• Jun. 13, 2007
I'm Baaaack!!!

I haven't been blogging in quite awhile. We ended up going on a much needed vacation, at least me and the kiddos. My husband did join us for a little bit. We went to NC to visit relatives and friends and then headed up to camp in VA mountains. The baby grew up sooo much in just the time we were gone. He now reaches out and grabs things (especially any food we are eating while holding him), and raises up on his knees while pulling his arms under his chest. Pretty soon I know he will be crawling. I will try to post some pics of our vacation soon as soon as I load some up on flickr. I only wish we could've seen all of our friends and family while we were gone. We got to see quite a few but not everyone. Our van was loaded to the hilt going and somehow we still managed to come back with about 2 or 3 more suitcases. Buying a small trailer to pull behind our van is now a priority! and yes, we do have a luggage carrier to put on top but it only holds 4 suitcases. Now I get the fun job of unpacking.....

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• May. 16, 2007
I Need Your Help, Please!!

As I mentioned before, I am currently reading Created to Be His Helpmeet  by Debi Pearl. Actually, this is more of a book that a group of ladies at my church are reading together.

What I need is a recommendation for the husbands to read. Something along the lines of the Pearl book, you know, fulfilling God's purpose in your life as a father, husband, provider, etc. Please either email me directly or you can leave a comment as I am sure there might be others out there that would like to know a good read!

Thanks!!!

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• May. 15, 2007
Secret Sister

Since I am new to blogging I have spent a lot of time looking around at other's blogs. I found one that I really like and visit pretty much every day now, Training Hearts.
I just joined up to be in their next Secret Sister group!! Hopefully, it will give me a chance to meet some more homeschool moms online.

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• May. 15, 2007
Happy Anniversary to me...

This is my 19th wedding anniversary. Actually, it ended almost an hour ago seeing that it is now 1am. It has been a long day. My dear hubby had to leave to go on the road for work on Sunday and I have two little boys that don't feel well. The baby has been crying all day which is very unusual for him. Then we encountered plumbing problems and they can't come until tomorrow. rather...today. Guess I better go to bed but wanted to do something to celebrate the occasion. So here I am posting a picture taken on our wedding day. Don't we look so young?? I was only 19!! And of course in the 80's everything was BIG, big hair, big dress, big bow on the back (hard to see in this photo but trust me, it covered the ENTIRE backside!!)

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• May. 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day

I am not usually over sentimental but this year I am stepping back and taking a look at my life. Today is Mother's Day. And tomorrow is my 19th wedding anniversary. Wow, how time flies!! I would have never imagined nineteen years ago getting ready for the wedding rehearsal that nineteen years later I would not only be a SAHM but homeschooling!! And if you would have told me that I would have five kids, I probably would've been so scared I would have turn around and ran. And now here I sit with a daughter getting ready to turn 18 next month and a baby that will be 4 months next week. My goodness, how motherhood can change someone's heart.

I really wanted to grow up and excel in the corporate world. I never imagined that I would be satisfied staying home and never even really entertained the idea to stay home. I mean, HELLO!!, I needed someone to validate me with a paycheck. But right after my first baby was born and she held onto my finger so tightly and gazed in my eyes, my heart melted and started changing. Then three years later, another sweet baby joined our family. By this time, like so many other young families, we were trapped into debt and a lifestyle that prohibited my staying home even though my heart was there now. I remember calling my mom (thank God, my mom kept my girls while I worked and I didn't have to put them in care of a stranger) and I would talk to my girls on my break. I would always hang up crying and praying for God to work out a way for me to stay home. At this time, my husband thought that staying home would be a nice "luxury" but it had now become my conviction. Three years later I lost a baby at 20 weeks. I prayed that if God would allow me to have another baby (long story there but after major complications of miscarriage, it didn't look like I would be able to have more children) I would stay home with my children, even if it meant living on faith. True to His Word and promises, we become pregnant with our first son. I quit working before he was even born. I was able to enjoy my pregnancy and my daughters before another baby came. It was WONDERFUL not having to worry about going back to work as soon as maternity leave was over. God had also worked on my husband who was determined that I would never again have to enter the workforce and leave the children. That even meant moving to another state once where he would have a better income. I remember during that first year that on paper we would come up about $300 short on bills every month. That's not counting usual expenses either, like groceries or gas. I prayed and God always supplied the need. I remember going to yard sales and I would make a shopping list of what was need and pray over it before leaving. God would always supply every need on that list!! I remember diapers even being on the list once and thinking I have never seen diapers at a yard sale, but sure enough, that day God led me to a yard sale with diapers the exact size I needed!!

God has brought us a mighty long way and I am so very thankful. I am so glad that I never gave up trusting God and doing what He has asked of us for our family. Maybe God's plan isn't for everyone to stay home, or even have five kids ( I sure didn't expect either!!) but I do believe it is important to find out what God does want you to do and only then will you feel fulfilled about being a mother. My mommy job is more validating and rewarding than any job I could've ever gotten in the corporate world!! And NO paycheck would entice me to give up what I have now!! Even if my baby is starting to spit up all over me every day.

I want to encourage you by recommending the two books that have helped me the most:Women Leaving the Workplace and the book I am reading now, Created to Be His HelpMeet.

I am going to give every mother an assignment, if you do not own this book, you must purchase it. I have read this book to my kids every night for years and then today our pastor's daugher read it to the congregation. Not a dry eye in the place!!

God Bless and to every mother...  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

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• May. 12, 2007
Look at my Widget!!

I got this from another blog I was looking at. Then I just customized my own. Very cool and at the end it gives a little summary about you depending on what pictures you chose. It was very accurate. Let me know how you enjoy it!

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• May. 10, 2007
homeschool humor

My internet has been down for a little bit, wonder if it's due to all the smoke and haze in Florida due to the numerous fires!! Please help me pray for RAIN!! It does look like snow coming down which my kids miss and we do have to clean off the windshield, it's just ash instead of snowflakes, oh well...

In trying to do some catching up I found this posted on another blog. I hope you enjoy!!
Homeschool Humor

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• May. 2, 2007
Why I Homeschool

1. There is NO WAY I could get anyone out of this house in presentable fashion before 9 am.
2. Pajamas is not considered "presentable fashion" outside of our house.
3. My kids are picky eaters and I refuse to send money to pay for a hot lunch that will only grace the inside of the trash can.
4. I cannot creatively cut a PBJ sandwich in more than two styles.
5. I also cannot think of more sandwich ideas other than peanut butter, turkey, ham or bologna.
6. I do not believe that learning to stand quietly in line is one of life's essential skills that we must master in order to survive.
7. I have yet to find an employer that makes you ask your boss for permission to go use the bathroom.
8. I still have this old fashioned idea that art and music are just as important as math, science and language.
9. My kids would probably get suspended right away for what we like to call debating the issue. I want them to be able to form their own opinion and be able to validate it.
10. We believe true education is gained by actually experiencing, as closing as possible, what you are learning about. (Disclaimer: no children or animals have ever been hurt thru our educational endevours; however, adults are subject to slight mishaps.)
11. I can count doing chores as physical education.
12. We can actually read a book in more places than just behind a desk. This might be an aquired skill but we have mastered on the couch, at the kitchen table, on our bed (even upside down!) and even in a car.
13. I actually like to spend time with my kids.
14. I think my kids need to learn to communicate with people of all ages, not just within a year range of their birthdate.
15. And most importantly, we can still read the Bible, pray and say the Pledge.

On a little more serious note, I am very thankful for the freedom we have in America, and especially in the states that we have lived in, to be able to homeschool. There have been numerous threats in the public schools in our county over the last two weeks. It saddens me that kids have to live in danger and often at the expense of a prankster just trying to get attention or have a day off school. I am sorry for what happened recently in Virginia and pray for the families of the victims there. I have never homeschooled for my children's safety but more and more I might consider adding that to the real list.

Today, I hope that you will just spend the day enjoying learning with your kids. If you reach a point where you and your child are both frustrated, step back and take a deep breath. Take a break and do something that you both enjoy. Another test can wait another day, let's spend a day on relationships. After all, that is what is most important.

I am off to go make Shirley Temples and do a puzzle with my kiddos. *that can count as Logic, right??!!*

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• Apr. 24, 2007
Meet My Family

On my first entry, you met me. So now it is time to meet the rest of the family.

First, there is my sweetie pie. We have been married for almost 19 years (Not that I am old, just married real young ). I will call him MacDaddy; which is what we lovingly refer to him at home sometimes. He travels all the time with his job and is rarely home. Thank God for cell phones!! He is truly my best friend and we really do enjoy spending time together. He is a wonderful hubby and great dad. Not only is he cute, but has a great sense of humor!!

My oldest is 17 for now. There's a big birthday in the near future but I don't want to think about that!! Especially since it is the big 1-8, you know "adult", yeah, right!! I just think adults shouldn't be considered that until about 25 years of age. I will call her Meme. That really has been her nickname since she could talk and couldn't say her own name. She has always been a very typical first born. Very mature, motherly, organized. She is also alot of fun and spends way too much time on her cell phone (please somebody remind me exactly why we bought her one!! oh yeah, for "emergencies") and on the computer catching up with friends. I will give her credit, it is hard for me to stay in touch with friends we have made everywhere we have lived, but she does a great job and has friends all over the US even!!

Then came our next daughter. We have lots of lovely nicknames for her ( Princess, T-Bear (since her birth, but not her favorite), Drama Queen) but I let her decide what she will be referred to on here and she is in this cat-loving stage and so she opted for Kittie. She is truly our baby girl. She has a wonderful imagination and always good for a laugh and to have fun with. She is also a very talented artist and is now into drawing anime. My parents say she is just like me when I was little. Except that she had the most beautiful hair, especially when she was little, real blonde and naturally curly.

Along came our first son. He has a nickname from since about toddlerhood but it would be very easy to guess his real name, so I will use what he calls himself - LCD. Guess what it stands for?? Little Cool Dude. His sisters call him the "golden child". You know the ones that seem to be good at whatever they try?? Enter LCD. He loves sports and has determination of a bulldog. He does not know how to give up and will try until he gets the hang of whatever it is. Right now, his passion is paintball.

Next there was Little Man. He sure was a big surprise but was a perfect addition to the family and made it all complete...or so we thought. He is very comical and had the cutest sayings when he was little. You know, the way little kids can't pronounce words right so they have their own little vocabulary?? His was the cutest. He is very dramatic, I think it has something to do with him being speech delayed and would communicate through charades. Funny thing, we understood the theatrics and sound effects perfectly.

And finally there is Baby. Now, he was a BIG surprise. Seeing that Little Man is almost 8 yrs old, Baby will pretty much be like an only child. So far he is a very content wonderful little baby. Having four other children, and considering their age span, I have learned to really enjoy every moment of "babyhood". I might actually keep up with recording his milestones. Whenever he is awake, he wants to be held....that's not spoiled yet is it?? He is going to have the largest family; all of Meme and Kittie's friends take turns holding him all the time and all call him their little brother.

The only one left is our dachshund, Ginger. That's another story....ummm, I mean blog....

Other than the dog, you can see us all in the Photo Album.

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• Apr. 20, 2007
My First Blog.... Get to know me.

Well, this is my first blog and what better way to start than a little introduction? For the regular formalites: I live in Florida (transplanted from North Carolina), married to the love of my life for almost 19 years, we have five wonderful (on good days anyway ) children, homeschooled pretty much from the beginning. Now for a little more of the fun stuff, here's some of the things I love:

• First of all of course is God and my church!!
• And naturally second is my husband, who is my inspiration, favorite companion and best friend!
• My kiddos, who constantly entertain me and try to keep me young
• I do actually love to homeschool. Guess I might be somewhat geeky but I have always loved school and learning. My philosophy is you should learn something new everyday and it's not so much important that you know everything but that you at least know where to find the answers.
• Okay, to prove my geekiness: I love to read the yellow pages, weird huh?? But we have moved around quite a bit and first thing I do is sit down and read the yellow pages. I just like to know what's available and the neat places we can go.
• LOVE the beach. But then, doesn't everyone?? My most favorite time is late night with a full moon over the water and very early morning when the beach is almost deserted. Actually, that's the only time I *willingly* wake up early. And if you see me strolling along by myself talking, no, I am not crazy (at least not yet) but at those times and being near the ocean, I feel like God is strolling next to me and we can just hang out and talk.
• I confess, I have a foot fetish. To clarify...just BABY feet!! My little sweetie just turned 3 months and I still can't get enough of his cute little feet. I constantly have to kiss his little toes. And whenever I see a new baby, first thing I want to do is to gently squeeze those little feet. Next, of course is to stroke their little heads and deeply breathe in that new baby smell. mmmmm
• Watching my kids sleep. It's nice to see them so peaceful and smiling while they dream. Hard to imagine that when the are awake they can be so loud and rowdy!!
• My favorite bouquets are purple and yellow flowers together.
• I love to thrift shop. I used to actually be addicted to it and my kids had so many clothes that I was giving away clothes that still fit them. When we moved to Florida, that stopped. I just can't seem to find any good thrift stores around here.
• Road trips!!! Yeah!! I love to head out and don't really care if there is a plan or not. Just give me a map, my cell phone and a full tank of gas and we are OFF. With a little one now, that doesn't happen much now but hopefully will again soon.
• I am not much of a sweets eater but a weakness is chocolate jelly rings. I craved the dark chocolate with raspberry jelly when I was pregnant with my oldest and every once in a while I get a "hankering" for them again. Guess I thought of that because I just found some orange jelly sticks at the store that I am munching on now.
• Favorite movies: The Notebook, Legends of the Fall, Elf, Pirates of the Caribbean and I am sure there are others that I can't think of right now.
• I love Coke and yes, I can tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi. My oldest daught calls it the devil's brew because it's unhealthy. But it is my indulgence although I do limit it now and trying to drink more water.
• Speaking of drinks, I love to juice. My morning beverage is carrot and orange juice with a bit of wheat grass. It is an acquired taste but makes you feel so much better.
• Kitchen gadgets - I LOVE all kinds of neat little kitchen utensils. veggie peelers, pastry brushes, zesters, wire whisks, garlic presses, apple peeler/corer/slicers....
• scrapbooking!! I used to spend HOURS scrapbooking and have up-all-night crops with friends but it has officially been one year since I have been able to scrapbook. Not to say that I have not still been buying scrapbook supplies... I vow to start again soon and devote at least one hour a week to catching up.
• I love to read. I do have this weird ability to be able to read more than one book at a time and still remember where I am in each book. I am currently reading about five different books. The secret is I read one while eating meals, one stays in the car that I read while waiting at places (NOT while driving) one while "watching" my boys play video games, one while taking a bubble bath, and then if I find a really good one, I will just fit it in whenever.
• My latest obsession is trying new recipes. I really like websites where you can rate recipes. I want to know if others like it before trying it. I also love doing copycat recipes. The last one I did was Red Lobster's Coconut Shrimp and Pina Coloda dipping sauce. ummmm
• Okay, I really do not like video games but I do enjoy playing Flip Words and Bejeweled. Can't stop once I start....does that mean addicted?? I just refrain from starting!!
• Although I am 30 something , I really enjoy going to concerts. We only go to Christian ones, but some are considered Christian rock or alternative. My favorite group right now is Family Force 5. I know some people complain about their kids music but that is one thing my whole family enjoys together. I will have to write a blog on baby's first concert!! It was actually about 5 weeks before he was born, does that still count??
• I really like theme parks which is great since we live in Florida. Okay, sit down,  I have a confession - I have never been to Disney World. But I have been to Busch Gardens enough to memorize the park's layout and I can ride almost every ride there now. The secret....close your eyes. You can just imagine that you are being tumbled in the clothes dryer.
• I love to take quizzes. Especially personality style ones. Also, what kind of super hero I am, Japanese name (Chie), my superpower (transformation), what LOST character am I (tie between Sun and Kate, took the quiz twice because I was torn between answers), my Pirates of the Caribbean man (Captn' Jack Sparrow, of course!!), many others that I can't remember because my brain shuts down at midnight....

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