I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my fellow homeschoolers a happy and blessed new year.  Wishing you all a year of fun and discovery, happiness and true joy.  May God grant you and your families a year to remember.  If you have had a trying 2005, leave that in the past and focus on all the wonders you are yet to encounter.

God bless you!

But it's fixed now.  Thanks to my sweet hubby.  The boys were working on the computer a few days ago then came to tell me "they blew a fuse".  When I went to check on it and I couldn't get it to work, I went to check the breaker box.  Our house is not wired smartly, you can't vacuum for example while the air conditioner is on, so I thought maybe a breaker flipped.  But no, the computer really was broken.  It turns out that the power source went bad, so David had to replace it.

It's funny, how much you feel you need something when it's taken away.  I try not to spend too much time on the computer, but I like checking my e-mail and enjoy reading my friend's blogs on a regular basis.  So now I have to go and catch up on all the blogs I've missed over the past several days. 

I am typing one-handed, can you tell?  Last Friday I went to start the truck and I fell on the ice.  I fell backwards and landed on my rear and left elbow.  I thought right away that I broke my arm.  Thankfully my husband had not left for work yet.  I called out for help and Zachary went to get David.  It was very tricky getting me up because the driveway is a solid sheet of ice and my arm was bleeding heavily.  So off to the hospital we went.  All the way there all I could think of was that we just did this a few months ago with Ethan.  When Ethan got his cast off, the doctor said, "see you next break".  Can you believe that he would curse me like that!  On top of that, Zachary meantioned that if someone broke their arm around Christmas, instead of getting a blue striped cast they could get a red and green striped cast. 

lucky me, I now have a red and green striped cast.

My loving family started making fun of my fall this weekend and I didn't see the humor in it.  Then David said "we're laughing with you", when I said "I'm not laughing" Zachary came back with "then I guess we're laughing without you".  At that I started laughing.

Well, Friday night was the annual all-night shopping trip, that I refused to miss.  I hurt a lot but had a nice time with a bunch of wonderful ladies from my homeschool group.  Then yesterday was homeschool baking day.  I wasn't able to do any baking but had nice fellowship with everyone.  It was also nice because there were plenty of moms to take care of the baby, since I can't do much right now.

Well, I have to go.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Last night the boy and I went out to dinner with a friend and her two children.  As we were eating, my friends son asks my boys what they want for Christmas.  My boys name a toy or toy them their friend asks a dreaded question.  "What are you asking Santa for?"  I quickly glared at Ethan, I am sure I looked like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car.    Ok, we don't do Santa, never have, and Ethan has a foot in mouth problem.  He doesn't try to but often says things that are better left unsaid.  I see it coming, and as I say "E, no" he is saying that Santa is dead.  I cough, I sputter, and then my friend comes to my rescue and says to her son "it's ok, they don't believe in Santa but we do".  This boy, who usually asks a million questions, said "oh, ok" and to my surprise, that was the end of it.

So I have a question to all of you that read this, and I want your honest answer, just please don't be angry, whatever your stand.  Why tell your children there is a Santa Claus?  What is there to gain?  What is there to lose?  I am not Santa phobic, we have just taught our children the true meaning of Christmas and I honestly can't see what good can come from a lie.  I do have two dear friends that just can't handle the thought of Santa at all.  It is quite funny to watch them actually.  The one starts to twitch, studders, and just loses all composer, the other one turns a deep shade of red and angerly says it's Satan not Santa and starts to pace.  That aside, please do share your thoughts.  But remember, I am not trying to stir up trouble, I know this can be a delicate issue for some.  I just want to hear what you do and most importantly why you do it.  

We did get snow last night and this morning as forcasted but we only got 3-4 inches.  They were calling for 5-7 inches.  This is great packing snow, perfect for snowmen but not quite enough for the snow fort the guys are begging their daddy to build with them this year.  Ahh, but the winter is young, still.  Plenty of time for that.

My oldest son, Zachary, is a math wizard but struggles from time to time with his letters and reading.  Well, I have always known that our second son, Ethan, was more gifted in the reading/phonics dept.  What I didn't know was that he was going to be a great speller.  I can spell ok if I write it down, but Ethan can just spit out the spelling of words like he's been doing it forever.  

I am so thankful that God has gifted my with three very wonderful little boys.  I am amazed at the blessings and joys they bring me.  Thank you God!  And thank you David for being such a great Daddy. 

We are expecting snow tonight through tomorrow and it certainly feels like it.  In this part of the country we see all types of weather.  Pretty hot summers and fairly cold winters.  Though I don't remember the snow starting before Christmas.  Sure we might get a flurry or two but we're talking late January early February weather before Christmas. 

My boys are thrilled, though it looks like gingerbread house decorating will be postponed.  The decorating was planned to be done at a church on the mountain, and not everybody can make it up the mountain.  That's ok, we will still get it done, hopefully prior to Christmas. 

"Can we go outside?", ask my boys. 

Well it's true, we got our first snow!  It wasn't much, just a couple inches.  But the boys and the huskies have been enjoying it quite alot.  In fact I don't suppose I'll see much of the dogs inside until spring.

When the boys came in the first thing they asked for was, of course, hot cocoa.  I asked if they had a good time and Zachary told me that they went sledding, made snow angels, had a snowball fight, then played armymen in the snow.  "Yes" he said, "we pretty much did it all".  I love those kids!  They are the greatest.

Well, I have to go dry soggy boots and gloves.  Hope you all are enjoying fun weather, no matter what it might be.

Every year, about this time, a group of ladies from my homeschool group gather together to bake gingerbread houses for the families in the hs group to get together and decorate.  Today was baking day, and boy, the smells were wonderful.  It really got me geared up for Christmas.  Next Friday is decorating day.  What fun!

Do you have something special that you do each year with your hs group?

The word schedule has scared me for I number of years.  It sounds so strict.  I know it doesn't have to be restrictive but that's just how I hear it. 

My husband has always told me that a schedule would do me good but everytime I try one, if I don't get everything done at the exact time noted, I feel like a failure.  Lately, we have had so many distractions (Dr. appointments, sick family members, pets, friends, baby, baby, baby) that I feel like I'm getting nothing done.

So, I think a schedule would be a good thing, I just don't know how to make it actually work. 

I know I haven't posted in some time now, but this is why, I haven't been home in over a week.  Unfortunately I was not on a vacation and I did not get that much needed sleep.  Instead I have been sleeping or at least trying to sleep in a chair next to my baby's crib in the hospital.

On Sunday, October 30th after trying really hard to make it till Monday(I planned to take Bryce in to the pediatricians first thing Monday morning) we went to the emergency room.  Bryce had been having a fever and until then, I was able to keep it somewhat under control.  He started crying unconsolably and we knew that it just couldn't wait.

After many hours of poking and prodding we were transfered to a different hospital, with better pediatrics doctors.  His white blood count was around 40,000 and I was told it should be about 15,000 for his age.  YIKES!  His blood count started to reduce after being on IV antibiotics and within a few days were back to normal range.  But then his plaitlets became too high.  The doctors said we should be able to go home, Sunday afternoon.  His plaitlets had gone down some by Sunday but they felt it waould be better to stay until morning to see if they go down anymore.  Well, they went up instead.  So, Monday morning they said we needed to stay maybe a few more days.  I was really broken up to hear this, since it was my oldest's birthday, and he had prayed to God that the best gift he could get was to have Bryce and Mommy home for his birthday.  So, we resigned ourselves to a longer stay.  Then, late in the afternoon after a number of more tests and specialists, they decide that Bryce could go home and be treated out-patient with his regular pediatrician. 

God is awesome, His timing is perfect.  We had accepted the fact that we were there for the long haul and God chose to answer a little boy's prayer.  It was wonderful to be with the family for Zachary's birthday.  Thank you, God!  This would have been the third "big" disappointment in one week for Zachary and although he was staying tough, it was tearing me apart to not be in control of these things and make things "right" for him.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I ask everyone to please pray for continued healing for Bryce.  He is already acting happier just being home.  And me, ahh, back to normal, my life might be far from normal in many peoples standards but it's the only normal I know.  Rest, no I don't see that coming anytime soon, but I'm home!

Yes, I know it comes with having a little baby.  I am a veteran of a 15 month war with sleeplessness.  My second child had a number of health issues as a baby and was up every 2-3 hours until he was 15 months old.  This is not as bad, and for that I am greatful.

I have had a head-cold for 2 weeks now, and the baby is flirting with trying to get it also.  So, he has been a little more needy and I am too tired to deal with it.  When the baby is not waking me up for something, I am up with a coughing fit.  When I turn to dh to help in the middle of the night, he gets grumpy.  He doesn't try to and doesn't remember being grumpy when morning comes.  I geuss he is mostly asleep when doing these things.  So, I don't want to bother him because I don't like confrontation and I also realize he has to functon for work the next day. 

Well, now my husband has the cold as does my 7 year old.  The only one who is well, is the 6 year old.  So, yes, I need sleep.  And no, it doesn't look like I'm going to get it.  I am thankful to have a family to share this cold with though.  I just pray it goes away soon.  Well, I am going over to Kathie's site to get a cup of coffee before I fall asleep on the keyboard.    

How do you like the new look of my blog?  It isn't finished yet, but I am quite excited by the results thus far.  You see, I am a computer idiot.  I don't have the patience to deal with a nonliving object that is smarter than me.  So I have not tried to learn much of the computer ins and outs.  As a result, I have had a generic weblog page.  Until now.

I have asked my husband a few times if he could look at my blog the the blog of others, to compare and see what they have done.  Well, last night I mentioned it again and David went to his book shelf and handed me a book on teaching yourself html 4 in 24 hours.  I said "thank you, but I don't have a spare 24 hours hanging around to learn whatever html 4 is, to make my blog a little pretty".   Then David glanced at other blogs and saw what some had done to theirs.  Well, he started fiddling with it and you see the results.  It got rather late and I had to get to bed so we had to stop.  More changes are up and coming not to mention the gross but humorous song he wants to add as a tribute to all fathers.  Maybe gross is too strong a word, lets just say you wouldn't want to sing it at the dinner table or out in public.  But it is fine if your family appreciates a goofie moment or two.

That said, I must go and do something productive.  Have a great day. 

Zachary will be 8 years old in less than two weeks.  He has of yet to lose a tooth.  Well last night as he was brushing his teeth he noticed a wiggle.  He is so excited he can't stand it.  We got to the dentist next week for the boys 6 month cleaning/check-up, what timing.  He is all questions, will it hurt when it falls out, how long before the new tooth comes in, will it bleed, and my favorite how much is my tooth worth?

How much is his tooth worth?  A good question.  A question I don't have an answer for.  Hubby and I have to do some quick thinking on this one. 

We don't do the tooth fairy or any other commercialized lies with our children.  A fact that both mine and my husbands parents cring at.  They figure it didn't harm us and "everybody" else does it.  We have a personal conviction that telling our children that these fantasies are truth, is wrong.  I am not trying to say what others should do with their precious little ones.  It's just us.  Our concern is that one day when the truth comes out, they will question our integrety.  Would they question the truth of the living Savior they cannot see, when the big guy in the red suit that was seen each year is nothing but a lie.  Sorry, I am about to get on a soap box and that is not my intent.  So, now we consider the value of the first lost tooth.  Any suggestions?

Ethan had to go back to the orthopedic surgeon for a check up on his arm.  They x-rayed it and saw that it is healing fine.  Yeah!  They gave him a new cast, which made him a very happy little boy.  You see, his other cast was suppose to glow-in-the-dark.  It did not.  So, the doctor said he deserved a special cast.  He gave him a glow-in-the-dark cast with blue stripes.  A cast to be proud of.  Then the doctor turned off all the lights to test it and it worked.  Ethan's statement was "cool, now that's a glow-in-the-dark cast"!  Simple pleasures. 

My dryer is fixed, at least temporarily.  A very cute repairman(my husband) came home last night and fixed it.  It was amazing to watch him work, so scientific.  No, he didn't get the hammer out.  All he did was crank all the knobs back and forth the pushed the start button.  Sure enough, it started.  Now if I would have done that, it would not have worked.  He said that it needs a new switch and then should work ok.  So I don't get a new dryer but I also don't get another bill that needs to be paid.

I am going over next months theme for children's church-GRATITUDE.

I think of myself as a pretty thankful person, as a general rule.  But then I do find myself complaining also.  God is constantly working with me, molding me.  I pray that I stay flexable to allow the Master's hands to do their work.

There is a song for the kids to learn saying that gratitude is an attitude and looks good on you and me.  Oh, how true.  When you are not greatful and thankful for all He has done, you don't look as good.  I look in the mirror on a greatful day and I am pleased with what I see.  On days when I put ME first and God somewhere after that, I just don't look good. 

I am truly blessed to be able to work with a large group of kids each Sunday.  I hope I touch their lives as much as they touch mine.  And I am greatful that my Heavenly Father, my Daddy, my Abba Father is willing to love me even when I feel unlovable. 

Our microwave started making a very loud, strange noise yesterday.  So, out I went to get a new one.  I am not complaining, the last one was over 15 years old.  It did its job and did it well through tons of abuse.

Today, I check the dryer to make sure the clothes got completely dry(it not uncommon to have to run the dryer twice, it's OLD).  I went to restart it and nothing.  I pushed the button again, nothing.  I must not have closed the door all the way.  Oh, yes I did.  The breaker must have flipped.  No, it didn't.  Then I came to the realization.  MY DRYER IS BROKE!  Did I mention that it was old.  So why did it take me by surprise that it had actuallty died?  The clues were all there that it was going.  Yesterday I had to run it off four times to get the load dry.  I geuss my head cold is clouding my thinking, I don't know.  Well this weekend my darling hubby and I are going out to get a new washer and dryer.  He mentioned line drying them and my mouth hit the floor.  You see, I am not gifted in the laundry department.  It is not uncommon for the couch to be full of clean laundry that needs to be folded.  I told him that if he thought I would do better if I had to line dry them, he might be wearing wet clothes to work one day.  He agreed and decided buying a new one was a fine idea.

Looking forward to dry clothes.  Until next time.  Have a nice day.

If you have not read my entry called "Wisdom" from my husband, go back and read that before reading this.

I thought everybody would get a kick out of the lastest diaper happenings in this house.  So, my dear sweet frugal husband has out smarted the diaper manufacturer.  "Let no one jip us out of eight diapers!" 

The day following the size 1 diaper purchase I am looking for stray diapers in the bottom of the diaper bag and anywhere else one might be hiding.  I am determind to return the unopened package for the needed size 2.  Hubby comes home from work and sees the diapers, still in the same spot as the night before and in his wisdom states, "you are not going to use those diapers, are you?"  Need I answer him?  So, I give him a look.  He laughs then says "honey, they really aren't THAT small, it's not like we have to get out the duct tape."

We go out to the store not that night but the following night so, needless to say, I have opened that pack of diapers.  While shopping, David brings over a package of size 2s and places them in the cart.  Again, a LOOK.  Hubby says very innocently, "What!  We'll need them sooner or later". 

So, here I am changing a blasted too small diaper and who comes and sweetly looks over my shoulder.  That's right!  You guessed it, HIM.  As I struggle, he kisses me on the cheek and says, get this, "why don't you open the size 2 diapers?"

I then throw a balled up dirty diaper at him and say, "why don't you just get me the duct tape?"  ha ha ha  

So beware anyone who tries to con my frugal husband out of 8 diapers.  He will not put up with it.  By the way, I have 28 size 1 diapers if anyone would like them.   

Oh, Julie I almost forgot, David tried not to laugh at your comment about the size of men's underwear, but of course he did!  That was classic, thanks.

We had a very nice night out and a delicious dinner at a place called Tuscarora Mill.  The atmosphere was nice and the food was wonderful.  We didn't even have our children with us.  No, there were no screaming babies but it was homecoming for one of the local schools, which we didn't know in advance.  But, all in all the 26 teenagers at 4 separate were well behaved.  Though one table did get a bit loud at one point.  For the most part they were all trying to act all grown up. 

A good time was had by all.  The food was out of this world, delicious.  It was funny, looking at all the dining awards as we were going in.  The place to eat, the place for fine wines, the place to meet, and one of my favorites... the place to be seen.  I don't know about you but when I go out with my honey the last thing I care about is "being seen".  But wouldn't you know it, we were.  A couple we hadn't seen since we moved to West Virginia(3 1/2 years), were seated at the table next to ours shortly after we arrived.  It was nice to run in to them again and do a quick catch up on each others lives.

After a very relaxed dinner we walked around town for a while.  Then went and had a cup of pumpkin pie spice coffee.  We sat and talked and talked some more before we finally went to retreive our children. 

What a blessing it was just to be alone together.

My day did improve.  I got a little rest, not a true nap, but I rested for about an hour and felt refreshed.  I was also able to get a few things done around the house, which always lifts my mood.  Our church has started a 6 week church-wide Bible study and last night was our first small group.  It was nice to get out and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Please continue to pray for my brother and sis-in-law.  My brother is very upset but they are going to try and work things out, again.  These two really need God.  My sister-in-law called me this morning and basically spilled her guts and asked if I hated her.  I don't.  I just get frustrated with her, but I don't hate her.

I woke up with a sore throat.  I think the baby might have one also because he acts like he wants to nurse then fusses when he does.

EXCITING NEWS!  My sweetie is taking my out on Saturday night for my birthday.  I don't know where we are going but he made me try on some of my dresses, I still have quite a belly even though the baby is 2 months old   So it took some looking, to find one that fit.  He also took his suit to the cleaners.  I am looking forward to some time along with him.