Berger Blessings

New (to me) Ideas

Well, I've been lurking over at shoutlife a lot lately, http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=325 so I haven't been writing here as much, sorry :o(  In any case, I've decided to add a bit to my son's curriculum.  A couple ladies "over there" gave me some great ideas.  The one is http://oldfashionededucation.com/index.html  it is using public domain info/books for your curriculum, there is a huge wealth of information there.

The other is lapbooks/portfolders, they are awesome "books" that your children make specific to whatever it is they are studying.  I got the idea from Nikki *thanks* , and after researching a lot of the sites, I've decided we are going to start doing this as our "hands on" work.  My son has ADHD, and therefore needs variety, but ONLY when he wants it, otherwise he becomes overwhelmed.  This way he will be able to do his "usual" school work, Switched on Schoolhouse, and do his "fun work" when he wants a break.  He'll think I'm letting him "play"!  Isn't life great, lol!!! 

Our first subject will be snow *thanks Nikki again*, he loves snow, so this should be an interesting one for him.  We are also getting our fair share of it now, along with the bitter cold, so he'll be able to play in it as part of  school, isn't homeschooling awesome! 

Well, I have to go run and check on his progress, he's writing his second essay (he's in fourth grade and HATES to write, so this is progress).  I'm letting him write on whatever he wants, just so he writes.  We still haven't got to cursive writing...it will come.  He's a bright child, just certain things are overwhelming and frustrating to him.  Blessings one and all.

Christmas

Boy, have I been crazy out of my mind lately!  Even more so than usual!  Been really busy with lots of different things at church.  Busy with homeschool co-op things, as well as home things.  Finally got the paperwork for PJ's car, now we just have to wait until I get paid next week so we can pay the taxes on it, insure it and afford to get gas to go pick it up in Mass. and drive it back!  Amanda has gotten engaged and is getting married in June!  So, we are busy looking for wedding things, we found her dress already, so that's the major thing out of the way.  We know where we want the reception, just need to make sure they can get married on the day they want (if the pastor and church are available), then we can reserve the hall.  We have all the favors, invitations, decorations, etc. etc. etc. to do.  During all this both she and PJ are working and going to college.  I'm homeschooling Joey and we're trying to get Jonathan home from Guatemala.  We are also looking into whether the Lord wants us to adopt two other little girls with Down Syndrome.  We are doing all the preliminary things and asking the Lord to make it perfectly clear if He wants us to do it.  Please pray for the Lord's will in everything, that's all we can do, and to follow His leading once we know.  Blessings on your week.  June

PS, I almost forgot, we're getting ready for Christmas too...hehe

Still no car...

We're still waiting on the paperwork from PJ's new car before we can register it in NY.  Apparently MA doesn't have temporary plates.  We were hoping to get it picked up before the bad weather hits, apparently that didn't happen. 

I've been slipping on the homeschooling front lately.  I wanted to get some extra things done, you know short extra units, but I can barely get the routine stuff done.  Oh well, maybe after the holidays are through.  That's the beauty of homeschooling, I can do things when I and Joey are feeling up to it and don't have to do it when we aren't.  Today was our last day for the spring co-op schedule, we'll start spring in late Feb. early March.  I don't have to teach this spring, that's the first time since the co-op started!  I won't know what to do with myself!  LOL, yeah right!  Hopefully Jonathan will be home about that time, so I'll be busy just getting used to having a little one around again and having him get used to the co-op etc. 

Three other ladies and I are doing the Winter Party in Jan, since it's after Christmas we are planning mostly snowmen crafts etc.  We had a planning meeting on Wens., we pretty much got it all taken care of then, it's nice to get a jump on things for a change.

Well, I've got to get to bed, we are interviewing our candidate for Pastor tomorrow, then the ladies are having our ladies Christmas luncheon so I'd better get some rest.

Blessings on your weekend.

Maybe a car?

Well, it's still cars, cars, cars.  God was definitely watching out for PJ/us today.  On our way to church we were driving behind PJ in the jeep, we noticed his left tire didn't look right.  We finally got his attention and had him pull over, apparently when the garage inspected the car, they forgot to tighten the lug nuts!  The tire was wobbling, ready to fall off!  Then the Jetta we won for PJ on ebay, we were trying to set up payment and pick up, the man that sold it to us said one of his family members had driven it after we won it, and there now was a problem with it.  He called a couple days later and told us it had "thrown a rod", I'm very thankful to God that it did it before we paid for it and picked it up!  We just won another one on ebay today for PJ, we are praying that all goes well with that.  It's difficult to find a decent car that we can afford, we have such a limited budget.  Acutally, PJ is paying for most of it now and will be paying us back the remainder over the next few months.  We just need to come up with the remainder now and pay to get it registered and insured.  I tell you, it's so much easier when they are young!  Give them a new ball or something and they're as happy as can be!

Joey is doing well in all his classes, I'm supposed to have handed in the first quarter grades already, I always seem to hand them in late, I guess I'll have to get them in the mail tomorrow.

We'll be heading to Philly to Bob's Mom's for Thanksgiving, the older children are staying home as they have classes and work.  They will have dinner with one of their aunts, not sure which one yet.  On the way home from Philly we'll pick up PJ's car from Mass. (ok, so it's a roundabout way, lol) but it's easier than making a trip to Mass. then back to NY, then off to PA and back to NY all within a matter of a few days. 

Life is never dull or boring, I only wish it were, at least for a couple days!  Blessings on your Thanksgiving, we all have so much to be thankful for!

Cars!!!

Well, it's been nothing but breaking down of cars!  UGH!  Son's car was totaled from the car accident, my hubby just got his on the road (don't ask me how it passed inspection?), and mine has sprung a leak in the radiator.  I spent the afternoon in DMV trying to get things straightened out from two cars ago, which they say had a lapse in registration, so we were ticketed!  Finally, after more than an hour, one of the ladies there overroad the computer and cleared it up.  Now we're looking for a car for my son and a cheap back up for us, so we can take the Jeep back off the road (where it belongs, lol). 

No news on Jonathan or his adoption, it's so hard just waiting, it seems as though it takes an eternity!  I was looking for "My First Christmas" outfits for him today, nothing for a little boy, but such cute things for little girls!  He won't be with us for Christmas, but it still will be his first Christmas and he deserves a cute new outfit to wear.  So I'll just keep on looking.  That's my ramblings for now.  Blessings.

DNA

I got notified yesterday that Jonathan is getting his DNA test done, that brings us one step closer to bringing our little angel home!  Our adoption worker is in Guatemala right now, she should be seeing Jonathan while she is there and will probably be sending updated pictures!!  I pray he has gained some weight. 

I've been so busy with all the "car" stuff since the accident, ugh.  Bob's trying to get the Jeep drivable and we're looking for a good inexpensive car for PJ, he has his own money now that' he's working, but not very much.  We're tapped out now because of the adoption, car and Christmas, but the Lord always provides for all our needs and a great majority of our desires as well, so we need not be anxious.

PJ wants to go to Daemen on Friday for another open house, so I think Bob will take Joey on his fieldtrip to the radio station.  We have ice skating tomorrow, Olympian's tonight, fieldtrip on Friday, and who says homeschoolers don't get socialization!!??  Blessings on your day.

Ice Skating

Today we are starting our ice skating times again.  Once a week we go to the local college for an hour and get to skate.  Ok, not "we" Joey skates, I don't.  That would be too funny, ROFL.  I can barely walk half the time, let alone skate!  Bob will skate once in a while, but the skates don't seem to give him enough support in his arches and his feet hurt for days afterwards.  Joey thinks he's going to be an NHL hockey player some day, ya never know.  He is going to start ice hockey in Jan. with a homeschool group, it will be awesome for him!  He's getting better on his skates, but that's another reason we need to go weekly, he needs to have skating feel as natural as walking.  Well, I better go see what he's up to, make sure he's getting his work done so he can go skating.  Blessings on your day

Immigration Approval

We got our Immigration approval yesterday!  Now we are all set to be able to pick up Jonathan.  It will still be several months I think, but at least we are another step closer to getting him home!  We had some sad news today, Korea will not let us adopt "Michael" because of my Lupus and the fact that we are already adopting.  He was our first child that we were serious about adopting, so I am feeling a bit sad.  I know if he were meant to be our son, that God would have found a way, we have been trying for over six months just to get an answer on whether they would even consider me, now we know.  So, now I am praying that he will find his family soon, since we obviously aren't it.  Adoption can be such an emotional journey, many many ups and downs.  Joey is doing so well in his schooling, I am truly blessed to have such an "easy" child.  Tonight (Halloween) we went door to door and handed out bible tracs and candy, our church calls it "Tracs and Treats".  It's a reverse Halloween, we sure get a lot of strange looks, but most people just take them, say thank you and insist on giving the kids candy, even though we say we are trying to give THEM a treat.  It's a good christian service.  We had several of our teens doing it this year, not quite as many "younger" children as last year, not sure why, the weather was nice, maybe we just didn't mention it enough ahead of time at church.  Tomorrow I'm having our Olympian children making Thanksgiving Day cards for one of our local Nursing Homes.  Thursday we are having a speaker/missionary from Iraq, Major Mike, he has a ministry "Bibles for Soldiers".  Our church supports his ministry, the Lord has used him to bring several US and Ugandan soldiers to Christ while he's been in Iraq.  He is home on leave for a short while and is giving up one of his evenings with his children, to come and speak to us, I'm sure it will be a blessing.  Friday is Homeschool Co-op, Sat. is our Word of Life Fun Day, with big jumpy games and such.  Then Sunday we are providing a meal for the teens before they head back to the Word of Life College.  This has and is a very busy week for me, so I'm off to bed.  Blessings one and all.

Oh My Gosh!

How could I forget!!  We got our approval for an adoption grant from Shaohannah's Hope yesterday!  The Lord is SOOO faithful!  We had done all our refinancing, penny pinching, letter writing, fundraising and were still $3000 short of the amount we needed for Jonathan's adoption.  The mail came yesterday and there was a thin (you know one page) letter from Shaohannah's Hope.  I thought to myself "Oh, another grant rejection".  When I opened it, I almost collapsed, it said that we were approved for the $3000.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  The EXACT amount we need.  I had been praying and trying to figure out where/how we were going to get the rest of the money.  I know that God is faithful and I had no doubt that we are doing what God wants, but it's the same old thing...trying to do things all on our own power.  Well, once again, like so many times before, God has provided, just the right amount at the right time, HIS time.  I just wanted to give God the glory and praise He deserves!

Back to Work

Well, back to reality...not that all that in PA wasn't reality, it was just a different one.  Now we're back to our routine, or our routine of lack of routine.  That's something I need to work on.  I'm reading "How To Manage Your Home/Homeschool" (or similar title) by the Maxwells.  Hopefully I will work through it and impliment it, or some form of it, into our lives, because I would really like a bit more structure, especially once the baby comes home.  I have to go get Joey motivated and on task, he's still playing around a bit and we need to get started on our day.  See, that's what I mean, I'm not very organized in our starting time, I really need to work on it and other things.  Well, off to the grind, blessings to any or all who read this.

Aches and Pains

My darling hubby and I have been working like bees trying to get things fixed/cleaned/organized, at his mother's house, for the past week.  I need to have Joey research how many bones are in the human body (I should know, but am too tired to try and remember), because I'm certain every one of mine aches!  We are accomplishing things, although we could stay another month and still not be done.  The house is just getting old, and without Bob being here all the time, it falls in to disrepair very quickly.  We will probably allow ourselves another week in November, if we can work it out, in which to come down and do some more work.  Joey has been an angel the whole time we've been here.  Unfortunately there isn't much for him to do here, no kids to play with, and it's not safe to go play outside, so he's been staying in and doing something he doesn't get to do at home, watch TV!  He's watching cartoons a lot, but like I say, once or twice a year won't hurt, and I try to keep an eye on what he's watching, even though I'm busy.  We haven't gotten as much work done as I had hoped, but that's because I haven't been able to spend the needed time with him to accomplish that.  It's no big deal, we'll be caught up in no time once we get home, it's just I wanted to get "different" things done while we were gone, but like most homeschool Mom's, I just go with the flow.  I had a brain storm today!  (Yes, I do have them upon occasion!)  I signed our homeschool co-op up for Box Tops for education and Campbell Soup labels for education!  I will be the coordinator for both, hopefully we'll be able to get some neat things for the children!  Well, it's one thirty in the morning and I'm turning into a pumpkin, so....good night and God bless you and yours.

PA Mountains

Today I am blessed to wake up in the beautiful, peaceful Pennsylvania mountains!  The leaves are a beautfiul mix of gold, red, green, yellow and every inconceivable color in the spectrum.  It is breathtaking.  They aren't at their peak yet, but oh my, the Lord sure does some beautiful work!  We're at our little cottage in a grove of tiny other little cottages.  It's a christian "camp meeting" site that originated over a hundred years ago.  They used to have their camp meetings here with just tents, now there are cute little cottages in a circle with the Tabernacle in the center.  That's where the meetings/services/programs are held.  It's an open air type building that has shutters that close down in the winter.  It's wonderful!  Every year for 10 days in the summer, we have a camp meeting.  All the cottage owners, renters and others for hundreds of miles, come to these camp meetings.  We have an Evangelist preach every evening, with worship music from various performers.  Monday - Friday we have a bible teaching in the morning and a bible discussion every afternoon.  The children have their teachings at the same time, so that the parents may benefit from time in the Word without distraction from their little ones, at least for a short while. lol  There are also various other activities throughout the week, as well as ice cream socials every evening after church service.  All these are offered at no cost, but there is a love offering at each service, for those who are so inclined.  All are welcome to attend one or all of the studies, services, or activities, there is no need to be an "official" member or anything.  It started out as an Evangelical Congregational Church camp meeting site, technically it still is, but there are people from all denominations, we're Baptist, we have several Mennonites as well.  I always leave camp meeting recharged and energized. 

We were basically almost given this cottage.  It had been my darling husband's friend and his wife's.  The friend died, and after his wife had remarried, they decided to sell the cottage as they had two homes and the cottage between them.  She offered us the cottage since Bob had been friends with her husband.  She gave it to us for an unbelievable price and then allowed us to make payments on it, as we have no means to come up with large amounts of cash (hence the slowness of our adoption of Jonathan :o(  ).  After a bit over two years, we had officially paid it off, so now it is ours!  We never dreamt we would own a "second" home, we're blessed beyond words!  I often say the Lord has blessed us beyond all measure, we have a home on Lake Ontario and a cottage in the mountains, who could want or desire any more than that?  Yes, both are very much "fixer uppers", and may be that way for as long as the Lord allows us to have them, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.  We've lived in them without ceilings, walls, had had insulation hanging from all over, but that part is done now, everything is painted white and covered.  Some day we'll add color and new carpeting, but for now, we are warm and comfortable and have no doubt that the Lord loves us very much and only desires to bless us.  We will never cease to praise Him; and we know, that no matter what difficulties, challenges or sorrows may come our way, He will work it to our benefit, because we love Him and He loves us.  Thank you Jesus for all you give to us and thank you for this glorious day!  Amen

My Baby...

Well, my baby officially turned nine months old yesterday.  Can anyone imagine how sad it is for me never to have seen him in person, hold him, kiss him, feed him, change his stinky diaper?  (ok, we can forget the last one).  I know it can be worse, but I just ache to hold him.  He's so beautiful and oh so precious, that I can't wait until we can get him home!  He is loved more than he could ever know or realize!  Just thought I'd put my thoughts down on that before I turn in tonight.  I know...flight of ideas...

Snow In Oct!?

Yuk, it was that real wet stuff.  Our area even made the national news!  Western, NY, I live closer to Lake Ontario and the worst snow was near Lake Erie, but we got hit with enough wet snow and ice that we had the two counties near us declair a state of emergency.  My two oldest, that live at home, had college classes cancelled due to it.  The area schools were shut, but that doesn't affect me anyway.  Joey asked if he could get a snow day, I told him no, he didn't need a snow day, he was already in school, lol   He probably would have put up a bit of a fight, but we're going away for over a week and he will have minimal work then (at least he thinks so, lol).  The snow has all melted already, it's a basic nice fall day again.  I tell ya, the thing they say about the weather here is, "Don't worry if you don't like it, it'll change again in five minutes."  And boy, isn't that the truth!  Well, I have to go pack now, don't know how much I'll be writing while I'm gone, but I'll see ya when I get back.  Be blessed.

Oct. 12, 2006

Well, today is my beloved's and my four year anniversary.  In one way it seems like only yesterday we were married, and in another as if we've been married forever (both in good ways, lol).  We don't have any special plans, other than going to our cottage for the weekend (with nine year old in tow), but that doesn't bother us.  I guess we are both just too practical and know that we need to save the money we would spend on gifts, for Jonathan's adoption.  We still don't know where we will get the remainder of the adoption fees from, but the Lord knows, so we just keep plugging along and praying.  We're trying to save every penny, but as soon as we have some money put aside a car breaks down (we're down to one), "extra" bills come in (college courses for PJ, taxes, home owners insurance...etc.), you know what I'm talking about, we all live it!  It's just frustrating because we want our baby home with us ASAP!  I found out today that a little 5 yo girl with DS that we were considering adopting before, is available again.  The family that was going to adopt her is unable due to the fact that the homestudy agency thinks they have too many recent adoptions (2 within the past year).  I can understand the family's frustration, love isn't "timed", we can love twenty children now, tomorrow, next year, it doesn't matter when they join our family!  In any case, Bob and I are checking into adopting her as well.  I know what people will say, "you don't have the money for Jonathan's adoption, how can you even think about adopting another child?!"  Well, my answer is the same as it was with Jonathan, if the Lord wants her to be a part of our family, He will make a way.  I know a lot of people think it's foolish, but I look at it as going forth in faith, doing the Lord's will, if it is to be His will.  The Lord will make it known if we are to persue her adoption past the information getting stage.  It may never get past that, maybe she will have 100 families anxious to adopt her, only the Lord knows and He and my husband are all I have to answer to.  There are many who already think we're "crazy" for:  adopting at our age, a young child, one with Down Syndrome, starting "all over", homeschooling...the list goes on and on, lol.  But, I know that when I stand before the Lord on judgement day, the ONLY thing I want Him to say is:  "Well done My good and faithful servant".  So, that is why I:  go forth in obtaining more info on this little darling, adopting Jonathan, homeschooling Joseph and everything else I do, I do it for the Lord, pretty plain and simple to me.  I pray you all have a blessed day and remember to walk in faith.

Oct. 11, 2006

My gosh, I'm having flash backs!  No, not of a war, but of college!  ARGHHH  My 21 year old daughter is just starting college this year.  My 17 year old high school senior son is also taking college courses.  Yesterday I spent the day helping review and tweak two of my daughter's college essays and three of my son's!  And I thought I was only homeschooling Joey?!  Give me Joey's school load any day, lol.  I was up until 2:30am trying to "find" PJ's papers that got "lost" on the computer and erased from the disc!  Praise God, PJ had them on the other computer, but I had to re-evaluate them again, that's why I was up so late.  Of course, all the papers were due this morning!  To add to my challenges of yesterday, my daughter's fiancee gave her a dog for their "anniversary"!  Are you even kidding me?!  Thank goodness it is two years old and potty trained, but just what we need, a dog the size of a loaf of bread (pomeranian and chihuahua mix), running around yapping at the big, deaf, overweight dalmation.  Well, I need to go get my little darling motivated, and focused, for school, no easy task I assure you.  Have blessings on your day!  And remember, God is in control, He loves YOU and only wants the best for you, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time.

Oct. 9, 2006

Today I spent a good portion of it trying to decide what I'm going to bring to PA, when we go visit my mother in law, for Joey for homeschooling.  You see, we use primarily Switched on Schoolhouse, computer program.  We found that worked best for Joey because of his ADHD, he likes computer work so much better than book work.  Book work gets him frustrated in two seconds, where as the same info on the computer is no problem.  I guess it's because he's a multi-sensory type child.  He likes auditory as well as visual, color better than black and white, and typing better than handwriting.  I decided on bringing his math, which is Sinapore Math, he finds that math more interesting than the S.O.S.; math flash card review for multipication and division; many books to read, he loves reading; his Quiet Time (for Bible), and cursive handwriting workbooks.  I know I'll have a challenge with the cursive, we barely touched on it last year, he is so resistant to it.  Some people are appauled that he hasn't started cursive writing yet and he's in fourth grade, others tell me, it's no big deal, he'll get to it when he's ready.  Well, he does really well in everything else, except spelling, so I guess I'm not too worried about it, but I feel we should give it a very strong try while we don't have too much else to do.  So, that's what I decided for the next 10 days, bible, math, reading and handwriting.  We plan on doing three field trips (at least) while we are gone.  We have a membership to the Rochester Museum and Science Center, it entitles us to free admission to many museums around the country, so we have decided to go to The Academy of Natural Science and the Franklin Institute while we are in Philadelphia.  They have special classes for homeschoolers two days while we are there, so we plan on signing Joey up for those and doing our own touring the rest of those two days when he's done with class.  On our way down to PA we are planning on going to the Corning Museum of Glass, that isn't a free admission, but we mention it every time we drive by it, yet never have done it, so we are planning it for this trip.  I really think Joey will be so excited by all of these fieldtrips, we aren't telling him, it will be a surprise.  I just feel so blessed, not only to have him as my child, but to be able to homeschool him.  We can go down to visit family without any concern related to it coinciding with school breaks or vacations, we just make a few adjustments and plans and we're on our way!  I really wish more people would consider homeschooling, there are so many advantages to it, more than I ever dreamt of.  I know it isn't feasible for everyone, but for those that can, I really feel we not only are doing what God has called us to do, we are getting to know our children so much better by dealing with every aspect of their lives, as well as learning a bit about ourselves and what we are capable of.  That's my thoughts for the day, or at least a portion of them, I may change my mind by the end of the week, but as it stands, that's my plans for now. 

Oct. 7, 2006

The lake is as still as glass and the sky is a pale blue, I can just imagine Jesus walking on water, how that must have shocked, amazed and scared the disciples!  I'm sure if I saw Him walking toward me, I'd feel all those things along with disbelief of my eyes!  I'm sure I would have wondered if I was loosing my mind!  Sometimes I think we are too hard on the disciples, I mean really, what would we have felt, done, said or how would we have acted if we were in the situations they found themselves in?  It's like life today, when we "judge" someone's words or actions, we need to step back, put ourselves in their shoes and pray.  But most of all, we need to remember we have no right to judge, there is only one Judge and we know who that is.  Blessings, June

Oct. 7, 2006

This morning, (Oct 6, I haven't gone to bed yet) , as I was enjoying the view out my window, I saw a hawk fly overhead; it reminded me of Isaiah 39:31"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."  I love that scripture!  What a great way to start my day, knowing that as long as I wait upon the Lord, He will see me through.  As I was meditating on that verse, I saw a bunch of sparrows, about 40 of them, all gather in one area, picking at the ground, eating whatever it was that was in that area; that reminded me of another verse:  Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens:  for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than the fowls."  How true, the Lord gave us His only Son, that we may live with Him for all eternity!  How dare I worry about the little things in my life?  I only pray I can keep these scriptures close when I start to faint or worry, that I can bring them to the forefront of my mind, so that I may have the peace that the Lord wants me to have.  He doesn't want me to worry, so why do I?  Please Lord, remind us all that You did not give us a heart to worry, but to rejoice. 

Oct. 5, 2006

Ok, this is my first endeavour at blogging.  I thought I would never do it (I know the dreaded "never" word) and yet here I find myself, blogging away.  I don't imagine that I have any great thing to say or any great wisdom to impart, but I pray the Lord may use me and my ramblings to encourage or lift up any person that may read it.  Even if someone just realizes that they are not alone in how they feel or the battles they face, my ramblings will be well worth it.  Possibly the only person it helps is me, to get my feelings out in print, so that I can learn from my mistakes and not be destined to repeat them over and over.  Enough rambling for now, I need to finish making my weblog.  Blessings from the Bergers