April 27, 2008
Just Posting
Just posting an entry to keep from having my account deleted :) I still sign in to leave comments and read some private blogs. You can still find me at:
www.TrainingHearts.com
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June 24, 2007
You can find me Here!
It's good to see Homeschool Blogger finally working better :) My new blog can be found by clicking on the above banner.
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April 28, 2007
Homeschool Mom's Secret Sister Session #2
I just posted the information on my blog about the next Secret Sister Session for Homeschooling Moms!
Please click HERE for all the details!
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April 9, 2007
I'm honored with RED cheeks!
Although my blog has recently moved, most of my 2006 entries were started here at Homeschool Blogger and I really wanted to be sure to say "Thank you!" here as well!!! The link to my blog now is:
http://www.TrainingHearts.com
I’m very honored and flattered (and blushing profusely) for being nominated in 3 categories for The Homeschool Blog Awards. Wow…just the thought of being nominated is overwhelming, maybe all of these raging hormones, but seriously it is truly a treasure of my heart to know that I’m on this list. The 3 categories are Best Encourager (actually one my goals for my blog), Best Blog Design, and Best Homeschool Mom. If you are new to my blog, I wanted to point out the one of my favorite features is that YOU the reader can actually choose a graphic theme. In the right hand column titled “Theme Switcher” YOU can choose a “theme” that you would like my blog to show YOU! I’ve tried to capture something for everyone and continually try to bring something new and fun.
I’m really at a loss for what else to say, but blogging has been a passion of mine since 2004 and I’ve met some really special friends. I now have printed memories of my heartfelt entries for many years to share with future genearations. I believe it’s important to capture those deep memories and have tried to encourage others to do the same. I enjoy the thought provoking assignments through Blogger Friend School and have learned sooo much from others. Secret Sisters was a new and fun way to uplift and encourage one another and overall it was a huge success!
Thank you again to those that nominated me and advance “thank you’s” to those that actually vote for me. If you feel led to vote, please click on the graphic below and vote! Have a wonderful week!
Posted by TrainingHearts in On My Heart
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February 5, 2007
Thank you!!
Thank you all who have made my New Home so nice and warm & cozy! I was really worried about moving my blog, but my dear friends who have stopped by with their sweet comments have made the transition very smooth. In case you lost directions....here is my new addy :)
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January 31, 2007
REMOVED OFF CLASS ROSTER!
The following is a list of Blogger Friend School Classmates that I am removing OFF the class list unless I hear from them :) I visited all the blogs and looked for graphics, a blogger friend school category and some type of recent activity with BFS and if they didn't have any of these in place, then I believe that they are not participating at this time. Because our list of Classmates is ever growing and VERY long, I need to do the roll call and make sure that we don't have dead links. Several people have left their blogs and left only a white blank screen. Please forgive me if I am mistaken and let me know and I can add you back on the list!
Isaiah5513
ClassicalEducation4Me
WingsAsEagles
Mom2Angels
StitchNChick
Mommyto7
Layla7
Kampsplete
LeanneNZ
Semimom
Ourheartsathome
Heartnsoul
Thismomiscrazy
Lilangels
Sweetie
Mamabugs
Homeschooling6
MomflippedsWOW
Nothinbutgirls
Mommyof3girlies
Diane
Aneloo02
Floridasnowflakes
Oneyjones
Christy
Acrossthepicketfence
Excelsiorwarriors
Maxwellacademy
Opheliag
---------------------------------------------------------------Blog's started timing out
Marybeth **Blog Timed Out??**
-------------------------------------I did go back and double check..but still didn't see any blog.
My4littlewomen
Dandelionwoods
Eclecticeducation
Alwayslearning
Singinganewsong
Joymommy
Mommyof5
JenofAvonlea
Jumping
Jalambert
Fringey
Waiting for reply:
PatinTN
Roo
Sagerats
jewls2texas
bookworm
**IF YOU STILL WANT TO BE ON THE LIST.....PLEASE CONTACT ME FROM MY NEW BLOG. I SPENT HOURS VISITING ALL THE BLOGS**
MY NEW BLOG WILL HAVE THE CURRENT LIST OF YOUR CLASSMATES. HSB's new changes will not allow an automated java script anymore and I can't maintain this as I was. I promise to keep my class list as updated as possible.
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January 31, 2007
BFS - Assignment #16 is posted!
I have posted the next assignment: visit www.TrainingHearts.com to find out!
I have been trying to post this but I've not been able to sign in here ....kept getting a blank site :(
**Trying again :) **
I just wanted to say, "Thank you" to ALL who posted and wrote me privately. The words of encouragement were beautiful and much appreciated. It took a lot of decision making to formally "move" but my main concern was my time on the computer between two blogs and keeping focused on my main goal of writing for my children.
I also want to still be able to help others with their blogs and this will allow me to do that also. I love to encourage others to "blog it"!!!! I have loved looking back at my past blog entries from years ago and enjoy reading them and learning from my past.
I'm weary from my 2 days of migraines and I appreciate all who joined me in prayer. I hope to be able to report next month of no headaches and post of praise!
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January 30, 2007
New house is built...(a blog house)
My heart is filled with mixed emotions as I make this huge announcement and move my blog to a new home. My reasons were complicated and I still find it difficult to 
make the official announcement since my heart belongs to the “homeschool blogger” community. Simply put, my blogging is self-contained on my own host and gives me the ease of printing my blog every year. Printing my writings is my main goal for writing out all my thoughts, prayers and daily activities for my future generations. I want my daughters to have something special to read and share with their grandchildren and so on. I’ve been blogging for a while and it is difficult to maintain a homeschoolblog and still also keep up with another blog for printing that a printing service can pull the archives and bind into a book for me.
What is “New” here? LOTS of fun things!
#1…is that our new home has a really easy address to remember! Training Hearts is all you need to remember to find us. www.TrainingHearts.com will bring you here directly without a map!
#2… is the fact that YOU the reader can change the look of my blog! Don’t want the
Valentine’s Theme…Change it to a Primitive Look! Want a beach summer scene…click on the Summer Sun theme! This is so much fun and SAVES me precious time to play with girls rather than working on my blog!
#3…You can subscribe to my blog and have an email sent with my current posts. I honestly don’t know exactly “how” this works yet, but you can subcribe clicking on the Subscribe button and filling out the form.
I am still learning all the +’s while the building process is continuing here at Training Hearts. Thankfully the structure was built by a very talented graphic artists and the interior decorating is completed by a full house of graphics artists who graciously share their talents. I did NOT build 
this new home and I don’t even know how it was done. Selling books on ebay help fund our building process.
While we have a new street address and house, the inside of our home remains the same — filled with love, friendship and a desire to learn from others and share my thoughts from the heart.
The door is always open and here is the key 
to the front door!
Posted in On My Heart · Current Mood: 
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January 28, 2007
My Little Miracles
Our girls are all little miracles and have had to overcome some sort of life threatening struggle and miraculously they are all here today--healthy and alive! All children are miracles....and here is the story of my miracles!
Our oldest daughter suffered from a weird condition at the end of my pregnancy in which she swelled up with water. I remember at birth describing her as having the face of a solid round basketball :) Thankfully she was induced early and lost a lot of water weight over the first few weeks.
Our second daughter was ill with unexplained hives about every 19 days leaving us hospitalized many times from the age of 4 months to 2 years. In and out of the hospital too many times and frequent stays at the Ronald McDonald House left us helpless at
times wondering if she was going to live at times. Her body was fighting itself. She had lost 50% or more of her hearing and had chronic ear infections. Miraculously once again, mommy's heart stood firm one Christmas Eve and insisted that something be done, even exploratory, but my heart felt that it was something in her face. As a mommy, I noticed that she didn't ever have a runny nose and she banged her head every time she cried...not so much in anger but as though she was in pain. Surgery was performed that Christmas Eve and a sinus cavity/ear tubes were found to be compacted. Draining this off and creating a hole in her sinus cavity resulted in her hearing and actually speaking to me in phrases --a very special Christmas present and no more hives!
Our third daughter was a miracle from the beginning as I hemmoraged at barely 8 
weeks pregnant and had a tear that threated her life. I was put on bedrest for nearly 4 months. She again experienced a close call when a normal flu turned into a bowel blockage. Once again we witnessed another miracle of life as the doctor at first ignored our plea's and finally had a "gut" feeling with us. A simple test, although uncomfortable for my sweet baby, revealed the blockage and actually cleared up the area :)
Our fourth and youngest daughter is a living miracle not so much by medical technology as by the grace of God. She was born prematurely at 33 weeks and "miraculously" came home with mommy from the hospital a little over 32 hours later! Her NICU staff, my OB, and everyone involved were stunned at her birth to find a preemie at her gestation go home so early. She was born under induced conditions, a room full of respiratory therapists, nurses and doctors who whisked her away to the NICU. I was told she would be there a minimum of 6 weeks...my mommy heart broke yet I was ever so blessed to see her pink and breathing. My first visit to the NICU was just a few hours after her birth and I wasn't allowed to hold her and I sobbed. The next visit, I did my new scrubbing routine and was sterile and had my heart stop when another door to the NICU open and they said she was moved to the Special Care Side. This sounded serious, but miraculously I was told that she was maintaining her oxygen levels, passing fluids normal, eating normal, having good alert times and sleep patterns AND for the most part maintaining her own body heat. Wow! The nurses informed me that they take each minute as progress but at any minute something else could set her back. I remember that night in my hospital room as one of the longest nights. My tummy was empty and I had nothing in my arms. I had really heavy pain but
I insisted at every NICU interval throughout the night to go and visit. I was allowed to hold her and cuddle and I savored every minute and sort of waited to the very last minute before I gave her back up to the nurses in the NICU. I hobbled back to the hospital room and had my pity party once again but I was very gracious and gave God all the glory for the perfect timing of her birth and His plan for her. I also ached for other parents around us whose babies were struggling so hard at life and for the aching knowledge that some of those darling blessings were going to meet their maker soon and those precious women were going to go home with empty arms and a broken heart. I finally slept for a bit (maybe an hour or so) and trotted back to the NICU. Why the gave the me the very farthest room was very frustrating. This visit was special for me as my mom brought my older girls (who I hadn't seen a week) and 2 special friends from church came. My mom was allowed in the NICU and I got to feed her a bottle! This was new experience since I had always breastfed, but I was 
taking any precious moment I could get. Again the pity party took place as I left knowing that I was going home and my precious blessing was staying in her sterile controlled environment and an hour away from our home. How can I bear my baby being so far away.....I pondered thoughts of a hotel room, trying to find someone to stay with...but in any case I was being faced with not being with part of family. I grasped hold of my emotional mess, and began to ask for peace and also thanking God that our baby was okay. I felt bad for my thoughts as I know other mommies had far worse situations. I still hadn't heard of my discharge time and I planned on using it to its fullest capacity. I wondered down to the NICU again, by wheelchair this time...I was so tired and sore. My husband and I arrived and shortly her neonatologist came over for her exam. ...this again was miraculous timing as all the doctor visits are supposed to be done during non-parental visiting hours and have scheduled meetings with the parents to discuss the care. As the doctor, read her chart and intricately listened, watched and touched our baby, she asked me if I had been discharged yet. I explained to her that we hadn't been yet. She then continued to say that she was discharging the baby to go home...well to my hospital room until I was discharged. Oh my, I am so glad that a chair was nearby as I felt faint and tears flowed from my heart as I knew that the many prayers for her miraculous arrival and now her discharge were taking place. The doctor left and the nurses stood in awe as they had never seen a 33 week preemie go home in that time. We attended our required CPR and preemie classes immediately and in perfect timing with our tiny baby's discharge testing, picture and paperwork. I went back to my room and her special nurse brought her to us all bathed and dressed in her outfit that I picked out just weeks before her arrival. I knew she would be tiny and had bought preemie clothes....although a little big, they worked! My discharge paperwork came and we proceeded to be wheeled out of the hospital and on our way home. Our little one is now 22 months old and thriving strong. She has not only progressed beyond her gestational growth but is very healthy and full of strong will. Usually that strong will would be a negative, but each time I think of her strong (frustrating) will, I know in my heart that it was this exact spirit that kept her fighting for her life! I love her strong will and know that it was all part of God's MIRACULOUS plan!
God's will is not always as we hope as I have suffered through the loss of baby blessings ...an early loss and a loss at almost 5 months pregnant....but there are
always miracles in the gift of life...whether for 8 weeks or 5 months pregnant or the life here on earth of our sweet little ones. The miracle has yet to come when I can see God's plan unfold in eternity with my heavenly babies.
I have a special adoption graphic available for "Infant Loss" located in the left side bar under Adoptions of the Month.
Heart Training: Are you grateful for your strong-willed 'miraculous' blessings? The 'miracle' of life is just that--A MIRACLE!
Awareness Ribbons provided by: Cozy Memories
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January 28, 2007
Homeschool & Field Trip to the Ostrich Ranch
This week was busy and we have chosen to make some 'changes' to our homeschool schedule to allow for some activities that our girls want to do before our next school year....more on this at the bottom of this post.
On Monday, we had another family come over for dinner, dessert and just let the children play together. We really didn't do much but sit around and talk, but it was enjoyable and my plans are to invite at least one family from church or our homeschool group each month...January done!
The middle part of our week involved making some homeschool alterations to include ALL that we want to cover before my oldest daughter 'officially' starts her 4 years of High School. This school year we have been doing both Adventures & ECC from My Father's World every day and while it works, we find that at times we are kind of rushing and missing out on the more relaxed approach...so our new plan is to finish Adventures by the end of April and put aside ECC for now. Then while we are still fresh on American history, my girls WANT to do Prairie Primer and My Little Primer. We will do our Little House studies from May - August and then in September we will pick up on ECC and finish hopefully by the end of November. Ahh...then a nice Christmas break for a month long and we will ALL start My Father's World Creation to Greeks. The younger girls and I will be doing the elementary curriculum and my oldest daughter will start the High School program which will be available this fall.
On Friday, we had the pleasure of spending the day with another homeschooling family while the mom had sugery. Thankfully she came through sugery well, and all the tests revealed that it was NOT cancer as she was originally told. PTL!! The girls and I brought over pizza & soda (big treats for us) and our two new games of Homeschool-opoly & Horse-opoly! They had so much fun....even paying a Monopoly 'over-due' library book fine or having HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Assoc.) - get them out of court Free!! Next we all took a little nature walk to an Ostrich Farm for an educational field trip. Did you know that 1 ostrich egg is equivalent to approximately 20 chicken eggs? or that it takes 2 hours to hard boil an ostrich egg because of its size and the 1/8" thick shell? We also tasted some ostrich meat jerky. YUM!! Another plus to ostrich meat....it is a nice red meat that has less fat than chicken.
I took some pictures for my "Photo of the Day"!
The children all playing "Homeschool-opoly" and were creative that since one game didn't have enough pieces ...they took pieces from the "Horse-opoly" game so that they all could play together.
Our littlest one was too small to play the game...so she played "peek-a-boo" on the staircase!
We bought an Ostrich Egg shell that had been drilled out and drained and decided to do a comparison picture between our home raised chicken eggs (which are VERY large compared to store bought but yet looked tiny compared to the ostrich egg).
A Chart of the Ostrich egg growth.
This was a display about "The Other Red Meat" and the life in general of an Ostrich....by the way, they sell fertile eggs to be hatched for around $90 and a baby ostrich around age 3 for $1000. The cost of a regular Ostrich egg for cooking is around $24.
These are a 'bunch' (I forgot to ask if they are called a flock, herd or whatever) of BABY ostriches. They were fairly large for being babies.
This is all the younger children in front of an Ostrich Statue! Just one of those photo moments.
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Need to drink more :)
Stay on program and count those points!
Need to do more exercising!
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