Aug. 9, 2007
Another school year
My youngest is in Kindergarten this year. It seemed like it took so long for her to be "forever" ours, but on the other hand it seems strange that she is "old" enough to be in Kindergarten.
What fun it is to be reading great books together. What fun to share the things that I last did 10 years ago with her brother.
Sometimes I wonder if I am trying to do too much with her. (She IS my youngest! I want to do it all! I do have more time now... since I only have 2 at home and not 3, and Caleb is much more independent.) Besides using Sonlight, (including Singapore Math and Handwriting without Tears), we are doing Spanish, Child Size Masterpieces and KinderBach. For Spanish we are using Easy Spanish Junior, and we haven't really started that yet, though I plan to next week. We have done the Child Size Masterpieces once, and that really doesn't take too long. I should be able to do it once or twice a week. She loves to play games, and she considers it as such. The KinderBach was something I saw at the SE HS Expo in Atlanta last weekend. I got a sample CD and took it home. Em watched most of the sample lesson with me. When Tony got home from work she brought out her little toy piano and showed him what she learned in the first lesson. Now I have to see if we can find someone to tune to real piano that is in the basement. I know it hasn't been tuned since moving to Tennessee, and that was 10 years ago.
I'm still trying to catch up from being gone to Atlanta 4 days last week. I haven't finished cleaning up the living room or dining room. I haven't finished the ironing (and my husband now has a full time job at the public library and needs a dress shirt every day. Quite a change from when he worked at home much of the time and wore polo shirts!) I think our small group starts up again next week, (and it meets at our house) so I really need to get it done. Once the house is "back to normal" (clutter makes me edgy) then we can fall into our regular routine and I can add the Spanish & when the music gets here add it in.
Last night at church some of the youth were complaining about school starting today, and I laughed and said Caleb had already started on Monday. He does pretty well on most things. He is able to study in his room or the family library for everything except math, for which he needs the computer. Unfortunately, by the time he gets to math, Em is finished and ready to play, which she does not do quietly.
What a blessing to be able to have our children at home, and to guide them as they learn!
What fun it is to be reading great books together. What fun to share the things that I last did 10 years ago with her brother.
Sometimes I wonder if I am trying to do too much with her. (She IS my youngest! I want to do it all! I do have more time now... since I only have 2 at home and not 3, and Caleb is much more independent.) Besides using Sonlight, (including Singapore Math and Handwriting without Tears), we are doing Spanish, Child Size Masterpieces and KinderBach. For Spanish we are using Easy Spanish Junior, and we haven't really started that yet, though I plan to next week. We have done the Child Size Masterpieces once, and that really doesn't take too long. I should be able to do it once or twice a week. She loves to play games, and she considers it as such. The KinderBach was something I saw at the SE HS Expo in Atlanta last weekend. I got a sample CD and took it home. Em watched most of the sample lesson with me. When Tony got home from work she brought out her little toy piano and showed him what she learned in the first lesson. Now I have to see if we can find someone to tune to real piano that is in the basement. I know it hasn't been tuned since moving to Tennessee, and that was 10 years ago.
I'm still trying to catch up from being gone to Atlanta 4 days last week. I haven't finished cleaning up the living room or dining room. I haven't finished the ironing (and my husband now has a full time job at the public library and needs a dress shirt every day. Quite a change from when he worked at home much of the time and wore polo shirts!) I think our small group starts up again next week, (and it meets at our house) so I really need to get it done. Once the house is "back to normal" (clutter makes me edgy) then we can fall into our regular routine and I can add the Spanish & when the music gets here add it in.
Last night at church some of the youth were complaining about school starting today, and I laughed and said Caleb had already started on Monday. He does pretty well on most things. He is able to study in his room or the family library for everything except math, for which he needs the computer. Unfortunately, by the time he gets to math, Em is finished and ready to play, which she does not do quietly.
What a blessing to be able to have our children at home, and to guide them as they learn!
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Jun. 21, 2007
WOW! An answer to prayer
As incredible as it is to see God answer our prayers, how awesome it is when we can see that God is using us (or in this case, my husband) to be the answer to the prayers of others.
A little over a year ago my older son was in a short film at Milligan called A Thousand Events. The idea behind the story is that it takes a number of small events for the right circumstances to fall into place for a big thing to happen. I have always said that for Christians there are no coincidences.
We had been driving nearly an hour to church for nearly 4 years, when God provided the means for us to move closer. He blessed us with a great house in a fantastic location. We moved last September. (Though our old house still needs to sell.)
A few months ago the new president of Johnson Bible College had a meeting with my husband about the possibility of joining the Appalachain College Association (which is my husband's employeer) and asked him if he would consider teaching some classes as an adjunct. My husband told him that he was unable to as long as he worked for the ACA. He could not work for any of the member colleges as long as he was an employee of the ACA.
In mid-May, my husband was asked to take early retirement from his job, effective June 30. It had been a stressful situation for nearly 2 years, and his health was suffering (his blood pressure was too high). For him, it was a relief. He told a friend yesterday that it was something that needed to happen, but he would never have quit. God had previously provided the means to have enough money to live on (especially once the old house sells) except for health insurance. We will be able to continue to have health insurance, but I was concerned about how to pay for it. It was obvious that my husband would need to find a job, though he could not begin to look until July 2, because of fulfilling his obligations to his current job.
My husband is a librarian, and there is an annual conference for Christian librarians. We had all planned to go this year, and the children and I would do vacation type things while he was in meetings Tuesday - Thursday, but on Monday he would play the tourist with us. Monday afternoon he got a call from someone at JBC, asking him to come in to talk with her when he got back home. She is the coordinator of the graduate ed program. He went to see her Tuesday afternoon. She gave him a schedule of the classes in the program and discussed various of them with him. He noticed that 3 of the classes were "crossed out". (One for fall, one for spring and one for summer semester). One class a semester might be enough to pay for health insurance, and if our old house sells quickly, then we should be OK for other living expenses.
He told her that he was interested in the possibility of working with her, but the 3 classes he was most comfortable with, qualified for, and interested in were the 3 that she had marked out. She went on to explain that the dean (who goes to our church) had asked her to cut down her teaching load, and those were the 3 classes she was not going to be teaching, and needed someone else to teach them. She, and others at JBC, have been praying that someone qualified would become available to teach those classes.
The dean told him that the coordinator wanted to retire a few years ago, but unable to find someone qualified to lead it, the program was in danger of being closed. She didn't want it to be closed down, so she said she would continue to teach for a while. My husband is qualified to be the coordinator because while his master's degree is a library science degree, his Ph.D is in educational technology. When he has been in the classroom over the years, it has been in the education department. So he is qualified to teach in that department, even though his primary job for the last 30 some years has been as director of a library.
If we had not moved in September, the drive from Jefferson City to JBC would have become a burden (especially with the current price of gas). Now, however, we live within minutes of JBC. Another "little" provision God made in preparation of this. So, I say again, it is incredible to see the hand of God at work in our lives, but how awesome is it to know that we can also be the answer to the prayers of others!
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Apr. 23, 2007
Schooling and Moving
Actually we moved 7 months ago... but it has taken us until now to get the old house empty so we can do repairs, painting & cleaning. This has taken a hit on school. Fortunately C is nearly done with school for the year, and E is "just in preschool". She & I have been going to the old house 4 or 5 days a week to clean & paint. Painting with a 4.5 year old is a challenge. She wants to help; she really does... and there are certain things and places I am willing to let her paint. And there are other places that I really don't want her to help paint. The problem is that I can't leave her home, because then C says he can't get school work done and my husband has a harder time getting his work done, too. SO, I take her with me and it takes me longer to get things done.
C works at the old house 2 or 3 days a week and my husband makes it 1 or 2 days a week. C moves back & forth helping my husband or me, depending on what is most needed at the time. He is a great help... but I do feel bad about him spending time there when he could be home either working on school or doing yard work at the new house or just being a teen ager.
I will be so thankful when the house is finished and on the market. (I'll be even more thankful when it sells!)
So if you know anyone who needs a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch house in Jefferson County, TN let me know.
In the mean time, we are busy with wedding plans. My son gets married May 12.
Life is busy, and never boring!
C works at the old house 2 or 3 days a week and my husband makes it 1 or 2 days a week. C moves back & forth helping my husband or me, depending on what is most needed at the time. He is a great help... but I do feel bad about him spending time there when he could be home either working on school or doing yard work at the new house or just being a teen ager.
I will be so thankful when the house is finished and on the market. (I'll be even more thankful when it sells!)
So if you know anyone who needs a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch house in Jefferson County, TN let me know.
In the mean time, we are busy with wedding plans. My son gets married May 12.
Life is busy, and never boring!
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Mar. 27, 2007
Life goes on
It has been almost forever since I have blogged. We have one room of the basement nearly finished. It is the library, and it is beautiful. My little one asked if we get to "do school" in that room, and wanted to start immediately! I told her I needed to put some books on the shelves "right now", but yes, we will be able to "do school" in that room.
I love spring, and I love dogwood trees. We have had a dogwood in the yard of every house we have lived in. The one in the yard of our last house blossomed only once in the 8 years after we planted it. While I was out of town visiting my sister, my husband and little girl planted 2 dogwood trees in our back yard. On Sunday I noticed a tree with just barely opening buds to the left of our driveway. On the way home from church I asked my husband if they were dogwoods, and if they are within the boundaries of our property line. (There are empty lots on either side of our house). When we got home, we looked to see. There are THREE (2 within our property line and one right on the line) to the left of our driveway, and 2 more just outside the back fence (still within our property boundaries.) What a blessing! After being disappointed that the other tree didn't blossom, God has richly blessed me with mature, blossoming, beautiful dogwood trees!
My older son is getting married in 6 1/2 weeks. Last Saturday we spent the afternoon with him & his fiance and her parents. What a blessing to see him in this next stage of life. B & E are both strong Christians. I'm sure their ceremony will be a witness to all of God's love.
I love spring, and I love dogwood trees. We have had a dogwood in the yard of every house we have lived in. The one in the yard of our last house blossomed only once in the 8 years after we planted it. While I was out of town visiting my sister, my husband and little girl planted 2 dogwood trees in our back yard. On Sunday I noticed a tree with just barely opening buds to the left of our driveway. On the way home from church I asked my husband if they were dogwoods, and if they are within the boundaries of our property line. (There are empty lots on either side of our house). When we got home, we looked to see. There are THREE (2 within our property line and one right on the line) to the left of our driveway, and 2 more just outside the back fence (still within our property boundaries.) What a blessing! After being disappointed that the other tree didn't blossom, God has richly blessed me with mature, blossoming, beautiful dogwood trees!
My older son is getting married in 6 1/2 weeks. Last Saturday we spent the afternoon with him & his fiance and her parents. What a blessing to see him in this next stage of life. B & E are both strong Christians. I'm sure their ceremony will be a witness to all of God's love.
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Nov. 10, 2006
So much hurt in the world
My college roommate & friend who was my maid of honor just got email up & going again after several months of having none. Fortunately, she still had the same email address. I happened to email her (just because I was thinking about her) the same day she was back on-line. She got married about 6 months after I did. but waited longer to have children. Her oldest is the same age as my 2nd child. Her four are much closer together in age than mine are. Our lives have been in some ways radically different. She has worked most of her married life, I have been a stay at home mom. Her kids have been in private & public school, mine have been homeschooled for nearly all of their education. And...her husband was abusive. They have been separated for about 18 months now. At times he makes an attempt to work on the marriage, but most of the time not. She said that it is hard being a single mom, (especially since her middle two children are rebellious and acting out), but on the other hand, life is more peaceful without him.
She asked how my married daughter is doing. Again, interesting timing of us getting back in touch.
My husband is out of town. He'll be back about midnight tonight, but last night when he called, he asked if I had read our daughter's blog. Apparently she has (at least) two. I had read the "clean" blog. He allerted me to the "darker" side. The language is rough. Much more so than I ever thought would come from her. The discussion of some other parts of her life were a bit of a surprise to me. (Things she told us a year ago she wasn't doing... either that was a lie, or she has started doing them since then.) But the hardest thing to read was her utter hatred of her parents, particularly her father. Equally hard were her posts about planning to go to h*ll, because she certainly doesn't want to spend eternity with Christians.
This is the young lady who 8 years ago helped me at my curriculum booth at the SMHEA and CSTHEA fairs. This is the young lady who said she wanted to be a homeschooling mom and use the Christian curriclum that she & her brothers used. This is the young lady who went on a 6 week mission trip to Brazil with Brio Magazine the summer she was 16. This is the young lady who graduated in May from a "Christian" college. (But I can't help but think that she was a Christian when she enrolled, but somewhere in the last 4 years lost her relationship with Christ.)
My husband and I talked on the phone 'til nearly 1, and then I was up until 2 reading the blog and crying. At 7:20 this morning I got a call from FedEx, wanting directions to our house. Our new sub-division doesn't show up on the maps, and getting deliveries has been a challenge. She said they were going to try to deliver this morning, so I got up (earlier than I'd planned!) and got ready to start the day. The delivery didn't make it at all, so I've been on low energy and raw emotions all day.
Besides the ache at the choices she has made and the hate she feels, I fear for my younger son. My daughter suggests that he is much like her, and when we get his basement bedroom finished, he will be able to escape like she did and only have to put up with us at meal time. On a positive note, he decided years ago that he wants to go to Bryan College, and that does not seem to have changed.
Kathy said that there has been some similar feelings between one of her daughters and thier dad. So, my college roommate and I have renewed a pact to pray for each other and our families. And, as much as it hurts to pray for it, my prayer is, "Whatever it takes to bring them to You, Lord."
She asked how my married daughter is doing. Again, interesting timing of us getting back in touch.
My husband is out of town. He'll be back about midnight tonight, but last night when he called, he asked if I had read our daughter's blog. Apparently she has (at least) two. I had read the "clean" blog. He allerted me to the "darker" side. The language is rough. Much more so than I ever thought would come from her. The discussion of some other parts of her life were a bit of a surprise to me. (Things she told us a year ago she wasn't doing... either that was a lie, or she has started doing them since then.) But the hardest thing to read was her utter hatred of her parents, particularly her father. Equally hard were her posts about planning to go to h*ll, because she certainly doesn't want to spend eternity with Christians.
This is the young lady who 8 years ago helped me at my curriculum booth at the SMHEA and CSTHEA fairs. This is the young lady who said she wanted to be a homeschooling mom and use the Christian curriclum that she & her brothers used. This is the young lady who went on a 6 week mission trip to Brazil with Brio Magazine the summer she was 16. This is the young lady who graduated in May from a "Christian" college. (But I can't help but think that she was a Christian when she enrolled, but somewhere in the last 4 years lost her relationship with Christ.)
My husband and I talked on the phone 'til nearly 1, and then I was up until 2 reading the blog and crying. At 7:20 this morning I got a call from FedEx, wanting directions to our house. Our new sub-division doesn't show up on the maps, and getting deliveries has been a challenge. She said they were going to try to deliver this morning, so I got up (earlier than I'd planned!) and got ready to start the day. The delivery didn't make it at all, so I've been on low energy and raw emotions all day.
Besides the ache at the choices she has made and the hate she feels, I fear for my younger son. My daughter suggests that he is much like her, and when we get his basement bedroom finished, he will be able to escape like she did and only have to put up with us at meal time. On a positive note, he decided years ago that he wants to go to Bryan College, and that does not seem to have changed.
Kathy said that there has been some similar feelings between one of her daughters and thier dad. So, my college roommate and I have renewed a pact to pray for each other and our families. And, as much as it hurts to pray for it, my prayer is, "Whatever it takes to bring them to You, Lord."
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Nov. 8, 2006
"I'm Sorry", she said.
Last night I had the opportunity of attending an event where there were some great speakers talking about homeschooling.
A couple of friends from my old "neighborhood" where there, which was fun. I was hoping I'd get to see them. One of them introduced me to some friends she had met through blogging.
One of the ladies to whom she introduced me has a similar church background in common. She asked me where I attend church, and when I told her, she said, "I'm sorry." I think (I HOPE!) she was joking. I don't know if she has ever attended that local congregation. I am fairly sure she knows others who attend that particular local body. Her comment (even though I thought she was probably trying to be funny) left me so speechless that I couldn't respond.
What she doesn't know is that for 3 1/2 years we drove 50 minutes each way 3 (or more) times a week to attend that church. What she doesn't know is that by God's providence we have just 2 months ago been able to move closer to this particular body of believers.
What she doesn't know is that the eldership of the church we attended for years before making the change was hostile to our bi-racial foster child (finally adopted this year). What she may not know is that the church we are now attending has several bi-racial families, trans-racial families and adoptive families so our family is more "accepted". What she doesn't know is that many of the churches we have attended in the past are suspicious of people with an education (my husband has a Ph.D). This church has other people with advanced degrees. What she doesn't know is that for the first time since moving to TN 9.5 years ago, my son has friends at church.
Hopefully, she was trying to be funny, but it seemed to me to be similar to a situation where someone asks what my husband does for a living, and when told he is a college librarian, they respond, "I'm sorry." Or if I happened to be introduced to someone and when asked who my husband is they responded with, "I'm sorry".
What I WISH I had said, was, "On the contrary, God showed us that this was where we needed to be." Or, "Really, you're sorry that God has blessed us with a congregation that fits our family needs so well?" I don't know where she attends church... but I'm NOT sorry she is there. I pray that God will use her to bless others and be blessed by those around her.
A couple of friends from my old "neighborhood" where there, which was fun. I was hoping I'd get to see them. One of them introduced me to some friends she had met through blogging.
One of the ladies to whom she introduced me has a similar church background in common. She asked me where I attend church, and when I told her, she said, "I'm sorry." I think (I HOPE!) she was joking. I don't know if she has ever attended that local congregation. I am fairly sure she knows others who attend that particular local body. Her comment (even though I thought she was probably trying to be funny) left me so speechless that I couldn't respond.
What she doesn't know is that for 3 1/2 years we drove 50 minutes each way 3 (or more) times a week to attend that church. What she doesn't know is that by God's providence we have just 2 months ago been able to move closer to this particular body of believers.
What she doesn't know is that the eldership of the church we attended for years before making the change was hostile to our bi-racial foster child (finally adopted this year). What she may not know is that the church we are now attending has several bi-racial families, trans-racial families and adoptive families so our family is more "accepted". What she doesn't know is that many of the churches we have attended in the past are suspicious of people with an education (my husband has a Ph.D). This church has other people with advanced degrees. What she doesn't know is that for the first time since moving to TN 9.5 years ago, my son has friends at church.
Hopefully, she was trying to be funny, but it seemed to me to be similar to a situation where someone asks what my husband does for a living, and when told he is a college librarian, they respond, "I'm sorry." Or if I happened to be introduced to someone and when asked who my husband is they responded with, "I'm sorry".
What I WISH I had said, was, "On the contrary, God showed us that this was where we needed to be." Or, "Really, you're sorry that God has blessed us with a congregation that fits our family needs so well?" I don't know where she attends church... but I'm NOT sorry she is there. I pray that God will use her to bless others and be blessed by those around her.
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Aug. 5, 2006
Our homeschooling journey
I've been asked to tell about our homeschooling journey, especially since we have graduated two.
Even before we were married, my husband and I talked about homeschooling. I was teaching in a small, private (but not Christian) school. I had less than a dozen students, of all ages. I told my husband-to-be that if I could teach various ages of other people's children, surely I'd be able to homeschool our own!
Annaka arrived not quite a year after we got married. We were living in a small town in southern Illinois, but moved to metro St. Louis when she was about 4 months old. We moved into one of the top 10 school districts in the COUNTRY. Our church also had a Christian school which met in their building. (The church did not over see it, simply remnted space to them). SO, I wondered if we would keep the plan to homeschool. After all, there were two very good "traditionial" options. As it happened, BJ arrived when Annaka was 3, and we moved the next year to a small town in northern West Virginia.
Annaka was now 4, BJ 1, and there were no children their ages in our neighborhood. When we lived in St. Louis, Annaka had sever friends, including the neighbor, with whom she played all day every day. They even ate at least one meal together every day. Now she was suddenly thrust into a world with no play mates. As I said, it was a small town. There was a public school in town, and the class sizes were small. The town was a college town, and many of the teachers at the school were Christian. We investigated putting her (even though she was only 4) into Kindergarten, but they would not enroll her. We found a Christian school in Pennsylvania (40 minute drive each way) that had a 4K on Tuesday and Thursday. It was a full day program, so the drive would be several hours apart. She was enrolled, and her formal schooling began. The next year the 5K was M, W, & F, and I was hired to teach on Friday, which helped with the tuition and the number of round trips required. My husband was able to stay home with BJ that year, which also was a help. The Christian school was a good experience for Annaka. She was happy, learning, making friends. She had a great teacher, and an excellent peer group.
First grade at Faith Christian Academy was, of course, five days a week, and we simply couldn't afford the time, gas and wear & tear on the car to make 10 round trips a week,so we enrolled her in the public school.
We should have started homeschooling at that point, but we didn't. I thought with just 12 kids in the classroom and a "Christian" teacher it would be nearly as good as the private school. The teacher was nearing retirement and had lost her edge. The peer group was rough and mean. It was a disaster. I should have removed her and started homeschooling her, but I didn't. (I have had to apologize to Annaka and repent to God since then.)
When BJ turned 4, we enrolled him in the same Christian school. Same 2 day a week program, same great teacher. Different peer group (of course!) and not nearly the positive experience his sister had. I should have removed him and started homeschooling him, but I didn't. We put him back for the K5 year, and added another family to car pool with. It was not a good year. (I have had to apologize to BJ and repent to God since then.) Caleb was born that year.
Then it was time for BJ to be in 1st grade. The same teacher was still teaching 1st grade. We knew we could not do to him what we had done to Annaka, so we decided to homeschool. Annaka was going to be in 4th grade, and said she wanted to finish her primary school years there. The local school went only to 4th grade, and then she would be bussed to the next town over for middle school. We told her she could finish 4th grade at the public school, or we could bring her home when we started schooling BJ at home. She made the choice to go one more year at the public school, knowing that she was going to be home for middle school. Of her 4 teachers at the public school, the 4th grade teacher was by far the best. However, the peer group was still the same, with an added bully who had moved into town. She started the school year OK, but before the first month was over she was sick every morning. I told her I wasn't going to put her though that for the whole year, and so we did what was necessary to bring her home also. By October, both were home, and we were loving having time together.
I had been a teacher. I had tons of materials, but I bought more from CBD and a couple of other places. I had been to support groups, but never a homeschool convention. I honestly didn't know what options there were.
We were using a variety of text books & work books, and concentrating mostly on the basics. We did an occasional unit study.
After a couple of years, we had gotten into a rut. It was no longer fun. I still knew home was the best place for my children to learn. I still knew I was the best (human) teacher for them, but the product wasn't working any more. I remember the day Tony came home from work and asked how the day went. I told him it was awful. The kids weren't enjoying it, I wasn't enjoying it, and unless something changed, I was going to send them all to school (Caleb was 3) preferably boarding school. I was joking, but I knew we needed to do something different. I had a catalog from a literature based curriculum that I wanted to try, but was a bit cautious, because it looked expensive. My wonderful husband (who is a college librarian, by the way) said we should give it a try. We have never looked back. It has been wonderful. Sure, there are those days that aren't wonderful. Everyone has them, but as a whole, the experience has been wonderful.
We schooled at home for 4 years in West Virginia, and then moved to Tennessee. When people knew we were moving, they asked us if we were going to continue to homeschool. We said, "Of course! Homeschooling is a life style for us."
We have lived in Tennessee for 9 years now. Every year Annaka would say, "I will do what you & dad want me to do, but I hope you never send me back to traditional school." She graduated in 2002, went on to college, and graduated in May. While in college she was on the dean's list most semesters, and very active in extra events. She is married & living a couple of hours away, as her husband has gone back to school.
BJ graduated in 2005, and went on to college. He has been on the dean's list one semester, and barely missed it the other. He is well adjusted, well liked, and anxious to get back to school in a few weeks. He found his special friend at school, and they are engaged to be married in May.
We recently made the decision to move to a new home in a different county. We have been asked if we would continue to homeschool. (People simply seem to believe that it is a reaction to a specific school or school district).
We have just started our 15th year of homeschooling. The little one we are hoping to adopt will soon be 4. We have 14 more to go on this adventure, and I'm still lovin' it.
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Aug. 4, 2006
Tax holiday
Tennessee is enjoying the first ever "tax holiday". Other states have done this. My sister, who homeschools in Iowa, has told me about their tax holiday weekends. Having other plans today, and not wanting to fight crowds, my boys (19 & 14) and I went to WalMart last night. It was not overly crowded, but our local WalMart is in the process of remodeling. The store is going to look great when it is finished, but it is an exercise in frustration while in progress. For many of the things we were looking for, we had to go way out of the path to get there. There were carts and pallets full of unrelated items between racks of clothes.
We were very blessed to be able to get pants for both boys as well as some other things, and all of the school supplies (notebooks, paper, etc.) we will need.
I am saying prayers for the people who have to work this weekend. On the news they said they anticipated this shopping weekend to be close to "black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving.) My daughter works at a WalMart near where she lives. She has to work every day this weekend, as well as starting a new (second) job tomorrow. I'm glad she has Monday off at WalMart. She is going to need the rest.
Sales tax in TN is high (though there are other benefits from living here!) What a blessing it is that the state is giving us this break. It must be noted that the local tax is still in effect, but that is a very small portion of the tax picture.
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Aug. 3, 2006
First Blog
My 3 older children are bloggers. My soon to be daugter-in-law, too. I suppose I should join the 21st century and become a blogger.
We have started school for the year. My only actively schooling child is in high school this year, so he is doing so much on his own. I do a little schooling (letters, numbers, colors, etc.) with the little one... mostly to keep her quietly occupied while big brother is working.
The thing weighing most on my mind right now is our up coming move. We will be meeting with the builder & realtors tomorrow so there are no more surprises. It isn't a custom built house, so we have few choices on how things are to be done, but there are some things that we thought would happen (based on other houses in the subdivision) that don't seem to be the case. So, we will get an itemized list tomorrow. Right now I just wish it was over. I hate the thought of all the work involved in moving and getting our current house "market ready", but I'm greatly looking forward to being in the new house. I'm looking forward to being closer to church so we can invite friends over more easily.