Well, I am not sure where time has gone, but I have not forgotten about all my wonderful friends here at hb.  Not sure where to begin, but I will just say that things have been a bit crazy around here.  Boring, boring details...so I won't bore anyone....

I am really pleased with Leading Little Ones to God!  Little really enjoys our lessons!  If I had not been reading my friends' blogs on hb, I would never have found this book.  I love learning things from you all!  I really admire you all for all you do and teach me.  Thank  you!

is asking me where Little is going to school in the fall.  "We're homeschooling her", I say proudly.   "Why?" or "Oooooooh.  Wow.  Is that, uh, hard?  If she went to school, you could have a break during the day."  is what they almost always say cautiously.  Then, I answer: "Homeschooling preschool isn't exactly hard.  So far, it's been really fun!  And, the Bible says that we are to raise and educate our own children.  It's not always the "easy" road, but it's so worth it!"   

Now, I will admit something to you that I am very ashamed to say.  Sometimes, I do get a bit jealous of other moms who have free hours every day to do with what they please.  They "take breaks" and/or run around doing errands and whatever else.  My child is VERY high-energy; full of imagination to the max.  She is NEVER quiet.  This child came out of my womb talking and asking questions.  I am ashamed to admit that sometimes, not a lot, but sometimes I secretly envy these other moms.  I haven't a waking hour to myself and sometimes I do envy them. Then I slap myself!  Look what God has given you, Karri!  A blessing I do not deserve.  My daughter is a true miracle child (another story for another time).  The fact that she is here is a true miracle from God.  She has transformed my life into something so wonderful: motherhood.  I honestly thank God that I am able to stay home with her and educate her at home where she belongs. Honestly, I LOVE spending time with her!  She is the type of person people are just drawn to and I really love that about her. 

I guess that it's only human nature to want to do what is easy sometimes.  Am I the only hs mom who feels this way?  Does anyone else ever feel this way?    

As some of you already know, I have been in a rut for some reason this summer.  I think it may be because we are beginning our hs and it is pretty new for us.  There are other reasons too, I guess.  One would be that where we live, it is, like, 105 everyday.  It has been this way since about the end of May and will be this way until about mid-September.  I mean it is hot!  It is difficult, and often impossible, to go outside and enjoy the outdoors.  We have been making some trips to the library and running some errands.  (I do pretty much all the shopping and errand-running for my grandmother-in-law, who is 86 years old.  I used to drive her places; but now she can no longer get out.  She still needs stuff, though, and we run those errands for her.  My daughter calls her G.G. for Great Grandma. She's a wonderful person and it is easy to love and take care of her.  My own grandmothers have passed away long ago, so I love her like she's always been my grandma.) So, we do get out to run errands for G.G. and run errands for our family.  But, as for fun activities outside? They're just not happening right now.  It's 9:30pm and it's gotten down to 91!  We have a kiddie amusement park close-by that opens after dinner until 10pm.  So, when it does get below 90 in the evening, we do go there to play and have fun sometimes. 

So, I know that the extreme heat has gotten me down, so to speak. Other than that, I just can't put my finger on it exactly.  I feel that my relationship with God could be improved.  Okay, there's a big one.  And the most important.  I am searching my soul for ways to grow closer to Him.  I am praying and praying about it.  So far, He has not revealed to me His answer.  But, I am waiting--rather impatiently.  Unfortunately, my sweet daughter can feel the rut her mommy is in.  I am not short or mean with her.  I love on her constantly, like usual.  But, I am usually a pretty loud, passionate person and I know that she can feel that something is different with me right now.

All right, this is not the "incredible post-with-a-bang!" that I had wanted it to be.  It just sort-of turned toward what has been on my heart lately.  I'll close by asking for your prayers.  Please and thank you.

Oh my goodness!!! Just look at my beautiful new blog designed for me by Jessica mamma1420!!!  She is so incredibly talented isn't she?! Anyway, I'm going to have to really think about a beautiful new post to put here on my new blog!  I can't believe how great it turned out!  What do you think about it?  I simply LOVE it!  I can't stop staring at it!

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Do not worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  ~~Phil. 4:6~~

I must try to remember this as I struggle daily to get our school schedule in order; as we take that leap into formal homeschooling.  For some reason, I seem to be stuck in a rut.    : (    

Everyone else seems to have it all together and all I seem to be able to do is watch them with envy.  I think that I am trying so hard to do the best for my daughter, that I am almost paralyzed by fear of messing up.   What if I fail to teach her something?  What if I don't know the answer?  Don't think for a minute that I am considering public school (gasp!).  Of course, I am not. 

I'm going to get it together though.  I'm going to kick it into gear.  I'm going to do my best and follow what the Lord will have me do.  With His help, anything is possible. 

           Happy Birthday, America!    

Isn't it wonderful to live in a country where we have so many freedoms?!  We have freedom of religion and freedom of speech, among so many others.  As a woman, I am particularly thankful for the right to vote, as well as all the other freedoms women in this beautiful country enjoy.  Sadly, women of many other countries around the world are not as fortunate.  Thank you to all those who have fought for and defended our freedom!  We know how blessed we are!

 Eternal Lord, Worker of Wonders,

My days are so full that I am often besieged by the

demands of my family and community.

Father, you created order out of chaos.  Teach me

to use the talents you have given me to order my days.

Let me see what is truly important, so that in all things,

my life may glorify you.     Amen 

this is a prayer from the book Bible Verses for Busy Moms that I keep with me all the time and read constantly for motivation and encouragement.  there is nothing so uplifting as reading His Word! it can pull you out of a rut, if you're in one. and it can make a bright day even brighter.

LET GO AND LET GOD!  GIVE ALL YOUR WORRIES TO HIM!  

HE IS CRAZY ABOUT YOU!          

I just LOVE to read!  And I LOVE it when I get a new book!  I am really excited  to have just gotten a new book called *The Spiritual Power of a Mother* by Michael P. Farris.  It is a book of encouragement for the homeschooling mom.  I have been wanting it for a long time and finally just bought it.  It's a really little book, so it shouldn't take long to read at all.  I bet most of you have already read it!  If so, what did you think about it????

tonight my sweet daughter (Baby Butterfly) is at nana's house and I am missing her BIG time!  I know, I know, it's a chance to get online without little fingers all over the keyboard and hearing "can I please just type my name Mommy, please!!!??" oh, how I love those sweet little fingers!  so as you can plainly see, I am still a big baby about her spending the night away from us.  and you're thinking "oh, goodness, get over it already" but it's hard for me, really it is!  we are attachment parents and we are, well, attached.  I am very used to my VERY high-energy, VERY high-spirited child being with me pretty much all the time.  anyway, I am catching up on stuff nevertheless...reading blogs, still trying to work on my schedule and menu-planning, and of course, cuddling and spending time with my hubby.

going to walmart sucks all the life out of me.  have you ever wondered why you can enter walmart with the sun shinning and come out and it's dark or it has started to rain?  that's because going in there is like going into a time-warp.  it's like entering the Twilight Zone.  maybe there are hundreds of beautiful walmarts out there around the country, but not where I live.  ours is sticky, sweaty, and stinky.  unfortunately for us, it was time to go buy groceries at the cheapest place in town--walmart. and as much as I boycot walmart, they have the best prices in our town.  we walked in and the "greeter" did her usual--gave me a very dirty look.  not sure why they call them "greeters"?  I have never been able to even get half a grin out of one, no matter how much I smile at them.  right off the bat, my daughter starts asking for something- she's not sure what yet, but she informs me that she is going to need something from the toy department before we leave.  I'm not sure what it is about me, but every stinkin' time I go in there some customer asks me where something is, or how to use some item....ummmm.....I just politely inform them that I do not work there. usually I just get a blank stare in return.  maybe it's because I am usually wearing walmart clothes.  oh well.  uh, do they sell groceries on walmart dot com???

on this day, 15 years ago, my wonderful husband asked me to be his girlfriend.  we were only 15 years old-- babies, really!  and still in junior high (our school had a "different" system at the time). and 6 years later on that same date-june 14- we were united in marriage. so we have been married for 9 years today.  so now here we are...we have been through so much together...we were driver's ed partners and learned how to drive together, we were each other's first kiss, first hand-holding, we attended every junior and high school prom with each other as well as every high school dance, we graduated from high school together, (although we did go to separate colleges), we have lost very dear loved ones along the way and at times, thought we would not survive... still, we remained together through it all and our love for each other and the Lord stayed strong...

we jokingly say that we raised each other (although we have wonderful parents who actually did raise us!)

we love the song by Alan Jackson "Remember When", because it is so close to our story.  we hope and pray that the Lord allows us to grow very old together.  we truly love and respect each other.  we praise the Lord for bringing us together, even if we were just babies; the history we already have with each other is pretty rare.

Thank you Lord, for making someone for me who is unselfish and near-perfect, the best husband and father I could ever dream of, a wonderful provider, someone whose strong faith mirrors mine, someone I am simply nuts over! We pray that You will give us many, many more years together, countless moments to love each other and You. and thank You, Lord, for seeing to it that we are still crazy after all these years...

Like I have indicated earlier about a hundred times : ) we are just beginning down the homeschooling road.  We are starting with our second year of preschool (last year my daughter attended a private Christian preschool two days a week).  My question is:  do we do school  every day or just 2 or 3 days a week??? I am sure that with Kindergarden we will do school every day, but I don't know if we are ready for school every day just yet.  Should we do school 2 or 3 days a week or every day but just for a very little while???  What have other homeschooling moms done and found worked best for them??? I could use any info you could provide : )

TIME FOR TRIPS TO THE SNO CONE STAND, SWIMMING IN THE BABY SWIMMING POOL IN THE BACKYARD, MY SWEET LITTLE ONE SMELLING LIKE SUNSCREEN : ) , SLEEPING IN, PARK DAYS, SITTING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY IN THE BACKYARD WATCHING THE SUN GO DOWN, MOSQUITO BITES : ( , LARGE CHERRY LIME-ADES, & LOTS AND LOTS OF SUNSHINE!!! 

Today has been nice having my husband home from work!  Our daughter LOVES spending time with him!  We came home a day early from our little "vacation/family reunion" to spend the entire day together.  I really, really love traveling, but it is SO nice coming home.  Especially since we cleaned the house before we left--so nice to come home to.  Several years ago or so, it seemed all I wanted to do was go, go, go.  I was constantly "on-the-go" & everyone called me the "on-the-go mom".  Now, it seems like all I want to do is be at home.  Going places is still fun, but coming home is really great.  I never thought that I would say something like that!

Lately, I have been studying the art of being at home.  It is so simple, so peaceful.  It seems like it is right where the Lord wants me to want to be!

Nothing like taking thirty-something years to figure something out!

is any mom familiar with "hands on homeschooling"???  my sister-in-law has introduced me to this website and I am thinking of purchasing it for the fall.  it is christian-based and everything is so well put-together!  the cost is very reasonable, even for us (a one income family).  I wondered if anyone else has used it before???

today it is 95 degrees here!   soooo hot and getting hotter!  we played in the baby pool this morning before it got too hot to be outside.  we are enjoying the air conditioning now. we played with one of my daughter's closest friends today and my daughter learned that she was going on to a local public elementary school, whereas we will begin homeschooling in the fall.  My daughter was a little bummed that they would not be in school together and that hurt me a little to see her a little hurt.  I know that we are doing what is right and what we are led to do.  My husband and I believe that God wants children educated at home. Still, we aren't that used to peer influences yet and it was a little tough. 

I was just wondering if anyone suggests doing any summer homeschooling or should we just wait for Fall to get here??? We are eager to start, but I know August/Sept. will be here before I know it. 

We are just starting out (preschool) and new to homeschooling!

I would have to say that my biggest worry is our unapproving family.  When it comes to homeschooling, they do not approve.  This is really unfortunate and upsetting to me.  My wonderful husband says that we are to do what we are led to do, that God controls our lives and no one else.  He is right.  God will work everything out because homeschooling our beautiful daughter is HIS WILL and part of HIS PLAN for our lives!