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Sacred MarriageOne of the best books I've read in a LONG time! | ||
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I have been trying for some time now to post our schedule here. I could never get it to the right size when I would copy and paste so I'll try to just give a brief overview. I really struggle with being flexible but God has helped me and given me grace to learn how to handle all the interruptions to MY plans that almost always come along. Bearing this in mind, here is what our week usually looks like: Monday: In the midst of this plan we have to insert cleaning, laundry, errands, cooking, menu planning, budgeting, bill paying, grading, etc., etc...As much as I love the computer and blogging, I have to keep it in check and don't always get as much time as I would like to... I must remember: Ephesians 5:16: "Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." I know that some day I will look around me and not know what to do with my time because the kids will be grown and not need me like they do now. I try not to dwell on this very long because right now this is who I am. I will have to figure out a new schedule then and it makes me a little sad. I know there is a season to everything and I will look forward to a new season when the time comes. Have a very blessed day and make the best of your time! |
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I took a spiritual gift test today at this site: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com This list is the result of my test: Administration/Ruling - 10 Evangelism - 1 Pastor/Teacher - 18 Teaching - 7 I scored the same in Discernment and Mercy. If you have time, take a few minutes to take the test and read through the definitions and supporting Scripture verses. I think it helps to know how God has gifted us and to be aware of the opportunities He places in our lives to use these gifts for His glory. |
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Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead? Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection? |
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So far--"knock on wood"--we are keeping up with our lessons. Here are the books we are using this year: 15 yo: (At Home) English - Abeka Math - Switched on Schoolhouse (Geometry) Bible - Alpha Omega, Foundations for Living Driver's Ed. (Haven't actually started that yet--YIKES!!) (At Co-Op) Government Journalism/Photography Spanish I General Science Personal Finance (Foundations in Personal Finance, Dave Ramsey) - (I am teaching this class this year and I highly recommend it! It is SO important to get your head on straight about finances before you enter the "real world".) Choir Swim Team Basketball (helping out as a "trainer") I hope she can keep up with this load! 11 yo: Math - Switched on Schoolhouse Language, Penmanship, Spelling, Reading, History, Health, & Science - Abeka Bible - Abeka Flash-a-Cards, "Sticky Situations", and Awana verses Violin/Piano Swim Team Music Appreciation - at Co-Op Boy Scouts/Cub Scout den chief 9 yo: Math - Switched on Schoolhouse Language, Penmanship, Spelling, Reading, History, Health, & Science - Abeka Bible - Abeka Flash-a-Cards, "Sticky Situations", and Awana verses Violin/Piano Choir Swim Lessons Music Appreciation - at Co-Op We haven't actually started the Switched on Schoolhouse yet, mainly because I haven't BOUGHT it yet! I'm hoping it will inspire a little more enthusiasm for Math--we'll see.
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
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Question #33: How old were you and your spouse when you married (& how long did you date)? We were both 22 when we married. We dated for a year and a half. Our very first date was in Springfield, MO. (where we were going to school and where we met). I gave him a Valentine card on Valentines Day that said, "You know what?" on the front. And it inside it said, "I like you a lot!" If you know anything about me, you have to realize that was very daring and adventurous for me to be so, shall I say "forward"! He met me outside my work (KMart) when I got off and asked me to go out that Saturday. We ate out at a restaurant called J. Parrinno's and had manicotti. Then we drove down to look at the scenery in Branson. We got a started back to Springfield a little late and then we also realized we needed gas. So--I missed curfew. The girls dorms were LOCKED at curfew, as opposed to the guys dorms which were always UNLOCKED. So, I had to ring the bell to get in, sign a form stating that I was late, and go see the Dean of Women the next day to explain all this. If you know me at all, you know how very much I HATE getting in trouble! The rest is history. We were married in Midland on July 7, 1990 and God has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams. That's probably more than anyone really wanted to know about that! |
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We were able to start back to school last Thursday. It's still the first week so we're still having fun... Here are some shots of our Annual First Day of School Breakfast (this year we have a Cracker Barrel, so that made the vote):
I'll try to post later about our schedule and what we are doing this year! |
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Question 32: It sure has taken me longer to complete the "50 Questions" list than I thought. I am diverting somewhat from the original list just because the remaining questions on the original list seemed a bit too personal for a public blog. So, I'm going to ask this: "What is your favorite movie to watch?" This is hard for me because I am a very indecisive person, plus I like several movies... My favorites are: Father of the Bride (1 & 2)--I love the music on those movies; Home Alone 1--again--I love the music on that one; Sleepless in Seattle & You've Got Mail--I love Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks together; Cheaper by the Dozen; The Lakehouse; I guess I'm a "Romantic"..... |
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It has been a very challenging summer. We spent most of our time working on finishing up the "school year". We've had about a two week break from school work. Then, last week we found out that my Granny, who is 85, was not going to live very long (3-7 days). I did get to spend some one-on-one time with her during the week. I'm very grateful for that time. We had her funeral yesterday. I had the privilege of speaking about her and I thought I would just post a copy of what I said here: First, I want to thank everyone for coming to celebrate Granny’s home-going and to grieve with us today as we feel a great loss. She would be amazed to see how many lives the Lord has allowed her to touch. It’s a great privilege and honor to be able to pay tribute to my Granny today. I want to share with you some of the things that she taught me with her life: how to love God and be a virtuous woman like the woman described in God’s Word in Proverbs 31. First of all, Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” That is what I would like to do now! In verses 10-12: "A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." My Papa could always depend on Granny to take care of him. She always spoke well of him. In verse 13: "She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands." Granny was never afraid of hard work—from picking cotton to taking in ironing to working as a cook or a day care worker, she did whatever she needed to do to see that her family’s needs were met. Verse 14 says: "She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar." When I read this verse it made me think of a story when I was little. (Granny stopped learning how to drive the day she drove the car into a ditch—so she never drove a car all the years I knew her.) Sometimes when I would stay with her and she needed to go to the store, we would walk. It was only a few blocks, but when you have little legs, it felt like we were going “AFAR”. I asked her last week if she remembers all the walking we did. I thought she might say, “Oh, I know, that was so hard," but instead, she said, “You know what it was probably good for us.” Verse 15: “She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household.” Granny was definitely a gifted cook. I don’t know if she ever missed one morning of cooking a hot breakfast for my Papa, even when she had morning sickness. (I really hate to admit this, but that is one habit that I never quite caught onto…) Through the years I called her many times to ask her how to prepare a recipe I knew she made. She would say things like a “little of this and a little of that” and I would ask, “How much is a little, a t. or a T?” She’d say, oh you just eyeball it! Now I find myself telling the same line—I guess that takes experience. On holidays she loved to cook for all of her family. She would make a whole lot more than we could all eat because she wanted to make everyone’s favorites. Then, after we were all stuffed, and there were still leftovers, she’d say, “Ya’ll don’t like my cooking anymore?” Verse 25-26: “Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.” Granny loved to laugh and I don’t think I have ever known anyone as kind. She always tried to speak well of people, even when they didn’t deserve it. She faced a lot of hardships that would make most people bitter, but she never let it do that to her. Verse 27: “She looks well to the ways of her household." She loved her family and showed it with her gift of mercy. One of the things I have missed since she started getting sick was the way she used to call and check up on us all the time. She never missed birthdays. And whenever one of us was sick, she would call day after day to check on how we were doing and sometimes pull out her “medical book” to see if she could help you figure out your diagnosis. She wanted to take care of all of us. Verse 29: “Many daughters have done worthily, but you exceed them all. Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God, she shall be praised." Most of all, she showed me who God was by showing me His kindness in her smile, in her caring heart, and her words. Her eyes lit up with the joy that only comes from knowing the joy of the Lord. One last thing, anyone who ever visited with her knows that no matter how long you stayed to visit, she would say, “Are you leaving so soon, you just got here!” Now I get to say that to her, “Are you leaving so soon, you just got here!” I look forward to seeing you again one day. Thank you Granny for showing us a life lived for God’s glory. You are far above rubies! This is a picture taken of Granny on Saturday. She passed away on Monday at 3:40 a.m. She was still smiling as she was in a lot of pain and taking morphine. At the funeral I kept thinking that something did not look right about her face and it occurred to me later--she wasn't smiling--we hardly ever saw her when she was not smiling...:
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On June 9th my Lover Boy turned 40! Happy Birthday! |
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At the end of May we invited the home school teenagers over to our house for hot dogs and games outside. We had 6 girls and had a lot of fun, although we wish more had come. We have a potential of 30 teens and we would like to see them all do more things together and have fun doing it. We played a game called Race for the Runts where they had to trade their Runts candy until they had all of the same kind.
Next, we had a Southern Vocabulary Lesson but I'm not sure that went over very well. I thought it was hilarious but it seemed to get quite a few eye rolls (if you know what I mean).
Then, we played Water Balloon Volleyball: The girls started this "dancing" on their own and they had a "ball"! A Group Picture:
We're planning on hosting this sort of thing once a month as long as there is interest--hope to have more. |
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Our "Play Group" had an open house where the kids could have an opportunity to share some things they learned this year. My kids showed a bug collection, home ec. projects, art work, maps, and the Boy performed on his violin. Some of the other presentations were: homemade rootbeer, paper airplanes, a demonstration on how a boat floats, and a demonstration on electrical pathways. It was a lot of fun!
We also had a Violin Recital that same day but the pictures did not turn out very well.... |
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In May we also had the end-of-year concert for the Home School Choir:
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Next we have Awana Awards Night:
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Wow--it's been a while since I posted an entry. Life has been so busy. I think I'll try to catch up one post at a time. The first thing would be our track awards ceremony--that was in May. We had a room at Mr. Gattis and the Actress received an award for her javelin throw and her relay race. Way to go!
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I have found several web sites that have encouraged me through the years especially when life gets pretty tough and I've needed to hear "Keep going, keep up the good work", or maybe even, "We've been there and you can get through the hard times." These are all broadcasts that you can listen to and be encouraged: Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast Intentional Living, Randy Carlson I also have a few sites I enjoy reading on a regular basis for encouragement: Let me know if you have any encouraging sites that have helped to spur you on!
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Our oldest had her 15th birthday this week. She's such a blessing to our lives and we look forward to many more years of joy that she brings to our family.
Celebrating at Olive Garden and finally getting her long-awaited IPod!
Happy Siblings!
Very blessed parents!
Blowing out 15 candles on a Mud Slide Ice Cream Cake, mmm...give me more!
A nice top from a friend. Papa caught enjoying the Mud Slide!
The Actress spent the day and night on the sofa with 103 temp... Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girl!!! |
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We went on a trip with out cub scout pack last week. It will be our last one with that group since our son has moved on to Boy Scouts. Unfortunately, the family is not brought along on the Boy Scout trips so it's the end for the girls and I... We went to Corpus Christi where the boys stayed two nights and days on the U.S.S. Lexington. The girls (us whimpy ones, anyway) stayed close by in a hotel. Here are a few pics:
This is on the beach where it was a bit chilly--brrrr.... You can see the U.S.S. Lexington in the background.
This is the boys doing the "Chicken Dance" on stage at the Lexington. You only have to get up on stage if you got caught doing something wrong during your stay. My boy (in light blue) couldn't keep his hands out of his pockets which is breaking a major rule on the ship. The next pic is our Actress in the "brig" on the ship.
This was an alligator demo. at the history and science center. The next pic is the Actress and her Buddy on a ship. Then we stayed one night in Kerrville and let the kids swim:
Our poor friend was helpless against 5 kids full of energy! Always good to get home and sleep in my own bed!!! |
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Question #31: Do you have any brothers or sisters? I have one brother (always wanted a sister too...). He lives in the same town I do but I hardly ever see him. We live very different lives and our paths basically only cross at holidays and birthdays. That sounds really pitiful huh? I do pray that my kids will grow up to be closer. I think one of the main factors will be if they choose to follow the same paths, I pray they will all earnestly follow after Christ and in doing so will have so much more in common which makes it much easier to be closer. I have noticed that having them at home together every day seems to have made them closer in a lot of ways. While we still have the usual sibling rivalry going on (worse some days than others) they have a great time with each other most of the time. There's a commercial for Blue Bell Ice Cream that shows 3 siblings who are elderly and they've come home to visit the old house they grew up in. They are sitting on the porch eating ice cream and remembering what it was like growing up. That commercial always makes me tear up because I'm imagining they are my 3 kids (there's even 2 girls and 1 boy, like our family...). I just pray they will always love each other and be there for each other. |
