Posted in Random Ramblings

It is really hard to believe that a new year has begun.  I know that I haven't really blogged much lately.   We have been so busy at my house that the New Year almost came in unnoticed.   As many of you know, my parents have been living with us since my dad returned from Charlotte in September after having open heart surgery.   We have really enjoyed having them here.    The kids love being able to see their Granny & Pappy every day.   A couple of weeks ago they found the perfect place to live, only 1/2 the distance from us as their old house.  (That makes a huge difference when one lives in a tourist town.)  Anyway, they moved into their new house on New Year's Eve.  I am sure they are excited about starting a new year in their new house. 

We have been rearranging our house.  When we started homeschooling we bought the girls bunk beds so they could share a room and made one room into our schoolroom.  Well, the girls are getting older and wanting to have their own rooms back.  UGH!  I guess I can most definately understand that, especially since they spend so much time together.  It will be nice for them to have their 'own space'.   So, we decided to move the schoolroom into the family room... (thus getting rid of the family room) and moving the TV into the living room.  (The living room was just a quiet sitting room.)  So I have been moving books, bookshelves, furniture and papers (a.k.a. JUNK). 

Since we are going through all this trouble to move stuff, we are making the most of it and having a HUGE CLEANING OUT!!!  How did we get so much STUFF?   I am really proud of the girls.  They are really getting rid of stuff they no longer use.  When they get into their own rooms they will be empty.   LOL  What a great way to start the new year, fresh with a clean slate room. 

BTW, the school room is looking GREAT!  I love having more room.  I will post pics when I get it finished...hopefully that will be before 2009!   I didn't think I was going to like it, but I truly do.  A plus is that the fireplace is in there... so we will stay nice and cozy warm this winter.

In other news, I don't think that I blogged about this.  We had to have our sweet precious beagle, Cokey, put to sleep Dec. 7.   She was in congestive heart failure.  It was such a difficult thing to do.  My dh and I got her on our 1st wedding anniversary.  She was almost 14 years old.  I can count on one hand how many times I have seen my dh cry in the last 15 years I've known him.  This was one of them.  Of course, the kids were heartbroken.    To help with the blow... we got an inside cat.  (We don't have much luck with outside cats.)  Anyway, his name is Buddy.   He is really sweet, and good natured with the kids.  He doesn't fuss too much when they  Jacob drags him, swings him and throws him around the house.  The only thing is that Buddy has lost about six of his lives for pooping on  the carpet.  YUCK!!!  I just can't stand that.   He knows where his litter box is.   If he does it again, he will be definately be outside, or lose his remaining three lives. 

Finally, what do you think of my new look?  I was so tired of looking at my other template.  I designed this a few weeks ago but was waiting until the "official" start of winter to change it.  I haven't had time to update it until today.   Let me know what you think.. 

Well, I guess I better get back to cleaning.  'til next time...

Posted in Random Ramblings

It snowed at my house today!  It was near 80 at my house yesterday, and today it snowed!  That is E. TN for you.  By the time I went to get my camera to take pictures it stopped... I will keep a lookout.

Posted in Random Ramblings

...but at least it has not been a month!  lol  I have been staying busy here at My Smoky Mtn. Homeschool.   It is a good busy, though.  I have been spending time with my family.  We have taken up the hobby of letterboxing.  (I know of a couple of families in the area that are doing this, too.)  We have had so much fun doing this.  (I'll try and post some pictures soon.)  After we find all the boxes in our area we are doing to start planting our own.  We already have a list of places we are going to plant the boxes. 

I have also been busy the last couple of weeks with photo sessions.  I am so excited to FINALLY be doing this!  I met with a super nice family this morning from SC.  We took pictures at Metcalf Bottoms and the Little Greenbrier School.  It was such a beautiful morning.  The leaves have finally changed!

Mom and Dad are still staying with us.  We are so thankful that they are here with us.  It is really a blessing.  Dad is doing well in his recover.  In closing, I want to tell you something funny that happened to dad the other day.

Dad went to get his hair cut and he noticed that as the girl was cutting his hair she was looking all around.   She kept on for a few minutes and finally she said, "Do you hear that noise?"  Dad said, "What does it sound like?"  She said, "It is like a ticking noise."     Dad could see that it was absolutely driving her insane.  He just laughed and said, "It is my heart.  I had valve replacements!"  ROTFLOL.   That just cracks me up. 

Gotta fly... have a blessed day!

Posted in Random Ramblings

Wow, I can't believe that it has been more than a month since I've blogged.  The time has gone by so fast.  First of all I want to thank everyone for the kind notes and prayers.  My dad went through a really rough times after the surgery.  He was on life support for a week.  He ended up having to get a pacemaker on top of the new valves.  He has made so much progress.  Now more than a month later he is doing well. 

So things have really been busy here. I have sat down I can't tell you how many times to update, but I never finished the post.  Other things call for my attention.  So, here is a brief recap of what has happened the last month:

Aug. 21.   I made it back from Charlotte in time to celebrate Sarah Beth's 10th birthday!  I can't believe that my baby girl is 10 years old.  She is turning into such a young lady.  She had a High School Musical themed party.



Sept. 7.  Mom and Dad came home from Charlotte!  They are living with us for a while so that we can help out with dad.  That is going well.  I am so thankful for the relationship that we have.  I know many families are not blessed in that way.   We are all reaping the benefits of having them here... (can you say Mom's home cooking?!)  LOL  We are enjoying spending time with them and seeing dad progress.   It is truly a miracle that he is here with us.  The kids think that dad is the "Bionic Man".  When you stand next to him you can hear his valves ticking.  I think dad is going to start a little side business and charge a quarter for those who want to listen to him tick.   All you local hs families... can you say, "Field Trip!"  LOL.



I have started up Bible study again with some of my dearest friends, they are the best spiritual mentors!  And to top it all off,  my mom is also joining us,  which is such a treat!  We are doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel.  It has really been an eye opener for me.  I have learned so much.  I am enjoying my quiet time in the mornings more than ever before.  My day goes so much smoother when I get to spend my quite time with God. 

The rest of the time we have been busy with school... and, well, just life.  We are almost finished with our first semester of school   We will be taking off next week.  I am hoping the weather will finally cool down and the leaves will start to change. Fall is my favorite time of the year, but it doesn't even feel like fall.   We are still having hot, humid, summer like weather here.  I think it is supposed to cool down some by this weekend.  I am so ready for that!

I must admit, it is nice to be able to step away from the computer and spent time with my family.   Blogging used to be an obsession for me.  I had to have the most hits, I had to be on the top of this list and that list.  I was self-absorbed with being #1.  UGH!  What an awful place to be.  Now I hardly give it a second thought.  I would like to start again, but only to keep a journal of what is going on in our life... and with school, maybe with a weekly post.  :-D


WARNING:  SHAMLESS PLUG AHEAD>>>>
 I have finally decided to take a leap of faith and start my own photography business.  It is My Smoky Mtn. Inspirations.  (Imagine that!)  LOL   I specialize in on-location photography.   The leaves will be changing soon, so this is a good time to book portrait sessions.  I have worked this last week getting my website up.   So if you are interested, stop by and take a look at my  fall special and see if it is something you are interested in. 
END OF SHAMELESS PLUG>>>

I pray everyone has a blessed week!