very active and feel blessed to be a part of this ministry.  We are not just Sunday Christians, we take our relationship with Christ very seriously and try to live as God would have us.  Sure, we are human and make mistakes, but I earnestly seek to do the will of God.  So, what is wrong with me?  Why do I feel so alone when I know that the Creator of all things is constantly with me? 

Maybe I just seek approval of other's too much.  Maybe I look for reasons to get offended.  But so often I feel invisible.  No, I am not looking for awards or that type of recognition.  My rewards are in Heaven, where they belong.  I just feel that people don't care to hear me, that I should just smile and live my life.  That, yes, friends want my company but don't want to respect me as another adult.  I am sure some of this stems from my childhood and how I was treated then.  I geuss I should just get over it and realize that most people just don't have manners or respect for eachother anymore.  Sad, but true.  I know I am guilty of it at times.  Lord, help me improve.

Well, the boys finished their state required test for homeschoolers.  I am so glad.  My husband has testing anxiety and pushes it on to me.  I then have to try my best to keep the boys calm about the fact that this is something we just have to do.  I was told they did fine by the tester though we don't get the results till summer.  Ethan actually asked the tester why the test was so easy.  Zachary did ok on the reading part, not great, but ok.  That was anticapated as he just started really  getting reading.  Overall, I think my husband made it through this difficult time without too much loss of sleep.

Today was the Homeschool Easter Party.  Everyone had a good time and even a few laughs.  One of the ladies has an aversion to green.  That being said, we all have to give her a hard time about it whenever we can.  Today, there were homemade marshmellows, colored, you geussed it, GREEN.  Now, green being my favorite color, I was quite happy with them.  Some unspoked person refused to eat them.

Well, each year there is a lemonaid stand with the proceeds going to a mission.  So, out comes the lemonaid.  I get a cup, and it's PINK!  Now that is just wrong.  All the ladies try to convince me there really are pink lemons.  And one even said she thinks the pink tastes better.  Right, maybe I'll start using red food dye as a seasoning.  I dutifully downed said lemonaid, which is more than I can say for Mrs. I Don't Eat Green Anything.

So, I really am just as wierd as our green phobic friend. 

Our second son's birthday is around the corner and I don't know what to do.  Growing up, my family did not have birthday parties.  Possibly because of the cost, possibly because my parents were alcoholics and didn't like to deal with poeple.  Whatever the reason, I find myself dreading the thought of planning a party.  I geuss I try to please all of the people all of the time, an accomplishment I logically know is impossible.  Everything I think of doing, will not work with everybodies schedule, diet, location, whatever.  I know that I should focus on my son and not on other issues, but it all ultimately effects HIS day.  I trust everthing will work itself out, but in the mean time, I'm stressed!

My second son is a natural reader.  Unfortunatly my oldest has had a little bit of a hard time really getting it.  He had convinced himself that he couldn't do it.  Though I would hear him reading signs and other 2-3 word phrases, when he thought nobody was listening.  So, I kept encouraging him and he finally started reading with me when the rest of the family was out of earshot.  A few weeks ago he started to read to Daddy.  And yesterday, for the first time he read to Grandma.  It's great!  He just needed to realize we all make mistakes from time to time (hard to figure out when you are surrounded by perfect people, ya right) and that the important thing was to try and when you make a mistake, correct yourself.  Now he joyfully reads instead of complaining about it.  I am a happy Mommy!

Oh, my!  I can't believe it has been so long since my last post.  I have been very busy just trying to keep the house running and school going.  I have popped on from time to time to peek in at friend's blogs but have not taken the time to actually post anything myself.  And of course there goes the baby waking up from his nap, long before he should be.  I'll try back later.

A little bit ago, I went to vent about that fact that perfect strangers will come up to me and appologize that I have three boys and no girls.  It really frustrated me one day and I had to restrain myself from blowing up at one woman one day.

Looking back at it, I have learned to be sad for these people.  I never complain about my guys.  They are great!  They are children, hence the do childish things, but the are good boys.  They are honest, loving, sweet children.  It is a shame that people can't love a child for who they are but only for what sex they are.  Furthermore, to go up to someone you don't know and make comments like that.  I geuss some people have to see things negatively.

As for me, I am thankful for the boys God has blessed me with.  Maybe I'll be blessed with more someday, who knows.

Thank you for praying.  Tests show that both were uneffected by the disease. 

A friend of mine, who is pregnant with her 1st child has been exposed to measles.  I don't have much information, just that the desease can cause birth defects in the 3rd trimester, which is where she's at in the pregnancy.  Her name is Wendy and she is having a little girl, if you could, pray for God's protection on mother and baby.

Yesterday I needed to vent, so I started blogging then got called away from the computer for an hour or so.  When I got back and finished the rather lengthy entry then went to post it, my stinking DSL connection got lost.    

So now I feel the double need to vent.  Though that would take too much time and I would probably just lose everything I so painstakingly typed one handed.  I can wait to get this cast off.