Jul. 5, 2008 Saving for a not so rainy day...
Dd had been begging for a scooter. So I told her if she saved half the money I would pay the other half.
It took her about a month to save it up. Here it is.

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Jun. 30, 2008 My little swimmers...
We have been going to the pool a few times a week during the summer. It is paying off now.
Both kids are learning to swim. They can both doggie paddle..They call it puppy paddling.

And they can both put their faces under water now. Last year they wouldn't.

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Jun. 28, 2008 Really Hooked on Fishing...
Dh and I decided to take the boat out and go fishing together one night while the kids were in VBS.
Dh caught a nice size bass on a crankbait. And as he was trying to get him off the bait, the fish jumped and the hook flew out of the fish's mouth and into dh leg...through his jeans and hooked him.
He cut the hook off the bait and then rolled up his pants to get the hook out and it was gone. He tried unsuccessfully to get the hook to come back through the skin in his leg, but he couldn't. It was making me pretty sick to watch him.
So anyway we had to go to the emergency room. They had to take an x-ray to find the hook and then cut into him to get it out and then give him 7 stitches. He said the worst part was the shot to deaden the area. Oh and the 3 hours at the ER waiting....

He will have a scar forever now to show how hooked he really is on fishing.
It hasn't detered him though...The next night he was on the water again...Fishing!
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Jun. 26, 2008 The Kids Farm Furniture
My mother brought the kids this cute farm furniture set a few years ago. They have really enjoyed eating on it over the years. I felt it was due for a makeover and decided this week was the time to do it. Here are the before pictures. I lightly sanded the furniture down.

Here are the after pictures.

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Jun. 21, 2008 Late Spring fishing fanatics!
Here are some pictures of what we have been doing since we finished up our school year.
The kids have been fishing quite a bit with Daddy.
Our friend Gus, from Texas came to visit and he and Gary went fishing every night during his visit.
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We finished up our school year May 16th. So now we are enjoying a summer break. This is the first year
we have actually taken a summer vacation. Last year we did school year round.
This year I needed a break. I think the kids were ready for one too. So what are we doing?
Here is a partial list of things we have planned.
1. Spend a lot of time at the swimming pool. at least 2-3 times per week.
2. Play in the sprinkler alot.
3. Get a raft for the boat so we can ride on it in the lake.
4. Grill alot of food.
5. Add a roof over our upper deck.
6. Stain the deck.
7. I just finished updating the decor in the main bathroom.
8. I have steam cleaned all the carpets.
9. Work on cleaning and readying the school room for fall semester.
10. Read a few books. (Fiction)
11. Burn some bon fires and roast some marshmallows and make smores.
12. Fish, Fish, Fish.
13. Plan some playdates.
14. Attend VBS.
15. Attend some of the JR. Ranger programs. |
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Here are some picture of one of my flower beds. I had a couple of azaleas die over the last year.
I decided to replace them with a kind I just found out about. It is called an Encore Azalea and it blooms spring to fall and then the leaves turn red in the winter.
They are the ones with the pretty purple blooms.
Here DD is watering one.
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May. 24, 2008 The Trampline Mishap
DD was playing on a trampoline and she collided with another girl.That girls head his dd in the mouth, thus knocking out her front tooth.Thankfully it was already loose and due to come out anyway. She was crying alot and there was alot of blood. I don't think she will be so anxious now to play on trampolines. |
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May. 24, 2008 DD got her ears pierced.
She was so brave. She told me she wanted them pierced so I said OK.We got to the store and picked out the ear rings. Then she started whining a little sayingshe was scared. I told her she did not have to do it. We comforted her for a few minutes.The lady at the store also said she could wait if she wanted to.But she said "No, I want to but I am just kind of scared."We explained the process and then they did their count.She cried a little from the noise and she said only one side stung a little. On the other side she did not feel anything.She has been doing well, turning them several times a day and applying thesolution to them. The have not had any swelling or any pain since.
I am really happy with that. I thought they might swell a little, or hurt some afterwards. |
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May. 21, 2008 Drugs-Poor Choices-Who is really paying the price?
Over the past few days I have really had time for reflection. I have been thinking back about that night we were robbed. Today is the court date. From what I understand this is one level of court and the DA plans to ask the judge to send the case before the grand jury, which I assume has power to try him criminally and sentence him to prison. He is also in need of Drug rehabilitation. From what I understand he has had thefts prior in 2006 and 2007. In the past he received probation and a slap on the wrist and was sent back out into society.
When does it stop? Who is really paying here? If he does get prison time and drug rehabilitation. We still have to consider who is paying for this. Is he paying for his sins (punishment for his crime)?
Now if he does go to prison then he will pay, by losing some time away from his family, lose some temporary freedoms, for a short time. But then again he CHOSE this. Even if the drugs are a big reason. One has to choose to try them before they can become addicted.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am actually paying for this. Not only I, but all the people out there that go to work every day to earn money so they can provide a home for their family, pay for the health care needs of their family, try desperately to save for future college so their children can go out and do the same to make a positive influence on our culture. And we pay taxes. We pay. We pay. We pay. We have paid in time and money and in tax dollars.
In time-we paid the first week after the robbery. Closing accounts, getting new Drivers License, and Social Security cards., getting new fishing and hunting license. My dh is spending hours transferring over our bank accounts. I have spent hours calling and driving around to change the account we get many of our bills drafted from, etc. My dh has had to take time off work for many things and then again today for the trial. Not only that but his company suffers when he is not there. So even his employer loses. If another hearing is scheduled in a higher court, we will lose more time attending that trial.
We lost a week of school over it. In sleep lost-countless hours. (Little pieces of our lives-stolen)
In money- directly stolen, yes we have insurance. but homeowners insurance has a $500.00 deductible. So my camera and cell phone came up to that amount. (So we don't even get reimbursed for those items, and we had to go buy them again. ) That is $1000.00 right there. Not to mention that in my wallet were pictures of my children and I when they were both 7 months old. They were sepia toned pictures-wallet size and I cannot get them back. My little girls' diary with pictures of the family she drew-taken. They mean nothing to him, but so much to her. She actually cried over the diary and not over her Leapster he stole. My dh had a note from his daughter that said " I love and miss you daddy!" She wrote it when she was 7 years old and he has carried it in his wallet since then. He will never see that note again. She isn't 7 anymore, she is grown. A memory of her girlhood stolen.
The insurance company loses by having to pay a claim. Then you and I (we) pay again for the increase in insurance rates.
In tax dollars-you and I pay. Our tax dollars hire the police, who must come out and file the report. We pay for the detectives that have to investigate. We pay for the extra officers who spent extra time coming out into our neighborhood to patrol our streets. We pay for the jail, the courtroom, the clerks, the lawyer that represents him, the DA and the judge. We pay, we pay, we pay. We pay for the drug rehab and the prison time. He gets 3 meals a day, TV, a warm bed. We pay through donations for prison ministries that go in and try to help these people see that there can be a better way.
His family pays. They will pay by not having their son with them for a period of time. They will pay by the shame they will feel. They may pay because he is not home now to help his parents who are older. But they will also gain some relief. Perhaps the drug selling out of their home will cease. Perhaps he will actually become drug free and perhaps a prison sentence will help him have a change in heart to make a better life for himself. (But the statistics are unfavorable that will happen.)
So it all still comes down to choice. We pay for the poor choices others in society make. I know that many times people make choices and they don't realize how many people that choice can affect. We pay and pray that they will turn to Jesus and see that God loves them, he forgives them, but they must turn from evil and make good choices.
My prayer is that this young man will beat the statistics and come to trust in the Lord and be able to make good choices in the future. I pray he can be a blessing to his family and not a shame. I pray that good can come of this. I pray that he will go to prison. Perhaps there he will allow God to get his attention.
I can tell that right now he is not at all sorry for what he did. Only sorry that he got caught. Which is an even scarier place to be than jail.
So the next time you hear about a crime, someone dealing drugs, etc. Just remember WE -the people- that go to work every day to support their families, to support our churches, to support our communities through tax dollars. We are paying for it. And we wonder why we can't seem to get a new city hall built, or a street that desperately needs paving paved. We cannot seem to understand why the firefighters can't get the equipment they need, and why we can't get a library appropriate for our population.
We are paying for the poor choices people make. We pay when people choose to become part of the problem instead of part of the solution in our communities.
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May. 19, 2008 Now we shall see how the judicial system works.

I have been pre-occupied with the events from the burglary. If you have never had your home invaded while you slept through it be thankful. It is a personal violation. It is hard to believe that this man was in my home 15 feet from my son. (I imagine what might have happened if one of my children had woke up to go to the bathroom.) Thankfully nothing alarmed him and no violence occurred. But he did manage to get away with over $2000.00 worth of our stuff.
I am still not sleeping well at night. Many times I will just come in the den and sleep. I know the house is secure but I cannot get over it, and least not yet.
Wednesday morning is his day in court. From what I understand now according to the Sherrif's Dept. he has been convicted in the past for theft. In fact in 2006 and 2007 on several occasions. So this is a repeated pattern. Evidentally the lighter punishments have not done much to change his behavior patterns. I also hope he can get help with his drug problem.
Please be in prayer for him to get the help he needs, but to also get a strong enough sentence to send a message to him that change must occur. If he were to get out and repeat this, I fear for his life and the lives of others he might harm. |
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Well I am very happy to report that the theif that broke into our house has been apprehended.
They were not able to release his name to me. But the detective personally came out tonight
to let me know that he was in custody and his bond was set to high for him to be released.
He is being charged with over 20 home robberies in the area. They were able to get a confession from him. He stated that he sold stuff for whatever amounts he could get fast. Trying to get money for Rx drugs. Oxy something. Some kind of Painkillers.
It is so sad to see how the enemy has been able to trap this young man, now he has stolen his life for the next few years as well, as he will be serving time.
My prayer is that it won't be wasted and that he would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Just think, what if you did lose a little bit of stuff, but through it this man gained eternal life.
Talk about turning things around for the good. I ask others to join me in prayer for this person.
That he would experience the true life change that only Jesus can bring.
I am also greatful that we will finally be able to sleep tonight.
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May. 1, 2008 Neighborhood Watch
I have been busy over the last week with details. Over a dozen homes in our area and surrounding neighborhoods have been burglarized over night while people were at home sleeping.
The latest was last night, just down the road from me. They entered through a window that was not
locked.
We are instituting a neighborhood watch. If you live in a neighborhood and do not have signs up saying your
neighborhood participates in one, you may want to contact your local police or sherriff's dept.
They will come out and hold a meeting in your neighborhood to help educate and train the citizens on
what measures they can take.
One thing we are planning to also start is an email group to notify everyone in the neighborhood immediately if someone is robbed. Getting the communication 3 weeks later is too late. So people can get text messages on their phones, emails or phone calls to alert them. Also to let people know if there are suspicious cars in the area.
I know that many residents including myself are not getting alot of sleep, these thieves are checking doors, and windows on houses throughout the area.
It has been rough over the last week. We have stayed inside alot and kept the doors locked out of fear.
Not knowing who it is doing this.
Pray that they will catch these people before someone gets hurt.
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Apr. 28, 2008 All things Work together......
Romans 8:28
We know all things work together for good for those that love
the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
It's easy to ask "Why, God?" when bad things seem to happen.
But this time I didn't ask. I knew that God had protected our family in the midst
of a home invasion and robbery.
That morning I awoke about 3 AM and went down the hall to use the bathroom.
(I did not want to use ours and wake my husband.) I did not enter the den, but I
was only feet away. (If he was in the house then or not, I am not sure.)
I remember thinking "I can't believe how loud those birds are chirping at 3 in the morning.
DH says it may have been because the back door was open at the time and the screen was
allowing the sound in louder.
It is scary to think about what might have happened if we had met face to face.
A person brazen enough to enter someone's home in the middle of the night, must
be desperate for money, perhaps even high.
I know that God allowed this to happen. But in the midst of it, He also protected us.
Perhaps he was giving us a warning to be more cautious and secure our home
better. We have taken many measures now to help prevent this sort of thing.
How do we know that God didn't allow this so we would be more on guard and
He could be saving us from something far worse down the road.
We also found out that there have been other home robberies in our area, 1 other in our neighborhood and 4 in the neighborhood across the highway from us.
We also learned that he took my dd's backpack (that was on the den sofa) with her Leapster, 4 game cartridges and the rechargeable battery pack.
And my van key was in my purse.
I pray that this person is apprehended and that the items be returned and that no
other families needlessly suffer. Also I hope that no one gets hurt. |
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Apr. 21, 2008 God watched over us last night!

Someone broke into our home last night while we were all in bed asleep.
When my dh got up this morning he walked into the den his computer (from work) was gone.
He came and woke me up and said my computer is gone.
We got up and began looking upstairs to see what happened. (At first we were still scared someone might be in the house, maybe downstairs, etc.)
We called the police, then I noticed my purse was gone.
(In my purse was my camera bag, and my cell phone was in it.)
They also got away with my dh billfold.
Funny they left my guitar which was right beside the door they went out of.
So they have all our ID's, Check card, etc. Which of course are of no more use since they have been reported stolen. But I did have $200.00 in grocery money in my purse.
But in the midst of this we are thanking God for our protection. This person was only feet away from my sleeping son. We heard nothing to alarm us and even the dog did not wake up.
(Which I am really thankful for, because if he had the burglar may have become alarmed and it could have caused sometihng really bad to happen.)
We are upset over this-mainly because it is scary to think someone was in our home, and
the things they took were many personal things.
But when you think about it, all that is just stuff. It is a hassle now to make all the phone calls and have to get new check cards and new drivers liscense etc. But that is nothing compared to having us all safe and sound at home. He only got stuff and all that can be replaced.
Thank You God for watching over us and keeping us under your protection!
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Apr. 10, 2008 Around the House
Well I promised I would get some photos up from my new camera.
I decided it would be easiest to just put them in the slide show format.
The squirrels, birds and bunnies are zoomed in on using around 40X.
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Be sure to mute the sidebar first. You will notice a turn in the video. Well I just got my new camera and thought I would try holding it vertically. (I am still trying to figure out how to edit that part.)
Anyway, I love my new camera and it took the videos and the pictures.
So now I can share it. |
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Apr. 6, 2008 My New Camera
My dh got me a new camera for my b-day. It is a Canon Powershot SX100 IS. I just love this camera.
If you are on the lookout for a new camera, this might be a great one for you to consider. You can take a product tour by clicking on the link. Underneath it says product tour. Click the button and it will show you a video with more info.

4 or 5 years ago I received my first digital camera. I was glad to at least have digital. It was a Casio 4MP. Now, the Casio takes great outdoor pictures. But the indoor pictures were always full of red eye-even with the correction on. It also did not have much of a zoom on a 3X. So I was unable to capture great pictures at ball games etc.
So I went searching for the right camera. One small enough to fit in my purse at all times. I researched reviews for 7 days. And I would not even consider a camera that did not have many great reviews. I looked at reviews online from Wal-Mart and Circuit City. Dh ended up getting it at Circuit City. My local Wal-Mart had it marked down to $249.00 but they did not have it in stock. I waited a week hoping they would get it in. Then I went online to see if Circuit City actually had it and they did, and it was marked down even further to $217.00 Dh also got me a 2GB SD card and I have rechargeable batteries. The battery life was the only negative review factor on this camera. The powerful zoom does eat through batteries quicker. (I also plan to keep some of the lithium on hand for emergencies.)
Another Feature that was important to me was a great zoom. (In fact this is the main reason I chose this camera over others. I even decided to stay with 8 MP and not go with cheaper cameras that offered 10 and 12MP. It has a 10X optical zoom, and then can continue on with the digital zoom up to 40X. I can get close ups of the flowers or birds across the street in my neighbor's yard. It also has a great telephoto (wide angle) lens. So it would compare to a 35 mm camera as far as taking quality shots.
Also because we homeschool, we are always wanting to take pictures of nature. Birds, squirrels, bugs, etc. It also has an image stabilizer. Which helps steady the camera. Over the weekend I took many indoor and outdoor pictures and red eye was minimal. (And even the few that contained red eye-were easily corrected with the computer software and the auto fix for red eye.)
What is really amazing about this camera is the cool video clips you can get. You can even hear the playback from the camera itself. You can add voice notes to pictures, etc.
Anyway I am not one to brag. I am just sharing my excitement to be able to leave the prehistoric times and get into some new technology!
I hope to be posting more pictures I have captured later this week.
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Apr. 5, 2008 Awanas Cubbies Race
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