Jul. 8, 2008 - Family Updates

Well I'm back for a minute. What a busy summer. We have gone camping a few times, the kids and I spent some time in a timeshare cottage with my mom. We went to two amusement parks we had free tickets. We also are trying to get lots of playdates in and all of our fair projects done. Our state was also very hard hit by flooding. Some of my family members suffered from this. My husband also started a new job but it is again third shift. So this is our summer so far. June was crazy but I think July will settle down. Hope to be back again soon.

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Jun. 17, 2008 - Home improvements and spring cleaning

I officially finished everything on my list. We rented a dumpster and cleaned out our garage and basement. We opened up an enclosed porch. We reorganized the school room and last but not least we caught up on laundry. I even washed windows, as that does not get done very often. We will be enjoying the rest of our summer now. I really need a break from the hussle and bussle of the school year. Of course we will be doing summer learning but nothing structured. Who knows how often I will post in the summer as we tend to be gone alot and have less computer time. I can't post pictures because my computer isn't working right so if I have the chance to go somewhere else and use the computer I will.

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May. 28, 2008 - A Difficult Time

Things seemed to be going well last wek and I was going to go into my second week of spring cleaning and projects around the house. I had plans Monday night and was gone for awhile. When I was driving home I felt horrible. I hadn't felt real well for a couple days but just passed it off as everyday stress. I seemed to be having some trouble with my vision. When I got home I decided to go to the E.R. They did some tests and things and apparently, I had an infection and a very large kidney stone causing extreme blockage. They really wanted me to stay Monday night but I don't sleep well in hospitals. I went home and was admitted the next morning. I was there two days and had to have the kidney stone removed. My infection is back and I will need to have some more tests because stones and infections have been common place for me. As mothers sometimes we are so busy taking care of others that we over look our own troubles. I didn't even have that much pain until Tuesday!

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May. 18, 2008 - Spring Cleaning and home repairs week 2

Very busy here with all of our household projects. We did get the school room set up, opened up an enclosed porch, some cleaning, and some painting. This will be another busy week trying to get things done so I will not be here much this week. I will have pictures when we are all done.

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May. 11, 2008 - Spring Cleaning: Time for A Dumpster : Unschooling

Every year around this time, I spend a good week cleaning and doing little odds and ends projects that I never get done through out the year, before we play for the summer. We spend alot of our summer out enjoying sunshine and nature. I get most of my science for the year done in the summer. Anyways we started today. Tommorrow's chore. Our school room. It needs to get organized. I am moving everything back upstairs. It has been in my dinning room for the last couple years overtaking my house which seemed neccessary with my husband's schedule. We are going to try it upstairs again and see how it goes. I also want to move even closer to unschooling next year. I have wanted to do this for awhile but have felt the pressure to stick closer to a curriculum. So next year will be alot different for us. I want our life to be a learning life with no structured sit down time but with plenty of structure. I know this doesn't work for everybody but those of you who know me know how motivated I am and that it will work for me. We will stick to a math curriculum and I will design the Language arts, history and science unit studies. We will also do alot more store learning. So it will be a busy week , with all of the cleaning,we will be getting in lots of home ec.LOL and gardening and woodworking(repairing things) and art(painting two rooms) and last but not least lots of cooking! I really get ready for summer around this time of year and irritable. I was telling some friends the other day it was my time of the year(not month). I can never say this enough. I love that God has given me the blessed opportunity to educate my children at home and hope that God will bless more and more people to have the same opportunity.

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May. 9, 2008 - We Get our Answers from Genesis

Last weekend we went to hear Ken Ham from Ansers in Genesis. We could listen to him for hours. The most important thing we always get from him is that Genesis chapters 1-11 are the foundation for life. In those 11 chapters we get our work week structure, and marriage and family structure. Believing that the creation week is not a literal amount of time could lead someone to wonder what other parts of the Bible are not literal. At any rate, we are excited to plan a summer visit to the Creation Musuem in Ohio in the summer. The children are also very excited about going there.

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May. 6, 2008 - Offensive Words banned in Government Schools

These words have been banned in government schools in Australia and some school districts in the United States. Hope I don't offend anyone by using them. After successfully banning the word God, Christmas, Easter and anything else that related to religion now we are working on the family. The new words that have made it to the banned list. Mother, Father, mom, dad, wife, husband and spouse. But wait did the go far enough. Don't you think we need to ban family.What about children and animals. Those words suggest that there is an authority structure. Many teachers have already gotton rid of the title Mr. and Mrs. Let's just let the kids call us by our first name. Do you see were I am going with this? How far will we let this go. It is very grevious, that a nation would reject one of the very things(the family) that holds it's structure together.

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May. 4, 2008 - Great Field Trips

Just haven't had the time to share them till now.

The first was our local water treatment center. It was great to learn about the microorganisms that clean our water for us. We also liked to hear about the push to make the plant energy efficient and alittle more self sufficient!

 The next was a visit to our local greenhouses

My youngest son had alot of fun seeing if it poked him to touch a cactus! Yes we really do get out quite abit! Fieltrips help us break up the end of the year monotony abit.

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Apr. 29, 2008 - Is He really Eight?

I know I am alittle behind in my posting. This past weekend we celebrated our middle son's eight birthday. I have a hard time believing he is eight. When I first had a baby everyone use to say how fast the time goes. Sometimes it seems never-ending but it goes so fast. All he really wanted for his birthday was a bike and a remote control car. He got two cars so he is very excited about that! We are glad God has gave us eight wonderful years with him so far

Oh ya, and his uncle has a sense of humor and got him those goofy teeth.

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Apr. 27, 2008 - Expelled:No intelligence allowed

This was a great movie about what has happened in this country. What used to be common place in the class room has now been expelled and can not even be taught. The main subject of the movie is intelligent design. Religion was not invoked at all in the movie. Scientists on both sides of the fence were interviewed. Ben stein did a great job in this movie. It was as good if not better than all the hype around this movie. I do not know if it is still in theaters or not. It was only going to be in theaters for the weekend but our theater is still playing it. If you have a chance to see it I would recommend it. Normally, I would probably put a documentary in to fall asleep to. (not a big fan of them). This one would wake you up. Remember, suport good quality films. Theaters have now given us the air time, we just have to go.

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Apr. 19, 2008 - Modern medicine

Now, I know how many of you feel about anti-biotics and immunizations and I tend to agree with you. They are pumped up, overused, and don't always work. This is very true. We are watching the scary development of MRSA and other resistent infections. I will have to share our personal MRSA story sometime. Now as many troubles as there are with antibiotics, I thank God for them. This past week my son developed a rash. I noticed it as I gave him a bath in the morning. I didn't think much of it, maybe a minor alergic reaction. He has alergies and has had mysterious rashes before. By early afternoon i called my personal nurse(mom) who told me to give him some benedryl, so I did. He appeared to be fine so we went to our art class and gym time. After we left and got home, he went outside to play with his brother and came in having alittle difficulty breathing and complained that his throat hurt. I looked at his rash and it covered his body. I called the doctor and they said to bring him in. He had a bad case of strep and scarlet fever. This came on fast and worsened quickly but the doctor assured me, within twenty-four hours he was no longer contagious and that the symptoms would began to disappear. This was true, the next day was difficult but then he was fine. This used to be a serious chilhood illness but now, thanks to antibiotics and along with God's heeling power it isn't. So when I think of antibiotics, I think they are neccasary sometimes, but not for everything. Just another occasion to praise the Lord, not that we need a reason.

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Apr. 15, 2008 - Puppies and Planting

So her is a picture of all of the puppies. We had one that almost died and birth and was revived. I am sad to say he passed away this afternoon. So now there are nine. He did not want to eat.

 This is the cat we finally decided on for the cat show. She has the best personality and gets along great with other cats. That comes up in a couple weekends.

Last but not least, here is a picture of us planting and making a tremendous mess of the kitchen on Sunday.

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Apr. 14, 2008 - Passing From Death to Life

As I have been reflecting on this the last few days, I can not began to express how much I have been praising the Lord for my dad's diagnoses. I have also been praising him for his healing power. The healing process seems to be going quicker now. I think the worst part of the whole thing for me, was until a situation like this occurs, we do not really think about a loved one being lost. We almost asume that person will always be there. Now dad had an eternal perspective. When he found out that he could have cancer, he said he has had a good life and that God was in control. He also Praises the Lord for the outcome.Over the years, I have experienced the untimely loss of friends. To an accident which took the life of a friend's husband and father. To a drug overdose, that claimed the life of my best friend's 17 year old sister. An old highschool friend from problems with diabetes. Elderly family members. These deaths always hit me hard and I continue to this day to think of the memories of these people. Over this past weekend our dear sister in Christ from our church went home after a nine month battle with cancer! In the past two months some hard times have come upon our family and this lady's daughter has been such an encouragement to me. Even when my dad was going to be all right, she kept asking how he was doing, knowing full well that her mom was not doing well. I have know this family since I was a little girl. Sometimes we wonder why God chooses to take one home to be with him but yet spares another. I have chosen not to question his providence. Saturday evening while visiting my dad, a friend of his stopped over at the house and had just been out to see this lady. He said the nurses thought she had 24 to 48 hours. As we left, we felt compelled to go out and visit her as it probably would be the last time. So we did and were greated by her daughter. We went into tovisit as the  pastor was reading scripture to her. After the scripture, we began singing to Jean. It was beautiful. The last song we sang was "It is well With my Soul. During that song, she went to be with the Lord. I felt so honored to be there but also humbled. That could of been me and the Lord really used that event this weekend in animpacting way in our lives. I have no idea why he prompted us but I know he had a timely reason. Please pray for her dear family this week. They really need it!

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Apr. 14, 2008 - The Miracle Puppy

She had ten puppies! I forgot to let you know the final count. Also the last one born was a true miracle as he had to be revived. He almost died.

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Apr. 12, 2008 - You have the Right To be Happy

If you can not afford it, it will be provide for you without any questioning. When I was young I heard how my grandparents waited for their were first TV for years until Grandma won it. Of course she hand washed clothes and didn't have a bathtub in there home till my dad was older. They used an old stainless steel one. You know what I am getting at. When I was younger, we took an occassional vacation, went out to eat once and awhile and yes, even got something new once in awhile. But not a car, those were bought used with cash and weren't always the greatest but got us from A to B. Get my drift. It is alarming. As we watch the economic meltdown occuring, we wonder why. Normally, when the economic situation turns, economic boasts are put into play so more money is waiting to be circulated into the economy. Now this sounds noble but what will most of us do with our stimulus checks? Pay off debt that we have accumated. When a reccession hits, the worst possible scernio is the current one. The savings rate is negative, the government's debt is at an all time high and yes many people are losing homes they felt they were entitled to and told by financial institution, they could afford them, andindividuals are cash strapped. Well no need to fear, the government is hear. From the bail out of financial institions, to the individual home owner, to the tax payer, to mortgage lenders. Now you would think people would have a wonderful opportunity to learn a valuable lesson here but instead the government is coming to the rescue but wait, they can't afford it either. I guess what I am getting at is we all need to  evaluate where are hope lies. Is it God or is it financial security. What kind of stewards have we been with the money God's blessed us with and are we living with in our means? Trust me, are family is guily of this too in certain areas and have been woken up to evaluating our personal finances. We know God's word says "The love of money is the root of all evil. It also tells us to work heartily with our hands. Now many people don't ever look at financial accepts in politics as a moral issue but it is. Where we lay up our treasure and what we think we are entitled to is an issue of where our trust lies. Will we ever regain the financial responsbility of passed generations or will we have to learn in a manner like many after the stock market crash. We have the blessed opportunity to teach our children FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILTY. This is a subject we have been studying IN our family, the Great depression and also financial responsibilty. I have been personally convicted of this and just felt burdened to share.

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Apr. 10, 2008 - Puppies

 So we are having puppies today and we are not done yet. Seven so far. Let you know the total later.They are golden Retrievers

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Apr. 10, 2008 - Dad is Home

And he is doing well. Recovery is still going slow but major improvements were made since my last post. The final results have not yet come in so we still are unsure if it is cancer but as I posted early the pathelogist did not think so but sent everything of for testing to rule it out. We should know in the next few days.

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Apr. 8, 2008 - A setback for Dad

The doctors thought dad could come home today or tommorrow but Dad developed an infection and recovery is taking alot longer than expected. It looks like it may be a few more days. He loves to eat but currently has no appetite at all and lots of stomach upset. Please pray for him as he recovers and praise the Lord with us for the positive results we have received. I will continue to update. I printed up all your comments to encourage him because he really needs it!

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Apr. 5, 2008 - On a Positive Note

Dad's surgery went well. The doctor does not think it is cancer. If it is it, it is well contained!! Early detection. It has been an emotion and trying time for us lately. This is great news. Recovering on the otherhand will be longer than expected because more of the intestine had to come out than originally thought. We are just praising the Lord and thanking all of you for your prayers!!

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Mar. 29, 2008 - A Break

Lately alot is going on with our lives. My dad has been sick and we are having some family trials. I need to back off and take a little blog break but I'll be back. Dad is having surgery this week. So once we get through this and a few other family trials. I'll be back. Take care everyone.

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