Nov. 20, 2009 - Please Accept My Apologies

I apologize for my previous post.  I wrote it half-serious and half tongue-in-cheek.   I am over my self-pity party now.  

 

Physically I am feeling a little better, and the sun is out today, so things are looking up.  I wonder if I should go get one of those lamps for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder?  My attitude really takes a dive when the sun is gone for 5 full days in a row. 

 

Ryan is feeling better as well.  No one else is complaining of an ailment at this moment, so perhaps we will be able to have a nice weekend. 

 

We are planning to go up to see Jeff's mom tomorrow.  If the weather cooperates, we may get to take a walk along the beach.  

Sunday after church we hope to put up our Christmas tree.  We've never put it up this early, but I knew it would make my husband really happy if we put it up early this year.  He's so into everything about Christmas. 

 

 

I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing. 

Blessings,

Jenn

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Nov. 20, 2009 - 10 years old!

We had another birthday today!  B is 10 years old!  Here are a few pictures of my cutie pie.

Brand new.  How 'bout that hair!:

8 months:

3 years old, camping in Yosemite:

Age 3 years:

6 years old:

7 years old:

Ten years old!  Getting a Build a Bear puppy whom he named Dusty: 

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Nov. 18, 2009 - The Worst Poem Ever

There's not much to say on this gloomy day. 

I've not seen the sun since May. 

Well, it seems that way. 

Another child is sick with a cold. 

Being the nursemaid is getting old. 

I think I am catching his cold. 

Oh, won't somebody please leave me a comment to brighten my day? 

~Pathetic Jenn

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Nov. 16, 2009 - Baptized!

Our youngest got baptized today!  She is 7 years old, and she decided to follow Jesus in August.  Almost right away she asked about being baptized all on her own.  So when our church announced the first baptism day since then, we signed her up.  She went to a class to make sure she understood that it wasn't being baptized that saves you, only Jesus can do that.  But it is an outward symbol of becoming a Christian, and obedience to God.  So here are a couple of pictures.

Going down....

 Coming up, a new beginning!

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Nov. 13, 2009 - Here Comes Trouble...

Trevor, having just earned his blue belt in karate, also earned the right to buy a bo staff.  Now both boys have one.  Oh boy!  Should be interesting around here. 

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Nov. 11, 2009 - Not So Wordless Wednesday

 

This old geranium belonged to my grandpa who is now in a nursing home.  I could not bare to toss it out when we cleared out their place.  I remember him being so proud of this spindly thing.  He'd take me aside and show it to me when we'd visit.  He'd remark how he only gave it rain water he collected.  Somehow, I just need to keep this little plant going.  It spent the summer outside.  Now it is getting some sunshine from the inside.  

~Jenn

**  Update, my mom told me last night that Grandpa has to see an oncologist today.  He's had a fever and his blood work came back suggesting something is up.  I am asking for prayers. Thank you. 

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Nov. 6, 2009 - Dulldroms, Already?

Your kids have had the flu for what seems like months now.  Your routines lay shattered around you.  Your heart is sinking with the mess all around you.  Anyone relate?  If you are not there, you will be at one point this winter.  So what are we to do when those dulldroms come? 

 

The greatest gift we posses as homeschoolers is our opportunity to change.  We can change things up when school starts to get us down.  Change the location where you do school.  Change the books you are reading for awhile.  Change your attitude! 

 

Remember that quote from Charles Swindoll I posted the other day?  Attitude is in our power to control.  Are you going to see the negatives only?  Or are you going to see what treasures you have laying all around you?  It's up to us, Moms.  We set the tone of our homes. 

 

I delared this week to be "Serve Others Week" at our home.  We made dinner for friends with a new baby.  We babysat for friends.  We visited our elderly grandparents in a nursing home.  We wrote thank you notes to others who have been kind to us. 

 

I tell you these things not to brag or make you feel bad about yourself.  I tell them to you because I want you to be encouraged.  The antedote to feeling blah is to serve others and to be thankful for all you have.  It is really that simple.  How that looks in your world will be different from how it looks in mine. 

 

"You live more fully once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted." 

~Ruth E. Renki

 

"Happiness is contagious.  Be a carrier. "

~Robert Orben

 

"What the mind dwells on, expands."

~Norman Vincent Peale

 

I challenge you to find ways to shake things up next week in your studies if you are feeling blah, take a walk in the fall sunshine, rake leaves together, write letters to others, visit a shut-in, whatever that is for you,  just do it! 

~Jenn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nov. 4, 2009 - (Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Trevor and his new belt. 

 

I have to tell the story behind this picture.  It was taken on Trevor's birthday last week.  At the time he had a fever and could not go to karate, which was promotion night, of all nights!  His coach, knowing how hard Trevor had worked for this new belt, made the effort to get Trevor his belt anyway, stopping by our house to give it to him.  His coach said that it was Trevor's birthday afterall.  I was amazed.  To me, it could have waited another week, you know, teaching patience.   But, now I see another lesson was taught, even more powerful:  compassion! 

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Nov. 2, 2009 - Weekending

Good day to you.  It was another whirlwind weekend.  Thankfully, everyone was healthy enough to enjoy it.  Trevor did not have a fever, but was pretty tired.  I am hoping he can pace himself a little more this week.  So far, no one else is sick, either, a major praise. 

 

Here are some photos of our weekend, starting with a look at the cake I made for Trevor's actual birthday on Thursday, when he still had a fever. 

And Ryan got this on Thursday as well...

Friday we stayed home from our church's harvest party to avoid one more exposure opportunity. 

We had a Meixican pitch-in dinner with friends on Saturday and then walked their neighborhood collecting candy.  Here are all of our darlings. 

Sunday, we celebrated Trevor's birthday with family. (Oreo Icecream Cake) 

 

He was very excited! 

Have a great week.

~Jenn

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Saturday, October 31, 2009 - my brothers in Christ

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