Living the Life

Feb. 20, 2008 - It's THAT Time of Year

I am sssooooo tired of researching curriculum. Reviewing what we've done this year, what works for us, what we'll be doing next year. Their are so many great looking things out there that sometimes it becomes overwhelming trying to make a decision. Makes my brain HURT!!! I had about figured it out, then today like a dummy I looked at a different website and guess what, CONFUSED AGAIN! UGH!!!!! At least I'm not in a hurry for it just yet, but I do like to have some sort of plan. Guess I could play enie meanie minie moe (sp?)!!

Blessings,

Kristi

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Feb. 20, 2008 - I'm So PROUD of My Boys!!!!!

This past Saturday their Cub Scout pack had the Pinewood Derby Race. My babies WON!!!! First Place in the Race, Third Place in the Race, First Place Design, Third Place Design!!!!! This is the third year in a row they've won!!!!! They deserved it though. They put in A LOT of late nights and hard work! Yay!!!!!

Blessings,

Kristi

Feb. 15, 2008 - A Pillar of Strength and Faith

That's how I've always thought of my Daddy. He's lived thru multiple heart attacks over the years and quadruple bi-pass surgery. He's lived with diabetes for the past 7 or so years. 6 months ago he had a brain tumor removed. Well, about three weeks ago (around the time my mother was getting out of the hospital) he was admitted to the hospital. His blood sugar was way out of wack (600) and he was having A LOT of pain, they said his oxygen was low and so was his blood. He kept complaining of his chest hurting so they did an x-ray and found a "significant" mass on one of his lungs. Last week they did a biopsy and it came back cancerous. They let him come home about a week ago. Yesterday, he went to his doctor's appointment and they told him that it has now spread to both lungs and his lymph glands. They can't cure it. His doctor said that they will do radiation for 15 days straight and then begin chemo. He said this would slow it down some and enable Daddy not to hurt so much where he can get out and enjoy the time he has left.

I have always been "Daddy's Girl" and this is tearing me apart. He is handling this ssssoooo much better than I am. He's at peace with it, for that I am thankful. I guess somewhere in me I thought (hoped) he would never die. Stupid me, huh!!! Though he keeps telling me he won't be dead. He'll be alive with Jesus in his knew body. I know this and understand this, but the selfish part of me just wants my Daddy. I Thank God that HE is the one in control. That is where I have found my peace. For as much as I love my Daddy, God loves him more. I am so thankful for the fact that my Daddy demonstrated his faith to me my whole life, that he loved me even when I was an unloveable teenager. My mind keeps rolling thru the years. I can see him sitting at a little childs table with me when I was about 4 or 5 and having tea parties (mind you my Daddy is 6'4 and over 200 lbs), when I was about 4 years old and we were holding hands and I kept asking him how did he know God was real and who was God's parent's, etc.... and he patiently answered each one of my questions with answers that I still carry around in my heart to this day. I remember being about 8 years old and everynight when he came home from work he would play chinese checkers with me. And on and on thru the years my memories roll. Just when I think I have a handle on things a knew bout of tears fall. I pray that he has a good bit of time left on this Earth, but if he doesn't then I am so happy to know that he will be singing with the angels.

Blessings,

Kristi

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Jan. 19, 2008 - Praise the Lord!!!!!!!

The past few weeks have been busy. One of our cats got hit by a car. The general consensus amongst the neighbors was that he was a goner (their advice was that the humaine thing to do was to shoot him. I don't think so). The kids were crying (I held it back until we got away from the neighbors) as we carried him to the backyard. I called the vet and he told us to bring him in. On the way there, our lovely Gizmo just sat up and began licking his leg. The vet said he was going to keep him over night to keep an eye on him. The next morning we went to pick him up. Must have been a miracle. They said his jaw was a little sore, but other than that he was perfectly fine. Praise the Lord!

My mother has been on dialysis for about 5 years now. Well, Wednesday night the hospital called her and told her they had a kidney with a perfect match, for her to come on. So, Thursday morning she had a kidney transplant. She came out of surgery fine, the kidney seems to have taken, and she's up and cheerful! Once again, Praise the Lord!!!!!!

My youngest son who has had the hardest time learning to read, well this year he has just flown with it. He has far exceeded my expectations and is now reading above grade level. Praise the Lord!!! I honestly believe it was all God. I prayed about this everyday.

My wonderful husband, whom for seven years traveled an 1 1/2 hours each way to work (leaving at 7 in the morning and getting home between 10 and 11 at night) has made such a name for himself and climbed the "ladder" , that now he has been able to find a "higher" position, making more money and best of all is only 25 minutes from the house. HOORAY!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!! Now he gets to spend time with the kids in the morning and at night!!!!!!

I feel like God has lifted so many burdens off of my shoulders. I wouldn't change any of it though. God has taught me and changed me. Sometimes I look "back" at myself and I wonder what in the world was "wrong" with me! I get hard headed and stubborn, so sometimes it takes a few times for me to "learn" God's lessons. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Yes, God is faithful even when I'm not!!!!!

Blessings,

Kristi

Jan. 2, 2008 - Happy New Year!!!!!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! New Year's Eve my youngest son fell asleep at 10:30 that night, the other two managed to stay up! They watched the "Big Apple" drop and toasted in the New Year with homemade milkshakes! We spent New Year's Day just hanging around not doing too much. My husband and I managed to grab a few minutes alone and walk around our property talking and dreaming. Sometimes it is nice to be alone with him. I love my children with all my heart, but one day they won't need me so much and it'll be just him and me and I have no intentions of being one of those couples whose children are the "glue".

We got back to school this past Monday, but we took yesterday off, and hit the floor running this morning. I read the the book Managers of Their Homes and have now set us up a very detailed schedule. It has made things go so much more smoothly (I never would have guessed), we seem to be getting A LOT more accomplished now (school wise, chore wise, time wise, etc.)

I also read Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and am now starting on Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey. Mine and my husband's goal for 2008/2009 is to become totally debt free. He shows you step by step in his book(s) how to do it. This was a God send.

Well here's to a Prosperous New Year!

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Dec. 8, 2007 - My 1st Award !!!!!!!

This beautiful award was presented to me by cahanbury.

Thank you!

I am presenting it to (drum roll please):

Suzanne

setapipes

Dec. 8, 2007 - Sleigh Bells Ring......And Other Things.....

Well, they don't actually ring around here, it never snows here. Well, I won't say NEVER. There might be a very light flurry every 15 years or so. Nothing big (or small either.) My birthday was the other day. I guess it was "Happy" in the fact that the Lord blessed me in having another year, but it was also heart breaking. Our boxer (whom we've had for 7 years) died on my birthday. I really am no good with death. I know in my heart that she is better off and out of her suffering, but we did love her so much and the selfish part of me wants her back. She was part of our family.

On a happier note, my boys marched in the Christmas Parade. They were sooooo excited. Jabber, Jabber, Jabber!!!! Everyone was talking so fast and all at once "Jabbir, Jabber" was about what it sounded like.

My daughter's birthday is this week. Her birthday is exactly one week after mine. She'll be 13. I'll be the mother of a teenager! How did that happen? It makes me realize how few years I have left with her before she's off to conquer the world. It's exciting and terrifying and sad all at the same time. I can still remember the moment she was born and I laid eyes on her. It really does go by so fast. I can remember holding her and being so scared of her. Here was this little person who I was totally responsible for, and I was frightened to death of that. I was so worried that I wouldn't know what to do or something would happen to her. Before she was born I thought I knew everything (as do most 20 year olds), but after she was born I realized just how much I had to learn.

I've been giving this High School thing some thinking. If you've read this far and you have (or currently are) tackling high school, have you ever used the SMARR English Program? I've been thinking that since I have approx. a year and a half before High School begins, that I'll start studying up and doing the High School work myself, so that way when they get there it will be fresh in my mind. Teach to the oldest, right? Well, that's me! I'll study ahead and be prepared to teach it to them. Wish I had thought of this a year ago. Oh Well, C'est la Vie!

Blessings,

Kristi

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Dec. 1, 2007 - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!!!!!!!

December is a busy month around here. My birthday is the 6th, my daughter's is the 13th, and my husband's is on Christmas Day. Chase (my youngest son, 7) keeps asking me why his birthday isn't in December, why couldn't I just hold him in my tummy until December (he was born in Sept and weighed 8lbs and 14oz, he I was ready for him to get out. There was no more room in the inn).

We set aside some of our "regular" school work and do a Christmas study, starting the first week of December. We study about Jesus and what was going on in the world at the time he was born. We study about what other countries/cultures do to celebrate Christmas. We make things and cook stuff. They (and me too, I confess) really enjoy this!

This year they've been making Christmas gifts to give. Since they are here instead of at "school", they don't have some huge list of things they "just have to have". I can't stand how Christmas is becoming so commercialized. Around here Lowe's has been advertising to come in and get your "Family" tree instead of Christmas tree. What is this world coming too? I try not to let those types of things make me a Scrooge (at least not around the children!). I want them to have happy memories of home and Christmas. Christmas songs, lights, and movies and the smell of things baking in the oven!

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas and New Year!

Kristi

Nov. 28, 2007 - I'm Scared.......

I keep thinking about the fact that this "school" year is almost at the halfway point, and next year my daughter will be an 8th grader. Then high school........ That's what scares me. I realize I should take it one year at a time, then re-evaluate, but "High School" is lurking near. Now, my hubby has complete confidence in me , but it is a "Big Deal" and I don't want to mess up. I've been "researching" this whole thing, I guess I really need to just talk to people who have "been there, done that" and their children went on to persue whatever they wanted. (Be it college, tech school, work) I don't want to short change my kids.

So now that THAT is off my chest, I feel a teensy-weensy bit better!

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Nov. 19, 2007 - I've Been Tagged................

I've been tagged by Setapipes and Squeeli

The rules were to share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself and to tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes nothing:

1. I hate to clean.

2. I love spending summer days in the pool with my kids

3. I love thunderstorms.

4. I love to cook.

5. I still get excited to see my husband when he gets home from work

6. I find sewing to be relaxing

7. It feels like Christmas when I see the UPS man or FED EX man bring a box to the door!

Since I am still "new" at this I don't have 7 people to tag. So tag you're it!

KimProbable

jaminacema

Nov. 19, 2007 - I'm Back

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged. My precious little dog got ahold of the mouse cord and keyboard cord one night and chewed them in half. I was going to go to the store and buy a new one, then the tv quit working. While we (me and the children) do alright without the t.v., my sweets is another story. But, that weekend came and it was off to camping with the Boy Scouts. The following week all three of my children got sick (fevers, sore throat, cough, runny/stuffy nose). About the time they were feeling better, my husband had a weeks vacation. I really enjoy having him around. It was very sad for me when he had to go back to work. Of course last week when he went back to work, I got sick. Then Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning (4 a.m.) I woke up with a terrible pain in my ear. Went to the doctor and he said I had an ear infection. I've never had an ear infection that I can remember, but now I know why babies hold their ears and cry. I've been taking this medicine three times a day, and while the pain is mostly gone, my ear still feels clogged up. My children told me that they would be glad when this was over, since I've been misunderstanding what they say. Last night, my love brought home a new mouse and keyboard! So, that's where I've been for the past month.

Blessings, Kristi

Oct. 18, 2007 - Taking Back Control....

My middle name could be "Procrastination". This has been a real battle for me. At the beginning of last "school" year, I was terrible about getting school started in the morning, and then of course I would feel guilty. (Lucky for me, my children learned plenty inspite of me.) I felt like I could not get anything accomplished. One veteran homeschooling mom told me to just think of it as my job. That if I was "working" out of the home, I would have to get up and get going. So that was what I did. Now mind you, it wasn't easy. My whole body fought me tooth and nail on that one. I wrote down my priorities(goals) for myself and what I wanted for my children. That seemed to help, seeing it in print that way. I knew that if my children were going to have what I desired for them, then something (that would be ME) was going to have to change. Someone (Me again) was going to have to take charge and lead the troops.

Now, I am not a "morning" person. I could lay in the bed until 9 o'clock (which at the time is what I was doing). So, I began forcing myself (with the help of my husband) to get out of the bed at 7:00. That first month was rough, and the first week is probably better forgotten. But now, 10 months later it feels like second nature. I don't even have to have the alarm clock anymore, and I'm the one dragging my husband out of the bed. I even get up early enough now to walk/jog on my treadmill for an hour every morning before I get anyone else out of the bed! I feel so much better on all levels (physically, emotionally, spiritually).

I've also learned not to take all of the "household" task on myself. I elicit the help of my children and my husband. I have come to realize everything worth doing does not necessarily have to be done perfect. My children are in charge of the dirty dishes (loading and unloading the dishwasher), their laundry (they each have their own laundry day, they wash it, dry it, and put it away {so of course some things are just waded up and pushed into their drawers, but I've learned to let it go, it's okay!}), making their beds, feeding the pets, and putting away their toys daily. They have other chores they help with that are done weekly or as needed. Of course sometimes they grumble, but they have come to realize that many hands make light work!

While I am still a "work in progress" (and it has been a lot of hard work for me), I am seeing some of the "fruits of my labor" and I really like what I see. I know that my children are watching my husband and myself, even when we don't know it. We are "writing on their slates" who they will become. I want my children to have the self discipline to do what needs to be done, and I believe if they learn it now while they are still young, it will be so much easier for them when they become adults. I could be wrong, but I pray that I'm not.

Kristi

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Oct. 18, 2007 - Rain!!!!!!!!!!!

Rain!!!! While last week may have felt like autumn around here, it didn't last. The temperatures have been back up around 90 degrees this week. And the drought, ugh! Everything is sssooo dry. Well today we have had a steady rain. It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow too! Thank you God!!!!

Kristi

Oct. 13, 2007 - Our Week in Review

MORGAN --

ENGLISH: Analytical Grammar (unit 8) ; Wordly Wise 3000 Book 7 Lesson 7; Spell to Write and Read (SWR) List T-4 and T-5; Literature: finished up The Witch of Blackbird Pond and the Total Language Plus Guide (we pick and choose thru these guides).

MATH: Chalkdust Pre-Algebra section 3.3 Addition and Subtraction of Fractions obj A,B,&C; section 3.4 Multiplication and Division of Fractions objectives A,B,&C

WORLDVIEW: The Church in History Ch. 31

SCIENCE: Apologia General Science began Module #4

HISTORY: We studied The New York Colony, the Dutch, The Virginia Colony and tobacco, beginning of slavery, made butter

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Rosetta Stone Spanish I

MUSIC: Rock of Ages and the history behind it (we use the books Then Sings My Soul)

BIBLE: We've been studying the Book of James

EXTRAS: helped complete patio, cantering and jumping in horse riding lessons, girl scouts, read the Sign of the Beaver; worked on a novel she is writing, went collecting fall decorations

ART: Visual Manna Complete Art Curriculum lesson 4 Calligraphy

MIKE:

ENGLISH: Rod and Staff 3 unit review and test, Wordly Wise 3000 Book 3 Lesson 7, Researched how to keep earthworms in a jar and wrote a short report on how to do it; SWR word list J-5 and J-6; Reading: The Elson Readers Book 3 (reviewed setting, characters, plot; studied cause & effect)

MATH: using SAXON 3; working on times tables, reviewing addition and subtraction, reading a thermometer, finding points on a number line, drawing and writing fractions

SCIENCE: learned about trees and plants (seeds, roots, spores, chlorophyll, photosynthesis,), studied a tree ring (counted the rings to determine age, learned about the different parts of the wood [ pith, sapwood, hardwood, the 3different parts of the bark ), used a tree identifier book to identify what tree different leaves came off of, made a "greenhouse" with a ziplock bag, potting soil, seeds, and water (did this at the beginning of the week and set in a window seal and now everything is sprouting)

HISTORY: Studied the New York Colony, the Dutch, The Virginia Colony and tobacco, beginning of slavery, made butter

MUSIC: learned Rock of Ages and the history behind it (we use the book Then Sings My Soul

BIBLE: We've been studying the Book of James

ART: Visual Manna's Complete Art Curriculum lesson 4 Calligraphy

Extras: Mavis Beacon teaches typing, boy scouts, helped finish the patio, we use the BOOK-IT program so he's been doing a lot of free reading, went collecting fall decorations

CHASE:

PHONICS/READING: Pathway Readers: Last week he finished First Steps so this week he began Days Go By and the workbook to go with it: Learning through Letters and Sounds Book 2; SWR word list C

MATH: mastering addition and subtraction to 18, began adding 3 digits (ex.: 7+3+4), telling time to the half hour, drawing lines to show half

SCIENCE: learned about trees and plants (seeds,roots, leaves, photosynthesis) studied a tree ring (counted the rings to determine the age, identified the sapwood and bark) , used a tree identifier book to identify two leaves

HISTORY: studied about the New York Colony, The Dutch, made butter

MUSIC: Rock of Ages

BIBLE: The Book of James

ART: Visual Manna's Complete Art Curriculum lesson 4 Calligraphy

Extras: earned his Bobcat badge at boy scouts, helped finish the patio, reading easy readers for the BOOK-IT program, went collecting fall decorations

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Oct. 12, 2007 - It's Friday!!!!

It's another beautiful day here in South Georgia. Today is our "light" day of school. Of course we still do reading and math, but we also play "catch up" on anything we didn't have time for during the week (like projects, etc.)

My children love school on Friday because we always do art on Fridays. The past two years, art was always hit or miss, but this year I have designated Friday as "Art" day. That way I know it will be covered and I won't be all stressed out about it! We have been using Visual Manna's Complete Art Curriculum and we (myself included) really like it!

Well I'm off to enjoy this beautiful fall weather while it lasts!

--Kristi.

Oct. 11, 2007 - Fall has finally arrived

It has actually felt like fall today, hoorah!!!! I just love the crisp clean air of fall. The leaves gently fluttering to the ground. The sounds of children outside playing. Leaves that crunch underfoot. Reds, oranges, yellows, browns. Smell of smoke from neighbors burning leaves. Shorter days, families gathered around the dining room table. Succulent aromas of stews, soups, and chilis. Pumpkins, acorns, sweet potatoes. The promise that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Oct. 10, 2007 - Ramblings

I've noticed that when we start our day with the Bible everything else seems to go soooo much smoother! We manage to get through school without too much chaos! Mike (3rd grade) took his first ever English "test" today. He was so proud of himself, and I was so proud of him too! This child loves structure. He also loves for me to "grade" his work. He made a 93!

It was nice outside today, so we enjoyed sitting on our patio. Yeah! Big hugs and kisses to my husband who finished what I started.

We must have a thousand (actually about 15) pecan trees on our property, and the pecans have begun to fall. The kids have been outside picking them up so they can sell them. They are going to try and earn a little Christmas money for this year!

---Kristi

Oct. 9, 2007 - Stop and Think

Have your kids every said something to you that stopped you in your tracks and made you think about your own actions? Well, today Chase (7) did just that to me. My husband and I had gotten into a somewhat "heated discussion" and he stomped outside and I stomped to our bedroom. Well, on the way there Chase had asked me something, and I am ashamed to admit, I snapped back at him and proceeded to stomp to my room. (very mature of me huh). As I was lying on my bed throwing a big ole pity party for myself, I heard him sit down on the floor by my door. Not really wanting to be bothered, I asked him what he was doing. His reply was "I'm waiting for someone to act like they love me." Needless to say that was the end of my pity party. This was my baby sitting there feeling like that because of my selfishness. (Now my husband keeps telling me that Chase knows how to get me to come straight to him, but I don't think so. What mother wouldn't go to her little boy if he said that after she blew him off?) Of course I went to him and told him I wasn't mad at him. I kissed him and held him and told him how much I love him.

It just made me think about how my actions affect my children. How what goes on between my husband and me affects our children. And it also made me think about God. How many times in our own selfishness do we ignore Him? While the whole time He sits there loving us and waiting on "someone to act like they love Him."

---Kristi

Oct. 7, 2007 - Family Project

Through many (too many ) trials and error, I have finally learned not to start a new project until the one I have going on is completed! I seem to start projects with such gusto, but as soon as I begin to tire of them I want to start something else. I realize this is not the way to complete things, and it drives my poor husband crazy. I've also learned to include my husband AND my children in projects. Things go faster, I stay on track, and we all seem to grow closer as a family!

For the past two weekends we've been working on building a patio. It was scheduled for completion today, but since we went to Andersonville it did not get finished today. That's okay though, because seeing the enjoyment my family had today was more than worth it to me! It will be finished Tuesday though, I have too many other projects to start (and finish)!