Hello everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while    I have been slowly trying to get some stuff done & organized in the house. Thank God the hubby was still home to help move furniture & stuff or nothing would be done...still!!   Obviously, I'm still not allowed to do any lifting & moving stuff & pulling stuff ect.  So I've been being very careful of what I do. I want to be "normal" again,  The sooner the better! 

Well I have Great News (God is Great  & he DOES provide!!!! ) NEVER DOUBT HIM! 
I also have some "sore" news....I'll start with the "sore news" first.....
So all week  my back was feeling pretty good! Well.... now it hurts a bit!!!  ... (What is  pathetic is... how it happened!!!!) I woke up friday morning, all was well... except I've been a bit stuffy from the change of weather..(this happens every spring & fall!)  Well I started coughing! I didn't even think about it! (How coughing could possibly  be bad!?!)  Well... I evidently coughed so hard it hurt my back a bit!!! I was SOOOO MAD but I'm just chilling out & gimping around! I can't wait to see the Chiropractor on monday though! I'm sure he'll have me all better before I leave!   I'm just praying that God will help me get healed up & back to normal A.S.A.P.  

 Well we do have some good news. Thursday my hubby got called for a job!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!  All he had to do was go take a drug test & allow for a background check. (Of course everything came out fine for those things!) So...He has the job!  Yesterday was his 1st day. He said it all went good.    He is very happy & is sort of sore this morning.., He has been laid off since mid December, & hasn't really used his muscles for hard work in 3+ months! 

I know it probably sounds silly ... It was sort of wierd for me being home totally alone!
(the dog or cats don't count as company! ha! ha! )
(It has been a year & 1/2  since I have been home all day!!!)
However, It was very nice for a change .. just very different! It was nice to be able to have dinner ready for everyone! I got laundry & dishes, done & cleaned up a little bit... (I wanted to do more but it really hurts to stand & walk around too long right now. )
I can't wait until this public school year is over!!!  I'll have the kiddoz home for good & can homeschool them!!! 2 months & 2 weeks left!!! I'm counting!!!  
So, We are ALL very happy that he FINALLY got called for a job! 
 The job center said that it is "considered temporary right now" ... however it  will more than likely  turn out to be permanent!?!  From the sounds of it they have to tell you that just incase the company decides not to keep you if it isn't working out. I'm not worried about my hubby's "work ethic/or ability to do hard work. 
 We are just praying that it is a permanent position.  
What is great is... my hubby is not working outside, getting soaked, cold or toasted to a crisp! He is also making more per hour, & this job will more than likely have benifits, & He will not get laid off every winter!!! (unlike his previous job.)

 If ya'll could say a big prayer for us & that this job will be a permanent job ...  every prayer helps.

ALSO .....  I got informed that my "friend link" on H.S. Blogger is'n't working. 

 DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS????? The only think I could think for ya'll to try would be...... Get on my page add me into your favorites so you can still find my page. Then go to your blogger page to view & edit things..., delete me out of your friends list, After you do that go to your favorites & find me & then see if you can re-add me?!?!?!???  If none of this works the only thing I can say is to just access me through the favorites that you saved ...??? Just PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME .

 If any of you try this let me know how it works.

The other thing I found out was..  A friend of mine's link here on H.S. Blogger doesn't work if I click on her name on my main page!, However, if I go into my friends list that shows everyone & if they are mutual friends or not,  & click on her name there... I can get into her page!!! It makes No sense whatsoever! But it works?!

My address for hs blogger is http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/frustratedink   you could also copy this to your address bar!  Yea, my "frustrated ink" name is a silly little thing I've been using for many years! It originally came from a song when I was a teenager (by: soul asylum) Some of you are probably young enough or old enough (lol) to know the song or the band?  Now that I am older the song isn't all that cool .. I just like the name.. 

Well I will quit jibbering on for now. Thank You for reading  & sticking with me & my rants & jibbering

GOD BLESS YA'LL

Shannon

Well, I am done with work. Thank You GOD! I no longer have to leave things undone at home & miss my family in the evenings, while the hubby plays mr. mom!!!!   What is also great is....No more going to work to put up with inconsiderate, unappreciative, & negative attitudes! That in its self puts a smile on my face. Now I can totally focus on worthwhile, meaningful things that  will be a positive influence on our family 

FYI: Today was originally going to be my last day.. but a friend at work REALLY needed hours & seeing as how I couldn't wait to be done...I gave him my last 2 days... so.. Wedensday evening was my last day..
 I would have blogged sooner however... I really needed to let my brain chill & get back to normal..    PLEASE READ BELOW & YOU'LL Understand Why.....

WELL... some of you who know me well are going to think something is wrong with me.  (if you already don't LOL!)  
Some of you know that ...Typically I am not an emotional, sensitive, or a crying type of person... (my own mother says, "I am just like my dad"...I don't show emotions well & sometimes seem insensitive! ) LOL!  I must admit she is right  

ANYWAYS....all evening at work.. Certain things that I regularly do.. hit me as ...
"WOW!  this is the last time I will ever take the trash down, help take xrays, punch in.." ect. That didn't bother me at all.. It just was odd of me to think of it like that.

 Anyhow....When I went to walk all the dogs for the evening. ...2 of our regular boarding dogs were in. (Molly & Abby) Well over the last year & a half Molly & Abby have grown on me. They are both really nice, sweet, lovable & actually funny dogs (funny = long story)
Well I took them out & it dawned on me... "this is the last time I will ever walk them or see them!" 
When I put them back in their run I got a little choked up. But I still had other dogs to walk so I shook it off quite easily....

Well at 8:00 I was getting ready to leave. So I grabbed my coat n' stuff & looked over at Molly & Abby. They both looked cute as usual.. but yet, sad..   Well I couldn't just leave with out saying one last goodbye......So I went in & told them I love them & I'd really miss them & to be good dogs.. Well... got all choked up AGIAN & also teared up. I gave them a hug & figured I better go before I start bawling like a baby! 

Well when I got home the hubby happily met me down in the driveway. He asked how my last night at work went? I told him, "good." He said, "bet your happy it's over huh?!"
 I said, "yea" (but at the same time...I felt myself choking up & I was trying to keep a normal tone of voice! & trying to think of ANYTHING but Molly & Abby!) Well ...I ended up standing out in the driveway (at 8:30 p.m in the dark!). .. crying like a baby & blubbering to my hubby how "I'm gonna miss Molly & Abby"  He, Chuckled & gave me nice big hug..
I told him, "Your wifey need's help... this is probably stupid of me to be crying over missing dogs!?"
He said, "No it's not stupid! You loved the job because of the animals" . I said, "yea", (still blubbering like a  goofball) Then hubby said, "You know it says alot, & is also sad, when you like the animals better than the people you worked with!"  That made me giggle & blubber at the same time! Because it was sorta funny yet.. It is soooo true! I eventually quit crying & we went inside & talked about other stuff to cheer me up.
Just writing this makes me tear up a bit. I am an "animal person" I have been since I can remember! So do any of you think I'm silly????

Well...  Don't worry I have no regrets about leaving that place at all ! It sorta reminds me of ending a bad/abusive relationship...LOL! (as sad as that sounds) I will always miss the dogs though.
I am looking forward to homeschooling & being a good mother & wife again!  I just figured I'd share my happiness of being done with work for good ...& also my sadness for missing my lil' buddies!

Yea, I was thinking out of 50+ people I work with ... there are only about 14 that I even sorta trusted or like! That is really sad isn't it!  However,...I did get the email addresses of 4 people that I really like so we can all stay in touch. Eventually... I will get over missing my lil' buddies someday.   I'm sure homeschooling & being a good housewife again will keep me PLENTY busy! 

So for my first weekend of freedom I am just going to do whatever I want..... Which will probably be just to relax! or ya never know .. I might get motivated & just tear into a room in the house & re-organize!?  I originally wanted to do stuff outside....even if it was to just sit out on the porch & relax..But it now it got  REALLY cold here & SNOWED!!!!!!!!!!  Tuesday we had absolutly Beautiful weather here! It was 70 degrees & sunny!  I miss it & hope it comes back VERY soon. Well I am going to call it a night ... I'll talk to ya'll later. Please Let me know what you think

Thank You for reading & God Bless,

Shannon

Hey there everyone...Sorry I haven't been on here. I took my computer for a simple repair & it turned out to be a medium sized overhaul! It been there since monday, I just got it back 4 hours ago. All is well with my trusty ol' computer now.

Well...Let me tell you about my week starting with sunday  This will probably be a VERY LONG BLOG just to warn ya'll. But what's new huh?

Well....Sunday morning I woke up & was fine for the most part, just a bit stiff in the back, but doing pretty good considering everything .
Well I was up for 1/2 hour, just enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee, when the girls yelled down to me.. "Mommy!!! There is a mouse in your bedroom!!!" .. I asked them if it was alive or did the cats get it? It was alive they yelled back. So I hobbled up the stairs & saw our lil' guest run under the little stand beside the bed. I went to grab it...It ran up along the wall between our bed, I crawled up onto the bed & it ran again! So here I am at 8am crawling around my bedroom floor chasing a mouse!!!! To make a long story short..5 minutes later.. I finally caught the BLIND mouse!! (seriously it was blind, It looked like it's eyes were matted shut) Anyways.. I started down the steps & my muscles in my back right near my ribs & down to my waist started these HUGE spasm!! I made it downstairs, threw the mouse outside & figured I just needed to sit down....Well.... I figured wrong!!!! Sitting hurt like you wouldn't believe!!!  soooo... since sitting wasn't even an option... I spent the next 7 hours on my stomach, laying on the livingroom floor just to get my muscles to relax! I couldn't get up off the floor without my hubby helping me up, & what was even more pathetic.. I had to practically crawl up the steps when I needed to go upstairs to the potty! All the muscles in my middle & lower back were spasming!!!!!! So I made it through that painful day! Needless to say... I couldn't wait to see my chiropractor the next day.

Well Monday.. We already knew was going to be a busy day, Our "to do list" consisted of.......10am Chiropractor appt, drop off the computer at the shop, drop the kids of at grandma/pa's & a court hearing...    
Well...The Chiropractor appt went well.. except that I found out I may actually have more than one herniated disc in my back & wouldn't know unless they did an MRI.  So they are going to treat me as if I do have multipule herniations from my mid. to lower back & treat it with traction & cold lazer treatments. As I improve...I will have more intensive  physical therapy/strength training. exercises.   As of today I feel sooo much better than I have, I almost feel like a brand new person.. Even though I am not near done with treatments & not close to being 100%. But man do I feel great!  I can walk & not gimp, last night I actually slept the whole night with out waking up in pain when I move! I can almost touch my toes, sit down & stay comfy for more than 10 minutes.  I still have to be very careful what I do for now. I know I can not do ANY heavy lifting, pulling, & such.. & still get stiff if I sit too long...
Well..... after my 1- 1/2 hour appt.... We were off to see the "computer Dr" 
Well we were just having problems with our CD drives in our computer. They weren't even showing up as our D & E drives in "My Computer"!?!?! So our computer guy & us thought it was  something simple & was going to fix it right there. Well turned out to be not simple.  So while we were there he started to scan our computer. Turned out that we had some Chineese incription on our computer that started up every time we turned on our computer!!!!! It rewrote part of our windows registry!!!!! He asked us if we have been doing any transactions online with our accounts. & wouldn't ya know...YEP we have been just recently I started doing online purchaces!!!!!.  Sooo the computer guy highly advised us to go to our bank & check on our accounts & make sure they also offer protection against someone stealing our debit/credit card info. So at this point I was totally spazzing out!
Sooo off to the bank we went.. I explained everything to them & Thank God they do offer protection for id theft/fraudulent purchaces!! I still have to keep a close watch on our accounts though.
So after leaving the bank we had to be going to moms & dads to drop off the girls so we could go to a court hearing..... Back in December we were witnesses to an "accident" & got a certified letter to appear for this hearing.(it's long story.. I'll save it for another blog) 
After dropping off the girls we were on our way to the hearing & well wouldn't ya know it..... "Scatter brain me "  realized that I forgot to grab the certified letter for the court hearing so we zipped by the house so I could grab it. I went into the house & I noticed that it felt a little chilly inside. So I looked at the thermostat & saw it was only 56 degrees in the house!!! We ran out of fuel oil !!! I called the fuel oil co. & they couldn't make a delivery till' the next morning!!! It was a very windy, cold 12 degrees outside & going to get down to 4 degrees or lower that night! So we grabbed kero cans & took them with us!
We went down to the hearing & we were there a whole 5 minutes! They got the guy to plea guilty for everything, so they didn't need our "reinforcment". So we went to get fuel oil ran to the store to grab a few things & went back home. Hubby dumped 16 gallons of fuel in the tank & waited 15 minutes for it to settle & then kicked the furnace on. Well the furnace wouldn't fire! So we had a plugged jet/nozzel  So instead of us both going to pick up the girls from ma & pa's, & visiting for a while, like we planned....I went to get the girls.....while hubby worked on the furnace. On my way to get the girls, there is this big hill we have to go up. Well I was going up the hill just fine & all the sudden the truck started to jerk & sputter!!! At first the jerking made me think that the transmission was slipping... until it started to sputter & almost died!!!
OH NO!....I WAS ABOUT OUT OF GAS!!!!! But the gas gauge read 3/4 tank!!!!
This was impossible & insane!!! What else could possibly go wrong today!!!! AHHH!!!!
I prayed & prayed  "God to PLEEEAAAASSSEEE just let me make it up this hill!" 
I was sooo upset/nervous.. my foot was shaking! The only houses near by are at the top of this hill, I was already soooo cold & knew I couldn't walk up this big hill with my back soooo messed up & the truck likes to kick out of gear if it is parked on an unlevel spot so I couldn't just leave it there if it did die on this hill & I don't own a cell phone!!!! Well.....THANK YOU GOD! I made it up that big hill!!!  I was going to pull over because it kept sputtering & almost dying.....but  it WAS still running  so I figured why stop....lets see if I can make it to the little gas station 1 mile away"!! Soooo I put on the 4 ways & sputtered slowly along & Thank God! I made it to the little gas station! I was never sooo happy to pay 2.56 a gallon for gas! LOL

Sooooo.... Thank  God, our furnace is fine, & the truck has gas, & is now going to get gas more frequently since we have a bad fuel gauge, Our computer works great, our bank accounts are fine, & my back is getting better! Even though this was one of the worst days I've had in a LONG time. It was a reminder to me to be thankful to God for our blessings & thankful to God for watching over us everyday!

Oh yea, Also even though my boss was giving me a hard time about my work related back injury, she did turn it into work comp & they did look into it & they ARE paying for it. So Thank God AGAIN!

See there is sunshine after the storms  
Just reminds me to be thankful & keep on keeping on
GOD BLESS YA'LL & tell me what ya think

Shannon

Well, I went to the chiropractor for the 1st time yesterday (2/28) All went well  THANK GOD! I am no longer convince that it is a scarry or painful thing! It is a good thing!  . 

I got a consult, xrays, some alignment done, decompression table treatment, cold lazer treatment & did some physical therapy like exercises. I did not recieve the official results of the xrays wedensday...which was sort of a bummer because I really, really wanted to know.
(God is just teaching me patience LOL)  I was told that I definatly have some instability issues going on with my back & that I definatly have stuff out in my back... The arch in the lower back is suppose to be 40 degrees... well mine is 1/2 that!!!  

So... I went back in today (3/1)  to get more work done on my back & got the results of my xrays!!!    Well....Here I have a herniated/bulging disc in  my back!!!!! I believe he said it was my"L4".
He showed me all my xrays & totally explained everything which was GGRRREEEAAAATTT!!!! So looks like I am going to be seeing alot of the Dr. 

Well back on Wedensday, I had to fill out paper work stuff & explain what I did to myself, on Valentines Day/3 weeks ago at work.  I told them about & tried to show them how  the "dog hurdling" accident happened, which was a long story & sorta odd to show them.
He said that when I twisted to avoid stepping on /tripping over the dog is what did it & that the 3 pops I heard were my back going out of whack, & the muscle spasms/knots  I have, that kept coming back, were because my muscles were trying to keep that area stable & over working themselves  .

They asked me if I filed a compensation claim at work... & I told them no because I am done there on the 16th of March. They said that I still should since it was a work related injury. Well after today's news the realization of how seriously I messed up my back, & how many more times I will be going there...(atleast 6 more times)... I decided that I should do tell my boss & file a claim. I have no health insurance & am paying 75.00 a visit for all my treatments.. ALL because of an injury I sustained at work!

Sooooo.....today after my appt.  I went into work & talked with my boss & told her what exactly was going on with my back....she asked me why I didn't report it when it happened & I told her it didn't hurt right afterwards, not until the next morning & that the pain  seemed to be just muscle knots/spasms.  I wasn't going to turn that in if that's all it was.  I told her the knots kept coming back & then I was getting a sharp pain in my spine, which really concerned me & figured I better get it checked to see what was going on!  She said well, You told me hurt your back before this could be from an old injury." I told her my OLD INJURY was torn or strained muscles  NOT a spinal injury!!!.   So..I explained to her when, where, & how this all happened at work. She said, "Well I can turn it in for you but I need the name of your PCP & Chiropractor & how it all happened on paper."  We are probably going to need your old records to make sure this wasn't from a previous back injury... so we need to have this info." So I gave her all that info & wrote out the accident exactly how it happened.  

SORRY..... I am VERY irritated at work right now, It just makes me mad that they are trying to give me a hard time instead of help. They can check every piece of my med. history. I know & God knows that  I HAVE NEVER had a spinal injury!
Also from the sound of it.... There is NO WAY that I could have gone years & years with this kind of injury & not know it! 
I am the type of person who loves hard work, & willing to help anyone with just about anything. ( I'm odd) 
At work I typically get called to help lift heavy dogs, restrain very unruly, big dogs, help hold for xrays,  carry heavy dogs to the creamatory that can wiegh alot (100+++ lbs that requires 2 people to do.)   I carry 50-80lb stuff up & down stairs at work by myself & it doesn't bother me none. ..... the list goes on & on.. I haven't been able to carry anything over 30 lbs for the last 3 weeks! Soooo we'll see what they do.

What irritates me even more is just about everyone I work with knows that my back has been screwed up for 3 weeks because I told them, "I'll help you if you need it but NO LIFTING & no restraining big, rowdy dogs for now because my back is killing me." 
2 weeks ago on a Tuesday, my boss specifically told me that they were going to need help restraining upstairs, & I told her that was fine EXCEPT  that I screwed up my back so I can not doing any heavy lifting & if the dog is a big rowdy one.. NO can Do.   She said well see what you can help with...That was all & she walked away.  Not once did she ask what the problem was or what happened. So for her to act "SHOCKED" that my back is messed up is rediculous!!!!!!

Sooo I will update with what is going on when I get a chance ... For now I am trying to rest up & let the work that I'm getting done to my back take hold..... while I continue to devour my OSH magazines!!!

GOD BLESS & thanks for reading my rants.
Sorry I got so rowdy  
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK

Shannon

Hello everyone   I am soooooo happy I got my 2 back issues of TOS magazine (spring 04 & winter 06) This is my 1st time with TOS magazine & I AM IN LOE!!!! My sis n' law, told me how she "couldn't live with out TOS magazine" & told me just how good it is. So since I trust her judgment... I got a subscription & 2 back issues that sounded very interesting. WOW is all I got to say!
I am only on the 2nd artical in the Spring 04 mag. I didn't want to stop reading.. but wanted to check in before I get toooooo "addicted" to reading every page!!!! ! I WISH THIS WAS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE!!!! That would be great! I am just thankful that this is such a great, Christian centered, family oriented, homeschooling magazine!!!!!!  What is also sooo nice is that there are NOT any of the worldly, trendy/suggestive advertisments!!!  ~IT IS soooooo sweeeeet!~ It's nice to know that our girls can pick it up & flip through it or read it from front to back without me having to monitor every page!!!
Sooo.... I will probably be lost in reading for the next few days  while I am resting up my back. 
YEA,...ABOUT MY BACK.....I decided that I CAN NOT wait another 2 weeks to see a chiropractor!!!!!!!! (spelling?).

I can not take anymore pain!!! After having this for 3 weeks I think my "tolerance level" is about to 0.  
My sweet hubby has been working on rubbing the huge knot of muscles out of the lower left side of my back for almost 2 weeks! Well, by monday morning my muscles felt pretty good in that area... but the middle of my back (spine) still felt weird & was still hurting. 

Well......Yesterday, I was driving home from work, in my hubby's big ol' bouncy truck,   & hit a typical, unavoidable, Pennsylvania pothole.   ....  I got this jolt of pain that about sent me through the roof! It hurt so bad I felt like biting the steering wheel! (seriously)  Well..My knot was back & was bigger than before, I got home & hurt sooo bad I felt like crying! I couldn't walk too good & couldn't get comfy sitting, laying down, standing! To top it all off I couldn't get to sleep till' sometime after 2am & had to get up at 6:30 for work!... I feel the same if not worse than what I was 3 weeks ago!!!! If I didn't know better I'd think I was broken  !  I had the hubby walk his hands up my spine to see if he felt anything odd ... & he got 1/4 way up my back & it felt like a knife stabbed me in my back & he even said something felt strange there & pushed on it a little..  WOW! THE PAIN!!!! 

So my brother & sis n' law suggested their chiropractor, that they trust & swear by!    So today I got home & made an appointment. I go in tomorrow morning....So I will update ya'll on how this all goes. I have never been to a chiropractor so this all new to me! It is sorta scary, & hopefully not painful experience!
If you all could say a prayer for me about this..I would greatly appreciate it.

I have had ALOT of muscle problems & muscle strains & tears in my back 
But I have NEVER had any sort of SPINE problems or injuries... so I am very nervous & anxious.

Well I will sign off for today..

THANK YOU ALL for reading my ramblings & rantings

 GOD BLESS

Shannon

Sorry I've been M.I.A. for a little while. I've been trying to get things in order for the upcoming homeschool year, (get the house properly organized, get supplies, ect) On top of that I MAJORLY messed up my back at work ....Which is making me feel like a crippled/useless person. I am so use to getting things done (no matter how hard) & letting the hubby chill out.. Now I can't even pick up a laundry basket of dry clothes!!!!  
Thank God that he gave me a great hubby!  He is such a sweety & has been helping me ALOT!  & I must admit.. spoiling me a bit too (hee hee)

Anyways...The hubby & me discussed a date for me to be done with work & definatly decided on March 16th. Well...I told my boss last tuesday that my last day  IS  March 16th. Well she is obviously very irritated, & she isn't speaking to me again!!! At first she tried to put words in my mouth like... "so you can work till' schools out in June?" I said, "NO March 16th is what we decided on." I even gave her our reasons why!!! Well then  she said, "so you are done the end of March?" I said "No, I am done March 16th." ..........Well, at that moment I got called upstairs to do something & was planning on finishing our discussion.. But when I came back down the office door was shut. When the office door is shut it is usually because there is some "important/top secret gossip going on in there."  (Hmmm.. I wander what/who they were gossiping about?..  )

Well thursday evening My friend that works in my dept. called me to see what was going on. I told her that I put in my (3 1/2) week notice & told her what was said. Then she told me that our boss was acting odd & that she is trying to get someone hired A.S.A.P./NOW.  (I'd do the same thing & get them trained n' all.)  However... the last 2 times someone put in a 2 week notice or longer.. They fired them & wouldn't let them finish out their 2 weeks.     HMMM? Makes me wander?
 I know this may sound bad of me to say,  At this point..No matter what they decide... I really could care less... It is all up to them.
I trust that GOD KNOWS BEST!
I AM SOOOO looking forward to being at home doing my Wifley duties & homeschooling the kiddoz.

So Wedensday night I told the other boss (there are 5 of them!), incase she didn't know yet about me leaving & told her the reasons why. Well she did say that she thinks homeschooling is really cool if you got the patience for it..then & asked me if I know how much work is involved & told me I have to be certified & this & that....I know it is alot of hardwork & dedication & I know I do NOT have to be "certified" in this state... (but didn't feel it was worth correcting here because she likes to debate.)  Then... the big SOCIALIZATION word came up AGAIN! She said that the kids won't be properly socialized & won't have good social skills & conflict resolution.. ect...  Anyone who knows my kids will agree, there is a conflict resolution EVERYDAY in this house between both of them!  LOL!!!
I don't really worry about socialization. Our kids are NOT shy & are well socialized with other kids & adults also. They will talk to just about anyone! They are natural flipper lips LOL!  
   Anyhow I was just looking around on the web & came across something that is OHHHH SOOOO TRUE. I copied it & pasted it below.  Hope you enjoy.. tell me what you think!?!?! .
(I found it on nationalhomeschool.com/socialization)

Today I came across a new friends blog, which led me to her husbands blog...
Just like her blog, his blog was very, very interesting, direct, to the point, & made complete sense & was very insightful & encouraging!
Well a few things he mentioned  got me thinking about how sad & materialistic this world has become. 

 It is like people have no restraint when it comes to spending/buying/possessing material things. 
What ever peoples  lil' hearts desire... they must HAVE IT!! 
We can compare materialism to a drug addiction if you really think about it. 
Just For EXAMPLE: A married business man is just bord with his life    He "WANTS" something more & thinks there is something out there that will make him more popular, give him a more important image, more confidence, more success, more popular.. (ect)
If he could find ALL these things he thinks it would make him a HAPPIER MAN!!! 
SO.....in his persuit for happiness, success, & an "IMAGE"....(ect.) He looks all around finding all kinds of things the world has to offer,  Just so he can better what he calls "his dull life".
He decides that a, seemingly innocent, very popular "drug" will help him to be happier, successful, confident, & most importantly boost his self image! 
After all, He saw how it made everyone else popular & accepted, confident,  & how they were popular & had a "good image"... 
Unfortunatly 6mos later  he is addicted. To to him he WANTS, NEEDS & must  have these particular "drugs" in which to be happy, uphold his "image" & just to survive. So he spends all that time and $$$ on these "drugs" to maintain HIS personal degree of happiness & new confident status. 
Meanwhile in his selfish state, He never realizes or considers what is being taken away from his family, love, happiness, joy, stable environment, a leader in the home, food off of the table due to his "addiction".  He is sooo self absorbed the does not notice how much he has been neglecting his family!
So the destructive cycle continues..... One day these specific "drugs" are not keeping him happy, popular, confident, (ect.) Something is wrong he thinks... So he move on to more higher priced, destructive "drugs".. & so the cycle NEVER ENDS.
Same thing with materialism, Instead of "DRUG" put the words, HUGE glamorous house, high priced luxury/sports car, designer clothes, overpriced jewelry, all sorts of stuff that people think they "NEED" All this materialism...in which to make ones self feel, important, sucessful, popular, happy.. (ect.)

I know it is an odd comparison.. but think about it..
It is not far off.  How Materialistic People have become!
They WANT & must have the NEWEST car = to keep their "IMAGE" with friends or co-workers.
They WANT & mush have the latest fashions = to keep up with their "click" of "high up"  so called important friends.
They WANT & must have the BIGGEST & most glamorous house = to impress friends, family & co-workers. ( even though they may realize that they  only use 1/4 of their home for living in & it is big enough to house 1/2 the block!!!)
THE LIST GOES ON & ON.
American family's today are sooo in debt these days all because of WANTS & desires for material things ~ Or.~  As the good ol' saying goes "to keep up with the "Jones's" 

I know ALOT of people (coworkers) who put themselves further into debt EVERY YEAR! All because they WANT, &  think they NEED to have a new car every year! When there was absolutly nothing wrong with the car they just got rid of! 
Some WANT & NEED new furniture EVERY YEAR when furniture they have is practically Brand New!!! They don't even stay home long enough to use the stuff they have..all because they are out aquiring the "NEWEST  &  most Impressive material goods!"   
People spend, spend, spend, just to impress.
It becomes a rediculous/petty competition!
They are sooo Self Absorbed & so "into" what their "image" is that they are missing out on sooo much God has to offer for them, family time, & just enjoying the simple things in life.

I blame most of it on todays Society.. It has raised people to not know the difference between:  what it is to NEED & what it is to WANT.

However, Part of the Blame can be placed on parents too.. Children follow by example.. If ma & pa are out to impress everyone, & have to have the "NEWEST" stuff.. The child is also going to think that These are NEEDS that they must also aquire in life.

I hope you all see my point.. I tend to ramble on & on.

To WANT- is to be without that which contributes to comfort or is desired.

To NEED- is to be without that which is essential to existence or to our purposes.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL & thanks for reading My Thoughts &  Rants!

Shannon

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't blogged in a few days.

Well, I have 2 topics to talk about. #1) I CAN'T wait until my kids are DONE with Public School FOREVER!!! This last Thursday my oldest daughter came home with math home work like usual. Well she was all frustrated with it AGAIN!!!. Well turns out, she was doing what the school called "parenthesis puzzles" ?? Ok, what is a parenthesis puzzle I thought?? Well, after looking at it.. It turnes out to be algebra!   Now...don't get me wrong I LOVE Algebra is GREAT & I think it is a good challenge & also very fun! However, my daughter is in 3rd grade!  She has not been taught the basic, nessesarry math skills in the correct manner to master it & now they are giving them Algebra!?!?!?!?!? What the heck are they thinking? If you want my honest opinion I DO BELIEVE they are setting our children up to get sooo frustrated that they give up & are failures at math! My husband & me did not even learn any algebra until 7th grade & by that time we were masters at multiplication, division, addition, subtraction..ect.. 

Anyways.... With about a good hour of helping & explaining. She caught on. However she is NOT strong in the basic math skills thanks to the "partial products method" of math they are teaching our kids!!! Until this year she was actually pretty good at math! It is sad huh?

Well topic #2) Update on work/boss saga.. I found out on Wednesday.. My Anti Homeschooling boss use to be a TEACHER!!! Well Geee... That explains it all right there..why she is so against homeschooling!!!  So everything I told her about why I am for homeschooling probably crushed her ego & in her mind it was probably was like me saying I can do a better job than a "college educated teacher" such as herself!  I honest to God had no clue she use to be a teacher!!  I found out from a co worker. Sooo.. All week at work my boss has not said a word to me! I did say hello to her & asked her how she was doing on Tuesday. All I got was a hello back & fine. She has even been really weird with the other lady I work with in our "department." I don't know why? She did nothing wrong. Anyways, I'll update as I go..

Please pray that the days left in this school year go fast! :) & also my weird days until I become free from work & return to a mom, wife, & homeschooling mom go fast too! :)
Thank You ALL for your support & for listening to my "RANTS"
GOD BLESS!

Well I FINALLY told my boss Monday about our decision to homeschool. I figured out of all the people at work,....she would be the most supportive of our decision since I was told that she is a Christian.
WOW! was I wrong!

What is ironic/funny is one of my friends here on H.S.B.  posted a comment on another blog entry of mine & said, "Typically the non believers will be more supportive than most of the believers" WOW were they sooooooo right!!!
97% of the people I work with are NOT believers & are VERY supportive of our decision!!!! Why can't fellow believers wake up &see the truth about the p.s. system?? (Guess we will never fully understand)

ANYWAY...back to the story..

Well my boss, came right out & told me she IS NOT a fan of homeschooling & that she don't think it is a good idea! Well I was in a state of shock & at the same time a bit irritated at how she said it. Somehow, Obviously by the grace of God.. I remained AMAZINGLY calm & civil about the whole thing.
I just said, "Oh really?! Why is that I figured you would be supportive of homeschooling seeing how you are very smart/educated yourself"
(which I honestly meant because she is very smart!) 
Well, her reason was that she felt the public school system had better books & stuff available to the kids than what she could get & the teachers could do a better job." (ok that is her opinion)
So I explained to her how the possibilities are ENDLESS .. that there are lots of different cirriculum to choose from & also the amount of free online resources would blow her mind! Well.... Then she said, "Well, how do you know you are keeping your kids up to par with the p.s. system & what about highschool cirriculum?" I explained to her that you do have to be accountable & turn in a portfolio of your kids work & meet with an evaluator at the end of every school year & they go over all of the kids work & let me know how we are doing.
If I don't do a good job they WILL let me know & if it continues that my kids aren't learning enough they can eventually make me put them into private or public school. I told her as far as highschool goes, that is a long ways off for my kiddoz... we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
She also asked me why we were deciding to homeschool. I told her for various reasons, 1) I don't like the cirriculum they are using in public school... ESPECIALLY math. Along with other reasons. I would have LOVED to go into detail on the whole Christian convictions/moral aspect of why we are choosing to home school.. But at this point I figured I am just wasting my breath!! Pretty much the whole time she had this very irritated, sour grape look on her face, I could tell she wasn't happy with the whole thing & felt like she was trying to make me feel stupid & lower my morale.
 So I just quit talking about the homeschooling & got to the point of how it was going to affect my hours/days worked there... I told her that I would only be available 1 or 2 days a week & only in the evenings.

She was NOT happy... she said, "Well then that makes you just as available as the highschool kids...so I can't depend on you to come in if we need you in the afternoon..??"
I said, "nope can't do afternoon & only 1 or 2 days during the week & in the evening. Homeschooling it's self will be a fulltime job."
She said, "What about saturday & sunday?"
I told her, "Nope because that is the ONLY time hubby is off of work & we can do stuff during the day AS A FAMILY." 
She said... "Well, at this rate I don't think we would keep you on the schedule when you start this" 
I told her that was up to her, not me.  
Well...At this point.. I could feel my German/Irish blood start to boil!!
Just from the things she said & was trying to sorta talk me into by making me feel guilty!
 I felt like she was trying to influence my decision to homeschool..& putting me on the spot  LIke I MUST CHOOSE...your job or your family & homeschooling your kids!!!

Well, I don't know what she was thinking?...  maybe that I can be that easily  influenced with her negative/pointless points of view!!?!?!  (I don't know LOL!)
Obviously she thought that this job is more important to me than my family & our kids education & futures! 
 
 All she said was, "Well get back to me on specific date when you are doing this"... I just calmly said ok. & that was it. Well I did tell her it would be the end of March .. I am going to discuss a date with the hubby & get back to her. At this rate.. if it weren't for the hubby being laid off ... I would have just put in my 2 weeks.

Give me your THOUGHTS & Comments on my post :) I enjoy reading your helpful advice/input.  

Sorry this turned out to be ANOTHER LONG Ranting post.
I hope you enjoy my "journey" & bear with me & enjoy my rantings:)

GOD BLESS You ALL.
Shannon

  Did  you ever have one of those days when you didn't have a specific thing to blog about? Well I call those days my "Brain Cramp Days"

I have a few things floating around in my lil' head tonight..
(So I hope you all don't mind if I do ramble on about them)

One of my happier, less rant like thoughts is.......
I am OHHHHH SOOO anxious & excited about homeschooling our kids!
I know I got alot of planning to do as far as cirriculum  & learning the ropes...
However, Thank God I got my sis n law & all of you Great people to help me out if I need advice or have questions with stuff.
EVERYONE  here is GRRREEEAAAATTTT!!! Supportive & Energizing!!! Like a breath of fresh spring air!!!!
Also,..... We have big plans on making an actual teaching/fun room/art room for the kids. (but won't get into detail until we can actually start the project this spring!)  But God willing if all goes according to plan.. It will be awsome!

However, I am occasionally a bit nervous at the same time about the homeschooling thing..   for some reason I have always lacked self esteem/confidence in myself. WHY??!!!  I don't quite know??.
Probably just the stinky, crusty ol' devil trying to bring me down. But I am a bullhead & not gonna listen to his lies.. We know this is what God is leading us to do..Sooooo we are going to remain focused & lean on God & friends for encouragement & strive for the goal ahead of us .

I am also looking forward to being a good MOM & a good Wife again!
I'm excited about the opportunity to bringing the girls up in a God centered schooling atmosphere, also teaching the girls  things that will instill morals, character & make them Godly women & great wives someday! I also miss having a hot meal on the table for the hubby & kids, & actually being there to enjoy it with them!
(I never thought I'd say this..) but... I actually miss trying to keep up with the house work & trying to make things look neat & tidy! (I must be ill?!!!! LOL!), I also miss gardening &  keeping up with yard work so hubby can come home & relax & not do MORE work.  The list can go on & on & on... But I'm sure most of you can relate
I know this may sound bad of me.. But I CAN NOT wait to tell my boss that I am pretty much done with work by the end of March!
I know at first I was thinking  May.  & planning on working 1 or 2 days a week after May. But I am starting to think twice about all that.
I have been taking a GOOD HARD  look at all the stuff I let go undone over the last year & a half  & Also all the planning I have to do for homeschooling.
I have definatly decided that I better not push my luck! Because I tend to do that alot! 
For me, the one really bothersom problem I have with where I work is: the lack of compassion, understanding  & respect a few managers have for ALOT of the hard working employees & for us working moms!  The employees who actually care about their work they do!  It really burns me up how they take advantage of all us! 
It is like they don't really care what we feel or think no matter how nice we put it or how justified our reasons!
Just to fill all you in....I started there because I had an interest in that field & also because we needed the 2nd income just to keep up with the usual bills at the time. (Also, since my husband gets laid off every winter.)
When hired they knew that I only wanted to work about 4 days a week tops  & during the afternoons while the kids were in school & the hubby was at work.
Well that didn't last long.... instead of being in the afternoon.. it turned into ALL evenings! So now I am at work when the kids & husband are home!  DO NOT GET ME WRONG....I don't mind helping out & being a good worker. But now it has gotten to the point that I see my girls & the husband in the mornings for about 1/2 hour & if I get home in time I see the girls before they go to bed! It is not fair to them & my husband & very, very, depressing to me! . 
  I promised myself when starting this job, that I would NOT let work take priority over my family or interfere with my family life... Well it has! 
I have done ALOT of serious thinking & come to the realization that I probably will not be working my 1 or 2 days a week as I was planning to.
WHY??  Well #1.. I need to get my priorities straight again.
  God & Family come FIRST!!! (I have ALWAYS known this.. somehow I lost my path & I put them on the back burner.  ) Its way past due for that ALL to change.
Also I am DETERMINED to be a SUCCESSFUL Homeschooling Mom!
The final reason is..( I know that this will happen.) My work will say,
" Well we need someone to cover this shift  or can you work only these few hours or can you come in & work just this day..."  Then it becomes a habit & then they "assume" I don't mind!!!! The one thing about me I am sort of a sucker & feel obligated & want to help out. Which in turn gets me in a bind & messes up my priorities!

Soo... It looks like my "Brain Cramp" actually turned into an actual blog after all!! WoW I can't believe how much I just wrote! Sorry for ANOTHER LONG blog entry & RANT

Thanks for reading & listening to my "babbelings"

God Bless,
Shannon

Sorry Everyone.... I planned on making this short... but it seemed to turn into a rambeling rant of my thoughts & just kept going & going & going............

Well I started telling quite a few of my co workers that I am going to homeschool our kiddoz, & that I might work 1 or 2 days a week .. if that is still possible after starting to homeschool.
After telling them the reason for our decision.... The majority understood & support our choice & the reasons why we are going to homeschool!  Which really surprised me because ALOT of the people I work with are not  Christians & are VERY Liberal! 

But isn't it funny how just a few odd comments, out of a bunch of positive comments will make your morale sink? 
One comment was, "Oh!! You don't realize how much paperwork you have to give to the state, how much tests your kids will have to take for the state, & your kids have to spend HOURS with an Evaluator.... ect!!!" Well that sorta got me discouraged for a bit! 

DON'T WORRY I AM NOT CHANGING  MY MIND ON HOMESCHOOLING OUR KIDS!  

It just got me discouraged because I really hate the fact that  the state/government public school system is still gonna have their noses in Our Business! However, I got to thinking  Even IF it is as bad as my co worker said ... (which I doubt it is...) ...... in the END  I KNOW that our kids are getting taught what they need to be taught through out their young lives, growing up with faith in God, & Strong MORALS & convictions, & will grow up to be Very Intelligent, productive adults.. 

It is great to know we won't have to worry about our kids being brainwashed & confused by whats right or wrong, & to know that they will NOT  have to hear the preaching of acceptance of todays liberal lifestyles & tolerance movements, & also the anti God, & anti American, pro commi stance that the Lib. teachers unions have ALSO been supporting! The list Goes ON & ON & ON......
It is VERY sad that our hard earned tax $$$ is being spent on brainwashing kids into believing there is no God, & that all these perverted ideas, & such are just a normal or cool thing!!! IT MAKES ME SICK

You know that when ya really think of it.. Homeschoolers & people who can afford a good Christian School for their kids ARE TRULY BLESSED!!!
I just wish all people would wake up & smell the coffee & take the time to homeschool their kids instead of leaving them to be brainwashed by the Public School & their support of the Lib. Movements.

ANYWAY.... Sorry for Rambeling & Ranting on....So....... just out of curiosity.. Did any of my fellow homeschoolers out there catch alot of grief about choosing to homeschool from friends, family.. ect??
If so what were the comments that really discouraged you??
Also....Have any of you Homeschoolers had bad experiences with the state, school district? Just curious as to what problems I may have to face down the road.

THANK YOU ALL for reading my "rantings/rambelings"

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
Shan

Here's our 2 little "angels" 
Jody is 6, Savanna is 9

Well, I brand spankin' new to Homeschool Blogger. If it weren't for my totally Wonderful  Sis n' Law being a HomeSchooling mom herself & telling me about this site, I would have never, in a million years, ever considered homeschooling or ever found this site.  I look forward to talking to & getting to know a bunch of the nice Christian homeschooling parents here! Sharing our stories, successes, frustrations, what ever comes to mind or just life in general.

Well better get to my LONG topic/RANT....
"Time for a Change.. God Willing.... A good Change" 
We have decided to take our kids out of the Public School System... At first we were considering Christian School however our $ is usually tight to begin with & we don't want to over extend ourselves.. So we decided that Homeschooling is the way to go.
So in about 4 months & 1 week we will BE FREE!!! of the public school system!! .

There are many reasons why we are taking our kids out of public school. But I'll save ALL the various reasons  for another blog entry.
The thing that finally  made us say we had enough is the cirriculum that they are using! Especially the MATH cirriculum! 
It is sad to say that our "GOVERNMENT RAN, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED Schools of America"  are using cirriculum to "stupify" our kids, instead of making them the smart, productive,  self sufficient adults.... The Future Generation of America!!!

 WE ALL KNOW that Math (weather we love it or hate it) IS A Very Valuable skill we must learn, succeed at, remember & master all through school & carry on into our adult years.   Learning & Being good at math gives ALL OF US the knowledge & knowhow to balance our checkbooks, run a business, do payroll to pay employees, or..  as simple as...  pay our bills, feed our family, buy our home, put gas in our vehicles, get a good job, pay our taxes..........ect.   
Pretty much in some form or another most of us Use Math Everyday!   Calculating things right off the top of our heads without  giving it a 2nd thought.

Well  "Our story"  all started about 1 month ago. My 3rd grade daughter was having ALOT of trouble with her Math homework. She was so frustrated that she was crying... All because she couldn't figure it out. So I went  to help her & see what her homework was.  Well it was addition & subtraction for Example: 34+56 or 65-27... Simple enough, ...
(so I though),  Typically the "traditional math" most of us  learned you'd line up the #s : EXAMPLE:  56 under 34 & add them up... or 27 under 65 & subract. Of course Borrow & Carry when applicable..    
So I took a look at what she had to do & Well it was some weird way of problem solving the worksheet  called "Partial Product Method". It is very LONG, & extremely confusing, & very un-practical.. compared to the Traditional Math  most of us know. I honestly NEVER in my 28 years of living, (& even my husband said in his 32 years of living) NEVER saw math done like this!!!!  So after scratching my head, & getting all irritated, I finally told our daughter, " I am going to show you how to add & subtract the way it is suppose  to be done!!!!!" So I did show her the traditional way of doing these problems. She understood quite well & got the rest of her homework done correctly! Well she was happy about knowing how to solve the problems, Yet, she was still upset saying, " the teacher said we have to do it this way!" She really likes her teacher & she is a wonderful lady!  I understood her concern But I told her, "that if her teacher don't agree with the way you solved your problems.. tell her Mom said, that is how I am suppose to be doing math & Mom told me to do it that way... & If she wanted to talk to me,  to call me or send a note home."  Well I never did recieve a note or call.  Our daughter said that all her teacher told her was for homework this is ok for now... but for test it has to be done using the "partial product method"!!!     SIGH!!!!!!!!
So I assumed that our child was still getting taught the right way of math & that maybe this was some sort of challenge/game way of doing math... I HONESTLY DIDN'T know!!!????

Anyhow.. The VERY VERY VERY....weird part of this is story is...... About 3 weeks later my sis n law sent me this Video from YouTube called "Math Education: An Incovenient Truth." 
( I am going to try to post the video on my page.. But I am new to all this posting videos & pictures & stuff... Soooooo... if it does NOT work I URGE any of you who have friends/family with kids in the pubic school system to find & watch this & pass it on!!!! 

Also F.Y.I. ... I do NOT condone some of the bad stuff that YouTube has on there.. however there is some very cool stuff on there too....  Just gotta be careful what you click on thats all) 

Back to the story: So my husband & I  watched this & we about fell off our chairs!!!!!!! The math that our daughter was learning was the EXACTLY the same as one of the forms of math this lady  mentioned!!!!! (partial products method)
Also, this lady mentioned 2 different books for this "odd, useless Math"  One was "Turk Investigations" & the other was called "Everyday Math".... So I told our daughter to bring her math book home from school the next day.. She did bring it home &  what do ya know, her book is "Everyday Math"
If you watched the video you will recall that...
"The Authors of "Everyday Math" are the ones who feel it is a waste of valuable class time to teach our children pencil to paper math & to just solve problems with a calculator!!!!!!!! "
So in other words... Our Children are NOT worth taking the time to teach the basic skills nessessary to be successful at math?? 
  Thats is how I take it!!!
I don't mean to offend anyone & Sorry If I do......but in my personal opinion.... A calculator is not a teaching tool to make life "easier" for kids! They are nice to find errors  when you think you really messed up somewhere & can't find out