Jul. 24, 2008 - My Blog Reconstruction Project

Construction Zone

Things are going to look a little strange around here for the next several days, maybe weeks. I decided to do some rearranging, sprucing up the place. So, please excuse the mess. I will be doing the construction a little bit at a time. Whenever, I have a spare moment. Everyone knows how few and far between those times can be.

Jul. 22, 2008 - Our Great College Adventure

Registering DD for College

DD has been registered for college for about 2 weeks today. It was quite an adventure. We got her applied, counseled, tested, advised, registered, and all paid up in 3 days. We made 4 trips to our local community college ( 30 minute drive) in 3 days, once in a downpour. We even have purchased most of her books. Talk about a hit in the pocketbook.   Her books were a little over $400. We still have 2 books to purchase.  OUCH!

DD was really, really scared about the whole process. She kept saying it is happening to fast. I was glad it was happening so fast. She didn't have much time to dwell on everything. She was rebellious enough with having too much time to think about it. Everything worked out well. I just left everything in the Lord's capable hands and trusted him to work everything out the way it was suppose to be.

She aced most of the testing. She made a 98 on the reading and writing test. She quailfied to start in the pre-cal class and another calculus type class. Her advisor told her she was 1 of about 10 students in the her 10 years there, to test into that high of math classes. That made DD feel very good. I was impressed and as the teacher, I patted myself on the back. She failed the computer part. It wasn't a big deal. She could take it again and did so the next day and passed. I called and asked my BIL who has an assoicate degree in computers for helped. I told hm what DD had missed and he said that was off the wall stuff that nobody used.

DD will be taking Western Civilization I, an expository writing class, college algebra, Local & State Government, and a fluff money-making course called "College Success." Most of the classes are internet courses. She will have to go to the college on Tuesday and Thursday, for the fluff course for an hour. Her writing class is a hybrid which means she has to go to the college on Tuesday for an hour & a half and the rest of the work will be done on the internet. All that means is on Tuesday, she will be at the college for 3 and half hours and on Thursday for a hour. It was a good compromise between what her daddy wanted and what she wanted.

After we bought her books, we sat down and looked at them. Her Western Civilization book is a hoot. The first 2 chapters were full of evolution. The rest of the book was filled with radical feminism, planned parenthood proganda, socialism, humanism and all manner of liberalism. We sat DD down and told her, she knew the truth and if she ever had any questions or doubts about something a professor said, to ask us and we would help her find the truth. We told her not to argue with them because it was pretty much pointless, because most college professors didn't want to hear the truth. We told her to read the material. Answer the questions according to the book and according to what they wanted to hear. DH said we may have to deprogram her every day. So, please pray for her and us, as she enters this hostile atomsphere. Pray that she stands firm in her faith. Pray that we will have the answers to combat the junk she will be hearing. If anyone else's children are entering college, please know our prayers are with you and your child.  

Jul. 17, 2008 - Of Migraines and Swimmer's Ear

Of Migraines and Swimmer's Ear

When I last posted, I had hope to update my blog that afternoon. However, my body had other ideas. I felt like I was starting to get a migraine. I had all weekend. However, it turned out to be someting else.  As I slept Monday night, my ear had slowly started to swell. I woke up around 3:30 with it completely swollen shut. I couldn't fit the tip of my pinky finger into my ear canal. I realized right away I had swimmer's ear. I woke up DH and had him put drops (leftover from DD's bout with swimmer's ear last summer) in my ear. I felt okay most of the morning. I still went swimming with my mother and nephews but didn't put my head under water and was careful to avoid getting water splashed in my ear. My MIL washed my hair for me while i held a wash cloth tight over my ear. I didn't get any water in it, but it continued to feel worse as the day wore on. I hit the bed at 9:00 and didn't wake up until 8:30 the next morning.

Yesterday, I ran a temp all day. I didn't take it but I knew I had one. I wore a sweatshirt all day. I am usually very hot natured. I didn't have much energy. All I did was wash, fold, iron, and put away clothes. DH and DD went to Bible study. I stayed at home and rested.

Today, I feel much better. My ear isn't as sore or swollen. I cleaned our bathroom and bedroom. I cleaned the living room and shucked corn. DD has gone to spend 2 nights with DH's parents. I took her this morning. She will come home sometime on Saturday. DH had to work late. He has all week. He bought supper home. He is at band practice now for chapel. I ran to Hobby Lobby. I had one corner in the living room I have been trying to figure out how to decorate since we moved in here. It hit me this afternoon how to decorate it. So I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up a topiary and a figurine. The corner is now complete.

DD is registered at our local community college for the fall. She is taking a combination of on-campus courses and internet courses. I will fill everyone in on our experience at a later date.

As Tigger would say, Ta-Ta for now!

Jul. 15, 2008 - No Internet Server

Hello, Everyone!

I have been MIA the past few days due to no internet. Our server was struck by ligthning (I am guessing) on Thursday afternoon, when a big storm rolled through here. I will be putting up a new post sometime today, if time allows. Family and household chores come first.

I want to thank those of you who have left me comments of encouragement, sympathy, and empathy about the stress our family was  under last week. I will be responding in kind soon. Thank you for your prayers, too. Prayers are such wonderful things. God bless each and everyone of you.

Laundry calls! Talk to you soon, hopefully! 

Jul. 9, 2008 - Just When You Thought Life Couldn't Get Any Crazier......

It Did!

It was back to work for DH on Monday and it was time for me to get back on my chore schedule. I knew the last half of this week would be busy, so I decided to do the bulk of my housecleaning Monday and Tuesday. I kept the house picked up last week and took care of the daily chores. I didn't do any cleaning last week, except when we moved all the appliances to clean. I am so glad I did, because today and the next 2 will be filled with getting DD registered at a local community college.

We have loooked at several options since graduation, on-line courses and community colleges. At the community college we picked, she can do a combination of going to class and interent classes, depending on availability. This whole process has started causing alot of upheaval in our home.

DH wants DD to get out of the house and have a taste of the real world. DD has brought this on herself because she has not showed a zest for breaking out of her shell, her routine, or some of her childish ways. We want her under our protection until we transfer that duty to her future husband, but she can't use that as an excuse to be lazy and to show no inclination of trying to better herself. We know she is scared and confused about all this growing up business, but we also know her weaknesses.

Needless to say, she is TERRIFIED (with a capital T, underlined at least 3 times, and an !)!!!! She doesn't understand why we are making her do this. DH doesn't understand all the tears and fears.  I see both sides. I know since I am the one not working that getting all of this figured out and accomplished is up to me, but I am the one stuck in the middle. They are driving me crazy.  I want to step out of it and let them hash it out, but that can't happen. I need to find a way of dealing with all this pressure without ripping my hair out and running around like a lunatic eating grass. 

DH has taken a hard line on this. He sees the need for the little chick to leave the nest. I agree, but can't we just kick her out on a limb instead of the whole tree. He wants her in the classroom on campus so she has to deal with situations on her own. I agree, but I think we need to ease her into the whole thing. She has always been high-strung and resistant to change. We have agreed on a combination of on campus classes and internet classes. Hopefully that will ease alot of DD's fears.

To top all of the drama between DH and DD, is my mother giving her sage advice.  She was talking to me on the phone about this. She told me I didn't sound positive or covinced, DD could do this. That is so not true. I have a peace about all of this. DD can do this. I am not worried about the testing, her in the classroom, or her driving to the college. (Although, I am worried about the other idiot drivers on the road. We have some real clowns around here.)  She also told me to it was time to cut the cord strings. That statement coming from her is so laughable. She has a 34 year-old she needs to cut the cord with. (BTW, I am going to be 39 soon. I don't mean to sound disprespectful ,but there is a long and complicated history between us that is difficult to fully explain.)

I know in the end, God's plan will prevail, not any of our's. That is the comfort I have taken and what has helped me not become the lunatic I talked about early. Please pray for us, especially DD, as we face this new frontier.

Jul. 6, 2008 - Peace Be With You

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

The Lord's Day dawned cloudy and dreary here. We are praying for much needed rain. DH and DD are at chapel. I am here at home with an inflammed sciatic nerve. I can't sit or stand for very long. I feel the best when I am sitting on the heating pad. So in my rare moment of alone time, I decided I would put up a post and give an account of our weekend.

Indepedence Day

DD's friend spent the night with us. The girls woke up to pancakes and fruit for breakfast. DH borrowed my brother's four wheeler and took our guest on a ride through the pasture. DD didn't want to go, so she stayed in and helped me clean-up the dishes. When they finished riding, they watched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I was in the kitchen making Banana Nut Bread for my father. I meant to make it for him on Father's Day, but got busy with graduation and didn't have time to. I also made Banana Pudding for the cookout at my parents house tonight. I was working on Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for lunch, when the friend's mother showed up to take her home. DD and I cleaned up the kitchen after lunch and then we all took a nap.

After our nap, we got ready to go to the cookout. I made sour cream mashed potatoes to go with the chicken and steak my parents were grilling. my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and their families were there, too. The boys were running around playing army. (All of the great- grandkids are boys except for our DD.) We, adults, sat around, talked,and ate. As darkness fell, we gathered up our chairs and positioned them to watch the fireworks. My parents live on a hill. We can watch fireworks going off on our end of our county and the neighboring county. The fireworks went off for an hour or more. We left around 10:30 pm. We were in bed by 11:00. I couldn't sleep until my pain pill kicked in. My sciatic nerve had been bothering me all week, but being on my feet several days in a row, cooking and baking did me in. I finally went to sleep, after the 2nd pain pill.

Saturday: A Day of Leisure

I slept in. I slowly got up and went out to water my flowers. I managed to wash clothes and hang some up outside. I did a little house straightening but spent most of the day in my chair with my feet up, sitting on the heating pad. I did finishing an embroidering project. DH ran a few errands in the morning, and settled down to watch a movie after lunch. I watched a little and then went to take a nap. DD and I worked on supper, afterwards. DH went to band practice at chapel. DD and I worked on embroidering. I watched some of the race at Daytona on the computer. I went back and forth between the TV and the computer, all the while embroidering. DD wen to bed around 9:00. DH got home around 9:30 and we went to bed shortly there after.

Today

My back and hip feels so much better today. I am going to spend most of the day in my chair on the heating pad. I think one more day of rest will make all of the difference. DH heads back to work tomorrow. DD and I have a busy week ahead of us. We have a shopping trip and  lunch date planned. We need to look at registering her at the local community college. She is volunteering 2 days at the library. We plan on going swimming several times this week. I am getting tried just thinking about it.  LOL.

I hope everyone enjoys their day of rest. God bless you and your family. Have a blessed, wonderful week!

Jul. 3, 2008 - Our Week So Far

Tuesday

DH finished working on his home improvement  project. He ran a few errands and did a few odd jobs. DD straightened up her room and got things ready for her guest. I straightened up the house, washed clothes, made 2 batches of cookie dough, baked one batch of cookie dough, and cooked eggs and potaoes for the potato salad.  I got the pork chops marinating and then fixed DH and I homegrown tomato sandwiches for lunch.

DD's guest arrived around 12:30 pm. They settled down in front of the TV with their snack foods and watched Dragon Heart. DH and I went to our room. He laid down and took a nap. I folded and put away clothes. I also got some papers graded. When the movie was over, the girls played games and talked with me as I worked in the kitchen. I had baked another batch of cookies and fixed the potato salad. I sat down and played games with them when I finished. After that, they started watching Ghost Rider. We ate supper outside, since the weather was so nice. We have had very beautiful days for the past few days. The  temps have been in the 80s and the humidity has been low. We ate outside Monday night, too. DD's guest stayed until 7:30. I think they had a good time.

Wednesday

DD and DH went on a drive first thing this morning. She drove to the library where she volunteers. We hope in the near future she will be comfortable enough she can drive all by herself to the library so I won't have to. I did my morning routine. When they got back home, DD drove up to her mamaw's house (my mother) to spend the day with her and her cousins. DH and I tackled some major cleaning jobs. We moved the oven and frig in the kitchen and cleaned behind and underneath them. Talk about YUCKY! The oven was just that. I cleaned both sides and it needed it.  We moved the washer, dryer, and frig in the laundry room and cleaned underneath them. I washed all them down, too. I mopped the floor in there. While finished up a few things, DH tackled cleaning the area where our hot water heater and air handler is housed.

DD came home around 2. The week's activities were catching up with her. She wanted to take a nap. DH and I did, too. I developed a headache. I think it was from all of the dust from our cleaning. We all took a nice long nap. I washed clothes when we woke up. DH worked on a few odd jobs and changed oil in the cars. We got supper from Subway. We settled down for a little TV viewing, then it was off to bed.

Thursday

DH and  DD went on another drive this morning. I did my morning routine. DH and I went to get groceries while DD did a little cleaning to prepare for her guest that will be spending the night tonight. Our guest arrived around 2:00. They started watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  We headed to my in-laws house for some swimming and a cookout.  We headed home around 7 and finished watching the movie and then started watching  Raiders of the Lost Ark. Now that it has gotten dark enough, we are going out on the deck for a little star gazing. Good Night!

Jun. 30, 2008 - Happenings

The Week of the 4th

DH's vacation week started last Friday, when they let everyone leave at lunchtime. Since then, he has been working on a home improvement project. He has started early in the morning to avoid some of the heat and humidity. Although the humidity has been stifling, it has lead to thunderstorms and much needed rain for the past 4 evenings. Saturday, the heat got to DH. I finally convinced him to quit around 2:00 in the afternoon, to call it a day. He came in got cleaned up and took a nap. Yesterday after chapel, we all spent the day inside where it was cool.  This afternoon, we plan on going swimming with my mother and nephews. My brother will be joining us. He has taken off for 2 days. His boys will enjoy having him at the pool with them.

My role this week is going to be different than my usual housewife role. Housekeeping won't be high on the list, except for daily upkeep chores. My role this week will be support staff for DH's home improvement jobs, hostess to DD's friends that will be coming over, and chef for everyone invovled. There will be alot of swimming going on, star gazing to be done, and cookouts to attend.

DD is having a friend over tomorrow afternoon for an afternoon of movies, games, and junk food. She will staying for supper. I plan on having grilled pork chops (plain and marinated), potato salad, baked beans, and honey whole wheat bread. Dessert will be to different kinds of cookies; Snickerdoodles and M&M Chocolae Chip Cookies. Thursday afternoon, anothe friend is coming over to spend the night to do saome star gazing. She will be going to DH's parents house with us for a cookout and to swim. I haven't really planned a menu for Friday morning's breakfast, but it will probably pancakes and some sort of fruit. This friend will probably spend Friday evening with us too. We will be going up to my parents' house for a cookout and our annual fireworks viewing.

I enjoy entertaining friends and having people over for meals. although it does wear me out. I want to DD to see me as a gracious hostess and extend hosptality to others. That is something I saw very little of. My mother entertaining was few and far between. To me she never seemed to do it with a joy in her heart. Even now, she acts like it is a chore to prepare a meal and have people over. She even won't let the grandkids come to spend the night until they have had supper just so she won't have to fix them anything. I know of lot of my mother's ways come from the feminist era she grew up in. She doesn't even realize just how subtly feminism is ingrained in her. I have had a hard time learning where the line between respecting and honoring my mother and not agreeing with her values lies. My parents instilled many vaules in me, but my values have become even more conservative than theirs. They have had a hard time with that and we have butted heads many times. We have come to an understanding, but I still get confused where to draw that line.

I'm off. Lunch is in the oven. DD and I need to start getting the swimming stuff ready to go. Cool water, here we come!      

Jun. 25, 2008 - Wonderful Busy Days

The Simple (Busy) Life

The past few days around here have been busy, but the good kind of busy. I have felt like a woman living out her godly duty as a wife and mother. I have kept busy, but haven't been busy. I have accomplished alot.

Monday, I went out to work in the garden. It had rained off and on all weekend, so I didn't have to water anything. I pulled up the rest of the onions. I pulled 44. All our onions have been drying nicely, now that I figured out how to do it. I pull up the onion, break the green stem near the top of the onion bulb, then lay them on a towel in our garden shed to dry. The towel helps to absorb any moisture. I have already dried several that wasy. I pruned the tomatoes plants and staked/tied more of then up. There are 3 tomatoes down there almost read to eat. I can't wait. Yum! I also got off our cucmbers. They are really starting to put on. I came in around 11:00. I got cleaned up then started cleaning the laundry room, then moved on to the kitchen, and then the living room. I fixed leftover steaks, baked potatoes in the microwave, and had fresh cucumbers and carrots with dip for lunch. DD did her ironing later in the afternoon, while I took a bath, then I did my ironing. DH and I finished watching Ben Hur when he got home from work. We started watching it Sunday, but ran out of time to watch all of it because it was bedtime. I had forgot how long of a movie it is. We had grilled hot dogs with chili/slaw, popcorn, and watermelon. After supper, I put away all of the clothes I folded up Sunday afternoon. DH fiddled with his new toys, a guitar and a bass guitar, while I played on the computer.

Tuesday, I did my morning routine, then worked on a few odd jobs. I cleaned the master bedroom next. Pie crust making was next on the agenda. DD was on her own for lunch. I didn't eat any. I had a late breakfast. I washed and dried clothes. (Yes, they are still waiting to be folded up.) I made 2 pies after a nap, a coconut cream pie and a chocolate pie. When DH got home, we went out to tie another row of string around our tomatoe stakes. I started working on supper. We had roast, cream potatoes w/ gravy, veggies w/ dip, and watermelon. DD and I watched The Princess Bride, when everything was cleaned up. DH worked on learning songs on his guitar.

Today, I was up early. I went out to water the garden beds and flower pots. I got off more cucumbers. If they keep putting on, DD and I will have to make pickles. I got ready to take DD to her volunteer hours at the library, while I did the grocery shopping. We are taking advantage of one round trips when we can combine our errands. Back home, we put away all of the groceries. I fixed quesdillas for lunch. DD washed up dishes, then took a nap. She was tired. She was up late last night so we could finish our movie. I have spent time decorating my blog for the 4th. I hope you like it. I have also started a Homeschool Center, where I am putting all the imformational homeschooling posts I have written. I hope to add more. I want to share what I learned during our short homeschooling journey now that it is over. I have found a new graphic site and need to add their button to my credits, but that will ahve to wait until another day. I need to do it soon because I can't wait to start using their graphics.

I have been toying with the idea of adding pictures of us to this blog. There have been 2 big reasons I haven't; one, we don't have a digital camera, two, I'm not sure I want to give up our privacy. Well, the purchase of a digital camera isn't anywhere in the near future. And, I don't want to give up our privacy, right now. Especially, DH and DD's because they didn't ask to be part of my blogging adventure. I am still thinking about it. We'll see. Who knows?

An Update on my Mother

She is just fine after her encounter with a snake. She didn't have any bad side effects. The swelling didn't last long. The soreness went away quickly, too. Everything considered, she was very blessed. Thank you agin for your prayers.  

Jun. 23, 2008 - Graduation Speeches

The Welcome Speech

Welcome to Richey Hill Academy's Graduation Ceremony. I have had numerous people ask me how do determine when a homeschooler is ready to graduate and how do they graduate.

At the beginning of DD's high school years, DH and I sat down and wrote out a course of study for her to follow. She has passed and completed all of the requirements we set for her. There are many ways a homeschooler can graduate. Some may attend our state's homeschool conference and take place in the graduation ceremony held there. Others chose to celecbrate with family by eating at a nice restuarant. Most celebrate with a small ceremony and dinner with loved ones. Which is very appropiate since most homeschoolers place a great deal of emphasis on family.

God, family, and learning are how homeschoolers place their priorities. We strive to place god as the center of everything we do. Building and strenghtening the family unit is what we hope to achieve, We place more emphasis on learning instead of being taught. DD has been learning when she hasn't even realized it. She has been learning household management as she did her chores. She has been learning budgeting and consumer economics as she saved her money to buy something. She has been learning every time she picks up a book to read. She has been learning hospitality as she has friends over to the house.

Homeschooling has been a wonderful experience for us. The one thing we would change if we could, would be to start homeschooling from kindergarten. There are several verse of scriptures we homeschoolers use as guidelines. We would like to share them with you now.

The Principal's Speech

High School Graduation remains one of the most significant rites of passage in our culture. It is a meaningful point where we can pause on the treshold of change and look in 2 directions-past and future. For a Christian, looking back reminds us of God's faithfulness and gives us the foundation we need to look ahead to the uncertainities of the future with an attitude of humility and faith. As a homeschooling mother, I look back and am awed by the ways that the Lord directed the education of DD, and the people and events He used to do it. I'm humbled by the fact that His leading and His blessings have come in spite of my shortcomings! What an exercisein tahnkfulness it is for us to look over our shoulders and see God's hand of mercy in our lives and DD's. As we stand on the threshold of a new beginning we face the unknown. The only genuine hope we have for the future and for DD's future is found in the Lord. As we pause to recognize this, it is a cause for worship. Looking back with thankful hearts allows us to look forward with faith.

By marking the high school commencement of our homeschooler, we aren't only affirming DD's accomplishments but giving her a sense of closure. Just as homeschooling is more than academics, a homeschool graduation signifies more than just the completion of a cousre of study. It is a time to affirm our children's passage into adult life. These verses from Colossians 2: 6-7 is a wonderful one for DD as she reached adulthood. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him. Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in faith, as ye have been taught, abounding ther in with thanksgiving." Like the commencement itself, these verse links the past with the future, "abounding therein with thanksgiving," comes from having a clear view of God's dealing with us in the past, and the admontion for the future is also clear-"so walk ye in Him." The middle section  of this verse ties the 2 together "stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught. As DD reaches the end of her home education and prepares tomove on to the next stage of her life, can we ask anything more important than that she remains "rooted and built up in Him," and continues to grow in the Lord.

DD, I leave you with 2 thoughts: (This is the point where I start bawling. )

Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Dream for tomorrow.

The past is your hertiage. The present is your  responsibility. The future is your challenge.

I didn't come up with the speech. I took it from an article published by one of the owners of Home School Diploma. This is where I ordered DD's diploma, name cards, tassle, and stole. I also got the idea for our invitations and announcements from there. There is also other great ideas to be found at this website, www.homeschooldiploma.com.

The Superintendent's Speech

With these hands, I gently cradled this child;

Held her close to my heart,

Nursed her wounds and clamed her fears,

Held the books that I would read

And rock this child fast asleep.

With these hands, I made her lunches

And drove the ca that carried her to school;

Snapped endless pictures, wrapped countless gifts,

Combed her hair and wiped her tear,

Let her know that I was near

To nurse her wounds and heal her heart

When it would break.

With these hands, I made mistakes,

And witht these hands, I prayed and prayed and prayed.

These hands are feeble, these hands are worn,

These hands can no longer calm the storms;

These hands have done all they can do;

These hands now release this child, my child,

To You.

For Your hands are able,

Your hands are strong,

Your hands alone can calm the storms.

Your hands will continue to do

What they are so gifted to do,

To shape her life and make her new.

Into Your hands receive this child,

For my child I now give back to You.

In the strong name of Jesus,

And with all my heart I pray,

Amen."

DH heard this read on a Famliy Life Today program. He got on-line and found it. He had tears running down his cheeks as he read it. It was the perfect way for him to release her into His hands and a good practice for the day he will have to release her into the hands of her husband.

Jun. 23, 2008 - Richey Hill Academy's Graduation

Our DD's Graduation Ceremony

DH and I sat down while on our mountain camping trip and laid out our plans for the graduation ceremony. We knew we wanted it to be Christ-centered. He had a special poem he wanted to read. I had several scriptures I wanted to read. We asked DD if she wanted to say anything. She didn't and that was fine with us. We decided on an order of events. Here is what we came up with.

Graduation Program

* Graduate Processional

* Opening Prayer

* Welcome Speech

* Scriptures

Proverbs 9: 10

Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

Proverbs 22: 6

Deuteronomy 6: 5-9

Ephesians 6: 1-3

* Commencement Speeches

Speech by Principal

Speech by Superintendent

* Presentation of Diploma

* Closing Prayer

Jun. 16, 2008 - A Prayer Request

My Mother's Encounter with.....

.....a copperhead snake. Last night, my mother was out carrying water to her flowers. It was just getting dark, somewhere between 9 and 9:30 pm. She sensed something moving and then felt a smack against her ankle. When she turned around to see what ws going on, she felt like she scratched her other ankle. She knew she had been bite by something. She went in and got my father. He found an 18 inch copperhead where she was at. He killed it, then got Momma in the car to head to the ER. By that time my mother's leg had started swelling. She wasn't feeling sick. Her ankle and leg was swelling up. Once in the ER, upon further inspection, she realized she was bitten in the other ankle, too. Both legs were now swelling, one a little worse than the other. The doctors checked her out and decided to keep an eye on her for more swelling for the next 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, the swelling had slowed down but was still happening. They decided she wasn't swelling enough for a full round of anti-venom, however they gave her 4 vials just to be on the safe side. After watching her for awhile, they sent her home.

She must be feeling better. Much to our dismay, she went to a meeting for a new job this morning. She was going to go swimming with us this afternoon, but my daddy put a stop to that idea. Her legs are still a bit swollen. She is going to take Benadryl (which the docs told her to take for the swelling, I guess it works for almost any type of swelling.) and put her feet up the rest of the afternoon.

Please pray for her continued recovery. Thank you and God bless.

Jun. 15, 2008 - Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my DH

To the man who held my hand and dried my tears when our first daughter died.

To the man who held my hand and assured me everything would be alright when I went into premature labor with our second daughter.

To the man who didn't tell our DD was close to death her first night in the neonatal unit, because he knew she would pull through.

To the man who held our DD so tender the first time he got to hold her.

To the man who helped feed, diaper, and bath her.

To the man who read her bedtime Bible stories to her before bed.

To the man who stayed up all night with her after I was up with her for 3 night straight when she sick and still went to work the next day.

To the man who played legos with her and dressed her dolls.

To the man who taught her how to catch a ball, to ski, and fish.

To the man who kept me from pinching DD's head off when she misbehaved.

To the man who left work early to come home to deal with a rebellious 13 year old who had put her mother at her wits end.

To the man who had the courage and calmness to drive with her when she got her permit.

To the man who took off from work to take her to get her driver's lisences.

To the man who let tears run down his cheeks when he read a special prayer at her graduation.

I couldn't think of our better father and example of Christian manhood for our daughter to have. I love you.

Happy Father's Day to the other 2 Dads In My Life

To my daddy, I admire you so much. You are a great example of a godly man. I love and in some ways I will always be your little girl. Thank you for being such an involved granddad to our DD.

To my FIL, I thank you for your son and for making me part of your family. Thank you for being such a wonderful grandfather to our DD.

Jun. 14, 2008 - Announcing The Graduation of Our DD

Richey Hill Academy Presents the Class of 2008

Well, it's offically, DD graduated last night at a private ceremony held at our home. Her grandparents, great-grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins were present, as well as our pastor and his wife. DD was a bundle of nerves, but handled everything with diginity and grace. I made it most of the way through the ceremony without any tears till the end of my speech, then I lost it.   DH had to speak after me. He got through his speech with no crying just a few tears sliding down his cheeks. We made God and family the focus the center of the ceremony, as they are main focus in our lives. I hope some of the family members present took a little something of our faith with them, home. I will post our speeches later on next week.

After the ceremony, we served our guest dinner. Here is the menu:

APPETIZERS

Garden Salad

Veggies w/ Ranch Dip

MAIN COURSE

Italian Meat Lasagna

Italian Baked Spaghetti

Italian Bread w/ Flavored Butter

DESSERTS

Fresh Fruit

A Celebration Cake

DRINKS

Water

Sweet Tea

Lemonade

We ate outside in our backyard. It was rather watm, but not as hot as it has been. We were in the shade for the most part and a slight breeze blowing. Everyone had a wonderful time of food and fellowship. We sat the great-grandmothers in our nice, soft deck chairs. I think they enjoyed talking with each other about their grandkids, great-grandkids, aliments, surgeries, etc. Even our 10 month old nephew enjoyed being passed around. He got to see the chickens, the cows, and the dogs. He really enjoyed watching the helium ballons we tied to the fence posts. Our guests didn't start leaving until 9:00. My mother, my SIL, and my 2 older nephews stayed to help clean up. I will post more about how we decorated later. Hopefully, I will have some pictures to post, too.

I was so tired last night, I couldn't sleep. Everyone kept asking me if I made all the food and decorated by myself. I did make most of the food, but did have help. DD browned the hamburger meat, made the dip, and chopped veggies. My MIL fixed the vegetable tray. My mother fixed a fresh fruit bowl. She did a good. She made a bowl oout of watermelon. The tea came from Bojangles, a local fast food restuarant. My DH, DD, mother, and older nephews helped me decorate. My mother helped me set out the food and keep bowls replinshed. So I did have alot of help. However, I did work non-stop this week and didn't sleep very well, because list of things to do kept running through my head. It was worth all the hard work and sleeplessness. DD will remember her graduation with fond memories.

I finally got to sleep around 4:00, this morning. DH didn't wake up, when he got up. He let me sleep. I finally got up around 9:00. I ate breakfast. The first meal I had ate since Thursday night. I had a doughnutfor breakfast yesterday morning, forgot to eat lunch, and didn't eat much of the supper, I spent most of the day preparing. I piddled at a few things, then washed my hair that was caked with hairspray from last night's hairdo. DH was up running around taking tables back we borrowed, taking decorations, and hauling off the trash. DD was up doing her cleaning, putting away what dishes she could from last night, and display items she could. I felt guilty but was just to tired to do anything. I did fix us all lunch, then we all took a nap.

Dh went to take care of some shopping, afterwards. I started washing clothes and blogging. DD washed up lunch dishes. DH called. He is on his way home. DD is on her computer and I am off to fix supper. It is BLTs and fruit tonight. Something easy. Before, I forget, Happy Father's day to all you dads out there.

Jun. 9, 2008 - Graduation Countdown, Part 2

4 Days Until Graduation

Temps here are still hovering around the high 90s. We went swimming yesterday. We took Oakley with us. She jumped in the pool as soon as I got in. She wanted to stay in the pool for the first 30 minutes we were there, with me holding her. After awhile she was content to lay down on her towel in the shade and occasionally walk ariund the pool. We didn't stay for more than an hour. When it is this hot, the pool can get to be uncomfortable.

Well, we are in full preparation mode around here. I finished a few things up outside this morning, in the heat. After getting cleaned up, DD and I ran to the video store to rent a few movies. What else can you do in this heat but stay in the air and watch tv. We went to the grocery store and ordered her graduation cake. We checked on how much it will cost to fill up 15 ballons with helium, picked up a few items, and headed home. </