Mar. 10, 2008 - My attempt at posting a photo.....uh, how do I make it fit?
• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Mar. 7, 2008 - Bunko and Duct tape
We are in a new season. Our kids have social lives. Places to go, people to see. Tonight is a very busy for our children. Lily has plans to attend the Popcorn Theater at church for a showing of Toy Story, Davis and his friend are going to a free concert across the street , and Caroline (after we pick her up from dance) is going to a Middle School Bunko night at church.........we, the grown ups are spending the rest of our night driving around dropping off and picking everyone up! 
I actually am looking forward to it. I have a new worship CD I want to listen to!
I'm not sure exactly what Bunko is, but it is some sort of a game. To make the game night more interesting the kids are suppose wear Duct Tape fashions. I am basically lazy, so I suggested that we make a headband and a neck tie....or something easy like that. But instead my industrious, creative children designed and constructed a beautiful silver and blue duct tape dress! It should be interesting to see what other fashions have been created with adhesive!
*Update
WOW! The competion was fierce! Although Caroline's duct tape dress was totally impressive, hers was not the only awe inspiring outfit. One of the young leaders had constructed an entire suit out of shiny "chrome" duct tape. There were super heroes, a kitty cat, and even a rainbow girl whose dress was rainbow colored tape and hula hoops! I was glad that my kids didn't listen to me...it would have been lame to have showed up with only a neck tie and a headband! 
I'm still not sure what Bunko is...or what it has to do with duct tape...but, it was a fun time nonetheless.
Lily liked Toy Story. She had not seen it before. She has been calling the mean boy "Sin" instead of Sid. She often confuses names. This blunder is fitting, huh?
Davis and his friend had fun at he concert, although they said it was too loud and too long. I sure am glad I passed on that one. If they thought it was too loud and too long, I definately would've felt that.
As for us, in between drop offs and pick ups, we did manage to eat Mexican at our favorite place and listen to my new CD. It's a new season.
• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 28, 2008 - It's the Simple Things
I've been thinking today of all the simple things in life that make me happy. Silly things like:
Watching my little dog try to carry a bone twice his size up onto the couch, dropping it repeatedly, but never giving up.
Listening to my little one sing praise songs from the top of her voice and bottom of her soul while she cleans her room.
Doing impersonations of famous people and/or singers...basically making fun of people, but not in a mean spirited way.
Practicing our fake British accents...kind of goes along with the above mentioned impersonations.
Reading my book in the bath tub.
Singing out loud while alone in my car...very rare and very precious.
Reading blogs that make me laugh.
Cooking a new recipe and having everyone actually like it.
Watching my middle daughter dance...breathtaking!
Listening to my son play guitar and sing songs he's written himself.
Getting a shoulder rub from my husband...OH Yeah!
Getting muddy while throwing pots.
Snuggle time by night light.
How about you? What simple things make you happy?
• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 25, 2008 - Wicked
Our 15th wedding anniversary was New Year's Eve. To celebrate, my sweet husband surprised me with a trip to NYC. You can read all about it in a previous post. Anyway, while we were there we unknowingly stumbled into Times Square Church. We had just come out of the Gershwin Theatre where we saw the hit musical Wicked ( a funny prequel story about the relationship the between Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North from the Wizard of OZ). So, we were wandering around in the rain, trying to figure out where we should go eat, when we heard worship music coming from what looked like a movie theatre. We went in and found ourselves in a beautiful gold and white theatre, packed with people from every imaginable ethnic background all gathered to worship and have their Sunday night service. We stayed and loved it! The feeling in the room was warm; we really were packed in there tightly, but everyone I came into contact with seemed so kind and welcoming. It was a sort of refuge from the cold, busy city bustling outside.
That worship service was one of the highlights of our trip to NYC. I loved seeing all those different "kinds" of people worshipping Jesus. It makes me wonder if that's what heaven will look like. People from every tribe and every nation worshipping together. (Rev.7:9,10)
Anyway, when I started telling friends about our trip, I was shocked to hear over and over again comments like, "Oh Yeah, that's David Wilkerson's church." Or, " Yeah, that pastor who wrote The Cross and the Switchblade started that church." It seems that most people read this book in High School. Who? What? Huh? Apparently, due to my misspent youth, I had missed out on yet another classic book and a story of redemption!
So, now I am reading this old classic book The Cross and the Switchblade written by David Wilkerson, founder of NYC's Times Square Church, which tells about his life and his call to ministry from the mountains of Pennsylvania to the streets of NYC. It tells of how God miraculously guided him to young teens who were involved in horrible gangs. These kids were drug addicts, murderers and seemingly hopeless, but God used this pastor (and others) to reach their hard hearts and change them. Many of them. The story focuses on one kid in particular, named Nicky Cruz, who was one of the toughest, meanest gang members around, and how God touched him and changed him forever. It is powerful! Nicky Cruz wrote an autobiography, too, called Run, Baby, Run! It is on my nightstand waiting to be read.
So, friends, if you are like me and somehow missed these stories, I recommend them. It is very inspiring to read of how God speaks, and moves His people to love and minister to the lost and the truly wicked. Not green - pretend - Land of Oz wicked - but really wicked people that do terrible things! It is sometimes easy to forget that God loves them, too.
*Update: Tuesday Feb.26
Well, I finished the book this morning. It was very interesting to read in the last part of the book how the Lord guided and protected these missionaries as they tried to reach these violent and lost kids. I was scared and apalled just reading some of these stories, I can't imagine being in the midst of it all!
The author is from a pentecostal background, and although the Church in Times Square and his Teen Challenge ministry are considered non-denominational, the pentecostal theology is very evident throughout the last chapters of the book.
Very interesting. Food for thought.
• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 14, 2008 - My sneaky valentine
Sarah over at smallworld is hosting a love story contest. I won't be eligible to win, because AGAIN, I have not posted pictures (and I missed the deadline, and my story surely won't be as great as some of the other's I've read this week!) Anyhoo, although I'm not typically a mushy, romantic, valentine-loving gal, I thought it might be fun to share my story. It has definately been fun reading other's stories! Some made me laugh out loud!!!
Our love story began as a set up!
THE TRAP:
It was March 1992, and I was healing from a "broken" heart. I had joined a health club to keep my mind off of my sadness, and to keep myself from making those pathetic phone calls that humiliate you and make you want to unplug the telephone. So, every night after work I'd head for a work out. The fitness trainers who worked there were all young (and gorgeous) and it was a fun distraction getting to know them. Tim was an especially tall, hunky ex-football player type who quickly became a friend. He started coming to the salon where I worked to get his haircut, and after a few trims, I started to wonder if something romantic might be brewing. Then one day Tim invited me to a party.
I got gussied up, excitedly went to the party.... and then Tim completely ignored me! "HUH? Why the heck did he invite me here?", I wondered. It was all very strange! Well, I mingled and met some nice folks, played Jenga and did Jell-o shooters (ah! foolish youth!). One of the nicest people I met was a guy named Dennis....Tim's good friend. He was very attentive and interested in me. He was very polite and gentleman like. He had on cowboy boots and had a soft southern accent. He offered to refill my drinks, he asked great questions, he opened doors...he even gave me a shoulder rub when a migraine started to creep up the back of my head.
So, after a couple of hours at the party, Dennis asked for an official date. We went out a few evenings later and had a wonderful time. We ate dinner and listened to a local folk band perform. We discovered a mutual love of music, and a mutual desire for family and stability. My previously "broken" heart was patched and ready for true love. Neither of us were interested in a long drawn out relationship that may or may not work out. We were both at a place where we wanted to settle down and be commmited "for better or worse".
We saw each other almost every day after that. I could not believe how compatible we were! He was so easy to be with and made me feel so special! About a month into our relationship, Dennis let me in on a secret..... He had asked Tim to invite me to that party! Ah ha! Apparently, I had been spotted on several occasions at the gym. Dennis thought I was cute, and I seemed nice, so he asked Tim to set us up. Now it made all sense! I did feel a tiny bit like a fly caught in a spider's web, but I chose to ignore that feeling because it was all working out so nicely!
THE WEDDING:
We were married on New Year's Eve, just nine months later! Neither of us cared about the whole traditional wedding thing. We decided to just have our immediate family join us for a casual wedding at Dennis' condo. I wore a winter white wool suit and had my hair up in a french twist with big puffy bangs teased high. Dennis wore a dark green suit .
We had a roaring fire in the fireplace, our Christmas tree lit, and lots of candles and poinsettias. We were not Christians back then, so the ceremony was somewhat secular. The "minister" was a paid-by-the-hour guy we found in the yellow pages. He had already performed several weddings that day, so, by the time he made it to us, he seemed to have had several toasts under his belt. Our wedding video is hilarious! We were all roasting due to the lovely roaring fire; it was unfortunately about 70 degrees that day! Dennis' brother zoomed in on the preacher man at one point and asked, "Haven't I seen you on America's Most Wanted?"
NOW:
So, here we are 15 years, three kids, and a dog later. I'm no longer a young, hip, hairdresser. I'm a christian, stay-at-home, homeschooling mom. He is a sucessful buisness man, a great husband and daddy, and a worship leader.
I am very thankful for my sneaky husband! I believe that he is the perfect guy for me! I truly believe that God hand picked him for me, because I don't think I could've picked so well by myself. We have both grown and changed tremdously since 1992. But amazingly, we have grown in a way that has complimented and encouraged each other. It is amazing to me that we can be so different than who we were, but still like and love each other so much. I thank God for that, too!
Happy Valentine's Day to all you mushy romantics out there! I hope you had a lovely day!
• 7 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 9, 2008 - A time for everything
There is a time for everything , and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. Eccl. 3:1,2
Today has been a very hard day for us. Our beloved piano teacher and friend lost her fight with cancer in the wee hours of the night. I called this morning to check on her, and to see if we were going wedding dress shopping for her daughter as planned, when her husband told me the terrible news. My sweet little girls have been so sad all day. It is really hard to lose someone you love, but it is even harder to watch your children grieve like this for the first time. Lina is the first person they have loved deeply that has passed away, and it is very hard to explain to a six year old and 11 year old that dying is part of life.
I have been blessed by the maturity that they seem to have, though. They've said wonderful things like: "Well, now she won't ever be sick again"; and "Now she can eat whatever she wants"; and "She's probably playing the piano for Jesus." So sweet!
I am so thankful for the years we had with our dear friend. I am also so thankful that we knew she was terminal. It really gave us the opportunity to speak the words we wanted to say before she was gone. The girls even choreographed a beautiful dance and performed it for her last Thursday. It made all of us weep and it was such a special shared moment. That was the last time we saw her. I have been reminding the girls of that today, and reminding them that the last few weeks have been a gift to all of us. Many people lose the ones they love unexpectantly; with much unsaid or undone. We had the chance to make the most of the last few weeks. However, it is interesting that no matter how prepared you *think* you are, it is still shocking to hear the words that tell of death. Please pray for my girls, and for Lina's family, as we come to mind.
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Feb. 7, 2008 - Snow Dogs and Flamingos....Is it Winter or Summer?
I've been considering our recent CRAZY weather here in East Tennessee. I was also thinking today how CRAZY it is that while simultaneously studying Sled dogs and preparing for our Iditarod project, we also had our first fund raising event, last Sunday, using pink flamingos! "How can a person have racing snow dogs- in the Arctic *and* pink- tropical punch looking- flamingos on the brain at the same time?", I lamented to myself. But then I looked at the thermometer and tried to focus on the red line as it shot up and down between 40 degrees and 70 degrees and then back down to 40 again. AH! No wonder! Weather confusion!
SO, is it winter?........Lily and I have been learning about Snow Dogs and the Iditarod Trail for a couple of weeks. We are making a lovely lapbook, and today we picked the mushers we will root for when The Last Great Race begins. Did you get the new issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine? Lots of great info on the subject in there! YIPPEE! I love it when that happens! (you know, when you are studying something and then viole' your study becomes easier/richer because of some unexpected blessing) So now we have joined an e-club and will follow the Iditarod race along with a bunch of cyber race fans. We were dissappointed to learn that author Gary Paulsen has now withdrawn. Hike! Mush! Haw!
Or is it summer?...... Well, you might think so by the 70 degree temp. of late, *and * the fact that we have been sticking pink plastic flamingos in the front yards of perfectly innocent people, shamlessly trying to get them to give us money for my son's Europe trip. I know, it's pathetic! I told him I thought it was a weird idea, but he assured me that it would be fun, funny and profitable. Drat! He was right! I was very surprised when he, his Dad, and his buddies came home about 4 hours later with a whopping $300.00!
So, since the East Tennesseans clearly love pink flamingos, we got the bright idea that we should do it again (tonight) in a different neighborhood. We packed up our tacky little tropical birds and headed over to a friend's neighborhood. About a half hour and $30.00 later, Davis got a phone call from an angry woman exclaiming, "Come get this piece of c-r-a-p out of my yard before I throw it into the trash!" OOPS! URG! So, I guess I was right after all! It was a weird idea! It appears that the first batch of friendly, generous folks were in an especially good mood due to the fact that it was Super Bowl Sunday. Kids these days just won't listen. I blame it on the weather!
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 17, 2008 - The inside scoop
Now, I realize that I'm a strange bird, but I was thinking that if any of you are at *all* like me, you'd appreciate a little inside info on the "artists" and songs featured on our CD, Waterfront . Maybe I'm just a Nosey Nellie, but I always love concerts where the "performer" tells the stories and meaning behind the songs. I use the words artist and performer for lack of better words...they would not call themselves either, I'm sure. Anyway, here are a few tidbits :
1. What I Bring - Dennis Corley This is a songette that Den wrote to introduce the reason for this album. It talks about the value of worship songs not being about preferences (style) of music, or even skill, as much as the hearts behind them. One line says, "An awkward finger painting brings a loving Father joy." The Lord loves our offerings. Even if our "paintings" are not considered beautiful by others, a clean heart that is seeking to give good gifts is pleasing to the Father.
2. Two Rivers - Bob Mader This song was written by Bob for our church's anniversary a few years back. "Two rivers flow together and become one, spirit and truth to worship the Son, I come to the river to wash away my pride, I come to the river so deep and so wide."
3. Falling - Dustin Sauder Dustin now lives in Nashville and is in the band By the Tree. I love the songs he wrote. He is a very talented guitar player. His songs are young and hip (like him).
4. Shine - Patrick Powers Patrick is a close pal of ours. This is one of my very favorite songs on the album. I love, love, love the lyrics, and Patrick's warm voice. He is also a very talented guitarist. Favorite lines in the song: "Come search my heart, wash every guilty stain, I lay every idol down and lift up my wandering eyes to you.....Come take my hand, Lord lead me deeper still, into the light of your glory Lord, into the fiullness of your truth.
5. Come Take your Throne - Michael Merritt This song has a sort of "rock-a-billy" sound to it. Michael came to our church a few years ago and served as our worship pastor. He has now resigned from that position, but still attends. He was a sucessful songwriter in Nashville for years, and has a couple of his own albums out. His most well known song is I Will Exalt, which was recorded several times...I think by Sonic Flood and Sierra. Do you know it?
6. Let your Kingdom Come - Dennis Corley Another song by my most excellent husband....this song was written for a series our pastor taught on the Kingdom of God. I sang back up vocals (melody) along with my friend Marisha... and Patrick ( both of them sang harmonies). This was the first time I had recorded anything....I was scared to death!
7. In the Days Ahead - Kay Smith Kay is a friend and a fellow Healing Hearts team member. This song talks about trusting in God even in the hard times/troubles. "He will never let you go." I love her warm, country voice and her folk-y style.
8. Lord Here We Stand- Dave Stridde A pretty song! Dave used to lead worship, but is taking a break. He wrote this song a couple of years ago, and it has become a favorite of many. Anne Pharr sings along with Dave in this recording. Anne is a lovely lady who co-leads a worship service on Sunday. She has become a great source of encouragement to me over the last several weeks. She has an amazing,strong voice.
9. Crimson Love - Stephen Benner and Clay Hamby These guys are so neat! Both Clay and Stephen are young, college aged kids who are passionate about Jesus. They paired up and wrote some very unique and heartfelt songs together. Clay leads the youth in worship on Sunday and Wednesday nights, and Stephen does misc. things as an intern, as well as play bass on a Sunday morning worship team.
10. Desire - Dustin Sauder I already wrote about Dustin...this is a fun song. Very catchy, and fun to sing along with, especially toward the end where it really builds.
11. Mystery Love - Kay Smith This song is so pretty ...it reminds me of Both Sides Now by Judy Collins. "Worthy is the La-a-a-amb"...you'll be singing it in no time!
12. Something About the Thunder - Stephen Benner and Clay Hamby I already wrote about these guys. Did I say that I hoped to arrange a marriage between Clay and one of my daughters? This is my kids' favorite song on the CD....besides their Dad's, of course.
13. You Told me to Ask - Patrick Powers Another beautiful song
So, there you have it! I hope that makes you more excited to listen to these songs. For your own copy, you can email me or log onto www.cdbaby.com
• 5 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 17, 2008 - Anyone up for a book debate ( I mean, discussion) ?
Every once in a while I read something that "irks" me for a reason I can't quite put my finger on. This is one of those times. I have been reading the book titled The Teenage Liberation Handbook. And I must say that although I do not completely disagreee with everything the author says, I find myself feeling antagonized. It seems that she inserts herself as a "buddy" to the teenaged reader and assumes that the teens need advice in how to "deal" with parents and other authority figures in the child's life.
Let me say two things: First, I do not have a problem with the philosophy of Unschooling. Especially in the lower grades. I actually agree with a lot of what unschooling proposes, such as delight directed learning and real life, hands-on experiences vs. boring seat work, textbooks, and rote memorization. But the overall tone of this book comes across to me as sarcastic, arrogant, and rebellious. Second, I am only half way through the book, so I may need to come back and eat humble pie.
This is not a book written for Christian familes, it was written to a secular audience of teenagers... and maybe that's where the problem is (for me). Ms. Llewellyn and I have different world views and different ideas about what is most important in life. She repeatedly uses what I consider "new age" and Eastern religion as a basis for her advice.
I know that this book has been widely read, and is loved by many, so if you have read it and would like to comment, please do! I welcome any opinions that agree or disagree with my take on this book.l
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 13, 2008 - Waterfront
Okay, I know I said that my next post would be my attempt posting photos, but I had to report some exciting news! Maybe I can tackle that project next week! Instead, let me now tell you about a completed project...........
As some of you regular blog friends might remember, about a year and a half ago my husband had a vision for creating a CD of original songs written and performed by some of the folks at our church. Songs written by the body for the body. It has been a very long process of recording, recording some more, re-recording, editing, mixing, mastering, choosing art work and graphic artrists, etc... But, I am very happy to announce that alas our CD is finally finished! 
We are very happy with the finished product. I think there is something for everyone. There are 13 songs, all a little different in mood/feel/style, but all wonderful. I am so proud of these folks! I am also proud of my husband, he perservered, and the finished CD is very well done....very professional looking and sounding.
Our sincere desire is that the dream, the process, and the musical sacrifices/gifts of those involved glorifies the Lord, and that it (the CD) will bless those who listen.
If you'd like to buy a copy from us you can email me. Or, you can log onto www.cdbaby.com and type Waterfront in the search window to see the cover and listen to samples. It is listed as: Two Rivers Church: Waterfront (3rd Cd from the top) I think they sell it for $12.95.
Happy listening! Let me know which songs are your faves! 
I have a few favorites, but I'll reserve comment for now.
• 5 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Jan. 8, 2008 - Blessings, surprizes and revelation
Hello, long lost blog friends! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas season, and are looking forward with anticipation to this shiny new year! Whew! I am so glad to be back into a somewhat "normal" routine. We had a GREAT Christmas, but it is so nice to not be rushing around preparing for something! I'm looking forward to lazy days in pj's reading good books together!
The past few weeks have been filled with blessings, surprizes, and revelations. I think for the sake of time, I'll break them into those categories and summarize:
Blessings:
The kids and I drove to Harrisonburg, Va. to visit my dad and stepmom just days before Christmas. I had not been to visit my dad in two years because we have a very hurtful (for me) relationship. I had vowed after our last trip two years ago that I'd never return to his house, but after much prayer and discussion with my stepmom, I decided to give it one last try. God, in all His mercy, totally blessed us all! We had a really nice (short-but-sweet) time together. The kids now have new memories of Grampa giving them rides on the golf cart, taking them shopping at WalMart, making a gingerbread house, and playing pool while listening to Christmas music.
Another blessing was the time spent with my brother and his family during Christmas. I was worried about them being here (as I confessed in an earlier post), but it turned out to be a great visit. We got to spend some quality time with my 4 year old nephew..and I ask you, what is better than a 4 year old opening gifts? He was so excited and funny! His favorite gift was an Easy button from Staples. The motto for the rest of their visit became, "That was easy!" Here are a few examples of what I mean: "Cameron, let's use the potty now." Moments later, when a sucessful potty visit was announced, we all exclaimed, "That was easy!" Or, "Cameron, will you share your candy with everyone please?" "Sure.... See, that was easy!" Yeah, it was cute, but we did eventually remove the batteries and rely on our own wittines to keep the mantra going.
My brother and sister-in-law even came to our Christmas Eve church service to see my sweet Caroline dance. She was beautiful and worshipful! I just pray that through the message, dance and worship some seeds were planted in their hearts that night.
Another blessing was that our family (just the 5 of us) were able to drive over to Nashville the day after Christmas to spend a night at the Opryland Hotel. We had never been there, and it was incredibly fun! The place itself is WAY awesome and gorgeous. But, it was also decked out for Christmas! We had a great time just wandering around taking it all in!
Surprizes:
The all time biggest surprize of the century occurred when my sweet husband surprized me with a trip to NYC for our 15th wedding anniversary! Woo Hoo! We had never been to NYC and we had a BLAST! It was much nicer and friendlier than I imagined. I was impressed at how nicely they decorated the city for Christmas. My favorite decorations were the two trees in front of the BIG tree in Rockefeller Center that were covered in white Swarovski Crystal lights. They were so bright and brilliant! So, we did the tourist thing. We ate at fantastic restaurants and saw a Broadway musical, we rode the subway, we visited the World Trade Center site, and we *almost* went to the top of the Empire State building, but there was a two hour wait. URG! We decide that it is a good thing we do not live there, because I would weigh 300 pounds in no time! Cannolis, pizza, hotdogs, cheesecake..oh my! It's more temptation than I can bear.
A friend of our's has an apartment in Chelsea that we borrowed for the weekend, so I had fun pretending to be a local; walking over to the fruit stand and bagel shop every morning. I found the "city that never sleeps" to be very exciting, although I think I have space issues, and I was very happy to be home! Dennis and I attended Times Square Church while we were there, and I loved looking around the packed theatre and seeing every nationality imaginable represtented there...all worshipping Jesus! WOW!
Another (less extravegant) surprize came just a couple of nights ago when we went to a friend's home for dinner. Now, I know this is shocking, but my kids hate Lasagna. Guess what my friend served...yes, Lasagna! I braced myself for whatever embarrassing thing my children might say or do when it was revealed, but to my VERY pleasant surprize they sat there and politely ate without so much as a hint of disappointment! I was so proud of their nice manners. They even admitted the next day that maybe Lasagna is not so bad after all! Thank goodness for the small victories, huh?
Revelations:
There is a quote I love, by Shakespeare, I think, that says, "Live deep, not fast." So, my big revelation is that I need to spend more time in 2008 living deeper. Slower. Fuller. More intently with the people in my life. Restoring relationships, planting seeds, worshipping God, exploring different cultures, noticing the fruit growing in my children's character, and in developing the person I believe I was created to be.
2007 was a good year, but it was also a hard year. We were too busy running around. And it was our first year homeschooling a "high schooler". We are learning to deal with grades, credit hours, crushes on girls, hormones, and cellphones! It's all new and confusing...scary even! I have decided that much of the way we started our school year needs to change this semester. For the first time in my son's school life I had begun to consider sending him to a christian high school. It has just been to much toiling. So, the revelation regarding school for 2008 is..... I need to go back to what has always worked for our family, and continue to put relationships above tasks and academics.
So, there you have it! Blessings, surprizes and revelation. Now I'm ready to start a fresh new year! My next post will be my attempt at posting photos! Wish me luck!
• 5 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 12, 2007 - Misc. Ramblings/Merry Christmas!
This will probably my last post for awhile. Christmas is quickly approaching and I will be very busy trying to get into the Christmas spirit.
The kids and I are leaving for my dad's house in Virginia in a few days. I'm so hoping for snow in the Shenandoah Valley while we are there! It doesn't snow here in East Tennessee and it would be such a fun treat to have a powder-y snow day to play in!
Even though it's been a crazy 75 degrees here, I've been trying to create cozy moments on the couch. We've been reading One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham this week. I love this book! We read it every year, but it is so lovely, I never get tired of it! The story is warm and full of teaching about God's plan of redemption through Jesus. The illustrations are wonderful, too, except the one of Samson with his eyes plucked out, which is kind of gross. Anyway, if you're looking for a new book to read to your kids and don't already have this gem...you should go get it!
Last weekend's Sugar Cookie making extravaganza was a great sucess! We made very beautiful cookies. Lily and I were the diligent pastry chefs...Davis and Caroline floated in and out. Davis just wasn't very interested in baking this year, and Caroline said the sweet smells were making her queasy! Can you imagine? What kind of 11 year old says such a crazy thing? I like to burn a Sugar Cookie scented candle (made by Yankee Candle Co...yumm!), so I was feeling just fine. And since confession is good for the soul let me just confess that all these cookie, candies, and other holiday delectibles have gotten me totally out of my healthy eating groove! My cholesterol is probably through the roof! I went to a dinner party last night and was served Pork Roast with Mashed Potatoes and then Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake for dessert. SHEESH! Anyway, back to my story, in the middle of the cookie making festivities we recieved a phone call informing us that Davis has been accepted into the Student Ambassador program called People to People. www.studentambassadors.org So, he will be traveling this summer with a group of 40 high schoolers to explore Europe! The program sounds wonderful ,and I have peace about it after much prayer. I think he is mature and stable enough to go and I believe it will be a life changing experience for him. Of course, it is months away, so I feel fine... right this minute. Probably this summer I'll be crying, "What the heck am I doing letting my precious son go to Europe (without me) with these people I barely know!" My husband already thinks I'm crazy. He initially said to me, "What! You won't let him go to the mall...now you're sending him to Europe?!" 
When I say he thinks I'm crazy, what I really mean is that it is surprising to him (and all who know me) that I'm okay with Davis going. I have been accused of being overprotective. I, of course, think that is pish-posh (as Mr. Johnathon Toomey would say...another good kid's book) I believe protecting our kids is our job as parents. Anyway, We are totally in aggreement that this is a good thing to do. My husband is on board and supportive of the trip, but he is still shocked that I'm so excited about it.
In other exciting news, we got a brand new, hand-made, absolutely spectacular front door. Our front door was original to the house which was built in the early 70's, and although it looked fine it was so badly warped that the wind would whip right through the cracks in the winter. Also, it would only open when the weather was just right. Sometimes it would get so stuck, we'd open the front window to greet visitors and then tell them to go around to the side door to enter. It felt a lot like working at the McDonald's drive through. Anyway, It was a huge double door style, which is why we had to have a new one made. So, we hired Sam (our very talented carpenter friend) and he helped us design a door that would be beautiful, more energy efficient and would allow light (and our friends) into the house. www.whismanwoodworks.com The guys just finished installing it today... It is so beautiful! We chose to do a large single door made from Ribbon Mahogany wood with windows and side lights. It's kind of a Craftsman style. Can you picture it? I would post a photo, but...you know I can't do that! That is one of my new years goals: learning to post photographs. URG! I can't think about that now!
Merry Christmas to you my sweet bloggy friends! I hope you and your families have a blessed celebration of our savior's birth!
• 5 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Dec. 7, 2007 - Confessions of a Scrooge.....BAH HUMBUG!
Well, it's officially Christmas time and I should be rushing around in a flurry of joyfull preparation, but truth be told my "give-a-hoot-meter" is very low. Christmas is usually my absolute favorite holiday, but I am feeling bah humbugg-ish this year. Our new tree is up and looking lovely, I have shopped and wrapped a few things, but I just can't seem to get motivated or excited about it all.
One side of the family has decided to not exchange gifts this year (this was announced AFTER I had already bought gifts). My brother and his (jewish) family are coming for Christmas....why I do not know....if you were jewish would you drive 8 hours to your sister in law's home for Christmas? I wouldn't. URG! Anyway, Lord help me! I need an attitude adjustment! I don't want to be the Grinch Who Stole Christmas from the Corleys! I know that my attitude is so much more important in setting a peaceful tone than the circumstances that are surrounding us.
We have some wonderful traditions to prepare our hearts for Jesus' Birthday, and we may still do many of them, but I need inspiration! I feel like we need a couple of NEW activities or traditions to get my Christmas juices flowing. So here is my plan:
* Sunday after church we will make cookies for the Keepers at Home Christmas party. I was planning to make Oatmeal Raisin or Chocolate Chip cookies, but have decided that old-fashioned cut-out and decorated Sugar Cookies will be more festive to make with the kids.
* A trip to Dollywood next week to see the lights and a show will be fun!
* A trip to the Opryland Hotel in Nashville the day after Christmas to see the sights and the Ice Sculptures! I have always wanted to visit Opryland...this will be a first for all of us!
So, I need help to snap out of my Ebenezer Scrooge state. Do you all have any traditions or activities to share that might evoke that sense of awe and wonder I'm missing? Any words of wisdom or inspiration to help me re-connect with the reason for joy this season? I'd love to hear from you!
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 15, 2007 - Worship the Lord with gladness and joyful songs
I have been nursing my cold today ~ and enjoying a hot mug of Peppermint Tea as I write. There is something nice about being cozy and sniffly when it's cold and drizzly outside.
Lily and I have been reading about Squanto and the Pilgrims today, and we even watched a video about William Bradford. By child number 3, I am VERY aquainted with these stories, but today I noticed something new in one of our books.... they had lovely pottery mugs! I am so wanting to get out into my studio (the garage) and start making pilgrim-y mugs! Urgh, the clay dust.....maybe when I'm feeling better!
Anyhoo, Last night's family worship event was a huge sucess! I didn't feel well and I'm sure I sounded dreadful..BUT, I believe that the Lord was glorified! Several people came up afterwards and commented that it was so neat to see us ALL up there together! I had a conversation with a friend who performed a worship dance with her family and she shared that her back was hurting. Really hurting! She had even gone to the doctor and was on muscle relaxers and pain meds! I truly believe that the enemy was trying to keep us from serving and worshipping with our families. I really do. I think he was trying to take the mommas down! Praise the Lord his crafty plan did not work! We both pushed through and did it anyway! Their dance was wonderful!
The whole evening was wonderful...at one point I was moved to tears to see all the little ones worshipping with their families. There was a brief teaching on the use of worship banners and flags, and by the end of the evening they were flyin' high! Kids are so uninhibited.....it was a really beautiful sight!
Another highlight for me was my baby girl. Lily was asked by the worship pastor to read a scripture. Well, she doesn't know how to read yet.... HOWEVER, she had memorized Psalm 100, which is the perfect scripture to share at a worship event! God is so good ....He really does prepare us in advance to do good works!
So, I croaked and squeaked through it all, Lily shared the Psalm (and danced... and sang from her toes) , Davis skillfully played electric guitar, Caroline sang beautifully, Dennis lead us all with humility. Our church family danced and sang and waived flags to worship our Lord.....My heart was full to bursting!
PSALM 100:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 14, 2007 - Singing His Praises...and Hangin' em on a Tree!
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is one week away! We have not decided what to do with ourselves this year. Usually, we have family in to join us, and on a few occasions we have traveled to be with family, but this year we have NO plan. It's kind of wierd. I told my husband that since I can't eat most of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes, I' d rather not cook....so we may be having a very low key Turkey Day. HHMMN....Football and Fajitas? 
I have always felt that the days leading up to a holiday are better than the actual day. I love the week before Thanksgiving when books about the Pilgrims and Squanto are read, hand print turkeys are made, and we bring out the Corley Thanksgiving Tree. Our Thanksgiving Tree is one of my favorite traditions. Here's how you can have a Thanksgiving Tree:
Find a branch that looks like a tree.
Prop it up in a flower pot or bowl, so that it stands (I used a lump of clay and then put acorns in to fill the pot and all around the base).
Cut leaf shapes out of paper .
Use a hole punch to put a hole in the top of each leaf.
Put a loop of string or raffia to hang the leaves.
Have the kids write (or tell you) something they are thankful for ...each day leading up to Thanksgiving Day.
Before the Thanksgiving meal, read the leaves and offer all the things up to God as a prayer of Thanksgiving! There you have it!
I was filled with thanksgiving last night. We had a "Corley-Von Trapp" evening as we prepared for a worship event at our church. Tonight is the actual event, so I get to re-live the experience. My husband is a worship leader at our church, and was asked to lead tonight for a family worship event called Outpouring FX. I do not know what the FX stands for. Anyway, since it is a family experience, we decided it would be fun to be up there leading as a family. It really was sweet for me to look over to my right and see my girls singing, and then look to my left and see my husband and my son playing guitar and singing!
I am the least musical person in our family. I play no instrument and I do not read music. I am an okay singer. I love to sing! However, I have a cold right now and am not sounding very pretty. (sniffle...croak!) That's okay, I will lip sync if I must...I wouldn't miss the family worship experience for anything!
• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 8, 2007 - Memories like the corner of my mind........
Seems that the thing to do this week is post a meme. I love the idea and have greatly enjoyed reading others reflections, however I cannot remember where I was last week! Reminisceing 10, 20 or 30 years back is a daunting task! WOW!
Okay, here I go:
Ten years ago I had just turned 30. We had recently moved to East Tennessee from my forever home of Maryland. I was soaking up the scenery and learning my way around. I was trying to make new friends, and was feeling lonely. My constant companions were my 4 year old, Davis, and one year old, Caroline. Caroline had decided that walking was overrated, so I carried her everywhere, and had a constant backache! She finally did walk at 17 months..URG! These were the long, easy, fun days of Barney, fingerpainting and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don't think life seemed easy then, but now looking back it was easy. Uncomplicated. We were living in a cute, ranch style rental house that had a huge back yard...the first backyard I'd ever had! We spent a lot of time outside.
Dennis was traveling a lot with his job back then, so it was just me and two little monkeys exploring our new town..finding a church, new doctors, grocery stores, playgrounds, museums and such.
Twenty years ago I was a 20 year old mess. I had grown up with out a relationship with my dad. My boss was emotionally abusive, and I didn't have enough self respect to do anything about it. So, I pretended to be tough and unphased - even though inside I was a deeply wounded girl. I was not a christian, and was in a serious relationship with a guy who would later break my heart. I was working in a salon as a hairdresser and make up artist. I loved going to work each day but struggled to make much of a living at it. I was much more interested in the relationships I'd formed with my clients (chatting), and with the creative masterpieces I was creating (primping and poofing), than in rushing through my day in order to actually make any money! I traveled to New York, London, Dallas, and SanFrancisco to attend Conferences and advanced training classes. I also had several of my works featured in international hairstyle publications. It was a fun, exciting time, but also an empty time. I knew I wanted a different life. I was looking for real love. It would be five long years before I'd meet my man. I also knew I was missing something important spiritually...it would be five years before I figured out that what I was missing was Jesus!
Thirty years ago I was ten. I can't really think of much to say about that time in my life. I have no real vivid memories. I know that we (my mom, my brother and me) lived in an apartment with several cats. Mom worked two jobs in order to keep us afloat, and we were basically "latch key" kids. It wasn't all bad...I learned to cook and clean! I would often come home from school, do my homework and then cook a "nice" supper. My specialty was Roasted Chicken, Rice a Roni and Steamed Broccoli. I also was good at Macaroni and Cheese. I remember having to defrost chickens in the dishwasher so that our tomcat, Alfie, wouldn't eat them raw. He was such a pill!
By fifth grade school was beginning to become an unhappy place for me. I began to feel frustrated and fall behind. It got worse as I got older and more rebellious. I think I was just bored out of my mind! I would've been a great homeschooled kid! I love to learn. I hate to be patronized and talked at. I also hate what Charlotte Mason called "twaddle", which is all I remember doing in school. Pointless, unimaginative and uninteresting busy work.
It's amazing to hit the highlights like this in ten year increments. It makes you realize all the changes that happen in between. I can say that I've enjoyed being an adult much more than a kid. I can honestly say I wouldn't go back if I could. Since I met my husband fifteen years ago, fell in love with Jesus, and became a mom, my life has become so much richer! I have a purpose! I have a testimony and I look forward to seeing what happens from here.
"For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jer. 29:11
• 5 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Nov. 7, 2007 - So much to say, but it will have to wait
I have a lot to share, but no time to sit here and type it all out. So, let me just say that I'm reading a little book called The Dream Giver. I love this book! It is a short and easy read, which is just what I need right now! It's an allegory about having dreams and the courage to walk them out! Very inspiring!
Has anyone else out there read it? Care to comment?
• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 22, 2007 - Giving Thanks
Thankfulness.......as Thanksgiving quickly approaches I have been thinking about thankfulness...a lot! It seems to be the subject that keeps popping up.
I think of myself as a generally thankful person, but recently I've been pondering it more deeply. Am I TRULY thankful? The Bible tells us to be thankful in all things. Am I thankful in *all* things? The truth is NO, I'm not.
I am wondering why it is that I seem to handle the bigger disappointments of life with a measure of grace, but when my house is a mess, or the kids can't find the stapler, I lose my cool. The truth is I can easily get into a mode of discouragement and despair.
Instead of being thankful for my beautiful, healthy, happy, smart children, I get frustrated that they are loud, and messy, and well..... childish!
Instead of being thankful for my big, beautiful home, I get mad that it is messy and unorganized, and embarassed that we can't even park our car in the garage because of all the stuff we have!
Instead of being thankful for doctors and tests which can diagnose high cholesterol and hopefully prevent heart disease, I am whiney about dietary changes, medication, and the need for daily excersize.
Psalm 50: 23 says, "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me." According to yesterday's guest speaker at church..."Giving thanks is a sacrifice because it is unnatural for us. " He gave a wonderful talk about the enemies of peace. Thanklessness was one of these peace robbers. As he spoke I knew that the Lord was reminding me to choose to be thankful in *all* things!
As I leafed through the Samaritan's Purse catalog, I was reminded of how much we have to be thankful for...As I read that a poor mama learned that her son has cancer, I am reminded of all I have to be thankful for...as I answer the phone to hear my sweet husband's voice calling just to say hello and that he loves me, I am reminded of how much I have to be thanful for!
But even more than all those reasons, I am reminded to offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving because the Creator of the universe calls me his beloved daughter! His son, Jesus, loves me so much that he sacrificed his very life to extend me the grace I need so desperately. I am so thankful that His mercies are new every morning! Halleluiah for that...I'll probably need to ask for forgivesness tomorrow (yet again)...... as I am so prone to forget how blessed I truly am!
So, that's what I'm thinking today. I'm thinking I need an attitude adjustment. Instead of getting mad at the kids because they have lost the 350th pencil I've bought this year, I will choose to be thankful that I can get in my mini van, filled with gas, and turn on my ipod, and drive to the nearest Walmart to buy some more. It's not really a big deal!
Instead of wishing my husband would fix stuff around the house, I will choose to be thankful that he is an extremely hard worker all week and then wants to spend time with us rather than do projects all weekend.
Instead of getting frustrated that Lily turned the entire playroom into a booby trap/obstacle course that no one can get through, I will choose to be thankful that she has such an independant spirit and creative mind!
We have a God who is *for* us! God can take the trials of this life and turn them into something good that glorifies Him. He can take bad relationships, health issues and any other problems we might face and use them to grow our character.
So, here's the question for you today....are you thankful in all things? Do you trust God's goodness even when things are rough? Do you look for the lessons He may be trying to teach through a situation, or do you you revolt and whine (like I usually do)?
Thanksgiving and Praise are a sacrifice. I will be pressing in to this even more as we prepare for our Thanksgiving celebration this year. I have SO much to be thankful for! How about you?
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 9, 2007 - Things I'd eat this week if I weren't afraid of having a heart attack
I admit that I've been living in a state of denial. If you had asked me last month if we ate healthy around here I would've said, "Yeah, for the most part." I only cook with Olive Oil, we eat whole grain breads,and have cut out all high fructose corn syrup from our lives. See?
Well, since my diagnosis of dangerously high/and low cholesterol levels, I've been put in a VERY low fat diet. And I've realized how much unhealthy stuff I really do eat! This is going to be life changing! Do you know how little fat 30 grams per day is? NOT MUCH! So, today I'm feeling hungry....and deprived...and I'm not hungry for apple wedges or celery sticks...I want somethin' GOOD! So, I"ve decide to sit here and fantasize about what I'd eat if I wasn't afraid of having a heart attack...here I go:
pot roast with all the sides...carrots, onions and potatoes
hot yeasty rolls
mashed potatoes (with real butter, real milk, and salt and pepper)
a chile relleno con chips, salsa y guacamole
an everything bagel with cream cheese
a gyro with lots of that good cucumber-y sauce
melted brie cheese on wheat thin crackers
a glass of red wine
crab rangoons
a grilled steak with sauted mushrooms on top
a scoop of mocha chip ice cream
mushroom and onion pizza
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNMMMMNNNNNNNMMMMMMMNNNN!!!
In real life I'll be having none of those things. I'll have instead a boneless skinless chicken breast and some stir fried vegetables. I really love veggies, so it's not as hard as it could be!
On the up side.... I have found that Mayfield makes a chocolate frozen yogurt that tastes just like real chocolate ice cream...really! ........ and it only has 2 grams of fat per serving! YUMM!!
What healthy low fat things do you eat? Or, better yet, what unhealthy things do you fantasize about?
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Oct. 9, 2007 - Friendship is a gift from God
Today I ran away for a couple of hours to have lunch with a girlfriend. I am so thankful to have really good friends! Friendship is a gift from God! Later in the afternoon, I started to discuss with my kids the importance of choosing friends wisely, and of being a good friend to others.
So, I've begun a list of some qualities that make a really good friend...according to me. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Please feel free to add anything I've left off!
A good friend is someone you can talk to honestly about your kids or your husband, knowing that she gets how much you adore them (in spite of whatever gripe you have)!
A good friend will still choose to see the best in your loved ones even though she knows some top secret stuff about them!
A good friend will never betray a confidence.
A good friend will never judge you ~ even when you really let it all hang out!
A good friend knows that you are a work in progress and accepts you where you are.
A good friend listens and discuss things with you as you try to figure them out... and doesn't think you're a whack-o!
A good friend tells the truth in love and tries to do it in a way that helps/doesn't hurt.
A good friend sees all the wonderful things about you and reminds you of them occasionally.
A good friend forgives you when you forget her birthday.
A good friend is like a cheerleader...encouraging you to press on!
A good friend is one who laughs with you, and cries with you, and prays for you!
A good friend is available to help when you need it.
A good friend encourages your walk with God...and reminds you to be thankful in all things....knowing that...
"Every good and perfect gift comes from above."
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Sep. 26, 2007 - Good News and Not So Good News
Again, it's been forever since I've updated! I have so much to share, but never enough time to sit and write it all out!
In the news: I have a happy report ....and a not -so- happy report. I'll do happy first.
A couple of weeks ago, right after our beach trip, I went with some wonderful friends to what we now call "the burgh", Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, for a Deeper Still training. Er, Let me back up a bit. Healing Hearts is a ministry for christian, post abortive women who are in need of healing . Some of these women have dealt with the sin of their abortions to some degree, but the Lord can always do a deeper work. And He is always gentle and patient with us, which is why complete healing doesn't usually happen all at once. Many post abortive women suffer from guilt, shame, depression, intimacy issues, mothering issues, and eating (or over eating) disorders, to name a few symptoms. Deeper Still is a weekend retreat that allows time to address these issues. There is powerful teaching, worship, prayer times and fellowship. It is a place that one can openly share deep secrets (bring what was hidden into the light!) and then cry out for forgiveness and restoration amongst loving, compassionate sisters who can comfort with the comfort they have recieved.
I am priveleged to be on this ministry team. These retreats are always so powerful! Our next retreat is in just a couple of weeks! I love to see how God shows up and loves on His daughters! He is all about redemption! If you want to know more about it go to www.choicesresource.com/ and then scroll down to the Healing Hearts link.
So, the Pittsburgh trip was a training session. A friend, who is the director of a Pregnancy Center in Pittsburgh (and joined us at our last retreat), has decided to start hosting the retreats in the Pittsburgh area. Exciting, huh? So, we lovingly called it our "first fruits trip... to the burgh". We trained the team, scouted out some potential retreat sites, and prayer walked through the city.
First, I have to confess that I had an incorrect image of what Pittsburgh would be like. I mean, I was totally wrong! It is a very beautiful, friendly city. There are gorgeous, tall, old buildings, tons of bridges, and rivers galore! It was also very lush and green in the suburbs. It actally looks a lot like East Tennessee.
One of my favorite buildings was the historic courthouse. It was a BEAUTIFUL building, but I loved it even more because we were invited to lunch in the chambers of a judge named Cheryl Allen. She is indeed honorable! A black, christian, female judge running for superior court, with a fun story of God's provision and faithfulness! She apparently ran and won her last campaign with less than $300.00. backing her! It was an awesome afternoon! Take a look at her web page. www.cherylallenforsuperiorcourt.com/ *note: this is typed correctly, but for some reason the link does not work. If you would like to visit this website, please type it in manually from your search engine.
The people of the burgh have an admirable pride in their city and know of lots of fun ways to show it off. I left thinking, "Okay if a group of people came to Knoxville, where could I take them?" They were fanastic hostesses!
We went on a Duck Boat tour....have you see these crazy things? A Duck Boat is a tour truck that drives you around showing all the noteworthy, historical and cultural sites by land, and then heads to the river to finish out the tour on water! Very cool! Of course they didn't tell us until the end of the tour that these vehicles were built way back in the 40's and used to transport stuff in the war effort. Yes...1940's......would you drive around (or float!) in a vehicle that was over 60 years old? Quack Quack Quack! Take a look if you've never seen one of these crazy things. www.justduckytours.com
We also took the incline up the side of a mountain and had a spectacular nightime view of the city! For a slide show of the city, check out this link. www.virtourist.com/america/pittsburgh
One of my friends is from a suburb of Pittsburgh and we had a ball touring her hometown as well. The township has an Iroquios name that I cannot remember. BUT, the big tourist attraction in her town is a huge, natural lake where the carp are so numerous that the ducks and geese walk on top of them. It was gross! But, we were all feeling sleep deprived by that time, so we found it to be very entertaining as well as disgusting! To calm our disgust, we had Hank's Famous Frozen Custard! It was much like soft serve Ice Cream, but smoother, creamier...kind of mousse like. I had chocolate (of course!) with pecans on top! DELISH!!
There was also a large Amish population there (we saw the most precious Amish children at Hank's...dressed in their cute, little outfits and barefoot), and since one of us, who we re-named Papperazzi, was obsessed with getting photos of the Amish, we spent several hours stalking them trying to get a photo. The Amish DO NOT like having their picture taken! So we had to be stealthy and try not to completely invade their privacy while still getting few "shots". Karen is concerned that her parents (who still live there) may be shunned forevermore.
So, those are the highlights...lots of fun..lots of laughter... and lots of vision cast for future ministry!
Now, for my not -so- happy news.....
I just found out that I have high "bad" cholesterol, low "good" cholesterol and two of the genes that predispose me to developing heart disease. So, I went from being on no medication whatsoever to being on Aspirin, Zocor, Niacin, and Progesterone (for a different reason)! I also have to be on a restricted diet and excersize 6 times per week! URG! I had a bad feeling about turning forty this summer! I'm officially an old lady now .....with lots of little prescription bottles on my nightstand to prove it!
Oh well, I've been wanting to lose weight...this ought to do it! Six times a week?! Wowsa! Do you think that doc was just kidding around?
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Sep. 7, 2007 - Lily's beach memorization by R.L.Stevenson
When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore
My holes were empty like a cup
And in every hole the sea came up
Until they could hold no more
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Sep. 5, 2007 - Beachy News
Greetings from the seashore! We are having a lovely, relaxing time...the weather has been great, not too hot, but sunny! We went on our crabbing expedition yesterday, but alas we caught no crabs. I was VERY disappointed, but was easily cheered by the cute Sea Island Crabs running about and the pod of 5 Bottlenosed Dolphins that swam in to greet us!
After the unfruitful fishing trip, we ate a local favorite seafood restaraunt (because I was sort of counting on eating crab) called the SEA SHACK for dinner. The motto there was, "It's not fancy, it's just good!" I agree...it was a shack, it was not fancy, and it was VERY good! If you ever visit Hilton Head Island, check it out!
We decided to top off the evening with a bike ride on the beach. It was lovely UNTIL Davis crashed and planted his face into the wet, hard packed sand! His poor mouth took a terrible punch from the earth and he still (24hrs later) looks pretty swollen. His braces punctured the insides of his lips, and his front tooth looks like it may have been pushed back a bit. I guess our first outing when we return home will be to the orthodontist. I am very thankful that it wasn't more serious!
So today the guys are golfing, and the girls and I have spent the day at the beach...hopping around in the waves.
Tomorrow, I plan to take the kids on a field trip to the museum. www.coastaldiscovery.org We have been there before, but Lily probably doesn't remember...I am constantly having to remind myself that some things need to be re-done for the lil' one!
Well, the guys are ringing..they need a ride from the course.
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Aug. 31, 2007 - Hello and I'm off!
Hello long lost friends! I came up for air and thought I'd shout out a hello! I still log on and read to keep up with you all, but haven't had the energy/gumption to write.
So, we started school around here three weeks ago and although it has been rough, I think we're finally on track. My oldest started his first year of high school, and I foolishly thought that giving him a more structured curricula to use would make it easier to keep up with grades etc...So, for the first time in our homeschool life we are using textbooks and computer programs.... and let me tell ya....they AIN'T for us!! I will go ahead and finish what we've started ,*but* trying to teach/learn in a totally new way is not a good idea the first year of high school! We also tried to bite off more than we could chew and have already dropped a class! Yeah, it's been a little stressful.
On the bright side, we get to take a breather 'cuz we are headed back to the beach for a whole week! Yahooo! I need a vacation! I think that may be a bad sign to "need" a vacation after only 3 weeks in session. URG! We will be taking some schoolwork with us so as to not get totally behind, but a change of scenery always cheers me up...and there is something about the lowcountry of South Carolina! That area stole my heart a few years back, and I literally feel myself relax and breathe more deeply when we're there. I love it! And I'm very excited to go crabbing, because last time we were there we caught nothing...my brother in Maryland assures me that the crabbing should be good this time of year.
I will also be carrying with us the latest edition of The Old Schoolhouse magazine...did you notice that the theme is the seashore! How perfect is that?! I love it when God blesses my homeschooling like that...it has happened several times. Some would call it coincidence, but I don't believe in that! Once when we were studying early man and how he was not primitive, but rather an intellegent and creative being.... musicians, city planners, and workers of metal..... I got in the mail (totally unexpected and unexplicable) a video "field trip" to a steel mill showing how metals are made. It was totally cool to read about the ancient practices and then watch the video to see how it's done now. Yep, it was God...He cares about our homeschools. Have any of you had a similar experience?
Pray for me that He will give me wisdom and patience to figure out this new way of doing things this year. And please pray that we will all still love to learn by next spring!
Well, I need to go pack.
• 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Aug. 8, 2007 - URG!!!
Okay, I'm penning this entry from the kitchen computer while my other entry is frozen on the lap top in the living room. I'm going to be very upset if I cannot get it to unfreeze! Does anyone know why the lap top would freeze all of a sudden like this? I refuse to re-write that whole long post! I refuse! I refuse! 
URG!
• 7 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
