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About Me

My husband James and I have been married for 23 years, and we live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. We have 4 daughters, Ashley- 23, Briana-20, Marissa-12, and Daniella-8. This is our 16th year of homeschooling. I enjoy scrapbooking, reading, camping, games with my family, and Bible study. My most favorite place on earth is sitting on a white sandy beach with the "sand between my toes", listening to the waves splash on shore. Our family is also passionate about adoption, Guatemala, and missions.


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Entry 6 of 225
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You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
Oct. 20, 2009
So Much Life!

Posted in Life Happenings

As usual, things are hopping around here.  I"m not sure if anyone is still reading my blog,so if you are please leave me a comment and say hi.  So many of my friends have stopped blogging, and I'm trying to get back to my diligence of reading blogs again.  I love hearing about your families. 

First of all, if you haven't been by lately, you can hop over to see pictures of Ashley's 4 weeks in Kenya HERE and HERE.   And, Briana is in the midst of the production of Camelot, and you can see those pictures HERE.

The younger girls are plugging away at learning and loving life.....except when I make them clean up their messes.  We have been working on a lapbook on the Fruit of the Spirit, but have taken the last few weeks off. 

In early October, the 4 of us went to North KY to the Creation Museum.  They liked it pretty well, although, we didn't find it to be extremely kid friendly.  They are adding a hands-on kids area soon, though.  They did enjoy parts of it, though. 



We also got to meet a blog friend while we were there! 


Jennifer and I had a great time visiting, the kids had a great time together, and the time just flew by.  We talked for almost 3 hours. 

We also visited an old high school friend the day before while we were there.  We had not seen her since graduation, but we have become much more acquainted as friends on Facebook. 

After our visit with Jennifer, we went into Cincinnati, and had a great time walking over the big purple pedestrian bridge in the rain.  We crossed the Ohio River, and walked from OH to KY and back again.  : ) 


Let's see, also in this past month, we've celebrated 2 birthdays.  Ashley, our oldest~which most seems to surprise most people....that she's the oldest~ turned 23.  Seven days later, Briana turned 20.  The day after Ashley's birthday, we went over to Briana's to celebrate their birthdays together.   We had a fun night of bowling.
(Briana is on the bottom; Ashley on top!)

We were supposed to be going camping this past week, but unseasonably cold temps made us have to postpone it.  We're hoping to go next week, but are watching the weather.  God worked out the timing anyway, because as it turns out Briana had an emergency, and I was back over to her house for  3 nights.  Her 6 month old kitten, who is her baby to the core, started having seizures.  He was already anemic, which turns out is probably related to this.  He was in the hospital for 4 nights, and they thought he was better, but the day after he came home, they started again, and were often and very violent.  He was diagnosed with something called FIP, which is basically encephalitis ~ swelling around his brain.  Friday, the vet told her she needed to consider putting him to sleep.  She was so heartbroken.  I went over to help her through the weekend.  In the meantime, the vet called and told her to put him back on the steroids.  Long story short, it helped, and 11:15 pm Sat. night was his last seizure.   The iron is getting into his system, and he is getting his energy and life back.  Two problems, still.  One, he is not drinking water, and we don't know why.  She is having to mix as much water as possible into canned food, and she's giving him some a couple of times a day in a syringe.  It is keeping him hydrated.  They're still working on what is causing that.  Second, the FIP is incurable.  He will always have to take steroids, at hopefully a much lower dose eventually, and needs to avoid as much stress as possible.  When she comes for a visit, they will have to increase his steroids for the time to try to prevent the seizures.  Due to all of this, he may not live a full life expectancy, but he might.  God has blessed us with answers to heartfelt prayers so far. 

Briana and I spent a painful, but sweet time earlier in the evening Sat. night (when things looked grim), sitting in the floor while she held Snickers.  We cried together, and she began to think and talk about the funny things he did all the time.  Before long, she was laughing so hard.  I just thank you Lord for answering those prayers!!! 

While I was gone, the rest of my family surprised me, and chipped in on the work of buying apples, making applesauce, and canning it.  All 3 of the girls helped, and James did the actual canning.  Those times of asking him to, "please do this while I run and do this, " paid off!  : )  He was paying attention to what he was doing!  They did a great job, and got it all finished.  Such a HUGE relief to me! 

So, here I am, back at home, as of last night.  I took the day off today, and took a nap, too!  I am incredibly thankful to see the sun these last 3 days, after day after day after day of dreary skies and rain.  Hope the Lord is blessing your families and days!

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Comments

Oct. 20, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Tammy


Yup, you've been busy! But it's nice to see you catch a breath here while catching up your readers :-)

I'm relieved to hear the kitten is doing better!

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~


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Oct. 20, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Juliestew


Thanks for your prayers. I really appreciate them more than I can say.
Julie


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Oct. 21, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy


I read on bloglines... and it has been lettig me down a LOT lately. I have thought about switching readers but, taking time to subscribe to all the blogs I follow? Where in the world would I find it? And, uh, I downloaded something so that when I subscribe it automatically chooses bloglines. I don't know how to get rid of that. So, I just keep hoping for more servers, a programming miracle... anything!

I hadn't seen Camelot until just last year. Marissa was singing The Simple Joys of Maidenhood for her singing recital. So, we got the movie from Netflix.

I hope your daughter's cat gets better. In my entire life I have made the decision to put two animals down. Heartbreaking!


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Oct. 21, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by proverbsmama


We still haven't made it to the Creation Museum, but I would like to do so. With working f/t outside the home now due to the economic crunch, I doubt that we will get there anytime soon.

I like the idea of walking on the bridge. Very cool!

Sorry to hear about the kitty. We do get attached to them, don't we? We had to put ours down in August. He was 18. We got a new kitty about a month ago. We are thoroughly enjoying him.


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Oct. 21, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jiffy11


What a nice time we had chatting away in BK. The kids still remember this. :) I'm glad to hear the kitty is doing much better. It's tough when our beloved critters fall ill. Keep warm! J


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Oct. 22, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 4sweetums


Oh! It is hard when a pet is sick. I am glad that you are seeing some recovery for the kitten. I always like hearing how you all are doing. I have seen so many folks leave blogging for facebook. I really don't see the appeal of facebook but that's just me.
Blessings,
Dawn


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Oct. 23, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


Yes, I am still reading your blog, too. You have had a lot going on, good and bad. Maybe you'll get to go camping soon? We were in your area back in September, during the rain and flash floods, but we were blessed with a beautiful Sunday after to enjoy. Please post about your camping trip. I love to read and look in on others' campsites. Can't believe how grown up your daughters are.

Blessings,
Breezy Point Mom
http://lifeatbreezypoint.blogspot.com

formerly Mighty Oak Co*ntry Scho*l


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Oct. 23, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Juliestew


contest time!!!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Juliestew/738424/
go enter
julie


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Oct. 24, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BJ @ freedomfiles.homeschooljournal.net


I still reading from chilly Atlantic Canada! I haven't been blogging much in the past year due to losing my computer to technical difficulties, and now that I have another one, I'd like to get back into it, but have found it difficult to find my groove again. Anyway, I still read, and hope you continue to write.


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Oct. 31, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


Hey Letitia,

I'm not sure if you noticed on FB or not that getting back into blogging again as well. www.zephaniahway.blogspot.com

Jennifer


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Nov. 1, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by sagerats


I'm trying to get back to blogging too! Um, it looks like your life has gotten busy again. : )

Funny, everyone is surprised when they find out that Eyebright is older than Bluejane. I don't know what it is that makes them think Bluejane is older.


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Nov. 8, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by denisebp


I thought I'd commented on this post!

Just wanted to let you know that of course I'm still reading... :) I keep up better on FB, though!


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Nov. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by bbullard


I'm so glad you checked in--I'd gotten worried about you! Just checking in, and I'm glad to see that, though crazy busy, you are well. God bless you.


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