This Old Schoolhouse has quickly become my favorite homeschooling magazine.  The articles are insightful and helpful, and I even enjoy the ads.  (I can't say that about many magazines)

Right now they are having a great promotion for subscribers, so if you have thought about subscribing, this is the time to try it!

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http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_
info&cPath=66_60&products_id=1542> &cPath=66_60&products_id=1542

(I'm not getting the link to show up correctly, so cut and paste, it will work)

The above link will show you the pictures of your free gifts, plus gives you
all the details - it's over $500 worth of FREE curriculum items for you when
you subscribe. The magazine sold out two months early last promo. Last year you had to buy a two year sub to get the gifts - this year you pay less - just a one year sub gets you IN. Hurry if you want to claim your stuff! The promo started out with 3,000 packages, 1/3 are sold.

Check it out!  You won't regret it.

More later...

Cara

Life has been its usual hectic self.  I've been rather under the weather and just not doing much except moping around, some reading and shopping on ebay.  My doctor says Ebay is a kind of therapy for me, which I promptly told my husband - no it didn't work.    I've developed a fondness for collecting these really cool glass fountain pens.  Yes, in a household with two children, three cats (one of whom thinks my desk = her bed and likes to push things gently into the floor) and a husband, I collect glass.  I only buy the ones that I can get for very little $$ (we are after all a one income family)  I also bought two really cute (in my opinion) sea crab inkwells - they are antiques.  It sounds better when you hear my husband's sarcastic voice saying it.  ; )

Anyway, we started using the www.SimplyCharlotteMason.com organizer to keep our schedule, and I have to say it is worth the $10 a month for it.  We have gotten more done than ever before.  My girls love to be able to log in and click off what is done and close the little windows.  I save tons of time by not continually redoing paper planners.  Love it, love it.

We are getting back on track, finally.

Our big avairy is now done and we have 15 birds in residence now.  3 chukar partridges, 6 pharoah quail, 1 bob white male (his female died last week) 1 baby ring neck (the other escaped) 3 chukar babies and 1 bob white baby.  We also have about 10 egg incubating, and 5 laid in the avairy that we are waiting to see if anyone is going to sit on.  We all enjoy watching the birds. 

We still have 4 rabbits, although the girls are convinced one is expecting.   My mother has them spoiled.  Everytime they hear the house door open they perk up and hop up and down expecting fresh veggies.  My eldest thinks rabbits are a close cousin of pigs. 

My girls have been taking piano since January and thoroughly love it.  Catrine (10) is also taking voice, and on the praise team.  Delenn (8) is thinking about joining as well.  A local music store offered free instrument lessons for the month of June, so they are taking flute and clarinet.  Monday we got the news of how much it was going to cost to repad both of our instruments.   OUCH!  We could buy new instruments cheaper. 

Well, off to get ready for piano...

More later,

Cara

I just found a new budgeting site, check this out!

And I thought this was interesting.  We have been lamenting the gas prices and I found a site where you can buy plans to convert your car to run on hydrogen.  The plans are only $40 and it says it is cheap and safe to do.  Sounds like a good science project to me! "Hey kids!..."

http://www.wam-a-bam.com/hydrockickbank.html?hop=chasedc

Its been a while, but I warned you that I tend to get sidetracked and forget.  Actually I did write an entry last month, but something happened and the internet went down and I didn't get to post it, and it evaporated.

Not to todays, hopefully.

Anyway, things are the normal hectic way they always are.  My girls are now doing piano lessons weekly, and we take the neighbor boy, so thats an hour and a half on Thursdays, plus my eldest is also taking voice, so that is another half.  On the plus side, that gives me time to write, which I have been doing.

My mother is doing physical therapy 3x a week for an hour and half or so, so thats the hour drive to Palatka, wait hour plus, drive home for an hour.  It shoots the whole day.  We haven't done an actual day of homeschool since ...   Well, they still do some things, but I mean actual sit down and learn stuff.

The girls now have rabbits.  They are so cute.  Two have gotten big!  They were supposed to be girls, but the behavior we saw yesterday leads us to believe otherwise.  Then last week we saw two grey babies at the farm supply store.  Adorable!  I bought one for the neighbor boy, Dillon, for Easter.  It will also live with us though.  They are adorable!

Well, I have to get the girls back on track, but I just wanted to say hi.

More later.

Cara

I have been reading "A Thomas Jefferson Education" by Oliver Van de Mille, for the last several days, and I am finding it fascinating.  For the last two years or so we have been homeschooling using Ambleside Online. I love it, my children love it, and we notice wonderful progress in the girls.  I receive constant comments from others about how articulate the girls are.  I hear their discussions with others and feel like we made a great choice.

Now I have been reading this book and think perhaps I could make a few changes and it would still be better.

I would love to hear comments from anyone else who is using the Thomas Jefferson Education style of learning and and the results you are seeing.  I wonder what differences there are in the method when compared with Charlotte Mason.

I must go for now,

Cara Chase

Its a new year and we are off to a great start!  We started our new school year on Jan 8, and my girls started year 3 of Ambleside Online.  They were quite happy about that.  It bothered dd 10 to know that she was still in year 2 after September.  She still has a hard time with Ambleside's "years" not being grade levels. 

This year our subjects are Bible (reading, study, memorization) World History, US History, Church History, Literature, Geography, Science, Nature Study, Spanish, French, Piano lessons, Handicrafts, Drawing, Composer and Artist Appreciation, and a few others that are not coming to mind now.  We are doing Keepers of the Faith, a Christian alternative to Girl Scouts.  We will use that to cover a lot of the memorization, handicrafts, home skills and such so that it is more fun. 

I'm really excited about this year.  I see so much progress in my daughters.  it has taken most of two years for them to fully deschool (from their year and a half of public school) and to embrace learning on their own.  The more I read about the goals and hidden agenda of the public school system, the more i am grateful that I got them out when I did.  My mother, who remains my biggest supporter, next to my dh, has been a public school teacher for over 40 years, and is only starting to see the big picture.  Even in the small town we are in she is glad her grandchildren aren't in the school, at least my eldest who would be in middle school.  My youngest (8) would be at the elementary with my mom (not in her class) and I know Mom would love for her to be at her school.

Anyway, the girls will be starting piano lessons this week.  I am quite excited about that.  I have always wanted them to have actual piano lessons, from a real teacher.  The worship leader's wife, who leads the vocalists for the praise team, also homeschools and teaches voice and piano.  My eldest has joined the praise team as well.  She loves to sing. 

Now our weeknight schedule is getting quite full.  Mondays are open, Tuesday - sign language class at the church (Dh wants to learn and is encouraging them in this) Wednesday - Awanas at the church, Thursday - praise team for the oldest and husband (playing bass) Princess class for the younger (girl's Bible study at another church) and for the older if no praise team practice.  Friday - 40 days of purpose Bible study at home for the adults and several others for 5 more weeks. 

When I get time I will post our new school schedule in case it might help anyone else.  I am exhausted and still need to plan tomorrow. 

Before I go, I have been finding some great resources and would love to pass them on to you.  If you have older children this one looks great.  http://www.classicalfree.org/index_cf.asp 

Its the Classical Free Virtual Academy. 40% of their classes are free.  It looks worth checking out, and it is for grades 7-12.

May the Peace of the Lord rest upon you abundantly!

Cara in Florida

Well, we made it through Thanksgiving.  Our first one without Grandpa.  It was hard on the girls, and of course my mother.  It seems empty, even with all of us and the cats, dog, etc.

The month of November is a busy one for me anyway, with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) I usually take the entire month off to focus on writing.  I really tried to take the month off, but with moving, the memorial, my husband starting back to school, my mother's mourning, and her broken ankle, doctor's office visits and more, it wasn't an easy month.

It took me until 11:05pm on November 30 to finish the contest.  I still had a whole hour more that I could have worked, but after my month, I just wanted to see the 50K total and "WINNER" flash on my screen.  When it did I danced around the house and told everyone and I even woke up my kids.  My youngest kept coming in every ten minutes to ask me how many more words I had to go, then when I had about 100 to go she fell asleep.

Today we started schooling again.  We worked for a few hours and I think they were more excited about school than ever before.  They read and listened, well, mostly, and my youngest was very disappointed that she never got to do her math. 

We are starting to settle in and get comfortable.  It has been two months since we got here and finally my cat, Tiger, is speaking to me again.  The girl's cat, Matthew, never really gets upset, but he seems to have been taking notes from Mom's cat, and has been hissing and biting, growling and attacking.  The dog, Max, gets beat up by all three, so he takes out his frustration on the neighbor boy when he comes over.

One of the homeschool groups I belong to had a posting about a really neat homeschool organizing software.  www.home-school-inc.com

It is a free organizer, with quite a bit of flexibility.  I decided to try it and started putting in my girl's info.  I don't know if it was my computer or the site, but I kept getting an error.  I got a message saying they would fix it.  Hopefully they will get it fixed.  I think it could be quite an asset.

Gotta run!

Cara

Well, I thought I was doing good getting in here, but here it is a month later.

We got moved.  I flew out on 9/27 back to Phoenix.  I helped my husband pack up the house, and we finally pulled out of Phoenix on 10/4 (Wednesday) and arrived in Georgetown, FL on Saturday.  My husband drove the 26' Penske truck with the dog (Max, our yorkie) and towed our van.  I drove the car with our two cats. Trust me, David had the easy job.

Our girls were thrilled when we arrived with the pets.  They eventually welcomed us too. (just kidding, sort of)  One of my long time friends from Florida, Louise, rounded up her husband, daughter and son-in-law and they drove an hour to meet us when we arrived and helped unload our truck.  They were such a blessing, and it was her idea- we had never asked for help.

The following Tuesday, 10/10, we brought Mom's husband, Bob, home from the hospital.  He was so glad to be back in his own bed.  The doctor, nurses and even the hospice nurse were not thrilled with our decision to not provide a hospital bed for him.  They all said that it would be better and keep him from aspirating. I stood behind Mom's decision.  Bob wanted to be in his own bed, and that was what we were going to do.  We bought a "Mattress Genie", which is sort of a "poor person's" adjustable bed.  It goes under the mattress and raises the bed up to a 40 degree angle.  It worked great.

Sadly all of our efforts only lasted a short time.  Friday evening, after having the energy for the first time to let us help him get up to use the restroom, he went into distress and then passed away at 9:25pm.  Fortunately our girls were at the neighbors house for dinner, so they missed the actual passing.  They were home shortly thereafter and said 'goodbye' to Grandpa Bob.

We are all in shock at this point.  We really expected to have a few months with him at home.  My husband thought he would be caring for him a while, and not just 3 days.  Mom is trying to be strong.  It is very tense. 

We don't regret our decision to move here.  We love being out in the forest, and I am glad that we are here with Mom.  I don't think she would be doing as well alone.

We are trying now to get back into the routine of normal household maintenance and schoolwork.  Mom will be able to walk in a few weeks (it has been a month now since her 2nd ankle surgery)  Bob's memorial will be 11/10 (he wanted to be cremated and no funeral)  Soon family will be coming in, so we are just doing light school work.  We are still moving in!

I feel exhausted just telling you all about it!  We have joined the Putnam Plus Homeschoolers, which is the only homeschool support group I have found here in Putnam County.  They are a nice group.  We have found a 4-H group, Girl Scouts, Awanas, and something called "Princess Class" which seems to be a girl's Bible Study at another local church. There is a drawing class once a week at the public library in Palatka, which takes 45 minutes to get to. I think that is enough activities, and we will probably weed out something.

We have found a nice church, and it turns out that they are starting a homeschool support group in the next few months.  We will be checking that out too.

Anyway, that is about it.  Soon I will talk more about homeschool, our schedules, and such.  Oh, November 1 starts NaNoWriMo ( www.nanowrimo.org ) National Novel Writing Month.  I think we will be focusing on writing next month. : )

Talk to you soon!

Cara in Florida

Much has happened since I posted last.

Mom had to have a second surgery on her ankle.  It wasn't healing correctly so the doctor had to undo what he did on one side, redo it and fix the side that should have also been fixed to start with.  Now she has a screw in one side and a huge plate with several pins on the other.  She is in quite a bit of pain.

Bob, her husband, is not doing any better at this time.  Daily he asks to come home and my heart goes out to him.  He is failing and we can tell.  The only options are a nursing home or full time care at home.  Both are difficult options.

My husband David and I have decided that we are tired of Phoenix.  My girls are loving living out in the forest.  It was a pretty easy decision.  He is tired of working so much overtime to survive in Phoenix.  He is going to be the one to provide Bob's full time care, and Mom is helping us move here.  I get to keep homeschooling, David gets a break for a while, and gets to go back to school to finish his RN training.  Mom doesn't have to cook. Bob gets to spend his last days at home.  Everyone is happy.

You probably won't hear from me for a few weeks while I fly back to Phoenix and move.  I fly out 9/27, we get our truck on 10/2 and leave on 10/3 - Lord willing.  The girls are staying in Florida to take care of Mom.

Please keep us in your prayers while we move.

Cara in Florida!

Hello y'all!

Yep, I'm still in Florida! The land of sunshine, fresh oranges, good sweet tea and mosquitos.

Mom is doing as well as can be expected right now.  Bob, her husband is not doing well.  Today one doctor decided to be really candid with us.  It turns out that his lung cancer is causing the pneumonia, and it is pretty much, outside of divine intervention, incurable.  Mom had to make the decision to say "no more chemo".  Of course with her in a wheelchair it is not possible yet to bring him home for his last days.  According to the doctor he has about 6 weeks.

Please do remember them in your prayers.

My girls, of course, are making the best of Florida by chasing every insect, beetle, moth, lizard, centipede and other, that they can find.  This morning a beautiful doe ran through the side yard, yesterday it was wild turkeys.  They don't want to go home.  They just want Daddy to fly out with their cats and dog.  They don't care about the rest.

Mom would prefer that I leave the girls here and fly home, pack and move here.

That has crossed my mind.  I think I could trade downtown Phoenix for 20 miles out in a forest with actual wildlife, and air conditioning.  The pace here is so much slower, and I have to go about 5 miles to get a cell phone signal.  There is no high-speed internet for about 10 miles.  Wal-mart- 25 miles. (that could be good or bad) Aside from those few things, I'm still thinking.

It is so much less stressful here, even with the medical issues I am here to assist with.  I find myself wanting to stay here.  If my husband would pack it all and come this way, I would be quite content.  Except for my job (which I love) and friends, my cousin and her family - you get the idea.

Well, I'm just venting.  Feel free to comment or give advice. 

I don't wanna go home!

Cara

ps On the homeschooling front, the girls are finding that Grandma (who is a school teacher for almost 40 years) is a much tougher teacher than mom.  I am loving it.  They are getting work done, and I am getting a break! And I don't think my youngest will be wanting to go to ps any time in the near future. :)

Hello again.

This week finds us on a vacation of sorts.  We are in Florida for the month visiting my mother.  This is not really a vacation though.  My mother fell and broke her ankle in two places and it had to be pinned back together.  She was in the hospital for a week.  The week before her husband, who is 80 and not in the best health, had to be hospitalized for pneumonia, then they found a spot on his lung.  It turned out to be cancer of a very fast growning variety.  He is now undergoing chemotherapy. 

To help out, my girls and I flew into Jacksonville on Wednesday.  Mom lives a couple of hours from there.  I had to put my new job on hold for a while, the girls had to put choir, ballet and cheer on hold.  My husband stayed in Phoenix as he has to work, so he gets to enjoy uninterrupted sleep (I think I have said before that he is now on nights at the hospital).

Mom is doing well and Bob looks good.  He is just miserable having to be in the hospital.

My job... what can I say? They pay me to work out!  I have lost 6.5 lbs and 9.5 inches.  I really miss being there.  When I get back not only do I get my job back, but I get to take my girls with me, so long as they are well behaved. (they will be well threatened before we go.)  Actually I am not worried about their behavior.  They are usually very good in public.

My father, the one who usually makes my life very chaotic... I am reading a new book.  It is not actually new, but new to me.  It is called "Boundaries: When to say Yes, When to say No To take control of your life" By Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.  I know, some of you are nodding.  When I opened it and read the first chapter I saw myself there.  Now I know why I let some others run my life.  I am learning. 

Well, I must get.  I am trying to get used to Florida time.  Take care!  Actually I am happy for the chance to be here.  I am missing the last of the Phoenix summer.  Yay!

Cara in Florida

Today it feels like a made some progress! 

I have been trying to purge the excess stuff from our house for what seems like years.  A few weeks ago I found www.LibraryThing.com and I have been organizing my books.  All of them.  In the process I found several that we just will never use, as well as several that I didn't realize that I had.  I am not nearly done yet and already I have cataloged almost 250.

I also can now see the floor in my office/library.  I have purged bags of paper and I am so happy to see it go. 

Now if I can move onto the storage shed...

I am loving my new job at the fitness center.  I am only gone for a couple of hours, but all I do is exercise and clean for a few minutes.  In the month I have been there I have lost 4 lbs and 7.5 inches.  It is so fun.

In the next week or so I am going to finish the girls new schedule for 2006-2007 and I will share it with you.  Their choir practice starts next Tuesday, 4H & Chess start on Wednesday, and then in a few weeks ballet starts on Tuesday.  They also want to do soccer and pom/cheer.  Just to keep it straight (assuming I would actually take on all of those activities- not!) That would mean 2 on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, 1 on Friday, 1 on Saturday.  Its just not going to happen.

I am reading the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Series, book 1 about educating children under 9.  I am finding it so enlightening!  According to the book I talk too much and don't let them discover enough on their own.  I need to expect more perfect work from them, and I need to have them read more on their own.  WOW.  I think I knew these things but just didn't want to give up the reins. 

In the next week or so I will post more about what I am finding.

Talk to you soon!

Cara

Once again I didn't realize that it had been so long.  One day has flowed into another. 

My new job is going well.  Last week I worked four days.  Granted, it was only for 3-5 hours a day, but it was fun.  I really like the job, and I have lost 3 lbs!  According to the body fat tester 2.5 lbs were fat!  I also lost 5.5 inches.  I made a decision to work out with each lady who came in.  This is working for me.

We decided to end the swimming lessons after the 3rd session was over.  It was just too much in the day to deal with. 

We still haven't gotten back into our schedule with school work.  I have yet to figure out how to resolve my being gone in the AM (coming home at 11) my husband is on nights now so he is asleep.  The girls think they have carte blanc to play around.  When I get home from the club and working out I am tired.  A few days I had to take a nap, as I am not used to getting up at 5am.  I know this will pass!

Yesterday I realized that I did have much more energy.  My husband kept shaking his head and saying "You just have too much energy!"  He took a nap.

On a totally different front... We have been feeling very bored with Phoenix.  We have been here for almost 6 years.  Officially the longest we have stayed anywhere in our 13.5 years of marriage. (5 in Roanoke, VA and 3.5 in Ocala, FL)  There are many things here that we like - such as free ballet, chess and lots more.  But the heat!  I really don't want to go through another summer here.  The main reasons we are here is that my husband loves his job at the Phoenix Children's Hospital (just passed 4 years) and the girls enjoy being in the Phoenix Children's Chorus. 

Well, as it turns out, my father has been pestering us about going to Alaska.  He just returned from his 4th 10 day vacation up there.  This time he met with a pastor there who needs some help in his church.  (I happen to be a licensed minister as well)  We did some checking about Anchorage and it looks like a fun place.  We are now considering this to be our next potential move.  The girls were concerned about the choir.  I found out that Anchorage has "Anchorage Children's Choir" and contacted them.  They said they would love to have the girls audition. 

If anyone has any input about Alaska, I would love to hear it.  I do know it is one of the best states for homeschoolers as far as the rules go.

I will be back!

Well, I did say that blogging was new to me, and I am not yet in the habit of doing this on a regular basis.

So, this morning, very early, the last of our company flew home.  Our cousins that were thinking of moving to Phoenix have decided to remain in Orlando.  It seems that they decided it was a bit too hot here. (visiting in July could do that to you)  My cousin flew home last week and his wife stayed until this morning.  Now our house is back to normal.  It seems like there have been extra people here for a month. 

We haven't done any actual schoolwork for however long there has been company.  I know that getting restarted is not going to be a popular idea .  But we still need to finish some things before we start our new school year.   Our lack of school work is not solely the fault of visiting relatives.  Swimming lessons is another schedule wrecker.  They are doing great and loving the lessons but it shoots a hole in the day.  No one (including mom) wants to do any work after the pool.  We may let tomorrow be the last day and not enroll for the 4th session.  We haven't decided yet.

On another front, I started my new job!  I am a new fitness administrator at "Fitness Lady".  I will be helping the ladies with their workouts, taking measurements, etc.  I had so much fun Tuesday.  Tomorrow is going to be my first "real" day on the job.  I will only be working 5 hours a day, 2 days a week.  My husband has switched to nights so he can be home with the girls during the day. 

I hadn't really planned on getting a job, but I think that working in a health club will also help me get in better shape.  I worked out yesterday after my orientation and it was really fun.

When I figure out how to post a picture I will put my before on here- well, after I get brave.

Blessings to you all!

Cara

I'm back again. 

This has been a very restful Sunday indeed.  The normal way our Sundays go would be a leisurely morning, then getting ready for church around 12 ish and being there by 2pm.  We attend a Hispanic church here in Phoenix, not because we are Hispanic, but because I am a minister in training.  Anyway, they are very used to an afternoon service, so, we are there at 2pm.

Today however was not normal.  Our car is till being fixed, so we have no transportation except our bikes (great fun during a Phoenix summer) My husband ended up having to work, my girls stayed with their cousin last night, and I stayed home, alone all day!

I realized today that when I am not "doing Mom stuff" (as when children are elsewhere) I sometimes just don't know what to do.  Today I should have rested and relaxed, enjoyed some quiet reading and writing time.  Instead I did 3 loads of laundry and cleaned the kitchen.  Then instead of relaxing I just kept looking for things to do.  I really must learn to relax. This is not news to those that know me.

Earlier today I called my husband to bug him at work, as is my custom at least once a day.  He completely shocked my by telling me that he was hit by a car while riding his bike to work this morning.  As we only live 2 miles from Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he works, he always rides his bike.  Anyway, a car hit his back tire and flipped him, sending him flipping across the sidewalk and into the grass, and his bike into the street.  He ripped his pants but he was not injured, Praise the Lord! His bike also was not hurt.  The car sped away not even checking on him.  He didn't call and tell me because he didn't want me to worry.

My children went to church with my cousin and her little girl, then they came to pick me up and we all went to the 4th of July Celebration at Phoenix First Assembly.  Even though I attended the college there (before they closed it) I have never been to one of their Celebrations before.  It was fantastic.  The fireworks were spectacular, and the music was beautiful.  I have been to their Christmas program before and it was really good as well.  If you are in Phoenix for Christmas, Easter or the 4th of July I highly recommend visiting there.

Well, I must be going to bed.  Tomorrow we get back on track with our learning. 

Blessings to you all!

Cara

As I sit here contemplating another Friday, and yet another week of having company, and another week of not doing schoolwork, all I can do is just let it go.  We have had company of some sort in our tiny little cottage for the past three weeks. 

Our cousins from Florida think our little abode is a vacation spot.  Conveniently located in Central Phoenix, close to the freeway and all of their househunting.  Free food, free transportation, and of course a stay at home mom ready to babysit! (not!)

The first day they arrived I held firm.  We had to finish our school day before we left the house.  Then it all went downhill.  Fast forward 3 weeks.  Not one day of school since.

Now, you may be wondering, why are you doing school in June? Good question.  Because all of my family thinks that because I am a SAHM and therefore have no life.  They must attempt to fill it up with lunch here, breakfast there, running here, etc, so our schedule got stretched more and more. 

Yes, I agree, I need to get a backbone where my family is concerned.  I am getting better.  For several weeks I held to the "we do not leave the house until all work is finished" rule.  It worked well until swimming lessons started.  Being at the pool at 10:30 am made getting all work done first impossible.  We took some of the work with us for a few days to fill the hour wait between lessons and open swim time.  Unfortunately, classic books and swimming pools are not a good combo. 

I was starting to get into a good rythym when the cousins with their youngest child, a 5 yr old arrived.  Then they left her with me for a week.  Yeah, the girl's room now looks like a tornado went through.  Our schedule is out of wack. 

So, I was looking forward to getting things back in order when they all left on Wednesday.  My cousin had an appointment for the physical from his job interview at 2:30, which he didn't confirm with me and my schedule.  I had a dr's appointment at 2:00.  His was 20 miles away.  So my husband was trying to run everyone everywhere on time, watch all the kids, etc. (his day off)

They dropped me off and left for the other side of town.  Ten minutes later I get a call, the transmission in the car had died.  I was stuck at the dr's office, but they were stuck on the side of the freeway.  My cousin didn't make his appointment.  I finished at my dr's and decided what to do.  It was 110 outside.  I almost took the bus, but then I realized that I had no reason to rush.  There was nothing I could do.  Free time.  It was all out of my hands.  With no car, no one could expect anything from me.  No one could take advantage of my giving nature. 

I walked to McDonald's and got a salad and bottle of water and relaxed with my book.  When I finished I debated on what to do.  I decided to be bad.  I ordered  french fries and ate them all! It was only a medium.

Finally my "rescue" from being "stranded" arrived.  Friends of ours with a minivan had picked up everyone and showed up for me as well. 

My cousins are coming back on Monday to enjoy the 4th and go to his physical on Wednesday.  Now they get to rent a car and drive me around.

I decided as I sat there that I must look at this whole thing as a blessing.  For far to long I have just accepted being the facilitator for what everyone else wants. I say yes too much.  No more.  I want to be loving and kind and hospitable, but first to my family.  I realized how out of control I have let it get.  Now, now it is time to start saying no- without feeling guilty.

Blessings to you all! I am sure you will hear more about this later.

Cara

PS

By the way, as I said at the beginning, my girls didn't do school work for the past few weeks, but they did make 3 loaves of bread from scratch, build a raft like the Kon Tiki (out of popsicle sticks) clean their room and organize it, do numerous loads of laundry, make waffles from scratch, read 36 books each for "Read Your Way To the Ballpark", make birthday cards by hand, sweep, mop, compost, garden, help plan a surprise birthday party, run their lemonade stand, and a few other things I have forgotten.